As much as we'd like to put stock in Satoru Miyashita's forecast, we're still hesitant to believe that we're just two Consumer Electronic Shows away from seeing big-screen OLED TVs for sale. After Sony's polarizing XEL-1 hit the scene around two years ago, we've seen an anemic amount of action in the commercial OLED TV space. Sure, we've heard promise after promise, but we've still got no solid evidence that a large-screen set is anywhere near a Sam's Club shelf. In a recent interview with the general manager of Seiko Epson's Core Technology Development Center, OLED-Info managed to get this out of the exec: "We see 2012 as being the year that 37"+ OLED TVs will be launched by various makers, and 2015 as the year that sales will really take off for this market." He's referring to the year in which OEMs will begin to use its new inkjet-printing approach to making OLED TVs, which will hopefully allow for easier development of larger panels. 'Til then, we suppose we'll just have to be content with using the Zune HD as our primary television.

Hef's not exactly known for his tech punditry, but the latest issue of Playboy says Hulu is eventually coming to the Roku video player. We don't have to tell you how big a deal that would be -- we're sure half of you would drop cable immediately in favor of the charming $99 box -- but we've got our doubts about this particular rumor, since the networks and cable companies seem intent on keeping Hulu far, far away from the living room at the moment. Here's the thing, though: although Roku PR just told us they're "not sure" where this info came from, they wouldn't give us an outright denial, so something very well could be up -- only time will tell if there's truth here or if we're all just dealing with another of the bunny's airbrushed fantasies.

We've been waiting for what seems like ages for the next iteration of the XEL-1 to dash in and swoop us off of our feet, but frankly, we're growing anxious. As the world waits for a commercial-ready OLED TV that's larger than a standard sheet of paper, industry insiders down at the IFA briefings in Malta this past week believe that Sony could be gearing up to make all sorts of hopes and dreams come true this September. Jens Heithecker, executive director of Messe Berlin, which organizes the IFA trade fair, noted that "IFA is a trade show which is focused more on market-ready technologies," hinting that anything we see in just a few short months will be prepared for release into the wild. We're also told that more "ultra-widescreen" 21:9 sets -- like Philips' masterpiece -- could be on display, not to mention scores of internet-ready HDTVs and a Samsung set with refresh rates of 400Hz. Needless to say, IFA's shaping up to be quite a show for the television sector, so you may want to think twice (or thrice, if necessary) about snagging a new panel on August 31st.

[Via OLED-Info]

Well, what's this? A recent Zune job posting says the boys down Redmond-town are looking for someone to come up with "innovative user interfaces for delivering a rich, deep interactive media consumption experience in a living room environment." That sounds to us like integration of the Zune software team into the ConnectedTV division is starting to kick into gear -- the listing also specifically mentions on-demand audio and video content, which seem like a natural direction for ZunePass. We're not sure how any of this is going to pan out, but at least Microsoft is making moves to keep the struggling Zune platform alive -- whether or not that involves actual Zune hardware in the future is still up for debate.

[Via Slashgear]

Rumor has it that AT&T's gearing up for yet another door-busting, riot-inducing summer filled with new iPhone hardware, which would certainly jibe with everything we've heard in the past few months (never mind the fact that June is officially Apple's iPhone release cycle these days, and indeed, AT&T's apparently saying that the June cycle is becoming "a tradition"). That's not terribly interesting at this point -- what is interesting, though, is how AT&T plans to play it. Apparently, the carrier wants to ramp up its -- ah, how should we put this in a politically correct way -- "integration" with Apple's hardware, including a U-verse app that we're guessing will approximate the functionality to be offered by Verizon's FiOS. What really has us worried is not so much the U-verse app specifically, but the possibility that AT&T's sick and tired of having its crapware left out of its highest-profile device, leading to non-removable garbage like Cellular Video on a future iPhone's home screen. It's still a bit early to sound the alarm there, but you know, we're paranoid types around here. Meanwhile, it sounds like the new device is once again begin said to rock higher 3G speeds than the outgoing model, implying that 7.2Mbps HSDPA to match AT&T's latest infrastructure upgrades is plausible, if not probable. Finally, it's said that a $99 netbook running something other than Windows (don't suppose that'd be Linux?) will be launching this summer, following on the 3G-enabled Aspire One that hit Radio Shack late last year. Heads up, though, AT&T: give us an iPhone with your Mobile Email app on the home screen, and let's just say we can't be held accountable for our actions afterwards. We know you wouldn't do that, but just sayin'.

We've been hearing about Philips' attempt to jump on the burgeoning connected HDTV bandwagon for nearly a year now, but at long last, it seems like the company will finally be making it happen -- months after everyone else stole the thunder at CES. At any rate, Pocket-lint has it that the aforesaid outfit is readying its Net TV application -- which should be included in its 8000, 9000 and Cinema 21:9 HDTVs -- for an April release. The program will purportedly bring the web's best content to your HDTV through an easy-to-understand user interface, and the WiFi capability means that you won't have to run an Ethernet cable to your set. Like most everything Philips does in the HDTV / home entertainment space, we suspect this will also be limited to Europe, but a boy can dream, can't he?

[Via ShinyShiny]

We heard from TiVo's PR firm regarding that mysterious "Available in High Definition" menu pick discovered yesterday under Amazon's streaming Video on Demand service. The message says,

"The Amazon HD link pulled in screengrabs has already (or soon will be) removed. TiVo is continually testing different screen presentations and options for subscribers, but at this time we have nothing to announce, and don't expect to making an announcement on this subject in the near future."

If you accept the spin at face value (which we never do) then we shouldn't expect to see HD streaming of Amazon videos in the hours ahead. But for TiVo to admit that it tests its user interface in such a haphazard way on its production service offering really has us scratching our heads. We guess it's easier for TiVo to quell an irate customer services organization than to suffer the wrath of a business partner whose cards they just potentially revealed.

Update: We've been in contact with TiVo again. They further elaborated on the incident and we now believe this to be a genuine mistake and not a preview of what might come in the near term. If we told you why, we'd have to hire you.

Step aside NetFlix, looks like Amazon is finally ready to crash your HD streaming party. According to one reader, the "Available in High Definition" menu pick just appeared under his TiVo's Amazon Video on Demand menu. Nothing happens when he clicks it but we imagine that might get sorted by the time the sun comes back around the globe. Anyone else seeing this?

[Thanks, Rich]

It's impossible to say just how legitimate all of this is right now, but the writing has been on the wall for months. We already knew that AT&T was laying down hundreds of millions of dollars for fiber improvements in the Carolinas, and we've already seen dodgy job ads and U-verse cabinets in the central region of NC. Now, we're really beginning to feel it. A number of locals in the Triangle have spotted AT&T trucks casually passing through, and upon asking, were told that U-verse services were planned for certain areas as early as December. More specifically, we're hearing that Cary, NC could be serviced first, though there's no word on when the Triangle / Triad at large would have the option to switch. And maybe it's completely coincidental, but TWC managed to go a lifetime without adding a substantial amount of high-def stations in these very areas -- now that competition's (possibly) rolling into town, we're finally seeing some effort put forth.

[Via The Wolf Web]

We wouldn't book this one just yet or anything, but Digitimes has it that Taiwan's own Kenmec is gearing up to ship Blu-ray players in just a few months. The outfit has generally stuck to producing automation and flat-panel display manufacturing equipment, but it's reportedly looking to extend its business by dipping its toes in the Blu, Blu waters. It's stated that the firm has received ODM orders for BD players from "retail chains in Europe as well as China-based vendor Haier, with shipments to begin in the first quarter of 2009." There's no telling if or when these units will ever head stateside, but we're sure its already measuring the feasibility.

Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime sat down with VentureBeat on the heels of last week's DSi announcement, and while he didn't drop any major bombshells, he did put the kibosh on those Wii HD rumors, saying that they were "pure rumor and speculation" and that Nintendo wouldn't show off upcoming models to devs as the rumors claimed. Reggie also downplayed the talk that Nintendo is going head to head against Apple, saying that Ninty's always "viewed ourselves as competing in a larger entertainment space." That's the end of that for now, we suppose -- but Reggie didn't close the door on either rumor entirely, and his closing comment that Nintendo's good fortunes "makes us the most paranoid people in the world"certainly keeps possibilities open. Hit the read link for the full interview.

Just as expected, Sony will be bringing its XEL-1 OLED TV to UK shores before 2008 expires (sans battery or viewing area), paving the way for the 11-inch wonder's European tour; at least that's the word from T3. Of course, if it shows up next month wearing a price tag near the estimated £1,500 mark, this bit of kit will retain its status as something for well-heeled blokes obsessed with riding the bleeding edge of tech trends. Frankly we're surprised by the whole "estimated pricing" verbiage -- the XEL-1 has been on sale for almost a year, so we'd assume Sony would have a better feel for pricing. And really, are any customers for this going to be put off by a few pounds on the high side?

Earlier this month, we found that North American TV shipments were up a whopping 28% year-over-year, yet some analysts are strongly suggesting that across-the-board price drops are near. Granted, one research institute already predicted that flat-panel prices would decline substantially in 2008, so it's not like this assumption is brand new or anything. Nevertheless, Andrew Abrams, executive director and senior analyst at Avian Securities, is proclaiming that a "substantial" drop could come in October, leaving us to wonder just how cheap sets will be on that fateful day-after-Thanksgiving. Any wild guesses out there?

Just over a year ago, we heard that AT&T would be sinking hundreds of millions of dollars into the Carolinas in an attempt to "upgrade its fiber network, further broadband deployment, and deliver internet-based technologies to customers in North Carolina and South Carolina." Now, we're beginning to see signs of life. According to this nondescript job posting on Craigslist, AT&T is scouting residential field agents specifically for U-verse in the Raleigh / Durham, NC region. Sure, this could very well be a hoax of some strange kind, but we can't possibly be more hopeful that it's not. Hey TWC -- is this enough to get you to add a few HD channels to your absolutely abysmal selection in the Triangle?

[Thanks, Jonathan]

This one sounds like little more than pure speculation, but word on the street has it that Panasonic will be following its recently released DMP-BD50 with two new players at CEDIA 2008. The DMP-BD35 and DMP-BD55 will purportedly feature a revamped UniPhier video processor and an Ethernet port for BD-Live compatibility. As for the latter, it'll also boast 8-channel analog audio outputs and isolation feet to reduce the effects of vibration. Obviously, no pricing details have been announced, but let's hope Panny shocks the world with a couple somewhat respectable stickers in just a few weeks.

[Via CNET]