3DTV will make the largest revenue stream within the global 3D display market according to NPD DisplaySearch-- with WW 3DTV shipments growing from 25 million units in 2011 to 180m by 2019.

Meanwhile the overall 3D display market should grow from 50.8m units and $132.2 billion in revenue to 226m units and $67bn revenues during the 2011-2019 forecast period.

“Despite some industry sentiment that the 3D bubble has burst, we expect 3D to continue to grow across several categories including TVs, portable devices, and public displays,” the analyst remarks.

As a result of growing shipments, global household 3DTV penetration will also increase-- from 10% to over 50% by 2019, even if actual 3D usage might not grow so quickly. The reason? Mainly the lack of content, as well as the need for smoother 3DTV setup processes.

Glasses-free display will probably not make it in TVs, but judging from the success of the handheld Nintendo 3DS console  DisplaySearch predicts more portable devices (including mobile phones, DSC/camcorders and tablets) will carry auto-stereoscopic 3D displays in the near future. In addition, auto-stereoscopic 3D will also find a home in attention-grabbing signage applications.

Go 3D Display Technology and Market Forecast Report (NPD DisplaySearch)

Customer demand for ultra-HD 4K TVs for the 2012-2017 period will remain "negligible" according to IHS iSuppli, despite tradeshow hype and a number of high-profile product launches.

According to the analyst global 4K TV shipments during the next 5 years will never account for more than 1% of the total LCD TV market-- shipments will grow from 4000 units in 2012 to 2.1 million by 2017 (or 0.8% of global LCD shipments for the year).

A number of vendors already have sets featuring 3840 x 2160 (or "4K") resolutions, including 84-inch models from Sony and LG, and a 55-inch number from Toshiba.

As iSuppli bluntly puts it, "neither consumers nor television brands will have the interest required to make the 4K LCD-TV market successful." Available content in 4K resolution is limited, while the market for 60 inch and over TVs (the ideal size for 4K) remains fairly small at only 1.5% of total 2012 TV shipments.

Hefty price tags and a general "1080p resolution is good enough" consumer attitude also don't help the 4K cause too much.

iSuppli believes 4K TVs are something of a "transitional" product-- filling high-end TV product lines until manufacturers iron out the difficulties in AMOLED panel mass production.

Go 4K TVs to See Marginal Share of LCD TV Market Through 2017 (IHS iSuppli)

Sanus ships the VMT32 tilting wall mount-- a CEDIA Expo 2012 introduction ideal for 26- to 40-inch TVs weighing up to 36.36kg.

Modeled after the popular VMPL50A, the VMT35 can be installed to single as well as double studs.

Features include Virtual Axis (provides smooth tilt with the touch of a finger), ProSet height and level adjustments (allowing perfect TV positioning after hanging), quick-snap TV brackets and a rail design allowing installers to shift the TV left and right, even with off-centre studs.

Go Sanus VMT35 Tilting Wall Mount

Will 4K reach commercial success before AMOLED TV? According to DisplaySearch the success of AMOLED TV might be in question, and not only due to the uncertain start of mass production of the display technology.

Samsung and LG both offer AMOLED TVs, with models seen most recently at IFA 2012. Both companies were to start mass production by Q2 2012, in time for the London Olympic Games. Only schedules have slipped... to end 2012.

Meanwhile more vendors appear to be working on 4K LCD TVs, with panel makers such as Samsung Display, LG Display and Sharp gearing up to make offerings for the likes of Sony, Sharp, Toshiba, Samsung, LGE, Haier, Hisense, ChangHong and THTF. And as we all know, nothing boosts a technology like a good dose of competition...

Another big question lies on whether customers want to buy an OLED TV-- what differentiates an OLED TV from an LCD with similar slim form factor and image quality, other than higher prices?

DisplaySearch predicts 4K TV will account for 2% of all LCD TVs by 2017, and 22% of the 50-inch+ segment.

On the other 4K TVs offer a higher resolutions, a quality DisplaySearch says consumers not only recognise recognise (thanks to the success of smartphones, tablets and high-end PCs) but are willing to pay for. 4K content and broadcasting are also moving forward, with improving upscaling technology and Hollywood content available in the format.

Manufacturers also have an easier job with 4K panels-- AMOLED demands entirely different technology, while 4K only changes pixel sizes.

Go Faster 4K, Slower AMOLED TV? (DisplaySearch)

As the threat of Apple looms over a struggling industry, a number of TV vendors decide unity makes strength-- LG joins Toshiba and Philips in the Smart TV Alliance at IFA 2012.

The TV makers join other new alliance members, including chip makers Qualcomm and MStar, web browser provider Obigo and video advertising services developer YuMe.

The aim of the Smart TV Alliance is to create a common platform for interactive TV app development-- something of a must, considering the state of fragmentation the TV market is currently in. The Smart TV Alliance SDK is currently in version 1.0, with version 2.0 to be available on TV sets from alliance members by 2013.

The largest OLED TV from Samsung, the ES9500, gets a European launch at IFA 2012-- with the Samsung stand featuring 25 (9 of which suspended from the ceiling) of the 55-inch TVs.

The 55-inch Samsung OLED TV made its debut earlier at CES 2012, together with LG's similar take on the technology.

With a minimal design consisting of a super-slim bezel, a thin screen (the surround gets thinner towards the edges) and a stand hiding all cables, the ES9500 has self-emitting sub pixels reproducing life-like colours and "unparalleled detail" with shadows and shapes.

A "Multi View" feature allows 2 users to watch 2 different shows simultaneously (complete with sound) via Multi View 3D glasses with integrated earphones. The bezel hides a front-facing camera handling gesture control duties.

Also showing up at the Samsung IFA 2012 stand is the 75-inch LED ES9000 Smart TV-- a fine-looking HDTV with a rose-gold finish, 7.9mm frame and hidden push-up camera.

Go Samsung Displays Next-Gen Smart TVs at IFA 2012