Roku compresses its Smart TV platform into a device the size of a thumb drive with the Roku Streaming Stick-- a streaming device compatible with MHL-enabled TVs with no need for wires or STBs.

The Roku Stick acts like the regular Roku STB and is ideal for customers wanting to wanting to cut a cable or two. It plugs into HDTVs via MHL-compatible HDMI port, providing access to a variety of TV channels (around 100 in the UK version) via built-in wifi connectivity.

The stick accepts remote control input and power from the TV it is connected to, meaning no need for remote switching.

The Streaming Stick will be available from Q3 2012 from retailers and as a bundle with select TVs.

Go Roku Streaming Stick

The number of internet-connected residential TVs will reach around 650 million by 2017 according to Juniper Research, as consumer demand for on-demand video services continues to grow.

In other words-- customers want the likes of Netflix, LOVEFiLM and Youtube on their home TVs. Also popular are content aggregators and platforms such as Apple and Google TV.

"Consumer demand for connectivity and content has influenced the smart home entertainment segment in a major way along with the integration of social media, multi-screen strategies and applications," Juniper reports.

The internet-connected TV category covers not only sets with built-in connectivity (via either ethernet or wifi) but also TVs connected via platforms such as Blu-ray players, STBs and game consoles.

Juniper says Smart TVs are also becoming mainstream among customers, following a pattern similar to tablet and smartphone adoption despite longer replacement cycles.

Now TV makers need to turn the current growth phase into a revenue opportunity-- joining forces with key players such as the content aggregators and platform providers in order to define the IPTV ecosystem.

Juniper also reports general Smart Home revenues are set to reach $600 billion by 2017, up from $25bn for 2012.

Go Internet Connected TVs to Reach 650m by 2017 (Juniper Research)

ABI Research expects OLED TVs to remain the preserve of relatively few customers-- predicting OLEDs will make less than 1% of global flat panel TV sales through "at least" 2013.

The figure will grow slightly (to 9%) by 2017 as LED/LCD TVs grow from 35% of the flat panel market in 2011 to 75% in 2017.

Why will OLED will remain so unpopular? OLED TV models from Samsung and LG shipping in 2012 carry high price tags (in the $5000-10000 range) for screens measuring less than 60", with bigger sizes to hit the market only in 2013.

One has to admit paying $4000 for an 80" LED TV makes a more attractive option for your average shopper.

"Price and screen size again conspired to make the market for OLED TVs rather limited," ABI says. Prices will eventually drop, but by thencustomers might still opt for the less expensive alternative, despite the vibrant colours and higher contrast values inherent to OLED TVs.

"Consumer behavior suggests [picture quality] might not engender as much perceived value as some might presuppose," the analyst continues.

Eventually owning an OLED TV might become something of a statement-- one of either strong appreciation of the form factor and quality or simply status.

Go Prices and Screen Sizes to Restrict OLED TVs (ABI Research)

The global Q1 2012 LCD TV market remains virtually flat with a -0.4% Y-o-Y decline as only Samsung and LG shipments manage to grow despite weak market conditions, IHS iSuppli reports.

Total Q1 2012 shipments total 44.4 million units-- a -35% Q-o-Q decline from 68.7m in Q1 2011, an unusually sharp post-holiday season drop. The analyst attributes such a decline to a number of factors, chiefly weak consumer demand, oversupply going into the end of 2011 and a few major brands repositioning loss-making TV divisions.

LCD TV revenue decline for the period is equally sharp-- -32% Q-o-Q, due to heavy discounts in the face of "tentative" consumer spending. LCD revenues account for 87% of the total TV revenues according to iSuppli.

Samsung is the top Q1 2012 vendor (19% market share), with shipments reaching 8.2m units with 6% Y-o-Y growth through competitive pricing, global reach and internal supply chain control.

LG comes 2nd, with 2% Y-o-Y growth. Shipments total 5.8m with 11% market share. Following are Sony, Toshiba and Sharp-- 3 companies trying to hold back further fallout from money-losing TV divisions.

Go IHS iSuppli WW TV Q2 2012 Market Tracker

DisplaySearch expects overall global TV growth this year to slow down in comparison to 2011, despite growth within emerging segments, larger screen sizes, LED backlights and 3DTVs.

According to the analyst total 2012 TV shipments will decline by -1.4% Y-o-Y to 245m units. Even LCD TV growth will slow down with 5% Y-o-Y growth (down from 7% in 2011) to reach 216m units, as a slower price erosion rate and cautious European spending hit TV sales.

The transition to digital broadcasting is also largely complete in major markets.

However LCD TVs are the "only growing TV market," as OLED TV are still to launch around late 2012 and CRT and plasma TVs continue losing market share. DisplaySearch predicts LCD TVs will account for 88% of 2012 WW TV shipments (up from 82% in 2011) before reaching a peak of 97% share by 2015.

On the other hand plasma share will decline by -26% Y-o-Y to around 5% of the market.

Bigger screen sizes continue gaining market share as affordability improves-- with the global average screen size for 2012 reaching 35-inch for the first time.

3DTV shipments also improve, with 74% Y-o-Y growth for 2012. DisplaySearch says 3DTVs will make 30% of total TV unit shipments in W. Europe as premiums fall, availability grows and accessory prices (such as glasses) fall.

Go DisplaySearch Quarterly Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report

Are humble soap bubbles key for the ultra-thin displays of the future? Scientists from the University of Tokyo and Carnegie Mellon University say so,  following their developments in bubble-based "colloidal displays."

A "colloidal display" consists of the surface of a soapy bubble (or "membrane screen"), over which a projector beams images. In this case the bubble is made out a complex colloid solution, and is far stronger than anything from your bubble bath or dish washer.

Since the surface of a soap bubble is a "micro membrane," it is both transparent and reflective. The researchers use ultrasonic vibrations to control the membrane screen, changing its transparency and reflective surface properties. Images are then beamed on the micromembrane using a regular projector.

One can also combine multiple membranes for dimensional effects.

"The combination of ultrasonic waves and ultra-thin membranes makes more realistic, distinctive, and vivid images on screen. This system contributes to a new path for display engineering with sharp images, transparency, BRDF (bidirectional reflectance distribution function), and flexibility," lead researcher Yoichi Ochiai says.

The micro membrane screen is flexible and displays both 2D and 3D images. The researchers claim it makes the thinnest transparent display available.

Of course the technology is still at its very early days, but is already patent pending.

Watch Colloidal Display Overview

Go Colloidal Display