JVC today unveiled an LCD television less than three inches thick, calling it the world's thinnest flat-screen television, as the Consumer Electronics Show began in Las Vegas.
Also at the show, JVC said it would unveil four new LCD models that each sport a built-in dock for the iPod, Apple Inc's market leading portable digital media players.
JVC said its new slim TV, which includes a TV tuner, measures 1.5 inches, or 39mm at its narrowest, with a maximum depth of 2.9 inches (74mm) at the center.
Rival Sharp last year revealed prototype 52-inch LCD televisions, which were 20mm thick. Its conventional 52-inch TV measures 81 mm in thickness.
Manufactuers are scrambling to develop thinner models to pre-empt rivals, which are eyeing mass production of organic light-emitting diode TVs, known for thinness and crisp images.
JVC said its new slim design televisions would be available in 42-inch and 46-inch diagonal screen sizes in early summer and that it planned to announce pricing at that time.
JVC said its new P-Series TVs, which range in size from 32 inches to 52 inches, can be used to play videos or music or view photographs stored on an iPod placed in a dock on the TV.
The TV's remote control, which has a circular keypad that mimics the iPod's control wheel, can be used to find and select content on the iPod, JVC said.
The company forecast availability for the 32-inch, 42-inch TVs with iPod docks in March; an April launch for the 47-inch model and a summer launch for the 52-inch model. It did not reveal prices.