Runco has been very busy. Sure, they’ve got seven new flat panels, but they’ve also added a bit of technology to make the world (at least the TV world) a better place.

Optical Path Alignment (OPAL) image enhancement technology boasts three times the contrast, 20 times the ambient light rejection and ISS (Impact, Shake and Shock) Protection, which protects the panel from dust, condensation and even occasional direct impact, such as a blow from a hand-held game control. The technology is available now on the Climate Portfolio WP-42OPALHD ($8,995), and will be included in January’s CX-OPAL47 LCD ($5.995).

As far as the other new models, the Series 65-inch CX-65HD ($14,995) and 47-inch CX-47HD ($4,495) LCDs each offer Vivix II processing with Runco’s RTR (Real-Time Refresh) 120Hz technology. Both of those will be available in December. For the other flat panels, Runco’s ClimatePortfolio WP-42HD is weatherproof, and the 50-inch XP-50 ($6,495) and 65-inch XP-65 ($12,995) bare the CinemaWall name. All will be available in January.

The CX-70 was the big winner, though. Not only is the 70-inch screen Runco’s largest LCD to date, but it boasts the ISF (Imaging Science Foundation) ISFccc calibration suite, advanced Vivix II digital video processing, and Runco’s exclusive VirtualWide mode. It is also the first Runco LCD to get the company’s own external DHD video controller/processor. It will be available next month for $34,995.

Rachel Cericola - Contributing Writer

Over the past 15 years, Rachel Cericola has covered entertainment, web and technology trends. Check her out at www.rachelcericola.com.