Many fanboys and girls are waiting for Apple’s next Macbook coming Tuesday. But check this out. In an interview with CNET UK, Jason Calacanis claims to have sources that say that Apple is working on a networked LCD HDTV with built-in Apple TV. So why jump into the HDTV market? I have no idea, but the promise of an HDTV capable of streaming music and videos from your network is interesting. The idea is that they’ll function like a standard TV with an Apple TV box, just without the box.

One of the newest Viewsonic displays to market is a combo unit which is friendly with PCs and DVDs. It is called the N2201w and you’ll find it listing at retail around $430.

The Viewsonic N2201w is a 22-inch display which pulls triple duty as a computer display, HDTV and DVD player. It has a HD resolution of 1680×1050, 5ms response time, 1000:1 contrast ratio and wide viewing angles. It also sports multiple inputs, including for ATSC/NTSC/QAM digital TV tuner and HDMI as well as PC.

I have never brought a TV based on how thin it was in profile. Once the set is on my entertainment center, how thick it is really doesn’t matter. I am more about the image quality and screen size. I could see a really thin TV being appealing if it was going to be wall mounted though.

Sony has announced a pair of new 1080p Bravia TVs at CEDIA that will suit those looking for thin and those looking for the best image quality. The Sony KLV-40ZX1M is one of the thinnest sets this side of an OLED screen at only 9.9mm thick. Sony says that is about the thickness of a DVD case. The TV is also very light for a 40-inch TV at only 26 pounds.

IOGEAR has been on a tear of late with new connectivity products for your computer living experience. One of the latest is the Wireless USB to VGA Kit, priced around $230.

The IOGEAR Wireless USB to VGA Kit, according to IOGEAR, enables HD video streaming between a PC and TV or projector up to 720p in a home or office. It works from up to 30 feet away on a HDTV and lets one make use of the TV’s picture-in-picture feature to watch a show and look at a computer display at the same time.

Not too long ago my dad had his old TV go out after a lightning strike, so he asked me to head to the local Best Buy with him to get a new TV. I realized two things straight away. First, the vast majority of employees at Best Buy are morons. Then I realized most Best Buy TV salesman use the lower lifespan of plasma TVs compared LCD TVs to talk shoppers out of going plasma. Personally, I prefer plasma to LCD because you usually get more contrast and a brighter picture.

Panasonic has announced new plasma TVs in its VIERA 1080p line that will make the lifespan argument against plasma TVs a moot point. Panasonic says its new 1080p plasma HDTVs are rated to last for up to 100,000 viewing hours before they dim to half brightness.

Another Samsung flat panel line up riding the waves of the consumer electronics company’s big annoucements last week is the Series 7 Plasma HDTVs. They will be available in August in 50-inch, 58-inch and 63-inch screen sizes (model numbers: PN50A760, PN58A760 and PN63A760), pricing around $2,800, $4,500 and $5,500, respectively.

The main highlights of the Series 7 displays include the hint of red blended into the outer edges of the artsy panels, 1080p resolution and Internet-based content provided by USA Today. You can get the full details after the jump.

Samsung last week, besides rolling out some Series 8 flat panels, also introduced  its new flagship Series 9 LED-backlit LCD HDTVs. These models are the 46-inch LN46A950 and 55-inch LN55A950, priced around $3,200 and $4,200, respectively.

These new Series 9 panels from Samsung make use the company’s “LED SmartLighting” technology, offers consumers a combination of LED and 120Hz technologies. This reportedly results in a “1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for a crisp, full HD 1080p picture.” This HDTVs also sport a bit of an art touch via the patterned bezel with charcoal gray accent.

Samsung had a little mid-year coming out party yesterday as it unveiled a bunch of new flat panels and associated home theater gear. One of these upcoming releases is the new Series 8 850 and Series 8 860 LCD HDTVs, pricing between around $2,700 and $3,500.

Four models make up the Series 8 850 and 860, consisting of two each 45.9- and 52-inch televisions. All units will be available in September and unique features include a slim, narrow bezel with a touch of color around the edges and support for RSS feeds from USA Today. For full details, check out the press release after the jump.

The world of multi-directional antennas, or “rabbit ears” as some like to call them, doesn’t get much attention these days in tech news. RCA is trying to refresh the category by unveiling some flat antennas designed to pair with flat panels as the coming analog to digital television transition creeps up.

The highlighted antenna is the RCA ANT1500 Flat Indoor Antenna, priced at around $60. RCA says consumers should pair this antenna, and others like it, as it is “designed to pick up more channels than a traditional “rabbit ears” antenna. Local broadcasters are now sending multiple digital TV channels to supplement their main programs.”

Mitsubishi recently introduced two new flat panel televisions with a integrated sound panel to meet the demand for surround sound in limited space settings. These new Mitsubishi Premium Flat Panel TVs with Integrated Sound Projector are the LT-46149 and LT-52149, pricing at around $3,400 and $3,700, respectively.

The Mitsubishi Premium Flat Panel TVs with Integrated Sound Projector come in 46- and 52-inch screen sizes and have built-in a a 16-speaker array that creates a 5.1 channel sound field. These speakers are managed by an “advanced algorithm” to generate this sound field and come with a graphical user interface to help consumers setup their room setting.

VIZIO, in addition to the new XVT series flat panels it unveiled, also rolled out a few new more budget focused plasmas. These are the VP422 and VP322, priced at around $800 and $600, respectively.

The VIZIO 42-inch VP422 and 32-inch VP322 are highlighted by VIZIO as offering 30,000:1 contrast ratio, longer life and increased brightness. Both models offer 720p native resolution with “enhanced picture controls, multiple color temperature settings and independent Red/Green/Blue adjustment” to make video performance reportedly improved.

We haven’t heard from cheap flat panel CE company VIZIO much since CES earlier this year. The company is back though in the news today with some new HDTVs, priced at between around $1,500 and $1,900.

The new models in the company’s XVT series are the SV420XVT, SV47XVT and VP505XVT. Key features include Silicon Optix REON HQV processing, 30,000:1 contrast Ratio, 1200 nits brightness and 5.1 virtual surround sound. You can get the full scoop on these new flat panel HDTVs after the jump via the full press release.

When it comes to LCD HDTVs Sony has some of the most popular sets on the market in its Bravia line. While LCD TVs and LCDs on notebooks share some of the same tech, notebook LCDs have been using LED backlighting for better picture quality and thinner profiles for a while now. The LED tech hasn’t been seen much in HDTVs until now.

Sony introduced seven new XBR HDTV models including models using TRILUMINOS LED backlighting and local dimming to provide better black levels and contrast. The TRILUMINOS LED system uses clusters of red, blue and green LEDs to produce improved color. The new models include screen sizes from 19 to 70-inches.

Westinghouse is introducing a new 40-inch LCD 1080p display which pulls double duty as a DVD player. It is known as the Westinghouse VK-40F580D and you’ll find it pricing around $1,150.

The Westinghouse VK-40F580D offers 1080p resolution on its 40-inch display, bringing to HD lovers as well two HDMI inputs and an integrated ATSC/NTSC/ClearQAM tuner. It also has built-in a front slot loading DVD player which, unfortunately, does not seem to offer upscaling.

Sharp has now announced a wireless option to its super-thin X-series LCD displays today. Sharp will incorporate Amimon WHDI (Wireless High Definition Interface) 1080p wireless tech into their thinnest flat panels. This means that you won’t have to connect any cables to your TV, aside from the power cord. All the connectors and tuning paraphernaila are in the set-top box you see in the pic. Wires will be officially out of a job, making your life easier, but making them sad like little emo children.

It’s hitting Japan first and will follow in the U.S. It works at distances of up to 100 feet and can even go through several walls. The only bad part is the cost. The wireless capability will add about $800 to an already-expensive $4,000+ 46-inch Sharp X-Series HDTV. But if you are already dishing out that kind of money, I don’t think it will be a problem.