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.

Samsung today put word out through the lands of tech about the availability of its Series 6 and Series 7 LCD HDTVs. These displays range in size from 19- to 52-inches and pricing from around $480 to $3,500.

The Series 6 displays should mostly be available now, with the Series 7 units come out in May. Samsung’s most touted design features with these displays is its “Touch of Color” which draws from “several artistic inspirations” and features “a hint of red color naturally blended into a semi-transparent piano black bezel.” Excuse us while we go wipe the marketing barf off of ourselves - you can read the rest of the Samsung love fest after the jump.

The new DVI Extender Kit from IOGear packs some serious high-def distance into a relatively affordable package. The DVI extender has the ability to send both a video and audio signal up to 100 feet away through a single CAT 5e/6 cable connection, and can be yours for just shy of $500.

Granted, $500 is getting close to the price of some decent high-def displays but if you have a nice system that you would like to keep away from high traffic areas or just out of the way this is a pretty sweet solution and is way better than trying to use a 100-foot DVI cable. The kit includes two boxes, the local and remote DVI extenders with the remote extender having a 3.5mm jack for connecting your stereo speakers at the other end.

Mitsubishi earlier this week rolled out the carpet on a variety of new HDTVs for release this year. These new models come in a variety of screen sizes and body configurations and should all begin being available this month in staggered releases.

General details of these new models include what Mitsubishi says is thinner frame and brighter DLP models as well as “ultra thin frame” LCD HDTVs with better sound. There’s also upcoming the first ever laser powered television. If you are curious to learn more, check out the entire press release after the jump.

When will HDTV manufacturers include more than a few HDMI ports on the back of sets? I don’t know, but right now there is a real need for HDMI hubs and switchers. Here’s some info on a new compact HMDI hub named Medusa. It actually looks pretty nice, and supposedly it will be reasonably priced.

Some specs: HDMI Spec 1.3, Compliant HDCP Rev 1.2 Spec, Wide Frequency Range : 25MHz – 225MHz, Supports 12-bit deep color up to 1080p, CEC support, HDMI 3 out port. There isn’t very much info aside from that, but they should start showing up in about a month.

Consumer electronics company NuVision, which specializes in HDTVs, is out with a line up of 10 new models centered around its Lucidium line of HDTVs. Screen sizes range from 22- to 65-inches, according to Dealerscope, and pricing tops out at around $12,000.

The NuVision Lucidium line are all 1080p compatible. Depending upon the model, features possible across these models include Silicon Optix Realta HQV image processing, dual ATSC tuners, up to four HDMI 1.3 inputs and a new cabinet design.

Pandigital has revealed a hybrid HDTV, digital cookbook and picture frame for those who never want to leave their kitchens. It is called, aptly enough, the Pandigital Kitchen HDTV/Digital Cookbook/Digital Photo Frame and pricing is set at around $400.

The Pandigital Kitchen HDTV/Digital Cookbook/Digital Photo Frame offers up kitchen goers a 720p HD television which supports ATSC/NTSC, composite, S-video, component and HDMI. It also comes pre-loaded with recipes, stored in its 512 MB of internal memory, which you can view on-screen and can be loaded with more as one sees fit. And, to sweeten the pot, Pandigital integrated digital picture frame capabilities into this device as well.

Samsung launched some new plasma TV’s in Korea build in collaboration with Electronic Arts to provide a superior “3D” gaming experience. The company released two new PAVV HDTV’s, one measuring 42 inches and the other 50 inches, equipped with USB 2.0, HDMI, HD resolution, the Samsung DNIe+ (Digital Natural Image engine+) anda 1,000,000 to 1 contrast ratio.

Nothing quite says my boardroom is state of the art like a snazzy flat panel display mounted on the wall. NEC is one of the latest to showcase a display for this capacity, announcing today the NEC MultiSync LCD5220. It is priced at around $8,150.

The NEC MultiSync LCD5220 is a 52-inch display NEC says is the first of its type “based on a professional-grade panel.” It’s got a very thin bezel and can be used standalone or as part of multiple-display, video-wall implementations. It supports 1080p and comes with a color calibration kit for self-described “color uniformity and fidelity.”

Sony has just let loose two new and colorful Bravia LCDs towards the lower-end of the Bravia line. The new M1 series sports an array of different colorful frames availble bringing some light fun to the lineup of LCD HDTVs.

The two new models include the 20-inch KDL-20M1 and the 16-inch KDL-16M1 which both have just shy of 180 degree viewing angles at 178 and 1366 x 768 pixel displays. They also both contain 1080p HDMI inputs and the Bravia 2 video engine. The larger of the two houses two 5W speakers and has a 1,200:1 contrast ration while the smaller 16-inch model has a 1,800:1 contrast ratio and two 3W speakers.

Announcing their first offering of LCD HDTV televisions to the market Microtek recently added two new 42″ LCD HDTV’s to their list of plasma television offerings.

Both the L42CX2A and the CL42HA models boast the full-HD 1080p with native 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution in wide-screen 16:9 format. The CL42HA model will be part of the Cineon line of televisions created more for the high-end custom installation market, while the L42CX2A is designed for video enthusiasts, according to Microtek.

“We are proud to offer these new LCD HDTV’s in addition to our plasma HDTVs,” said Parker Plaisted, product brand manager at Microtek. “LCD and plasma have emerged as the top choices for consumers for high-definition televisions because they offer outstanding picture quality with the flat-panel convenience and affordable prices. Some people prefer plasma technology and others LCD technology. By offering both to our customers …