Enjoy movies sans black bars with Vizio's Ultra-widescreen 21:9 HDTV

Vizio, the maker of low-cost LCD TVs, has unveiled plans to introduce ultra-widescreen HDTV that displays movies as filmmakers intended for the silver screen. The 50 inch and 58 inch class sizes will be available later this year, and the company plans to showcase a 71-inch version too.

Whether you're watching 2001, Lord of the Rings, Kill Bill, Toy Story 3, or countless other movies, you can watch them in their original aspect ratio and without black bars, the Irvine, California-based Vizio said.

Vizio, known for its low-cost TVs and Blu-ray players, said its Cinema HDTV is an ultra-widescreen TV with a 21:9 aspect ratio and 2560 x 1080 Cinema HD resolution for a wider, more natural and immersive field of view while also playing traditional 16:9 content as well.

A 1.85:1 movie on a 16:9 HDTV will still show some black bars at the top and bottom of the screen. Big-budget Hollywood blockbusters, though, are usually filmed in the much wider 2.35:1 or 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Vizio said its new Cinemawide HDTVs slot in between these CinemaScope aspect ratios perfectly with a 2.37:1 (21:9) aspect ratio.

The company, which also launched a Android smartphone and tablet, said the latest HDTV models also feature Vizio Internet Apps(VIA) in Cinemawide mode for full side-by-side app browsing with 16:9 high-definition video. Search Wiki TV for the actor you just saw, Tweet about the movie you're watching, or even buy tickets to the new sequel through Fandango.

The Cinema HDTVs also feature Theater 3D technology for brilliant picture quality and a superior 3D experience, according to Vizio. Vizio said its Theater 3D technology uses circular polarization, similar to what is found in most 3D movie theaters. This technology offers a brighter, flicker-free image, handles fast motion without blurring, and has a wider horizontal viewing angle compared to Active Shutter technology.

Connected TV's are expected to account for 21 percent of Global TV Shipments in 2010, rising to 122 million units globally by 2014.....and ultra-wide aspect ratio TVs, such as 21:9, and will enable consumers to view their TV content and Internet content simultaneously in harmony, said Paul Gagnon Director of North America TV Market Research, DisplaySearch.