Sharp starts selling 108-inch LCD TV

Sharp today fulfilled promises made last year with news that it will begin selling what's believed to be the world's largest single-panel HDTV. At 108 inches diagonal, the LB-1085's screen is designed with public view in mind and produce a relatively rich picture for a large screen likely to be seen outdoors. While the contrast ratio is limited to 1,200:!, the 1080p image displays with as many as 76 million colors, or far more than the 16.7 million of most LCDs.

The new set is equipped with the same level of input as most of Sharp's regular-sized AQUOS screens and gives the LB-1085 a trio of HDMI connections, dual component inputs, one S-video, dual RCA connections, and computer input through both a DVI video port and a minijack input. Two 15W speakers are mounted underneath the LCD.

Unlike most of Sharp's TV sales, the LB-1085 is primarily built for public use and will make its first appearance on July 19th as it launches at the Shinjuku Piccadilly movie theater in Tokyo. Other countries will have an opportunity to order the set soon at a price of approximately $101,729, with build-to-order he company hasn't said whether it will sell the screen to individual buyers, though Sharp and others have done so with extra-large screens in the past. [via Impress]