LG 60LW9500 3D LED LCD HDTV First Impressions Review

Audio & Video Ports

The ports on the LG 60LW9500 were not readily discernible, as the TVs were all wall-mounted and complete specs are not yet available. We can make some educated guesses, though. From the side, we could spot three HDMIs and two USBs. It's likely that on the back you'd find a fourth HDMI, cable/antenna, at least one component AV in and one composite AV in, VGA input, a LAN port, and digital audio out.

Internet & Other Media

LG is playing hardball this year with its streaming media. It seemed that everyone at CES realized they had a ways to catch up with Sony, which took huge strides in 2010 to become the number one in "internet TV" with its regular line-up, and then again with the flawed but exciting Sony Google TV.

For 2011, LG introduced full internet browsers (with Flash support) into its top models, including the LG 60LW9500. You'll also have access to a huge selection of streaming media services (Netflix, Hulu, Vudu,etc.), as well as an app store – basically just like all the other TV manufacturers are doing.

What we've learned is that streaming media packages are only as good as their interface. Take the Sony Google TV, which streamed every service under the sun. But navigating the remote control and onscreen menus was intolerably frustrating. LG wasn't demoing its TVs with the final remote control, so it's hard to tell what the interface will be like. They did, however, showcase two alternative remotes: a WiFi-tethered LG phone and the Magic Wand remote (think Nintendo WiiMote and you're on the right track). More on our experiences with this next page.

Placement

The port placement is not something we can comment on yet, not having been able to see the back of the TV. All the high-end LGs of 2010 had a swivel base, however, which makes reaching the rear ports much easier.