Making good on its promise at CES in January, Sharp just announced the Japanese retail launch of its 108-inch monument to television. The LB-1085 features a 108-ASV 1080p LCD panel with a 400 cd/m2 brightness, 1,200:1 contrast, 6-ms response, and 176-degree viewing angle. Around back you'll find 3x HDMI, 1x DVI, 2x component, and a smattering of other in-and-out. It measures 8.4 x 0.66 x 5.1-feet and weighs 430-pounds (195kg) with an ¥11 million (about $100,000) price tag to match that luxurious heft. Now, anybody want a peanut?

[Via Impress]

Samsung's gettin' busy this morning in Korea with the launch of their 70-inch Full HD LCD television. Not only is it the world's largest commercially available LCD, this 1080p pup also brings a 120Hz refresh along with Samsung's local dimming LED backlighting solution for a reported 500,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio... for whatever that measurement's worth. The LN70F91BD is another ACAP packer featuring 3x HDMI 1.3 terminals and a USB 2.0 jack for purposes unknown. Available in S.Korea only at the moment with worldwide sales starting in the second half of the year. Only ?59,000,000 for the privilege which translates to about $63k or €48k -- chump-change for culturally ambiguous superstars.

[Via AVING]

They've been showing it off for more than a year, now the latest HDTV to wear the "world's largest" crown is up for retail. On sale starting July with delivery in October, JVC's 110-inch HD-110MH80 will throw a 1080p, rear-projected image right in the comfort of your very own digs. Measuring 3-feet deep and 728-pounds, the new RPTC features JVC's D-ILA technology to achieve that 1920 x 1080 resolution and 5000:1 contrast. Priced at ¥6,400,000 or about $53k when she lands Stateside. Oh, anyone else lovin' the remote in that press picture above?

[Via Impress]

We all know how sketchy these "world's largest" claims can be, but Aruba Networks is dubbing its ongoing deployment of WiFi coverage across the gargantuous campus of The Ohio State University just that. While numerous cities (and even the entire country of Singapore) are moving forward with far-reaching wireless access plans, Aruba's "Mobile Edge solution" will reportedly be the most expansive WLAN by the time it's complete. Although the installation is only partially finished, 1,700 access points in over 28 buildings have already been lit, and Ohio State's IT department has plans to cover all 25 million square feet of the main campus with WiFi. Once complete, over 77,000 students and staff will have "ubiquitous wireless access to the university's networks" thanks to the "nearly 10,000" APs that will beam 802.11a/b/g all across OSU. Although the entire rollout won't be finalized until 2011, the 31 Buckeye residence halls will supposedly get blanketed within the next month, but we aren't sure if the 101,568 fans in The 'Shoe can expect unadulterated WiFi access to collegiate message boards or Facebook when Michigan comes to town later this year.

It might not be as fancy as the ongoing plasma and LCD wars for largest display, but rear projection displays can have size wars too, and JVC looks to have the largest yet, at a spankin' 110-inches. The TV uses JVC's proprietary "D-ILA" liquid crystal panel tech, for a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, and pulls 220w of juice for powering all its glorious pixels. As usual, there's not much of a plan yet for commercializing this display -- the main purpose of the prototype is to show off a new screen tech from Toppan Printing that is manufactured as a single component -- but there's always bragging rights and booth extravaganza action to be had.

Sure, those 100-inch LCDs are all well and good if your living room happens to encompass a large international tradeshow at all times, but if you'd prefer an LCD TV you can actually purchase and lug home for reals, Samsung's new 70-incher is your biggest option yet. They're busting out this monster in the first half of 2007, and are packing in all the niceties like a 2000:1 contrast ratio, a sub-8ms response time, 600 nits of brightness and of course a juicy 1080p resolution. The display bests the 65-incher from Sharp which currently holds the LCD throne, and Samsung will be showing it off at the upcoming International Meeting on Information Displays on the 23rd of this month -- where we doubt it will fail to impress.

[Via HD Beat, thanks Nandini]

Apparently bigger is always better in the realm of giant HDTVs, and the leapfrog game to have the largest -- even for just a few months -- continues as Mitsubishi has constructed a baffling 8,066 square-foot display at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan. By far the biggest Diamond Vision unit ever built, it trumps their own creation at Turner Field in Atlanta by spanning 218 feet wide by 37 feet high and allowing for 3 races to be shown at once. The two previous title-holders were Miami's Dolphin Stadium at 137 x 50 feet and Texas' Longhorn Stadium at 134 x 55 feet. Controversy over the true king will surely arise due to Tokyo's set only rising 37 feet in height and rocking an unorthodox 5.89 aspect ratio, but it does indeed sport Hi-Vision (1080), making it a legitmate HDTV. Personally, we'd be able to get more use from a couple plasmas, but if you've got the space acreage, there probably isn't a better way to spend $28 million.

[Via HD Beat]