Hitachi keeps a straight face while claiming their new TV has 8,000,000:1 contrast ratio

OK, this whole contrast ratio thing is getting out of hand. While it could possibly be a convenient way to quickly compare televisions, with the different ways of actually gauging that number abound companies are turning it into a competition to see who can justify the most ludicrous number. Take Hitachi, for example, who claim that their latest TV sports a whopping 8,000,000:1 contrast ratio. Will it make me breakfast as well, Hitachi?

And while I'm sure their LCD panel/LCD projector combo makes for a smashing picture, by advertising it with such a ludicrous figure there's no way we can actually gauge how it compares to other screens. We'll just have to wait and see for ourselves with our own two eyes whether or not this is an actual breakthrough or just a load of marketing hooey. Personally, I'm hoping for the former.

FarEastGizmos, via New Launches