At least, this is what statistics imply, according to StatCounter

Apr 12, 2012 17:01 GMT  ·  By

The resolution commonly associated with HD video-capable TVs has apparently become more widespread among displays, around the world, than 1,024 x 768 pixels.

It was only a matter of time before the HD resolution, 1,366 x 768 pixels, became the most commonly used in the world.

Until not too long ago, that position was held by 1,024 x 768 pixels.

Alas, the determination of laptop makers to only use widescreen panels, and the similar habit of TV and monitor makers, simply gave 1,366 x 768 too much of a boost.

In other words, the 1,024 x 768 setting has started on the steady road towards obscurity and, with it, so has the 4:3 image aspect ratio.

"The data reflects a continuing trend of users moving to larger screen resolution sizes," commented Aodhan Cullen, CEO, StatCounter.

"The screen resolution size people are using is a critical factor for developers when it comes to web design, particularly in the case of fixed width web pages."

We can't really say we are particularly thrilled about this turn of events, and that's not because we don't like the higher resolution.

Essentially, we can't claim to be happy to see the 4:3 ratio go. 16:9 is nice enough for cinema-like movie playback, but it doesn't really shine in everything else, like document writing/viewing, etc.

That games have been using HD or full HD resolution is more of a consequence of this phenomenon than a cause.

Nevertheless, StatCounter Global Stats, StatCounter's research arm, freely analyzes website traffic and has been tracking screen resolution since March 2009. 1,024 x 768 fell from 41.8% to 18,6% by March 2012, while 1,366 x 768 rose from 0.68% to 19.28%. The third spot goes to 1,280 x 800 pixels: 13%.

15 billion pages from over three million websites were viewed per month, four billion of which came from the US.