DLP bulb burning screen?

On Samsung HL50A650 DLP

I had a bulb replaced back in January and last month started to see what looks like a burn mark starting on the screen...see photo....

You can see the 2 verticle spots that seem like an "8" on the left, white against the black screen, brown against white....and it's getting worse....

ANY ideas on what this may be?

....I have geeksquad coming on Tues to troubleshoot (I'm in month 47 on the 48 month service contract)...and geekonthephone said I may have to be given a replacement...

If I have to, I prefer and will probably go plasma....
Any comments on this model.... PN51E550D....it seems to be okay....

I may be able to get this one too: PN50C7000....any thoughts on this one?


Edited by kitatiger - 8/25/12 at 10:19pm

Well....

Geeksquadguy came the other day

....after calling HIS tech support it was determined/hypothesized that the problem is with the DLP chip....which we are going to replace...
....and maybe it will be the cure-all....

But....when reading others' similar experiences, the probem was described as a loss of pixels...rather than the "smudge" I have on my screen....well we'll see....

...if the chip is not the solution then there's a new TV on the horizon...

An odd thing happened...when the techie went into and left the service menu after doing his diagnostics, all the settings reverted to factory default....and he said it shouldn't have...

...called tech support and they think my service guy probably clicked reset and didn't realize it...I hope so...

Well Geekman came yesterday and removed the offending chip and put in the new one and all is well...
The problem was that in some unexplained way the chip surface got smudged and the smudge showed up on the screen...

MY explanation was that a smurfette lizard got into the back of the set and took to the warm chip for a snooze...little bugger...

Geekman was happy to see that the TV's innerds were otherwize VERY VERY clean....

Here's hoping the TV can go another few years....