So you’ve given in to current trends and decided to trade in your old boxy television set, for a new, large flatscreen Samsung LCD TV? Great choice! You now not only have one of the latest and greatest pieces of technology, but the chance to view high quality images, and have a cinema-like experience in your own home.

As technology improves, it also seems to give you more options. While your new television offers you a superior viewing and listening experience, it also means a new remote, new buttons and a whole list of new functions — all connected to little icons that you probably haven’t ever seen before!

It may be slightly embarrassing, but if you are completely confused by your new remote you are not the first person and definitely not the last. And though it may seem like an over-complicated new gadget, it is worth knowing all the functions it gives you access to, so you can get the most out of your latest entertainment investment. So let’s get started with the buttons you need the most to improve your experience.

1. The on/off button — usually the big green or red button, is an obvious one, so no explanation required!
2. The guide button — called any number of things, for example, ‘guide’ or ‘EPG’, is a button you definitely don’t want to miss. This introduces a great feature you didn’t have on the old box — a TV guide right in front of you. Press this button to browse through the channels and a listing of what is on now, after that and two programs on. It tells you how long programs air for and when they start and end so you can really get on top of your TV watching.
3. The info button — in addition to the guide, the info button gives you an insight into what a program is about, and what episode is showing.
4. The numbers and channel buttons give you two options for surfing through programs.
5. Input button — on your old TV, you changed from normal TV to AV mode in order to connect to peripherals such as your VCR, now, with so many peripherals able to be connected at once, you need more options. Press the input button to work through any peripherals connected through, AV, HDMI, s-video or other components.
6. Quick view — watching two programs at once? The quick view button on some remotes means you don’t have to cruise through various channels or type in the channel number to go back and forward, simply click ‘quick view’ to go back to the last channel you were watching. This button will also sometimes be called the channel recall button.
7. The menu button — one of the most important buttons, this gives you access to picture, audio and other setting options.
8. The picture button — a quick way to change the vividness of your picture.
9. The picture-in-a-picture button — this great feature lets you watch your main program large, on the full screen, while also having a thumbnail of a second program in the corner of your screen.

Enjoy your new Samsung LCD!

A guide to your LCD remote is a post from: Buy TVs Online

Flatscreen, high definition televisions are now accessible to most people, with the big brands — and some others — offering them in a range of sizes and a variety of costs that can suit most budgets.

In the last ten years, big brands in particular have really jumped on the flatscreen bandwagon, releasing the likes of plasma at exorbitant prices that most consumers could only scoff at. Now, almost ten years down the track, and the technology has advanced — you have letter combinations like LG, LED and Samsung LCD TVs – while the prices have decreased.

So what do the big brands have on offer and what are the best prices?

LG

With a great reputation in Australia, and reputed high quality products, LG offers a range if plasma and LCD televisions at competitive prices. While they don’t directly sell their own products online, like many big brands have taken to, there is no shortage of retailers that see the value in selling them.

A standard 32 inch LG LCD television will retail from between six to seven hundred dollars –on sale, you can often be lucky enough to get them under this, though it does mean a wait until the right time.

LG has a strong warranty, offering ten years on parts.

Sony Bravia

Highly reputable electronics brand Sony offers the Bravia range of LCD televisions. Generally coming at the higher end of the cost scale, the quality of the product is said to be superior, and again the manufacturer’s warranty is lengthy. A Sony Bravia 40 inch LCD will set you back around one thousand, two hundred.

Samsung

One of the most highly competitive ‘big brands’ in terms of cost, Samsung has a strong reputation that precedes it. Selling a range of televisions from plasma and Samsung LCD, through to LED, Samsung is at the cutting edge of technology, at a reasonable price.

Similarly to the brands before it, Samsung offers a comprehensive warranty.

Along with the brands mentioned here, also keep your eye out for Panasonic, NEC and Soniq televisions when making your purchase.

The little guys

Outside of industry giants, the market for lesser known brands, with more competitive pricing — though not as strong reputation — has emerged so everyone has a chance at this technology. While there are those that argue the quality and product isn’t the same standard as the brands renowned for these products, the prices can certainly take the edge off. Shops like Big W, KMart, Jb HiFi and other department stores often provide a good smorgasbord of options, from the big brands — quite competitively priced — through to brands you may never have heard of, at half the price. The real gamble is, do you take a punt, pay less and purchase a brand that doesn’t have a reputation that precedes it, or pay extra and go with a safe option, you know has a solid reputation, and is highly likely to be helpful should anything go wrong with your television?

Big names in big TVs is a post from: Buy TVs Online

So you’ve gone out and bought a new Samsung LCD TV — a nice big one. It may have been a more-expensive-than-usual impulse buy, or something panned without quite doing the research you always would. Either way, you’ve got your TV home and realised it won’t fit comfortably into the room you purchased it for.

Don’t fret — a lot of people have had the same problem. But rest assured, the manufacturer has thought of you.

Television wall mounts are available from any hardware store, electronics store, or likely, from where you bought your television. They come in a range of styles and sizes so you will have no problems finding one to suit the TV that you have. You have the option of something desecrate or decorative. Discrete wall mounts will sit neatly in behind or underneath your television, not visible to those who inspect the room. More decorative options include television cupboards, made to size so you can cover your TV when your lounge room is a place for guests, not for on-screen entertainment. Whichever way you go, you need to be careful mounting the television, as, although lighter than the older models, if not done properly, it will fall damaging the TV and anything under it.
How to mount your television:

1. Select the right spot
   Based on the size of your TV, you may not have a lot of options when it comes to placement, and if this is the case, at the very least, have a measure…and a sit! Measure the wall width and height and pick what you think will be the ideal place for your television. Mark it lightly, and then sit in your favourite viewing chair to make sure it’s not too high or low — you don’t want to strain your neck watching your new TV.
2. Find the nearest wall stud
   A stud is a beam of timber (or other material) that is part of the structural foundation of your house. If your walls aren’t concrete, you will need to ensure your television is mounted to a stud, as any other part of the wall will not support its weight. In order to locate the stud, you can purchase a stud finder at a hardware store — you simply run the device over the wall until a light appears indicating the stud. If you don’t want to use a stud finder, knock on the wall — the stud will be a deeper knock than the hollow wall. Keep in mind electrical switches are often in front of studs. Measure and mark your drill holes and you’re ready to get started.
3. Attach the relevant mount pieces to the television — there will generally be a designated area on your TV to do this. Next, take the wall pieces of the mount, move it until the screw holes align over your marked up stud, and pencil in on the wall where the screw holes should be drilled. Use a level to make sure everything lines up and then a power drill to make your holes. Screw in the wall mount nice and tight, and test to ensure it is secure.
4. Plug in any cords that need to attach to the back of the television, as this can be difficult to do once it is mounted. Get a friend to help you lift the television and mount it — although more sleek, flat screens are heavy and can hurt you if you overestimate your abilities and underestimate their weight. Ensure any safety locks are secured.

You have completed the wall mount, step five — the most important step — enjoy your new Samsung LCD!

Step by step to wall mounting your flat screen is a post from: Buy TVs Online

For most Australian families, the TV room is one of the most important rooms of their home. This room is where they spend time relaxing with their family, laughing and crying together to the performances that flicker on the screen. It’s also a public room, so many families invest a fair bit of money into the room to make it presentable and attractive. We’ve put together a list of the top five tips for making your TV room the best it can be, regardless of what kind of TV you have, be it a 10 year old CRT or a Samsung LCD TV.

Understand how you’ll use the room.

Think about who will be in the room, and how they will want to use it. Do you have young kids who want be able to sit calmly on the couch the whole program and need space to roll around? If so, make sure you allow this activity by providing space around the courch. Alternatively if you have teenage kids or none at all, you might want to pop a coffee table for resting mugs, feet and gaming consoles on. Understanding what you’ll use the room for will ensure you set it up properly.

Remember comfort is the most important factor.

Don’t fall for the interior magazine trick – just because it looks gorgeous doesn’t mean it will be comfortable. Make sure you try out couches how you actually use them, if you’re a slumper or a legs over the arm kind of person, make sure your couch works for this. Also remember that fragile decorations in living rooms are generally a bad idea, because this room is for relaxing, not sitting neatly. Chances are anything fragile wont last long, so why bother? Another consideration for setting up a good TV room is how high maintenance it will be. There will be crowds of people, food andlots of movement in the room, so anything that will need frequent washing, rearranging or dry cleaning is best avoided.

Pick the right TV for your room.

Consider the space you have allocated for your television, and the distance you will be viewing it from. Traditional CRT TV’s require at least a metre between the viewer and the screen, but more up to date TVs like the Samsung LCD TV are more flexible because they don’t have minimum viewing distances, and you aren’t limited to the 42inch+ plasma options. This is ideal for renters and renovators, who need TV rooms that work in any space.

Be smart about the power cords.

If you can’t plug your TV into the wall directly behind your TV, invest in velco covers or another safe way to protect the cords, TV and your family from cord related mishaps.

Consider the lighting

If the room you want to watch TV in is very bright, investing in blinds or heavy curtains or soft light shades is merited. You want to be able to unwind and relax in your TV room without squinting to see the program, or missing subtle clues on screen.

5 Tips for Setting up your TV Room is a post from: Buy TVs Online

Most people have their favourite tv shows. Perhaps a gritty drama or a hysterical comedy, that boosts your day. Who would have thought that a a few years into parenthood, that favourite TV show would include puppets, sing-alongs and brightly coloured numbers bouncing across your high-tech screen, be it a Samsung LCD TV, a plasma plateau of images or a standard CRT TV.

Kids TV shows or DVDs offer parents that rare moment in the day when your child or children is fully occupied and delighted, and briefly detached from their usual source of entertainment, you. But how much TV should you let you kids watch. We’ve put together a summary of the key questions to ask yourself.

How old is your child?

Your child’s age is a good gauge for what kind of programs, and what length of viewing time is appropriate and beneficial for their development. Many parents campaign for no TV for children under the age of two, as this is a critical time for development and learning, and the child may be overwhelmed or confused by the images, music and experience of TV.

It is also recommended that you prevent your child was seeing disturbing images before the age of seven. Seven is the age when children begin to be capable of differentiating between reality and fantasy, or fiction. While they are probably deeply immersed in stories and videos, a disturbing image can be extremely stressful to a child who hasn’t developed the ability to separate what they have seen, from how the world is.

What are you comfortable with your child watching?

Most parents are uncomfortable with 3 main features of TV: violence, swearing and sexualisation. Make sure you preview several episodes of a series, and seek your friends advise if you’re still unsure of the content. If you have any hesitations, don’t show it to your child. Time slots are usually a helpful gauge of  target age groups, but don’t rely on this alone.

Remember to  stay in contact:

Watch TV with your child, and discuss what you have seen. If your child seems subdued, quiet or alarmed after a program, ask them to tell you what has happened. Many children may stay quiet at this point to avoid re-living it, so keep searching till you find out if something has upset them, and then either talk to them about it or distract them in some other way until they’re ready to talk it out.

It is important to note that this debate sparks fierce fights, so you should read in glowing, or damning advice with that in mind. Clearly you want to be showing violent action films to your two year old, no matter how good your new Samsung LCD or high-tech screen may make these scenes appear.

Remember that there is a steadily increasing amount of study and understanding of very junior development, that is leading to increasing amount of quality material being created for very little ones. It is always a good idea to discuss with your friends who are also parents about their practices, and you’ll find that your child’s day care or preschool supervisor is a hub of knowledge and well worth a chat with.

TV and Kids — How to Find the Balance is a post from: Buy TVs Online

Every list of tips, advice and key questions you’ll see about how to select the best TV for you will address the size question. How big is the space your TV needs to fit into? How big do you want it to be? Both are key questions, that will contribute to your overall satisfaction with your TV, whether it’s off and especially when it’s on and glowing with images and stories. Whether you’re leaning towards a CRT TV, or a more high-end machine like a Samsung LCD TV you will need to consider the size question. We put together a list of questions that you’ll need to consider to select the perfect size for optimum viewing pleasure.

Where is your TV going to go, and does this create size limitations?

If you’re going to pop the TV on a table in the corner, you can go for whatever size your table can hold. But for most of us, we’ve integrated our TV into the design of the living space. If you have a TV cabinet, a bookshelf or a particular space on the wall set aside for it, then you need to consider what  size will fit. A word of warning: The biggest size you can fit into that space might not be the most aesthetically appealing, so think about how big your TV needs to look, as well as be.

How far away is your TV from your couch, bed or wherever you’re going to watch it from?

With the classic standard boxy TV, the basic guideline of 5 x the screen size equals the distance you watch from is still valid. So if you’ve got a 50cm screen, you can watch it satisfactorily from 2.5 metres away. This is slightly different for LCD screens/high definition flat screen TVS as the resolution is higher, which means that the picture is more accurate, and you can watch it closer. If you have limited space, you’ll find that a LCD screen of a larger size will still work, despite your proximity to the screen, so you wont need to compromise on image.

Who will be watching your TV?

If the TV is just for you, you could choose a tiny box option. But if you want a TV to snuggle up in front of with your partner you’ll probably want a screen that makes you feel like you’ve got your own private cinema, so opt for a larger size. Most importantly to the size question, if  you’re whole family watches TV together, or groups bigger then three (say your kids have sleep over parties) then a big screen will engage all the viewer better – which might just keep you sane  during sleep over season!

Make sure you consider all of the above when calculating the size of your TV. Remember also that the quality of your TV matters in the size question. If you invest in a quality TV like one with a Samsung LCD screen, it doesn’t matter how big or small you go, because the image is so good.

3 Great Tips to Buy the Right LCD TV is a post from: Buy TVs Online

Flat screen TVs burst onto the stage a few years ago, and have been going from strength to strength since then. But many people are still unsure about how to assess the decision between a flat screen TV, or a standard boxy set that costs a fair bit less. We’ve put together this list to help you think through the benefits of a standard, quality flat screen TV like a Samsung LCD TV and make an informed decision for your next entertainment investment.

The weight and size benefits of flat screen TVs:

Flat screen TVs need less space in your living area, and they are considerably light then the CRT (standard tube television) option. The lighter weight means that they are easier to transport home, and move about your home. This is an important consideration for families and renters. Anyone who has lost a TV because a teenage son thought he’d just move it somewhere briefly and dropped it, knows that heavy TV’s fall harder, and are more easily damaged.

The aesthetic benefits of flat screen TVs:

The elegant and slim line look of a flat screen TV far outstrips the dominant boxy aesthetic of a CRT television. Not only do they look better standing alone, they’re also easier to integrate into your living rooms design. They can be easily tucked into a bookshelf or TV cabinet, if you don’t want your TV to be the focal point of the room.

The environmental benefits of flat screen TVs:

This is an especially important consideration if you’re buying a set of TVs for your office, institution or home. Flat screen televisions use considerably less power then the standard CRT televisions. While the cost of an flat screen TV is higher, the electricity bill savings in these uncertain utility rate times is well worth the extra investment.

The image benefits of flat screen TVs:

Flat screen TVs such as the Samsung LCD options ensures that your picture remains focused, and the colours are deeper, especially the darker colours. Not only that, but the image will be more accurate, the edges will be clearer and the viewing experience more engaging. Flat screen television are also the best option for gamers, who need higher resolution images for the lower quality images that are often static during game play.

The image quality debate:

We should warn you that there are camps of CRT defenders who argue that flat screen TVs are more prone to interruption. While this might be true with some models, it doesn’t trump the superior depth of colour and the unique ability a flat screen TV has to display straight lines as exactly that, as opposed to the curved TV screen of the CRT television.

In conclusion, the benefits of flat screen TVs back up the price difference, and the constantly rising popularity of flat screen TVs.  If you haven’t considered one before, make sure you do next time you are looking for the best TV for your needs, because we’re confident it’ll be a flat screen one!

The Benefit of Flat-screen TVs is a post from: Buy TVs Online

People often underestimate the degree of consideration you need to use when selecting their next TV. It’s not simply a question of measuring the size of the gap you’ve got, and hitting up the local electronic store for whatever is on sale and that size. You can do it that way, but why would you spend good money on something that isn’t perfect for your needs? Especially when you consider your opportunity to buy cost-competitive TVs online, and the rapid pace of technology development. We’ve put together this list of the top five tips you should consider when buying your  next TV, whether it’s a gorgeous Samsung LCD TV or a big plasma screen.

Research before you decide on your budget, then stick to it.

Often people make the mistake of setting a budget before they’ve worked out what they’re looking at. This will help you set an accurate budget, and assess what’s on offer and what features you may be after more logically, then picking your TV to match your budget. Once you’ve worked out the ballpark figure that you want to stick to, you can then focus your search on that particular price bracket, with a well-rounded understanding of the market.

Analyse the room you’re going to put the TV in.

Does your TV need to blend in with the design of your TV-room? Will it need to sit on a table, fit into a wall bracket or a TV cabinet? This will help you identify the non-negotiable of your TV search. If you are looking for a replacement television, don’t just go for the same model, or the same brand. Consider why you chose the initial TV, and how it works in the space. Another key element if the room you need to be aware of the light in the room, because this will influence whether you select a LCD or a Plasma TV. If you’re sitting quite far from the TV, opt for a TV that has more pixels per screen, as this will make the picture clearer and more defined.

Think about  the benefits of LCD vs. Plasma TVs

Both options can be mounted on a wall, or set on a table. Both have bright clear pictures,  and neither is better known for technical issues. So what’s the difference? Plasma’s only come 42 inches or larger, so if you have limited space then it may not work for you. Another key difference is that Plasma’s reflect light, where as LCD have built in anti-glare protection. So if you ever watch TV during the day, in a room with considerable light, you may want to consider a Samsung LCD tv so you don’t spend the whole time shifting around trying to escape the glare and see the picture.

Remember when hunting for your next TV, to do your research thoroughly and stay calm and relaxed through out the process, so you don’t make a desperation purchase or get sucked in by a talented sales person. Research the resolution and contrast ratios of your TV shortlist and make sure you research online forums for other customer’s feedback.

3 Tips for Buying Your Next TV is a post from: Buy TVs Online

Too many people are familiar with the incredible disappointment and frustration of poor television reception – even after purchasing a brand new, state of the art TV, such as the Samsung LCD, or a sophisticated amplifier in an effort to improve the signal received. Unfortunately, this solves the problem in very few cases and can sometimes exacerbate the problem. Low or weak signals result in poor reception account for approximately 15-20% of cases with issues such as signal overload, electromagnetic interference and multipath reception (ghosting) affecting the remainder.

Fortunately, costly and ineffective approaches to solving poor television reception can be avoided. Naturally, there is no one solution that will fix all problems and different symptoms of poor reception will benefit from different responses.
An antenna designed to receive the signal from a transmitting antenna should be capable of picking up energy from radiated waves and generating signals which have adequate strength to feed into the antenna input of a television set. The television will then use the signal to show the television station’s pictures and sound with excellent quality. Frustratingly though, this is not always the case.

Problem:  Weak Signal Reception

Weak signals can result from a site being positioned down in a valley enclosed by a sizeable hill, behind a group of buildings or a forest of trees – all of these positions can block the signal an antenna receives from a transmitting tower.

Solution:

Make sure you have a good quality outside antenna. A good quality antenna is one that has high gain (designed to be effective in picking up passing radio waves from all directions, but particularly from its front). The antenna should be set as high off the ground as possible, in an effort to locate stronger signals.

The inclusion of extra elements, such as one or more rods or a piece of rectangular mesh used to form a reflector, can assist the antenna to be less sensitive to waves coming from the rear and sides, but more effective to waves coming from the front. Although these antennas can be cumbersome and large, positioned as high as possible, they offer the best and most cost-effective solution to poor reception in areas with a weak signal.

Problem:  I have a high gain antenna but still do not have good television reception.

Solution:

High gain antennas are directional. This means that you will need to ensure that it is pointed directly at the station that you want to receive; otherwise it is quite likely to pick up signals and interference from other directions.

Problem:  I want to pick up weak signals from more than one television station, but they are all in different directions.

Solutions:

1)   You may enjoy a successful result if you use a single high gain antenna with a remote controlled rotator system. Such a system will allow the antenna to swing around to meet the signal for whichever television station you want to watch. A further benefit of this approach is that modern rotator systems have a memory which stores the bearing for the correct position of each station; with just the press of a button, the antenna will swing to the correct position for the station that you want to view.

2)   An alternative approach is to use a number of fixed high gain antennas, with each one pointing at a particular station. The signals for these stations can either be selected by a set-top box or a diplexer (a combined device). Although this type of antenna system can be a little expensive, it will almost invariably deliver superior results.
Problem:  I have an indoor set top antenna with rods and a dish, but this doesn’t greatly improve my television reception.

Solution:

These antennas are really only suitable and useful for situations where there is a strong signal and minimal noise. Regrettably, they often fail to pick up enough signal but do pick up excessive noise in low signal areas.

It can be incredibly frustrating to have a top quality television, such as the Samsung LCD TV, and be unable to obtain excellent picture and sound quality as a result of poor reception. The antenna that is used is absolutely critical and the suggested solutions presented here will hopefully help you to quickly overcome any problems so that your viewing experience is  as pleasurable and stress-free as possible.

How to Get Better Television Reception is a post from: Buy TVs Online

New generation televisions are not only superior in picture and sound quality, they are also far more sleek and sophisticated in design and appearance. Contemporary televisions, such as the Samsung LCD TV, offer dual benefit in that they have a larger screen but have an incredibly thin profile. After using bulky, box-like television sets for so many years, it’s hard to believe that so much technology can be contained within such a streamlined unit.

Owning a TV such as a Samsung LCD, presents a ‘pleasant’ problem – where to place the television. Essentially, the question is: ‘Do I position the television on a purpose built television stand or have it wall mounted?’ It is a question to be considered carefully.
The Free-standing TV

In a large room that can accommodate a large piece of furniture, a TV stand can look very effective. Today, the majority of television stands are crafted to fit into another piece of furniture, such as a sideboard or a chest of drawers. In actual fact, the possibilities of where a free standing TV can be placed are many; a chest, table or shelf can also become a stand for an LCD TV.

Fortunately, televisions such as a Samsung LCD can be securely fitted to such pieces of furniture. Some are designed to be mounted to the back of pieces of furniture so that the stand is fixed with the ability to swivel and tilt so that it is easily adjusted to accommodate the viewing of all in the room.

Another option is a more traditional free-standing device that allows the user to position the plasma on top of a cabinet.

However, a piece of hardware that that mounts within a cabinet and hides the plasma when it is not in use is the most popular. This modern and convenient piece electronically opens doors at the top of the cabinet and enables the LCD to rise from the cabinet and stop at the viewing height most desired. As you would expect, a stand that is able to conceal and reveal a television in this way is more expensive than a wall bracket.

The Wall-mounted TV

For many people, the wall-mounted LCD television offers a new angle for viewing. Occupying a higher position on the wall, the television can then be viewed from multiple locations in the room. The plasma TV wall bracket secures the television to the wall safely and effectively.

Generally speaking, there are five main types of wall bracket:

1)     A Dual Arm Wall Mounting Bracket – enables the plasma or LCD TV to be positioned close to the wall or extended out from it. This wall bracket also allows the TV to tilt and swivel and cold hold weight of up to one hundred and fifty pounds.

2)     Flat Wall Mounting Bracket – similar to a painting or large framed photograph, this fixed wall mount attaches the TV to the wall.

3)     Single Arm Wall Mounting Bracket – this wall mount also allows the TV to be tilted and swivelled, but can carry less weight than the Dual Arm Wall Mounting Bracket.

4)     Low Profile Tilt Mounting Bracket – This tilting mount allows the LCD to fit snugly against the wall. With a limited range of tilt, it can still carry up to one hundred and fifty pounds of weight

5)     Ceiling Mounting Bracket – This bracket is suitable for hanging the television from a cathedral or flat ceiling and allows for the TV to swivel and tilt to the user’s prime and most comfortable viewing angle.
Both free-standing and wall-mounted televisions have their benefits and drawbacks. Ultimately, it is the choice of the LCD user and with televisions such as the Samsung LCD, possibilities can be explored and tried so that viewer comfort and access to the screen is maximised. Having said this, when comparing the two possibilities, the wall bracket is often preferred as it is less expensive, can be configured to the wall or ceiling in a variety of ways, is easily obtainable and many people are able to install it themselves.

Wall-mounted TV VS Free-standing TV is a post from: Buy TVs Online