Home Entertainment

Samsung the LN55B650 LCD HDTV comming attraction

2009-05-21T06:55:00.002+07:00

The Samsung LN55B650 is the latest LCD HDTV that features 100,000:1 contrast ratio, 1080p resolution, 120Hz, and Medi@2.0; Medi@2.0 allows users to receive Internet content from Yahoo! and Flickr onscreen. With DLNA-certified connectivity, users can also remote access their PC media and stream them to the TV. At press time, the Samsung LN55B650 retails at USD2,999.99.

Samsung LN55B650 55-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color is 55″ LCD TV.If you haven’t seen our new Touch of Color™ design, you haven’t seen an HDTV this beautiful. A hint of rich red in the bezel creates a sophisticated look. The Media2.0™ feature lets you access countless hours of content from Yahoo! and Flickr. Auto Motion Plus™120Hz technology renders the most lifelike action. And DLNA technology means you can harness your entire home network through your HDTV. Sit back and watch your favorite shows and movies in amazing high definition with the LN55B650 HDTV.

key specifications

* Screen Size : 54.6″
* Resolution : 1920 (H) x1080 (V)
* Dynamic Contrast Ratio : 100,000:1

Touch of Color™

Touch of Color
Make a statement with SAMSUNG’s new Touch of Color™ design. It features a hint of color naturally blended into the traditional piano black frame. Transforming our already stylish TVs into a work of art, it truly is unlike anything you’ve ever seen.
medi@2.0™
Medi@2.0™ lets you enjoy more with Internet TV Internet® TV1 which allows you to receive content via Yahoo!,® Flickr,® on screen. It also includes a content library so you can enjoy pre-loaded content, such as cooking recipes and fitness exercises. Plus, DLNA CERTIFIED™ connectivity lets you remotely access your PC’s personal media so that you can download music, video, and photos and enjoy them anywhere in the home your TV is. Finally, USB 2.0 multi-media center lets you connect a thumb drive or a digital camera quickly and easily.

1 Internet access and Ethernet connection or wireless LAN required. Wireless access also requires Samsung Linkstick.
100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio

100,000:1 contrast ratio
Contrast and brightness levels achieve new heights in this LCD TV. Watch movies and shows come to life with enhanced details in very dark or bright scenes. Enjoy a more realistic, sharper picture quality that’s sure to catch your eye.

1080p resolution

1080p
Enjoy outstanding clarity and resolution with this SAMSUNG LCD HDTV. Images are crisper, sharper, with superior details.
auto motion plus™ 120Hz

120Hz
SAMSUNG LCD HDTVs deliver smooth motion and crisp picture quality that make every detail crystal clear. Your action-packed sports and movies have never looked this real. Auto Motion Plus 120Hz™ technology virtually eliminates any motion blur and creates smooth transitions between frames. What’s the secret? Auto Motion Plus calculates the image between frames and inserts it, creating a non-repetitive transition from one to the next. The result is a clearer picture you have to see to believe.
ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR compliant
By being ENERGY STAR compliant you are assured that your Samsung model is helping the environment by using less energy while saving you money. ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy promoting energy efficiency.

Tips to select HDTV

2009-05-11T15:53:00.001+07:00

LCD or Liquid Crystal Display is a technology that is currently being integrated into computer monitors and televisions. TV LCD flat screen has become the latest in the market for gadgets. LCD TV emerged as a competitor of the plasma television. Compared with the plasma TV, LCD screens are lighter and have greater durability. These LCD TVs are the preferred choice of many TV buyers.

Size

Select an LCD TV based on the size of your room. LCD TV display with 20 to 27 inches can be viewed comfortably at a distance of 2.5 to 5 feet. You should place TVs with a screen between 32 and 37 inches, at least six feet from your seat. 42 to 46 inch TV should be seen at a distance of 10 to 14 feet. 50-inch LCD TV should be placed at least 12 feet from the viewer.

If you have very large space in your home, you can opt for 55-inch LCD TVs. However, the best image quality is ensured by LCD TVs under 37-inch displays.

Image Resolution

Better quality images are produced by the LCD TV capable of 1080p resolution images. These models are labeled as "Full HD". However, the relatively less expensive 720p LCDs, HD can satisfactorily deal with digital signals broadcast, Blu-ray or DVD players. The LCD TV models are tagged "HD Ready".

TV

For the best quality picture from your LCD TV, you need a cable connection. The connection cable should be ideal for receiving HD signals. If the LCD TV model has built-in ATSC tuners, it can receive HD signals through antennas. Sometimes, cable and ATSC tuners are packed with television.

Installation

Depending on the dimensions of your piece and your interior decorating ideas, choose the wall mount for your TV. Flat Wall Mount is the most popular. If you use a wall mount tilt, you can view the TV from any part of the room. The table may also be used for viewing TV.

Top 32 LCD HDTV Secrets

2009-05-01T21:09:00.000+07:00

If you are contemplating the purchase of 32 LCD HDTV model, you may be the choice for the good some reasons. Significantly the exchange of a series of HDTV will be the fine level, given that the United States will soon be advertising all of its television stations in this format. For one, the TV cause less energy to numerous correspondents that their party, such as plasma display.

If you acquired the 32 LCD HDTV arrangement, you are able to locate it on the partition just as you have the plasma set. The difference is that LCD monitors under lots of mass are no more fragile than you may be able to be more convinced of the setting yourself.

Other good reasons to take a 32 LCD HDTV model that most of the weaknesses in the previous categories have been modified or improved in the new forms. For example, one disadvantage to be a lack of strength in the weakness of the black on the screens.

Accordingly, the glare can be a problem, and some of the color contrast was lost. The new 32 models of LCD HDTV have adapted the depth of black is no longer a problem.

Again, this was largely corrected in the latest releases, and now the majority of its kind on the market | shop | store | market] can show a wider scope.

A limitation in the determination of 32 LCD HDTV could be the end of the screen. Before choosing this range, you must ensure that he is fit to you. You need to identify the extent of your seat and your TV.

When the vastness is between four as well as eight feet, you need to be able to take pleasure in a 32 LCD HDTV with no difficulty. When the expanse is above eight feet, you’ll require to opt the larger display size.

LG 19LU55 19-Inch 720p LCD HDTV

2009-04-24T23:25:00.001+07:00

Part of LG’s new range this 19 inch LCD television would be perfect for the kitchen or bedroom. It features an unusual transparent design wrapped in a white and orange exterior with a swivel stand and a good range of features. The resolution is 1366 x 768 pixels with an aspect ratio of 16:9, brightness of 450 cd/m2 and a dynamic contrast ratio of 8000:1.

It has a 178 degree viewing angle, built in NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuners and an invisible speaker system which supports Dolby Digital 5.1 and features a surround sound mode. There are two HDMI ports and it can also be hooked to your PC and double up as a monitor. The 24 frames per second cinema mode makes it ideal for watching movies. Smaller high definition televisions are improving all the time and there is obviously a lot of demand out there. This model looks like it will do well but the price tag of around $450 will give some people pause for thought.

Why You An Need LCD TV Stand To Go with Your LCD Television

2009-04-22T11:06:00.000+07:00

The purchase of flat screen television has prompted a surge of TV stands to go with them. LCD television sales are at an all time high and consequently LCD TV stands are not far behind. Its almost imperative that you buy a TV stand when purchasing a new Flat panel TV.

More often than not people decide to go purchase a new Plasma Television to go in their living room and forget that the existing television stand they have is probably too small. Not only are the TV stands too small but they are more than likely a not so desirable brown or black wood veneer.

With so many styles of Television stands on the market its hard to know which one is right for you. There are contemporary TV stands that go great with some of the newer style plasma televisions. Stainless steel TV stands are a nice touch in any living room. Tempered glass TV stands are very decorative and sometimes you can get them surrounded by various hardwoods.

Designer TV stands come in various colors, shapes and sizes. It is common to see a solid wood oak TV stand displayed in your local Circuit City or Best Buy. Maple and mahogony are also very common TV stand finishes as well as espresso. They give that comfortable warm look in your living room that most people desire.

TV stands available today include many options such as a 60 degree swivel, angled corners and sonic isolation pads that stabilize the shelves so the TV stays stable. Cable management is also taken care of with audio video storage built into the TV stand.

Television stands can be a bit pricey but wouldn’t you rather have a reliable proven brand name TV stand such as Bush Furniture, Tech Craft, Atacma Audio and Bello TV stands. These brand name manufacturers take quality craftsmanship to a whole new level with design engineers unmatched in their field.

Some of the best and reliable television stands on the market can be purchase at your local electronics stores like Walmart, Best Buy and HH Gregg to name a few. They always have a decent selection of TV stands However, your best prices and selection of TV stands is always going to be the internet. They have the most complete assortment of styles to accommodate your needs.

One of the perks of buying corner TV stands online is you can compare models and brands as well as research reviews on every television stand you find. This allows you to have buyer confidence in the product you select as well as a great warranty to help make you comfortable in your new plasma TV stand purchase.

Shock Absorber Boosts Up LCD Performances

2009-04-22T09:18:00.001+07:00

Taica Corp developed a resin material that is manufactured based on a soft gel material made mainly from silicone and helps improve the luminance and contrast ratio of liquid crystal displays.

The company aims to release the product by the end of 2009.

Taica has already commercialized the gel material for use in heat dissipation and protection of electronic parts from electromagnetic waves. This time, the company developed a material suitable for use in displays by improving the additives added to the gel material.

The main features of the new material are as follows. It has (1) a high transmittance of 99% or higher in the visible light range (380-780nm), (2) a refraction index equivalent to that of acrylic material and (3) excellent shock absorbing characteristics, stress relaxation properties, durability and a high resistance to light.

The LCD luminance will be improved by about 10% when the new material is used, for example, for the air gap between the front acrylic plate and the polarizer. By replacing the air gap with the material, which has a refraction index equivalent to that of acrylic material, reflection and scattering of light on the interface can be reduced, thereby enhancing the luminance, according to the company.

The new material also contributes to the improvement of contrast ratio. When it is used between the backlight source, such as LEDs, and the acrylic light guide plate, etc, it will improve the light utilization efficiency so that the LCD luminance will be increased by about 15%, Taica said.

Moreover, when the material is attached to the display surface, it helps improve the viewing angle and the shock resistance while reducing the parallax, which poses a problem when a touch panel is mounted on the display.

Meanwhile, Taica exhibited the material at an exhibition of displays currently taking place in Tokyo. The company laid the gel material (with a thickness of 2cm), which is the base material of the new resin, on the floor in its booth and demonstrated that a raw egg dropped from several meters above the floor does not break on the material. The demonstration attracted the visitors' attention.

"A raw egg dropped from the sixth floor (18m above ground) will end up standing still on the material without breaking," the company said regarding the shock absorbing characteristics of the gel material.

The effect achieved using the new material between the front acrylic plate and the polarizer (when the new material is used on the right-hand side of the screen)

The thickness of the black portion in the center of the screen corresponds to the distance between the front acrylic plate and the polarizer. The air gap is provided on the left half side, while the new material is used on the right half.

32 LCD HDTV model,What is it?

2009-04-21T10:37:00.001+07:00

The Good

Greatest picture characteristic; all previous feebleness have been fixed; able to be hung on the partition or plafond.

The Bad

Monitor dimension possible be too tiny for various areas.

The Bottom Line
A 32 lcd hdtv mode is the well decision for rooms with circumscribed place. The picture quality is amazing as well as the technology just stays progressing.

Review

If you’re thinking about buying a 32 LCD HDTV model, you might be making a good choice for several reasons. Obviously, switching to an HDTV set is going to be a good idea given that the United States will soon be broadcasting all of its television channels in this format. For one, the televisions require a lot less power to run than do their counterparts, such as plasma screens.

When you have a 32 LCD HDTV set, you can hang it on the wall just as you could a plasma set. The difference is that LCD screens weight a lot less and are not as fragile so you can be more confident about hanging them yourself.

Other excellent explanations to opt the 32 LCD HDTV model are that all of the feebleness obtained in the former sorts have been adjusted or progressed in recent types. For example, one of the downside used to be the lack weaknesses of intensity in the black color on the displays.

As a result, glare could be a problem and some of the color contrast was lost. Newer models of the 32 LCD HDTV have adjusted the depth of the black so this is no longer a problem.

Also, this has been on the whole fixed in the newer models plus nowadays a good number of the models on the market|shop|store|marketplace] allow for the bigger showing variety.

One restriction in taking a 32 LCD HDTV can be the size of the display. Before selecting this dimension, you must confirm it to be going to run fit for your place. To recognize you must calculate the distance between your seats plus your television.

When the expanse is between four and eight feet, you have to be able to take pleasure in a 32 LCD HDTV with no problem. While the expanse is over eight feet, you’ll would to take the greater display dimension.

HDTV Reviews & HDTV Buyers Guide

2009-04-19T19:15:00.001+07:00

What is HDTV?

The best way to explain HDTV is to compare it to what your used to now, which is your current television. Most likely your current tv set is the standard analog CRT or Cathode Ray Tube. Most standard tv sets have 525 scan lines for the image and around 500 dots or pixels per each horizontal line. This resolution is good for viewing analog signals but not as good as your computer monitor, for example. You computer monitor is most likely capable of at least 1024x768 pixels. That is a huge difference in quality of the viewable image. Tthe lowest resolution of an HDTV is 1280x720 pixels progressive. But most if not all HDTV sets today are capable of at least 1920x1080 interlaced.

You are probably wondering "ok what is this progressive and interlaced mumbo-jumbo?" These are the types of scanning system the set uses. In the US there are 30 frames of a video image shown per second to the viewer. In "Interlaced" format, the screen shows every odd line at one scan of the screen and follows that up with the even lines in a second scan. With this format the screen shows one half of the frame every sixtieth of a second. For smaller screens this is less noticeable. But, as screens get larger, the problem with interlacing the image is a flicker type effect. This may be more noticeable to some people and less to others. Progressive scanning shows the entire image every sixtieth of a second. This provides a much smoother picture. However the progressive format use slightly more bandwidth and at higher resolutions is usually more expensive.

The current formats used in HDTV are:

* 720p - 1280x720 pixels progressive
* 1080i - 1920x1080 pixels interlaced (most common)
* 1080p - 1920x1080 pixels progressive (usually more expense but becoming very popular)

There are several types of HDTV on the market today. The main types are as follows: 1) CRT Picture Tube - a higher resolution version of your standard television set. 2) Rear Projection TVs - gives a high quality image at much larger screen sizes. 3) LCD - gives a very clear image but usually at a much higher cost especially as the screen size increases. 4) LCD Projection - this is similar to regular LCD but the image is projected instead of using one LCD panel for the entire size of the screen. 5) DLP Projection - the newest type which uses a special chip with tiny mirrors that is projected giving a very brilliant crisp image even at large screen sizes.

For a more detail description and the pros and cons of each type, please click on the type you are interested in from the menu bar on the left. You will also find user reviews and buying guides for each type and model.
DTV vs EDTV vs HDTV

If you are subscribed to cable tv or use a satellite service, then you probably already have digital television or DTV. The largest difference between DTV and a standard analog signal is that the signal is digitally encoded. This means there will be no "snow" or interference artifacts in the image. The problem is that the signal is usually converted to an analog format to be compatible with your existing tv sets. Although much better than an analog signal to begin with, you could still get some interference.

Your DVD player is a good example of pure DTV. You probably notice how clear a DVD plays compared to an analog VHS VCR. While normal DTV is much better than what we have saw 10 years ago, it is lacking significantly compared to HDTV.

Most of today's DVD players are capable of progressive scan at a 480p resolution which is called Extended Definition Television or EDTV. This gives you a step up from standard DTV format and at a wider screen format (16x9) capabilities. While this gives a better quality and theater like image, it still does not compare to HDTV. Be careful when shopping for a widescreen HDTV and not to mix it up with EDTV. It does not mean you should avoid EDTV, which is much less expensive than HDTV, but you do not want to confuse the two.

HDTV is a format of DTV but at much higher resolutions. Most standard DTV signals use the normal television resolution of about 500x525 pixels which is quite small compared to the 1920x1080 pixels of most HDTV sets. The larger resolution will show much more detail and sharpness in the picture. In fact it is very life like. While even standard DTV will show a nice and clear image of say a news caster. You can tell the news caster is wearing a nice black suit. But imagine not only seeing the color of the suit but the actually lining and thread in the suit just like if you were standing right in front of him. This is what HDTV will bring to you.
Screen Size or Aspect Ratio

All TV sets come in two 'Aspect Ratios.' Aspect Ratio refers to the ratio between the horizontal (width) measurement and the vertical (height) measurement of the screen. A normal television has an aspect ratio of 4:3 which means it is 4 units wide by 3 units high. Although HDTV can come in this ratio, especially with CRT types, most use the 16:9 aspect ratio which is 16 units wide by 9 units high. This gives you the widescreen viewing just like in a movie theater.

A typical TV broadcast uses an aspect ratio of 1.37:1 which is 1.37 times as wide as it is high. This converts well to a standard television set which is 1.33:1 or a 4:3 aspect ratio. However, most theater movies are 1.85:1 or 2.35:1. To convert this to the 4:3 aspect ratio of a normal television set the image must be panned and scanned. This means the image must be cropped down to the 4.3 size of the screen eliminating part of every frame of the video or letterbox it which means to show the full image, but only in the middle of the screen, causing black bars at the top and bottom.

Most HDTV screens have a much wider aspect ratio of 16:9 (1.85:1). This is how it can display such a high resolution. Widescreen movies will not be panned and scanned so you get the full picture as if you were watching it at the theater. And even if the picture is in a 2.35:1 ratio, it will convert much better than on a 4:3 standard television set.

Rear Projection HDTV Short Review

2009-04-19T18:27:00.000+07:00

Many are predicting the demise of rear projection as prices of big-screen LCD and plasma TVs continue with their fast downward trend. Market analysts are predicting that 2009 would probably be the last year for rear projection HDTVs. Truly unfortunate if this were to happen as rear projection HDTV has still a lot to offer in terms of picture quality without breaking one’s bank account.

Yet we cannot but admit that with major brands like Sony, Panasonic, Hitachi, Toshiba and Philips out of the rear projection HDTV market, rear projection HDTV is approaching the end of the line.

This means that for those looking for a large screen rear projection HDTV, the only real remaining brands are Samsung and Mitsubishi. Still, these two TV giants are delivering rear projection HDTVs whose picture performance is among the best, irrespective of technology.

Sets like the 61-inch Samsung HL61A750with its LED light technology - available at amazon for around $1,500, and the standard lamp-based Mitsubishi 65-inch WD-65735 DLP TV - available at $1,400, are proving to be among the best sellers within the rear projection HDTV category. You see, with present day pricing, you can enjoy a 60-inch plus premium rear projection HDTV from a top brand like Samsung or Mitsubishi for the price of a 46-inch LCD HDTV!

It is interesting to note here Samsung’s press announcement during the release of its present 2008 DLP rear projection HDTV line. As long as major rear projection HDTV makers are still in the game, there is no reason why you should not consider a large rear projection HDTV as an inexpensive option to a big-screen premium-quality HDTV.

In particular, rear projection HDTVs have got slimmer over the last couple of years, making floor space requirements less of an issue. The latest slim line Series 6 and Series 7 1080p HDTVs in the 2008 Samsung DLP TV lineup start at 12.7-inches in depth for the 50-inch HL50A650, while Samsung top-seller in the 2008 lineup, the 61-inch HL61A750 Samsung LED DLP TV already referred to above, is just 14.4-inches deep. Furthermore, the latest use of LED light technology to replace the traditional lamp color wheel set-up in DLP HDTVs as is the case with Samsung LED DLP TVs, has led to rear projection HDTVs that are capable of exceptional picture performance, with deep blacks, accurate colors, significantly lower power consumption and faster startup times, and equally important, extended lifetime of the LED light pack. Wobulation in rear projection HDTVs helps create a more film-like image with no apparent pixel breakup than that possible with plasmas and LCDs.

And as if this is not enough, all 2008 premium rear projection HDTVs are also 3-D enabled. Both Samsung Series 6 and Series 7, and Mitsubishi Series WD-735, WD-736, and Diamond Series 835 come as 3-D HD ready.

This does not mean that rear projection HDTV is the perfect display technology; it has its disadvantageous as well. Rear projection TVs also tend to suffer from picture geometry errors and brightness uniformity especially as one moves away from the center.

HDTV Past, Present and Future - Part II History

2009-04-18T11:29:00.000+07:00

In December 2002, an industry consortium of cable multiple system operators and consumer electronics manufacturers sent a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to the FCC detailing their plans to implement DTV / HDTV cable systems and related hardware. In this MOU, there was a specific time table to rollout a new generation of displays that feature digital video inputs with HDCP:

480i grade televisions - none.

480p grade televisions - as follows (either DVI or HDMI with HDCP), or 480P Y,Pb,Pr (analog) interfaces:

o With screen sizes 36 inches and above -- 50% of a manufacturer's models offered for sale effective July 1, 2004 ; 100% of such models effective July 1,2005 .

o With screen sizes 32 to 35 inches -- 50% of a manufacturer's models offered for sale effective July 1, 2005 ; 100% of such models effective July 1, 2006 .

720p/1080i (HDTV) grade televisions - as follows (either DVI or HDMI interfaces with HDCP):

o With screen sizes 36 inches and above -- 50% of a manufacturer's models offered for sale effective July 1, 2004 ; 100% of such models effective July 1,2005 .

o With screen sizes 25 to 35 inches -- 50% of a manufacturer's models offered for sale effective July 1, 2005 ; 100% of such models effective July 1, 2006 .

o With screen sizes 13 to 24 inches - 100% of a manufacturer's models offered for sale effective July 1, 2007 .

[cablesnake] Interconnections:

In order to allow sources and displays to work, they must be interconnected, usually with cables of some sort. This sounds simple enough, yet this is the area where most customer installation problems take place. Today, a typical home theater system can cost anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, or more. Despite the fact that these figures represent a major investment for most end users, typically less than 3% of the total system price is spent on interconnection cables.

It is a regrettable fact that for most people a cable is just that - a cable. However, when you consider that imperfections in these signal "pipelines" can seriously degrade picture quality, cables start to take on a more profound role. Nowhere is this truer than with the DVI and HDMI cables needed to support digital HDTV.

While audiophiles may argue the complex dynamics of ultra-high fidelity esoteric speaker cables, these cables must carry relatively low frequencies, most of which are below 20 kHz. However, with DVI and HDMI signals, data rates of up to 1.65 Gbit/sec. are possible. In the analog world this would be equivalent to 165 MHz which is more than 8,000 times higher frequency than most audio signals. For short cable runs of less than 5 meters (16.4 ft.) there are usually not too many issues; however, these high frequencies pose serious challenges for longer length DVI and HDMI cables. In general, the higher the frequencies and the longer the cable length, the greater the likelihood that image problems will occur. For example, at low resolutions a DVI signal might travel 20 meters without signal degradation, but at higher resolutions the same cable could exhibit significant image degradation. For this reason, cable lengths for higher resolution signals, such as 1080p, are usually limited to 10 meters or less. Figure 1 illustrates this problem:

[HDTVimagequality]
> Image of 800x600 screen with a conventional 20 meter DVI cable Image of 1600x1200 screen with same 20 meter of DVI cable

To solve the issue of long digital cable runs and reap the full benefits of improved picture quality, cable manufacturers have made various attempts to improve their cables with mixed results.

Here are some key points to look for:

*
Does the manufacturer offer high resolution, long length DVI or HDMI cables ? Standard cables usually use 28-gauge or 30-gauge wire. High quality DVI and HDMI cables should use 24-gauge or 22-gauge wire. The heavier wire gauge helps avoid some of the high frequency attenuation that long cables suffer.
*
Does the cable use silver plated wires for the high speed TMDS data lines (the wires that actually carry the digital picture content)? At very high frequencies, the signal does not travel through the copper wire; it travels on the surface. The silver plating helps mitigate what are known as "skin effect" losses and limits the insertion loss (i.e. less high frequency attenuation).
*
Does the manufacturer rely on highly embellished claims that sound more like science fiction than science fact? Do they provide a guaranteed level of performance? More than just a money back guarantee, does the manufacturer make a pledge of performance? If yes, this helps make sure you choose the right cable the first time and avoid hassles with returning substandard products.
*
What warranty does the manufacturer offer?
*
What level of support does the manufacturer offer? If you have a problem or an installation question, can you get fast, reliable answers?

These are just some of the important questions that must be answered when designing and installing a new HDTV display system. For more sophisticated systems, you may want to rely on a professional home theater designer and installer. CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association) is an excellent resource for both end-users as well as home theater professionals. You can learn more about CEDIA at: http://www.cedia.net/whatis_cedia/

Whether you decide to "do-it-yourself" or contract a professional, having deeper insight into HDTV's past and present will only serve to further enhance your own HD experience. In Part II of this article, we'll take a closer look at the trends and technology that are shaping tomorrow's HDTV systems - and focus on why these factors are important considerations for today's buyers.

HDTV Past, Present and Future - Part I History

2009-04-17T11:31:00.000+07:00

Part 1: The History of HDTV and Changing Needs

It has been nearly 80 years since the first public demonstration of television took place in a crowded laboratory in London . Since that time television has advanced from blurry black and white pictures to stunning high-definition images with life-like depth and realism. How were these achievements made? More importantly, what should we expect in the future as we approach television's first centennial?

A Look Back

Today, there are more than 220 million televisions in the United States . These TV sets have their historical roots in technology that was pioneered in the late 1920's and 1930's. While many television milestones took place during these years, it was not until 1949 that sales of new sets really started taking off. In 1953, the NTSC ( National Television System Committee) standard was adopted for the transmission of color television and in 1954, RCA launched the first commercially available color TV. The 1950s also saw the beginning of a shift in television architecture, moving away from vacuum tube chassis to more solid state components.

During the 1960s, the transition from black and white TVs to color was largely completed. Other advancements during this decade included "HiFi" TV sets and widespread popularity of remote control units. In the mid 1970s, the advent of the VCR transformed the television experience with the ability to record and play back videotapes. The 1970s and 1980s were a time when many Americans took down their unsightly TV antennas and replaced them with cable TV boxes, offering a score of channels to flip through. The so called "MTV generation" was born into this era when television was no longer just a family entertainment center, but the center point of personal and generational expression. While it would be unfair to say that the ensuing years have been technologically dormant for television, few would argue that the next major milestone in TV history was the advent of high definition television (HDTV).

The Early Years of HDTV

Modern-day HDTV has its roots in research that was started in Japan by the NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) in 1970. In 1977, the SMPTE (The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) Study Group on High Definition Television was formed. The group published its initial recommendations in 1980, which included, among other things, the definition of wide screen format and 1100-line scanning structure. The first demonstration of HDTV in the United States took place in 1981 and generated a great deal of interest. In 1987, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) sought advice from the private sector and formed the Advisory Committee on Advanced Television Service. Initially, there were as many as 23 different ATV (Advanced Television) systems proposed to this committee, but by 1990, there were only 9 proposals remaining - all based on analog technology. However, by mid-1991, the leading ATV designs were based on a new all-digital approach. A joint proposal from several companies detailing an all-digital ATV system was given to the FCC in 1995. Following certain changes and compromises, this proposal was approved by the FCC in December, 1996 and became the mandated ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) standard for terrestrial DTV/HDTV broadcasting. You can read more about the history of the ATSC at: http://www.atsc.org/history.html .

[HDTVscreen] HDTV Today

After 35 years of development, high definition television has finally started making inroads in the consumer marketplace. Today, you hear a lot of HD buzzwords like: HD Ready, HD Compatible, Integrated HDTV, etc. To help consumers deal with the mounting tide of HDTV-related questions, the FCC created a consumer website http://www.dtv.gov in October 2004. The FCC has also set a timeline for the conversion from analog to digital television (DTV). As it stands now, analog television will cease in the United States on December 31, 2006, but there are many that believe that the FCC will extend this date until the penetration of DTV has reached 85% or greater in most key markets. Those still using old fashioned analog TVs won't be entirely out of luck; the FCC mandate requires that consumers be able to purchase a converter box so that their older analog sets can receive the new digital signals. While these converter boxes should be affordable, they will only output the same low resolution signals that our TVs currently use. If you want to see true HD, you'll need to spring for a fancy new HDTV set, projector or flat panel display.

What is HDTV?

What is HDTV really all about? What's new, and why is it better? The best way to make a comparison between standard definition television (SDTV) and high definition television (HDTV) is to consider today's popular digital cameras. Some years ago, when digital cameras first appeared on the consumer market, a popular digital camera featured a 1.6 Mega Pixel (Mpix) image sensor. At that time, 1.6 Mpix was considered high quality. Today, one can easily find 5 and 6 Mpix cameras with far better image quality for a lot less money.

In a similar way, HDTV delivers significantly more resolution than SDTV. For example, a 1080i HDTV signal offers about six times the resolution of a conventional 480i SDTV signal. HDTV also features a wider (16:9) aspect ratio format that more closely resembles human peripheral vision than the (4:3) aspect ratio used by conventional TVs in the past. Furthermore, HDTV is based on a system of 3 primary image signal components rather than a single composite signal, thus eliminating the need for signal encoding and decoding processes that can degrade image quality. Perhaps the biggest advantage over the old analog SDTV system is that HDTV is an inherently digital system. If installed properly, digital HDTV can provide the ultimate in pristine image quality, but there are many factors that must be considered, as we shall see.

HDTV in the Home

What do you need to see HDTV? As in any visual system there are three basic components to consider:

HDTV Sources:

When examining possible sources, one must be careful to distinguish between true HDTV sources and those that offer Enhanced Definition (EDTV), the latter being normal (SDTV) video that is scaled or "up-converted" to a higher resolution. While EDTV can certainly provide dramatic picture quality improvements over the original SDTV source, it can never offer the same level of image quality as a true HDTV source.

Examples of true HDTV sources are:

1. Off-air ATSC receivers using HDTV
2. Digital cable Set Top Boxes (STB) that offer HDTV service
3. Digital satellite receivers that offer HDTV service (i.e. DirecTV, DISH Network, et al.)
4. Windows Media High Definition Video
5. HD-DVD and Blu-Ray DVD players

Examples of EDTV sources are:

1. DVD players featuring DVI / HDMI outputs (with built-in HDTV scalars)
2. Video image processors (scalers)
3. Digital cable Set Top Boxes (STB) that offer EDTV service
4. Digital satellite receivers that offer EDTV service (i.e. DirecTV, DISH Network, et al.)

Another important consideration is analog versus digital sources. As previously stated, the ATSC has adopted a digital transmission system for HDTV; however, there are some HDTV sources on the market today that only offer analog outputs. Analog HDTV sources will become an increasingly greater rarity in a world of all-digital HDTV displays. This is especially true because all newer digital systems also employ HDCP (High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection) to safeguard digital content against illegal pirating. HDCP cannot be implemented in analog systems.

HDTV Displays

To realize the maximum potential of HDTV, the display must be fully HD compatible. For most users, this represents the biggest challenge and largest expense in their HD migration budget. Picking the right HD display relies heavily on personal taste, while prices vary greatly from under $1000 to many thousands of dollars. Here are a few key points to look for in order to not only insure that your display is HDTV compatible, but more importantly, HDTV optimized :

Wide screen: Your display should be capable of displaying a widescreen (16:9) HDTV image. It should also be able to display a standard (4:3) SDTV image as well.

Resolution: Your display should have enough resolution to faithfully display an HDTV image. For many displays, this means a native resolution (the display's intrinsic resolution) of at least 1280 x 720 pixels. Higher native resolution is better, with so called "full HD resolution" being 1920 x 1080 pixels.

Video Inputs: Your display should have a full complement of both analog video inputs (such as composite video, s-video, and component video) for legacy components as well as digital video inputs (such as DVI or HDMI) for new HDTV and EDTV sources.

Samsung's 2009 Blu-ray player lineup officially priced

2009-04-15T18:22:00.000+07:00

When Samsung's 2009 Blu-ray player lineup was outed at CES this year, all pricing and release date information was conveniently omitted. At long last, Sammy has pushed out the details we've been waiting for at its Spring Fever event in New York City. Granted, the BD-P3600 and BD-P1600 are already on store shelves for $399.99 and $299.99, respectively, but we figured it prudent to pass along those official numbers straight from the source. Of note, we're also told that the ultrathin BD-P4600 will indeed be coming in April for $499.99, and if Best Buy's website is to be believed, it'll be April 19th if we're talking specifics.

Sharp LC32E67U 32-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

2009-04-13T18:15:00.000+07:00

Sharp LC32E67U 32-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV offers high performance at a top value. With a 16:9 aspect ratio, Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 and fine color purity, it is a next-generation TV to carry you into the high-definition future. The LC32E67U utilizes Sharp’s proprietary Advanced Super View Superlucent / Black TFT Panel providing high Dynamic Contrast Ratio, 6ms response time and wide viewing angles (176°H x 176°V). It is an HDTV with built-in ATSC / QAM / NTSC tuners and includes 4 HDMI and 2 HD component video inputs as well as a D-sub, 15-pin input for PC compatibility. The LC32E67U features a black cabinet and the included table stand easily removes for wall mounting applications.

Sharp LC32E67U 32-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV basic specs:

32″ HDTV LCD-TV with Full HD 1080p Resolution
16:9 AVS Superlucent LCD Panel
Vyper Drive Game Mode
6ms Response Time
4 HDMI, 1 PC Input, RS232

Hdtv Increasing Your Viewing Power

2009-04-13T09:48:00.001+07:00

Many people are in pursuing of HDTV because it is considered one of the greatest inventions. It provides a cinema like visual experience making people go crazy about this fuzz. It is a revolutionary product that kicks away the standard television.

The most significant feature of the HDTV is the clarity of the picture. With a matching sound system, there is no other place you would want to watch than your on living room. A HDTV contains 1100 lines in comparison to only 500 in a normal TV set. While you can possibly see the lines in a normal TV set, you will likely not detect the lines in an HDTV set.

When it comes to choices of HDTV, there are many to choose from. There is the traditional projection tvs, the HD flat panel tvs and HD micro display. The first of the HDTV, the traditional projection will give you a larger screen at a lower price. However, this equipment is bulky and has a thinner viewing angle than other forms of HDTV. Next, is HD flat panel HDTV. This HDTV is thin and lighter and is a type of HDTV that can hang on a wall. These HDTV provides the widest viewing angle and the highest contrast. This however, means that the price tag is much higher. The third one is the advance micro displays. These HDTV are HD ready and provide a big viewing angle, quality contrast, and have replaceable light sources. Plus, it is lightweight.

All these signs of technology improvement will signify that HDTV will soon become the common viewing companion for every household in the world in the coming future.

The satellite TV is the new revolution in viewing experience due to the evolution in TV. One can now access countless of channels and program based on their preferences. Since the introduction of satellite TV, superb quality audio and visual can be broadcast in HDTV. Combining the satellite TV and the beauty and power of HDTV, you will have the ideal entertainment for everyone in your family right in your living room. No matter what programs you choose, you will enjoy the crystal clear pictures from your HDTV. Furthermore, satellite TV gives you endless variety of networks for you to choose from. All this combine to be the perfect unwind and relaxation activity for you family to enjoy.

With the recent emergence Digital Recording feature (DVR), you can record your favorite shows. You can them see them over and over again. The potential is just extremely limitless. This the power of the HDTV and DVR combine. This will eave completely in control of what you want to watch.

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LCD TV Vs HDTV

2009-04-13T09:43:00.001+07:00

LCD TV ...

LCD technology is based on manipulation of polarized light. Two thin polarizing sheets are laminated to two glass substrates containing a thin layer of liquid-crystal. A regular 2-dimensional grid of electrodes allows each pixel in the array to be selected and activated individually. Several LCD technologies are used for the realization of large format television screens (e.g. TN, IPS, PVA, FFS), all in combination with active-matrix addressing.

It had been widely believed that LCD technology was suited only to smaller sized flat-panel televisions at sizes of 40" or smaller. Early LCDs could not compete with plasma technology for screens larger than this because plasma held the edge in cost and performance. However, LCD TVs can now offer acceptable performance in larger sizes...

HDTV ...

High-definition television is a digital television broadcasting system with higher resolution than traditional television systems(standard-definition TV or SDTV).

HDTV is digitally broadcast; the earliest implementations used analog broadcasting, but today digital television (DTV) signals are used, requiring less bandwidth due to digital video compression.

Sony Bravia XBR9 LCD HDTV Available for Pre-order

2009-04-11T12:49:00.000+07:00

Here is good news for you. You can now pre-order the highly anticipated Bravia XBR9 Series of HDTV at SonyStyle.com for $3,599.99. As a reminder, the LCD HDTV boasts Full HD 1080p resolution, Motionflow 240Hz refresh rate for maximum motion detail and clarity, BRAVIA Engine 3, 10-bit panel and processing, 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, BRAVIA internet video/widgets, 7 HD inputs (4 HDMI, 2 component and 1 PC), and ENERGY STAR 3.0 certified

ViewSonic VG2427 LCD display unveiled

2009-04-09T23:11:00.001+07:00

ViewSonic recently announced their new VT2230 LCD TV and now they’ve quietly revealed their VG2427 LCD monitor. And if you are in the market for a new monitor, this one definitely might be worth checking out.

This new monitor measures in at 24-inches and features a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. It also has a 16:9 aspect ratio so you could watch movies on it, if you wanted to. Other specs include 300cd/m2 brightness and a 20,000:1 contrast ratio.

The VG2427 LCD monitor has two stereo speakers that are built-in and hidden from view, plus two USB ports for improved connectivity. The stand can be adjusted for height and swivels for optimum viewing. You can get this monitor for $499,-

Source : www.guru3d.com

Samsung 8000, 7000 & 6000 Series LCD HDTV pricing announced

2009-04-01T20:46:00.002+07:00

Samsung have announced pricing and availability details for their new LCD HDTV ranges. Currently covering the LED edge-lit 6000, 7000 and 8000 series models, the screens range from 31.5-inches to 54.6-inches, with prices kicking off at $1,599.99 for the smallest Series 6000 model and rising to $3,999.99 for the top-end Series 8000.

The nine HDTVs will see a staggered release, with the first sets appearing now and then spread across April through June. The Series 6000 sets have InfoLink RSS, with ethernet connectivity, while the 7000 and 8000 models are DLNA certified with compatibility with Samsung’s USB wireless adapter.

Screen response times are 4ms for the 6000 and 7000 HDTVs, while the 8000 cuts that down to just 2ms; it also has 240Hz frame interpolation, while the cheaper sets have 120hz. Each uses Samsung’s Touch of Color design language.

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2009-04-01T08:47:00.001+07:00

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Read This When You Buying An LCD 1080p HDTV

2009-03-29T15:40:00.001+07:00

When you are in the market for a new television, resolution should be one of factors you should consider. If you have the money, perhaps you should consider buying an LCD 1080p HDTV.

What is the big deal about an LCD 1080p HDTV? Well for starters, that is about 1,920×1,080 pixels which many consider as the Holy Grail of HDTV resolution. This is because it is the best that television companies have been able to come up with which is an improvement from the 720p.

The 1080p is an improvement from the 1080i. The big difference is that images are no longer in an interlaced format but rather sequentially in a single pass making it clearer for people to see the images on the screen.

Keep in mind that when you do buy an LCD 1080p HDTV, its price will be much higher than an EDTV or enhanced definition TV screen because it costs more to make. But does it really make a difference? A lot of experts in the industry say no.

This is because unless you are in the business of video editing or extreme graphic use, such features are not needed when you turn on the television to watch your favorite show or movie. Second, people in Hollywood have no intentions of to produce shows using the 1080p format.

But then again, there is hope because in the battle between high definition and blu ray, the second one is sometimes the format being used when a movie is released in DVD. For this to work, you need to buy an HD DVD player since the data is encoded in 1080p.

Such information will not make you jump for joy because most broadcasts are still done using the 1080i and 720p format and there are no plans to switch to 1080p due to bandwidth issues.

Will there come a time that this will happen if such issues are resolved? Probably not because it is not worth the time or the money. An independent test showed that they did not see any difference when they watched a show using this or the previous format so why even bother.

So why make it in the first place? Simply because there is competition between plasma and LCD televisions. Manufactures think that better pixel quality equals more sales but it is just one selling point and not the big picture when the consumer decides to go out and buy a new television.

In the end, what we are trying to say is that you are better off with a television either a plasma or an LCD that is 720p. If you want to intensify your viewing pleasure, use the extra dollars you save to buy a better sound system.

But if you are not watching a movie, you will need a high definition signal through an antenna, cable or satellite because nothing will appear on screen without it. You should also get the proper accessories like the box and a satellite dish to get clear signals from the network.

The LCD 1080p HDTV is only good if you plan to use it for work. Otherwise, this is something you should forget because even if you play video games with it like Xbox 360 or Playstation 3, this is made in the 720p format so there is no point even if you can make adjustments in the user settings.

Best 5 HDTVs

2009-03-28T09:38:00.003+07:00

The 2009 Consumer Electronics Show, with its customary slew of HDTV announcements, promises televisions with better specifications and technology improvements arriving just around the corner. So if you're in the TV market now, it makes sense to check out our blogs covering the new models and decide whether they're worth the wait, or whether getting a 2008 model for a discount is the way to go. Below you'll find our favorite HDTVs of the 2008 model year, which are all pretty dang good right now, and pretty tempting if you can't wait for the 2009 reviews. As always, we'll update these Best lists as soon as we review new sets.

Pioneer PRO-111FD

Best overall picture quality: The deepest blacks in the business and dead-on color make this expensive plasma the best HDTV we've ever reviewed.

Price:$2,895.00 - $4,499.98 (check prices)

Filed in: Best HDTVs overall, Best plasma TVs

Panasonic TH-50PZ800U

Best picture for the money: If you don't have the scratch for the Pioneer, the THX-certified Panasonic is a worthy substitute for half the price.

Price:$2,249.99 - $2,249.99 (check prices)

Sony Bravia KDL-55XBR8

Best flat-panel LCD: It costs a mint, but this LED-powered LCD is the new champion of the superheavyweight flat-panel LCD division.

Price:$4,798.00 - $5,999.99 (check prices)

Samsung HL61A750

Best big-screen: The practical choice for those who want a huge screen and don't want to sacrifice the image quality.

Price:$1,448.00 - $1,899.99 (check prices)

Panasonic TH-42PX80U

Best flat-panel bang for the buck: There's no reason to scrimp on performance when you can get a solid plasma for a price like this.

Price:$799.00 - $2,499.99 (check prices)

5 of the Best HDTV for Gamers

2009-03-15T13:11:00.004+07:00

There are thousands of different TVs developed to-date and with that many options it can be difficult to run a side by side comparison for which is the best and at what price. Our friends over at BestCovery.com gave us their insights and expertise on some of the best TVs for gaming.

While LCD TVs suffer from problems that were never an issue with old fashioned CRTs, they are recommended for gamers because of their excellent picture quality, slim and sleek styling, widespread availability, and increasingly affordable pricing. Gamers should pick a model with a VGA input for PC gaming and at least 3 HDMI inputs to connect an Xbox 360, PS3, and other HD equipment. Many newer HDTVs also have a “Game Mode” that can reduce lag, a major concern for serious gamers when they play FPS games online. Lag is mainly seen with older game consoles that cannot output in your HDTV’s native resolution. If you’re using an Xbox 360, PS3, or HTPC for gaming, you probably won’t notice any lag issues because you can set the system output to match your HDTV’s native resolution (720p, 1080i, 1080p). For more information on the topic and ways to measure the input lag of your HDTV, check out this AVS Forum thread on this HDTV Lag Guide. For more information on the topic and ways to measure the input lag of your HDTV, check out this AVS Forum thread on this HDTV Lag Guide.

5. Samsung LN32A650 32″ LCD TV

The Samsung LN32A650 is a favorite among gamers. Not only does it deliver excellent image quality in a sleek, stylish cabinet, but it also features 1080p native resolution to take full advantage of the Xbox 360 and PS3 output and solid connectivity with 4 HDMI ports and a PC port. Input lag isn’t bad with the HDMI2/PC trick or when using the VGA input, and you probably won’t notice lag at all with the latest generation consoles that output in HD. The 32″ size is well suited for gamers with a personal gaming pad because it will fit on a compact tv stand. You can find this LCD TV under $1k which is really good deal considering its top notch performance.

Shop Samsung LN32A650 from Amazon.com

4. Sony Bravia KDL-32XBR6 32″ LCD TV

Sony’s XBR series LCD TVs is a leader when it comes to picture quality, and the KDL32XBR6 does not disappoint. It performs well for gaming with 1080p native resolution and fairly low input lag, and it’s packed with 4 HDMI inputs and a PC input for connecting all of your HD equipment. There are also unique features like an enhanced Xross Media Bar with 3D graphics and integrated TV Guide program information, DMex functionality that allows you to add capabilities to your TV, and BRAVIA Engine 2 for an even better picture. If you can find this at a decent price under $1k, then it’s well worth the money.

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3.Panasonic TC-37LZ800 37″ LCD TV

If you need something a little larger for gaming in a small living room or bedroom, the 37? Panasonic TC-37LZ800 is a solid choice. It has 1080p native resolution, 3 HDMI inputs, a VGA input, and very low input lag. Picture quality is very good, especially for an LCD TV under 40?. The stylish screen features 1080p resolution with a native contrast ratio of 10,000:1 for deep black levels and crisp, detailed imagery. With its 3 HDMI ports, this LCD screen is ready for all your HD gear with one-cable pure digital connections.

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2. Samsung LN52A650 52″ LCD TV

The Samsung LN52A650 is one of the most popular HDTVs on the market, and for good reason. It’s the best choice for gaming on a big screen with 1080p resolution to take full advantage of the Sony PS3’s and Xbox 360’s 1080p output, plenty of HDMI inputs for connecting all your gear, and a VGA input for PC gaming. The set’s overall image quality is excellent with deep black levels and accurate colors. Lag shouldn’t be an issue with the newer consoles, but you might run into problems with older gaming machines that can only output in 480i. Note that to minimize input lag, you should set your Xbox 360 or PS3 to output in 1080p. Other ways to reduce input lag include using the VGA input or using the HDMI 2 input and renaming it to “PC”. While this TV is on par or even better than the Sharp Aquos, it does cost quite a lot and that will turn most gamers down.

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1. Sharp Aquos LC-42D65U 42″ LCD TV

You might say it is the perfect match for a PS3 or Xbox 360 because of its native support for 1080p and very low input lag. It’s also packed with 5 HDMI inputs and a PC (VGA) input for connecting multiple gaming consoles, a HTPC, cable/satellite box, and other HD gear. The Sharp 65U series is one of the best LCD TVs in terms of input lag, but for best results, configure your PS3 or Xbox 360 to output in 1080p. If you’re using a console that can’t output in 1080p, this HDTV’s “Game Mode” actually does a pretty good job reducing input lag. Picture quality can’t match the best Samsung or Sony LCD TVs, but the Sharp Aquos is much less expensive and still looks great, making it the best choice for gamers.

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Sony LMD-3250MD Widescreen LCD Display

2009-03-14T18:34:00.002+07:00

Sony USA recently introduced its new 32-inch(measured Diagonally) widescreen LCD Display. The Sony LMD-3250MD Widescreen display has been designed fir usage in hospital operating rooms. The innovative medical product uses multi-picture technology allowing for simultaneous viewing of two images for observation.

“Its large screen size, HD image quality and improved multi-modality support are only a few of the well-designed features that we believe are going to make the monitor a success,” said Brian Zimmer, marketing manager in Sony’s medical products group.

The Sony LMD-3250MD delivers Full HD 1920 X 1080 resolution and utilizes 10-bit signal processing for color reproduction. The display can be conveniently controlled through the touch-activated front-bezel control system. It supports a number of high-definition surgical cameras which can be connected through optional input cards.

Sony KDL-52W4100 1080p LCD HDTV

2009-03-14T18:27:00.002+07:00

What is the best movie experience you’ve ever had? For most people, its experiencing you favorite movie in a 52 inch high definition flat panel, and enjoying it exactly as they are seen on the big screen. Most of you may not know but motion images of film are recorded at a different speed than those of television programming. Until now most TVs have been designed to display the TV-formatted content. So to be able to watch it in its original format, is a testament to a television’s full capabilities.

A variety of technologies have circumvented this problem by altering a movie’s content to fit into the 30fps format. Often, this altering results in judders, and an experience different from what you may expect. Sony’s BRAVIA KDL46W4100 features MotionFlow 120hz technology which uses a special algorithm to double and enhance existing frames — rather than interpolate approximated frames — to reproduce the 24p film-content experience. Further, a unique Image Blur Reduction algorithm reduces blur from the original source image captured by the camera prior, even, to applying motion enhancement. Distinguishing them from other similar technologies, Sony frame-rate technologies are designed to detect and apply the right amount of enhancement based on the needs of different video sources, always delivering reduced judder and a smoother, sharper picture with natural motion.

As for its slew of connectivity options, the KDL46W4100 incorporates four HDMI connections. HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is the only interface in consumer electronics that can carry both uncompressed high-definition (HD) video and uncompressed multi-channel audio in all HD formats including 720p, 1080i and even 1080p.

Your incoming media content comes in a variety of sizes, resolutions and formats, and with that in mind, HDMI systems automatically configure to display that content in the most effective format. Since HDMI carries all channels on video and audio, there is only one cable to plug into any HDMI-enabled source and display device.

No more complicated cable set-up when installing your home theater system, and no more ugly cable mess behind your components. HDMI supports standard, enhanced, or high-definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio on this single cable. Also, HDMI is fully backward-compatible with DVI.

Aside from its HDMI connection, the KDL46W4100 also features Sony’s BRAVIA Theatre Sync technology to go beyond simple audio and video transmission. When you combine your new KDL52W4100 with a select number of other BRAVIA audio and video products, control functions will also be transmitted via the HDMI cable. With “ne Touch Play”, operations that took several steps are reduced to one.

Also, the KDL52W4100’s full HD 1080p LCD screen enhances your home video experience by displaying 1920 x 1080p images thereby also making it a perfect match for taking full advantage of Blu-ray Disc and PlayStation content. Video performance is a function of more than resolution. Video processing is a key element, and when it comes to processing, the KDL52W4100 uses nothing less than an engine. Sony’s BRAVIA Engine technology is a fully digital video processor that employs a collection of unique algorithms to significantly reduce video noise and produce sharp, vibrant, lifelike images through which a 1080p-resolution panel reaches its full potential.

Distortion and variance caused by interference from other electronic components are inherent characteristics of any electronic signal. Such minor disturbances in a signal’s integrity can result in flaws in the signal’s output — like a video image on an HDTV — and these flaws are often referred to as noise. Sony designed this LCD with Dynamic Noise Reduction. This technology intelligently identifies and dramatically reduces signal noise according to the motion and brightness of each scene for clearer, crisper images, frame after frame.

Other features for this set include Sony’s Xross Media Bar user interface — enhanced by Rich Graphics — offers easy and fast icon-based navigation of all your KDL52W4100’s functions. Second, Sony’s Digital Media Extender (DMex) offers system expandability via a digital connection that you can use to add optional modules, like the BRAVIA Internet Video Link, or upcoming modules for optimal future compatibility. Finally, an integrated TV Guide on-screen interactive program guide delivers continually updated program listings so that you never miss your favorite shows.

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Panasonic VIERA HDTV’s - 2009 lineup and prices announced

2009-03-14T18:16:00.002+07:00

Panasonic has just issued a press release giving out information and pricing details about their 2009 lineup of VIERA HDTV systems. They also give details on VIERA CAST, a premium feature which allows access to HD movie rentals via Amazon Video-on-Demand.

According to the press release, VIERA CAST will be extended to three series of Panasonic models in 2009. These are the Z1, V10 and G10 series and consumers will still be able to access web features such as Google’s YouTube(TM), Picasa(TM) Web Album and Bloomberg.

The Z1 series is their most expensive HDTV on offer and will be available this summer for USD $5999.95. The press release which can be viewed in full here, contains information on the other panasonic series as well as further pricing details.

Reported from Engadget.

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