Television News & Blog

Sony 3DTV

2011-02-01T12:40:00.000-08:00

Sony XBR-60LX900

During the Sony press day are several new products presented. Sony will this year focus on the trends of the moment: Eco, wifi and most important of the bunch: 3D. Was previously been Full HD where everyone had to step over, now it is 3DTV. The 3DTV's would be available this summer.
The possibility splits in 3D games and movies. Sony uses the latest technology for displaying 3D images. Therefore they have themselves developed a special 3D glasses that ensures that each eye receives its own image through the TV. With a refresh rate of 200Hz this will mean that the viewer gets presented 200 images, which yields 100 images per eye. Concept designs have been very enthusiastically received by critics. Games will soon be a new dimension, and films will pull you more into the story. A completely new experience.

The only downside? The glasses is considered by many critics as a tiring experience when you look long, so it is not advisable sit down the whole day with your 3D glasses.

The coming months there will be televisions on the market that can handle 3D graphics, also called 3D-Ready. Owners of these TV's still have to buy a special channel and glasses for seeing the three-dimensional images. Later FULL 3D TVs will be on the market, which don't require a special channel, and eyeglasses are provided.

Models

Sony LX900 (full3D) series offers integrated 3D functionality, while the HX900 and HX900 series (3D Ready) a channel and glasses have to buy.
The LX900 is thus one of the top series TVs from Sony this summer released and is available in 4 sizes: The 60 "(XBR-60LX900), 52 (XBR-52LX900), 46 (XBR-46LX900) and 40-inch (XBR-40LX900)
All models will be full HD and use the Sony Motionflow Pro 240Hz technology. This technology ensures that even with fast moving images (such as sports and action movies), it will runn smoothly. Above that, all Tvs have the BRAVIA Engine ™ 3 processor, which with a variety of sophisticated algorithms ensure that noise is removed, contrast optimized and every scene vividly displayed.
The LX900 includes Sony's new OptiContrast panel. This display panel ensures that reflection is minimized such that a minimum of external light is reflected on the screen, and black levels are optimal presented.

EISA European 3D plasma TV 2010-2011: Panasonic TX-P 50VT20E

2011-01-29T17:50:00.000-08:00

Panasonic TX-P 50VT20E

Again complimented EISA Panasonic for her performance in the field of plasma flat screen televisions by the Panasonic VIERA TX-P 50VT20 be declared the European 3D Plasma TV. "The Panasonic TX-P 50VT20 has everything, and brings a cinema-like 3D experience with natural colors in the living room or home theater. This is done by real deep black shades that image detail in dark areas yet display well. The colors are natural in the THX mode, but the color and sharpness can be adjusted by means of 8 image modes, in addition to the personal preference settings. The new, faster plasma screen supplies without distracting elements 3D images from a Blu-ray player. Fast movements are very well displayed and the energy consumption is the best of all plasma TVs, "said the jury.

The EISA Awards are awarded annually by so-called Panels of representatives of nearly 50 prominent photo, video, audio, home theater and mobile electronics magazines from more than 18 European countries. Each year the EISA Awards the new products that combine the most advanced technology with the most desired features, the ultimate design expression, the most practical ergonomics and, of course, the best price/quality ratio. In short: EISA recognizes the properties that best be appreciated by an enthusiastic audience that is looking for high quality and creative features.

Glasses-less 3D with touch-less interaction @ ISE2011

2011-01-28T08:59:00.000-08:00

3D Display

Amsterdam - Value added 3D pioneer Zero Creative will showcase some of its newest 3D marketing tools at the ISE2011 exhibition next week. The demonstration will be in close partnership with Adder Technologies.
The Netherlands based company operates worldwide with a team of over 100 people to deliver products and services to its business partners. The goal is always to generate added value by using 3D technology. Zero Creative helps organizations to increase their (product) value and/or save costs. This is achieved by using its extended portfolio of high quality 3D products and services.

Eye-catching xyZ 3D Displays, showing digital 3D advertisements in real 3D – without the glasses - capture the attention of people passing by. During ISE2011, Zero Creative will demonstrate the mind bending effect of glasses-less 3D combined with touch-less gesture based user interaction.

"This is the first time we will demonstrate this total emerging 3D interactivity to the public, but the sneak previews we had for some selected customers were absolutely overwhelming and the positive feedback was even higher than expected.", said Jean-Pierre van Maasakker, Zero Creative chief executive.

On stand 10i130 at this year's ISE, Adder and Zero Creative will be demonstrating the distribution of glasses free 3D signage across Adder's INFINITY IP media matrix.

Jamie Shepperd, Adder Group Marketing Manager commented “Glasses free 3D is a hugely powerful medium for digital signage allowing your message to really stand out from the crowd. We are delighted to have Zero Creative on stand demonstrating how the industry can really take advantage of this technology in an end to end system built upon the AdderLink Infinity IP Media Network.”

Zero Creative is world renowned for its 3D business solutions, which not only covers glasses-free animated and interactive 3D presentations, but also a successful 2D-to-3D conversion service, turning any existing 2D video into an exciting 3D experience. Websitewww.zerocreative.com

About Adder
Adder is a leading developer and thought leader in connectivity solutions. Adder's advanced range of KVM switches, extenders and IP solutions enable the control of local, remote and global IT systems across the enterprise. The company distributes its products in more than 60 countries through a network of distributors, resellers and OEMs. Adder has offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and Singapore. Visit www.adder.com

The ISE2011 takes place at the Amsterdam RAI, The Netherlands, from 1st to 3th February 2011. Zero Creative and Adder Technologies can be found in Hall 10, stand 10i130. Click here for a free ticket; enter this code: 831422.

source: Zero Creative

CES: Panasonic brings apps to Viera Tvs

2011-01-25T16:55:00.000-08:00

Viera Connect

Panasonic has announced during the CES Viera Connect, a software platform for televisions from the eponymous series. With Viera Connect the company offers through a hefty stack of so-called apps the possibility of social networking content, videos from YouTube, news and games directly on the TV to watch or play.

Viera Connect builds on the Viera Cast launched in 2008, but is now extended to give access to content from various websites. It is also possible to play games, for which a cooperation with Thrustmaster is entered into. This manufacturer of peripherals has announced two wireless gamepads specially for the new generation of Viera Tvs to deliver, the T-Wireless 3-in-1 Rumble Force and the Ferrari Wireless 430 Scuderia Edition. Both controllers are moreover connected via a USB receiver so you can use them well on a PC, PS3 or Xbox 360. And vice versa also without problems another USB gamepad should be able to use.

With games Asphalt 5 of Gameloft dropped as toptitel, but also casual games from Accedo, Aim At Entertainment and Oberon will be available. Panasonic will in addition release a special software development kit (SDK) so developers can for free publish more apps on the Viera Market.

Work stress, television viewing, and caffeine promote obesity

2011-01-20T13:46:00.000-08:00

Obesity

(NaturalNews) Obesity may be the most critical health challenge we face today. In the United States almost 70% of us are considered to be overweight including almost one-third who qualify as obese. Obesity comes with a big price tag. A recent estimate found that the medical care costs of obesity related conditions such as coronary artery disease, type-2 diabetes, stroke, sleep apnea and respiratory problems are $168 billion annually. While the causes of obesity are complex, there appear to be links to work stress, hours sitting in front of a TV and caffeine.

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Rochester looked at the causes of and solutions to obesity in employees at a manufacturing facility in upstate New York. In a preliminary evaluation of baseline data from 2800 professional level male employees, researchers found the prevalence of obesity mirrored that in the general population. However, those in more stressful positions had almost a BMI unit more of weight than did those in less demanding jobs.

The same study found that over 65% of these employees watched two or more hours of television a day. Many relayed to the researchers that job stress tired them out and they looked forward to relaxing in front of the TV when they got home. For those who watched two to three hours of television a day, the probability of obesity increased by 150%.

This connection between TV time and obesity has also been observed in other research. For example, a study conducted by the University of Vermont studied the relationship between TV time and calorie expenditure for two groups of obese adults. One group had no limit to their TV time. The other was limited to 3 hours a day when a monitor attached to their set automatically turned it off. Those who spent less time in front of their TV burned an average of 119 more calories daily which translated to weight loss of half a pound per week. These study participants didn't suddenly start a vigorous exercise program as soon as their televisions went off. Instead, the authors suggest that since it takes so little energy to watch TV just about any other activity burns more calories.

Neither of these studies addressed caffeine, which is ubiquitous at home or work as coffee, tea or soda. There is good evidence that excess caffeine promotes eating through its impact on cortisol levels and blood sugar. Excess caffeine also causes anxiety raising stress levels.

What can we conclude from this information? First, preliminary results from the New York study suggest that for reducing job stress, exercise was more effective than diet. In other words, to relieve stress at work, start by introducing some form of exercise into your day, even if it is just a quick walk at lunchtime. This in turn will help with weight loss.

Second, when you get home from work, leave the TV off, or be selective about the time spent watching it. Then talk to your kids, take your dog for a walk or work in the yard. Remember, just about anything except sleep, burns more calories than watching TV.

Third, to help minimize the negative effects of caffeine enjoy a cup or two of your favorite beverage in the morning. Then switch to hot or cold tea made from one of the adaptogenic herbs such as Gynostemma. This sweet flavored Chinese tea helps relieve stress, reduce cholesterol and even out blood sugar. It is also known to help regulate weight, promoting either weight gain or weight loss as needed by the individual.

Sources:

University of Rochester Medical Center (2010, March 25). Study connects workplace turmoil, stress and obesity. ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 31, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com-/releas...

University of Vermont study connects TV time with obesity. Rodale.com. Retrieved October 31, 2010 from http://www.rodale.com/watching-too-...

How Can Caffeine Cause Weight Gain? http://obesity.ygoy.com/2009/10/05/...

http://www.gynostemma.org

by: Celeste Smucker, citizen journalist
See all articles by this author

About the author
Celeste Smucker is a writer, editor and author of a book of inspirational messages available at www.soldonme.com. She has a longstanding interest in health care and alternative health solutions and is a student of effective online marketing techniques.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/030881_obesity_stress.html#ixzz1Bc88c6iF

Too much TV, computer can ruin your child's mental health

2011-01-14T18:11:00.000-08:00

Study suggests a link, but cause-and-effect relationship unclear, experts say.

Pre-teens who spent more than two hours a day in front of the TV or computer were at greater risk of having psychological problems than youngsters averaging less screen time, even if the kids also tended to be physically active, new research finds.

The study found that the risk of psychological difficulties increased by about 60 percent when kids between 10 and 11 years old spent more than two hours daily watching TV or playing on the computer.

"Children who spent more than two hours per day watching television or using a computer were at increased risk of high levels of psychological difficulties," regardless of how physically active they were, study lead author Angie Page, from the Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences at the University of Bristol in England, and colleagues found.

Still, the experts stressed that the study can't discern whether media exposure causes psychological woes in kids, or whether troubled children simply prefer spending time in front of computers or the TV.

Previous studies have linked excessive TV viewing with childhood obesity, and both TV and computer use have been associated with psychological problems and an increase in sedentary time, according to background information in the study.

Page said the researchers decided to undertake this study because while it's known that physical activity is good for both physical and mental health in children, it wasn't clear if high physical activity levels could compensate for the adverse effects associated with high TV and computer use.

The study included more than 1,000 children between the ages of 10 and 11. The youngsters were recruited from 23 schools in Bristol, and all of the children self-reported their TV and computer use.

The researchers had all of the children complete a Strengths and Difficulties questionnaire, which is designed to measure psychological difficulties, such as hyperactivity, inattention, social problems and conduct issues.

"The difficulties measured by this questionnaire are not subtle things," noted Dr. Alan Mendelsohn, an associate professor of pediatrics at the New York University School of Medicine in New York City. "These are big-deal issues, like hyperactivity, difficulty with peers and friends, poor conduct and antisocial kinds of behaviors."

Overall, most children reported spending between an hour or two a day on TV and computer use for entertainment. On average, boys were moderately to vigorously active for an average of 83 minutes per day, versus 63 minutes for girls, according to the study.

The study found that children who spent more than two hours a day watching television or using a computer were more likely to have reported psychological difficulties than children who spent less time in front an electronic screen. Kids who watched more than two hours of TV a day had a 61 percent increased risk of psychological difficulties, while those who spent more than two hours on a computer were 59 percent more likely to have psychological difficulties.

When children weren't very active throughout the day, the risk of psychological difficulties went up even more. The risk of psychological problems for sedentary children who watched more than two hours of TV was 70 percent, and for those who spent more than two hours on the computer, the odds were increased 81 percent.

Surprisingly, being highly physically active didn't offer much protection against psychological difficulties if children already clocked more than two hours of screen time each day. The risk of psychological difficulties was still increased by about 50 percent for the highly active group when they spent more than two hours watching TV or using the computer, according to the study.

"For parents, the key take-away is that TV and computer use may interfere with children's emotional well-being," said Mendelsohn.

However, he noted that the study wasn't designed to tease out whether there is a cause-and-effect relationship between screen time and psychological problems, or if troubled youngsters are simply more likely to spend more time with TV and computers.

"We don't know if it's the psychological problems that cause kids to become withdrawn, or if there's something harmful to TV and computer use," said Carolyn Landis, a licensed clinical psychologist and an associated professor of pediatrics at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Cleveland.

"But, if your child wants to spend more than two hours a day -- not including homework -- on the computer, I would consider that a potential red flag that something might be wrong. Kids might be depressed and are saving themselves from face-to-face interactions by using the computer," said Landis.

"It's also important to know that you can have a really active, athletic child, but it's still not OK for them to spend three hours a day on the computer," she said.

By Serena Gordon
HealthDay Reporter

More information

Read more about the benefits of limiting screen time from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

SOURCES: Carolyn Landis, Ph.D., licensed clinical psychologist, associate professor of pediatrics, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland; Alan Mendelsohn, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, New York City; Oct. 11, 2010, Pediatrics, online

A TV Screen Protector Can Save You Money And Heartache!

2011-01-13T18:32:00.000-08:00

flat screen TV

With 70 million flat screen TV's in homes across the country, many families get the prime source of entertainment from these expensive gadgets. What most Americans don't know is that these TV's are much more fragile and prone to screen damage than old CRT televisions. Can you imagine the shock and horror when your child or someone else's throws something at your brand new 52" LCD and the screen cracks? It happens all the time. There is no warranty coverage and no homeowner's policy will cover the replacement . Only a TV screen protector will save you from the heartache and expense. safeTVision TV screen protector is an inexpensive, discreet device designed sole to protect your TV from screen damage. It also happens to protect it against fingerprints and dust as well.

The safeTVision TV screen protector uses a patent-pending clamp system designed to enable it to fit most popular brand TV's. Ranging in sizes from 32" to 65", the safeTVision TV screen protector is made from 100% optical grade acrylic that does not affect the HD picture quality in the least.

safeTVision TV screen protector works on Plasma and LCD TV just the same. It is designed to protect your TV screen from 6oz object flying at 20mph. In reality, we've thrown baseballs full strength at this TV screen protector with no damage! The safeTVIsion TV screen protector is the only piece of mind insurance policy against tragedy striking your TV. This TV screen protector can shelter your TV from Wii remotes, balls, toys, shoes, pet toys, and anything else someone might throw at it.

Parents who shutter in fear that the Wii remote will slip out of their kids' hands can relax with the safeTVision TV screen protector on their TV.

With a 30 Money Back Guarantee and 100% made in a America quality, the safeTVision TV screen protector is money well spent for piece for your $2,000 TV investment.

By Expert Author: Alex Shown

When Buying A High Definition TV, Don't Believe What You See In Showrooms

2011-01-11T19:35:00.000-08:00

HDTV

More people buy on the web, most people thinking about getting a high definition TV would rather visit a brick-and-mortar store than buy it through a web merchant. This is perfectly understandable, because you get the chance of seeing the high definition television with your own eyes, or getting help from a salesperson before parting with your money.
But things may not be what they seem... here I will give you a few reasons why your judgment of a high definition TV in showrooms may be inaccurate.
First of all, most high definition TVs on display are configured in what is termed in the industry as "dynamic mode". By this I mean that contrast is artificially inflated and the colors are deliberately over-saturated on the high definition television, as these manipulations have been proven to boost sales.
A HDTV that is displaying in "dynamic mode" gives an impression of "brightness" and "colorfulness", usually mistaken as the telltale signs of a good TV even though the picture is � in fact � incorrect. Usually it is only when you bring the TV back home that you realize the picture is not right.
Also, in a typical shop with quite a few HD TVs on show, the signal is shared among all these televisions. As a result each high definition television gets a weaker signal, which will result in a lot of artifacts like sparkles and horizontal lines, and perhaps blurriness and loss of detail.
To compound the problem, most stores will very likely use inferior connection cables (because these are much cheaper, and the stores likely have more than their fair share lying around over time) to pass on the signal. In an ideal situation one should use a HDMI, component, VGA or DVI connection because these deliver the best quality, and can fulfill all the potential of the high definition television for you to make an accurate judgment... yet you rarely see these used in normal demos unless requested.
Another issue with your average brick-and-mortar showroom is the excessive amount of ambient lighting, not only from in-store lights and the sun, but also from competing high definition TV units on show. This will cause glare (especially on glossy televisions) and degrade the picture contrast on the HDTV you're looking at, leading to a washed out image. Most high definition TVs perform better in the home environment where there's better ambient light control.
To conclude, there are certain shortfalls when judging HDTVs in a shop � you're looking at uncalibrated display sets with weak signals in an overly bright environment. For correct judgment of a high definition TV's true potential, you can either visit a dedicated shop with the proper setup designed to eliminate these issues, listen to the views of existing owners on public forums, or read reviews that are carried out properly under strict conditions.

Vincent Teoh is a writer for HDTV Test, an online magazine which conducts HDTV reviews professionally. For more information you can visit his webpage.

HDTV Demo: Showroom Pitfalls

2011-01-11T19:29:00.000-08:00

HDTV

Have you ever wondered why most of the HDTVs on display in Comet and Currys look so bad (even if they're good TVs), making it almost impossible for you to properly assess their qualities?

For starters, these HDTVs are most likely using the default out-of-the-box settings, and have never been calibrated properly. In order to attract more customers and compete better on the sales floor, manufacturers deliberately insert default settings that deviate significantly from the industry standard used by movie studios and broadcasters. As a result, contrast is boosted to the point of clipping, the colour temperature is through the roof (as the image will be brighter), red push is introduced to make skin tones look real... and you'll NEVER get a realistic and natural film-like picture so long as you continue using the default settings.

Furthermore, the output signal is distributed to so many HDTVs that degradation in signal strength is unavoidable, resulting in fuzzy and unstable image. To add insult to injury, these retail chains have a baffling fetish for feeding the video signals using lower-quality analogue connections like scart or (gasp) RF coaxial rather than digital HDMI connections.

The brightly-lit showrooms tend to reduce perceived contrast on HDTVs, while the noisy environment hampers accurate assessment of the onboard audio system. An ugly duckling of a plasma may well transform into a beautiful swan after calibration within the normal viewing conditions in your home, but would you have even considered buying it in the first place having seen how bad it was in the showroom?

It is precisely because of these reasons that we undertook this project so that we can all look at the things that matter in a controlled environment to help us make the correct decision before buying a HDTV.

Each of our HDTVs is tested in a typical home environment, calibrated to the D65 imaging standards adopted by the AV industry, and connected using the best available interface (usually HDMI and component) so that we can judge its true potential. For side-by-side comparison of the picture qualities of the HDTVs tested, a Gefen distribution amplifier is used to feed the the same source material to all of them without signal degradation.

How Internet TV Will Take Over Soon

2011-01-02T18:57:00.000-08:00

internet tv

In the old days, we all had those silly antennas. Yes, that is how I like to start my articles these days with a random sentence that gets your attention. So, in the old days we all had those idiot antennas and then we got cable and no one wanted to let go of those random bits of metal sticking out of their TVs posing a very real threat of gouging young Billy's eyes out.

But slowly cable took over. People still had cable TV hooked up to one TV in their house whereas the other TVs most notably in the basement of the kitchen still had those bunny ears. It took a lot of years for it to become mainstream in all homes across the world. But even then, there was that ugly little box that sat on top of the TV that used to be the real deterrent for most people looking to make the switch form analog antennas to more trustworthy cable TV.

After spending massive amounts of time on the roofs of houses, grandpa can finally come down and save his hip replacement from shattering on the icy ground. But, I Digress.. I was talking about TV. These days there is another change brewing and that is from cable and Dish based programming to Internet based TV. Most college going Kids don't buy TVs anymore. The trend is moving towards just having one entertainment/work unit - the laptop. Most people just have a laptop simply because it is convenient.

You work on your laptop and you watch TV on it too (and everything in between). But the industry is still kicking and screaming about the change. The problem is that with the Internet, TV can be obtained for FREE if you know where to look. This discourages a lot of people from making the switch. TV should always be for free anyway and should be supported by advertising.

The Internet is great for that. So why not harness the power of the Internet to make TV free for everyone. If you are concerned about your programming being stolen then create a website with high quality streams monetized by advertising. Its easy and can certainly be done. So what is the problem? Well, conservatism for one thing.

A lot of people have gotten older ever since the days of the first antenna to cable switch and now the same long haired guys who were extolling the virtues of the magic cable are the ones still holding on the dear life. They don't want their cash cow to change. They want their world to stay the same because if it changes then they wont be in control anymore.

Yes, that causes studio execs to relinquish control over the Television value added chain but sooner or later the change will come. The future will be about TV flowing through your broadband on your computer or some other TV like device hooked up to Broadband. Get with it!

Read about the latest Direct TV Packages here.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karan_Trishool

2011-01-02T18:48:00.000-08:00

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DirecTV Versus The Dish Network: Taking Another Look

2011-01-02T18:23:00.000-08:00

The number of customers who subscribe to direct satellite broadcast service has grown dramatically over the last several years. Millions of people have grown weary of watching lackluster programming delivered by network television. They've migrated to DirecTV and the Dish Network because they yearned for a wider selection of shows that were more engaging. Others have begun to leave their cable providers behind because of persistent outages and inflexible packages. They too, have looked to satellite providers for a better experience. The question is, which service is better: Direct TV or the Dish Network?

In this article, we'll compare the two side by side. We'll consider the quality of the programming, pricing and packages, and overall customer satisfaction. In doing so, we hope to help you choose the subscription that best suits your television entertainment preferences.

Programming Quality

If you own a high-definition television, picture quality is likely important to you. DirecTV has a distinct advantage in this area. The company has always considered high-definition broadcasts a priority. As a result, they currently offer over 130 channels that stream continuous, 24-hour HD content. That not only includes local stations, but also some of their most popular channels, such as ESPN, Discovery, and all of their sports packages. The Dish Network currently offers fewer than 120.

DirecTV is expected to expand their high-definition inventory of channels to over 200 in the near future. This is one of the reasons cable TV customers have been abandoning their providers and joining Direct TV.

Pricing And Packages

Both satellite providers offer several packages, each with a different price point and different list of channels. That makes it difficult to compare the two. Direct TV offers packages that range from under $30 per month to their "Premier" package, which they offer at an introductory $59.99 per month. Meanwhile, the DISH Network's lowest-priced offer is under $25 while their "America's Everything Pak" (their version of the "Premier" bundle) is currently priced at $87.98.

Both providers offer popular programming options, such as HBO, Discovery, and Disney (along with dozens of others). DirecTV has gone a step further and dominated the sports segment. They offer their subscribers an enormous amount of exclusive content with programs such as the NFL Sunday Ticket, MLB Extra Innings, and Mega March Madness.

Customer Satisfaction

Both the Dish Network and Direct TV consistently outperform cable television providers in satisfying their respective customer bases. However, here too, DirecTV manages to edge out its satellite broadcast competitor. Recent surveys show them leading by nearly 7 points.

Customer satisfaction levels may be the most instructive barometer of all. One of the reasons Direct TV has achieved higher numbers than their competitor for the past nine years is due to their programming. A larger number of channels are delivered in high-definition and the packages are more comprehensive. If you're thinking about migrating to DirecTV or the Dish Network in the near future, consider the factors above. Each of them will play a key role in your overall experience.

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