The San Fran band The Bad Hand apparently think whatever squalling coming out of this Spencer’s Gifts plasma ball can be approximately linked to the making of music. While I’m very accepting of all sorts of musical genres, I feel that someone needs to kick this thing hard and fast, thereby releasing the tortured soul of Frank Zappa back into the Outworld. via MusicThing → Read More
If you’re like me, you’re extremely cheap. And that means you put off buying everything until it’s ridiculously low-priced or used. That means waiting a long time usually, but the payoff is that you get everything those other jokers got, plus more, for a quarter of the price. For instance: this Vizio 32-inch 720p plasma costs $600, exactly a quarter what my parents paid for a much poorer quality one a couple years ago. Plasma is no longer the leading technology, of course, but I’m not as much of a stickler about that. The 42-inch model costs $800, which I think is a better deal. Both have similar stats and a 30,000:1 contrast ratio. If LCD is more your style, they have some reasonably priced ones along that line as well. These have the 120Hz smoothing technology, which I’d want to see first as some companies’ versions are better than others. Still, 1080p with 120Hz for probably a little over a grand is a pretty decent deal. → Read More
The dreadful economy has led to an increase in the number of inexpensive picture tube TVs sold. Likewise, sales of LCDs and plasmas—”dude check out my flat screen”—have flatlined. I guess people value eating and paying the rent/mortgage more than watching “My Name is Earl” in HD. These numbers come from DisplaySearch, a research outfit that tracks and monitors the the display industry. The good ol’ picture tube was the second most popular display type for the first quarter of this year, supplanting plasma from previous quarter. The reason, of course, is that picture tube TVs are cheaper, and many consumers seem to be motivated to buy a new TV not necessarily to have the biggest and baddest TV in the neighborhood, but to get ready for the upcoming digital TV transition. And if you’re asking yourself, “Where do they even still sell picture tubes,” may I suggest a visit to Wal-Mart? It seems the mom and pop-killing store still sells picture tubes, and is benefitting from people’s newfound thriftiness. → Read More
Apparently plasma TVs are no longer the “it” girl of the tech world, at least not here in the Shining City on a Hill. Shipments of plasma panels increased by 53 percent Q1 2008 compared to Q1 2007, but you’re not likely to notice unless you’re in China or Latin America, where plasma is more popular than LCD. Why is LCD more popular than plasma here? A big reason is that consumers still think that plasma suffers from burn-in, which is largely a non-issue at this point. I personally own an LCD, but would totally be down with whatever tech can give me the best screen size:price ratio. Feel free to ask me stupid questions at our fiesta this evening; I have plenty of snappy answers ready for y’all. → Read More
We’ve been waiting for OLED to invade the marketplace, but it hasn’t yet. It will, sure, but Panasonic, with AT&T, have another idea, plasma. Right now you can get a flat-panel HDTV in LCD or plasma, and they each have their strengths and weaknesses (which will be addressed in a future home theater feature), but one thing about plasma is that it’s got more vibrant color than LCD, which has better contrast and is cheaper to manufacture. On a cellphone screen, though, plasma’s low-power design would actually make it a better choice than LCD for retaining a long battery life. In addition a plasma vs. OLED war would bring out good ol’ price wars, so we win both ways. I love the future. UPDATE – It’s a hoax. → Read More
http://progressive.playstream.com/playstream/progressive/flashplayers/FLVPlayer.swf Remember how we told you Samsung would be bringing their 3D plasma HDTVs this month? Well, the Series 4 sets are now available in stores. The 42-inch PN42A450 is available for $1,199, and the 50-inch PN50A450 is available for $1,699. Yay! → Read More
http://blip.tv/scripts/flash/showplayer.swf?enablejs=true&file=http%3A//blip.tv/rss/flash/767986&feedurl=http%3A//crunchgear.blip.tv/rss/&autostart=false&brandname=CrunchGear&brandlink=http%3A//crunchgear.blip.tv/ It’s so rare to actually have actual child-like fun with the gadgets we get in that I had to put together this silly video. The Jasman toys are laser-tag-alike weapons with targets and a shot counter. When you run out of ammo the weapons pop open — the rifle shoots out its overheating fins and the top of the pistol pops up. You can recharge your weapon by pressing a button on the top and you take a few hits before your target stops registering and you lose like the loser you are — that means you, Mike! Here we see my friends shooting each other while my son cowers in the corner and the dog enters the fray. Good times. The rifle is $139 and the pistol is $59. I strongly recommend these for a little inter-office laser tag Covenant action. Product Page → Read More
As a Wii owner, I’ve been using the Wii-mote sans wrist strap since the thing snapped within a week of using it. Since then, never have I ever had a problem with accidentally hurtling it into my TV. However, that might be because after reading all the horror stories of Wii-punctured flat panels, I picked up a couple rubberized battery covers for some extra traction. The total out of pocket cost to me for piece of mind was $6.99 plus tax for two battery covers. If you’re looking for the same piece of mind, you might be tempted to purchase similar accessories. Bah, I say. Why not just buy a Wii-proof TV instead and feel content to beat the hell out of it with your game controllers? Panasonic hopes that you’ll take my advice and purchase its tougher-than-normal LCD screens, which were recently announced in Valencia. The magically coated panels are tough enough to withstand up to 4 joules, which is probably really impressive if you’re into the joule scene. No word yet on price, availability, or consumer interest. Wii-proofing Panasonic’s plasma TVs [Crave] → Read More
As usual, Samsung will be the first to bring a 3D plasma HDTV to the US market next month in 42- and 50-inch versions. Most of us at CG have seen a demo of this within the last six months and it’s safe to say how darn cool it is. If and when you decide to purchase one you get the appropriate software and 3D glasses. Don’t fret because you can still watch your 2D moving pictures as well. Prices haven’t been announced, but Samsung says it won’t be too much more than what plasmas are priced at now. A video demo can be found down there. → Read More
[photopress:PN42A450P_PN50A450P__3.jpg,full,center] Product Name: Samsung Series 4 and Series 5 plasma HDTVs Description: Plasma HDTVs with 3D technology Price: TBA In-store date: March 2008 Site: Samsung plasma HDTVs Why it’s cool: The Series 5 is 1080p, which is not uncool, and both Series make use of Samsung 3D technology. Literally, you put on a special pair of glasses and you’ll be watching 3D in high-def. CORRECTION~! One of many friends at Samsung has informed me that only Series 4 do (does?) the 3D thing. Additionally, for a video demonstration of what I meant by “put on a special pair of glasses and you’ll be watching 3D in high-def,” check out CNET. Apparently, we forgot our camcorder that day. → Read More
I’m going to save you the shenenigans and snark by just pasting what Vizio sent us. Essentially, they’ve got 32-inch plasmas for $689 and 50-inchers for $1,399 — 1080p, naturally — and a few new surround sound systems and LCDs. They have a new LCD line called Envy which is a little sexier than the standard line. We’ll hit the booth tomorrow to see what is really up over there. → Read More
Who bothers going to the movie theaters anymore in the age of 60-inch plasmas and Dolby TrueHD? I ask because Peter and I just had a brief to-do in the chat room: I saw the “I am Legend” DVD screener last night (if you’re reading CrunchGear, I assume you know where to find it), which shocked Mr. Ha. Wouldn’t you rather see it in the theater?, he asked. No. No I would not. → Read More
Quick question: As of today, which company is the top-selling flat panel HDTV brand in the US? Sony? Nope — your Bravia may be nice, but it’s not number one. Panasonic? Nah. And nope, it’s not Sharp, LG, Samsung, or Philips either. The answer: Vizio. A company that didn’t exist 4 years ago and, unlike all of the companies above, is actually based in the United States. According to the market research firm DisplaySearch, Vizio was ranked number 15 just 2 years ago. So how did a no-name brand based in California beat out the giants of Seoul and Tokyo? Really, in hindsight, considering all of the factors blowing behind them, it would have been remarkable if they didn’t. → Read More
Debuting last night in NYC at famed auction house Christie’s, was the 50-inch Opus 1080p plasma TV. The 50-inch, 50PY3D, plasma is chock-full of helpful features like Simple Link connectivity that lets you control other Simple Link devices from one remote. The fun doesn’t end there because the Opus line includes three HDMI inputs, a USB media hub, integrated ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuners as well as the latest VSB circuitry that brings the most optimal digital reception to date. A svelte and stylish side-speaker design features a distinctive reflecting digital index display, micro-perforated speaker grills and oh so very soft-touch controls. If you’re in the market for a high-end plasma then wait till September when the 50PY3D Opus hits stores for $3,499. → Read More
A wireless plasma TV? Now I’ve seen it all. In actuality, I have not seen it all but this is the kind of innovation that makes a jaded old gadgeteur like me go from slouching to sitting almost upright in my chair. The Samsung 94 Series plasma TVs feature a power cord and nothing else, enticing you to take the bullet train to Wall Mount Junction. A built-in 802.11n connection communicates with a hidden receiver located up to 200 feet away amidst a tangled mess of unsightly cords. Rather than plug various home theater components into the back of the HDTV, such as Blu-ray/DVD players, home theater in a box systems and cable boxes, consumers can instead connect them to a receiver, leaving only the HDTV’s power cable to hide. With a range of up to 200 feet, the receiver then wirelessly transmits the audio and video signals – up to 1080i HD resolution – directly to the television set. The receiver features a number of connectivity options for easy home theater expansion including three HDMI 1.3 ports with CEC technology. Over-the-air HDTV channels can be viewed with the built-in NTSC/ATSC/QAM digital tuner. I’ll never be able to afford this beauty but hopefully more TVs like this will trickle into the marketplace at much lower price points. They’ll be available in 50-inch and 58-inch varieties at the end of the year for a crotch-punching $3599 and $5299, respectively. Samsung Wireless Plasma TV Press Release (PDF File) → Read More
There’s something rotten in the state of LG. It seems the Korean manufacturer is having some trouble offloading its plasma TVs, with sales last February down some $35 million compared to the previous year. To be fair, it does appear to be a general trend in the TV industry, with LCDs being cheaper to produce at larger and larger sizes. (It used to be that LCDs larger than 42 inches were prohibitively expensive. Starting at that size, you usually went with plasma.) So LG will cut plasma production by 70,000 units per year from now on. Somewhat related is that, of the plasmas it will produce, LG will be making them smaller for the Chinese market. The sweet spot seems to be sets in the 30-inch range, something the company expects to take off in anticipation of next year’s Olympics in Beijing. LG Electronics De-Emphasizing Plasma TVs [PC Magazine] LG to scale down TV panel size for China [Reuters] → Read More
The HP TVs we saw back at CES are finally shipping and it’s a good thing because I’m actually looking for a new HDTV and HP has a 1080p LCD TV in the line-up. Sweet. A nice mix of 720p and 1080p is being offered at reasonable prices and most come with three HDMI ports. You can’t really ask for much more at the prices they’re being sold for. → Read More
Now that flat-screen TVs are popping up everywhere, it makes sense to take advantage of them to the fullest. After all, you might not be watching that much television, but you did plunk down three grand for the set. Might as well put it to good use. With Lightascope, you can turn your high-def plasma or LCD TV into tripped out visuals for parties a beautiful work of art. It slides over the set’s screen and allows light to come through via slits in the plastic. Seems like a glorified dust-cover to me, but apparently the Lightascope is still supposed to look good even after your TV has been turned off. If you want one, you’ll have to hope there’s a size for you. Lightascope only comes in 32-inch, 42-inch, and 50-inch models, which retail for $99, $149, and $199, respectively. tv2art lightascope converts flat panels into live art [Technabob] → Read More
The Life Acquatic: Swimming with Sound Subtitling Glasses Put the Text Where It Belongs Plasma Lift: Hey Honey! What TV? Wine That Loves: No More Guessing What Wine Goes With What Food Fitness by Crunchgear 2007 → Read More
Like I mentioned, Panasonic visited Gotham yesterday to show off its plasma TV lineup for the year, including its first 42-inch 1080p model that’ll be available in June for $2,500. (Wow, run-on sentence alert.) Panasonic displayed many of these plasmas at CES earlier in the year, but it doesn’t hurt to get some one-on-one time with them without throngs of people pushing up against me. → Read More
San Francisco, CA
