Currently, Apple’s AirPlay can be used to stream audio from Apple devices to AirPlay-enabled devices. However, according to Bloomberg’s sources, Apple may begin licensing AirPlay for video streaming in the near future, possibly this year. This would allow streaming movies and TV shows from devices like the iPhone and iPad to larger displays. Such an unusual move could mean that Apple is concerned… → Read More
Once upon a time HDTVs fascinated me. I loved the depth of the colors and amazing detail they produced. But that was 7 years ago when they were new and exciting. Now I walk into Best Buy and my eyes glaze over when staring at their wall o’ HDTVs. I just don’t care anymore. They all look the same. That is until the Hitachi LE42S704 came into my life. Now, watching HDTV is a sport again. → Read More
There is a war being waged by TV makers. A war against set-top boxes. See, TV makers like LG and Sony don’t want you going off and buying a Roku, or iTV, or what have you. So over the last couple years, they keep adding features to their TVs — apps, internet, weather, that kind of thing. LG’s latest, which it will be showing at IFA this next week, doesn’t look terribly different from the… → Read More
Feel like spending a lot of money on a brand new HDTV? Sony’s got you covered. The new line of high-end Bravias just got announced, and hey, let’s be honest: we all wish we had one of these things sitting in our living room. Let’s take a look at their vitals. → Read More
You can’t escape Twitter anymore. It’s everywhere including in some of Panasonic’s Viera Cast Plasma TVs and eventually, in a few Panasonic Blu-ray players as well. It’s just the latest app available in the already-loaded Viera Cast IPTV offering. Twitter joins Netflix, Pandora, Fox Sports, Amazon Video-on-Demand, YouTube, Icasa, Bloomberg, and Skype’s Video calling… → Read More
This is a good thing to remember, as long as your local Best Buy or electronics store doesn’t mind you plugging stuff into their sets. Just get a USB stick (or better, two or three) and fill it up with pictures that will show off the strengths and weaknesses of the displays you’re considering. It’s a bit of a rough-and-tumble way of checking, since the color settings and such… → Read More
You may remember that Sony recently unveiled its new line of 3D LCD TVs. All well and good, I thought. I think active shutter glasses are a transient technology, but hey, if they work, they work. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to work in this case — or so thought HD Guru at a recent demo. → Read More
The buzzword is 3D. Everywhere you look in the videophile forums, they’re talking about 3D. Its future is still a little hazy; glasses, no glasses, polarized, anaglyph.. no one really knows. Today, Sony has made its bets and showed a glimpse into that future by releasing its new lineup of 3D displays.
Details and full press release inside. Clicky clicky! → Read More
Look out, Sony is actually trying something new and might announce Intel Atom-powered TVs next month at Google I/O 2010. A new Android released dubbed Dragonpoint is said to run on these TVs and will be just the beginning of Sony’s venture into the so-called Smart TV market.
The report comes from Bloomberg who sources two people familiar with the matter. The timing is certainly right. Sony hasn’t… → Read More
Vizio announced the 1080p LED XVT line way back in June of ’09 and they are just now starting to ship. These are the sets that come with that oh-so-awesome QWERTY remote to work the TV’s collection of Internet apps. It’s too bad that most owners will still need a cable or satellite box because this TV line is nearly an all-in-one solution for home entertainment. → Read More
Next weekend Peyton Manning will lead the Colts to a victory over the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLIV. Hot new commercials will run and there will be remembrances a-plenty about Katrina. Retailers are hoping that you witness all this on a brand new HDTV. And you might want to think about it, too. After all, right now is the best time of year to buy a high definition TV — as long as… → Read More
To be fair, the $12,000 figure cited in the headline is pure guesswork on my part. But when the 40″ version of the TV, reviewed here at FlatPanelsHD, costs £6000 (about $10,000), it’s easy enough to do the math. These mega-lux TVs are meant to be the final word in current LCD TV technology — and will of course be worth less than a fig once AMOLED is the standard. Until then, however… → Read More
Gigantic TVs aren’t really my area of expertise, but this one was so big and beautiful that I couldn’t help snapping a few shots as I drifted by it on my way to who knows where. This thing, if production is even planned, will likely cost somewhere around… oh, your first-born child. It might be worth it, too. Click for full size, and here’s the little boast that was… → Read More
If you read the headline, then you already know that Samsung pushed out 2.6 million LED TVs in 2009. That’s nearly equal to the population of San Diego. But the company also expects 2010 to be bigger — a lot bigger. Samsung plans on moving 10 million LED LCD TVs in 2010, which would be one to every person living in Beijing. That’s a lot, folks. → Read More
LCD TVs have taken over the world. Market research firm DisplaySearch estimates in a new report that of the 205 million total TVs shipped in 2009, 140.5 million, or 69 percent, were LCD TVs (the rest were plasma and CRTs). In 2010, that percentage is forecast to rise to 78 percent for LCD TVs, when total shipments will rise to 218 million.
Total TV shipments have actually been on the decline… → Read More
About half of all our CrunchDeals are Viewsonic monitors, since they seem to be eternally on sale for crazy prices. In fact, look, there’s a 24″ for $164! But if you’re in the market for a real TV, Viewsonic has you covered too. So covered, in fact, that they released six TVs today just to make sure you had a selection to choose from. You’ve got six models; I’ll give… → Read More
Widgets and gadgets are the latest trend to hit HDTVs. Vizio is upping the game by equipping its soon-to-be-released HDTVs with an impressive suite of Internet applications and video streaming sites. So much so, that this portfolio will place them on top of many people’s wish list as these TVs will be better equipped than a TiVo or even Windows Media Server. → Read More
Color space is something most people never have to deal with, and for good reason: like the fruit from that infamous tree, knowledge of color gamuts and response curves will eject you forever from the comfortable Eden of ignorance. Media professionals, however, like photographers, printers, and effects artists, absolutely have to know (and use) the differences between the popular color spaces, and… → Read More
The Samsung Spring lineup we went over at the end of March was apparently incomplete. As it turns out, the Korean electronics giant has one more trick up its corporate sleeve, and it’s actually quite a sexy one. But far from cheap, I’m guessing.
The leaked 9000 series of HDTVs will do everything the high-end 8000 series does (240Hz, Internet@TV, various sort so media decoding), but with one less… → Read More
The Super Bowl is a major economic force and should cause 2.6 million HDTVs sold this year – or so says the CEA. After all, it is the biggest football game of the year and people love an excuse to gather. No doubt some used the digital switch or so-called liquidation sales as an excuse to plop down money on a swanky new HDTV. → Read More
What is it with TVs these days? Billion-to-one contrast ratios. 600Hz refresh rates. And now: begun, the aspect ratio wars have. 21:9 may be more familiar to you as something like 2.35:1 or Anamorphic widescreen. The widest of the common aspect ratios, the size has been around for a long time and many films will now be viewable without letterboxing on this 56-inch TV. But is it worth it?
Head on… → Read More
One thing about Australians, you have to admire their “can do” attitude. From eating Vegemite to fixing TVs, no one else can do it with their particular, well, style. And if this guy is any indication, we now know exactly how the future we saw in Road Warrior will come to pass. → Read More
LG just released a vast amount of information detailing their latest lineup of HDTVs, but most of it you can make up yourself: imagine a list of TV sizes, a descending list of model numbers, and a likewise descending list of features. The ones worth mentioning are the LH50 (below) and PS80 series, which will both have ethernet ports and the new Netcast streaming technology, allowing you to watch… → Read More
Here’s a relatively affordable full HD TV from ViewSonic. The VT2430 is a 24-inch, 1080p LCD with an ATSC/NTSC/QAM tuner, 10,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 5ms response time, 300cd/m2 brightness, a VGA input, composite/component/S-Video inputs, and a single HDMI input. The company’s positioning the TV for “the other room,” meaning the bedroom, children’s playroom, kitchen, or office. You… → Read More
Here’s a low price on a big 42-inch TV. Newegg is selling the Corion Digital Lifestyles 42" 720p LCD HDTV for $499, plus $50 for shipping. Today only, though, if you pay with Paypal, you can get 15% cash back up to $50 – so it’d be $500 out the door. The TV itself has the following specs: 1366×768 resolution, 500 cd/m2 brightness, 8ms response time, ATSC/NTSC tuner, 2 HDMI inputs… → Read More
Newegg.com has the AOC Envision 42-inch 720p LCD TV for $699 – that’s $300 off the regular price. Shipping is free, as well. Specs: 1366×768 resolution, 500 cd/m2 brightness, 1200:1 contrast ratio, 8ms response time, and built-in HDTV tuner. ENVISION 42-inch 16-9 8ms 720p LCD HDTV [Newegg.com via dealnews] → Read More
Whoa, whoa, whoa, here’s a big 42-inch 1080p TV for under $600 at Best Buy. Dynex? Sure, why the hell not? Brightness is pegged at 300 cd/m2, the contrast ratio is 2000:1, and the two speakers push out 12 watts. Inputs include: 2 HDMI, 1 S-video, 2 component, 1 composite, and 1 VGA. Oh, and there’s a headphone jack. If you have a Best Buy credit card you can get 18 months no interest… → Read More
Short Version: A full-featured 22-inch HDTV with a built-in DVD player for under $400, the N2201w from ViewSonic is a great option as a bedroom TV, office TV, or dedicated gaming TV. → Read More
The new 55″ VF550XVT1A (catchy) LCD TV from Vizio looks like it’s got all the features that make buying a new TV worthwhile. With the Smooth Motion Video 120Hz refresh rate feature, this TV should look like the business if it’s anything like similar models I’ve seen. It also has SRS TruSurround HD, an incorporated sound processor, which I’m told actually sounds great. → Read More
Seattle, WA
San Diego, CA
Menlo Park, CA
San Francisco, CA
Berlin, Germany
Boston, MA
