A super cool review from Gizmodo.com of the three “ultrathin” HDTVs currently in production:
Tags: ultrathinTV, HDTV, Aquos, Hitachi, JVC
Anyone who figured OLED would go the way of SED has another thing comin’, and Samsung’s got the prototype to prove it. Over at the OLED-heavy FPD International 2008 show, Samsung is showcasing the biggest panel (of this nature) that its pilot line can even create: a 40-inch Full HD OLED display. 1,920 x 1,080 pixels of delicious OLED goodness, mixed with a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1, a color gamut of 107% NTSC, a luminance of 200cd/m2 and a thickness of just 8.9-millimeters. Judging by first hand reports, the actual quality wasn’t top-notch, but we’re willing to forgive the early glitches in hopes of a better tomorrow.
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Source: Engadget.com
Tags: OLED, Samsung, SED, HDTV, 1080p
If you thought the days of massive price drops in HDTV prices were over, think again. According to a survey by DisplaySearch, average global Internet pricing across all TV categories fell by a whopping 22 percent in September compared with the same month last year.
The survey found that larger models experienced the biggest drops year-over-year. In one example, worldwide prices for 52-inch LCDs–the largest popular size–fell 30 percent since last September, while 20-inch LCDs only fell 4 percent. In the North American region, one of the four tracked by the survey, the drop in the 52-inch LCD size was 30 percent (from $2,791 to $1,951), while 40-inch models fell by a more modest 21 percent (from $1,915 to $1,508). In North America, the average price of a TV fell by 16 percent.
September’s numbers are telling, but if past years are any indication, price drops should continue through the holiday season. In fact, for people who want to buy a new TV this year, the operative question, given retail price cuts in the face of impending recession, is how low they will go.
What do you think? Are falling prices enough to tempt you to get that new TV this holiday season? Or is economic uncertainty pushing a TV purchase toward the bottom of your priorities? Let us know in the comments section below.
Source: Engadget.com
Tags: HDTV, tv prices, cheap tvs
Hold your breath until December (in the US), because that’s when Sony’s 240Hz LCD TVs will be available to the public. Currently LCD TVs are topping out at 120Hz for consumers, and that’s already a significant improvement in speed over the standard 50-60Hz of normal (for want of a better term) LCD TVs. The new 240Hz technology promises to provide the smoothest, most lifelike, movement ever from an LCD TV and will be great for gamers using next-gen consoles especially. We’re still a little concerned about 240Hz with movies though. As it is 120Hz makes TV and movies look a little fake.
The 240Hz technology will be available in the KDL-46W1 and KDL-40W1 that boasts full-HD, 3,000:1 contrast ratio, BRAVIA Engine 2 and 24p support.
This isn’t the only big step forward from Sony though, they have also shown off the KDL-40ZX1 LCD TV that is just 9.9mm thick. It’s not thin on features though. With BRAVIA Engine 2, 120Hz technology and 3,000:1 contrast ration, imagine having one of these bad boys in your room!
We have no doubt Sony’s 240Hz models will make our top ten list of gaming TVs when they are launched, but until then, check out the current top ten list here.
The 99-cent offerings include a good assortment of worthwhile movies–including some recent hits.
(Credit: Vudu)
One of the biggest beefs with the Internet video-on-demand services offered on the Apple TV, Vudu, TiVo (via Amazon Unbox), and Xbox 360 is that the movies are just too expensive–usually around $4 for new movies, $5 to $6 for HD films, and a bit less for older “catalog” releases.
Watch just five or six movies a month, and you can easily rack up a $30 charge–not very appealing compared with Netflix’s all-you-can-eat pricing plans.
But Vudu took a step in the right direction Wednesday with its new “99 for 99 cents” section, which will offer a rotating list of films for just under a buck. Even better, the initial list–already available on Vudu’s Web site–isn’t crammed full of the usual sort of dreck you see on such virtual bargain tables.
In addition to some older favorites (Animal House, Groundhog Day, Austin Powers, Chinatown, The Big Lebowski, and many of the Star Trek and Jack Ryan movies), you’ll also find recent hits such as I Am Legend and Cloverfield. Not bad at all–though it’s worth noting that all of these are in standard-def, not HD. Vudu’s also extending its recent “renewal” policy, which lets people rewatch movies they’ve already purchased in the past seven days (99 cents for standard-def reruns, $1.99 for HD).
Remember that nearly all of the pricing and viewing limitations–such as the fact that rentals must be watched within 30 days of downloading, and within 24 hours of first clicking “play”–are imposed by the Hollywood studios that own the films (rather than the hardware makers). To that end, it’ll be interesting to see whether Vudu’s rivals begin offering a similar discount tier. In the meantime, though, Vudu’s got a another distinguishing feature over its competition.
Vudu creates bargain channel: 99 movies for 99 cents
Tags: Vudu, Apple TV, video on demand, IPTV
Samsung today ushered in new high-end models to its LCD TV line-up: the Series 8 and Series 9 flat-panel LCD HDTVs. They’re the step-ups to the Series 6 and Series 7 models, both of which garnered high marks when reviewed by CNET earlier this year (the LN52A650 scored an Editors’ Choice). Full details follow.
Samsung Series 8 LCD HDTVs
Key features of the Samsung Series 8 line:
At first glance, the Series 8 line doesn’t look too terribly different than the Series 7. The main step-ups here are the thinner bezel (1.9 inches at its widest point) and the fact that you can opt for the midnight blue color, which a lot of folks will likely prefer to the rose red accent. One note on the so-called DLNA compliance: in the Series 7 model, we found that the TV only recognized digital media from a PC running Samsung’s own server software. That’s fine, but that doesn’t measure up to our understanding of the DLNA standard, which is supposed to provide for streaming from any DLNA-certified device, such as network hard drives.
Samsung Series 9 LCD HDTVs
Models
Key step-up features of the Samsung Series 9 line:
The big step-up for the Series 9 is the LED backlighting (as opposed to the compact fluorescent backlights on standard LCD models). It’ll be interesting to see if Samsung has improved its LED backlight technology beyond the level we saw implemented in 2007’s LN-T81F line.
All of the above models are equipped with an Ethernet port for accessing the Internet or network-based digital media and information. However, the $35 Wireless LinkStick accessory will add Wi-Fi access as well (to the Series 8 models, at least).
CNET will strive to review these latest Samsung TVs as soon as they’re available. In the meantime, for those who don’t need the streaming media features, thinner bezels, or LED backlight, the Series 6 models continue to deliver the best bang for the buck in the Samsung 2008 LCD line-up.
Source: Samsung press releases (Series 8, Series 9) via EngadgetHD and Crave.cnet.com
Tags: Samsung, LCD, HDTV, LED, backlight, DLNA, LCD TV
HDGuru.com made a great review of the new Pioneer Elite Kuro Pro-111FD and how it is compared against the top of the line Panasonic TH-50PZ850U.
As HDGuru described, it’s up to you to decide which one to go. According to the review, the Pioneer Elite Kuro came on top of Panasonic, but with an extra $1500 on the price.
Both TVs deliver the BEST YOU CAN GET for a HDTV in the market:
- Full HD (1080p)
- Great Color reporduction
- Noise Reduction mechanism
- Anti-reflective coatings
- Signal Processing
- Concious Power Consumption
- UNBELIEVABLE deep blacks
With all these things together in one package, these new plasmas will leave any LCD/LED “in the dust” for sure!
Tags: PioneerElite Kuro PRO-111FD, Panasonic TH-50PZ850U, Pioneer Elite Kuro, Kuro, HDTV, Plasma
Panasonic working on 37-inch OLED TV? They’d better be. - Engadget
No, really… more rumors of Panasonic shifting R&D yen into OLED televisions? Oh you betcha, albeit this time with the specifics of a 37-inch OLED targeted for a retail launch in the next three years.
Tags: 37-inch, ips alpha, IpsAlpha, oled, panasonic, rumor
Just noticed this posting from an Australian site (gadgetzone.com.au) mentioning the new line up of LED TVs from Sony:
The XBR8 range consists of the Full-HD 55-inch KDL-55XBR8 and the 46-inch KDL-46XBR8, boosting Sony’s already significant range of panels.
These new models feature Sony’s mythical sounding TRILUMINOS three color LED backlight technology that expands the TV’s colour reproduction by aligning the red, green and blue backlight LED. This improves colour reproduction when compared with models with single white LED backlights.
The TVs will also be great for sports fans everywhere. Motionflow 100Hz technology has been replaced with Motionflow 120Hz providing for a clearer, judder-free picture. Sixty unique frames are created by the Bravia for every 60 regular frames for the clearest picture possible.
Another fancy new technology that Sony has added is its Advanced Contrast Enhancer PRO (or ACE PRO as we like to say) technology. ACE PRO enhances contrast and dynamic range by controlling the LED backlight level depending on the area, so that dark areas are given more detail while other areas are given more brightness. By reducing unnecessary light emission better blacks are achieved, which has always been a weakness of LCD TVs when compared to Plasma displays. This reduction of light also saves on your power bill.
Photos: Panasonic rolls out Net-enabled plasma | CNET News.com
For those looking for a REAL TV, this is the one to get!
“The PZ850 will feature “Viera Cast” to connect to YouTube and Google’s Picasa straight from the TV. Other items viewed with “Viera Cast” include weather from five chosen locations and Bloomberg news and stocks that are updated every 15 minutes. A computer can be hooked up to the TV, but isn’t necessary for access to the Internet. The PZ850 plugs into the Web via Ethernet.”
Can you imagine? Internet-Ready TV. And soon we should have Media Center TV fully integrated. But don’t buy it yet. Wait 3 months after release in order to find better prices. Remember, do your homework and you could save big time.
OMG, now I have to start selling my plasma 
Tags: Panasonic, Viera cast, YouTube, Picasa, Google, HDTV
+ news ++ newsWhich one to pick? Resistance 2 or Gears of War 2
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