HD Guru &#187; LED LCD Flat Panels

The other 3D LED series is the DT (55″, 47″). The ET5 (55″,47″,42″) use passive 3D glasses.

2D LED model series include:

E50 (55″, 47″, 42″); E5 (47″, 42″, 37″ 32″)

X5 (42″ 1080p; 32″ 1365 x 768 resolution; 24″ 1080p)

2D series LCD (CCFL) include:

TC-L42U5 42″ 1080p

TC-L32C5 32″ 1365 x 768 resolution.

Tomorrow we’ll publish our report and specification list on the Panasonic 2012 plasmas.

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Is Your HDTV Super Bowl Ready? Set-Up Tips For The Best Picture

Gary — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:00:40 +0000

Surveys show about 1 in 5 HDTV owners end up NOT watching the big game or other programs in high def due to improper setup (source: The Nielsen Co.).

Follow our check list to make sure your HDTV is ready for Super Bowl viewing with the best, sharpest picture. We take you step by step from TV signal to a full high definition image.

HDTV Source

There are three possible ways to see the game in high definition, over-the-air, cable or satellite.

Over-The-Air

To receive the game in HDTV via free over-the-air broadcasts you will need an antenna and know if your local NBC station’s transmitter is within roughly 25 miles from your home. You will also need to have a line of sight to the transmitter tower. If you have a building, hill or mountain between you and tower you probably won’t be able to get reliable over the air reception. Check with antennaweb.org and/or your local NBC station for more information about what size and type of antenna you need to see the game, as well as the direction you need to point it. Because of all that is involved, the vast majority of viewers choose cable or satellite. An HDTV over-the-air tuner is built-in to all HDTVs.

Cable/Satellite

You need the right equipment and settings to see the game in glorious high definition. First you need to make 100% sure your cable or satellite box is a “High Definition” model. The cable and satellite providers will rent you a standard def box if you do not specify a high definition model. Most HD boxes have either the letters HD or HDTV or “high definition” on their front panel. If it doesn’t, it is probably a standard def model and you will need to get a replacement before the game.

You also need a high definition wire to connect between the box and your HDTV. The best and least expensive one is called HDMI. It carries both the picture and sound over a single cable. Get the Hi-Speed type as it can handle any current or future signal you will receive. Retail stores usually charge $25 to over $100 for an HDMI cable. Most installs need at least a two meter (6 ft.6 inches) or three meter (9 ft. 9 inches) cable. HDMI cables do not tolerate sharp bends well, so make sure the cable is long enough. Amazon makes a great Hi-Speed HDMI Cable that sells for $9.99 for 3 meters or $7.99 for 2 meters with free shipping.

Cable/Satellite Box settings

First learn from your program provider which channel carries the NBC high definition signal, as many cable and satellite companies still simulcast the standard definition version on a different channel. Tune to the NBC HD channel and confirm reception. Next, through the cable or satellite box remote control you must set the box’s resolution to your HDTVs resolution. If you have a 1080p HDTV set the box’s output to 1080i (the TV will automatically convert the “i,” for interlaced, into “p,” for progressive). If you have a 720p HDTV, then set the box’s output to 720p.

Amazon’s Super Bowl Sale

Panasonic VIERA TC-P50GT30 50-Inch 1080p 3D Plasma HDTV

Cable/Satellite Box Aspect Ratio Setting

You’ll also need to make the set top box is in “16×9″ not the “4×3″ mode. If this is not set correctly you will see a smaller cropped image.

You are now finished with the settings on your cable/satellite box. Onto your TV settings.

Adjusting the TV

First confirm the HDMI cable is connected from the set top box is to an HDMI input on your HDTV. We choose “HDMI 1″ as this is the most frequently used source in our house, though any HDMI TV input will work the same. Using the TVs remote control set the TV input to the corresponding one to where you connected the HDMI cable.

Aspect Ratio

Your HDTV will have settings for aspect ratio and most sets have a second sub-control. The main aspect setting you need will be the one labeled “Full” , choose it. If your set has a sub-control called “Dot-by-Dot”, “Native”, or “Just Scan” use it. Panasonics have a sub-menu that lists Size One or Size Two. Choose Size Two. All these modes allow the HDTV to place the entire image on the screen without cropping it (called overscan even though TVs don’t scan anymore). This control gives the viewer everything the director sees at the highest resolution. Your HDTV will now match the NBC HD signal pixel for pixel. On some HDTVs this control will be grayed out if the set’s picture “mode” is set to Vivid or Sports, it usually requires standard, custom or a user labeled setting (see picture modes below for more information).

Reducing Motion Blur

LED and LCD TVs that have 120 Hz, 240 Hz or 480 Hz refresh allow users to reduce blurry motion by engaging these circuits during sports programs. Different set makers call them different names such as Motion Plus or Motion Flow etc.. This mode must be in the “On” position to get crisper motion. Consult your TVs “on screen” menu for this control or your owner’s manual. Note, Plasma TVs have full motion resolution without these circuits so no adjustment is necessary

Picture Modes

All HDTVs have preset picture modes as a starting point for picture optimization. Avoid the following preset modes for the best game viewing “Sports”, “Vivid” “Dynamic” and “Game” Yes it sounds counter intuitive, but these presets are generally made to produce the brightest image on the showroom floor not the best picture in a home. “Game” mode automatically disengages and locks out motion blur reduction circuits. Use modes such as “Movie” or “Custom” as the best starting point for user control optimization. If your set does not have those modes choose “Standard”.

Picture Controls

Ideally you would use a test disc like the Disney WOW: World of Wonder on Blu-ray disc to optimize your picture settings. If you don’t have one follow our guide to settings here.

Summary

By taking a few minutes to check our simple list you can be assured you, your friends and family are viewing the Super Bowl and all other future programs with the best high def image your HDTV is capable of producing. Now you’ll really be ready for some football.

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The Hottest Pre-Super Bowl HDTV Deals

Gary — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:13:55 +0000

With only one week remaining to the big game, TV makers are running dealer incentives for a final push on big screen HDTVs. We’ve picked the hottest deals, all with free freight. Our survey article indicates buyers want the biggest, sharpest HDTV they can get. This week’s deals list screens from 46 to 60 Inches with the best deals coming from Samsung and Panasonic. Our top pick is the 60-Inch Panasonic plasma.

The Panasonic TCP60S30 is 60-Inch Full HD 1080p Smart TV which allows you to stream movies from Amazon Instant and Netflix as well as other services now on sale for $999. This is the best big screen deal around for under $1000. Plasma TVs have the widest viewing angle, far exceeding LED and LCD, making it the perfect choice for Super Bowl parties. Everyone, no matter where they sit or stand sees the same great picture.

All listed HDTVs are sold by Amazon Direct and include free freight. Want it faster? Order Amazon Prime ($79) and get free two day shipping on any TV from Amazon direct and free streaming movies via Amazon Instant for a full year on any of the listed Panasonic HDTVs.

Samsung UN46D7000 46-Inch 1080p 240 Hz 3D LED HDTV Retail $2,299.99 Now $1,293.00

Samsung UN60D7000 60-Inch 1080p 240 Hz 3D LED HDTV, Silver Retail $3800 Now 2438.00

Samsung UN46D7900 46-Inch 1080p 240 Hz 3D LED HDTV Retail $2600 Now $1519.97

Panasonic VIERA TC-P60S30 60-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV Retail $1600 Now $999.99

Samsung UN46D8000 46-Inch 1080p 240Hz 3D LED HDTV Retail $2800 Now $1566.09

Samsung PN51D8000 51-inch 1080p 3D Ready Plasma HDTV Retail $2,299.99 Now $1,519.68

Panasonic VIERA TC-P50GT30 50-Inch 1080p 3D Plasma HDTV Retail $1900 Now $1119.04

We recommend and affiliate (we may earn a small commission on referred sales) with Amazon because they have among the best HDTV policies in the industry including a 14 day low price guarantee and 30 Day returns with free return freight. They stand behind their sales. Note: prices are correct as of posting and may change at any time, please verify with our links; Most states do not collect sales tax on Amazon orders [with the exceptions of [CO, KS, KY, NY, ND & WA]. You always must pay sales tax when buying at any brick and mortar store. Should you buy an HDTV from on-line or from a retail store? Learn all the pros and cons in our article here.

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Super Bowl Viewers Want A New HDTV That’s Bigger and Better

Gary — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:11:21 +0000

A Super Bowl HDTV shopper survey just released by techbargains.com reveals one in four shoppers are considering purchasing a new HDTV before the game on February 5, 2012. A whopping 72% of consumers believe the size of the HDTV impacts on their viewing experience.

Additional survey results:

High resolution is the most important television feature when watching football according to 60% of shoppers.

Size of Current TVs Survey Participants Own

40% own a 40″-49″ TV

22% own 50″-59″ TV

22% own 30″-39″ TV

10% own 21″-29″ TV

5% own 60″-69″ TV

1% own 70″+ TV

Spending

63% will spend more on this TV purchase than their last purchase

27% will spend about the same

10% will spend less on this TV purchase than their last purchase

Type of HDTVs Consumers Currently Own

45% own LCD

20% own LED

16% Plasma

12% don’t own an HDTV

3% own a 3DTV

Type of HDTVs Shoppers are Purchasing

53% will buy an LED TV

16% will buy a LCD

15% will buy a Plasma

14% will buy a 3D TV

3% are not sure

Current LED Owners

24% may buy a new TV in time for the Super Bowl (7% will buy, 17% are undecided)

64% will purchase online and 36% will purchase in store

66% will buy another LED while 20% will spring for a 3D TV

59% will spend more on their new TV than their last TV

39% will spend $1,000-$1,499, 30% will spend $500-$999

Current LCD Owners

21% may buy a new TV in time for the Super Bowl (5% will buy, 16% are undecided)

69% will purchase online and 31% will purchase in store

57% will switch over to buy an LED TV while 20% will buy another LCD

57% will spend more on a new TV than on their last TV

42% will spend $500-$999, 27% will spend $1,000-$1,499

Current Plasma Owners

23% may buy a new TV in time for the Super Bowl (7% will buy, 16% are undecided)

74% will purchase online and 26% will purchase in store

35% will buy an LED TV, 32% will buy another Plasma and 18% will buy a 3DTV

53% will spend more on a new TV than on their last TV

32% will spend $500-$999, 29% will spend $1,000-$1,499

Summary

Consumers want the biggest sharpest image when viewing the Super Bowl. About 7 out of 10 buyers surveyed want to buy online, showing more confidence in the value of online HDTV buying than ever before (take notice Best Buy!). HD Guru believes this is largely due to Amazon’s very pro-customer policies including free freight, 30 day free returns and more.

Here are a number of great pre-game large screen HDTV deals from Amazon direct.

Panasonic VIERA TC-P60S30 60-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

Panasonic VIERA TC-P65ST30 65-Inch 1080p 600 Hz 3D Plasma HDTV

Samsung UN55D8000 55-Inch 1080p 240Hz 3D LED HDTV (Silver)

Samsung PN59D8000 59-Inch 1080p 600Hz 3D Plasma HDTV (Black)

Samsung UN60D7000 60-Inch 1080p 240 Hz 3D LED HDTV, Silver

Samsung UN55D6400 55-Inch 1080p 120 Hz 3D LED HDTV (Black)

Sony BRAVIA KDL46BX420 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV, Black

Sony BRAVIA KDL55HX820 55-Inch 1080p 3D LED HDTV with Built-In Wi-Fi, Black

Toshiba 47TL515U 47-Inch Natural 3D 1080p 240 Hz LED-LCD HDTV with Net TV, Black

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CES 2012 Post Show Report Part Three-Toshiba’s HDTV Line

Gary — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:40:45 +0000

Toshiba came to Las Vegas with nine new series of HDTVs. Its top series include Smart passive 3D models and all new slim styling. Toshiba also showed its latest iteration of glasses-less 3D TV with a promise of delivery later this year.

Glasses-Less 3D

Toshiba demonstration model was based on its model now on sale in Japan. The 55-Inch screen displays 2D content upconverted to 4K resolution (3840 x 2160) while providing up to nine viewing positions in 3D.

The latest glasses less version incorporates face tracking allowing a single viewer to sit anywhere in front of the TV and get the 3D effect. How did it look? To us the 3D was there but did not appear as dramatic as glasses models, however with Toshiba’s demo material it is difficult to judge if it issue was the programming or the TV.

To pull off the 3D requires the Toshiba to send different images to the left and right eyes. How do they do it? Toshiba won’t say. We’ll call it a work in process and anxiously await a US production model. With Sharp, Samsung , LG and Toshiba promising 4K HDTVs this year it will be interesting to see which manufacturer will make it to market first.

HDTV Deals For the Big Game

Hot Deals on The Most Popular 50+ Inch HDTVs

Passive 3D

Toshiba 3D line features include new Aero styling with thin bezel, ePortal Media guide with search, Dual Core CQ signal processing and passive 3D.

L7200 Cinema Series

Toshiba’s top of the line series (photo above) adds ClearScan 120 Hz refresh plus scanning backlight, 2 way ported speakers with Audussy and edge lit LED with dimming. Inputs include 4 HDMI, 2 USB and a PC input. These smart TVs include a full size wireless keyboard. Available in the 47 and 55-inch screen sizes will ship in March.

L6200 Series

Includes LED edge lighting, Aero styling, 120 Hz refresh, smart TV and Audyssey audio. Available in the 42, 47 and 55-Inch screen sizes shipping in March.

2D LED LCD Models

L5200 Series includes LED edge lighting, Audyssey audio, 120 Hz refresh, 3 HDMI, USB and PC input. The L5200s ship in March in the 40, 46 and new 50-Inch screen sizes.

L4200 Series includes LED edge lighting, Aero design cosmetics, 2 HDMI, 1 USB and 1 PC input. Screen sizes include 19 and 32-inch as 720p and a 1080p 24-Inch model.

V4210 is a single 24-inch LED edgelit model with 1080p resolution and built-in DVD player

2D LED Models with LED Backlighting

L2200 Series features a single 50-Inch 1080p model. Includes 2 HDMI, 1 USB and a PC input. The 2200 ships in April.

2D Models with CCFL Backlighting

HT2 is a 65-Inch 1080p model with 120Hz refresh, 3 HDMI, USB and PC input. The HT2 is shipping this month.

E220 is a 40-inch model with 1080p resolution, Audyssey audio, 2HDMI, 1 USB and a PC input shipping this month

C120 is a 32-Inch model with 720p resolution, 2 HDMI, 1 USB and PC input will ship later this month.

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CES 2012 Post Show Report Part Two-Vizio’s HDTV Line

Gary — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:33:42 +0000

Vizio once again displayed its new line off-site at a Las Vegas Hotel. While Vizio continues to be in the number one or two LCD HDTV sales position, they remain the only top five TV company to opt out of a booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center, a real inconvenience and a time killer.

Prior to CES Vizio was very hush-hush, not releasing any product information. You can’t blame them. With only nine 2012 new model announcements I may have skipped the trek all together. Three entry level 3D sets are carried over from the 2011 line and a Vizio spokesman said it has not yet decided on the rest of the 2012 line-up or if they would carry over more models from last year. By comparison, during last year’s CES Vizio introduced 50 new 16:9 HDTVs.

For the third year in a row, Vizio showed its CinemaWide 2.37:1 aspect ratio TVs.

The CinemaWide models v3.0 will be available in the 50-Inch diagonal, 58-Inch and 71-Inch screen sizes (see photo). All include passive 3D functionality.

One would think a company that has been showing the same TV since 2010 would provide some sort of price information, but alas it appears Vizio can’t seem to nail it down, although the spokesman said they will start shipping soon. We’ll see, I am still waiting for that smart phone Vizio was going gaga over at last year’s CES.

All the CinemaWides have a screen resolution of 2560 x 1080 with an aspect ratio of 2.37:1, requiring some new fangled signal processing accommodate the resolution HD and SD source material. All the wide ones have Internet connectivity for streaming or surfing while viewing.

The Theater 3D models listed below are passive 3D using either LG’s film patterned retarder or a glass patterned retarder on the surface of the LCD panel. All have Vizio’s Via platform with streaming movies and TV programs from Hulu Plus, Netflix and Vudu. Via also has apps and Yahoo widgets.

Two new models in the R3D series (47 and 55-Inch) add Google TV functionality.

HDTVs For the Big Game On Sale

We asked about any picture quality improvements but no information was provided in the press releases or during the demo. Styling wise, we have to acknowledge Vizio’s brave efforts to resist the thin depth, thin bezel trend seen on the 2012 Samsungs, LGs and Panasonics and simply continue with its wide bezel and deep cabinet design (photo). If the was any new styling on the 2012s I really couldn’t spot the differences.

For more on Vizio, check out our articles here and here.

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Choosing The Right HDTV For Super Bowl XLVI

Gary — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:28:20 +0000

With the big game just around the corner this guide will help you pick the HDTV that is best for viewing the annual spectacle.

The game will be broadcast in high definition on NBC on Sunday February 5th at 6:30 Eastern Standard Time. This means it will be past sunset on the east coast and about two hours before it in the west. The western time may affect ambient room lighting conditions if your game viewing environment does not have curtains or window shades. There are four main criteria for great sports HDTV viewing. The list appears after the jump.

The four HDTV criteria for a great Superbowl viewing experience are: screen size, viewing angle, motion performance and screen brightness.

Screen Size

With the game broadcast in 1080 line resolution you will want to sit close enough to see all the detail. The further the seating distance, the larger the screen needed to see all the resolution of the broadcast. Here is a link to our viewing distance chart . Below are some examples of screen size viewing distances below (measured diagonal versus maximum viewing distance (distance may be slightly rounded up or down):

Screen Size=Max Viewing Distance

42-Inch =5.5ft.

46-Inch=6ft.

50-Inch=6.5 ft

55-Inch=7 ft. 2-inches

60-Inch=7 ft. 10-inches

65-Inch=8.5 ft

70-Inch=9 ft 2-inches

80-Inch=10.5ft

How Viewing Angle Can Affect Contrast

If you watch the game alone or with one person next to you all the current HDTVs will provide a good picture. However, if you expect to have a crowd over then you should know about viewing angles and how they affect picture performance. Called off-axis viewing some HDTVs images loss contrast and color saturation and may also shift colors, all these anomalies can degrade your viewing experience. There are two types of large flat screen technologies currently available, LCD and plasma. What TV makers often call LEDs are really LCD panels lit by LED lamps instead of fluorescent (CCFL) lamps. While the so called LED LCDs may have a thinner form factor, and can reach a higher maximum brightness (more on this later), the viewing angle with this type of lighting is no better than the lower cost CCFL LCD models.

Plasma TVs have the best vertical and horizontal viewing angle, everyone sees the same high quality image no matter where they are sitting or standing in the room.

LCDs and LED LCDs have a limited vertical viewing angle and lighter blacks and darker whites know as lower contrast are noticeable as one moves above or below the screen. LCDs and LEDs (LCD) also suffer from lower contrast as one moves from center to the side of the TV with performance varying greatly depending on the screen technology. LG and Panasonic LCDs use IPS panels in their respective large screen sets and these IPS panels consistently have the best off-axis horizontal viewing. Samsung, Sony and Sharp all use a type of panel called VA and these panels suffer from more contrast loss as one moves off center though results may vary from on model to another. If you plan to have viewers off center a IPS LED LCD or IPS LCD (CCFL) or a plasma TV should be considered. You can test this yourself by moving off center at your desired viewing distance at your local dealer showroom.

Motion Performance

All LEDs and LCDs with a 60 Hz refresh rate blur fast motion like runners and pans. In our tests of hundreds of sets we found 60 Hz models reduced image sharpness around 70% during fast motion. If you are considering a large screen LED or LCD you should get one with at least a 120 Hz refresh rate to reduce motion blur. 240 Hz is even better but the improvement is not as dramatic as when comparing 60 Hz to 120 Hz. All plasma HDTVs have excellent motion resolution.

One more word of caution. While higher refresh rates work fine with sports that are shot by video cameras, these circuits called ME/MC have a side effect for film based content like movies and many scripted series. They make the film look like video and create other artifacts. Here’s a our article here and here explaining what is called “the soap opera effect” and how it affects picture performance. Plasma TVs do not need this circuit for excellent motion resolution, so you will not see this effect (with the user controls set properly)

Brightness

If you are upgrading from a large screen CRT old style TV you will be happy with either screen technology as all are far brighter than the big bulky old CRTs. However, if you want to watch in daytime without curtains or window shades, LCDs and LEDs can be cranked brighter than a plasma. Keep in mind high ambient light levels degrade image quality by masking deep blacks you will see a better picture by controlling a room’s ambient light level via shade or curtains.

Reception Tips

If you are a satellite or cable subscriber, make sure a few days before the game that you can receive NBC in high definition. This requires a special high definition set top box, not the one you’ve been using on your 15 year old standard def TV. You will also need a special cable called HDMI to get full high definition picture and sound over a single wire from the set top box to the HDTV. We’ve used the Amazon Hi-Speed HDMI Cable with perfect results. A 3 meter length sells for $9.99 including shipping Best Buy sells similar ones for up to $140 each.

If you want to see the Superbowl via over-the-air signals, you will need an antenna that can pick-up your local station and it must be pointed in the direction of the local NBC transmitter. For more information go to antennaweb.org. You may also call your local NBC station for advice.

Recommendations

This is a great time of the year to buy a new big screen HDTV as the makers are planning model changes starting in March and they are providing huge dealer incentives to move out the 2011s.

Here are some hot deals from Amazon direct

Toshiba 55G310U 55-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV, Black Retail $1500 now $799.99-47% off

Toshiba 40SL412U 40-Inch 1080p 60 Hz LED-LCD HDTV, Black Retail $1000 Now $529.99-47% off

Panasonic VIERA TC-P50S30 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV Retail $1600 Now $1100-31% off

Panasonic VIERA TC-P50GT30 50-Inch 1080p 3D Plasma HDTV Retail $1900 Now $1049.99-45% off

Samsung UN55D8000 55-Inch 1080p 240Hz 3D LED HDTV (Silver)Retail $3600 Now $2257.17-37% off

LG Infinia 65LW6500 65-Inch Cinema 3D 1080p 120 Hz LED-LCD HDTV with Smart TV and Four Pairs of 3D Glasses Retail $4500 Now $2499.99-44% off

Sony BRAVIA KDL55NX720 55-inch 1080p 3D LED HDTV with Built-in WiFi, Black Retail $2900 Now$1826.36-37% off

Sony BRAVIA KDL55HX820 55-Inch 1080p 3D LED HDTV with Built-In Wi-Fi, BlackRetail $3400 Now $2017.34-41% off

Sony BRAVIA KDL46HX820 46-Inch 1080p 3D LED HDTV with Built-In Wi-Fi, BlackRetail $2600 Now 1600.00-38% off

Panasonic VIERA TC-P60S30 60-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV Retail $1600 Now $1099.99-31% off

From BestBuy.com

$700 and $800 Off Select Sharp HDTVs.Sharp 60-Inch LC60LE6300 Was $1700 Now $999.99
Sharp 70-Inch LC70LE632 Was $2800 Now $1999.99 Sale starts 1/22/2012

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5 New 2012 HDTV Technologies that are actually interesting

Geoff Morrison — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:02:21 +0000

With the industry showcase CES over, and now that we’ve had a few days to recuperate, it’s time to take a look at new technologies coming out this year.

For the most part, this year’s CES was about bigger, cheaper flat panels, but in the crevasses there was some tech that’s actually worth getting excited about.

1) OLED

Of course.

LG and Samsung announced OLED, or Organic Light Emitting Diode televisions. We, and many other media outlets, gave the LG a best in show award.

Why are we excited? OLED promises to have a better black level and contrast ratio than plasma (even CRT), while offering lower power consumption and thinner cabinets than LED LCDs. Not only the best of both worlds, but better than both worlds.

No pricing was announced, but rumors have the 55-inch models in the $8k-$10k range. Before you scoff, it was only a few years ago that 50-inch LED LCDs were near this range. Prices will drop, quality will improve. We can’t wait.

2) Gesture Control/Facial Recognition

Several companies, including Samsung and LG (see a trend?) announced gesture control, or the ability to adjust your television without the remote. Think of it like a Xbox Kinect, but built into your TV. Wave your hand to increase the volume, etc. With Facial Recognition, the TV can automatically log you into Skype, or other services, just by looking at the TV.

In some closed-door demonstrations at the show, we got to see this in action. Like any cutting-edge technology, it’s not as seamless as you’d want, but it is undeniably cool.

Will you ditch the remote for hand waving and facial recognition? Probably not this year, but how could this not be the future of product interaction?

3) ARC (Audio Return Channel)

Released as part of the HDMI 1.4 standard, ARC sends the audio from the TV back up the cable to the receiver and/or soundbar. We’re finally seeing products with this feature built in.

In most cases, a home theater setup would be: source (Blu-ray, cable/satellite) -> receiver or soundbar -> television. This works fine, unless the TV itself is a source. With the prevalence of Smart TVs, this is becoming more common. So if you’re watching Netflix through an app on your TV, you either have to run a separate optical cable from the TV to the receiver, or just use the TV speakers.

With ARC, the TV’s audio gets sent back towards the receiver, and then out to your system’s speakers. Both the TV and the receiver/soundbar need to have ARC, and you’ll need an HDMI cable that supports it (most new ones do).

4) Mobile High-definition Link (MHL)

Roku recently released the Streaming Stick, essentially a miniaturized version of their Internet streaming box that’s the size of a USB flash drive and plugs directly into your TV. While cool, it itself isn’t “new tech” worthy. But how it works, is.

Mobile High-definition Link is a connection technology that uses existing connector types (i.e. HDMI or USB) to transmit 1080p video and 8-channel audio from a device to a TV, and then power from the TV back down to the device. This power can either charge the device (in the case of a mobile phone) or in Roku’s case, power it completely.

The odd thing about the Roku is that the TV has to have the MHL technology, meaning it has to be a new TV. Most new TVs already have streaming services built in. Regardless, it’s a cool idea that I’m sure many companies will developing products for.

5) Speech Recognition

While OLED got all the fanfare at CES this year, it was speech recognition that was seemingly everywhere. Whether it was standalone products, or built into TVs, talking to your products seems to be coming in a big way. You can thank the hype around Apple’s Siri for that.

The reason so many of these products are coming out now, and working, is largely due to one company: Nuance. Thanks to years of research and extensive studying of human speech patterns, Nuance allows devices to understanding what’s being said. No small feat, that.

Samsung and LG both have speech recognition built into many of their 2012 models. Commands like “Volume up” and “Power off” make the interaction with your TV more fluid, and entirely sci-fi.

Like any new technology (and the Gesture/face control mentioned above), it’s not quite as fast or fool-proof as you’d hope. Still, the idea of being able to walk into your TV room, say “TV On, channel 4,” and have the TV magically come to life is any sci-fi nerd’s dream. The tech isn’t quite there yet to do this perfectly, but it’s getting there.

Geoff Morrison @TechWriterGeoff
Check out Geoff’s book.

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CES 2012 Post Show Report Part One-Sony’s HDTV Line Shrinks

Gary — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:37:37 +0000

In addition to the debut of big screen OLED, 4K resolution TVs, and speech recognition remote controls, the 2012 CES will also be remembered for Sony’s realignment in the HDTV space. Transitioning from 2011 to 2012 Sony has radically pruned the number of series and models in its line, going from six series (XBR, HX, NX, EX, Google and BX) to four main lines (XBR, HX, EX, BX) and down from 29 2011 models to about 13 in 2012. The 2012 XBRs are expected around July while the rest of the lines ship in March. Sony is also dropping the Best Buy exclusive derivative models in 2012, shrinking its offerings even further.

The good news about Sony dropping so many models? There are great deals on closeout 2011 models right now, in time for the Superbowl. Here are some examples.

Sony KDL55NX720 55-inch 1080p 3D LED HDTV Was $2900 Now $1599.00 Amazon 45% off

Sony KDL46HX820 46-Inch 1080p 3D LED HDTV Was $2600 Now $1389.00 Amazon 47% off

Sony KDL46NX720 46-inch 1080p WiFi 3D LED HDTV Was $2100 Now $1099.99 48% off

Sony also carries forward the uninspired 2011 styling found in its 2011 BX and EX models with fairly wide bezels and not so thin cabinets. The step-up HX 750 is similar (top photo), the HX850 (photo above) carries the attractive all Gorilla glass front found on last year’s version of the HX820 series.

We expect the entry level BX series 60 Hz CCFL models to appear in Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Target, while the step-up LED LCDs to be found in national and regional dealers and of course, Amazon and Sony Style stores. All listed models below ship in March.

We can’t imagine Sony’s market share increasing with its heavily trimmed, lackluster low to mid-end 2012 line. Could this be the first step in Sony’s future withdrawal in the category? We shall wait until the new XBR model announcements later this year. Perhaps Sony still has a new thing or two up its sleeve. The 2012 BX, HX and EX specifics follows the Crystal LED information.

Crystal LED

Sony showed a prototype of a 55-Inch HDTV made up of over six million tiny red blue and green LED lamps. Unlike the OLEDs from LG and Samsung, Sony indicated there is no plan for production at this time and this was more of a concept piece. What we found most interesting as seen in our photo is the Sony LED scans the image, kind of like an old CRT hence the black bars. Current LED LCDs, plasmas and the new OLEDs produce the entire frame at once and do not scan. We can only speculate as to why. Perhaps the LEDs need to keep cool or Sony extends the lifespan by scanning. We ‘ll have to wait for more technical data if this design ever reemerges as a real production product. Onto the Sony supplied data on the 2012 HX, EX and BX models, pricing has not been released.

BRAVIA^® HX850-series LED LCD HDTV with 3D

Phenomenal picture quality that radiates brightly through exquisite edge-to-edge glass

Available this April

Brilliant Full HD (1080p) picture quality with Dynamic Edge LED backlight with Local Dimming
X-Reality™ PRO Engine with 3D Super Resolution
Motionflow™ XR 960
Frameless Monolithic Design with Corning’s Gorilla® Glass and OptiContrast Panel Technology
Built-in Wi-Fi™ (802.11n)
Skype™ ready
One-touch access to the Sony Entertainment Network™ and apps
Screen sizes include 55-inch (KDL-55HX850), and 46-inch (KDL-46HX850)

BRAVIA^® HX750-series LED LCD HDTV with 3D

Incomparable picture quality and an ultra-thin design that’s easy to love

Available in March

Brilliant Full HD (1080p) picture quality with Dynamic Edge LED backlight with Frame Dimming
X-Reality™ Engine
4x High Speed 3D Panel with Motionflow™ XR 480
Built-in Wi-Fi™ (802.11n)
Skype™ ready
One-touch access to the Sony Entertainment Network™ and apps
Screen sizes include 55-inch (KDL-55HX750), and 46-inch (KDL-46HX750)

BRAVIA^® EX640-series LED LCD HDTV

Crystal clear, Full HD 1080p resolution and impeccable contrast

Available in March

Brilliant Full HD (1080p) picture quality with Edge LED backlight
Motionflow™ XR 240
Clear Resolution Enhancer
Wi-Fi™ (802.11n) LAN-ready
Sony Entertainment Network™
Screen sizes include 55-inch (KDL-55EX640), 46-inch (KDL-46EX640) and 40-inch (KDL-40EX640)

BRAVIA^® BX450-series LCD HDTV

Amazing picture; legendary quality

Available in March

Full HD (1080p) CCFL backlight LCD HDTV
60Hz panel with Clear Resolution Enhancer and Digital Noise Reduction
USB Media Player
2 HDMI inputs
Screen sizes include 46-inch (KDL-46BX450), 40-inch (KDL-40BX450), and 32-inch (KDL-32BX450)

BRAVIA^® BX330-series LCD HDTV

High Definition for every room in the house

Available in March

60Hz panel with Clear Resolution Enhancer and Digital Noise Reduction
USB Media Player
2 HDMI inputs
Screen sizes include 46-inch (KDL-46BX330), 40-inch (KDL-40BX330), and 32-inch (KDL-32BX330)

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CES 2012 Sony’s HDTV Announcements

Gary — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 01:28:13 +0000

At CES 2012 Sony announced a dramatic shift in its television marketing, reducing the number of model series from six in 2011 to just four for 2012. The remaining series are the entry level BX, the step-up EX and the flagship HX models.

All but the entry BX will be 1080p with best in class black levels and will feature Sony’s X-Reality or X-Reality Pro signal processing, Motion Flow higher refresh rates and be connected to the Internet via Sony Entertainment Network and Yahoo apps according to an early Sony press release. The HX model will also feature Skype video.

Sony debuts a new Blu-ray player with Google android apps called the NSZ-GP9 and a Google media player called the NSZ-GP9. These are equipped with a new redesigned remote control for improved functionality and includes finger gesturing, backlight and motion sensing.