CES-2007: Texas Instruments Joins Contrast Ratio Race

Yesterday Sony showed off their 27-inch 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio OLED HDTV. Well now its time for Texas Instruments to show off their potential.

Texas Instruments is mainly known for the backend chips that are used in Plasma’s and HDTVs. Their DLP chipsets are used by many manufacturers in their High-end TVs.

The company has claimed to develop a .65-inch chipset that they claim can deliver an impressive contrast ratio of 100,000:1 to their DLP TV prototype.

The company is not planning to go into the HDTV and Plasma TV Biz but they are planning to license the technology to other companies that include Samsung, Mitsubishi, Toshiba and Philips.

HP Announces a Lineup of LCD’s and Plasmas for 2007

HP has announced a varied lineup of LCD TV’s and Plasmas that it will offer in this year. The list includes Plasmas in 42” and 50” with a contrast ratio of 10,000:1. The 42” model has a fair resolution of 1024×768 and the 50″ with it’s undisputed 1365×768. Both feature ATSC/NTSC/QAM tuners but cable CARDS are missing in them.

Now lets move on to LCD TV’s. The company has 5 new LCD TVs for you this year. Two 1080p models are sporting 1200:1 contrast and rest three 720p will offer you a resolution of 1366×768 with contrast ratio ranging form 1,000:1 to 1500:1 for different models. CableCARD is again missing in all of them. A lot of variety to make choice with.

Sony's 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio 27-inch OLED HDTV

Some people need bigger and better LCDs, but we're just fine with the 27-inch prototype Sony mentioned during its press conference yesterday. With a contrast ratio of greater than 1,000,000:1 (not a misprint) to go with its 1080p resolution, and >100% NTSC color reproduction, we'll take this Organic LED great looks in a small package any day. We promised to hunt it down on the show floor and so we did, finding it hiding amongst a rookery of 11-inch displays. Take a look at the gallery for a few more shots of this HDTV and hope it hits shelves someday.

CES 2007: LG Showcased Its New 100-inch LCD

Sharp’s 108-inch LCD isn’t the only biggie in the CES 2007 at Las Vegas, for LG, apart from its small and middle size LCD TVs, has showcased its new 100-inch LCD TV, though 8-inches small from Sharp, still big enough to be categorize in the streak of colossal LCD screens and pose some sort of query on Sharp.

For now, standing just as a demo unit and not to be meant for sales, the 100-inch LCD seems a bit bizarre, not posing any sort of query or burden on Sharp’s massive screen.

Other plasmas noticed at LG’s stall were, the big 102-inch plasma set, of course not the most recent one, and the 71PY1M, the 71-inch plasma that appeared on the floor with a new pricing of $15,000, you won’t believe, 80% less from its introductory cost.

Plasma backers want to change the way we measure HDTV resolution

How do you measure an HDTV? Apparently just counting the 2 million+ pixels in a 1080p set isn't good enough for some people, since the Advanced Plasma Development Center has announced its system measuring only the actual moving picture resolution. In what the center describes as a method that is very close to the way the human eye works, it uses a camera, signal generator, PC and image data processing software to reconstruct the image reflected on the retina. The companies backing this test believe that since -- most of us -- watch moving pictures instead of television images, this test is necessary to show people what to expect from their TV. We're going to go out on a limb and predict that plasmas generally outrank LCDs on this test, considering the source, but especially with new 120Hz technology it appears LCD manufacturers may be more eager than ever to take a shot at a moving target.

Toshiba Presents Stainless Steel Kitchen LCD TV

With increasing competition, most of the LCD TV manufacturing companies are looking for different innovative and fresh options to attract a variety of customers.

In its attempt to seize some special customers who love cooking, spend their most of the time in the kitchen and even don’t want to miss their favorite movie or reality show, Toshiba, apart from the mainstream lineup has come up with a small size stainless steel LCD TV, possibly to match the stainless steel appliances of your kitchen, featuring an ATSC tuner that would enable you to get hold of the HDTV even without the need of the set-top box.

Unfortunately, for now, other specs of the new stainless steel LCD TV are not available. Stay attuned for next update.

Now you can watch iPod video files in full HD quality resolution in large screen

LAS VEGAS, USA (AVING Special Report on 'CES 2007') -- Meridian presented 'MV-D1', its new converter during CES 2007, which can convert general SD quality video files to full HD(1080p) quality video . According to the company, the MV-D1 allows you to view the video contents stored in your iPod in full HD quality large screen.

Miglia TVMini HD+ delivers HDTV DVR functionality to Macs

Sure, there's more than a few ways to get HDTV and PVR technology over on the Mac side of life, but Miglia is giving us one more alternative by updating its MiniHD to deliver tuning / PVR functions to your Mac over USB 2.0. Apparently the company isn't worried about the ole Apple TV stealing all the thunder, and most notably due to its missing tuner, we don't think it will either. The MiniHD+ doesn't seem to outdo its predecessor in most areas, as it still tunes into ATSC, ClearQAM, and OTA broadcasts, and pumps the data to your Mac via USB 2.0. This portable gizmo provides the usual pause, rewind, and scheduling functions you'd expect on a PVR, but it also reportedly allows you to "consult an integrated electronic programming guide to locate shows and edit recorded clips to remove advertisements." Aside from supporting DVD burning, it also features "exclusive 10-bit video and stereo sound," a wireless remote, composite / S-Video outputs, stereo inputs, EyeTV 2 software. So if you're more interested in watching television than downloaded content and movie trailers, you can pick this up for your Mac next month for a currently undisclosed price.

Taking the confusion out of HDTV

Sometimes an instruction manual doesn't cut it. At least, that's what high-definition television owners may be finding out.

Incorrect installation often leads buyers to return their new HDTV sets to the place where they bought them, thinking the sets are defective, said Jim Prescott, owner of Prescott's Electronics in Sterling.

"You don't just plug it in and get H.D.," he said. "People may save a little bit buying HD (T.V.s) on the Internet, but they should know ahead of time the little bit they save, we make up for in service."

With HDTV sales accounting for about one of every three new sets, or 11 million sets in 2006, according to the Consumer Electronics Association, the HDTV market is solid but not growing rapidly.

Hitachi HDTV Line-up Introduced for 2007

Breakthrough 50-Inch HD1080 Technology is Centerpiece of 2007 TV Line-Up For Under $2500

Movie buffs, sports fans and those waiting for a large screen high-definition television set with high-end performance that won't break a budget will find Hitachi's new 50-inch plasma HDTV the ideal viewing experience. This February Hitachi is bringing the world's first 1,080 line 50-inch plasma HDTV for under $2,500 to American consumers.

Hitachi's new HD1080 50-inch HDTV (model P50H401) incorporates breakthrough technology that is the result of extensive research and development and more than 1,300 patents for flat panel technologies. 2007 will mark Hitachi's 51st year of television production. By engineering a new method of energizing pixels on a panel, Hitachi has improved picture quality by increasing the resolution to match the dominant 1080 HDTV broadcast format in the vertical domain. The new TV will feature a total of 1.3 million pixels utilizing a 1280x1080 pixel array.

"Hitachi has produced a unique, high-performance offering for 50-inch flat screen consumers," said Bill Whalen, director of product development at Hitachi America, Ltd., Ubiquitous Platform Systems Division. "This new 50-inch television is engineered to be a better match for the dominant 1080 HDTV format and packs more pixels on screen than comparable products. Hitachi Plasma technology offers superior motion resolution, color depth and viewing angles for flat screen television viewers."

In addition to the 50-inch P50H401, Hitachi's 2007 H401 series includes the 42-inch (P42H401) and 55-inch (P55H401) models which offer unrivaled clarity and seamless picture performance using exclusive technologies. These models feature an all new black industrial design with subtle titanium gray trim, emphasizing the picture and de-emphasizing the frame. The models use discrete speaker venting below the screen to ensure high quality audio, yet maintain the widescreen appearance for a clean, modern look that compliments any living room

Sharp Unveils 8.3 Megapixel Monitor!

No it’s not a camera it’s a monitor and the reason I am calling this as a 8.3 Megapixel monitor is because the monitor has an ultra high resolution screen that is equivalent to a camera that boasts 8.3 Megapixel.

Sharp has unveiled a 62-inch monster that has a resolution of 4096 x 2048. And gazing to this beast will make you feel that you are watching out of your window. The detail that the monitor gives is hard to capture from a high-end camera.

We have not got any news on the pricing of the product but will keep you informed ASAP.

Sharp Unveils 8.3 Megapixel Monitor!

No it’s not a camera it’s a monitor and the reason I am calling this as a 8.3 Megapixel monitor is because the monitor has an ultra high resolution screen that is equivalent to a camera that boasts 8.3 Megapixel.

Sharp has unveiled a 62-inch monster that has a resolution of 4096 x 2048. And gazing to this beast will make you feel that you are watching out of your window. The detail that the monitor gives is hard to capture from a high-end camera.

We have not got any news on the pricing of the product but will keep you informed ASAP.

Samsung HL-T6187S: the world’s first slim LED DLP HDTV

Samsung has launched the HL-T6187S, the world’s first slim DLP HDTV that combines slim depth design with advanced LED light-engine technology.

The new Samsung HDTV HL-T6187S is part of Samsung’s new series of slim rear projection DLP HDTVs, together with the Samsung HL-T5087S and the Samsung HL-T5687S.
The first thing that strikes you when you first see the Samsung HL-T6187S is its depth. With only 13.4”, the HL-T6187S has a super slim design that allows users to mount it on the wall. Goodbye to the huge old rear projection televisions!


The Samsung HL-T6187S offers 61 inches of Full HD 1080p resolution (1920x1080) to take advantage of the full potential of Blu-ray and HD DVD discs. It has an impressive contrast ratio of 10,000:1 and it features Samsung’s Cinema Smooth Gen 8 Exclusive Light Engine that creates a picture with no visible pixel structure.

Philips 63PFP7422D Plasma HDTV pre-viewed

It seems that Philips wants its share of the big plasma HDTV market and for that reason they have announced the launch of the Philips 63PFP7422D plasma HDTV, a 63-inch widescreen flat television that will hit the shelves in June this year.

The new Philips 63PFP7422D provides 1080p resolution so users can enjoy the full potential of Blu-ray and HD DVD discs from the comfort of their living room. The Philips Plasma TV features several HDMI ports, USB connectivity and MP3 playback, as well as a motorised swiveling stand to allow users to change the orientation of the screen with the push of a buttom.


The 63PFP7422D plasma TV utilizes Philips’ Pixel Plus 3 HD technology, which enhances content from sources like HD signals and DVD by altering pixels to match surrounding pixels. The result is a sharp image with natural colours.

Singaporeans give thumbs-up to HDTV trials

SINGAPORE : High Definition TV (HDTV) is the latest to hit the local broadcasting scene and Singaporeans have given it the thumbs-up.

According to a survey by StarHub, 96 percent of those interviewed were satisfied with the picture quality, and 4 in 5 viewers were satisfied with the trial as a whole

These figures were revealed by Information, Communications and the Arts Minister Dr Lee Boon Yang at the launch of StarHub's HDTV service on Thursday.

The launch places Singapore as the first country in Southeast Asia to offer a commercial HDTV service.

SingTel and MediaCorp plan to have a commercial HDTV launch later this year.

Dr Lee added viewers can look forward to more Made-by-Singapore HD content this year.

"The Media Development Authority has been actively encouraging and supporting local content producers to create quality HD content for domestic and international markets. About 100 hours of Made-by-Singapore HD content was completed last year and this will be doubled by this year or 2007," said Dr Lee. - CNA /ls

Samsung Interactive Digital Cable Ready (iDCR) DLP HDTV and HD Set-top Box

Samsung, Time Warner Cable and Advance/Newhouse Communications announce that interactive digital cable services are now live on the Samsung HL-S5686C Open Cable Application Platform (OCAP) compliant DLP HDTV and SMT-H3050 High Definition Set-top Boxes.

The new interactive cable service is currently available in NYC and is supposed to be soon coming to Milwaukee (=beer city).

Time Warner Cable's new interactive cable service includes its OCAP Digital Navigator and its in-house developed Interactive Program Guide. In 2007, Time Warner Cable and Advance/Newhouse Communications will continue to rollout OCAP on Samsung OpenCable products in other divisions of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks.

HDTV explained. With the help of Oompa Loompas and hobbits.

It's fair to say that HDTV isn't the easiest subject to grasp when you first think about upgrading your rubbish old telly. 720p? 1080i? What are they? And what's the difference? And what do they mean for my collection of Eric Prydz videos, hmm?

There are plenty of excellent HDTV resources online, including our very own HDTV UK blog. But if you want a friendly introduction to the subject, you should click here right now. It's HDTV explained in cartoon form. With the help of half-pint fantasy creatures.

So if nothing else, you'll come away with a firm grasp of why 1080i suffers from being powered by a bunch of dope-smoking hobbits working on an outsourcing basis for some Oompa-Loompas. Really

Toshiba 50HP66 50 inch True HDTV Plasma Tv Screen with Built-in Tuner

The Toshiba 50HP66 HDTV 50 inch Plasma Tv features a 10000:1 contrast ratio, 1000 cd/m2 brightness and an integrated Speaker System for clear sound with SRS WOW. SRS WOW technology takes the performance of the television's existing speakers to a whole new level, offering superior sound quality with no additional speakers required. Toshiba has also included 2 HDMI digital inputs to provide uncompressed digital video and audio in one convenient single cable. All of these features make the Toshiba 50HP66 Plasma TV an excellent choice for your home theater.

Pioneer PDP-607CMX 60 inch True HDTV Plasma Tv Screen

Expand the possibilities with Pioneer’s PDP-607CMX featuring versatile Expansion Solutions, as well as 60 generous inches of gorgeous images. All the more opportunity to appreciate higher brightness and greater contrast, courtesy of Pioneer’s new Crystal Emissive Layer technology. Plus Pure Color Filter II technology designed to significantly reduce light reflection and provides higher contrast and clarity for improved image reproduction even in bright environments. This amazing picture quality is powered by Pioneer’s new Pure Drive Pro image processing, developed exclusively for professional displays, to deliver a clear, smooth, and natural image quality in any professional application.

Good news, bad news in HDTV universe

Remember when a plasma TV cost $10,000? Now it's a $1,000 item you can pick up in any electronics store.

The electronics industry found itself in an odd situation at the 40th annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. It is succeeding spectacularly at something that seemed borderline impossible at the start of the decade -- making high-definition TV a mass-market product.

Remember when a plasma TV cost $10,000 and was something we saw only in an ad on a crummy analog tube TV? Now it's a $1,000 item you can pick up in any electronics store. Has any other manufactured product gotten that cheap over the past six years?

As HDTV prices have plunged, to the delight of consumers who have bought them by the millions, quality and features continue to improve.

HDTV brings out Hollywood's wrinkles

But then, I'm not an aging actress whose wrinkles are suddenly going to be coming into American living rooms unimpeded. Nor, for that matter, am I 76-year-old Clint Eastwood, whose unambiguous septuagenarian chicken-neck - courtesy of HDTV - now becomes a sociopolitical statement (i.e. Integrity is truth, truth integrity).

I've only had true HDTV for a few months now, but it truly is a wonder - especially when you're watching sporting events, like today's blissful orgy of NFL playoffs (3 p.m., Ch. 29 Chicago vs. New Orleans; 6:30 p.m. Ch. 4, New England vs. Indianapolis). Not only can you see every tiny droplet dripping from, say, Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman's slashed index finger but, when the Goodyear blimp is up there doing its work, every member of the crowd is a tiny, individuated dot, not just part of a big, pointillistically blurred throng.

But then, every technological advance I've welcomed into my living room has been - along with everything else - a new way for me to watch football.

HD MediaBox

HD MediaBox™ is a high definition HDD (hard disk drive) media player which gives instant access to your high definition video, digital music, digital photos and DVD files no matter where they are stored - on it's internal hard disk drive (HDD), on your personal computer*, USB HDD or Network Attached Storage box*.

HD MediaBox™ supports output resolutions of up to 1080p so you can now set all your HD media free from the constraints of your monitor. Use any VGA, component video, DVI or HDMI equipped display device - Flat panel displays, projectors, HDTVs and more.

HD MediaBox™ is designed with high quality audio playback in mind. Equipped with 24-bit/192KHz audio DAC from Analog Devices Inc, low noise Op Amps from Burr-Brown® (famous for their clean output and ultra-low distortion characteristics) and our own specially developed timing circuitry, HD MediaBox™ can now be the centre of your hifi as a high end CD jukebox storing thousands of CDs!

AOC A42HD84 Review

AOC may not be a name you have heard of before, but does it mean AOC can’t make a good HDTV?. The AOC A42HD84 is a stylish black 42-inch plasma HDTV at an affordable price, PC World has a review of the A42HD84 and says the A42HD84 did a respectable job of showing details on our HDTV tests, but many jurors found its colors–reds and greens in particular–weak and off-putting. Many jurors also complained of a soft, pale picture on most tests. These three trends continued on our DVD tests, particularly with the minute details and colours of racing jerseys in Seabiscuit. The A42HD84’s weakest point was its rendering of standard-definition content, which produced ghostly skin tones.

With its ease of use, so-so TV image quality and DVI input, the A42HD84 seems better suited to a conference room than to a living room.

Westinghouse Proclaims LCDs As Winner? What Do You Say?

Douglas Woo, the president of Westinghouse Digital has said in an interview to CNET that LCDs are “probably unstoppable” when compared with plasmas, DLPs etc. He quotes that the reason behind it is nice and mature technology. I can’t say whether you agree with him or not but I will give preference to Plasmas since they offer wider viewing angles and better contrast ratio along with cost effectiveness as compared with LCDs. What do you say?

Dell’s World of Warcraft Laptops Goes on EBay

Besides, the 27-inch monitor and Dell’s first rugged notebook, Dell also unveiled a unique creation of the World of Warcraft edition of its XPS M1710 laptops at CES designed by the renowned artist, Mike Lavalle. Dell has now put up those special edition gamer’s notebook for eBay auction. The custom-painted XPS M1710 Burning Crusade Edition features Lavalle’s airbrushed re-creation of original composition from the new World of Warcraft expansion and both of these special editions are signed by company’s founder and Chairman, Michael Dell and Rob Pardo. The two special Dell XPS M1710 laptops are currently up for a price of $5,100 and $4,300, respectively and the proceeds will be benefiting America’s Second Harvest.

Sony hdtv tv kp-65ws510

It’s time to increase the size and intensity of your TV entertainment. Experience Hi-Definition as it reaches new heights with Sony’s KP-65WS510 65" 16:9 Hi-Scan® Projection Television featuring the 16:9 Hi-Scan 1080i™ Display. See the difference Sony features make as you witness precise focus and sharpness as a result of our HD Microfocus™ CRT and Lens. Digital Reality Creation™ Circuitry produces amazing picture resolution for your viewing pleasure, and adjustment of the size and placement of side-by-side P&P with MID™ X Circuitry enables you to watch two programs at once. More features include Manual and Flash Focus® Convergence for precise and accurate adjustment, DVI-HDTV Input which secures access to High Definition content, and TruSurround® SRS® Audio (20W x 2) for explosive sound. Watch 65-inches of excitement unfold in vivid detail with the KP-65WS510.

Bang & Olufsen Flaunts Home Cinema System

Bang & Olufsen the makers of some premium audio/video equipment have unveiled a new 50-inch home cinema system.

The system has been powered by the company’s proprietary picture engine. Other features of the system include:

• Integrated digital surround sound module
• 250 GB HDD
• A dedicated center channel speaker
• Optional Integrated BeoMedia 1 Control System

For all of you who want to show off the device to your neighbors the system has a motorized stand and can rotate to a predefined viewing position when you power it on and can turn back to the rest position when you switch it off.

The system is also available in six colors that include:

• Silver with Black Cloth
• Silver with Silver Cloth
• Black
• Dark Grey
• Red
• Blue

No news on the pricing has been released by the company as yet.

Dell Offers Discount on 50-Inch Plasma HDTV

Dell is now offering a whopping $300 off their 50-inch Plasma HDTV W5100C. It features a 1,366 x 768 pixel resolution, an 8,000:1 contrast ratio, NTSC, ATSC, and Pixelworks’ DNXTM video processing. Claiming a panel life of up to 60,000 hours, purchase includes two detachable speakers, a remote control, and cables.

Use coupon code XQZ3HX8L70BH2N to get your discount off Dell’s usual price of $2,599.00. The coupon is valid through 02/06/07. Quickly, let’s form a single line to spend our excess $2,299.00 that we had waiting around just for a deal like this.

Compro U2700 hybrid HDTV tuner gets Vista certified

Yeah, we can already see that the onslaught of "Vista certified" devices will not be a pretty sight, but until Microsoft's newest OS becomes the norm, we guess that coveted sticker is you're only assurance that the gizmo you just purchased will actually work when you get home. Compro's latest HDTV tuner goes above and beyond the typical USB stick variety, as it bulks up a bit in size but also packs a bit more punch than similar alternatives. The U2700 hybrid DVB-T tuner connects to your PC via USB 2.0 and grabs free OTA HDTV transmissions as well as SD broadcasts, provides all the time-shifting / recording / scheduling capabilities we've come to expect, and boasts the unusual ability to "watch up to five digital 1080i streams simultaneously," although four of those must be pre-recorded. Of course, you'll need at least 3GHz of horsepower under the hood to create your own quilt of TV shows, and we doubt this feature is incredibly useful, but it's interesting nonetheless. Furthermore, you'll find an IR remote along with the ComproDTV 3 / Ulead software which allows you to time up recordings, capture still frames, handle straight-to-disc burning, and essentially turn your PC into a portable PVR. Unfortunately, there's no word just yet on pricing or availability, but we'll bet they try to beat everyone else to the punch and have this sitting as close as possible to those spiffy Vista boxes real soon.

HDTV DVR Shortage

Superbowl Sunday isn't too far off, and some of our Your Stories viewers hoping to watch the game, and other shows, on your new high-definition tv's are running into a problem.
Time Warner is all out of high-definition DVR boxes. You’re wondering why that's the case, and if there's any way you can tune in, without the DVR.

First things first: you can still watch these shows in high definition. Time Warner tells us they have plenty of regular high-definition boxes, without the DVR capabilities.

If you pick up a regular box and put your name on the wait list for a DVR, you'll get one as soon as Time Warner has them back in stock.

Why the shortage? The company that makes these DVR's has been overwhelmed by requests for them, and cable companies all across the US are telling customers they'll have to wait for the DVR's.

Time Warner is expecting the new boxes to arrive in two to three weeks.

Buying an HDTV for the big game?

It's the weekend before the Super Bowl, and that means a lot of people will spend the weekend shopping for a new television.

It's amazing how many people buy a new TV to watch the game. The Retail Advertising and Marketing Association says about 2.5 million households will get a new TV before Super Sunday. That estimate is an increase of nearly 50 percent from last year.

We don't know how many of these sets will be hi-definition, but electronics retailers report double-digit increases in sales of these high-end sets in recent months. The Consumer Electronics Association of America estimates that sports fans buy almost 60 percent of all HDTVs. In a study last month, the group found the Super Bowl is responsible for 13 percent of sales, the most of any sporting event.

These new HDTV sets are not cheap, and for shoppers not familiar with the new technology or lingo, it can be a totally confusing experience.

If you want an HDTV, you need to make sure you're getting an HDTV. While all hi-definition TV's are digital, every digital TV is not high-definition. So you need to make sure you know what you're buying.

What do I need to buy? You can buy a integrated HDTV set with a built-in tuner or a monitor (without a tuner) that will need a stand-alone tuner, HDTV cable box or an HDTV satellite receiver.

If you plan to use an antenna to get your HD signals through the air, you’ll want a tuner. If you have cable or satellite service, you can save money by getting a monitor without a tuner.

Do I have to do anything other than plug in the set to get those beautiful HD pictures? Yes. If you're on cable or have satellite service, you'll need to sign up and pay for HD service, and get a new digital receiver box. So you need to plan ahead. You can't decide on Sunday to get digital service.

Samsung HL-S5679W DLP HDTV

A little less than a year ago, a predecessor to this TV competed in one of our Face Offs with five other RPTVs. It didn't do well. Despite the fact that it posted some of the best measurements of the group (including the most accurate color points and the best contrast ratio), it came in fourth place out of six sets. The reason was a video processing "enhancement" called DNIe, which two-thirds of the reviewers flat-out hated. It couldn't be disabled. Just the fact that the same processing on this HL-S5679W is defeatable would make it worth a review. (In fact, you can't enable DNIe at all in some modes.) As it turns out, this isn't even the most interesting feature on this RPTV—not by a long shot.

HP's touchscreen family PC heads to the kitchen

HP has a new touchscreen computer in the works called the TouchSmart IQ770. Designed to sit in your kitchen or another common space and act as kind of a central hub for your family, it's a unique type of PC that's designed to be used sans keyboard (even though it does come with a wireless keyboard and mouse).

The TouchSmart is not designed to be a replacement for your standard PC, but is basically a souped-up calendar, message board, and DVD player. Still, it's a really nicely designed computer that I could definitely see being a family's email station and central organizer, allowing everyone to easy access the Internet and basic applications quickly and easily. No word on pricing or availability, but we'll keep our eyes peeled for more info on this as it comes out.

This week in SCI FI Tech

Thursday brought this week's top story, when we celebrated our first anniversary! You can still join the party and win a DVD set of the first two seasons of Battlestar Galactica by clicking on our birthday post and composing a little poetry (all is explained in the link). Also on Thursday, we took a hard look at the iPhone and gave it some much-needed criticism.

In gadget news, the computer peripheral took center stage. A cool external screen for Windows Vista topped our roll call of PC extras, including a way to completely eliminate fan noise, a heated mouse (sure to be a big hit in the Northeast this weekend), a Wi-Fi extender that plugs into your USB port, and another mouse that cranks up the ergonomics. Time to trick out that PC, people!

Playing DVDs the portable, crappy way

Oh first glance this MediaStream eMotion (how clever!) is a neat little gadget, what with it's portable DVD playing abilities. I mean, watching DVDs on the go is pretty sweet, especially if you're eight years old and riding in the backseat of your parent's Tahoe on the way to your stupid, stinky Aunt Doris' house. God, she is so boring and she serves walnuts for desert! Why can't we just stay home?

The problems start when you realize that the screen on this thing is a measly 3.5 inches, which is not exactly a great size for watching movies. It also, let's admit it, looks pretty cheap. Who know how well it'll stand up under pressure from grape-juice-coated fingers. But hey, if you've got $140 to play with this is a pretty cheap way to get portable DVD playing abilities. Just don't say we didn't warn you.

Evergreen HDMI switch: Painlessly plugging two things into one

What do you do when you have more than one video playback machine, say, a Blu-ray and HD DVD player, and only one HDMI input on your HDTV? Or what if you want to run two players through a wireless HDMI system (maybe available a year from now)? First of all, lucky you on either count — you must have a terrific home entertainment system. But you're going to need a 2 to 1 HDMI switch such as this Evergreen EG-HDMI201.

We're especially fond of its relatively low price: $82 in a field where other switchers usually cost in excess of $200. Plus, it has a infrared remote that lets you switch between those sources without having to get up out of your seat. It's nice and small, too, so you can hide it away behind all your other components, and then there's a little extension infrared receiver that you can place out front that's hardly even noticeable.

Just program this baby into your universal remote, push one button and it changes from one source to another and you won't even know it's there. Problem solved.

Vizio Introduces Maximvs: a 60-inch Mega Plasma HDTV for Under $3000

Not long ago (early 2005), I went shopping with a friend to help him select and buy an HDTV. He was thrilled to pick up a Panasonic 50-inch plasma set for "only" $3600. How quickly times change. Now Vizio is offering a 60-inch plasma set for $2999.99. And while 10 inches may not seem like much, a 60-inch TV actually offers over 50% more viewing area than a 50-inch set, and that can the difference between a "large TV" and a "near cinematic BIG PICTURE viewing experience."

Vizio's VM60P, dubbed the "Maximvs" (pronounced maximus), was on display at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas during CES earlier this month, and its 1366x768 native panel resolution offered plenty of detail. In addition to the larger size, the VM60P includes other enhancements over its smaller brethren, including 4 HDMI inputs and Genesis/Faroudja video processing. Downward-firing speakers are hidden into the thin frame with a removable translucent sound reflector that allows the sound to travel forward without bulky stand-mounted front-firing speakers. The Maximvs features an elegant new bronze-colored metal frame that gives the set curb appeal, even when the picture is off.

Its rated brightness is 1200cd/m(2), and contrast is specified to be 7,000:1, with the ability to reproduce 1.07 billion colors. In addition to the four HDMI inputs, the set sports two Component Video inputs, a PC (VGA) input, RF input for the set's internal ATSC/QAM/NTSC Tuner, S-Video, two Composite Video plus a 5.1 optical digital audio output to pass Dolby Digital surround sound from the set's integrated HD tuner.

Supported input resolutions include 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p and 480i with the on-board scaler adjusting these to look best on the 1366x768 panel. The set also supports PIP, POP, Closed Caption, V-Chip, Zoom and Freeze features.

Tiny Zelda is probably more fun than PSP, costs hundreds less

For those of us who remember the '80s, there's nothing quite so fun as reminiscing with really old video games. Now the same people who brought us tiny Atari keychain joysticks have come up with Nintendo Mini Classics. These are keychain-size versions of Zelda and Donkey Kong, just as they appeared on Game & Watch handhelds from the 1980s. At only $9 each, they won't even bring back sheepish memories of begging for months for a new game cartridge or portable device. As technology continues to get smaller, we're crossing our fingers and waiting for a pencil- or toothpick-size version of Super Mario 3

Be Ready Americans! 3 Fujitsu Full HD PDP TVs is Here

Contrary to the famous conviction Fujitsu also produce TVs. They’re now presenting their customers with 3 PDP (Plasma) TVs in the so called AVIAMO series, but only to the American market. Their various Models include High Defination TVs measuring 37, 50 and 65”, and are equipped with the AVM-III video chipset. All models are Full HD that bestows the users with maximum quality approval. The 65V model is priced at $18,000.

Sharp HN-IR1 beams cameraphone pics on your HDTV via IrSS

Sure, there's already a way to beam high-definition content onto your TV if you keep all of your media stored on your iPod, but for whimsical shooters that wield their cameraphone or IrSS-enabled digital camera most of the time, Sharp's kicking out a bantam liaison just for you. Designed to ideally operate with high-speed infrared devices, the HN-IR1 enables cellphones and other IrSS gizmos to transmit high-quality photos wirelessly, where it's then channeled onto your set at resolutions up to 1,920 x 1080. Of course, it'll automatically downscale if you aren't plugged into an HDTV, and interestingly enough, it purportedly interfaces with a few of Sharp's AQUOS HD recorders in order to burn your photos to HDD / DVD. The wee device checks in at just 3.1- x 2.8- x 1.1-inches, handles photos up to eight-megapixels, and boasts a maximum transmission rate of 4Mbps, and while no exhaustive list of compatible devices was noted, a good deal of NTT DoCoMo handsets should fit the bill. So if you never seem to have time to transfer your photos over to entertain the family with a big screen slideshow, those in Japan can snag the HN-IR1 in late April for ¥14,000 ($116).

I-Zon: Like 'HDTV' For Your Glasses

It's kind of like HDTV for your glasses. A company in California says it's created a pair of spectacles that can let you see better than you ever thought possible.

Denise Woodward has worn glasses since fourth grade, but she's never seen this clearly. Woodward says, "Everything is much more crisp, clear. I can see the car in front of me, I can read the license plate, I can see details I didn't see before in the dark driving." This perfect vision is courtesy high resolution lenses called I-Zon. Woodward says, "Colors. They pop out at you now. It's just completely different vision."

Doctor Steve Koos says this machine can not only give you an accurate prescription for your eyes, it also takes an occular fingerprint. Dr. Koos says, "Your eye's curviture is not a perfect curve like a camera lens. It has different curves in different parts. What this instrument does is it measures about eleven thousand different points on your eye and determines where those aberrations or distortions are." The blueprint is sent to a lab which crafts the lenses custom made for your eyes. No two are identical. Dr. Koos says, "For the first time I can actually get you to see better than your original equipment was designed even if you don't need glasses."

HD DVD outsold Blu-ray 4 to 1 last year...in England

HD DVD might have lost the sales lead in the U.S. but like many acts that struggle for acceptance domestically, it can take solace in knowing that it's still topping European charts...for now. HDTV Org reports that UK figures show HD DVD outsold Blu-ray 4 to 1 in the period leading up to Christmas last year, helped by the fact that the Xbox 360 HD DVD drive was by far the most easily available HD player on the market. Unlike U.S. charts which have only provided ratios and no specific numbers, the British figures show just how small the market is at this point, with 8,200 HD DVD movies sold to Blu-ray's 1,834. We'll keep an eye on the market to see how it is affected by the launch of standalone players and the PlayStation 3 in March, and how well that tips the scales proportionally towards Blu-ray and how much total sales increase in general.

quaVista 500 gives fishes nice digs

While the AquaVista 500 won't be able to hold any animated stress turtles, this wall-mountable aquarium will still be able to serve triple duty as stress relief, wall art, and conversation starter as your goldfish laze away. This "fish in art" style approach is only 4.5 inches thick and completely automated.

The AquaVista 500 has a computer-controlled heater, embedded LCD control panel, and colorful, underwater-themed backgrounds. These all combine to create a cozy environment for your fishes, despite the fact they're crammed into a tiny aquarium. Wood (classic) or plastic (modern) frame choices round out the decorative angle. Just keep in mind you can't harvest underwater trees or camp out hotel style in your new fish tank.

News Channel 3 on HD

Where can I watch WREG News Channel 3 in HD?

News Channel 3 broadcasts high definition television in 1080i. For those of you who have an HDTV, you can watch the HD shows in a number of ways.

1) Over-the-air:
You must have an UHF antennea to watch WREG-TV in HD for free.

The over-the-air channels are:

3-1 for WREG-TV in HD
3-2 for NC3A, our 24-hour news channel, which is in standard definition (SD).
2) Cable Providers:
News Channel 3 continuously works with a number of Mid-South cable providers to bring HD to viewers thoughout the area.

If you have Comcast, you can watch us in HD on:

Channel 803 for WREG-TV
Channel 930 for NC3A
If you have Millington Cable, you'll find our HD channels on:

Channel 503 for WREG-TV
Channel 504 for NC3A
For both Comcast and Millington Cable, you will still need to have a Hi-Definition digital box to get the signal. These are available through the cable provider. If you are served by another cable system, please check with them to get the latest information on WREG-TV HD availability.

3) Satellite Providers:
WREG-TV and its parent company are working in good faith to reach an agreement with DirecTV.

LG Dropping 60-inch Wood-framed Plasma TV Next Month

If you are looking out for something different with your plasma screen other than the run of the mill metallic looks, LG has something better to offer. LG is preparing its 60-inch 60PT1 plasma TV with wooden casing. The artifact pieces (1000 in numbers) will go on sale in the month of March in Korean market. LG hasn’t commented on the price but you guys make sure that you have got more than enough bucks in your bank account to buy the beautiful plasma piece.

Kensington VoIP phone hides in your laptop

VoIP phones are neat and all, but not neat enough to take up space in your pocket or bag. I mean, since you need a WiFi hotspot to connect with them, it's not like you can just chat it up while walking down the street.

This Kensington Vo200 BT Internet Phone is a pretty sweet twist on the idea, as it hides itself inside your laptop. Fitting nicely into your PCMCIA slot, it charges itself up while you do your normal computing tasks. Then, if you want to make a call, just pop it out. Chances are you'll be at a hotspot if you're using your computer, so you won't need to worry about finding one. It's a clever design for a device in a field of devices trying to find their niche. You can pick one up now online for $90

Sharp’s Aquos R Series of HDTVs to Hit Shelves Soon

Big-screen LCD pricing persists its downhill march, with Sharp revealing its R Series of high-end Aquos 1080p LCDs that all have that most recent 120Hz refresh rate that Sharp calls Double-Speed Advanced Super View.
The line is topped off by the 65-inch LC-65RX1W (pictured above) that will ship in Japan on March 10 for a mere $8,361— that’s a lot less than the March-shipping Aquos D93, a 65-inch set with a 120Hz refresh rate going for $11,000.
Also on the list of R Series, which is boasting of high end and superior quality products, displays are 42, 46, 52 and 57-inch screens, all with 1920×1080p resolution. All these sets are aimed at the Japan market, and comprise of integrated analog and digital tuners with 10/100 Ethernet. Expect similar models to be launched not before too long.

JVC LT-46FN97 46 inch 1080p LCD HDTV

Features & Connectivity
JVC crammed gobs of features into their I’Art LT-46FN97 starting with the full HD native resolution of 1920 x 1080. The contrast ratio is also very good at 1200:1 making for nice sharp blacks and more realistic colors. The screens brightness is 500 cd/m2 and viewing angles are 178 degrees. The gray-to-gray response time is very good at 7ms ensuring that you see no ghosting or smearing of onscreen images during fast action.

JVC included a CableCard slot that is ATSC/QAM compatible and digital cable ready. JVC uses what they call the 5th generation D.I.S.T. 1080p (Digital Image Scaling Technology) with GENESSA picture processing. Further improving image quality is auto VNR and natural Cinema 3:2 pull down.

Five video status modes are programmed into the set allowing you to change the image settings for brightness and more to suit your tastes and your viewing environment. Connectivity on the JVC I’Art LT-46FN97 is robust with dual HDMI/HDCP inputs, dual IEEE 1394 FireWire connections, dual auto sensing component video inputs, two S-Video inputs and an RF input.

HDTV Review: Olevia's 37-Inch $850 LCD

Olevia's new 37-inch LCD HDTV offers a very good picture quality for a lower price than similar-sized flat-panel sets.

That's the conclusion of a review by Consumer Reports magazine.

In the February issue, the publication reports that although the Olevia 537H delivers a "very good" picture quality, "the picture wasn't as sharp as that of our top-rated sets."

But Consumer Reports says the 37-inch LCD, which retails for around $850, scored particularly high marks when playing movies.

Samsung takes aim at the MacBook

Those black MacBooks are pretty sexy, but not everybody wants to spend that kind of money for an Apple computer. Generally speaking, PC laptops are cheaper but somehow less desirable than their Mac counterparts, what with PC laptops generally being bigger, boxier, and uglier. Samsung is looking to change that with their new Aura laptop.

This sleek black lappie features a 14.1-inch glossy LCD screen and a shiny outer case. On the inside, you get AMD ATI Radeon Xpress 1250 HyperMemory chipset that'll handle games on the go in a more than acceptable fashion. All the other guts you're free to fiddle with as you please, from the low end Celeron M up to the Core 2 Duo processor with all the fixings. Will that be enough to convince people to get their fashionable computer with Windows inside rather than picking up another ubiquitous MacBook? Time will tell.