So there you are, standing in front of Best Buy’s wall o’ HDTVs. Which one do you buy? There are just so many different factors and terms: LCD, LED, plasma, 3D, DLP, 1080p. No worries. Follow these five rules and you’ll end up with the perfect HDTV for you.

Rule 1 – Buy for your room

Forget the LCD vs plasma debate for just a moment. It might not matter. Your room might choose your HDTV for you.

LCDs generally counter glare better than plasmas because of their matte finish. Most plasmas have a glossy screen protector over the screen, which while a great defense against flying Wii remotes and children, reflect everything like a mirror. However, if glare isn’t an issue at all and in fact, the room is a little on the dark side, buy a plasma. They thrive in darker environments where their rich colors and contrasts can really show off.

Also consider how close you sit to the TV. It’s often the rule of thumb to buy the biggest TV you can afford or that will fit in a certain area, but standard definition content like basic cable look terrible on larger HDTVs and it’s very obvious when you’re sitting close. Large TVs can also overpower a room and cause headaches and eye strain.Remember your home probably has a lot lower ceiling than retail stores like Best Buy and Walmart so the actual size of the TV might be deceiving at when you’re shopping.

Thankfully most retail stores have liberal return policies. Just be prepared to pay a restocking fee or pick-up charge if you simply return the HDTV and not buy another one.

Rule 2 – Buy the picture that looks the best to you

There is one huge advantage brick and mortar stores have over Internet retailers: demos. Walk into a Best Buy and you can see how different TVs look compared to others. This is important.

Everyone’s eyes are different. Perception is different. You can not solely rely on Internet TV reviews when buying an HDTV. You need to see it in person. Stand there. Let your eyes wonder and pick out a TV that looks good to you. Here’s what you need to look for:

• Black blacks
• White whites
• Not vivid colors, but realistic
• No motion blur when objects are moving fast
• The glare factor

Let a salesman point certain things out to you but you’re the one that’s ultimately going to have to live with the TV. Buy the one you like, but keep an open mind.

Rule 3 – Buy a familiar brand

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard, all TVs have problems. Generally speaking, a Sony HDTV will hold up just as well as a Panasonic, Samsung, or Vizio. Modern HDTVs do not have any moving parts and most use the same display panels and components anyway.

You need to accept that there’s a possibility that any number of items might go wrong with your new HDTV no matter whose logo is on the front. A good rule of thumb in the TV world is that if you haven’t heard of the brand and it’s less expensive than other options, it’s probably that store’s house brand and something you might want to avoid. If you’re really concerned about your new investment, buy an extended service plan.

Rule 4 – Don’t be afraid to buy online

Brick and mortar stores have the demo advantage, but online retailers will beat them every day in the price game. Go to Best Buy and pick out the TV you want and then shop online for it. As long as the online retailer has cheap shipping and a good return policy, you have nothing to fear. But also don’t be afraid to ask the Best Buy to match or come close to the online price. You might be surprised.

Rule 5 – The TV is only as good as the source

You’re buying an HDTV so it needs high-def content. Your standard cable will look like poo on it and yes, it will cost more each month from your content provider. Consider this extra cost when you’re shopping for the TV. It’s not a bad idea to call up your cable or satellite company before hand to find out the extra cost.

Cable subscribers generally have it the easiest, especially if they already have a digital cable box. Likely all they will need is a different box. But if you have a satellite, you may need all new equipment including a different dish. The install cost might be nominal though.

Don’t be afraid to shop around either. You might find a better deal.

According to Hammacher Schlemmer, this is “The First Portable HDTV And DVD Player.”

Will it be the last? Probably not.

This one, however, costs a whopping $300 and features two hours of battery life for HDTV watching or 2.5 hours for DVD playback. You can also view pictures and video files using the built-in memory card reader.

The digital tuner supports broadcasts in 720p and you’ll have to bring along the included “sensitive external antenna” in order to reel them in.

The First Portable HDTV And DVD Player [Hammacher Schlemmer]

Uh oh, another vaguely political post on CrunchGear. As you already know, the Consumer Electronics Association, the trade group that organizes CES, is fighting tooth and nail against possible regulations that would see California essentially ban the sale of power-hungry HDTVs. This mostly affects plasmas because they consume the most electricity of the different types of TVs out there.

The California Energy Commission, the body responsible for the investigation, says certain types of TVs ought not to be sold because they consume just too much electricity. As a matter of fact, TVs account for 10 percent of all energy consumption in the state. Mandate that manufacturers get their act together, and create TVs that don’t require crazy amounts of electricity to run, and everyone wins: consumers pay less for their monthly electricity bill (consumers would save, on average, $30 in the first year by switching to more energy efficient TVs), the green crowd gets to feel like it’s saving the planet, California doesn’t have to spend money generating all that electricity, etc.

Well, one group may not benefit: the manufacturers themselves. Some of them are complaining that having THE GOVERNMENT mandate how efficient their TVs need to be will stifle innovation, raise prices (because they’ll have to change their manufacturing methods or whatever), etc. (I say, if not the government, then who, the “market”? Ha! Markets work when everyone has access to perfect information, among other things, otherwise things can get out of hand. See: this past year on Planet Earth.)

The Commission disputes the idea that changing energy standards will necessarily raise prices for consumers.

You should note that Vizio, the little company that came out of nowhere, has no problem with the new regulations, should they pass. Easy for it to say, seeing as though it makes only LCDs, which aren’t very power hungry.

Keep in mind that this isn’t a done deal yet. You’re not going to walk into Best Buy tomorrow and find that all the plasmas are gone. Should it even pass then I imagine it’ll take some time before it actually affects your buying ability.

You probably already hate, for whatever reason, the MPAA (and its music industry cousin, the RIAA), but here’s another reason to do so. The group is asking, for like the zillionth time, for the FCC to approve something called selectable output control. In essence, this allows a video signal to be sent to your TV from, say, a video on-demand service, that prevents the use of certain, non-approved audio/video outputs. In other words, if you want to watch Terrible Movie 2: Yes, It Has Contrived To Be Worse Than The First on Comcast On-Demand, you won’t be able to record it using an old TiVo that connects via component cables.

You see, the MPAA is scared to death that you’ll buy the On-Demand version of said woeful movie, then won’t buy the Blu-ray when it comes out. It’s also afraid that you’ll take your DVR recording, and start bootlegging it at your local bowling alley. (Because people have that kind of time!) If you don’t keep buying the same movie over and over again (at the theaters, on On-Demand, on Blu-ray, along with a HBO or Showtime subscription), it’ll be Hell on Earth. And to be fair to the MPAA… actually, I can’t. The MPAA could disappear and I wouldn’t mind one bit.

One group, Public Knowledge, produced a video last year that, while slightly overboard on the Internet humor, gets the message across:

Of course, the MPAA will call the video nonsense, and insist that it’s merely trying to help the elderly or those without a babysitter watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters more easily. Sorry, I don’t believe you.

Then again, I’m sure the MPAA could give a Flying F what I, or any of you, think.

(That’s a 50 DKP minus for the rubbish picture here, I know. I couldn’t think of a clever way to illustrate Internet angst against the MPAA.)

As a reader of CrunchGear, I can only assume that you’re familiar with a recent invention called “television.” It’s truly a remarkable thing: it transports lights and sounds from the four corners of the planet, and brings them right to your living room. It’s like you’re actually at the big game! A recent upgrade, called high-definition television, improves the quality of the picture. Samsung, which is a company based in far-away South Korea, has a new line of high-definition televisions called the 8500 Series. It uses something called light-emitting diodes (“LEDs”) to light up the image—no more replacing tubes!

This new line of television comes in two sizes: 46 and 55 inches. That’s as big as an elephant (but much thinner)!

And does it purr! You name it, it’s got it: 1080p, 240MHz refresh rate, 2ms response time, and, get this, Internet connectivity! Yes, you’re able to view popular Web site Yahoo-provided content, including photos from Flickr, news and weather; sports from USA Today; plus Twitter and YouTube. That’s right, tweet right from your couch!

How much would you pay for such a marvel? Did you say $3,599 for the 46-inch, and $4,499 for the 55-inch? Then you’d be right!

Both models should be shipping to your local retailer in August, which is in only a few days!

I don’t know about you all, but I love me some home theater pr0n. I could stare at the pictures and read equipment lists all day long – sometimes I do, but don’t tell Biggs.

HGTV of all websites has assembled a great collection of high-end home theaters. You won’t find all the details that sites like Electronic House provides, but if you’re in need of a great 10 minute time waster while the clock slowly ticks towards quiting time, click here.

When Microsoft first showed off the Xbox 360 on MTV, what, four years ago, that was supposed to be the birth of the Era of HD Gaming. And while you and I may have a 1080p TV (and maybe even an entry level surround sound setup), it turns out, at least according to Epic Games’ Mark Rein, not even half of the people who played Gears of War 2 played it on a HDTV. That’s right, 50 percent of the people who battled the Locusts didn’t do so on an HDTV!

And what are the implications of this? Probably that we’ll be hanging onto this generation of video game consoles for a little while longer than usual. What’s the point of launching a new Xbox when half the people who have one haven’t really seen what it can do? It certainly saves developers money—no having to start over from scratch, trying to figure out the odds and ends of fancy, new (read: complicated) hardware in order to create an engine that “pushes the limits” or whatever.

I could be totally uncreative and end this with the question, “HOW MANY OF YOU PLAY YOUR GAMES ON AN HDTV?”

But I won’t.

Flickr

via Kotaku

If money is no issue, and you’re looking to play 1080p content—alt.binaries.hdtv.h264 says hi—on your big screen TV, you really ought to look into getting a proper PC, one with one of those fancy nVidia GPU that you can use to hardware accelerate said Blu-ray rips. That being said, it looks like LaCie just came out with a stand-alone device that should play most of the HD content you “find” online. Oh, it’s called the LaCinema Rugged HD, and LaCie wants $350 for it.

The device has a 500GB hard drive, which should be enough for plenty of feature-length movies. (I generally see 1080p movies anywhere from 7GB to 14GB in size.) It works with all the major codecs including H.264 and WMV9; it works with MKV! And as we all know, MKV has become the standard for scene HD releases. So, you put your file(s) on the drive, then plug the device into your TV using an HDMI cable. All of a sudden, you’re watching Che Part One or Watchmen in full HD.

(I doubt the LaCie people are thrilled with me referencing piracy so often in this post, but, really, how many of you are sitting there ripping Blu-ray discs? Is that even legal? It happens: people download stuff.)

My one concern is that, in my experience, on a lot of the better handled Blu-ray rips have pretty high video bitrates. (Here’s Children of Men, a 1080p Blu-ray rip.) So I don’t know how high that number can climb before the device starts to choke. Video at 720p shouldn’t present any problem.

LG has reportable chosen the ARM11 MPCore Processor to do the dirty in upcoming HDTVs. This chip is a multi-core CPU that, along with the ARM Mali graphics chip, should eliminate everyone’s main complaint about on-TV widgets: lag.

In the past TV manufacturers generally made the CPU themselves. This was never a big deal as the only thing the TV ever had to display was a menu and the picture. But now that consumers want more out of their HDTVS – or manufacturers say they do at least – these chips haven’t impressed. ARM CPUs are quickly becoming the go-to chip for manufacturers as they have been used for sometime by some.

We spent some time with the Yahoo Widget Engine at CES and walked away unimpressed. The system isn’t that responsive and is somewhat buggy. Probably because the chips running the system was never designed to handle such operations. That’s where ARM, and others like Intel, comes in.

Variations of the ARM11 CPU are already found in the iPhone 3G, iPods, the Palm Pre, and a lot of Nokia devices. Maybe we’ll even see ARM Cortex architecture sometime in the future. (That’s what the iPhone 3G S and Archos products are built-on) You have to imagine that Intel wouldn’t mind part of this pie either seeing as it helped develop the Yahoo Widget Engine.

Hopefully this move is the beginning of the next era of HDTVs. Hopefully we’re entering a time when televisions are more off a home appliance rather than a dedicated video device.

Let’s start with Toshiba’s ad that looks like it came straight out of the early 90s. Pretty boring if you ask me. Aside from that the SV670 is quite stunning. For one thing, the 55-inch model would take up my entire living room and I’d be happy to watch from the next room. I can’t say too much about the local dimming and simulated 240Hz because all the Toshiba sets were looping the same video of the Rose Gardens in Portland, OR. The Deep Lagoon design might seem gimmicky, but when you’re in the store staring at hundreds of black trimmed TVs on the wall, the Regza is going to catch your eye. I can’t give it a proper “hands-on” because it didn’t seem to be calibrated correctly because the ZV650 seemed to be properly calibrated and the color on that particular set blew away the SV670. I was thoroughly impressed with Toshiba’s lineup that was re-announced today, but I’ll reserve final judgment until I’ve had proper time with each. In the meantime, check out the photos.

Toshiba Televisions

The new high-end line, the XVT series, packs in LED backlighting (VIZIO calls it TruLED), along with 240Hz processing, and are available in 32- to 55-inch sizes. The M series packs 120Hz technology into a 1080p panel. Plus, this series is available in the color Java. Brown is the new black, btw.

The E series looses the high-end features but uses 20% less than the Energy Star 3.0 standard calls for. We’re just thinking though that this series boosts the treehugging features so that folks buying the least expensive model can justify their cheapness.

IRVINE, CA UNITED STATES

- Number One shipper of Flat Panel HDTVs in USA unveils wide range of high-performance, high-value televisions

- Flagship Extreme VIZIO Technology, XVT(TM) Series advances television’s state of the art with NEW TruLED(TM) and 240Hz SPS(TM) (scenes per second), and Thin Line(TM) 120Hz models. (New XVT Models are in 55 – 32-inch screen sizes)

- JAVA(TM) designer collection within the NEW ‘M’ Series combines high style with Full HD 1080P resolution and 120Hz with Smooth Motion(TM) LCD HDTVs (New M Series Models are in 47 – 32-inch screen sizes)

- ‘E’ Series provide energy efficient EcoHD(TM) (20% below Energy Star 3.0), essential performance and exceptional value in small to mid screen sizes (New E Series Models are in 42 – 19-inch sizes)

- All models are energy efficient, meeting and exceeding Energy Star 3.0 requirements

IRVINE, Calif., June 8 /PRNewswire/ — VIZIO, America’s #1 HDTV and Consumer Electronics Company, has unveiled its 2009 TV product lineup, with 31 new models in three product groups. With a comprehensive range that includes cutting-edge Smart Dimming(TM) backlight TruLED(TM) LCD technology, high-style/high performance products, and the best everyday value HDTVs, VIZIO’s products are energy efficient, with each earning and exceeding Energy Star 3.0 qualification. Product releases are scheduled throughout the year, with numerous products now in-store and due to hit shelves soon.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090608/LA28810)

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090204/LA66605LOGO)

“VIZIO’s 2009 line of LCD HDTVs advances our mission to deliver the most advanced video and audio technologies to our customers with unequalled value and style,” says Laynie Newsome, VIZIO Co-Founder and VP Sales and Marketing Communications. “Our customers have come to expect superior performance and design from VIZIO, and this new line has unprecedented value in every screen size.”

Superior Performance Video & Audio

This year’s Extreme VIZIO Technology XVT(TM) series again advances VIZIO performance with a Full HD 1080p lineup featuring both 120Hz with Thin Line(TM) stylish designs and 240Hz SPS models using Smooth Motion(TM) technology, with the most sophisticated models incorporating TruLED and Smart Dimming(TM) backlight technology. In all models, VIZIO has integrated USB video inputs that are enhanced and offer high quality 1080p video playback, along with Mega Dynamic Contrast Ratio(TM) of up to 2,000,000:1 makes for incredible black levels and almost three-dimensional imagery, they also include advanced user interface control with picture in picture and picture on picture functionality. VIZIO XVT models all include a universal learning backlit remote control.

All models have superior audio, thanks to SRS Labs Technology with TruSurround HD(TM), which enhances clarity and produces surround sound without external speakers, and TruVolume(TM), which eliminates annoying volume fluctuations when switching channels or when commercials come on and off.

New “XVT” Series Models and Features

Model Description
SV320XVT – Thin Line 32″ 1080p 120Hz Full HD LCD HDTV
SV370XVT – Thin Line 37″ 1080p 120Hz Full HD LCD HDTV
SV421XVT 42″ 1080p 240Hz SPS Full HD LCD HDTV
SV471XVT 47″ 1080p 240Hz SPS Full HD LCD HDTV
VF550XVT 55″ 1080p 120Hz Full HD LCD HDTV
VF551XVT 55″ 1080p 240Hz SPS w/Smart Dimming Backlight TruLED

HDMI
Inputs Audio In-store MSRP
3 SRS TruSurround HD & TruVolume September $749.99
3 SRS TruSurround HD & TruVolume September $849.99
4 SRS TruSurround HD & TruVolume July $1,199.99
4 SRS TruSurround HD & TruVolume July $1,499.99
5 SRS TruSurround HD & TruVolume Now $1,999.99
5 SRS TruSurround HD & TruVolume September $2,199.99

Full HD in New Colors and Styles

VIZIO’s designer lines combine 1080p Full HD performance with distinctive looking designs such as the VL series brushed JAVA(TM) color treatment, and VT series TVs that resemble luxurious wood picture frames to bring a stylish touch to consumers’ viewing environments. Select models feature a 120Hz refresh rate with Smooth Motion technology, as well as VIZIO’s new USB Multi-Media Feature that can display MPEG-2, H.264 and WMV9 video, JPEG photos, and MP3 music from a thumb drive or FAT32 hard drive. Many models have VIZIO’s new “Pause Live TV” feature, which allows viewers to pause their programs without the need for a separate cable or satellite box. VIZIO’s Mega Dynamic Contrast Ratio(TM) of up to 50,000:1 increases contrast ratio and picture quality, providing incredibly deep blacks. Each model also has multiple HDMI inputs and many include a side panel HDMI Game or Camera Input Port.

New “M” Series Models and Features

Model Description
VA22LF 22″ 1080p Full HD LCD HDTV
VX240M 24″ 1080p Full HD LCD HDTV
VL260M with JAVA Stylish Finish 26″ 1080p Full HD LCD HDTV
VL320M with JAVA Stylish Finish 32″ 1080p Full HD LCD HDTV
VA320M 32″ 1080p Full HD LCD HDTV
VOJ320F 32″ 1080p Full HD LCD HDTV
VO37LF 37″ 1080p Full HD LCD HDTV
VO370M 37″ 1080p Full HD LCD HDTV
VL370M with JAVA Stylish Finish 37″ 1080p Full HD LCD HDTV
VL420M with JAVA Stylish Finish 42″ 1080p Full HD LCD HDTV
VA370M 37″ 1080p Full HD LCD HDTV
VT420M with JAVA Stylish Finish 42″ 1080p 120Hz Full HD LCD HDTV
VT470M with JAVA Stylish Finish 47″ 1080p 120Hz Full HD LCD HDTV
SV420M 42″ 1080p 120Hz Full HD LCD HDTV
SV470M 47″ 1080p 120Hz Full HD LCD HDTV
VL470M with JAVA Stylish Finish 47″ 1080p 120Hz Full HD LCD HDTV
VF550M 55″ 1080p 120Hz Full HD LCD HDTV

HDMI
Inputs Audio In-store MSRP
2 SRS TruSurround XT Now $349.99
2 SRS TruSurround HD July $349.99
2 SRS TruSurround HD June $479.99
3 SRS TruSurround HD June $649.99
4 SRS TruSurround XT June $649.99
2 SRS TruSurround XT Now $599.99
3 SRS TruSurround XT Now $729.99
3 SRS TruSurround XT Now $799.99
3 SRS TruSurround HD July $799.99
4 SRS TruSurround HD July $899.99
3 SRS TruSurround XT September $799.99
4 SRS TruSurround HD & TruVolume July $999.99
4 SRS TruSurround HD & TruVolume July $1,299.99
4 SRS TruSurround HD & TruVolume June $999.99
4 SRS TruSurround HD & TruVolume Now $1,299.99
4 SRS TruSurround HD July $1,299.99
5 SRS TruSurround HD & TruVolume July $1,799.99
HDTV Value in Every Size

With screen sizes ranging from 19″ to 32″, VIZIO’s “E” series HDTVs provide incredible value in small to midsized packages with stylish white or black piano colored bezels. Many of these sets offer Full HD 1080p performance, and all utilize SRS Labs’ TruSurround technology to provide superior audio. Some models feature VIZIO’s EcoHD(TM) technology, which lowers energy consumption as much as 20% below Energy Star 3.0 standards.

New “E” Series Models and Features

HDMI
Model Description Inputs Audio In-store MSRP
VA19L 19″ 720p LCD HDTV 2 SRS TruSurround XT Now $249.99
VX200E 20″ 720p LCD HDTV 2 SRS TruSurround HD July $299.99
VA220E 22″ 720p LCD HDTV 2 SRS TruSurround XT Now $399.99
VA26L 26″ 720p LCD HDTV 2 SRS TruSurround XT Now $449.99
VECO320L 32″ 720p LCD HDTV 2 SRS TruSurround XT Now $499.99
VA320E 32″ 720p LCD HDTV 3 SRS TruSurround HD Now $499.99
VO320E 32″ 720p LCD HDTV 2 SRS TruSurround HD Now $499.99
VO420E 42″ 1080p Full HD LCD 3 SRS TruSurround HD Now $849.99
About VIZIO

VIZIO, Inc., “Where Vision Meets Value,” headquartered in Irvine, California, is America’s HDTV Company and Consumer Electronics Company. In 2007, VIZIO skyrocketed to the top by becoming the #1 selling brand of flat panel HDTVs in North America and became the first American brand in over a decade to lead major categories in U.S. TV sales. Since 2007 VIZIO HDTV shipments remain in the TOP ranks in the U.S. and are again #1 in Q1, 2009 with over 20% market share. VIZIO is committed to bringing feature-rich flat panel televisions to market at a value through practical innovation. VIZIO offers a broad range of award winning Plasma and LCD HDTVs including the new XVT series. VIZIO’s products are found at Costco Wholesale, Sam’s Club, Sears, Walmart, Target, BJ’s Wholesale, and other retailers nationwide along with authorized online partners. VIZIO has won numerous awards including a #1 ranking in the Inc. 500 for Top Companies in Computers and Electronics, Good Housekeeping’s Best Big-Screens, CNET’s Top 10 Holiday Gifts and PC World’s Best Buy among others. For more information, please call 888-VIZIOCE or visit on the web at www.VIZIO.com.

The V, VIZIO, XVT, TruLED, 240Hz SPS, Thin Line, Smooth Motion, JAVA, Where Vision Meets Value names, phrase and symbols are trademarks or registered trademarks of VIZIO, Inc. All other trademarks may be the property of their respective holders.

Good news, sports fans in the U.S.! It looks like ESPN will broadcast today’s Champions League final in HD on ESPNHD. Well, at least according to the schedule on its Web site. Why the network didn’t bother showing the whole tournament in HD when UEFA provides an HD feed, I don’t know.

The game sees the champions of England, Manchester United, against the champions of Spain, Barcelona. I’d say Manchester United are the favorites, if only because there’s no way Henry and Iniesta will be match fit (and who knows how long they’ll play) and because dumb Dani Alves had to collect his zillionth yellow card of the season, resulting in a one-match man. Good one, Mr. Alves!

Here’s a fine article summing up the situation, without the usual “Ronaldo v. Messi” cliché.

I’m excited (even if the tournament itself needs some sort of shakeup).

Announced back in January at CES, JVC announced today that the LT-42WX70 LCD “monitor” is now shipping for $2400. JVC is marketing the 42-inch LCD 1080p/120Hz HDTV in the hopes that it will snag photographers using a DSLR who might be shopping around for a high-end “monitor”. Sure, it displays 96 percent of the Adobe RGB spectrum and includes 52 image quality tweaks, but do photographers really need a 42-inch “monitor”?

WAYNE, NJ, May 26, 2009 – Establishing a new category in flat panel TV design, JVC today announced the availability of a super slim LCD TV monitor that features a color space that is wider than a typical HDTV’s.

The new JVC Xiview LT-42WX70 is a 42-inch class (42.02 inches diagonal) 120Hz 1080p LCD TV monitor that targets digital imaging professionals and enthusiasts using high-end digital SLR cameras, allowing them for the first time to see the subtle colors, details and textures of their images faithfully reproduced.

The monitor features expanded color space capacity encompassing 100 percent of HDTV broadcasting’s (sRGB.904) color space and a coverage rate of 96 percent for Adobe RGB — a color space for still photographs taken on high-definition digital SLR cameras — to provide accurate reproduction of both video and still photographs. The LT-42WX70 also features 52 picture-quality adjustment properties for tweaking both still and video images source-by-source to the exact colors and tones the user prefers. In addition, JVC’s GENESSA Picture Engine produces video images without blur, color bleed or noise for clear images with smooth movement.

In addition to its advanced display technology, the LT-42WX70 offers JVC’s groundbreaking design. The super slim monitor measures just 1-5/8 inches deep and is supported by an elegant, curved pedestal-style stand and the rear of the monitor is finished in metallic silver without any visible vents or assembly screws, making it ideal for settings where the rear of the set is visible.

Flexible High Technology from JVC
Depending on the source signal – video or stills – the user selects a color mode from among Wide (the TV’s color space), Normal (ITU-R BT.709; HDTV standards), x.v.Color (xvYCC extended gamut), sRGB (same primaries as HDTV) and Adobe RGB. sRGB and Adobe RGB color spaces are exclusive for viewing digital still images. Digital photos taken using the Adobe RGB colors space and displayed on the LT-42WX70 in the Adobe RGB mode will be reproduced with colors faithful to the original.

The monitor encompasses 100 percent of the sRGB (which is equivalent to HDTV for video signals) color space and a coverage rate of 96 percent for Adobe RGB, allowing the LT-42WX70 to fully reproduce the deeper reds and bluish greens that are a characteristic of Adobe RGB color.

To fine-tune the color for different sources, the LT-42WX70 features 52 on-screen image-quality adjustment properties that allow fine-tuning of colors, tint, gamma, and more, which can be memorized per source for future use. For example, individual color management settings of red, yellow, green, cyan tints and colors, as well as skin tone tint can be adjusted on-screen using the supplied remote controller.

JVC’s Individual Gamma Adjust System calibrates each panel’s grayscale tones to gamma 2.2 to ensure displaying consistent and faithful colors regardless of the set or manufactured lot. This extra effort is put in because color consistency between the source and display are essential when reproducing photos that are taken on digital SLR cameras or video from different sources.

Breaking new ground in performance for both moving as well as still images
To further ensure the best possible video quality, the set uses JVC’s new high-quality GENESSA Picture Engine with 12-bit (x RGB = 36-bit) for truly accurate and natural colors. The Real Bit Driver processes in 12-bit, and so up-converts 8-bit HD broadcasting and DVD signals or 10-bit Blu-ray signals into 12-bit Deep Color signals, regardless of the quality of the source signal, to achieve videos with smoother gradation.

To compensate for color bleed and color drift caused by the gap in the source color format and the LCD’s color space, the Chromaticity Point Conversion Circuit in the engine matches the colors so they are deep, natural and accurate.

120HzClear Motion Drive III (100Hz for PAL video signals) in the engine reduces blurring on LCD TV, helping to make images with rapid movement clearer and smoother using a high-precision interpolation algorithm. The 3D real time, motion-estimated Hadamard noise reduction is applied to eliminate noise while suppressing blur. Picture signal frequencies are also divided into 16 sections and noise reduction performed per section to produce images without noise while maintaining the realism and sharpness of the original picture.

Slim and lightweight at just 1-5/8 inches deep, the LT-42WX70 features a stylish black leather-like texture on its slim bezel that also helps to reduce glare. The flat rear panel is completely finished in metallic silver without any visible assembly screws or vents, providing a clean, attractive design and allowing for greater placement flexibility. To support the monitor, the supplied stand has a center pillar that curves toward the front of the panel. The stand features a three-step height adjustment to further broaden installation possibilities and the TV can be easily removed from the stand for hanging from a ceiling or wall. In addition, the monitor comes equipped with a slim detachable stereo speaker module that runs along the bottom of the panel. If an external sound source is to be used, the speaker module can be removed, giving the monitor an even sleeker, cleaner appearance.

An intuitive graphical on-screen display is easy to use via the included remote, and touch-panel operation makes essential operations available at the front panel. The remote can control other devices connected to the display via HDMI CEC.

The ENERGY STAR 3.0 compliant LT-42WX70 features an array of connectors for video and still image viewing, including three HDMI CEC terminals, D-Sub 15pin with component video, and an audio input jack. This allows the user to easily perform various operations such as checking images by connecting directly to an SLR camera compatible with HDMI or component connector, editing stills on the large 42-inch screen by connecting it to a PC via a D-sub 15-pin, or even do a round of on-screen checks in accurate colors prior to outputting images to a high-resolution digital photo printer and thus save on expenses.

The monitor measures 39 x 28-1/4 x 1-5/8 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 26.4 pounds. Mounted on its stand, the total weight is 41.8 pounds and depth is 6-3/4 inches.

The JVC LT-42WX70 is available now and is priced at $2,399.95.

JVC

Need a cheapish, smallish 1080p TV? Newegg just put this one, the Sceptre X32BV, for sale at $449. The TV usually goes for $999, so you’re saving quite a bit of money.

Now, I obviously can’t vouch for the picture quality, but 88 percent of the review on Newegg gave it a 4-out-of-5 or higher. And knowing how picky the Newegg folks are, I’d say that looks pretty good.

All of this reminds me of the first HDTV I bought. It was 2006, just a few weeks before the World Cup in Germany. I laid out nearly $1,100 for a 26-inch 720p/1080i Samsung LCD. I weep to think what $1,000 buys today, especially if you guy with a brand like Vizio or Westinghouse. Oh, well.

So, Myka. Remember what it does? Right, it’s a little set-top-box that plays high-def videos on your [presumably larger than your computer monitor] TV; it can download using BitTorrent right onto its built-in hard drive. That, or you can manually load previously downloaded videos onto it via a thumb drive or through a network. Oh, and now it plays “independent, foreign and cult films you can’t find in video stores” from EZTakes‘ 5,000+ movie library. Neat-o, said the cow. Then he mooed, powerfully.

Right, so the Myka box itself doesn’t ship till later this month, but at least it’ll launch with a legal source of videos of which to tap into; can’t go around saying, “Hey, load up all those Blu-ray rips you downloaded from The Pirate Bay!” in the marketing materials, now can you? (Yes, even if that’s what’s implied here—this video that I’ve embedded shows a THOR-encoded version of some dumb Star Wars movie. THOR is the progenitor of ESiR, if I’m not mistaken.)

A quick look at the specs show that it’s not too shabby at all. It’ll play h.264-encoded MKVs (the popular high-def format “available” online) right up to 1080p; HDMI; 802.11n, etc. So, a fairly capable home theater PC, then.

My one concern: its internal hard drive only goes up to 500GB ($389), which is a little on the small side in these days of 1080p Blu-ray rips. The smallest one is 80GB ($279).

Looks neat, yes. If I had money I might even consider buying one, seeing as though I’m big on watching movies I find here and there. WINK WINK!

ViewSonic might be known for their line of computer monitors, but their HDTVs aren’t too shabby. Today, they released the VT2230, a 1080p 22-inch LCD for $349. With an 8000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 16:9 aspect ratio and a 1920×1080 native resolution, the VT2230 just might bump my VX2240W out the door.

Viewing angles on the 2230 are 170º horizontal and 160º vertical, which is exactly the same as my VX2240W and that’s not good at all. Not even the 5ms response time, 300cd/m2 brightness or the built-in ATSC/NTSC/QAM television tuner can make up for the horrible viewing angles on this TV. And it only has one HDMI port. But at $350, it’s a pretty good deal for a full HDTV. Maybe I should put my monitor at eye level and quit complaining.

Product Page

First announced at CES, Yahoo!’s widget engine, Connected TV, is now shipping with the Samsung 7000 series LED HDTV, which starts at $2500. The 7000 series Samsung LED HDTVs can either be wired into your home network or connected through a wireless router that costs an extra $80 from Samsung.

The widgets essentially let you surf the Web while you’re catching up on some boob tube. There are shortcut buttons on the TV controller itself and new widgets can be downloaded via the Widget Gallery. Here you can find widgets for Twitter, USA Today Sports, Flickr, Netflix, Amazon, The NYT, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Weather and Yahoo! Finance.

Sony, LG and Vizio will be releasing their own models with the integrated widget engine from Yahoo! in the coming months.

I bet the boys and girls over at Sony breathed a huge sigh a relief when that “Kaka-to-Manchester-City” rumor finally died last month. After all, he’s the star of its latest commercial, seen here, promoting the company’s Motionflow technology. Fast-paced sports benefit from all those hertz (and a nice helping of signal processing).

It’s so rare that I get to combine my favorite sport with technology. Oh, I try to shoehorn it in every once in a while, but nine times out of 10 I’m really, really stretching it.

As far as this commercial goes, it’s airing right now in Australia (of all places). I wonder if/how Sony will present the commercial here in the U.S., where all of 14 people know Kaka.

I love it! The 16943 – get it? – is a few years too late but just look at it and imagine how it would work. 16:9 material would run natively on top while 4:3 material would rock in the large square area. But can’t you hear your grandpa yelling, asking why the whole TV isn’t showing the picture. Yeah, “Get rid of dat damn bar! Blah, blah, blah.”

StudioFirst via mocoloco