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Buying an HDTV: What You Need to Know
Walk into your local electronics emporium and look at the wall of screens. It's a beautiful sight. All of the displays look so wonderful, but where do you start? What do you need to know to find your perfect high-def match? Purchasing your first HDTV can be a daunting task if you aren't armed with the proper information when you enter the carnivorous den of your local electronics superstore.
There are a couple of areas I'd like to focus on in this guide. The first thing to consider is the type of TV, and which is best suited to your viewing environment. This consists of the physical space the TV will occupy and any devices you plan to use with it will weigh heavily on your decision. Also important are the features and specifications that a new TV can offer. Buzzwords like 1080p, contrast ratio, HDMI, and 120Hz will be thrown at you as soon as you strike up a dialogue with a salesperson (or as they stalk you up and down the aisles). With a little preparation, you can be an informed consumer with the power to overcome jargon-filled sales pitches and, in the end, make the right decision for you. Walk into your local electronics emporium and look at the wall of screens. It's a beautiful sight. All of the displays look so wo... more -
Careful what you wish for - McCain's HDTV problem
The technology he helped bring to market could kill his candidacy.
McCain excoriated broadcasters for transitioning too slowly to the digital spectrum after the government had given away billions of dollars in HDTV-ready frequencies. In 2007, McCain complained that a congressionally mandated deadline of Feb. 17, 2009, to abandon the old analog spectrum was "too late"
If it weren't for McCain's ceaseless agitating on this issue, HDTV probably wouldn't have anywhere near its present estimated penetration of roughly 11 percent of all U.S. households.
Last year, when McCain's candidacy appeared to be in serious trouble, you heard a lot about how awful he looked. He'd gotten old, his face was scarred from melanoma surgery; no wonder his presidential run was headed south. Then McCain started racking up primary victories, and his telegenic deficit was forgotten. On cable-news sites and YouTube, McCain looks are not as easily distinguishable.
TV is unfair, as Richard Nixon learned when his perspiration and five o'clock shadow helped give John F. Kennedy the edge in the first-ever televised presidential debates. Had HDTV been available eight years later, perhaps Nixon could not have won the Republican nomination, let alone the presidency.
The prevailing cliché about 2008 is that it's the first YouTube election. But it may turn out to be, more saliently, the first high-definition election. If that's the case, then McCain—more precisely, McCain's political ambition—may play the unfortunate role of Dr. Frankenstein, whose lifeless body at the end of Mary Shelley's novel is wept over by the demon he created. Across the land, LCD and plasma screens will wail in unison, "I have devoted my creator, the select specimen of all that is worthy of love and admiration among men, to misery; I have pursued him even to that irremediable ruin." But doesn't Obama look fabulous? The technology he helped bring to market could kill his candidacy. ... more -
HP's Commercial with Serena
nice animations and use of effects; looks uber crisp and clean on an hdtv.
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Toshiba Officially Pulls Plug, Good Bye HD-DVD
Toshiba made things official this morning, by throwing in the hi-def towel, stating that they would no longer manufacture, develop, or market HD-DVD hardware. In the meantime, the company is set to reduce shipments of players and recorders, ceasing the wing of their business entirely by the end of next month. Toshiba made things official this morning, by throwing in the hi-def towel, stating that they would no longer manufacture, develop, or... more
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US consumers aware but confused over TV switchover
While Americans are becoming more aware of the switchover to digital television (set to happen February 17, 2009), they are also confused about it as well.
"Dueling surveys conducted by U.S. broadcasters and a consumer advocacy group both concluded that most consumers are now aware that broadcasters will have to switch to digital signals from traditional analog ones on February 17, 2009.
However, one of the surveys, done by watchdog group Consumers Union, found that there also was still 'major confusion' about how the transition will work."
Do you know all you need to about the big switch? For starters, you can keep your old TV...but u will need a converter. A second important piece of info: the government will be offering $40 discount coupons for converters to all owners of analog TVs. While Americans are becoming more aware of the switchover to digital television (set to happen February 17, 2009), they are also confu... more -
HD-DVD Dead?
The departure of Warner Bros. from the HD-DVD camp last week left only Paramount/Dreamworks and Universal standing by the format. The Financial Times are reporting that part of Paramount Studio's deal with the HD-DVD camp included a get-out clause. Said clause would be triggered when and if Warner turned coat and signed with Blu-Ray. Oops. Paramount are now "poised" to do just that, leaving the vast majority of studios aligned with team Blu-Ray and HD-DVD dead in the water. The departure of Warner Bros. from the HD-DVD camp last week left only Paramount/Dreamworks and Universal standing by the format. The... more
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Analog TV Death Clock
Analog Television will die in 413 days. Are you prepared to make the transition to digital?
Why not check out the official website of the TV Converter Program and prepare yourself, and your television, for the Y2K-esque madness of the Y2K9 digital takeover.
And hey, they have free $40 coupons to buy a converter box. So if anything, go get some free money! Analog Television will die in 413 days. Are you prepared to make the transition to digital? ... more -
High-Tech Trash
People have always been proficient at making trash. Future archaeologists will note that at the tail end of the 20th century, a new, noxious kind of clutter exploded across the landscape: the digital detritus that has come to be called e-waste. People have always been proficient at making trash. Future archaeologists will note that at the tail end of the 20th century, a new, n... more
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High-Def at High Noon
Westerns, with their facial close-ups and extravagant panoramic shots, may be the perfect vehicle for new high-definition systems. The excessively accurate detail of HD may be so visually revealing as to allow us to see unintentional details such as "ridges of makeup, and stray spit," thereby unwillingly breaking us free of the myth of film. (via Brijit) Westerns, with their facial close-ups and extravagant panoramic shots, may be the perfect vehicle for new high-definition systems. The... more
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High-definition video of the moon
Old-school bOING bOING pal Jim Leftwich points to startling new high definition video of the moon released by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and NHK. The images were taken by the lunar explorer Kaguya on Halloween. Breathtaking. I would love to see this footage at full resolution on a huge screen. From JAXA:
...It is the world's first high definition image data acquisition of the Moon from an altitude about 100 kilometers away from the Moon.
The image taking was performed twice on October 31. Both were eight-fold speed intermittent shooting (eight minutes is converged to one minute.) The first shooting covered from the northern area of the "Oceanus Procellarum" toward the center of the North Pole, then the second one was from the south to the north on the western side of the "Oceanus Procellarum." The moving image data acquired by the KAGUYA was received at the JAXA Usuda Deep Space Center, and processed by NHK. Old-school bOING bOING pal Jim Leftwich points to startling new high definition video of the moon released by the Japanese Aerospace E... more -
HDTV defined
Still not sure on what is HDTV? Check out this guide on all the ins and outs of HDTV and be a informed consumer.
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Britain launches digital TV switchover...take a hint US!
While the US keeps pushing back the deadline to switch from analog to digital television, the UK hasalready started. They state by 2012, they will be 100% digital. While the US keeps pushing back the deadline to switch from analog to digital television, the UK hasalready started. They state by 201... more
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HD for Indies
Self-descriptive enough? There is a lot of very good information in this blog. It covers pretty much all aspects of shooting HD in a low-budget environment. Self-descriptive enough? There is a lot of very good information in this blog. It covers pretty much all aspects of shooting HD in a... more
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Mitsubishi planning 3D Blu-ray player
"...The demo was run from a massive Dell desktop and output onto a large DLP set. In an effort to inject new life into the fading rear-projection category, the company's pitch was that the 3D technology worked with existing DLP TVs and projectors (due to DLP's native 120Hz refresh rate, which allows you to split it into 60/60 for 3D) but not with LCD and plasma displays.Most of us were pretty impressed by the demo, which included clips from movies, commercials, and sporting events. There was real depth to the 3D and you got that whole feeling of things poking out at you from the screen. All the demo material had been shot in 3D, but the kicker to the whole presentation was that Mitsubishi apparently has a Blu-ray player in its labs that can convert existing 2D movies into 3D on the fly. Better yet, according to company reps, it may be available early next year." "...The demo was run from a massive Dell desktop and output onto a large DLP set. In an effort to inject new life into the fading... more
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Paramount, Dreamworks dropping Blu-ray in favor of HD DVD exclusivity
"Affiliations in the HD DVD vs. Blu-ray format war have been pretty clearly defined for nearly two years now -- despite a hybrid player here and some international releases there, most of the players involved have not switched support since the early days. Well that's all about to change, as Paramount Pictures and Dreamworks Animation -- which started off HD DVD only before deciding to go both ways -- have officially announced plans to release movies exclusively on HD DVD, dropping Blu-ray support entirely. This means that hits like Transformers, Shrek the Third and Blades of Glory won't follow Mission: Impossible III as cross-format releases when they debut this holiday season. Paramount has released about 30 movies on Blu-ray so far, but those days have come to an end: apparently cheaper HD players trump a 2:1 sales advantage. We can't wait to see how the Blu-ray camp responds to this." "Affiliations in the HD DVD vs. Blu-ray format war have been pretty clearly defined for nearly two years now -- despite a hybrid ... more
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Fujitsu's 231-inch display tops them all
Fujitsu has released the largest TV screen ever. A single pixel on this screen is a half inch wide. I gotta hook up my XBOX to this sucka. Fujitsu has released the largest TV screen ever. A single pixel on this screen is a half inch wide. I gotta hook up my XBOX to this su... more
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Free HD Production Seminars by JVC
For those of you who want to learn HD production. The SF seminar is tomorrow, July 18. Register fast!
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HDTV In SF Bay Area user group
Yahoo! user group with lots of great information for people in the San Francisco Bay Area who have or are thinking of getting HDTV. Tech info galore as well as down-to-earth advice from smart people. Yahoo! user group with lots of great information for people in the San Francisco Bay Area who have or are thinking of getting HDTV. T... more
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