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Does your HDTV support 1:1 pixel mapping?
Even if you don't know what 1:1 pixel mapping is, you probably think your TV supports it. If your TV does support this viewing mode, odds are it isn't on by default. 1:1 pixel mapping means your TV is capable of displaying the image sent to it pixel for pixel, without scaling or processing the video in any way. In other words, if your TV is fed 1920x1080p, then it displays 1920x1080p. Believe it or not usually your digital LCD, DLP or even Plasma takes the 1920x1080 image, shaves off a few lines and displays it. The reason isn't a good one, but it's 'cause TVs have had overscan so long that when digital TVs came along they actually engineered overscan into the set. This is not the case at all on computer monitors, where even one missing line is noticed. So if you want to see if your TV is capable of showing you the whole picture, look it up in your manual for a "pc mode" or even "dot by dot", or just head over to the AVSForum for a comprehensive list of HDTVs that support this elusive feature.
CNET unveils its top-rated HDTVs
Yeah, we've already let you guys voice your opinion on the best HDTV out there, but now its time for CNET to dish out an updated version of the "top-rated HDTVs regardless of type, technology, brand, or size." Taking a respectable fourth is the Samsung LN-T4665F, which was praised for its excellent shadow detail and beautiful styling, while the Pioneer PDP-5070HD managed to squeeze into third thanks to its accurate color decoding and impressive array of inputs. The first loser (or runner-up, depending on perspective) was the Mitsubishi WD-65831, which was dubbed "as good as it gets" in the 65-inch range for those not savvy with high-end plasma pricetags. Unsprisingly, Pioneer's stunning PRO-FHD1 took top honors due to its excellent detail with 1080-resolution material, deep blacks, and all around excellent picture quality. Of course, this very set also took home the gold in an earlier showdown, so if you've been teetering on how to blow wisely spend $8,000 or so, the choice seems pretty clear at this stage.
Circuit City trims HDTV selection, blames 1080p for slipping sales
To be perfectly honest, it's only disappointing that it has taken Circuit City this long to realize that relying primarily on the sales of highly marked-up HDTVs to boost its bottom line was a direful decision. Still, it is impressive to see the company finally break away from its past and "no longer regard TVs as the centerpiece of its product strategy." Reportedly, the firm will soon be eliminating many models from its floor, giving users fewer selections and aiming to sell more 42-inch and under models that may fall below the magical $1,000 price point. Interestingly enough, CEO Phil Schoonover was quoted as stating that his outfit had really been "emphasizing 1080p, maybe to its detriment," and noted that 720p ought to be "good enough" for today's modern shopper. Right, we're sure the plummeting sales have nothing to do with that Wally World across the way.[Image courtesy of ICSC]
DIY project turns an oscilloscope into a clock
While the highly-regarded Pong clock has long held the crown for most intriguing DIY clock, it looks like the leaderboard could be seeing a change. Frank Techniek's interesting oscilloscope conversion is yet another prime example of turning vintage (or otherwise idiosyncratic) kit into a modern day gadget, and the 20MHz TRIO that once read signal voltages for a living is now enjoying an unusually time consuming (ahem) retirement. Per usual, this expert-minded endeavor involved more circuitry, soldering, resistors, and time off than we have room to explain, but if you're interested in propping one of these up in your den, be sure to hit the read link for the nicely detailed bill of materials and assembly instructions.[Via MAKE]
Kmart had a $20 HDTV
Wish someone would have told us (we do have a tip line) about this earlier. Did you know that Kmart had a 46-inch Hitachi HDTV clearenced out at $20 bucks? Well, that's the word according to the Baltimore ABC affiliate, ABC2 and surprise, surprise, Kmart didn't honor the price. A few friends placed orders for the obviously miss-priced TV and didn't end up getting their sets. Retailers have to honor misprinted ads - as long as they don't have a handy-dandy sign next to the item stating the correct price - but they can cancel online orders with the click of button. Honestly though, who would think that Kmart would actually give them the TV but who wouldn't try anyways?
Apple TV kinda sorta works with certain 4:3 SD TVs
Semi-good news for the folks out there short a fancy widescreen display to plug an Apple TV into: nothing's going to explode or nothing if you go ahead and hook it up to your regular old TV. The folks at Rogue Amoeba have been celebrating just such a feat, since the Apple TV seems to be running just fine at 480i on their ghetto-school 4:3 CRT via component, unfortunately, it seems their celebrations are a tad premature. They claim to have video running unsquished, but as you can see in the pic above, which compares the Rogue setup to our own, the menu at least is most definitely being squeezed to fit. The word on the street is that 4:3 TVs are fine as long as they have the proper hookups and a simulated widescreen mode, but it's pretty clear that the Apple TV itself provides no support for 4:3 viewing.[Via El Reg]
House Republicans propose warning labels for analog TVs
If a group of House Republicans have their way, television manufacturers still trying to convince consumers of the questionable benefits of analog TV may soon have a harder time making their case, as they'll be required to slap a big 'ol label on that old-school tube warning potential buyers of its considerable shortcomings. According to TV Week, the bill proposed by Republican members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce would mandate that all analog-only TVs carry the message that "this TV has only an analog broadcast tuner and will require a converter box after Feb. 17, 2009, to receive over-the-air broadcasts." Not exactly "this TV can kill you," but hardly a selling point either. The bill would also require cable and satellite service providers to deliver regular reports detailing their consumer educations efforts, as well as require that the FCC create its own consumer outreach effort and provide details on the number of customers that have redeemed coupons for cable boxes. While the prospects of the bill passing aren't clear, it has picked up at least one big supporter, with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) quickly hopping on board to endorse it. [Via Lost Remote]
The quest for an HDTV this holiday season
Keeping up with the latest in HD can make you forget how difficult it can be for the above average consumer to find the right HDTV. Sure the average Joe would just go in the store an buy what is on sale or what the salesman sells him, but the above average consumer has his work cut out for him. He isn't an HD nut like us, he doesn't live and breath HD news by reading Engadget HD every day, but he knows enough to want to make the right decision. This is what Paul Boutin from Slate Magazine found out on his quest for an HDTV this holiday season. He learned a lot along the way, but missed the main point because he didn't end up buying a HDTV. He did realize that all TVs have problems, but he missed the point that having any HDTV is better than not having one at all and you just need to pick the one that has problems you can live with. He also learned something that surprised us, clerks in the store actually tried to talk him out of 1080p, yeah that's right. We don't get it either, sure 1080p isn't for everyone, but if someone wants the best despite the fact they might not actually notice the difference, why try to talk him out of it?
PS3 doesn't do 1080i?
That's what IGN has discovered in testing several PlayStation 3 games. Despite 1080p being "the true definition of HD", most of the titles available are rendered internally at 1280 x 720 and scaled up accordingly... or at least that's what should happen. On many older CRT HDTVs that only support 1080i input and not 720p, instead of scaling to the appropriate HD resolution, the PS3 goes back down to the positively Wii-like EDTV standard of 480p. The problem is confirmed to exist in Resistance: Fall of Man, Tiger Woods 07, Need for Speed Carbon and NHL 2K7 so far, but no word from Sony if this can or will be fixed in a downloadable update. The Xbox 360 scales to 1080i without a problem -- although 1080p results may vary -- if you're not reading this from your place in line already be sure to check your HDTV's manual for supported input resolutions before grabbing a lawn chair (and bulletproof vest).[Thanks, Michael J.]
Requiem for the impending death of CRT televisions
The death bells have not yet tolled for thee, CRT, but the hunchback is readying the rope to pull.. so sayeth the CNN, who has an article about how consumers are increasingly purchasing other technologies like LCD, plasma, DLP, and many others that are lighter, flatter, and more desirable. All predictions are that CRTs will be all but dead by 2009, especially when the (mostly high-definition) digital broadcast signal cutoff is complete. After all, in most consumers' minds, if you can buy a heavy CRT tube television today, but also have a flat-screen technology available for a small amount more, why not go for it? Big-box retailers are devoting more and more space to the other technologies, and demand is lower and lower as the years pass, with the newer technologies more apt to support high definition resolutions. Many manufacturers only produce a few models, if any, that incorporate CRT tubes.On the other hand, CRT is a time-tested, proven technology that is still cheaper to make. It also produces deeper, richer blacks, and more vibrant color reproduction, as well as having no problems with screen door effects, or color wheel rainbows, or nearly as many problems with scaling of content. It also is put to great use in front and rear projection sets that eliminate much of the space requirement and still keep many of the benefits. So, will consumers pick a tech simply because it's easier to hang on the wall, or has a more desirable shape? I imagine many consumers could care less about the quality of the picture and are just looking for what's newer and more improved -- even if it's more expensive. And, we can't forget upcoming technologies like SED (and laser TV?) that promise all the benefits of flat with all the picture of CRT.So, is CRT worth saving? Or should we have the closed-casket and move on with our technological lives?
An hourly cost breakdown of HDTV ownership
So exactly how much does that HDTV sitting in your living room cost you? HDTV Almanac takes a look at this and does some simple math to come up to $.37 an hour. That is if you assume the TV is going to be there for five years along with two people watching it the American average of four and a half hours a day. Plus, the cost of the HDTV ($2000) and the monthly charge of high-def service ($100) needs to be calculated too. The only variable missing is power consumption but this number can vary from TV type and manufacturer and in the end $.37 isn't that bad of a cost. Having trouble with the significant other justify the cost of a new HDTV? Simply bring up these numbers and it suddenly seems a tad more reasonable; See, we are here for ya.
Complete CEDIA coverage
Just In case you missed our CEDIA coverage the last few days, here is run-down for your reading pleasure.General info HDBeat @ CEDIA 2006 Irony @ CEDIA Sony @ CEDIA - Booth Tour THX @ CEDIA - THX certification for video displays HD DVD @ CEDIA - Promotional Tour Panasonic @ CEDIA - A little touch of room in the middle of CEDIA HDNet @ CEDIA - Filming high-def in high-def SED @ CEDIA - MIA Hitachi @ CEDIA - Jean-Paul Goude done big HDTVs Fujitsu @ CEDIA - Aviamo 1080p plasmas Samsung @ CEDIA - LED-powered DLP Pioneer @ CEDIA - History of Pioneer plasmas Hitachi @ CEDIA - Worst looking rear-projection at the show? SunBrightTV @ CEDIA - live and in person Sony @ CEDIA - Take a close look at the SXRD NuVision @ CEDIA - LED-powered DLP - 52LEDLP Global Outdoor Concepts @ CEDIA - Outdoor LCDs Sony @ CEDIA - 52-inch 1080p XBR2 & XBR3 Bravia lines Runco @ CEDIA - plasmas that don't forget Hitachi @ CEDIA - 42-inch 1080p plasma Samsung @ CEDIA - 10-inch deep Slim DLPs on display Sharp announces 42-inch 1080p Aquos LCD US availability, pricing - UPDATE Pioneer @ CEDIA - New PureVision Elite plasmas on display Sony @ CEDIA - 52-inch 1080p, 40- & 32-inch 720p BRAVIA LCDs Planar @ CEDIA - Three new 1080p LCDs Complete listing after the jump.
Magnavox @ CEDIA - Mahogany tabletop
Wait, year is it? Does Magnavox know that it is '06 and not the '50s? Anyway, what is on display here is a Mahogany tabletop with gold handles 13-inch B&W TV from 1953. Classic.
Ask HDBeat: err, we are stumped with this one
Whenever someone sends a question over to us, we research it in depth and then post our best answer. Some of these questions are tough, but we can usually come up with it though, but this is the first time we have been stumped -- we are hoping our readers can help us out on this one. SJ sent over this question that we just cannot come up with a solid answer for. I am planning to get an Xbox 360 soon, and an HDTV to go along with it. I decided to look for CRT HDTV's first since they provide the best picture and are cheaper, but I noticed that there are no CRT HDTV's with a native resolution of 720p (which is the 360's native resolution). All the CRTs have a res of 1080i...why is that? Is it some kind of industry standard or are there some technical issues related to it?Does anyone know for sure (read: give sources) why there isn't any 720p CRT HDTVS?
Tube TVs quickly fading into oblivion
The iconic tube TV is fading off rather quickly. People just don't want the big, bulky tube sets anymore with the new, fancy flat-panels just screaming for attention and it all boils down to price. For around $500 a person can get a quality tube TV or for around $800, they can pick up a cheap LCD. Now, we aren't saying that the cheap LCD is better, 'cause we all know that most CRTs will outperforms even the highest-end LCD, but the average person doesn't care. They just want the thin screen. Manufacturers have cut their model lines and retailers are slowly fading them out too. In fact Costco is not going to sell them after this years holidays. CRTs represented 78% of the market in 2004 but only 54 this year. There is still a market for some people looking for a bargain though as you can find a 32-inch tube for around $300 each weekend by looking in the weekly fliers.Are you ready to kick your CRT to the curb and make way for a nice, new flat-panel HDTV?
Panasonic Taiwan to stop CRT TV production in 2-3 years
The flat panel giant, A.K.A. Panasonic, has a bright outlook for the plasma and LCD market. So much so that they are planning on halting CRT production in the Taiwanese market with-in a few years. That market has already soon flat-panel love and Panasonic currently only produces seven flat panels to every three CRTs and as the price of said flat-panels drop, so will the sales of CRTs. Experts expect the shipments of CRTs to decrease by 200,000-300,000 units in '07 alone to this market of small tiny living spaces. Well, who doesn't want a flat panel besides chaps that can't afford 'em. Not many people would turn down purchasing a thin and sexy flat panel if it was the same price as the big 'ol CRT.
Samsung cutting back on their CRTs
What?!? Samsung is cutting back on their CRTs? Does this surprise anyone though, really? CRTs, while they are great technology, must see the writing on the walls. Their days are numbered. Samsung is expecting that by 2010, CRTs are only going to make up 13% of the companies annual sales instead of todays 39%. That 39% was reached after a steady decline from 78% in 2000. You may recall though, Samsung does have a niche CRT market cornered with their slim CRT line. These tube TVs take up 1/3 less room then normal sets by reducing the 'junk in the trunk.' Samsung doesn't foresee this part of their business from decline but these sets are just small part of their overall sales.[Via HDBlog]
RUMOR: Circuit City to sell Mitsubishi and JVC TVs
We have some unconfirmed, but yet it comes from reliable sources, that Circuit City is going to announce sometime soon that they are going to start selling Mitsubishi and JVC HDTVs. So far all we know is that The City is going to sell Mitsubishi plasmas and LCDs; hopefully, they are going to sell their DLPs too. We don't know much about their role with JVC just yet, but we are hoping that this announcement is going to made soon so we can get more info. This could give the consumers a choice for different types of DLPs rather then Samsungs in Circuit City. It seems that Circuit City is really pushing the mid to high-end home CE market. This seems to be the opposite of what Best Buy is doing with making more in-house branded products. Case in point if these TVs do develop but also, Circuit City is also going to sell Denon and Boston Acoustics products as they are pushing out Harmon Kardon and Infinity. We will keep you updated on this as it hopefully move from a rumor to news.[thanks to everyone that sent this in]
Private gaming with a PSP face scarf
Joe Malia, a student at the Royal College of Art in London, created a series of face scarves with special attachments that, at least in the above example, "lets PSP players explore their passion in complete privacy". There's also a special design that fits neatly over a CRT; the perfect way to prevent your roommate from copying your finely honed Counter-Strike tactics.
eCinema and AUO tout CRT-quality LCDs
LCD manufacturers eCinema and AUO have both been boasting about breakthroughs in LCD technology recently, promising LCD monitors that rival bulky CRTs in picture quality. eCinema's display (seen above), boasts a massive 30,000:1 contrast ratio and 1,000 to 4,000 steps of grey, as opposed to the 256 currently found on most LCDs. What's more, they say the first display using the technology, the 40-inch DCM40HDR, will be available by the end of the year. They didn't, however, disclose the price (we'll just pretend for a minute that we can afford one). In comparison, AUO's LCDs seem a bit lackluster, with only a 1200:1 contrast ratio, although the company says its HiColor Technology with LED backlight will push the display to over 100% color saturation and the promised 4ms response time ain't too shabby either. No word yet on availability of displays using AUO's tech yet, although they say it's ready to go and can be applied to both WXGA (1366 x 768) and full 1080p (1920 x 1080) resolutions.Read - eCinemaRead - AUO
