HDTV

Panasonic just announced the availability of the TH-85PF12U, the industry's first 85-inch, full HD 1080p plasma display. Weighing in at just 260 lbs, and only 3.9 inches thin, this plasma is much thinner and lighter than past models, thanks to Panasonic's NeoPDP technology. Also, it uses about half the energy of Panasonic's current full HD models in the same sizes, and has an image resolution of 1,080 lines – which is the world's highest moving image resolution. It also has the highest contrast ratio at 40,000:1 / 2,000,000:1 dynamic.

The TH-85PF12U will come standard with the TYFB10HMD Dual 1080p HDMI card, the TY42TM6A component card as well as a fixed PC input. Also, this unit will be equipped with anti-glare glass as standard. All of this comes at a cost, however. The TH-85PF12U has an MSRP of $30,000. Read more

Samsung just announced that Amazon Video On Demand is available on select Samsung HDTVs via a downloadable widget. Also, Blockbuster's Video On Demand service is now on select 2009 Samsung HDTVs, Blu-ray Players and Blu-ray integrated Home Theater Systems.

Owners of Samsung LCD and Plasma HDTVs Series 650 and above and Samsung LED HDTVs Series 7000 and above can download the Amazon Video On Demand widget for free using the Internet@TV – Content Service feature on their HDTVs.

Specific models featuring the BLOCKBUSTER On Demand service include Samsung Series 650 and above LCD and Plasma HDTVs and Series 7000 and above LED HDTVs. The service is also on Samsung BD -P1600, BD-P3600 and BD-P4600 Blu-ray players, as well as select Samsung Blu-ray integrated Home Theater Systems (HT-BD1250, HT-BD3252, HT-BD7200 and HT-BD8200) via firmware upgrade.

For more information visit www.samsung.com.

We told you about Bell'O's new No Tools Assembly audio video furniture not very long ago…but now you can check out a new demo video from Bell'O to see how their patent pending No Tools Assembly latch system design works.

This A/V ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture takes just minutes to set up! Three HDTV stand models are available in wood (WAVS-326, WAVS-333 and WAVS-321) and accommodate TVs of all types, including plasma, LCD, DLP, projection and micro-display, along with related electronics and a center channel speaker.

Samsung just announced its latest CCFL-backlit LCD TV– the 65" LCD 650 Series (LN65B650) with 1080p resolution. The LN65B650 features Auto Motion Plus 120Hz refresh rate, fast 4ms response time to reduce blurring, and high contrast ratios for deeper blacks. The LN65B650 also has networking and connectivity capabilities, and meets the latest Energy Star qualifications.

Other features include:

• Ultra Clear Panel technology: enhances colors and reduces glare in rooms with a lot of ambient light.
• Wide Color Enhancer 3: ensures accurate reproduction of colors with shows, movies, games and more, regardless of the viewing environment.
• Samsung Medi@2.0 suite: Ready for both wired and wireless connectivity, get content via the Internet@TV - Content Service, built-in Content Library, DLNA and more. Internet@TV delivers access to Internet content from Yahoo!, Flickr, YouTube, and more via easy-to-use TV widgets.
• USB 2.0 interface: Easily share and view media files on your TV from a digital camera, MP3 player, or even a thumb drive.

It also includes 4 HDMI inputs, two component cable slots, RCA and USB jacks. The LN65B650 supports VGA, Optical audio out and RS-232 serial adapters.

The Samsung LN65B650 will be available this month for about $6000.

Sony just introduced a new line of super-thin BRAVIA LCD HDTVs at CEDIA – the XBR10 series. The XBR10 models feature an edge-lit LED backlight, a contrast ratio of over 1,000,000:1, and also deliver 1080p wireless transmission of HD signals from a separate media box to a receiver embedded in the TV, so your components can be placed out of sight.

The XBR10 series also feature Sony's Motionflow 240Hz technology, an Ethernet connection, USB input, and are Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) compliant, giving you access to photos, music, and video stored on a PC or other DLNA server using the XMB interface and the TV's remote control. Read more

The VUDU HD service is now available on LG's LH50 1080p LCD series and PS80 plasma 1080p series with NetCast Entertainment Access. Also, for a limited time, the first HD or HDX movie rental is free, giving you the opportunity to try the VUDU service on your LG HDTV.

Features of the VUDU service include:

• Pay as you go to rent or buy movies, with no subscription or monthly fees
• Instant streaming without long waits for buffering or downloads
• Instant-start at all quality levels, including HDX 1080p
• Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound at all quality levels
• Fast forward, rewind and browse chapters without the delays and frustration associated with slow buffering
• Weekly updates to the VUDU library, including new releases same day as DVD
• Newly released movies from major studios are available months before they are available on subscription-based services

If you are like me and despise the task of assembling furniture, Bell'O comes to the rescue! They just announced a new line of ready-to-assemble (RTA) HDTV stands that require no tools. You read that right…absolutely no tools are required to set these HDTV stands up! Featuring their No Tools Assembly™ latch system, the WAVS-326, WAVS-333 and WAVS-321 HDTV stands take just minutes to set up! Three new wood HDTV stands are available and let you update your living room without breaking a sweat…or, in my case, a nail!

All three models will hold TVs of all kinds - Plasma, LCD, DLP, Projection and Micro-display, including related electronics and a center channel speaker. A CMS Cable Management System is also included to conceal the wires. Read more

Samsung has just unveiled the flagship model of its expanded LED HDTV lineup with the all-new 8500 Series. The new HDTVs combine the award-winning picture quality and thinness of Samsung's previous LED HDTVs, with the latest networking and interactive features, to provide an ideal option to all TV connoisseurs.

The 8500 Series is capable of a stunning 7,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for extreme detail and image depth. Its Wide Color Enhancer Pro ensures that colors are consistently vibrant, while Samsung's Ultra Clear Panel works to improve image clarity and brightness regardless of a room's ambient lighting. The 8500 Series is also compliant with the latest Energy Star v3.0 ratings, and includes an optimized energy savings mode.Read more

LG Electronics will be the first to introduce broadband HDTVs with the instant-access high-definition (HD) movie service from VUDU Inc., a leading provider of digital on-demand entertainment services. VUDU on-demand movies will be available on LG's LH50 1080p LCD series and PS80 Plasma 1080p series with "NetCast Entertainment Access," beginning this month.

The VUDU service allows consumers to instantly buy or rent from an extensive library of movies and TV titles, including an industry-leading catalog of more than 2,000 high-definition movies - with no monthly fees and without having to buy, install, or connect any additional hardware.

VUDU's streaming movie service delivers a near-instant viewing experience - movies start immediately, including high definition HDX movies, and viewers can fast forward, rewind and browse chapters without the delays or the frustration associated with slow buffering. The VUDU catalog is updated weekly, and newly released movies from major studios are typically available months before they are available on subscription-based services.