HDTV

With so many advertisements out there for HDTV sets and services, you're probably wondering where to start. You may be asking, "What's all the hoopla about?" or "Is it worthwhile to trade up?" And, of course, you want to know how much it's going to cost. Here are a few answers to those questions to get you started on the road to high-definition television.

Understand that, in general terms, high-definition television, also known as HDTV, is more than twice as detailed as conventional analog television, also known as standard definition TV or SDTV. HDTV not only offers larger, richer images as compared with SDTV, it also includes multi-channel movie-quality surround sound as well. So, in layman's terms, viewers often report seeing sharper, brighter images. Read more

With the holidays coming up, many people are looking to replace their old televisions with new flat panels, and many HDTV owners are simply wanting to upgrade to a larger size. In order to make shopping easier for you, we have listed some key facts on LCD displays and TV/monitor resolution from Samsung to help you choose the best television for your lifestyle and budget.

1) Which resolution is better for viewing HDTV and do all TV displays have the same resolutions? Read more

• Full HD is 1080p (p for progressive), but there are other resolutions for “hi def.” A display is considered “hi def” if it is wide screen and in either 720p, 1080i (i for interlaced) or 1080p format. All flat-panel display technologies have these hi def resolutions, including LCD, plasma, and DLP.
• The best HDTV viewing is at 1080p, which is available with HD-DVD and Blu-Ray players as well as XBOX 360, Playstation 3 and other gaming consoles. However, hi def TV programming is broadcast at 720p and some 1080i. Both 1080i and 1080p (1920 pixels by 1080 pixels) provide a distinctly sharper picture with 1080 lines of vertical resolution rather than the 720 lines that appear with 720p (1280x720 pixels). For context, standard TV has about 480 lines of resolution.

In a press conference held today, Hitachi announced a consumer electronics breakthrough -- a new line of 1.5-inch (35mm) Ultra Thin LCD HDTV's. Hitachi expects to be first to market with its new Ultra Thin series, which will be available in Japan in December of 2007. U.S. consumers can expect to see Ultra Thin models in early 2008 – many months before thin displays from other manufacturers.

Hitachi’s Ultra Thin Displays will initially be available in three sizes (32", 37" and 42) to provide consumers with a range of options for placement throughout the home. Read more

A new survey released from Hitachi reveals that the high-definition television (HDTV) market is set to explode, with 78 percent of consumers saying their next TV will be an HDTV. Entering the back-to-school, football and holiday shopping seasons, Americans are clearly on the prowl for HDTVs, while also reporting that women are driving more purchases, bigger screens are better (especially for households with kids) and flat panels are favored.

The HDTV market’s growth potential is substantial, with strong interest in buying HDTV spanning all household incomes – 85 percent making more than $35,000 are interested in HDTV and nearly 70 percent making below $35,000 are interested. This deep desire for HDTV continues to skyrocket despite ongoing consumer confusion. Nearly two-thirds of consumers said they would not be comfortable explaining the various HDTV options in the market (e.g., DLP, LCD and Plasma), revealing the need for continuing consumer education as they select the HDTV that best fits their viewing, design and lifestyle needs. Read more

Panasonic's 42" High Definition Plasma TV (TH-42PX600U) with built-in ATSC/QAM/NTSC Tuners and SD Memory Card Slot features an integrated speaker system with HDMI connections for superior audio/video and a high contrast ratio of up to 10,000:1. Such a wide range from black to white means great depth and dimensionality with vibrant colors and this Plasma can display an incredible 29 billion colors for a superior picture. Deep blacks provide excellent shadow detail during dark scenes, while brilliant whites allow Panasonic's Plasmas to render bright scenes with vivid realism. Read more

With HDTV sets now available for less than $1000 and HD programming widely offered by cable and satellite providers, many consumers are ready to take the plunge. There's no denying that HD is here to stay.

What many people may not realize is that the transition to HD isn't limited to HDTV sets and broadcast programming. In fact, new technology is making it possible to capture and record your own home movies in HD. To get started, you'll need a high definition camcorder, sometimes referred to as an HDV camcorder. With HDV camcorders commanding around $1,500, they're not exactly inexpensive, but as with all new technologies, prices quickly fall. Read more

Panasonic's 42" High Definition Plasma TV (TH-42PX6OU) with built-in ATSC/QAM/NTSC Tuners and SD Memory Card Slot features an integrated speaker system with HDMI connections for superior audio/video and a high contrast ratio of up to 10,000:1. Such a wide range from black to white means great depth and dimensionality with vibrant colors and this plasma can display an incredible 29 billion colors for a superior picture. Read more

One of the best buys in HDDVD is small Dish satellite provider Dish Network. Always on the cutting edge, the company's new DishHD DVR Receiver (Model no. ViP622 DVR) not only supports two TV's instead of one, it allows you to playback and record HDTV in its highest resolution. It even has on screen Caller ID when your phone rings so you can pause, answer and come back without missing a minute of the action. Read more

Well, 'tis the season to shop and here are some suggestions for what is hot this holiday season.

Dish viP622 DVR
If you really want to win the family over this holiday season, give them the gift of HDTV. One of the best buys in HDDVD is small Dish satellite provider DishNET. Always on the cutting edge, the company's new DishHD DVR Receiver (Model no. ViP622 DVR) not only supports two TV's instead of one, it allows you to playback and record HDTV in its highest resolution. It even has on screen Caller ID when your phone rings so you can pause, answer and come back without missing a minute of the action. Read more

This holiday season, high definition (HD) video is taking center stage. With HDTV sets now available for less than $1000 and HD programming widely offered by cable and satellite providers, many consumers are ready to take the plunge. Whether or not an HDTV set is on this year's wish list for your family, there's no denying that HD is here to stay.

What many people may not realize is that the transition to HD isn't limited to HDTV sets and broadcast programming. In fact, new technology is making it possible to capture and record your own home movies in HD. To get started, you'll need a high definition camcorder, sometimes referred to as an HDV camcorder. With HDV camcorders commanding around $1,500, they're not exactly inexpensive, but as with all new technologies, prices quickly fall. Read more