Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Cutting-Edge, Eco-Friendly LED TV for Less Than $2,200?]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/cutting-edge-eco-friendly-led-tv-for-less-than-2-200/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/cutting-edge-eco-friendly-led-tv-for-less-than-2-200/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/cutting-edge-eco-friendly-led-tv-for-less-than-2-200/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


A reader writes: I need a good TV for my living room, and I've decided that LCD, particularly LED, is the way to go. I've heard that some plasmas can look better than LCDs, so I definitely want good video quality, but I heard they use up a lot of energy and I don't want to break the bank if I can avoid it. Also, I'd like something that doesn't use up too much power. Please... just tell me what to get!

What up, reader? Indeed, the Plasma vs. LCD conflict is a tough one, as plasma does traditionally provide better black levels, which can translate to superior contrast between dark and light onscreen, especially valuable when watching high-definition movies now in the Blu-ray era.

The good news is that LCDs are continuing to evolve, with the switch to energy-saving LEDs (light-emitting diodes) as their light source (versus more common cold cathode fluorescent lamps, if you want to get technical). The Next Big Thing in energy-efficient televisions is local dimming LED, which can make specific areas of the screen lighter or darker depending upon the picture being displayed. The improvement can be absolutely stunning, imparting more drastic blacks and a much-needed boost to the dynamic contrast ratio, rated at a mind-boggling 2,000,000:1. Unfortunately, a lot of these LED TVs are pricey, but we've found one from good ol' bang-for-the-buck Vizio.

Continue reading Cutting-Edge, Eco-Friendly LED TV for Less Than $2,200?

SwitchedCutting-Edge, Eco-Friendly LED TV for Less Than $2,200? originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresjusttellmewhattogetlcdlcdtvledtopvizioWed, 04 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Artist Displays Video Art on Best Buy Screens]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/12/artist-displays-video-art-on-best-buy-screens/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/12/artist-displays-video-art-on-best-buy-screens/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/12/artist-displays-video-art-on-best-buy-screens/#commentsFiled under: ,


In a dramatic shift from the usual fare of live sports or snippets of 'The Rock' that has become the norm across most Best Buy HDTV displays, one Manhattan store has opened its doors to the art world, dousing its Home Entertainment section with a heaping tablespoon of hip.

Artist Borna Sammak joined forces with curator Thomas McDonnell to convince a Best Buy in SoHo to display a collection of his "video paintings" on all of its HDTVs on the lower level of the store. The installation, which combined surround sound-enhanced music with footage from nature documentaries like 'Planet Earth,' drew massive crowds, and injected a welcomed jolt of coolness that has never exactly been Best Buy's M.O. In an interview with Art in America, McDonnell noted that Best Buy was one of the few places in America that offered sufficient high-definition audio/visual equipment to absorb Sammak's work.

Continue reading Artist Displays Video Art on Best Buy Screens

SwitchedArtist Displays Video Art on Best Buy Screens originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artbest buyBestBuynyctopMon, 12 Oct 2009 09:38:00 EST<![CDATA[What's Big in Japan? Eyeball iPhone Remotes, 3-D TVs and Smart Cams]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/09/whats-big-in-japan-eyeball-iphone-remotes-3-d-tvs-and-smart-c/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/09/whats-big-in-japan-eyeball-iphone-remotes-3-d-tvs-and-smart-c/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/09/whats-big-in-japan-eyeball-iphone-remotes-3-d-tvs-and-smart-c/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We've spent the past week here in Tokyo taking a look at some of the latest gadgets on display at CEATEC, the annual Japanese Consumer Electronics Show. It's a great place to see everything from cutting-edge TV technologies that'll end up stateside next year to stylish mobile phones that'll (sadly) never find their way out of Japan.

And then there's the oddball stuff that probably shouldn't be let out of the convention center, like the iPhone you control with your eyeball, which you'll see in the above video. Yes, it's weird, but it's one of the reasons we keep coming back every year, even braving killer typhoons to get to the convention center. Check out the clip to see what else blew us away this year.


Related links:

SwitchedWhat's Big in Japan? Eyeball iPhone Remotes, 3-D TVs and Smart Cams originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biginjapanceatecceatec2009eventsfeaturesjapantopFri, 09 Oct 2009 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Why Your Next TV May Be in 3-D]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/06/why-your-next-tv-may-be-in-3-d/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/06/why-your-next-tv-may-be-in-3-d/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/06/why-your-next-tv-may-be-in-3-d/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Call us crazy, but we think increasing hype around 3-D movies and TV is ill-deserved -- didn't this goofy technology that requires users to put on special glasses die out in the 1950s? Sure, today's version is much improved -- and in HD, no less -- but it still reeks of gimmickry since you still have to put on those glasses to get the full effect.

Well, whether you like it or not, 3-D HDTV is just about the biggest new thing that television manufacturers will try to sell you next year, if the multiple models and prototypes on display at this year's CEATEC show are any indication. The annual Japanese consumer electronics show, which Switched is attending again this year, is a showcase for pie-in-the-sky, science-fair-type technologies, but it's also a decent predictor of what will end up at the January Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, and, eventually, at Best Buy.

As we mentioned, we've been seeing a whole lotta 3-D HD at CEATEC this year. Samsung already has a 3-D DLP TV out on the market, but the new crop from Panasonic, Sony, and its ilk is due out next year and comes in flat-panel LCD or plasma form. Here's what we've found so far:

Continue reading Why Your Next TV May Be in 3-D

SwitchedWhy Your Next TV May Be in 3-D originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-D3-DTV3dtvbiginjapanceatecceatec2009eventsfeaturesjapantopTue, 06 Oct 2009 11:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Consider Room Size When Choosing an HDTV]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/03/27/consider-room-size-when-choosing-an-hdtv/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/27/consider-room-size-when-choosing-an-hdtv/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/27/consider-room-size-when-choosing-an-hdtv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Bigger isn't always better with HDTVs; a too-big screen in a small room looks ridiculous and will make non-HD content look fuzzy. On the other hand, you don't want to go too small or else you won't get the benefits of HD. There are a lot of formulas for optimum HDTV size-to-room size ratios, but one rule of thumb says to measure the distance between where you'll sit and where the TV in inches, then divide that number by 2.5. The result will be the number of diagonal inches your ideal screen should have. For the minimum and maximum sizes, divide by 3 and 1.5, respectively.

Click here for more daily tech tips.

SwitchedConsider Room Size When Choosing an HDTV originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hdtvtechtipFri, 27 Mar 2009 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Bang & Olufsen's 103-inch $130,000 BeoVision Plasma]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/03/21/bang-and-olufsens-103-inch-130-000-beovision-plasma/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/21/bang-and-olufsens-103-inch-130-000-beovision-plasma/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/21/bang-and-olufsens-103-inch-130-000-beovision-plasma/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Plasma's dying, huh? Go and tell that to Bang & Olufsen. Just in case the 50- and 65-inch versions of the BeoVision 4 HDTV weren't expansive enough, the high-end home cinema outfitter has just pushed out news of an all new addition: the 103-inch BeoVision 4-103. If that number immediately rings a bell, here's a cookie. The 103-inch Panasonic TH-103PF9 panel is indeed the exact one used here, but B&O has obviously spruced up the design, added an automatic rising stand and incorporated the BeoSystem 3 and the VisionClear technology that automatically adjusts colors and brightness. Oh, and it tossed in a B&O logo, which is darn near priceless. Speaking of stickers, the set should be available this July for around €100,000 ($136,220) pre-VAT. Check the demonstration vid after the break and the gallery over at Engadget.

[Thanks, John]

Continue reading Bang & Olufsen's 103-inch $130,000 BeoVision Plasma

SwitchedBang & Olufsen's 103-inch $130,000 BeoVision Plasma originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>103-inchBang OlufsenBangOlufsenBeoVisionBeoVision 4BeoVision 4-103Beovision4Beovision4-103hdtvhigh-endluxurypanasonicpdpplasmaTH-103PF9Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Americans Watch 151 Hours of TV Per Month, an All-Time High]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/02/24/americans-watch-151-hours-of-tv-per-month-an-all-time-high/http://www.switched.com/2009/02/24/americans-watch-151-hours-of-tv-per-month-an-all-time-high/http://www.switched.com/2009/02/24/americans-watch-151-hours-of-tv-per-month-an-all-time-high/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The Nielsen Company released a report Monday revealing that (surprise!) Americans watch more TV than ever. But, terms such as couch potato and boob tube (does anyone even use that anymore?) may soon become quaint colloquialisms as viewers explore new mediums.

The Nielsen report reveals that while the average American watches an all-time high of more than 151 hours of television per month (last year, the average was 145 hours per month), he also watches three hours of Internet video a month, and video on mobile devices for four hours. Mobile viewing witnessed the largest jump in consumers with a 9-percent increase from the previous quarter.

Delving further into the numbers reveals interesting patterns. First, television viewing increases with age. Teenagers (12-to-17-year-olds) watch 103 hours of TV a month, compared to 207 hours (that's nearly seven hours a day) for those 65 and older. Internet and mobile viewing, conversely, decrease with age. The teen bracket watches about six-and-a-half hours of mobile video per month, compared to only three hours for those in the next age group, 18 to 24. The 18-to-24-year old group also watches Internet video for five hours per month, a number which steadily drops to only 2:34 for those aged 45-54.

Continue reading Americans Watch 151 Hours of TV Per Month, an All-Time High

SwitchedAmericans Watch 151 Hours of TV Per Month, an All-Time High originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 11:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nielsennielsen ratingsNielsen ReportNielsenRatingsNielsenReportstudiessurveystelevisiontelevision ratingsTelevisionRatingstoptrendstvtv ratingsTvRatingsTue, 24 Feb 2009 11:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Which Stations Will Be Making the DTV Switch This Week?]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/02/17/which-stations-will-be-making-the-dtv-switch-this-week/http://www.switched.com/2009/02/17/which-stations-will-be-making-the-dtv-switch-this-week/http://www.switched.com/2009/02/17/which-stations-will-be-making-the-dtv-switch-this-week/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Today is the original deadline for the switch to digital broadcasts, and even though Congress agreed to push the deadline back till June, many stations are making the change anyway since the process was already well underway.

We knew that many of the stations would be making the move to DTV on February 17 regardless of the extra time afforded them, but it was unclear which ones would be sticking to the original deadline. Now, the complete list has been released. If you want to know which stations near you will be ending analog broadcasts today, check out this complete list, broken up by region. [From: AOL Money & Finance]

Related Links:

SwitchedWhich Stations Will Be Making the DTV Switch This Week? originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital tvDigitalTvdtvdtv switch overdtv transitionDtvSwitchOverDtvTransitiontopTue, 17 Feb 2009 16:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Pioneer Ending TV Production?]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/02/08/pioneer-ending-tv-production/http://www.switched.com/2009/02/08/pioneer-ending-tv-production/http://www.switched.com/2009/02/08/pioneer-ending-tv-production/#commentsFiled under: ,

Say it ain't so (again) Pioneer, Japan's Nikkei is reporting that despite planning a return to profitability by sourcing Panasonic plasma panels, facing a consolidated loss of 100 billion yen ($1.08 billion U.S.) it will end TV development and production entirely. The DVD business will be spun off into a new venture with Sharp as part of a plan to shed several thousand employees over the next year, including a shutdown of its Shizuoka plant, along with already planned closings in the U.S. and Europe. Honestly, we should have seen things were going badly when it let LaserDisc die, but the worsening economy may have proved too tough for the idea that its Kuro and Elite line of products would not be subject to the ups and downs of the economy.

[Via Gearlog, registration required on read link]

SwitchedPioneer Ending TV Production? originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 08 Feb 2009 07:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesseconomic downturneconomiccrisisEconomicDownturnhdtvkuropioneertopSun, 08 Feb 2009 07:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Which TV Stations Will Make the Digital Switch on February 17?]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/02/06/which-tv-stations-will-make-the-digital-switch-on-february-17-an/http://www.switched.com/2009/02/06/which-tv-stations-will-make-the-digital-switch-on-february-17-an/http://www.switched.com/2009/02/06/which-tv-stations-will-make-the-digital-switch-on-february-17-an/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Well, Congress may have postponed the mandatory digital TV switch from analog to digital until June, but some stations around the country will go ahead with the switch anyway (up to one-fifth, according to USNews writer David LaGesse). That could mean up to 500 of the 1,700 stations around the country that eventually will make the conversion.

The full list of stations that will make the change on February 17 hasn't been released yet, since the FCC is giving broadcasters until February 9th (Monday) to notify them of their switchover plans, but plenty of stations from Vermont to Washington State, have already decided to go ahead with it. We've compiled as many as we could find below, but the number is only likely to grow by Monday. Check back next week for a full list.

View Poll


What does this mean for you? Nothing, if you own an HDTV or digital TV, but if you've been relying on that old TV set your parents gave you ten years ago or are partial to portable TVs, you may need to shop for a new television or get yourself a converter box. (Luckily, HDTVs are quite affordable these days).

Here are reports about the stations, so far, that have decided to make the digital switch anyway.
No doubt this list will grow by the day, but check back and we'll report more significant TV switchovers as they begin to add up. [From Engadget, USNews, Broadcasting & Cable, and Yahoo! Tech]

SwitchedWhich TV Stations Will Make the Digital Switch on February 17? originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analog-to-digital-switchdigital switchoverDigitalSwitchovertopFri, 06 Feb 2009 11:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Many Netflix Customers Opting for Streaming Flicks]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/01/28/many-netflix-customers-opting-for-streaming-flicks/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/28/many-netflix-customers-opting-for-streaming-flicks/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/28/many-netflix-customers-opting-for-streaming-flicks/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Netflix sees subscribers opting for streaming over mailing, global surplus in red envelopes predicted

We already covered the numbers of Netflix's impressive earnings this past Monday, but there was another story lurking in there, too: a potential sign of the coming apocalypse for physical media. According to ArsTechnica, Netflix is reporting that many of its customers are substituting streamed movies for mailed ones, taxing the USPS less and their broadband connections more. CEO Reed Hastings is playing coy about whether this is a strong trend or just the curious behavior of early adopters. Since his company gets paid either way, he probably doesn't care, but you can be sure those companies who are still firmly attached to profits from plastic discs are going to be watching this pattern rather closely. (As if Sony needed any more bad news.) [From: ArsTechnica]


Relevant Links:

SwitchedMany Netflix Customers Opting for Streaming Flicks originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>netflixnetflix streamingNetflixStreamingphysical mediaPhysicalMediarokustreamingWed, 28 Jan 2009 15:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Are You Too Short-Sighted to Enjoy HDTV?]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/01/16/study-says-you-may-be-too-short-sighted-to-enjoy-hdtv/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/16/study-says-you-may-be-too-short-sighted-to-enjoy-hdtv/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/16/study-says-you-may-be-too-short-sighted-to-enjoy-hdtv/#commentsFiled under: ,


If Vision Express was looking for some attention, it just got it. A recent study by the optician chain found that 60-percent of Britons had avoided an eye test over the past year, with that number rising to 79-percent in Scotland.

Phillip Hyde, dispensing optician and head of professional services at the firm, was quoted as saying that "even a marginally short-sighted person sitting on a sofa watching an HD broadcast may not see the full benefits in enhanced image quality." As if that wasn't comical enough, he continued by saying: "If you're investing in HDTV, you ought to have your eyes checked to make sure you get the full benefit."

You heard it here first, folks -- factor in the cost of an eye exam before buying your next HDTV, or you'll regret it. Forever. [Image courtesy of Lenslinger]

SwitchedAre You Too Short-Sighted to Enjoy HDTV? originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>britainenglandeyesighthdtvhealthstudysurveytelevisionukvisionVision ExpressVisionExpressFri, 16 Jan 2009 08:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Flap Your Hands, Change the Channel (Hitachi Gesture-Based TV Control)]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/01/12/flap-your-hands-change-the-channel-hitachi-gesture-based-tv-co/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/12/flap-your-hands-change-the-channel-hitachi-gesture-based-tv-co/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/12/flap-your-hands-change-the-channel-hitachi-gesture-based-tv-co/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Is gesture-based remote control the next biggest thing since the touchscreen? Last week, we saw Sony Ericsson's new W508 Walkman phone, which lets you ignore a call and shut off the ringer with the wave of your hand. And as we wrote back in October, TV manufacturers certainly seem to be taking their inspiration from the motion-sensitive Wii remote with gesture based control technology for changing channels and maneuvering around various types of onscreen content.

But writing about it won't let you see just desirable a gesture-based TV controller is, especially since you won't ever have to remember where you put your old school remote. So take a look at our video of Hitachi's prototype system, which we first saw at CEATEC last October and were happy to play around with again at CES last week.


Check out the video after the break.

Continue reading Flap Your Hands, Change the Channel (Hitachi Gesture-Based TV Control)

SwitchedFlap Your Hands, Change the Channel (Hitachi Gesture-Based TV Control) originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 03:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ces-2009-topces-2009-videosces-2009-videos-topfuture techFutureTechhitachitopMon, 12 Jan 2009 03:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Obama's Transition Team Urges Congress to Postpone Digital TV Cutover]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/01/09/obamas-transition-team-urges-congress-to-postpone-digital-tv-cu/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/09/obamas-transition-team-urges-congress-to-postpone-digital-tv-cu/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/09/obamas-transition-team-urges-congress-to-postpone-digital-tv-cu/#commentsFiled under: , ,


With the money well all dried up and a monumental transition looming, Barack Obama's transition team is urging Congress to take a second look at letting the cutover take place as planned on February 17th. According to a letter recently sent to Capital Hill, John Podesta, co-chair of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team, stated: "With coupons unavailable, support and education insufficient, and the most vulnerable Americans exposed, I urge you to consider a change to the legislatively-mandated analog cutoff date." Quite frankly, this has the potential to be huge. When would it be rescheduled to? Would additional fundage be applied? How would broadcasters react? Obviously, we shouldn't have to wait long to see how this all pans out.

[Thanks, Tommy]

SwitchedObama's Transition Team Urges Congress to Postpone Digital TV Cutover originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 07:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analog-to-digitalanalog-to-digital-switchces-2009-topobamapoliticsFri, 09 Jan 2009 07:15:00 EST<![CDATA[LG to Produce Super-Slim 15-Inch OLED TV This Summer]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/01/07/lg-to-produce-super-slim-15-inch-oled-tv-this-summer/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/07/lg-to-produce-super-slim-15-inch-oled-tv-this-summer/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/07/lg-to-produce-super-slim-15-inch-oled-tv-this-summer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

LG to produce 15-inch OLED panel this summerHas your $2,500 XEL-1 display already started to show a case of the dimming blues? If so, and if you can go without seeing Cookie Monster in his natural hue for a few more months, you may have another OLED replacement option after this summer. LG is indicating it will begin producing a 15-inch panel in June of this year. No word on whether it'll match the Sony's 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, but it will offer a higher resolution of 1,366 x 768, and LG is pledging a 30,000 hour shelf life. We'll see about that.

SwitchedLG to Produce Super-Slim 15-Inch OLED TV This Summer originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsces-2009-toplgoledupcomingWed, 07 Jan 2009 19:14:00 EST<![CDATA[LG to Introduce Netflix-enabled HDTVs]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/01/05/lg-gets-official-with-netflix-enabled-broadband-hdtvs/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/05/lg-gets-official-with-netflix-enabled-broadband-hdtvs/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/05/lg-gets-official-with-netflix-enabled-broadband-hdtvs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Yup, it's official. LG will be showcasing the world's first Netflix-enabled HDTVs at CES this week. The so-called Broadband HDTVs will arrive in plasma and LCD flavors, though exact screen sizes and model names have yet to be disclosed. They'll arrive with Netflix streaming software baked right in, meaning that no external set-top-box will be required to suck down Watch Instantly material. Best of all, it sounds like HD Netflix content will also be supported, and with the accompanying remote, viewers will be able to "read synopses, rate movies and fast-forward / rewind the video stream." No word on pricing, but the family of sets should be shipping this Spring. Hop on past the break for a look at the full release.

Continue reading LG to Introduce Netflix-enabled HDTVs

SwitchedLG to Introduce Netflix-enabled HDTVs originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Broadbad HDTVBroadbadHdtvCESCES 2009ces-2009-topCes2009connected hdtvConnectedHdtvhd netflixHdNetflixhdtvlcdlcd hdtvLcdHdtvLGnetflixplasmaMon, 05 Jan 2009 09:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Even With $199 Players, Blu-ray Sales Are Struggling]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/12/03/even-with-199-players-blu-ray-sales-are-struggling/http://www.switched.com/2008/12/03/even-with-199-players-blu-ray-sales-are-struggling/http://www.switched.com/2008/12/03/even-with-199-players-blu-ray-sales-are-struggling/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Back when the dinosaurs roamed the Earth, Blu-ray and HD-DVD coexisted in a competitive market that frustrated consumers with a lack of high-def disc formats. The result was no one really upgrading to either format due to fears of one or the other going obsolete. Then HD-DVD officially gave up, and Blu-ray was declared the winner. Happily ever after, right? Not quite.

According to a study by ABI Research, only 8% of consumers were considering upgrading to Blu-ray players this holiday season due to the cost involved. Not just the cost of the players (which have dropped dramatically over months, all the way down to $199), but the cost of an HDTV, a Blu-ray player, and the more expensive movies combined. Especially when you can now download HD content over the Internet and watch it on your TV with your PlayStation 3, XBox 360, Netflix box, or Vudu player. Given that many people don't care that much for high-def content (yet), or simply don't see much difference between SD and HD content, paying twice as much for a television, player, and movie seems like a waste.

So is Blu-ray out for the count? Maybe not. Let's not forget we're in a struggling economy that will one day get better. Additionally, PlayStation 3 sales have been skyrocketing, automatically giving millions of people a Blu-ray player in their house. Add onto that some DVD-like prices for Blu-ray movies on Amazon, and there's hope for the format yet. Regardless, we still buy physical media every now and then, mostly because digital options (like downloads) have yet to include all the special features included on discs. [From: Boing Boing]

SwitchedEven With $199 Players, Blu-ray Sales Are Struggling originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu-raybusinesshggnewsholidayshoppingWed, 03 Dec 2008 07:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Five Things to Consider Before Buying an HDTV]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/11/25/five-things-to-consider-before-buying-an-hdtv/http://www.switched.com/2008/11/25/five-things-to-consider-before-buying-an-hdtv/http://www.switched.com/2008/11/25/five-things-to-consider-before-buying-an-hdtv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



So you want to buy an HDTV? Well, if you're lucky enough to have the cash, then we have some good news. Faced with a glut of unsold televisions, manufacturers and retailers are slashing prices of TVs to previously unheard of levels. This means you can get a perfectly decent flat-panel -- that's right, the sexy thin kind -- for less than $1,000. Of course, more money will still get you thinner, bigger, and better models, but for the first time ever, flat-panel HDTVs are within reach of most folks. The best part is, no matter how much you pay for your new HDTV, you can rest assured that it will be compatible with the digital TV signals that are going to be the norm once the FCC-mandated analog-to-digital switchover takes place early next year. Nevertheless, you'll need to consider a few things before you shell out any cash for a new TV, so take a look at our Five Things to Consider Before Buying an HDTV, which starts by clicking Next below.


SwitchedFive Things to Consider Before Buying an HDTV originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5 things to consider5ThingsToConsiderbuying guidesBuyingGuidesfeaturesfive things to considerFiveThingsToConsiderhggfeaturesTue, 25 Nov 2008 23:37:00 EST<![CDATA[NFL to Broadcast Game Live in 3-D]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/11/25/nfl-to-broadcast-game-live-in-3-d/http://www.switched.com/2008/11/25/nfl-to-broadcast-game-live-in-3-d/http://www.switched.com/2008/11/25/nfl-to-broadcast-game-live-in-3-d/#commentsFiled under: , , ,




Next Thursday's game between the San Diego Chargers and the Oakland Raiders will, thanks to the NFL, be the first pro football game to show via live, 3-D broadcast, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Being shown in three movie theaters -- in Los Angeles, New York and Boston -- the special, private broadcast will show to rows of business types in the broadcasting and electronics fields.

Howard Katz, the NFL's senior vice president of broadcasting and media operations, hopes that these private screenings will introduce the technology's capabilities to a broader audience. "We want to demonstrate this and let people get excited about it and see what the future holds," he told the Wall Street Journal.

The future should hopefully hold the standardization of the 3-D format. At present, while 3-D home TVs are publicly available, the particular models now in production could encounter compatibility problems, or obsolescence, in the coming years as the technology develops.

For our part, we hope broadcasters and the like hurry up and put those 3-D standards in place. Because we can't wait to don our 3-D glasses and lay our eyes on this thing. [From: Wall Street Journal]

SwitchedNFL to Broadcast Game Live in 3-D originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-D3dfuture techFutureTechnflsportstopTue, 25 Nov 2008 11:42:00 EST<![CDATA[MSNBC Going HD This Spring]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/10/27/msnbc-going-hd-this-spring/http://www.switched.com/2008/10/27/msnbc-going-hd-this-spring/http://www.switched.com/2008/10/27/msnbc-going-hd-this-spring/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

MSNBC LogoEvidently as much as MSNBC wanted to go HD in time for the big election push, it just didn't get done. We'd like to think that the fact that MSNBC isn't presented in HD is the reasons why it's behind both CNN and Fox News in ratings -- which have both been HD for some time -- but it's probably the content. Either way though, in the spring MSNBC will finally make the big upgrade.

But what's more interesting is how important MSNBC's president, Phil Griffin, thinks HD is. In fact he said that "you better be in HD in the next year or so, because you have to be in that tier." Obviously we've been saying this for some time now, but it's refreshing to know that even network big wigs are on board with the rest of us HD snobs now.

SwitchedMSNBC Going HD This Spring originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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