A couple of years ago 1080p resolution, signifying the highest number of pixels available on most flat-panel HDTVs, was worth big bucks. Now it’s found just about everywhere, including in Sony’s least expensive line of larger-screen LCDs announced at CES 2009.
The KDL-S4100 series comes in four sizes: …
Originally posted at CES 2009
Continue reading about Entry-level Sony LCDs get 1080p but not 120Hz
Sony has gone Yahoo “widget”-happy with its TV lineup for 2009, incorporating the Internet-enabled doodads into two of the series announced at CES.
Described as “Internet applications…that deliver real-time information” in the press release, widgets “expand and personalize the TV experience by adding on-screen applications that provide such …
Originally posted at CES 2009
Continue reading about Sony’s Z-series of LCDs gets widgets, 240Hz
The 32-inch KDL-32XBR9, along with larger XBR9 models, get Yahoo widgets.
(Credit: Sony)
Sony’s first 2009 series of XBR models, three letters that signify higher-end features and performance in the company’s TV oeuvre, is equipped with “widgets” courtesy of Yahoo.
Described as “Internet applications…that deliver real-time information” in the press release, the widgets “expand and personalize the TV experience by adding onscreen applications that provide such real-time information as weather reports, stock ticker updates, financial news, Yahoo Video, Flickr images, and additional content.”
The XBR9 series consists of four sizes: the 52-inch KDL-52XBR9, the 46-inch KDL-46XBR9, the 40-inch KDL-40XBR9, and the 32-inch KDL-32XBR9. Prices were not divulged, as usual, and availability details were limited to “spring.”
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Originally posted at CES 2009
Continue reading about Sony XBR9 HDTVs up interactive ante with widgets
The eco-friendly KDL-VE5 series packs plenty of power-saving punch.
(Credit: Sony)
As Americans become more conscious of TV power consumption, manufacturers are taking full advantage by offering more eco-friendly HDTVs. The KDL-VE5 series is Sony’s power-sipping entrant for CES 2009, and includes the ability to turn off automatically when …
Originally posted at CES 2009
Continue reading about Eco-friendly Sony HDTVs sense your presence
The Toshiba SV670 series is the company's first to incorporate LED backlighting.
(Credit: Toshiba)
Samsung, Sony, LG and Vizio offer or will offer HDTVs with LED backlights, the most effective picture quality improvement available for LCD TVs, and now Toshiba will too.
The SV670 series includes two screen sizes, the 46-inch 46SV760U and the 55-inch 55SV760U, and will be available in May (prices were not announced).
The company was quick to stipulate that the sets’ LEDs employ “local dimming” technology, which can dim and turn off sections of the backlight while leaving others bright as needed. Other LED models with local dimming we’ve reviewed in the past, from Samsung and Sony, delivered deeper black levels and better overall picture quality than standard LCD TVs.
As with many other higher-end models announced at CES this year, the SV670 series also boasts 240Hz refresh rates–although we appreciated that the company called it a “240Hz effect” to be extra-careful. Compared to 120Hz models, the company claims that 240Hz delivers smoother images with less blurring–although if our review of the Sony KDL-52XBR7 is any indication, the difference will be difficult to discern.
Like LG and Vizio, Toshiba’s 240Hz sets use the scanning backlight version of 240Hz, which turns the backlight on and off very rapidly. Sony and Samsung use a different version of 240Hz, which interpolates three extra frames for every true frame. We doubt many viewers will be able to tell the difference, but we’ll wait till we can compare the two 240Hz methods.
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Originally posted at CES 2009
Continue reading about Toshiba enters LED race with high-end LCDs
Today LG announced a series of LCD TVs with wireless capability, where external components connect to a separate module that sends the signals over-the-air to the TV.
The LG LH85 series goes wire-free.
(Credit: CNET)
“Wireless” HDTV has been tried before but has never seemed to take off. The LH85 …
Originally posted at CES 2009
Continue reading about LG clips wires on high-end LCD lineup
The SV1XVT series offers twice as many Hz as last year.
(Credit: Vizio)
Vizio is known for breaking price barriers, so it should come as no surprise that the company’s 240Hz LCD TVs should be among the least expensive of their breed. We say “should” because at CES most …
Originally posted at CES 2009
At just $1999, the 55-inch XV551XVT hits a new low for LED-backlit LCD TV pricing.
(Credit: Vizio)
More often than not at the January Consumer Electronics Show, manufacturers refuse to divulge pricing information until closer to the product’s launch later in the year, usually citing vague competitive reasons. Not …
Originally posted at CES 2009
Continue reading about Vizio goes for LED price point jugular
Monday, LG announced the first TVs with built-in Netflix streaming, due to arrive in the U.S. this spring. The models will go by the generic name “Broadband HDTVs,” but we have a feeling they’ll be known as “Netflix TVs” soon enough. The plasmas and LCDs are equipped with Ethernet jacks that allow them to stream movies and TV shows from Netflix, including HD content when available.
Netflix currently offers online streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows, dubbed “Watch Instantly,” to its customers who pay $8.99 per month and up. But you need to connect an external device, like the Roku Netflix player, an Xbox 360, a TiVo DVR, a specially equipped Blu-ray player like the Samsung BD-P2550 or LG BD300, or even a PC, to enjoy it on your TV.
LG’s upcoming plasmas and LCDs will be the first TVs to stream Netflix directly.
(Credit: LG)
The LG TVs eliminate the need for an external device. They will cost around $300 more than similar LG models that lack the streaming capability–a pretty steep premium considering that you can get a Roku for $99 or an Xbox 360 for $199, but a premium typical of any technology “first.”
“It’s hugely symbolic,” said Netflix’s chief executive, Reed Hastings. “The holy grail has always been to give the TV an Internet jack in addition to the cable jack. It’s an early glimpse of the long-term future.” …
Originally posted at CES 2009
LG's upcoming plasmas and LCDs will be the first TVs to stream Netflix directly.
(Credit: LG)
Today, LG announced the first TVs with built-in Netflix streaming, due to arrive in the U.S. this spring. The models will go by the generic name “Broadband HDTVs,” but we have a feeling they’ll be known as “Netflix TVs” soon enough. The plasmas and LCDs are equipped with Ethernet jacks that allow them to stream movies and TV shows from Netflix, including HD content when available.
Netflix currently offers online streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows, dubbed “Watch Instantly,” to its customers who pay $8.99 per month and up. But you need to connect an external device, like the Roku Netflix player, an Xbox 360, a TiVo DVR, a specially-equipped Blu-ray player like the Samsung BD-P2550 or LG BD300, or even a PC, to enjoy it on your TV.
The LG TVs eliminate the need for an external device. They will cost around $300 more than similar LG models that lack the streaming capability–a pretty steep premium considering that you can get a Roku for $99 or an Xbox 360 for $199, but a premium typical of any technology “first.”
“It’s hugely symbolic,” said Netflix’s chief executive, Reed Hastings. “The holy grail has always been to give the TV an Internet jack in addition to the cable jack. It’s an early glimpse of the long-term future.” …