OK, so unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years, you’ve heard of the iPod.  If you haven’t, shame on you for being asleep and letting time pass you by.

And now with the release of the newest version of the iPod Nano and the new iPod Touch, not to mention the iPhone, we’ve all got several choices when it comes to watching video on our iPods.

You may be saying to yourself, “Why in the world would I want to watch video on that little, itty, bitty screen?  My eyesight is bad enough!”  Trust me, once you’ve watched some video on these screens, you’ll be hooked.  There’s nothing more convenient while you’re sitting at a restaurant waiting for a table than to whip out your iPod and catch up on the latest episode of your favorite TV show that you purchased in iTunes.

Read the full story

For people looking to step up to full 1080p resolution in a 40-inch flat-panel LCD, Samsung’s 2007 model LNT4061F is a good choice. Besides offering full 1080p resolution the LNT4061F also features a 10,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for rich blacks and subltle texture display, an 8ms response time panel for smooth motion, hidden side speakers, an NTSC tuner, and 3 HDMI ports.

Compared to other Samsung Models
The primary differences between Samsung’s LNT4061F and the LNT4065F LCD HDTV is in the contrast ratio and video processing power. The pricier LNT4065F offers a 15,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio compared to this model’s 10,000:1 ratio, and also offers full 10bit video processing over this model’s 8 bit system. The more expensive model should display finer gradients of shading making for more detail in darker scenes. The video processing difference should ensure smoother motion in fast moving scenes for the LNT4065F.

Video Processing
The Samsung Digital Natural Image engine (DNIe) Video Enhancer refines all analog NTSC and wideband video inputs for an overall improvement in picture quality. DNIe improves contrast, white level, picture detail and incorporates digital noise reduction to improve lower quality video inputs. The 3D Y/C digital comb filter constantly analyzes the three dimensions of picture height, picture width, and picture changes-over-time to dramatically reduce edge image artifacts while improving transition detail.

Connections

• HDMI (version 1.3): 3 (1 CEC cabaple)
• Component video: 2 (Y, Pb, Pr)
• S-Video input: 1 side/1 rear
• A/V inputs: 1 side/1 rear
• PC inout: 1
• Headphone Jack: 1
• USB 2.0: 1

Audio Features
High-quality virtual surround sound can be experienced with just the speakers built into the TV. SRS TruSurround XT technology delivers an amazing, simulated 3D effect with clear dialog and powerful bass through hidden side speakers. TruSurround XT audio adds three audio enhancement technologies to produce an amazingly immersive sound experience.

• Dialog Clarity brings movie dialog into Focus during the playback of any surround-encoded material to make speech much clearer and crisper.
• TruBass creates incredible deep rich bass allowing a person to perceive significantly deeper, richer low bass tones that are far beyond the physical low frequency capabilities of the speaker itself.
• The SRS WOW feature widens the soundstage by processing standard two-channel stereo material as well as multi-channel encoded material for a dramatic improvement in the playback of any stereo audio over a two-speaker system.

What’s in the box: Samsung LNT4061F 40-inch 1080P LCD TV, remote control, 2 AAA batteries, Power Cord, cleaning cloth, owners manual, warranty card.

Lasers.  You’ve heard about them for years, mostly in science fiction movies and books as the be-all, end-all of weaponry.  Laser pistol or rifles (yeah, I’m showing my geeky side here real bad) seem to have an unlimited supply of ammunition, wreaking havoc on whatever evil baddie happens to be on the receiving end of a red blaster shot from the hero of the story.

And they look really cool on film, even though you have to have a fairly powerful laser beam to even see it.  Still, I suspend my disbelief with every sci-fi flick I head out to see, waiting to see which big laser gun is going to be used this time to blow up random objects.

Lasers are awesome.  Dr. Evil likes them, and that’s good enough for me.

But can you imagine having lasers in your HDTV?  Wouldn’t they cut through the glass in the display or something?  Or worse yet, tear a hole in your girlfriend’s arm while you’re sitting on your couch making out?

Apparently not, otherwise Mitsubishi wouldn’t be getting ready to demo a large-screen laser TV at CES next January.  Lasers will be able to display 90% of the color range that our eyes can detect, compared to the 35%-40% available now from plasma and LCD displays.

Lasers should produce extremely high color saturation, according to Chris Chinnock of Insight Media. 

The lasers produce extremely saturated colors - the red is very red.

I’m excited to see any new technology that can help improve on the HDTV experience.  If we can achieve better color saturation, let’s go for it.  If lasers an promise thinner rear-projection HDTVs (because we all love thin), by all means, let’s see what happens.

People tend to forget that HDTVs have only been around for about 10 years.  We’re still very much in the infancy of this technology and the best display technology may yet to be discovered.

I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Read [NY Times] via [TV Predictions]

Offering an unparalleled sleek design and one of the best 720p LCD panels available, Samsung’s 2007 model LNT3253H 32-inch flat-panel LCD HDTV is an updated successor the super popular 2006 model LNS3251D. Compared to the previous year’s model this one offers an updated cosmetic design, a better contrast ratio at 8000:1, hidden speakers, side A/V inputs, and 2 HDMI connections.

The Samsung Digital Natural Image engine (DNIe) Video Enhancer refines all analog NTSC and wideband video inputs for an overall improvement in picture quality. DNIe improves contrast, white level, picture detail and incorporates digital noise reduction to improve lower quality video inputs. The 3D Y/C digital comb filter constantly analyzes the three dimensions of picture height, picture width, and picture changes-over-time to dramatically reduce edge image artifacts while improving transition detail.

High-quality virtual surround sound can be experienced with just the speakers built into the TV. SRS TruSurround XT technology delivers an amazing, simulated 3D effect with clear dialog and powerful bass through hidden side speakers. TruSurround XT audio adds three audio enhancement technologies to produce an amazingly immersive sound experience.

• Dialog Clarity brings movie dialog into Focus during the playback of any surround-encoded material to make speech much clearer and crisper.
• TruBass creates incredible deep rich bass allowing a person to perceive significantly deeper, richer low bass tones that are far beyond the physical low frequency capabilities of the speaker itself.
• The SRS WOW feature widens the soundstage by processing standard two-channel stereo material as well as multi-channel encoded material for a dramatic improvement in the playback of any stereo audio over a two-speaker system.

OK, I’m more than a little bit excited to tell everyone about something new I’ve come up with for all of the members of The HDTV Experience.  (What? You’re not a member? No problem!  It’s free and easy, just head over to our sign-up page and fill out the short form and you’re in!)

Each and every month, starting in July, I’ll be giving away a free HD DVD or Blu-ray disc to one lucky member of the site. For the month of July, you’ll have the chance to receive one of the great action movies of recent history.  The member movie of the month is The Bourne Identity on HD DVD.

It’s just a little way of saying "thanks" to everyone that stops by this site on a regular basis for news and deals on HDTVs and all HDTV related goodness.

I know I haven’t really done a ton of news about high-definition discs up to this point, but all that is going to change.  And I’ll be doing some reviews of accessories for your HDTV, and giving you the tips on what types of cables you need to get the most out of your HDTV experience.

So, if you’re not signed up as a member already, make sure you sign up before the end of July (I know, it’s still June as I’m posting this, thought I’d get an early start), because after that, you can’t get The Bourne Identity on HD DVD for free!

The battle continues for which high-definition disc will be sitting near your HDTV, but the game may have changed a little bit this week. We’ve been waiting for some big players to start choosing sides, and it seems like someone has stepped up to the plate.

Blockbuster announced that 18% of its retail outlets will expand their offerings to include Blu-ray titles only. For Blockbuster, it’s a matter of shelf space. Working in retail for as long as I have, I understand their dilemma. In an online store, like Amazon.com or even Blockbuster’s online offerings, you don’t have to worry about shelf space. You can keep as many DVD, HD DVD, or Blu-ray titles as you want and not have to expand your store space. Items are kept in a large warehouse with sophisticated sorting systems, allowing customers to choose from the movie titles they want.

Not so in a retail store, especially a video rental store. Blockbuster and others have to keep popular titles on the shelf, since many guarantee new titles to be in stock or you receive a free rental. Here’s the thinking for Blockbuster: How many coupons for free rentals are we going to have to hand out if we put a bunch of HD discs on our displays?

And since neither format has shown a commanding lead in consumer loyalty to this point, Blockbuster basically has to consider using space for two new formats. And what about movies that are released on both HD DVD and Blu-ray? Even more floor space. At some point, you have to draw the line.

Blockbuster has and they have chosen Blu-ray, for the time being. I don’t know what metrics they used to make their decision, but the decision has been made.

HD DVD fans and backers should definitely be worried. This may be the first of many blows in the high-definiton format war and I’m sure it is going to get ugly.

May the best disc win.

Read

Have you ever wanted one of those cool boxes that lets you lower and raise your big glorious plasma TV up and down, hiding the beauty of your HDTV until you are ready to be overwhelmed with wonderful high definition goodness?

I have.

But those display units are fairly pricey, unless you’re the type that likes to build everything yourself.  And you know who I’m talking to.

Thankfully for the rest of us, the Plasmariser can hide and reveal your display whenever you like, even at the sound of your voice.  Never mind telling your dog to sit, now you can tell your HDTV to sit.

Internal speakers, LED illumination and a weatherproof transportation cover are all in the package, making for a great way to hide your plasma away whenever you like. 

I wonder if it will move fast enough to miss a flying Wii remote if you lose your grip while playing Wii Games…

Samsung, my personal favorite pick for HDTV goodness, is saying that LCD HDTVs will continue their downward price trend for the forseeable future.  With prices dropping below $900 for 32-inch sets, my only question is this, "How much further will the prices drop?"

Are we getting ready to see HDTV pricing on par with the old dinosaur CRT model TVs?  Wouldn’t that be fantastic?

How’d you like to pony up only $300 and bring homea 32-inch LCD HDTV?

I’d buy another for that price.

I need one for my bathroom.  Or maybe next to my computer so I can watch TV and blog at the same time.

You could put one on every wall of your house at that price.

I wouldn’t hold my breath for too long.  I don’t think those prices are going to happen any time within the next 6 months, but sometime in the next 2 years. 

I’m very confident that when the analog TV signal dies in February of 2009, prices for all varieties of HDTVs are going to plummet.  Folks will be screaming to get a new TV rather than pay for a converter box to be able to use their old analog set on a digital signal.

Very exciting times for us HD folks.  Hop on the bandwagon if you haven’t already.  HD sure is a beautiful sight to behold once you have it.

  James Bond fans unite!  MGM is planning to launch a stand-alond HD channel “by the end of the year” featuring un-cut and uncensored films from their library.  And that’s about 4,100 films - 1,200 of which have already been converted to high definition.

Some of the titles you might see are ‘Hannibal’, ‘Robocop’, ‘The Usual Suspects’ (one of my personal favorites!), and of course the entire James Bond franchise.  MGM also owns the rights to the ‘United Artists’ library and a majority of ‘Orion Pictures’ film and TV library.

One of my favorite HD channels is Universal HD, featuring movies and shows owned by Universal.  You get an incredible variety of viewing with channels fueled by movie studios, so I’m eagerly anticipating MGM’s move into this field.

Technorati Tags: mgm, hdtv, james bond, usual suspects

There are movies about cars.  Movies about car chases. Movies about car chases involving police.  Movies about police chasing cars through multiple states to catch a ruthless criminal bent on destruction.

And then there’s The Bandit.

And now, coming in May, The Bandit comes east bound and down to a HD DVD player near you.  I’m more pumped about this release than any I can think of to date.  Now I might be able to convince my future father-in-law to get a HDTV from the HD Experience HDTV Store so we can watch the The Bandit. 

What a great flick.  Jackie Gleason at his finest, along with Burt Reynolds at his cockiest.  And Sally Field.  Yeah, Sally Field.

I can’t wait.