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Toshiba's first TV based on the Cell microprocessor made its debut at a Japanese trade show this week. The DVR-capable product will hit the shelves in Japan later this year and will make its U.S. debut sometime next year. Four years in the making, the Cell chip was developed by Toshiba, IBM, and Sony and is currently used in the PlayStation 3. It contains a single Power PC core and eight coprocessors. Using the set's three-terabyte hard drive, the DVR function can use two-thirds of its space to record 26 hours simultaneously from eight channels (the number available in Tokyo)....

Despite the recession and growing competition, DIRECTV has been remarkably effective in continuing to add subscribers. In its last financial statement, the satcaster said its net subscribers rose 74 percent in the second quarter, with a monthly churn rate of just 1.5 percent. At the end of the second quarter, DIRECTV reported that it had more than 18 million subscribers in total, a seven percent increase over last year's second quarter. Well, DIRECTV, enjoy it while you can. I predict that the nation's largest satcaster will start to experience a slowdown in subscriber growth -- and it will be largely...

While HDTVs have been popular Black Friday items in the past few years, GottaDeal.com expects that this holiday season will be the a significant one for HDTV purchases by the average consumer. Prices have dropped this year more than any previous year, and with the digital TV transition now complete, a large part of the general public is looking to get a new HDTV, either as a primary or secondary television, and this Black Friday should provide an large number of deals. With HDTVs, quality can vary greatly from the cheaper to the more expensive units. In many cases, the...

The HD GURU obtained Panasonic’s roadmap to large screen 3D HDTV. It includes 3D plasma HDTV displays and Blu-ray players planned to ship next year. In addition, Panasonic Japan, Twentieth Century Fox and Lightstorm Entertainment (James Cameron’s production company) announced today a partnership that will use the upcoming Fox 3D movie AVATAR as a vehicle to promote and launch 3D home video. (PDF Link to press release - http://hdguru.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/3dhd-release-avatar-promotion-8-21-2009-3.pdf ). Panasonic’s Executive Vice President Bob Perry provided the HD GURU with details about its 3D HDTVs and Blu-ray players. He revealed there will be “multiple 3D compatible plasma models” available...

Customers sue over unpermitted "termination fees" A class action lawsuit alleging that DirecTV imposes early "termination fees" of up to $480 on customers who cancel the service--often charging the customer's bank account or credit card directly without their permission--has been cleared to proceed by a California Superior Court judge. The complaint, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court in September 2008 by Los Angeles resident Kathy Grenier, claims that when Grenier cancelled her DirecTV contract due to a malfunctioning receiver, she was hit with a $240 termination fee, withdrawn directly from her checking account. Grenier's suit was later consolidated with another...

I have a "box" (gummint issue) and have yet to install it.I came across this a couple of months ago and now I'm wonderin' if it works as shown.

For years, broadcasters have told consumers seeking the best high-definition picture quality to use an antenna to receive signals over-the-air, instead of relying on a cable or satellite operator to deliver the programming. That's because many multichannel operators have recompressed, or “rate-shaped,” broadcasters' HD video to reduce the bandwidth needed to pass along the signal. For example, a cable operator might receive an 18 megabit-per-second HD stream at the headend and recompress it to 15 Mbps before passing it down the pipe. So, receiving the signal directly over-the-air would ensure that the viewer got exactly what the station transmitted. But...

WHDH Boston didn't expect to still be paying the electrical bills for two transmitters come late June 2009. Like many U.S. broadcasters, the Sunbeam Television station and NBC affiliate had already exceeded its original transmission budget when the government pushed back the turnoff date for analog signals from Feb. 17 to June 12. WHDH Engineering Director Jim Shultis looked forward to shutting down high-powered digital broadcasts on UHF Ch. 42 and launching digital signals on VHF Ch. 7, the station's former analog assignment. But as of last week, WHDH was still running transmitters for both Ch. 42 and Ch. 7....

Has your television reception survived the DTV transition not quite fully intact? Here are a few tips from the Federal Communications Commission, including one we haven't heard before. That's double rescan. According to an FCC News Release http://www.fcc.gov/con-adv-061509.pdf (PDF), channels that have changed frequencies may still leave their old frequencies lurking in your TV's channel memory. To get rid of them, perform double rescanning with these five easy steps: 1.Disconnect the antenna from the box or digital TV. 2.Re-scan the box or digital TV without the antenna connected. As with any scan follow the on-screen instructions or owner's manual for...

Is it time to throw out your HDTV and home theater equipment? Consumer eletronics makers sure hope so. The consortium of companies that help create the standard for high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) cables just announced a new specification, called HDMI 1.4, that could further reduce cable clutter. For the uninitiated, HDMI has quickly become the preferred method for transmitting video and audio from a set-top box to a television. Users need only one cable instead of two or more required of older analog TV sets. The new HDMI 1.4 cables, which should become available early next year, add an Ethernet...

Time-Warner Cable will no longer carry Mark Cuban's HD Net, which broadcast Ring of Honor, beginning on or around May 31 in the New York City area. There had been talk of the cable provider pulling the channel its lineup a few months ago, but those plans were temporarily but on the back burner as talks between Time Warner and HD Net progressed.

SECAUCUS, NJ -- 05/07/09 -- Panasonic, a leader in High Definition technology, announced today that the critically-acclaimed, 103-inch Plasma Full High Definition 1080p Display -- the world's largest Plasma commercially available -- will now be priced at $50,000. When it debuted in December 2006, the made-to-order HD Display was priced at $69,999.95. With widespread acclaim for its size and picture quality, Panasonic's 103-inch Plasma has become the industry's leading high-impact, large-format display for a wide range of commercial and home theater applications -- from digital signage and entertainment, to high-end home theater, command and control and higher education. Since its...

LG Korea Announces Their First Wireless Full HD LCD TV Behold LG's LH 80 Series LCD TVs (available in 42”, 47” and 55”) released this morning and available for purchase in Korea featuring LG's first Full HD wireless technology. As you may have already guessed, the LCD panel shows video wirelessly thanks to a newly developed “Media Box” that also includes the LCD TV tuner, HDMI HUB… and a USB port to access JPEG and DIVX video stored on a USB HDD or thumb key. If you happen to live in Korea and are interested in the 55” model, expect...

The lowly TV antenna is making a comeback, and bringing free TV along with it. Sales of over-the-air TV antennas jumped last year thanks to the digital TV transition, as users upgrade their gear for better reception. At the same time, some consumers looking to save money in today's economy are dumping cable and satellite pay TV services in favor of free broadcast television. Makers of antennas, as well as local broadcasters, hope to drive more viewers to free television by touting its merits. Besides being free, broadcast television offers the best high-definition picture quality, because it's uncompressed. Cable and...

There is a slow but steady encroachment on our privacy by government. It often comes with rational and admirable cover terms for a hidden agenda. A recent comment by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, during his conformation hearings, broached the subject of taxing car mileage based on GPS tracking. An immediate hue and cry went up from privacy organizations which saw it as an Orwellian intrusion. It was dropped like a hot potato by the White House. The EU is currently looking at another

The National Football League has reached a four-year contract extension with DirecTV to remain the TV home of the Sunday Ticket package through 2014. Announced Monday during the NFL owners meeting in Dana Point, Calif., the pay-per-view pact, according to sources familiar with the negotiations, is valued at about $1 billion annually from 2011-2014. DirecTV currently pays some $700 million annually on its Sunday Ticket contract that expires after the 2010 season. Both the NFL and DirecTV declined to discuss financial terms. However, the agreement opens the door to a wider reach for the out-of-home package, which will become available...

In spite of the worsening economy, U.S. sales of LCD televisions are already up 20% over January and February of last year (and up 50% in Europe), according to vice chairman and CEO of Samsung Electronics Lee Yoon-woo. The boost is thanks in part to lower prices, which means less revenue for electronics companies. But according to Scott Birnbaum, vice president of the LCD division at Samsung, consumers' renewed interest in LCD TVs also comes from a confluence of other factors: format, the film experience, and the way their PCs have changed their expectations of their TVs. "People are...

The DTV Countdown: Continuing Coverage of the DTV Transition. According to the Office of Management and Budget, the National Telecommunications & Information Administration now has access to funding to help unclog the DTV-to-analog converter box coupon program. "We apportioned these funds earlier this week; coupons will start being received next week," confirmed an OMB official. The $40 coupons, up to two per household, allow analog over-the-air TV's to display a digital signal. Over a third of TV stations have now gone all digital after more than 400 pulled the plug on the original DTV hard date of Feb. 17. The...

Movie Studios Offer Consumers Win-Win Way to go Blu-ray By Jim Bray February 14, 2009 It looks as if there may be an outbreak of consumer-friendly common sense coming from a couple of the big Hollywood studios. This particular anomaly is a way to help people transition to the Blu-ray format by marketing "combination" disc packages that include both DVD and BD versions, so those who don't yet have a Blu-ray player (which is most people) can watch their favorite titles on DVD now, with the BD version waiting patiently in the package for the day when they do eventually...

The FCC released its latest digital TV transition figures Monday and 421 stations will terminate their analog signals as of midnight Feb. 17. That's in addition to the 220 that have already cut their analog signals off or will today. All told, 641 stations -- 36% of the country -- will have made the switch by the original hard date, according to the FCC data. Congress moved the date to June 12 at the urging of the then Obama transition team. The president signed the measure into law last Wednesday. The FCC says it has sent staffers to the 72...

Washington, D.C. (February 8, 2009) -- Pioneer, the maker of high-end Plasma High-Definition TVs, told Reuters last week that it's considering leaving the TV business entirely. The company is projecting a loss of $848 million for the year ending March 31, which would be its fifth consecutive annual loss "There is a whole spectrum of possibilities with withdrawal on one end, in-house development and production on the other and sales of procured TVs somewhere in the middle," a Pioneer spokesman told the news service. Several other news reports, however, say Pioneer has decided to exit the TV business and bundle...

Commentary Hey, I Don't Want the DTV Switch Delayed! But the feds better push it back unless they want chaos on their hands. By Swanni Washington, D.C. (February 2, 2009) -- The U.S. House this week is expected to vote on a Senate bill that would delay the Digital TV transition from February 17 to June 12. By most accounts, the legislation will pass and will soon be signed into law by President Obama who supports a delay. And that's a damn good thing. I predicted more than a year ago that the federal government would delay the nation's switch...

MILWAUKEE - Watch an advertisement on a video screen in a mall, health club or grocery store and there's a slim — but growing — chance the ad is watching you too. Small cameras can now be embedded in the screen or hidden around it, tracking who looks at the screen and for how long. The makers of the tracking systems say the software can determine the viewer's gender, approximate age range and, in some cases, ethnicity — and can change the ads accordingly. That could mean razor ads for men, cosmetics ads for women and video-game ads for teens....

Washington, D.C. (January 28, 2009) -- Can't afford a new High-Definition TV? Well, steal one. If they catch you, you'll still be able to watch it in prison. At least in Massachusetts, that is. The Boston Herald reports that the Massachusetts Department of Corrections has purchased 117 new High-Definition TVs for inmates to watch this Sunday's Super Bowl. The sets, which include 32-inch LG sets and 26-inch Sharp LCDs, cost the state $76,958 at a time when Massachusetts is laying off workers and cutting social programs. The sets are being installed in the common areas of all state DOC prisons...

The House of Representatives yesterday rejected a measure that would have pushed the Digital TV deadline from Feb. 17 to June 12. The House voted 258-168 in favor of the delay, but the bill needed a two-thirds majority to pass under rules approved for its consideration; the legislation fell 26 votes short of the two-thirds majority. The defeat surprised many industry observers who thought the delay was assured when the Senate earlier in the week approved it by a voice vote. However, House Republicans opposed the delay, saying it would further confuse consumers. Despite yesterday's defeat, House Democratic leaders remained...

Washington, D.C. (January 27, 2009) -- The U.S. Senate last night voted to delay the nation's switch to Digital TV from Feb. 17 to June 12 and the House could do the same as early as today. On February 17, 2009, all full-powered local stations are scheduled to switch their analog signals to digital which means viewers will need a Digital TV, a digital converter box or a pay TV subscription to continuing watching television. But the Obama administration has urged Congress to delay the transition from analog to digital, saying that millions of people are not ready for the...

The Digital TV transition is now a total mess. Even if you don't think next month's transition date should be moved, you would be hard pressed to argue that things are going smoothly. President-elect Obama, numerous congressmen and two ex-FCC chairmen have called for a delay in the transition; the feds have run out of money for digital converter boxes; Nielsen says as many as 7 million homes are completely unprepared for the switch; and some studies indicate that million more will lose some TV signals because of weak antennas and other issues. But House Republicans and others pushing for...

President-elect Barack Obama this week has joined the growing chorus of people who have concluded that the nation is not ready for next month's Digital TV transition. In a letter to key lawmakers urging that the February 17 switch to digital be delayed, Obama's transition chief cited a litany of issues including the fact that federal funds for digital converter coupons have run out. While Obama's transition team is correct to point out that the digital transition could force millions of people to lose their TV signals, the President-elect is woefully late to address this problem. By calling for a...

I apologize if I'm doing this wrong. Be gentle.Received a new Sharp 46" 1080P HDTV for Christmas. Hooked it up to existing Analog Cable (Comcast) and ran the channel search feature to program it. Works well.Then while just jumping through the channels, after Channel 2 (Analog) It went to Channel 2.1 (Digital) Wow!!! I have HDTV and I have not paid to upgrade the cable service! But when I look at the cable guide, they do not list channel 2.1. They do, however, list channels up in the 700's whereas my TV cuts off somewhere around 130 or so.There seem...

Reporting from Sacramento -- That 52-inch, flat-screen television on the family room wall may have a terrific picture, but there's a big drawback: It's an energy hog. State regulators are getting ready to curb the growing power gluttony of TV sets by drafting the nation's first rules requiring retailers to sell only the most energy-efficient models, starting in 2011.

Washington, D.C. (January 4, 2009) -- Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will give the pre-show keynote address Wednesday night kicking off the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Although Ballmer will likely focus on new PC-based technologies, many attendees during the week will be watching for major developments impacting the High-Definition TV industry. In the last several years, high-def has dominated the annual gadget fest and this year is expected to be no different. (Thursday's keynote from Sony chief Howard Stringer should serve up more substance for the high-def enthusiast.) So, as you make your way to the City of...

Well, the New Year is here and I've already made nine predictions for High-Definition in 2009, including $99 Blu-ray players and an end to Internet TV services Vudu and Apple TV and retailer Circuit City.I also predicted that the Digital TV transition will create a ratings hardship for local TV stations with many viewers deciding not to participate in the switch due to its confusing nature.So, do I have any more predictions for 2009? Yes!My crystal ball is still clear as a bell. So let's start the year with 5 more fearless forecasts for HDTV.1. DIRECTV Cuts Back On Original...

Washington, D.C. (December 30, 2008) -- On July 31, 2008, Dish Network issued a press release saying it planned to expand its high-def lineup to 150 channels by year's end. On November 1, 2007, Verizon released a press statement saying it would have 150 HD channels by the end of 2008. And several times this year, DIRECTV issued press releases saying it would have the capacity to deliver up to 150 national HD channels before the year was over. So now that the year is over (minus about a day or so), did these top TV providers keep their promises?...

Some of you may have purchased new HDTV's over the Christmas break. Please share your questions and/or comments on your new HDTV. Note: Click here: an archieved HDTV thread "purchases over the Christmas holidays", posted on December 31, 2006, that may be of possible interest to some.

Washington, D.C. (December 17, 2008) -- On October 30, I reported here that Netflix was painfully slow in sending new Blu-ray releases to its customers. Time and time again, Netflix tagged new Blu-ray titles with the dreaded "Long Wait" or "Very Long Wait" label, meaning it could take weeks before the title is mailed to you. On November 20, I wrote an update saying that I had had enough. I was dropping Netflix and signing up with Blockbuster's online rental service. Considering that I paid $18 a month for my Netflix subscription, which allowed me to have three different discs...

Help. My old 27" CRT TV died and I'm in need of a replacement TV. Any suggestions for a good 32" LCD model that won't burn a hole in my pocket? I'm thinking about getting a VIZIO VO32L 32" TV, where Costco is selling for US$449 (and they have plenty in stock).

If you listened to studio executives, and some Wall Street and tech analysts, you would think that millions of Americans will soon don goggles and start watching 3-D HD movies at homes. Well, think again. 3-D technology is the latest buzz in the movie theater industry with studios releasing new movies such as the animated Aliens and Monsters (March release) in the format. In addition, the National Football League and the National Basketball Association are experimenting with displaying games in 3-D HD movie theaters in some markets. But while impressive in movie theaters, 3-D HD is not ready for primetime...

EW YORK (Reuters) - Time Warner Cable Inc will likely sell fewer than expected video, Internet and phone subscriptions this year, and expects a further decline next year due to the worsening U.S. economy, Chief Financial Officer Rob Marcus said on Monday. "In 2008, we're on track to deliver less than 2.5 million additional revenue-generating units," Marcus told the Reuters Media Summit in New York, adding that that was less than what the No. 2 U.S. cable company had originally anticipated. Revenue-generating unit, or RGU, is a cable industry term used for each video, Internet and phone subscription sold. Time...

Choosing & Installing an Antenna for HDTV TV antennas may seem like relics from the last century, but a growing number of viewers are finding them to be indispensable in getting the best picture from their HDTVs. In this article, we'll discuss the advantages of over-the-air (OTA) reception and explain how to find digital TV signals in your local TV market and in nearby cities. We'll introduce the different types of TV antennas and tell you which ones perform best under various reception conditions. And we'll offer tips on how to install larger attic- and roof-mount antennas. To learn about...

High-Definition TVs are now in more than 30 million U.S. homes and that number continues to rise. This makes the high-def audience a prime target for HD-related companies. And when businesses are in highly competitive category, such as high-def, they will tend to be more aggressive in marketing campaigns designed to win over that audience. In order words, they are more likely to lie. And I do mean lie, as in avoiding the truth at all costs. Over the last few years, I have been consistently amazed at how companies will say almost anything to appear to offer the best...

DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg says the growing popularity of 3-D movies in movie theaters will not spread to U.S. homes anytime soon. The reason: Millions of consumers now own flat-screen TVs, which are not 3-D capable, and will be unlikely to invest in new 3-D sets in the coming years. “It’s not a technology problem,” says Katzenberg. “But, who wants to spend another $1,500 when they just paid that for their new TVs? For 3D to be wildly available in homes is quite a ways away.” Katzenberg offered his forecast at yesterday's 3D Entertainment Summit conference in Los Angeles, according...

Black Friday is widely known for low prices on everything from electronics to toys and kitchenware but if you ask the average consumer what they will be purchasing on this, the day of massive sales; they're likely to respond, "HDTV!" For low and mid-range HDTVs there's no time like Friday to buy and this year the prices are reaching record lows even without the help of rebates. In fact, USA Today took a look at HDTV sales this holiday season and found that most retailers will be selling them, "at near cost." on Black Friday. Additionally, due to an oversupply...

For the shoppers who set out on Black Friday to find a new television, there are plenty of fancy models to choose from. But for those concerned about the energy-sucking behemoths, there are now steps to make the TV-watching experience a little greener.Currently, there are 275 million TVs in the U.S. consuming about 50 billion kilowatt hours of energy each year. And TV energy use surely will grow as the devices grow in number, size and functionality: an HD movie or videogame on a 52-inch widescreen TV uses a lot more energy than a standard definition picture on a 27-inch...

a weakening economy this holiday season, there are signs that many of the discounts will stick around through the end of the year. That means shoppers seeking a TV could have several extra weeks of lower-than-usual prices to find the right deal. The Black Friday discounts will be even heftier, according to estimates. A 32-inch LCD TV will be discounted 54% to an estimated $399 in limited quantities on Black Friday from an average $875 in October, according to iSuppli. If those prices don't spur sales over Thanksgiving weekend, Ms. Patel says, many of the discounts will continue in December....

This Friday (Nov. 28), shoppers across America will pour into retail stores looking for 'Black Friday' bargains on everything from appliances to apparel. But here at TVPredictions.com, we focus on High-Definition TV so we have compiled the Ultimate 'Black Friday' Guide for high-def sets and products. This guide has everything from tips on how to get the best deals to news reports on what several specific retailers are planning to offer on the big day. Before we begin, a little background in case you're not familiar with the Black Friday tradition:Retailers traditionally offer deep discounts on the day after Thanksgiving...

For the second straight time, a FCC-sponsored NASCAR auto, designed to promote next year's Digital TV transition, has been involved in an accident. But FCC Chairman Kevin Martin says that's a good thing. "Except for the cars that win the races, the cars that are in wrecks get a lot of attention," Martin told reporters Monday, according to Reuters. Martin and the FCC have been under fire for spending $350,000 to sponsor the car which promotes a web site (DTV.gov) notifying Americans about the digital transition which takes place on February 17, 2009. The Wall Street Journal reports that watchdog...

Laser illuminated HDTV has arrived, in the form of a 10” deep 65” display. It represents Mitsubishi’s effort to capture the top rung of home theater enthusiasts. For $7000 retail price, the L65-A90’s will treat you to a level of performance that exceeds any display I have tested to date in terms color gamut, brightness and low power consumption. In addition, its black levels were as deep as the darkest display previously reviewed. Complimenting the TV’s black level is its ability to resolve dark detail and not bury it (into black) as some other displays do. Overall the L65A90 rates...

Philips unveiled a killer new 3D HDTV at the 3D Biz Ex event in Hollywood earlier this week, with a hefty price tag to boot. The 56″ Quad Full (3840×2160 resolution), autostereoscopic 3D HD TV does not require special glasses to be viewed and has a 160 degree viewing angle. Put simply, autostereoscopic displays work by projecting a different image into each eye, though there are a range of technologies which can be employed to achieve this effect. The Philips TV boasts 46 simultaneous views, seen depending on the angle the viewer is watching from. The 8.29 megapixel monster will...

It has not been a good year in the courts for Echostar / Dish Network. Today thanks for the folks at the Electronic Freedom Foundation (EFF) a court has blocked a request from Echostar to subpoena the records containing the name, address, email address and purchase details of everyone who has ever purchased a Coolsat Brand Free To Air Satellite Receiver. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Last month, EFF filed an amicus brief in Echostar v. Freetech, where Echostar sought the identities of every consumer who purchased a Freetech "CoolSat" free-to-air (FTA) satellite receiver during the past five years. EFF argued that this demand,...

Washington, D.C. (September 19, 2008) -- How would you like a Blu-ray player for $149 or a $499 Plasma HDTV? Those are just a few of the deals you'll likely see at retail stores on Black Friday, according to the site, DealNews.com. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, marks the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. Retailers traditionally slash prices on that day to give the season a strong push-off. Last year, for instance, big-screen HDTVs were available for well under $1,000 at some stores while HD DVD players were slashed to $99. DealNews.com predicts that Blu-ray players will...