Plex announces partnership with LG, pledges to beat Boxee Box and Apple TV for free
We're excited about the Boxee Box, and the new-look Apple TV is intriguing, but no single box is as good as a box that doesn't exist yet does the same stuff. Confused? Sit down, let us explain. That's the point Plex is making in announcing its new partnership with LG, which will integrate Plex software into its 2011 Netcast HDTVs and Blu-ray players. Plex enables the same sort of functionality as those smart little boxes mentioned above, letting you serve content from a machine running OS X and push it to your TV or to a mobile device (iPhone and iPad right now, Android coming). Plex also supports all the major online streamers, like Netflix, Hulu, and even the BBC iPlayer. Lack of PC support is something of a bummer, but a Windows version is said to be coming, so even your beige box can soon get in on the box-free fun.
Continue reading Plex announces partnership with LG, pledges to beat Boxee Box and Apple TV for free
Plex announces partnership with LG, pledges to beat Boxee Box and Apple TV for free originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 07:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Toshiba goes all LED with new HDTVs at IFA 2010
Besides that Android tablet, Toshiba's brought a whole slew LED-lit LCD televisions to IFA 2010. The REGZA WL Series is the company's first range of 3DTVs, available in 40-, 46- and 55-inch sizes (pictured above) with LED backlighting, 7,000,000:1 contrast ratios, it 3D Resolution+ upscaling tech and one pair of active shutter glasses bundled with each one. They're also DLNA enabled and ready for Windows 7, with the Toshiba Media Controller software making streaming content as easy as dragging and dropping a file. The rest of the lineup includes the high end VL series with LED backlighting, midrange REGZA 42SL738 42-inch HDTV and edge-lit SL738 series LCDs in smaller sizes from 9- to 32-inches. Check the press site or YouTube trailers embedded after the break for more details, and don't be surprised to see the 200Hz motion technology, millimeter measurements, DVB-T tuners and BBC streaming while these are due in October across the pond, we'll be keeping an eye out at CEDIA for US-bound variants.
Continue reading Toshiba goes all LED with new HDTVs at IFA 2010
Toshiba goes all LED with new HDTVs at IFA 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Review: LG 42LD450 LCD TV
Televisions are overpriced. People spend thousands of dollars to buy the latest, fantastic TV with more features. For me it always comes down to picture quality and the price paid for it. This is where the LD450 beats all. Great picture, no features great features for a low price. I don’t particularly like LG as a brand since I’ve come across a dysfunctional DVD player some years ago. Because of the LD450 my opinion about LG has shifted.
You don’t get much in the box except a pretty good remote, a manual and of course the TV set with the stand. The design of the TV is pretty dull: a black slab of plastic around a big black LCD. There is however an indicator light in the lower right corner showing if the TV is on or off. This can be turned off, and that’s good. Buttons and connectors are all at the back and side; nothing can be seen from the front. There are two HDMI inputs in total and while that might not be enough for some, it’s enough for me. Sound is decent with the 2X10W of the hidden speakers. There is only one optical output for audio connectivity and that might be a problem for sound junkies.
Picture quality is superb even though this is a 50Hz set. Regular TV channels look good and HD is of course fantastic. The screen looks brighter than similar sized sets that cost $8-900. Setting up the picture is quite easy. I liked it as it was out of the box but if you want to set it for yourself there is a pretty straightforward wizard for that. There is an Eco mode to save the globe from certain doom which I instantly turned off because it dims the brightness of the screen. Input selection is done manually; unfortunately the set can’t see which input has a signal on it. The TV keeps waiting for the signal on the input that was used most recently. You can choose from several picture modes such as the 24p Real Cinema and you can set up your own picture settings and save them.
Another (the only) important feature is the USB input. You can plug in USB HDD or thumb drive and access pictures and music via the TV menu. Now if you are smart and get a simple universal remote you can enable video playback. Various formats are supported, including mkv. This means that all you need is an external HDD to watch HD movies on this set.
The LG42LD450 is a great LCD TV for an unbeatable price. It may lack some features but if you don’t like spending a lot of money and want to buy a new TV, this might be an option. With the added functionality to watch HD movies via USB this set becomes a fantastic deal that I can recommend to anyone.
SUMMARY
- Display Type LCD
- Screen Size 42″
- Screen Size Diagonal 42.0″
- Full HD 1080 Yes
- Native Display Resolution 1920 x 1080
- ED-Resolution 1080p
- Dynamic Contrast Ratio 100,000:1
- Response Time 4 ms
- No. of HDMI Ports 2
- Pictures and Music via USB 2.0 Yes
- Life Span (Typical) 60,000 hours
- Warranty 1 Year Parts & Labor
VIDEO
- XD® Engine Yes
- Aspect Ratio 16:9
- Aspect Ratio Correction 6 Modes
- Viewing Angle 178º / 178º
- Just Scan (1:1 Pixel Matching) HDMI™: 1080p/1080i/720p, Component: 1080p/1080i/720p, RF: 1080i/720p
- Color Temperature Control 3 Modes
- 1080p Source Input HDMI™: 60p/30p/24p, Component: 60p/30p/24p, RGB: 60p (WXGA)
- Picture Mode 7 Modes
- ISFccc® Ready Yes
- Picture Wizard II Yes
- AV Mode 3 Modes (Cinema, Sports, Game)
- 24p Real Cinema Yes (5:5/2:2 Pulldown)
- 3:2 Pulldown Yes
- Picture Reset Yes
- x.v. Color Yes
- DTV Signal Strength Indicator Yes
AUDIO
- Mono/Stereo/Dual (MTS/SAP) Yes
- Audio Output Power (Watts – THD 10%) 20W (10W x 2)
- Speaker System Details 2 Way 4 Speakers
- Dolby® Digital Decoder Yes
- Surround System Infinite Sound
- Bass/Treble/Balance Controls Yes
- Clear Voice II Yes
- Auto Volume Leveler II Yes
- EZ Sound Mode 5 Modes
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Smart Energy Saving Yes
- Backlight Control Yes
- A/V Input Navigation Yes
- Input Labeling Yes
- Quick View (Flashback) Yes
- Parental Control w/V-Chip Yes
- Key Lock Yes
- Closed Caption (CC) Yes
- SimpLink (HDMI CEC) Yes
CONVENIENCE FEATURES
- Language English/Spanish/French/Korean
- Auto Tuning/Programming Yes
- Channel Add/Delete Yes
- Favorite Channel Programming Yes
- Auto/Manual Clock Yes
- On/Off Timer Yes
- Sleep Timer Yes
- Auto Off/Auto Sleep (When no video is present) Yes
SIDE INPUTS & OUTPUTS
- AV In 1
- HDMI™/HDCP Input (1.3 w/Deep Color) 1
- USB 2.0 (Music/Photo) 1
- Headphone Out 1
REAR INPUTS & OUTPUTS
- RF In (Antenna/Cable) 1
- AV In 1
- Component Video In (Y, Pb, Pr) + Audio 1
- Digital Audio Out (Optical) 1
- HDMI™/HDCP Input (1.3 w/Deep Color) 1
- RGB In (D-Sub 15pin) – PC 1
- PC Audio Input 1
- RS-232c In (Control/Service) 1
CABINET/ACCESSORIES
- Cabinet Color Glossy Black
- Swivel Stand (degrees) +20º / -20º
- Remote Control Type 1 (Unified)
- VESA® Compliant (WxH) 200mm x 200mm
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
- Slim Wall Mount Not Included
BROADCASTING SYSTEM
- Built-In Tuner ATSC/NTSC/Clear QAM
POWER
- Voltage, Hz 100V ~ 240V, 50/60 Hz
- On Mode (Average) 180W
- Stand-by Mode <0.1W
SIZE & WEIGHT
- TV without stand (WxHxD) 40.2” x 25.0” x 3.0”
- TV with stand (WxHxD) 40.2” x 27.0” x 10.3”
- TV without stand weight 29.8 lbs
- TV with stand weight 33.3 lbs
- Shipping weight 41.7 lbs
See original here:
Review: LG 42LD450 LCD TV
Nanotech First Claimed By LG’s LEX8 LED TV [TVs]
It looks like nanotech-based screen technology is nearer than we thought—LG's claiming its upcoming LEX8 adds "NANO Lighting Technology" to its new top-end LED backlit TV model, the LG LEX8. More
LG to unveil LEX8 3DTV at IFA featuring ‘Nano LED’ backlighting
Now that LED backlighting has trickled down to nearly every HDTV lineup, it appears the big manufacturers will have to find new ways to differentiate their products, like LG's upcoming LEX8 television. Set to debut at IFA in Berlin before going on sale in Germany and Korea next month (no word on the US), LG claims that thanks to a 'thin film of miniscule dots positioned in front of a full array of LEDs' its Nano Lighting technology makes for a clearer, smoother picture, with the slimmest and narrowest outline of any LED TV, ever, at just .88cm thick with a 1.25cm bezel. Of course LG's NetCast widgets and Magic Motion remote are along for the ride as well, while we'll have to wait until the show opens later this week to get our eyes on this beauty, check after the break for a few more pictures.
Continue reading LG to unveil LEX8 3DTV at IFA featuring 'Nano LED' backlighting
LG to unveil LEX8 3DTV at IFA featuring 'Nano LED' backlighting originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Aug 2010 20:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Someone Convinced Samsung’s Newest Monitors That They’re HDTVs [Samsung]
Samsung's latest monitors appear to enjoy pretending they're HDTVs in their spare time. Labeled as the 30 and 90 series, they have 1920 x 1080 worth of pixels, built-in HDTV tuners, built-in speakers, and a 5,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. More
New Nanotech Display Has Pixels Eight Times Smaller Than iPhone 4’s [HDTV]
A research team at the University of Michigan has created a new even-higher-high-definition screen technology, using nano-sized manufacturing processes to reduce pixel size—and simplify the screen-making process. More
Mitsubishi debuts three full HD 3D televisions… coming to a sweet home theater near you
Mitsubishi Japan has announced three brand new, full HD tvs for your home theater-loving pleasure. Much like the Panasonics recently unleashed, all three boast the ability to record to their hard drives or Blu-ray. Spec-wise, they've got full HD, backlit LCDs, 1TB HDDs, a ten speaker Diatone system, USB and SD slots, and HDMI. The sets, which come in 40, 46, and 55-inches, also come with a pair of 3D glasses. They'll be available in Japan in October for roughly $3,500, $4,700 and $5,900, respectively.
Mitsubishi debuts three full HD 3D televisions... coming to a sweet home theater near you originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
VIZIO XVT HDTVs with LEDs, WiFi, apps & Bluetooth ready to ship
This year's iteration of VIZIO's top of the line XVT LCDs (at least until the XVT3D -- n
Dreaming About An Apple HDTV? Try These Alternatives Right Now
People clearly want Apple to make an HDTV. Read the comments in my Apple HDTV debunking post. There are lot of readers dreaming of the day when their whole entertainment ecosystem is made by Apple. Personally, that thought scares the hell out of me but I kind of get it. Assembling a working AV rack, complete with a DVR, DVD player, and a media streamer connected to network-attached storage is a lot of work and is something not everyone can do. People dream of an HDTV they can take home, hook up to their network and have instant access to apps, games, and TV content.
But you know what? Many of these dream features are already available in many TV models from multiple brands. We brainstormed a list of likely Apple HDTV features and then compared it against the features found on some of the most popular HDTVs and set-top boxes. You might be surprised at the results. VOD and Internet apps are alive and well on many HDTVs right now. The list after the jump is no where near comprehensive. Sony, for instance, has 20 current models capable of streaming internet video from a ton of sources, along with hooking up with social networks and accessing local network content. Here are your Apple HDTVs.
Of course there’s one thing that Apple can do better than almost everyone else: the user interface. Currently, the expensive and complex Window Media Center offers the best UI and feature set, with TiVo and Moxi running closely behind; although the Boxee Box might give all three true competition when it launches this fall.
But Apple knows how to make killer user experiences and that might be the company’s one inroad to the HDTV market. Chances are the upcoming iTV – or whatever it will be called — will use a similar interface, but one would think that the more expensive Apple HDTV would use a more robust system to justify the higher price.
What scares me, however, is that since Apple isn’t a fan of open systems, my vision of an Apple HDTV is an iMac-looking display with three ports on the back — coax for OTA HD, some sort of digital/analog audio output and some sort of interface for an Apple A/V switch for, you know, just in case you want to use older, non-Apple equipment through HDMI, component or composite. It would be a throwaway device that you would get rid of when you’re ready to move on to something else.
The beauty of today’s TV is that it can slowly die while maintaining its usefulness. If the tuner goes out, connect a cable box. If that cable box dies, get another one. If there’s a new Blu-ray player, it’s compatible no matter the brand. If Apple attempts to overthrow the TV industry, I can see these liberties dying in the first battle.
It’s easy to see how one would think an Apple HDTV would start a revolution because, well, the whole TV market is sort of stale. It’s boring and Apple fixes boring. But that’s TVs in general and it’s a slower market than Apple is used to. Consumers expect to use their HDTVs and AV equipment for years, if not a whole generation. There simply isn’t the same type of market churn like in computers and cell phones.
But I digress. I’ve already said my piece on the subject (now twice) and you can dream whatever you want — or you can stop dreaming and use one of the products currently on the market that offers nearly the same feature set as the fabled Apple HDTV.
Follow this link:
Dreaming About An Apple HDTV? Try These Alternatives Right Now