Welcome to the next of our Pocket-lint perfect Christmas gift guide installments. So you've bought presents for the Apple fanboy/girl in your life, the photographer, laptop addicts, the console gamer and PC gamer. Now is the turn for your favourite couch potato. Here are 10 perfect gifts for AV lovers everywhere.

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Philips BDP 3000 Blu-ray player

It's all very well having an HDTV but if you're still watching DVDs on it, you're living in the Dark Ages. Fortunately, quality AV supplier Philips has come up with a budget Blu-ray player this year for under ?100 that'll save you having to plumb the murky depths of unknown brands. The BDP3000 measures a standard 435 x 58 x 308mm, boasts "ultra low" 0.5W standby power, 1080p 24fps Full HD images, while also upscaling existing DVDs to near 1080p HD quality. It also offers Dolby TrueHD 7.1 surround sound decoding, x.v.Colour tech and DivX, MP3 and Jpeg support too. All that and it's still a fully fledged BD-Live capable, Profile 2.0 machine. An utter bargain.

Film & TV on Blu-ray

There's buckets of Blu-rays out there but our advice to you would be to make sure you buy films with footage that was recorded in HD rather than SD recordings that have been remastered. Some have been done very well but it's no substitute for something that was shot with high resolution in mind.

Action and sci-fi are usually the best genres to go for to get the most out of the experience and the pick of the recent crop would have to be - Watchmen, Star Trek XI, Batman: Dark Knight, Iron Man, on the TV front the two BBC nature series Planet Earth and Life will look fantastic otherwise the first season of Mad Men or Torchwood would both make a pretty good watch too. If you can wait 'till just after Christmas, then both District 9 and Hurt Locker would be excellent choices too.

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Sharp HTSB200 2.1 Soundbar

We're not going to tell you that this is the world's most electrifying piece of home cinema kit, because it isn't. But the Sharp HTSB200 is a damn site better than whatever speakers you've got tucked away inside those shallow cabinets of your flat screen TV. What's more, it cost a smidge over ?100 and so it just about qualifies as something you might buy as a gift.

It's a no frills device and like many of these units, it's missing a little something at the bottom end but it still offers 2.1 surround and you're giftee isn't going to need an AVR to plug it into either. It works straight off a headphones jack on a normal TV. For anyone with no external speakers at all, they'll absolutely fall on it at Christmas.

HDMI cables

It's only marginally less boring than it sounds but the fact remains that you rarely have too many of these things. You can go with some expensive gold plated version if you like but the sensible move would be to go for one of the Amazon Basics HDMI cables that come in at ?12 or less and see them as a stocking filler instead. As a main present, no one will be impressed, as an additional, you'll receive much love and front row seats at the next home cinema screening.

Logitech Harmony 700

Universal remotes are an excellent way of keeping AV faff down to a minimum, so long as they're themselves not too complicated to work. Logitech has a good track record in making the devices and the Harmony 700 is one of their more simplified models offering features like "one-click control".

Rather than turning your TV to the AV channel, changing your amp over to movie mode, and turning on your DVD player, one button press of "Watch a DVD" can batch-control everything. It also means that there's only one item to worry about losing. Like most good AV accessories, it comes in at just over ?100, so perhaps go for the BD films option instead if you don't love your giftee quite that much.

WD TV Live HD media streamer

There's quite a few media streamers out there including the Xbox and PS3, if you happen to own one, but otherwise, the Western Digital Live HD device is pretty much the best around. This gadget makes it easy to play HD videos stored on USB and network drives, from PCs and Macs, as well as stream content from websites onto big screen HDTVs.

It boasts a more responsive interface than the previous award winning model, it's now Ethernet and Wi-Fi-enabled and it also comes complete with remote control, internet radio, two USB ports, one HDMI port and SPDIF digital output. Once again, it's around the ?100 mark, but trust us, it's a winner.

HDTV Subscription (Sky/Freesat)

The gift of Sky can be a wonderful thing. It's about nothing else other than the fact that the satellite service provider has more HD channels than any other service in the UK at the moment. Prices start from ?17 per month and include a free Sky box, but seeing as that works out as a fair whack, the other option is to go with Freesat instead.

Freesat has just two HD channels as opposed to Sky's very healthy stock of sports and movies, but there is no subscription fee. All you'll need is a decoder box, a dish and someone to install it. Sounds complicated but it's actually a lot easier and cheaper than you think.

Lovefilm Subscription

An alternative way to go from Sky, Freesat and buying Blu-rays is to set your loved one up with a subscription to Lovefilm where they can choose whatever movie rentals they like throughout the year. While packages start at ?3.99 per month, gift subscriptions cost from ?16, which means that Lovefilm will mail out one disc at a time twice per month or, if you're happy to spend a little more, there are unlimited deals to be had as well. New releases can be a little harder to get hold of due to lots of requests for them but it's a good service nonetheless.

Slanket

We'll admit it, we put the Slanket in our 10 perfect gifts for console gamers list too, but a couch potato is a couch potato regardless of their choice of weapon. What's more, the fact remains that the Slanket. is really good.

The fleecy half dressing gown, half blanket bundle of goodness gives you total body coverage while allowing easy access to your remote controls and bio-fuels. There's even a double version out specially for this Christmas but the single will probably do.

Drinks & Snacks

A home cinema just isn't a home cinema without a few tasty treats to go with it. It all rather depends on what your loved one prefers, but popcorn would be a good one to go for. Either grab the Princess Deluxe Popcorn Maker and a bag of kernels to go with it or just order a load of Butterkist online. If sweets are a better idea, then check out Cybercandy for a selection of the world's treats or the Retro Tuck Shop for some fizzy cola bottles and other old school penny action.

On the drink side of things, both Virgin and Laithwaites run a good wine of the month club that you could sign your giftee up to and if they prefer beer, then the Beer Club of Great Britain or the Camra Beer Club are the places to look.

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Related links:

• Feature - 101 life-saving Christmas shopping websites

Tags: Home Cinema Freesat Christmas Features Sky HDTV Remote controls Blu-ray Blu-ray players Televisions Western Digital HDMI

10 perfect Christmas presents for... AV lovers originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:25:26 +0000

You probably don't use the picture in picture feature much on your television, but what if you could watch up to 64 channels at once on your television at home?

If 64 isn't enough, what about four times that much? (You would need four TVs, of course.) That's what one company has done here in an attempt to show off the fact that it can optimize its servers to work with multiple streams. ?

How is it working? If you really must know, it's 64 HD VLC media windows tiled to run at once per television rather than on live TV (your bandwidth probably wouldn't cope). The bad news is that you aren't really likely to see this in your home any time soon. Still, it made us do a double take when we walked past it at the web 2.0 expo in New York.

Tags: Home Cinema Televisions

Picture in Picture TV goes into overdrive, 64 picture overdrive originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:45:58 +0000

Need another televisual tech phrase to add to the mix? Sure you do, and today's word comes from Philips with its new 9704 TV range that offers "LED Pro" technology.

Clearly better than just TVs marketed as LED sets, the "Pro" 9704 range offers "sensational black levels, brilliant whites and an incredible contrast level of 5,000,000:1 – while consuming up to 50% less power than conventional LCD TVs".

The LED Pro bits come in with the 224 LED segments, each of which can be independently dimmed or brightened - or even turned off completely - greatly improving contrast.
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A few more proprietary phrases to throw at you now, and there's also "Perfect Pixel HD engine", "200Hz Clear LCD technology", "Perfect Natural Motion system", "Perfect Colour" and "Colour Booster technology", all of which are said to add up to a fab viewing experience.

The TV also offers "Ambilight Spectra 3", another Philips tech, that projects lights from both sides and the top edge of the TV on to the rear wall for what's claimed to be a more immersive viewing experience.

Other features include a 1ms response time, 2x15W output into four speakers and DNLA-certified Wi-Fi for Philips' "NetTV" that means you can access t'intenet through telly and five HDMI 1.3a EasyLink sockets.

All of the above will cost you ?1799 for the 40-inch 40PFL9704 and ?2499 for the 46-inch 46PFL9704, both due on sale in December.

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Tags: Home Cinema Philips LCD televisions Televisions LED televisions

Philips announces 9704 range of "LED Pro" televisions originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:01:32 +0000

It's the home of the big screen, but it seems California doesn't want people to take that big screen experience into their homes with a new bill that bans power-hungry televisions.

In a bill passed on Wednesday, the California Energy Commission has voted to adopt an energy efficiency standard for televisions that forces manufacturers to abandon non green-performing televisions.?

"When these standards are implemented in 2011, new TVs sold in California will be the most energy efficient in the nation. After ten years, the commission estimates the regulations will save $8.1 billion in energy costs and save enough energy to power 864,000 single-family homes", the commission said in a statement.

According to the California Energy Commission, the new technology neutral standards mandate states that new televisions sold in California should consume 33% less electricity by 2011 and 49% less electricity by 2013.

The standards affect only those TVs with a screen size 58 inches or smaller. For example, a 42-inch screen would consume 183 watts or less by 2011 and 115 watts or less by 2013.

Pacific Gas & Electric estimates that over a decade the standards will reduce CO2 emissions by 3 million metric tons.

However, consumer electronics groups are worried that the move will force them to be less adventurous in the models they create.

"CEA is extremely disappointed in the CEC’s decision to regulate TV energy use. Simply put, this is bad policy—dangerous for the California economy, dangerous for technology innovation and dangerous for consumer freedom", said Jason Oxman, CEA’s senior vice president of Industry Affairs at the Consumer Electronics Association. "Instead of allowing customers to choose the products they want, the Commission has decided to impose arbitrary standards that will hamper innovation and limit consumer choice. It will result in higher prices for consumers, job losses for Californians, and lost tax revenue for the state".

The Energy Commission claims however, that "More than 1000 TV models on the market today already meet the 2011 standards and cost no more than less-efficient sets".

The regulations do not affect existing televisions that consumers already own or the TVs currently on retail store shelves, the commission has said.

California buys around 10% of all televisions in the US suggesting that manufacturers, rather than creating different models for the state, will simply adopt the new energy standards throughout the States.

The CEA, who hold the annual CES technology convention each year in Las Vegas, has said it will “continue to pursue legislative and legal solutions to ensure that California citizens will not suffer the consequences of this misguided policy".

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Tags: Home Cinema Televisions CES2010

Want a big TV? Don't move to California originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:10:48 +0000

If you've ever been on a long journey with kids in the back of the car you'll know that after a while your kids will get restless and that means your journey quickly descends into a nightmare.?Qualcomm, the company behind most of the chipsets in smartphones around the world, believe it has the answer with the?FLO TV, a spin off from the technology it's already dabbled with in mobile phones from companies like LG and HTC.

The concept is that you get a small portable dedicated device for watching television on without having to plug-in aerials (it's a mobile signal that is transmitted digitally over UHF channel 55), worrying about tuning-in stations or not having anything stored to watch.

The Flo TV device sports a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen display, a built-in speaker, 3.5mm headphone jack, and flip-out stand so you can perch it on your desk.?Made by HTC, the design of the device is fairly simple. Buttons are kept to a minimum (volume, mute, EPG and battery status) with the main control coming in the guise of that touchscreen display.

The quickest way to access stations to watch is either via the EPG (electronic programme guide) or simply by flicking your finger from top to bottom or bottom to top of the screen. Doing so loads up the next channel for you to watch with the system letting you see what is on (via an EPG message) so you can keep scrolling if you don't fancy the station.

Each programme, just like the EPG on your cable box at home, has information about it and the channels available include full-length simulcast and time-shifted programming from Adult Swim Mobile, CBS Mobile, CNBC, Comedy Central, FOX News Channel, MSNBC, MTV, NBC 2Go and Nickelodeon. ?

The stations aren't actually exact copies of the actual stations, a legal wrangle thing we're told, and certain stations aren't running all the time (Adult Swim only comes on from 10pm till 6am for example).

That's the theory and in practice the device quickly lets you watch television on the go, lets you switch through channels easily and lets you quickly shut the kids up with Nickelodeon in the back of the car. The in-built speaker is surprisingly good, if not a little tinny, and will fill a room allowing you to treat this as a radio in your hotel room (there aren't actually any radio stations available).

However, it's not all high fives. The quality isn't as good as we would have liked with the screen resolution somewhat lacking.?Then there is the inability to record any programmes, meaning that while you've got used to your PVR and time shifting television in your home you won't be able to do that on the road.

You can set reminders in the EPG, however you've got to have the device on to let it remind you.?We are sure it's a legal thing stopping the recording aspect rather than?Qualcomm?making that decision, but we can't say we wouldn't have wanted this feature.

The final grumble is that while the channel selection is okay it's not amazing, especially considering the Flo TV comes with up to $14.99 monthly subscription on top of the $250 purchase price (you do get the first 6 months free).

The 12 or so channels are a start (Qualcomm promises there will be up to 20 in the future) but for a device aimed at keeping the kids quiet in the back of the car we would have expected more content aimed at children. Nickelodeon is good, but where is Nick Jr, PBS Kids, and all the other crazy channels allowing you to get your fix of Wonder Pets every waking minute of the day?

As for the battery life we managed to get around 5 hours without changing channels too much, pretty much what Qualcomm claims.

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Verdict:

Remember that scene in Wall Street where Michael Douglas is watching TV on a small black and white portable? Well that's what this will enable you to do, but in colour and without the big aerial.

If that's what you want to do, then the Flo TV will be right up your street. Everyone we showed, that wasn't a technology journalist, was impressed. However most did comment on the lack of quality on the 320 x 240 resolution screen.

From a hardware perspective it works, and works well. However while the technology looks and sounds promising, the execution for us isn't there just yet.

A bigger screen, better resolution and more channels are all on our wish list for version 2. For now, take this as a first attempt that could easily be bettered with more content and a higher resolution.

Tags: Home Cinema Qualcomm FLO TV Televisions

Flo TV portable television originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

The countdown to?CES 2010, the biggest electronics trade show on the planet, has begun, but what can we expect from the show, and what should we start to get excited about? Here are six areas that are going to dominate the news come January.

Don't forget, Pocket-lint will be bringing you all the news, reviews, comment, photos and video as it happens in the run up to CES and live from Las Vegas for the duration of the show.

You can bookmark our CES coverage at pocket-lint.com/CES2010

Digital Living

Technology has gone mainstream supposedly, so that means the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center will be filled with technology launches that embrace all of us rather than just a select few. In real terms that means everything from gadgets for kids, gadgets for mums and dads that look after kids, and gadgets for the silver surfer. Expect new toys for health, parenting and higher education.

Apple

Don't get too excited,?Apple isn't attending CES, regardless of how many rumours you hear, but that doesn't mean companies that work in the Apple eco-system aren't going to be in Vegas launching new gadgets. With a whole area dedicated to the iPod,?iPhone?and Macs, expect a fair share of iPod speakers, cables to connect to something else in your life and the usual array of cases to protect it all.

eBook readers

If you're planning on getting an ebook reader for Christmas you might want to think again. The ebook market has exploded in the US with Amazon,?Barnes & Noble?and?Sony?all fighting over each other to offer you the digital reader you supposedly need. Plastic Logic has already confirmed that it will be launching a new ebook at CES and there is bound to be other manufacturers like?Spring Design?and iRex offering new models.

3D

Riding on the wave of euphoria that Avatar will no doubt give the industry, consumer electronics manufacturers like?Sony, Toshiba, LG?and?Samsung?will be likely to be pushing?3D TV?hard at CES 2010. IFA 2009 already showed us the concepts, CES will show us the reality. Expect new televisions, announcements from the Blu-ray Disc Association, television makers, graphics card companies like Nvidia and movie companies all trying to get in on the action.

Netbooks

While most people have surely moved on from the popularity of netbooks, CES organisers CEA believe netbooks are going to still be big news at CES 2010. What that means is a barrage of computers that don't do much but let you surf the Web and write the odd document. Of course manufacturers will be trying to tell us otherwise with improved graphics courtesy of Nvidia and ATI. You should also probably expect a barrage of tablet devices with touchscreens allowing you to surf the Web around the home.

Green

With the economy making a comeback, manufacturers can once again turn their eyes to saving the planet. Although the idea of being green for green's sake is still very niche, generally manufacturers will be trying to tell you to ignore the thousands they are spending on lighting their booths and the sheer carbon emissions the show creates, by concentrating instead on how they've made advancements in the glass they use or the boxes your favourite gadgets go into. At least you can sleep at night knowing that we haven't had to chop down any trees to let you read this.

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Tags: Audio Car And GPS Dad Gadgets Gaming Hardware Home And Kitchen Home Cinema Phones Cameras Software Sports Fitness CES2010 ebooks Televisions Netbooks Sony LG Samsung Toshiba Apple iPod iPhone 3DTV Laptops Eco Amazon Barnes and Noble Spring Design

CES 2010: What new gadgets will be announced? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Here are the nominations for Best Home Cinema Device in The Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009.

The following products were chosen because we feel they represent the best home cinema devices on sale in the last 12 months that are available in the UK.

The nominations are:

Philips 56PFL9954H Cinema 21:9 television

Panasonic DMR-BS850 Freesat Blu-ray recorder

LG 37LH7000 television

Sony PlayStation 3 Slim console

Humax Freesat+ FOXSAT-HDR recorder

Now in its 6th year, the Pocket-lint Gadget Awards, thought to be the longest running in the UK, pick the best gadgets and gizmos from the last year released in the UK.

Pocket-lint's vigorous vetting process means that all the gadgets up for nomination have to have been seen by a member of the Pocket-lint team (so far over 600) and have to have been available in the UK between December 2008 and December 2009.?

The awards, voted by a panel of leading gadget journalists from around the world, including the staff from the Pocket-lint team, will decide the real must-have gadgets of the year, rather than those simply deemed cool or anticipated, being the definitive guide for consumers looking to buy gadgets.

Winners will be announced at an Awards evening in London on Monday 7 December.

If you would like to order tickets to the event please visit our awards event page.

Public voting will start on Wednesday 18 November.

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Related links:

• Link - vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009

Tags: Home Cinema Televisions Blu-ray PVRs Humax Sony Philips Panasonic LG PS3 PS3 slim Pocket-lint Awards Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009

Best Home Cinema Devices 2009 nominations originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:00:00 +0000

In 3 year's time the 3DTV market will see shipments of up to 46 million 3D-capable flatscreen televisions, suggests market research from US-based GigaOM Pro, stating that despite the market being in its infancy today, by 2013 the technology will be widespread in consumer's homes.

"While the initial shipments of flat-panel 3DTVs will be small in 2010 due to premium pricing strategies by the large TV manufacturers, volumes are likely to grow quickly in just a few short years as manufacturers begin to implement 3D as a standard feature across their HD flat-panel product lines", said Alfred Poor, author of the report.

The report suggests content owners and broadcasters will soon "convert large portions of their back-catalogues of content to 3D", in order to satisfy consumers hungry for three dimensional content.

"Just as many consumers are voting with their wallets today for the 3D version of their favourite movies in the theatre, we expect over time that many will choose 3D for their favourite shows and movies at home as well", said Poor.

Interestingly, Sony is highlighted as a company working hard to push 3D. "The company will provide a complete user experience with full HD Bravia in 3D taking center stage. In addition to television, Sony will enable more devices, such as Blu-ray, Vaio and PlayStation 3, to be 3D compatible", says the GigaOM Pro report.

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Tags: Home Cinema 3DTV Statistics Sony 3D PS3 Televisions

3DTV shipments to reach 46 million in 3 years originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:59:10 +0000

Think about your shiny flatscreen TV - its surround sound, its HD capability, its sheer undiluted beauty. Now think about the 28,000 people in Britain, including 1950 in Scotland, that still watch television in black & white.

The TV licensing agency has released stats on the nation's TV viewing to mark the 40th anniversary of the first colour transmissions from BBC1 and ITV. But we're not a nation of luddites - more than 1 million unique users visited BBC iPlayer each day in September, watching more than 60.8 million programmes.

Fergus Reid, a spokesperson for TV Licensing, said: "These figures show TV has never been more popular across the spectrum, and with so many ways to watch TV now available, it is important people are aware of their legal responsibilities".

"Whether you watch in black and white on a 40-year-old TV set or in colour on a brand new 37in LCD flatscreen, you need to be covered by a TV Licence if watching or recording programmes as they are broadcast. "The same is true if you access programmes via the Internet as they are being shown on TV - if you're using a laptop, mobile phone, games console or any other device".

Have you still got a B&W television, or know anyone who does? Seriously? Then tell us below in the comment box, and hightail it over to our TV section.

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Read

Tags: Home Cinema Televisions Statistics BBC

28,000 still using black and white televisions originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:48:23 +0000

There are few things over which geeks and gadget lovers unite, but one stonewall certainty is that we all love big TVs. Give us some content and an enormous panel to watch it on and you'll have us transfixed. In fact, there's probably a directly proportional relationship between the size of the screen and the amount of time spent arrested by its charms. So, with the recession hitting just before CES 2009 and the subsequent absence of a new claim to the world's biggest TV at the annual Las Vegas tech binge, it didn't look like a good year for home cinema. Fortunately, we were wrong.

Below you'll find a Pacific Ocean of contenders for this year's most coveted of crowns - the Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 Best Home Cinema Device - but which little devil has stolen your heart? Let us know.

TVs

There's simply no other place to start the bidding than with the panels themselves and, while neither size nor width was particular a factor over 2009, there's been some excellent ground covered in both quality and design. If the economic climate has done one thing for the positive, it's to make technology manufacturers more conscious of green issues. When many consumers see that a TV can save them money on energy, then suddenly the double win of the situation means that the environment can benefit as well.

Sony has been the most overt at capitalising on the situation with the Bravia WE5, which goes so far as to switch itself off when it knows it's not being watched. Others though, like LG with the LH2000 and the Sharp DH77 and LC-32DH57E TVs simply use a blend of light-sensing and component efficiency to get the job done and, in LG's case, manage to get the wattage to almost record lows. Even Loweve is in on the act this year, adding a certain level of style to the proceedings with the Art SL eco range. At least you can counter-balance the initial outlay with some cheaper running costs.

Of course, for many of us, it's all about performance rather than environmental or economic credentials and, where picture quality is paramount these days, people are heading to LED backlight LCD technology. Philips brought out the third in its premium line with the Aurea 3, complete with an Ambilight as well as the pin-point LED dimming. Three more manufacturers joined the fray with the LG LH9000 borderless design, the Toshiba REGZA SV and the Sharp Aquos LX series, while Samsung continued to extended its presence in the field with the Samsung 6000, 7000 and the high-end, high-priced but very highly acclaimed 8000 model too.

Fortunately, the expansion at the top end has meant we can get a better quality picture at more affordable prices with a straight LCD panel. 200Hz frame rates are more or less the standard now, internet connected widget TVs have been all the rage since CES and we've also seen a huge pick up in built-in Freesat support, with LG and Sony Bravia seeing a great deal of value in the no cost satellite platform. Philips has been looking strong with the high end Philips 9000 range, which has included the 20mm 9664, and if slim is the choice for you in straight LCDs then the Sony Bravia ZX1 may only have 100Hz technology but manages to squeeze it all into a 9mm frame - otherwise it's probably the Bravia Z5500 that you'll be after from the Japanese giant.

As always, though, the most exciting area of TVs is in the very new - the cutting edge and the sets of years to come. Sadly, for much of the innovation we see, it either never exists or it's years before we can get our hands on it. Fortunately, 2009 has brought some excellent developments straight to the shelves. The two standouts have got to be the Philips 21:9 Cinema super wide TV - the ultimate set for movie buffs - and right at the other end of the scale, the incredible Sony XEL-1 11-inch OLED TV. Curiously, they're both around the same price but both will blow you away - if for very different reasons.

Projectors

Of course, it's not all about panels. If it's size you're really after then DLP is the more cost effective way to go. While there's plenty of cinema quality light-throwers at cinema industry prices, there's still been a steady trickle of models more suited to the average consumer's budget this year. LG has continued its onslaught on just about every area of tech with a flurry of monitors and projectors at very reasonable prices, Optoma brought in the HD20 1080p unit and BenQ has hedged their bets and covered all your bases with the W600, W100 and W6000 depending on just how flush you're feeling.

If money's no option then another choice for 2009 would have to be the Panasonic PT-AE4000, but the prize for the most interesting take on it all has to go to the Epson EH-DM3 which takes the gaming projector one stage forward to bring you the karaoke version. It needs to be seen to be believed.

AVRs and speakers

Naturally, a quality picture is nothing without quality sound to back it up and 2009 has given us even more choices when it comes to home cinema systems. For the best of Britain, KEF has turned up with both a 5.1 set up and a sound bar of note, whilst further afield there's the likes of Creative, the Klipsch HD Theatre systems and Tefuel Theatre 80, all with some high quality, good value offers. For the ultimate choice, though, Panasonic has come up with 10 home cinema systems including a 7.1 set up and an internet connected system with DVDs, docks and the odd BD player thrown in too.

On the AVR side, it's Onkyo that's been by far the busiest in 2009 with the rather sexy and nearly affordable TX-SR707 and TX-NR807 as the tempters and the totally obscene TX-SR5007, TX-NR3007 and TX-NR1007, with their 9.2 channels its the stuff that dreams are made of. And last, but certainly not least, there has been a rare moment of innovation in this field with the rather novel Q Acoustics Q-TV2s back mounted speakers. A cracking solution for small TVs at a very small price to match.

Blu-ray players

Once we had our system set up, it was content that we were after and with even Toshiba cracking under the pressure this year, 2009 really has been the first time Blu-ray can feel confident that it's going places. The options have ranged from the subtle to the insane. Samsung showed us the incredible wall mounted slim jim that is the Samsung BD-P4600 at the beginning of the year and, since, the likes of the LG HLB54S has added some sound to the form factor as well as just about anything you could need in a piece of home cinema hardware.

Philips went for mass appeal and mass affordability instead with the BDP3000 and even Denon reached down some of the way to give the public a taste of luxury with the DBP-1610 and the ?600 Denon DBP-2010, for those that simply couldn't resist. Sony hasn't been slow to promote the company's very own format with two networked players featuring DLNA and a few tasty features, with the BDP-S760 the pick of the crop, while Pioneer has added a little more class and sophistication at the expense of the Wi-Fi and quite a bit more money.

What seems to be the hallmark of 2009 in AV though is what LG and most notably Panasonic has offered. They may not look like the prettiest things in the world but when you combine a BD-player with twin TV tuners, Freesat and a big old HDD to record onto, you've got integration at its best. Keep 'em peeled for the LG HR400 and probably the pick of the others would be the Panasonic DMR-BS850 with just about all the trimmings you could possibly want - unless you really need Sony's 400 disc MegaChanger, that is.

Media players

There have been a few eyebrows raised on the subject of optical storage and removable media. With video files, streaming and, let's face it, piracy all doing well, there's plenty of manufacturers looking at cheaper, more convenient AV solutions for computer literate users (is anyone not computer literate these days?).

The Emtec Movie Cube P800 combines a removable, portable HDD with a strong media interface, while the recently released WD TV Live from Western Digital has brought an upgrade to a hugely successful almost pocket-sized device. Naturally, the PS3 has plenty about it as a streamer and with the PS3 Slim launched a few months back, it could well be in for a shout of a gong whether in this category or another. Fresh on the scene at an alarmingly reasonable price tag is the Asus O!Play networked storage device and media player, but for something rather more profound the Compro T1000W VideoMate will do just about anything you like for ?200.

Even the simple set top box has got a little more interesting in 2009. We're seeing a lot more with PVR capabilities such as the Humax PVR-9300T with 500GB of space and the Digital Vision GiGo which ditches it all for three USB ports and whatever kind of memory sticks you wish to supply it with. But perhaps most interesting of all are the teeny-tiny PCTV Pico Stick tuners which'll turn your PC into a TV and the Elgato EyeTV Sat which siphons HD satellite programing straight from your dish to your computer, and you can even edit the footage later.

Remote controls

Last of all come possibly the least likely little fellows to receive a Pocket-lint Awards nomination but, then again, you just never know. There are three to consider that not only throw the rule book out the window but take both barrels of a shotgun to it too. The insane looking The Loop remote control promises impressive ergonomics and pin point accuracy, the Philips uWand adds full gesture control to the buttons and the Glide TV Navigator couch mouse looks like bringing Star Trek just that little bit closer. Definitely worth a look at the future, if not your vote.

What do you think?

But these are just some of the fantastic choices our readers have had in 2009. What would you like to see held aloft as the winner of Pocket-lint Best Home Cinema Device 2009? What have we missed out? Which are your unsung heroes and of those we've already mentioned, which would get your vote? Let us know in the comments below and you can help our panel decide which make the shortlist of nominees to be announced here on Pocket-lint on 16 November. We'll have all out coverage of the Vodafone Pocket-lint awards 2009 right here. Don't miss a minute of it.

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Related links:

• Feature - Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - gaming hardware
• Feature - Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - games
• Feature - Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - software, services, apps

Tags: Home Cinema Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 Pocket-lint Awards Features Bravia Samsung LED televisions LCD televisions Projectors BD-Live Blu-ray players Speakers Televisions

Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - home cinema device originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:29:23 +0000

Do TVs need Bluetooth? LG thinks so, and has packed its latest LCD TV with this aging wireless tech. Activate Bluetooth via the onscreen menus and it’s then possible to pair the TV with either a set of wireless headphones, or a mobile phone. The latter makes it possible to send photos to the set wirelessly, though it’s the former that’s the most useful. It's a unique feature to LG's TVs, and essential; the wired headphones slot is hidden away on the back of the panel in a less-than-practical position.

Presented in a two-tone grey and maroon high-resolution graphics, and second-guessing whatever it is the user is trying to do (shortcut buttons ate regularly, but subtly, presented at every stage), the 32SL8000’s icon-based system is a joy to use.

Honestly, any idiot could perform an ISF-standard calibration, something that used to be the reserve of eggheads only. Via a comprehensive Picture Wizard that covers everything from colour gain to contrast - but in a very simple, picture-led way - it’s possible to get an excellent image on the 32SL8000 from almost any source.

Before we leave the onscreen menus, it’s worth mentioning the 32SL8000’s onboard media capabilities. Instead of supplying a USB port that can play MP3 files and a DLNA networking module that makes a hash of streaming (some) video files from a PC, LG has instead opted for a very clever USB port. Not only does it treat JPEG and MP3 files with due care (slideshows can very simply be set to music, or music set to pictures), but it’s able to playback everything from MOV and MP4 to AVI and MKV - including DivX HD files. All that’s missing are MPEG and WMV files, though it does warn you in advance if it doesn’t support a file type; instead of presenting a moving thumbnail of the video file, a lightning crack is shown.

All very impressive, and playback of DivX HD files is as impressive-looking as it is reliable. Yup, it’s obvious that media whores will love the 32SL8000.

Those after exacting high-def may not. Although it doesn't an admirable job with all kinds of video, Blu-ray in Full HD on the 32SL8000 is not as mind-blowing as it should be. There's plenty of rich colouring and images are always immaculate. Contrast and detailing within black areas is decent, too (if not benchmark) and its TruMotion 200Hz does remove virtually all judder and blur from quick camera work and high-octane scenes. It’s worth remembering to turn TruMotion 200Hz down to its "low" setting for best performance - "high" can introduce some video nasties.

Verdict:

If it lacks ultimate Full HD sharpness - and that's about all it does lack - there's nothing wrong with the 32SL8000's interpretation of Freeview, which is classy and clean. Sound quality is nothing to shout about, but the onboard underslung speakers do an adequate job. The TV itself is too small to appreciate any kind of stereo separation on, and movie soundtracks are bereft of low frequency effects, but regular TV audio is handled just fine.

A good, if not a great TV in terms of pure HD picture quality, the 32SL8000's multimedia features and addictive digital TV pictures help make this exceptionally user-friendly TV one to cherish.

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Tags: Home Cinema Televisions LCD televisions LG LG 32SL8000

LG 32SL8000 television originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Takuya Kawagoi has been a Sony man for nearly 20 years now. Having spent plenty of time based in Japan as one of the graphic designers at the heart of the company image, he has now been appointed head of Sony Design Centre Europe. We stopped in for a chat to see how life in London was treating him.

What is your background?
I joined Sony in 1991 as a graphic designer - that was what I studied as - and I was mostly involved with branding and logos. While I was at the Design Centre in Tokyo I created the Sony Ericsson logo. The idea is that it is in two parts, the silver and the green. It's supposed to be more friendly, more emotional, the green is the organic partner, the end user and the silver represents Sony such that we're balanced between content and life.

Before Sony I was at university. I went straight from there. I'd studied graphic design in Kyoto at KIT, the Kyoto Institute of Technology, where they have a special department for graphic design. Kyoto is a very traditional city in Japan and it was very good for me as a designer to get this mix of the modern style of the school and the traditional influence of the city at the same time.

Who are you biggest design influences?
Well, as a graphic designer, it would be Ikko Tanaka who is a famous Japanese graphic designer. He used very vivid, very bright colours together but in very simple designs. He reminds me that simplicity is the most important part of any design and it's not an easy thing to achieve. With so many functions in our products these days I have to avoid too many things and too much confusion on a screen or UI, for example, at any one time and it's important to remember this. Mr Tanaka and I also happen to come from the same town, Narra, so that's another reason I look to him.

And what about technology design, which products do you respect the most?
This may sound boring to you but I love cars - particularly British cars. Here cars are a real lifestyle for people. There is the space for larger lower cars like Jaguars and for people to really live them and have them as part of their lives, even when not driving them. I bought myself a Jaguar in Japan when I started at Sony in 1991. It was a beautiful car.

So, what exactly is the Sony Design Centre all about?
Sony Design has been there for nearly 50 years - since 1961 - when the first Design Centre opened in Japan. At the time, the company noticed that foreign products, particularly ones in Germany, for example, had a style that we wanted to bring to Sony. The classic sliver and black looks from Germany gave the products a more premium feel and so the Design Centre looked at aspects such as these to see how we could improve.

Sony design works with the four principles of originality, lifestyle, function and utility and we make sure our products represent each of these. There are now Sony Design Centres in London for the EU, in Singapore for Asia and in Los Angeles for North America as well. The idea is for them to both inform Japan of the global trends and styles in these areas, as well as create products on their own for the world market and to make sure that the products coming from headquarters will work in their parts of the globe too. In the EU team we have 16 designers representing 7 different nationalities, which is very good for our design influences. Maybe not so good when the World Cup comes round next year. Maybe there'll be a little tension in the office.

What is your role as Head of Sony Design Centre Europe?
Something that I'm looking into at the moment is really the life of the product all the way down the line - from manufacture to the customer purchase and even beyond to installation and customer care. Total experience, we should be more friendly and we need to collaborate more. Smarter styles. The customer journey is very long and we would like to be with them as far as we can. Retail experience is one area of this that we've been looking at and bringing a more obvious branding to the shops, educating the sales staff and providing digital signage in some of our flagship stores, hopefully by the beginning of next year too. Customers will be able to use touchscreen displays to find out all the information they need about different products.

User interfaces are also something we've been looking closely at too. Recently, of course, we've seen the XMB (cross media bar) used in all consumer arms of Sony - Sony Ericsson, PlayStation and Home - and we've recognised how significant the UI is. It's a very strong part for us, as functions become more and more complex. It's very important.

You said before about making packaging more environmentally friendly. How do you plan to do that?
It's not an easy thing to achieve with so many products and different packing needs, but we're already trying different techniques on some product lines. Bravia TVs are coming with no paper manuals at the moment with all the information in on-screen menus. There are also one box solutions for them with the TV stand packed into the same space and we're also testing out pulp moulds for packing, which are 100% recyclable. It's all in the early stages but obviously it will be good if we can bring it into products like headphones which have all plastic packaging, but it's harder to see how that will work with the current designs.

How do European design tastes differ from those in the rest of the world?
Hmmm, that's a difficult question to answer but a good example would be the Bravia picture frame TV. It's specifically a very strong European design where people do not always wish their technology to be the focus of their space. In fact this is another area where we'll be looking to work with living room related products. Home entertainment is very important to the EU team. We have a very strong will to newly define the living room. TV used to be a static focus but now they are internet connected so that we can change the style of family life and the attitude towards them as well. I would say it's a global idea, and communication would be the most significant barrier. The XMB is a good step towards this. In the future, hopefully, the arms of Sony will become more borderless. Bravia must be friendly with PlayStation and we should navigate and appear to the consumer in the same tone and manner.

Does that mean we'll see the three consumer arms of the business merging? Are we going to get Sony Ericsson phones with Bravia screens?
There already is a Bravia phone available in Japan but there no plans to merge the parts of the business at all. We just hope to homogenise some of the ideas.

Why is it that we don't get all those incredible gadgets we see in Japan?
Well, we cannot experiment with all of the products all over the world at the same time. Sometimes we feel that certain products will work best in certain regions and we try them there first.

So, does that mean you're here to fight for Europe to get them?
This will be the biggest job for me.

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Related links:

• News - Sony launches Bravia E4000 series LCD televisions

Tags: Home Cinema Sony Bravia Features Interviews Televisions LCD televisions

Sony design and the shape of things to come originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:46:09 +0000

A brand usually found in the lower echelons of the flatscreen TV market, Toshiba is making a bid for the big time with this huge LED screen. The trouble is, the 55SV685DB's very large price heaps on the pressure; is it much better than a 50-inch plasma, which now go for under ?1,000?

However unlikely that might seem, Toshiba has strived to make the 55SV685DB seem good value by packing in some new features. The first, and most important by far, is LED backlighting. The 55SV685DB uses perhaps the most comprehensive form of the new tech, called "local dimming" or "full LED" by some brands. Instead of a backlight that's always switched on, rows of tiny LED lights line up behind the LCD panel. Capable of switching on and off individually, it's possible for the screen to show total darkness in one area of an image, and bright white in another.

The second crucial feature is Active Vision M200, a 200Hz anti-blur system, though a film stability mode (aimed at removing that annoying judder in all Blu-ray discs) Toshiba's much-hyped Resolution+ upscaling tech for digital TV and DVD is just as important on a screen of this sheer size.

The 55SV685DB's other features seem frivolous in comparison. Take its SD card slot, an unusual find away from Panasonic's Viera TVs. It's there to provide JPEG photographs for the Picture Frame mode, though the TV itself has so little onboard memory that instead of a slideshow, just a single picture can be transferred – and it's slow to load, too.

Just as distracting is the 55SV685DB's stilted stab at DLNA networking. Fetching digital media from a PC or Mac on the same home broadband network is a fantastic idea, but, like a lot of brands, Toshiba hasn't got anywhere near perfecting it. After quickly finding a networked computer, a slow and rather brutal process begins; a file type must be selected, then a specific file, before finding out whether it's compatible (only AVI and MPEG videos seem to be). The system gets ahead of itself by trying to display thumbnails photos/videos, but they never load and just slowdown the process further (Toshiba may have solved this issue on its Japanese-only Cell Regza 55X1, which offers 143 times more processing power).

The remote control doesn't help; it's unable to cancel commands and return to the previous menu, extending the agony. It's a similar story with the Media Player feature that reads files from a USB stick.?

Resolution+ also fails. The 55-inches of LCD screen just cannot display DVD or digital pictures coherently – digital artefacts and fuzzy edges are everywhere – which leaves the 55SV685DB looking rather forlorn and in need of a phenomenal performance with Blu-ray.

And it makes a respectable stab at greatness. Its LED backlighting is endlessly tweakable, with dynamic bars showing ambient light (plotted on a graph, even!), alongside the light output of each pixel.

And a high-def picture is indeed worthy of such examination. Black areas of the picture are jet-black, with plenty of subtle detail within. And subtlety is everywhere; bright whites, incredible colours and entrancing detail make for a picture that's lusciously cinematic. It's helped by an effective film mode that helps create a smooth image with sharp, well-defined edges even when objects are moving rapidly across the screen.

Verdict:

Toshiba has created a Full HD marvel that uses its LED backlighting to create astonishingly deep blacks and rich colours for a LCD TV, but its ?4,500 price tag proves it's downfall. However well it deals with high-def, it's impossible to forgive the 55SV685DB for its lack of versatility because how many of us just want to watch 1080p Blu-ray? For now, a ?1,500 plasma remains a better deal.

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Tags: Home Cinema Televisions LCD televisions Toshiba Toshiba Regza 55SV685DB

Toshiba Regza 55SV685DB television originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:30:22 +0000

LG is preparing to launch a new range of televisions in the UK under the "Seamless Entertainment" banner.

With the advertising campaign kicking off now, the range will be officially revealed at a launch event on 12 November.

As well as being super slim with a thin bezel and offering LED technology, LG is hoping to capture consumer's credit cards with a new gimmick - Bluetooth connectivity.

Hit play to see the new advert, that appears to suggest society's constraints will melt away with the purchase of a flatscreen telly, and we'll bring you more on the 12th.

Tags: Home Cinema Televisions LG Bluetooth Video Advertising

VIDEO: LG to launch Bluetooth-enabled televisions originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:28:37 +0000

At the Japanese FPD expo in Tokyo, a host of manufacturers have been showing off their latest products. Among them is LG, with its remarkably thin LED backlit display. It's 47 inches across, and has a 5.9mm thick profile.

The company is also showing off a bunch of AMOLED concepts for various functions, including televisions, a rather intriguing transparent display, and a 13.3-inch in-cell projected capacitive multi-touch notebook.

There's no word on when any of them might arrive outside of Japan, but as time marches on, we're sure we'll start seeing them arrive in this part of the world.

Read

Tags: Home Cinema LG Televisions Video

VIDEO: LG shows off 6mm thick television, see thru TV originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:16:51 +0000

Samsung has launched its first TV slash DVD combo offering in the UK. The LE22B470 LCD TV is angled as "the perfect solution for stressed parents struggling to decide between a TV and a DVD player for their kids this Christmas".

While there's many folk around the world that would love to have such a pressing problem to worry about, if this kind of issue is troubling you, then note that the LE22B470 is said to be "an ideal space saver".

No spec has been revealed but we do know as well as the built-in DVD player, the 22-inch LCD flat screen TV offers a Freeview tuner. It's said to be available now at the likes of Currys, John Lewis, Comet, Amazon and Play for around ?325, although it's certainly not showing up under a model number search just now.

Tags: Home Cinema Televisions LCD televisions Samsung Samsung LE22B470 DVD TV DVD

Samsung LE22B470 DVD TV combo launches originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:09:37 +0000

British retailer John Lewis has launched its own brand range of LCD televisions. Sized at the smaller end of the market, the new John Lewis tellies are available with 19-, 22- and 26-inch screens.

All models get an integrated digital tuner for access to Freeview channels whilst set-up is said to be simple thanks to "one touch" remote tuning. The TVs also get two HDMI inputs, PC input, table top stands - and - screen cleaning cloth.

Complete with a free 5-year guarantee, pricing starts at ?199 for the 19-incher, ?269 for the 22-inch model while the 26-inch version costs ?349.

Tags: Home Cinema Televisions John Lewis LCD televisions

John Lewis launches modestly-sized own brand TVs originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:22:44 +0100

Qulacomm's FLO TV personal television offers American consumers live TV on the go.

Here Tech Vi gets the low-down on the new device from one of the fastest-talking PR men you're ever likely to lay ears on. Hit now to see his pitch - and the 3.5-inch device in the flesh.

Due in time for "the holidays", the HTC-made gadget gets built-in speakers, a 3.5mm stereo jack, and a kick-out stand.

Qualcomm says that it will offer 5 hours of viewing time from a single charge and that US telly viewers should be able to get up to 20 channels ranging through news, kids and entertainment.

Tags: Home Cinema FLO TV Video Televisions

VIDEO: Tech Vi looks at the FLO TV originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:22:20 +0100

Qualcomm is hoping to change the way we watch television with a new portable TV that doesn't need you to be plugged into an aerial on the top of your house.

Called Flo TV, the technology, which is already available on mobile phones from LG and HTC, has spawned a dedicated portable TV called the Flo TV Personal Television.

The device, previously rumoured and due in time for "the Holidays" and made by HTC, will feature a 3.5-inch screen, built in speakers, a 3.5mm stereo jack, and a kick out stand so you can perch it on a desk or table.

Qualcomm says that it will offer 5 hours of viewing time from a single charge and that you'll be able to get up to 20 channels ranging through news, kids and entertainment.

"Our intent is to make Flo TV available to all", Michael Hirsch from FLO TV told Pocket-lint.

The device will cost $250, although users will have to sign up to a further subscription to access the television channels each month.

Stone says that pricing has yet to be fully finalised, however consumers looking to watch TV on the go can expect to pay from $8.99 a month with monthly and yearly packages available.

Those thinking that a 3.5-inch isn't really big enough should hold their breath. Hirsch confirmed to us that the company was working on more devices.

"We expect to see more devices and different form factors in the future," he said.

Promising national US coverage by the end of 2009, Hirsch was keeping quiet on whether or not the new TV would make it outside of the US and to the UK. Qualcomm already owns the spectrum in the UK to offer the FLO TV service, however as yet hasn't turned it on.

Tags: Home Cinema Televisions Qualcomm FLO TV

FLO TV takes TV on the go once again originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:31:17 +0100

Toshiba has unveiled the 55-inch Cell Regza 55X1 in Japan as its new flagship LCD television.

With high quality sound, a contrast ratio of 5,000,000:1, and brightness of 1250cdm2, the 240Hz TV boasts "ultra-high-speed processing and recording, enhanced navigation and seamless network interactivity".

The TV's Opera-powered browser also supports Full HD and can display HD YouTube videos while, thanks to Toshiba's Cell platform, the company boasts processing capability around 143 times that of standard Regzas as well as 512 distict LED backlit areas.

With a 3TB hard disk drive, two of those terabytes are dedicated to the telly's "time-shift machine", which can record up to 26 hours of programmes across 8 channels, so viewers can select to watch a show they've missed and search for content via key words.

The Cell Regza system is made up of a TV and a separate matching box that houses the tuner and the HDD. Both boast a "smoked aluminium finish", as does the remote.

The Cell Regza 55X1 will go on sale in the Japanese market from the beginning of December. We're unsure of pricing, but we're looking at thousands and thousands of pounds, for sure.

Tags: Home Cinema Toshiba Televisions LCD televisions Toshiba Cell Regza 55X1 Opera Networking

Toshiba Cell Regza 55X1, new flagship television unveiled originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:22:44 +0100

HANNspree has announced the availability of a 32-incher into its recently revealed ST series of HDTVs.

The new 32-inch ST321 offers a Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution and HANNspree's proprietary X-Contrast and X-Celerate technologies.

The ST321 also gets "Multiple Aspect Ratio Support" that sees the default 16:9 aspect ratio adjusted to Full, Wide, Panarama, Zoom, Subtitle, Auto and Normal views as the user sees fit.

Features include a 2 x 10 Watt audio system, 500cd/m2 brightness, 6ms response time, an "X-Contrast" ratio of 10000:1, four HDMI 1.3 inputs as well as VGA, Component, Composite, S-Video and two Scart inputs

The ST321 is available now from www.misco.co.uk for ?329.99 with a 2-year collect and return warranty.

Related links:

• News - HANNspree unveils the new ST series of HDTVs

Tags: Home Cinema Televisions LCD televisions HANNspree Misco

HANNspree ST series gets 32-incher originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:37:51 +0100

Sharp has announced that it's bringing four new televisions to Japan on 10 November, called the LX Series. The products are being released to mark the start of the tenth anniversary of the first AQUOS LCD TVs, and feature LED backlighting, along with a newly developed LCD panel.

The televisions incorporate Sharp's UV2A technology that improves the contrast ratios, and combines with the LED backlighting to offer - according to Sharp - the industry's lowest level of energy consumption. There's also the company's image processing chip, which helps out with fast moving images, and it can control peripheral devices with the AQUOS Familink II technology.

There's a a 60-inch model, a 52-inch model, a 46-inch model and a 40-inch model, but there's no European pricing yet because these are just being released in Japan for now. When they come to these shores, we'll make sure that you're the first to know.

Read

Related links:

• News - Sharp launches AQUOS HDTVs with built-in Blu-ray

Tags: Home Cinema Televisions Sharp LCD televisions

Sharp launches LX series Aquos TVs originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:43:23 +0100

People getting secondary TV sets hooked up to Freeview has led to a new high for digital television in the UK, reports Ofcom.

The regulator's Digital TV Progress Report reveals that 80% of all televisions in the UK are now digitally-enabled.

23.4 million "secondary" sets were converted to digital, while nine out of ten main television sets are now connected to a digital decoder.

The Borders area, the West Country and south and west Wales are now switched over to digital with the rest of the UK due to switch before the end of 2012.

Today sees a digital "retune" that means consumers will need to retune their set-top boxes in order to continue receiving digital TV.

Read

Related links:

• Feature - Quick guide to the Freeview retune on 30 September

Tags: Home Cinema Televisions Freeview Statistics Ofcom

80% of UK televisions now digital originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:22:02 +0100