What's in a number…7…8…no, I like 9 better! So lets talk about Samsung's 9 Series LCD HDTVs. These second-generation LED-backlit sets feature 1080p Ultra Clear panels, Auto Motion Plus 120Hz technology, 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratios, Touch of Color design and InfoLink (RSS access) and WiseLink Pro.

via newlaunches.com

When it comes to audio and video equipment, take your hats off to Sony. So far, in this industry, Sony has been leading the pack. Sure, a lot of companies are catching up, but Sony remains one of the best. A sure sign of this success is one of their sets, the Sony KDL40V3000 LCD HDTV. This mid-range television is a step lower from their more successful W3000 range, but still provides the necessary power and quality to make users give this seta second thought.

via hdtv-news.co.uk

The buzz is that Amazon plans on bringing out its Amazon Video on Demand service pretty soon. Apparently the service will allow customers to access and immediately begin streaming any of 40,000 movies and television programs directly from their Mac of Windows PC. "For the first time, this is drop dead simple," said Bill Carr, Amazon's vice president for digital media.

via newlaunches.com

As the recession hits this country and the world at large, sales of some luxury items will certainly be impacted as consumers tighten their belts to take care of basic necessities. On the flip side, as gas prices rise and the cost of a simple evening at the movies goes up (without a commensurate improvement in the overall movie-going experience), consumers are "nesting" more than ever - spending more time entertaining themselves at home rather than travelling.

via bigpicturebigsound.com

At the IFA 2008 Toshiba will introduce the first LCD HDTV containing the power of the CELL CPU known from the Sony PS3. The Cell chip in the Toshiba Regza ZF-series is used for Resolution+. Toshiba’s Resolution+ creates upscaled images from SD sources that are supposedly very close to HD quality. Other features of the Regza ZF HDTVs include full HD resolution, 30.000:1 contrast ratio, Audyssey Dynamic Equalizer.

via about-electronics.eu

A new report from DisplaySearch, a consumer electronics research firm, warns the industry that if it wants to keep improving HDTV sales, it will need to quickly install some features that are now extra-cost add-ons available only in high-end models. Built-in Internet access, 1080p resolution, PVR capabilities and upgraded HDMI connection standards need to become standard fare by next year, the director of research at DisplaySearch, Calvin Hsieh, said.

via about-electronics.eu

Yesterday HP announced their newest product: HP MediaSmart Connect. The digital receiver is now available for pre-order and at Hewlett Packard they believe that the MediaSmart Connect makes it easy to view digital media from any HDTV. The receiver can easily find all digital devices across the room and show the stored videos, photos and music in a list on your HDTV.

via cdfreaks.com

Digital TV and high-definition (HD) entertainment have finally arrived. New HDTV channels, HD programming, movies, and music videos are constantly being announced as networks and studios strive to release more HD content. To help consumers with their HD buying decisions, Dolby Laboratories has created HD Essentials: Get in the Middle of the HD Action—an easy-to-follow guide that demystifies the process and outlines the essentials of HD technology.

via newsticker.welt.de

Transcend recently introduced its eSATA / USB 2.0 external storage device - StoreJet 35 Ultra. The external hard drive enclosure measures 197.5mm by 127.5mm by 48mm and features a stylishly designed aluminum case designed specifically for modern 3.5-inch SATA hard drives. With two convenient connection options, the StoreJet 35 Ultra not only guarantees the fastest possible hard drive speeds with its 3.0Gb/s eSATA interface, but also assures maximum compatibility with all types of computers via its 480Mb/s USB 2.0 connection interface.

via pclaunches.com

Sony plans to double the annual production capacity of Bravia LCD TVs in Slovakia, up from two million sets in fiscal year 2007 to four million sets by the end of December 2008. The Slovak factory is set to become Sony's largest producer of LCD TVs worldwide. Sony built Nitra Technology Centre in Nitra, 40km east of Trnava and relocated its production function, in order to meet rapidly increasing demand for LCD TVs in Europe. Nitra Technology Centre started production of Bravia LCD TVs in August 2007, along with Sony's TV manufacturing facility in Barcelona, Spain.

via fareastgizmos.com

Pioneer unveiled the KURO KRF-9000FD full HD projector which features high reflectivity LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) technology in order to achieve a fantastic contrast ratio of 30,000:1. Other features on the KRF-9000FD include :

2x motorized zoom/focus lens

80% vertical and +-34% horizontal lens shift

600lm brightness

2 HDMI ports

24db noise level

280W power consumption

via ubergizmo.com

No matter how you look at it, the 37in PD370 from US brand Planar is not a normal TV. For starters, it's not strictly-speaking a TV at all, thanks to its lack of any flavour of tuner; digital or otherwise. It can thus ‘only' be called an LCD screen or monitor. It then rubs your face in its lack of TVness by shipping as standard with no speakers. Or SCART sockets.

Then there's the PD370's build quality. The screen, for instance, is hardened off, avoiding the Southern shandy-drinking softness of most LCD TV screens. Also, unlike the shiny plastic used by the majority of TVs these days, the PD370 is built - it's tempting to say hewn - out of diamond-brushed aluminium, making it feel like it could go 12 rounds with Mike Tyson and come out without a mark on it. Especially as it doesn't have any ears to chew on.

via trustedreviews.com

The Toshiba 37RV530U is equipped with their REGZA Premium 1080p LCD CineSpeed Panel that offers response times that are among the best in the industry. This gives users plenty of power for even the most demanding home theater experience.

The 37RV530U also incorporates PixelPure 4th Generation Digital Video Processing. Using 14-bit picture processing. PixelPure 4G can create 4096 steps of gradation, between the whitest white and blackest black, for a smooth, natural-looking picture without image banding.

via hdtv-news.co.uk

Samsung may have had a few problems up top, but luckily they don't seem to have assuaged its development teams one bit. According to Samsung's Woo-Jong Lee, 2009 is set to be the year that the company's active-matrix OLED (AMOLED) panel production will reach a viable point. Good news seeing as the only OLED TV currently on the market is Sony's XEL-1, and then only in Japan and America for insane prices, despite being smaller than an ultra-portable notebook screen.

via trustedreviews.com

HP has been selling its interesting Wi-Fi enabled MediaSmart TVs for a while now. The HDTVs offer a direct connection to the Internet allowing users to watch Internet programs on the big screen without needing a computer.

HP announced this week that it was the first company to start including Windows Media Center Extender on Internet connected TVs to allow users to send content directly from their PC to the TV. This makes it easy to view your PC stored images, video and more on the big screen HDTV.

via i4u.com