Gizmodo: flat-panel

Furniture Mate Free-Standing Solution to Mounting Your Flat-Panel TV

Sean Fallon — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST

If you have a flat panel TV, wall mounting is the way to go—but getting things set up is an undeniable pain in the ass. Salamander designs have devised an alternative option for lazy people like myself who want the wall mount look without the work. The Synchro Furniture Mate slides in behind your cabinet, resulting in a fairly elegant simulation of a standard wall-mount. It can hold TVs between 32" and 60" with a maximum weight of 110lbs and it features adjustable height and a manual swivel of 30-degrees. The mount itself runs at $599, but for $299 more you can go the extra lazy route and have the remote-control, motorized kit attached—enabling you to make viewing adjustments from the comfort of your couch.

[Salamander Designs]

HD Guru Tackles 125 TVs In One Review

Wilson Rothman — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:10:00 EDT

HD Guru Gary Merson has outdone his own ambitious track record, reviewing 125 TVs for a single story. He doesn't go into the aesthetic design of each model, or even measure contrast and color depth. Instead, he boils it down to some criteria you won't find on corporate sites or press releases.

He once again looks at static resolution vs. motion resolution, judging how much clarity is lost when content actually plays. He tests for deinterlacing—showing all 1080 lines of a 1080i signal at the same time—and the trickier 3:2 pulldown—how well a TV can reconstitute 24-frame-per-second movie and TV content. The bad news there is that only 23% of the TVs he tested passed.

You won't find a "winner" here, but if you are shopping for a TV, you need to download Gary's PDF and look up your choices on his list. [HD Guru]

Also, Gary wants a NYC-area intern—see notice at the bottom of his story.

Question of the Day: Is Your Flat Panel TV Wall-Mounted Or On a Stand?

Sean Fallon — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:10:00 EDT

Obviously, one of the biggest advantages to owning a flat panel TV is that it is usually light enough and thin enough to be wall-mounted. It reduces clutter and it makes the TV less of an eyesore when it is placed in a tastefully decorated room. For those reasons, I prefer a wall-mounted TV over one that is mounted on a stand, but its not something that everyone is set up for. So, I am curious to know whether your main flat panel TV is wall-mounted, on a stand or tucked away in some sort of media cabinet.

Inca's TV Mount With Automatic Pull-Out and Swivel Features

Sean Fallon — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:20:00 EDT

Automatic TV mounts are nothing new, but this new design by Inca is intriguing with its remote controlled pull-out and swivel features. Instead of simply tilting from side to side, Inca's version can also be moved nearly flush with the wall, or out for clear views from extreme angles. According to Inca, the P/N 900810-5A-WPS "Off the Wall" system should accommodate most TV sizes. Unfortunately, pricing and availability information has yet to be released. [Inca via Electronic House via Gearlive via Freshome]

TV2ART Kabe Hides Your Flat Panel TV Into An Art Piece

Jason Chen — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:00:52 EDT

TV2ART's Kabé cabinet combines Japanese-style furnishing with Japanese-style shame, but in this case, it's shame for the fact that you own a flat panel TV. The cabinet has two modes. The first mode makes it look like you've got a Rowboat scene going on next to a vase. The second mode, which is what you'll have it in most of the time, makes the rowboat slide to the right and reveals the TV. You'll be able to pick one of several styles, all of which illustrate that you aren't really proud of your purchase. Incidentally, does anyone know the name of the song that they use on their site? [TV2ART]

Ghosts of CES Past: Not Everything You See Is Real

matt buchanan — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 08:00:57 EST

A nice pair of reminders that much of what you see at CES is indulgent geek fantasy that might not ever street: The monster 108-inch LCD Sharp showed off at CES 2007—promised to be available this year to customers—is MIA, leading rich people to look for other obscene entertainment options to plow too much money into.

A year later, Sharp's still working on launch plans as the set stands to be unseated as the world's biggest flat-panel display in little more than a week.

Then there was Warner's much ballyhooed, allegedly format-war-ending Total HD disc that crams HD DVD and Blu-ray onto one shiny piece of plastic. Status? Vapor. It got delayed until 2008 halfway into 2007, and then was basically shitcanned as the format trench war squeaks along into yet another year. So many promises, so many broken hearts. [IT World via /.]

Holy Shit: 150-Inch Panasonic Plasma HDTV at CES

Brian Lam — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 23:54:49 EST

Japanese paper Yomiuri is reporting that Panasonic will unveil a 150-inch plasma to show the world who has the biggest flatscreen manufacturing capability. That above is the photo of the now second-place 103-inch plasma as big as a queen-sized bed. (Sharp has the current title of biggest at 108-inches). If your mcmansion isn't big enough to fit it, don't even bother inquiring about the price. [Yomiuri]

LG Sneak Peeks Spring 2008 LCD and Plasma Line with 120Hz, Wi-Fi and New Looks

Wilson Rothman — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:55:06 EST

On a snowy day in North Jersey, LG decided the time was right to introduce most of the LCD and plasma TVs it would be showcasing at CES.

The hotshot model was the LG70 LCD featuring a 20,000:1 contrast ratio, four HDMI 1.3 jacks, USB 2.0 for pictures and MP3s, and Wi-Fi (in its LG71 variation). The leading plasma is the PG30, shown above. Slated to cost a hair less than the LG70 LCD, it will still have a 30,000:1 contrast ratio and a 100,000-hour panel highlife, pretty much ending the dispute about plasma screen burn. (LCD bulbs, which are replaceable, have a halflife of 60,000 hours or less.)

LG didn't announce pricing—citing a pretty liquid pricing market and mid to late spring shipping dates on most models—but it did give the specs on a whole bunch of sets on down the line, so jump for the fact sheet, plus beauty-shot galleries of both lineups.

LCD lineup including LG30, LG50, LG70 and Wi-Fi equipped LG71 TVs:

Plasma lineup including PG20 and PG30 TVs:

2008 HIGHLIGHTS: PLASMA AND LCD HDTVs
LG Electronics' focus on enhanced picture quality, specialized features and sophisticated styling elevates its 2008 line of LCD and Plasma HDTVs into an art form. LG's 2008 LCD line, including the LG30, LG50, LG70 and LG71 series, delivers an unparalleled consumer viewing—and living—experience.

LG30 LCD HDTV Series
(Sizes: 19-, 22-, 26-, 32-, 37- and 42-inches)
The LG30 series comes packed with the most functional and convenient features found in today's HDTVs. It offers consumers a wide range of screen sizes and features invisible speakers that provide a sleek, modern look, while projecting a wider sound sweet spot that yields higher quality sound. Other features include:
• Clear Voice technology that keeps volume levels even, so dialogue won't get muffled when background noise swells
• Content-specific AV modes that automatically tailor settings for movies, sports or games
• Three HDMI 1.3 connection ports (26-inch and larger sets only)
• LG SimpLinkTM connectivity to control other LG SimpLink-compatible equipment (26-inch and larger sets only)

LG50 LCD HDTV Series
(Sizes: 37-, 42-, 47- and 52-inches)
The LG 50 series offers slim profile, high gloss finish, and LG's invisible speaker system creating a clean, high quality look with matching performance. These "Full HD" 1080p sets also feature LG's proprietary Intelligent Sensor, which automatically adjusts the picture to ensure that its quality excels in all viewing conditions. An expert mode for custom picture calibration adds even more versatility to these sets. Other features include:
• 15,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
• USB 2.0 jack for viewing JPEG media or listening to MP3 files
• Three HDMI 1.3 connection ports
• Clear Voice technology to provide high-quality dialogue when background noise swells
• LG SimpLinkTM connectivity to control other LG SimpLink-compatible equipment

LG70 LCD HDTV Series
(Sizes: 32-, 42-, 47- and 52-inches)
The Full HD 1080p LG70 series units are ideal for home theater enthusiasts. The elegant "teardrop" design is augmented by LG's hidden speaker system, soft touch controls, clean lines and a distinctive color accent to create a truly premium HDTV experience.

The LG70 series also incorporates an ultra-high 20,000:1 contrast ratio, and Full HD 1080p resolution. It also features LG's Intelligent Sensor to automatically calibrate programming in any room setting for a higher-quality viewing experience; and is ISFccc certification ready for detailed calibration.
• 20,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
• TruMotion 120Hz
• Four HDMI 1.3 with Deep Color
• USB 2.0 jack for viewing JPEG media or listening to MP3 files
• Clear Voice technology to provide high-quality dialogue when background noise swells
• LG SimpLinkTM connectivity to control other LG SimpLink-compatible equipment

LG71 Wireless LCD HDTV Series (2008 CES Innovation Award Winner)
(Sizes: 47- and 52-inch)
The LG71 contains all of the features found on the LG70 series, plus wireless connectivity to enable clean, easy installation. The LG71 series is stylishly designed, featuring LG's transparent, "teardrop" form factor, for perfect table top or wall mounted viewing without visible wires or external components. Key features include:
• 20,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
• TruMotion 120Hz
• 802.11n Wireless System
• Four HDMI 1.3 connection ports with Deep Color
• USB 2.0 jack for viewing JPEG media or listening to MP3 files
• Clear Voice technology to provide high-quality dialogue when background noise swells
• LG SimpLinkTM connectivity to control other LG SimpLink-compatible equipment

The 2008 plasma offerings provide home theater and sport enthusiasts with more HDTV options. In 2008, LG's line includes the PG20 and PG30 series.

PG20 Series
(Sizes: 42- and 50-inch)
Design and style conscious consumers will appreciate the PG20 because it compliments virtually any décor. The units are uncommonly slim at 84mm, and built with LG's invisible speaker system. The PG20 is loaded with advanced technology and user-friendly features, including a 15:000:1 contrast ratio that allows for deeper blacks. Other features include:
• Three HDMI 1.3 connection ports
• 100,000 hours panel life (to half brightness)
• High gloss finish
• Clear Voice technology to provide high-quality dialogue when background noise swells

PG30 Plasma HDTV Series
(Sizes: 50- and 60-inch)
The PG30 combines the latest technology with premium design, making it perfect for viewing sports and the latest action-packed movies. Its Full HD 1080p resolution and a 30,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio ensure vibrant colors and deeper blacks. The PG30 also has a non-reflective coating to minimize excessive glare caused by harsh ambient light. Its slim depth, high gloss finish and LG's invisible speaker design augment its unprecedented detail and startling clarity. Other features include:
• 30,000:1 contrast ratio
• Swivel Stand
• Three HDMI 1.3 connection ports with Deep Color
• 100,000 hours of panel life (approximately 30 years)
• Clear Voice technology to provide high-quality dialogue when background noise swells

[LG Electronics]

The Trouble With LCD TVs: Motion Blur and the 120Hz Solution

Wilson Rothman — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 14:00:00 EDT

When I first saw LCD TVs in stores and at exhibitions years ago, I was like, WTF? Why would anyone buy these? They were blurry as hell—couldn't everyone see that? Over time, the blur problem has subsided thanks to improved refresh rates of 8ms and less. But motion blur is not only caused by refresh rate, it's a natural problem that arises as LCDs flip from frame to frame, 60 times per second. The solution is to double the flipping, to 120 times per second, hence high-end "120Hz" LCDs hitting the market. We've talked about these sets when they were just launching. But there's new controversy as explained in this Home Theater Mag article right now.

As video editor Geoff Morrison's piece explains, part of the blur perception comes from the fact that, on standard LCDs, frames are frozen on the screen for 1/60th of a second, and then abruptly shift to the next frame. This is called "sample and hold." Other technologies like plasma and DLP don't hold the frame for that whole 1/60th of a second, but pulse from one frame to the next, with some healthy downtime. The obvious solution is to double the frame rate to 120Hz.

One 120Hz method simulates the other TV technologies by introducing that downtime. Between each bright frame is a frame that's totally black or very dim (as shown above). The rapid succession of bright and dark frames, 120 times per second, looks smooth to the eye, and keeps some of the LCD's issues hidden in the darkness. This technique is the best, according to Morrison. Alas, it is dying out.

The trouble with the method is that it reduces the prized brightness of an LCD. It is a sad truth that, in the cutthroat world of Best Buy TV selling, the brightest TV often wins.

That's why the second method (shown below) is coming into vogue. Rather than splice in black frames, LCD makers introduce a Photoshop-style interpolated frame, basically a morphed midpoint between Frame 1 and Frame 3. Thanks to faster processors, this is easier and easier to do, but it has problems. "There is the potential, though, of it looking too smooth," says Morrison. (What's funny is, "looking too smooth" was probably Morrison's life goal in high school, and now he condemns it!)

This is only a piece of the larger LCD issue Morrison discusses, and the gist is that even the inferior 120Hz concepts are improving the situation with motion blur on LCDs (and LCOS projection TVs like Sony's SXRD line). It's a great read, so have a look, or just share your own 120Hz opinions, revelations and nightmares. [Home Theater]

Altec Lansing's Powered Theater is First Foray into Home Theater

kevinhall2 — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 13:34:42 EDT

Altec Lansing enters the home theater market for the first time with its Powered Theater line, shipping in August. Designed to be big on sound and small on space, Powered Theater comes in two flavors: the advanced two-piece PT8051 or the bigger, single-piece PT7031. Thanks to their slim forms, the units should complement home theaters set up around space-saving flatscreens and wall-mounted TVs.

Both of the Powered Theater units take advantage of NXT flat panel loudspeakers–which is NXT's specialty. The cheaper, one-piece PT7031 emulates 5-channel surround sound, though its more complex brother will communicate wirelessly between its two units for multiple front and rear channels, producing more convincing surround sound.

The PT7031 is expected to carry a $600 price tag, and $1000 for the more advanced PT8051.

Press release [Altec Lansing via Electronista]

Dealzmodo: Westinghouse 42" LCD HDTV for $899

Charlie White — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 10:25:54 EDT

Looking for a 42" HDTV? While it's not that rock bottom price of $859.98 that was available until April 1, you can still get a great deal on a Westinghouse LVMW4207 42" Flat-Panel LCD HDTV Monitor. It's brand-new—not a refurbished unit—and Newegg's pricing it at $899.99. There's a $100 mail-in rebate available until April 12, but then shipping is $99.99, so your final price is $899.98 shipped.

This is not the most brand-new LCD display in the world, but we saw this 720p model at CES and it didn't look half bad. Its blacks weren't quite as black as the more expensive Sharp Aquos HDTVs, but it'll do in a pinch, and it really is an HDTV and looks astonishingly sharp anyway. It even has an HDMI port.

This 42" size is about as big as a 720p set gets until you can start to tell it's not 1080p. But it's nestled in that sweet spot where it still doesn't matter all that much. If you're an HDTV fence-sitter, this might be a good time to jump. – Charlie White

Westinghouse 42" LCD [Newegg, via iLikeCheapStuff]

Cheap LCDs to Blame for CompUSA Store Closing?

Travis Hudson — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 11:00:56 EST

Manufacturers of cheap flat-panel TVs, like Vizio and Olevia, could be partially blamed over the recent closing of 128 CompUSA stores and 70 Circuit City stores. Obviously, the low prices of the off-brand LCD flat panels have put a lot of pressure on the "premium" flat-panel manufacturers like Sony and Panasonic to drop prices to compete. The price drops all around have squeezed the margins and hurt the brick-and-mortar retailers like CompUSA and Circuit City, in turn partially causing some of the recent closings. The general consensus at yesterday's U.S. Flat Panel Display Conference was that there are too many brands on the shelves and that the discounts need to stop. Maybe it's just a hunch, but I don't think that opinion will be too popular with the consumers. –Travis Hudson

Flat-panel TV makers sing the discount blues [News.com]

Dell 2407WFP Ships in Japan, in US Soon?

Charlie White — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 09:45:36 EST

All signs point toward impending availability of Dell's 2407WFP 24-inch LCD display in the US and elsewhere, since the company shipped the unit in Japan this week. The big 1920x1200 display has a 1000:1 contrast ratio like its predecessor but speeds up its response time to 6 ms and adds HDCP. It also has a nice, thin bezel and swank-looking base, too. Should run about $1300.

This opens up some possibilities here at home, though, where you can now pick up Dell's 24-inch 2405FPW LCD, the older model with similar specs, for $799.20 at Dell's website. It was $999 before. We're staring at one right now, and we're here to tell you, this monitor is going to be hard to beat, especially at that price.

Word on the street also has it that Dell will release a 27-inch flat panel with specs that are similar to its enormous 30-inch unit, at prices that will be much lower than the $2199 tariff for that 30-inch monster.

Dell 2407WFP released in Japan [ ber gizmo]

Samsung Smart Zipel Refrigerator

Charlie White — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:43:53 EST

If you're one who can't be without TV or connectivity to the net even for a second, Samsung has its Smart Zipel refrigerator for you that wears a 10.4-inch wireless LCD screen on its chest like a badge of honor. The 4x3 flat panel display lets you connect to anything remotely multimediaish such as video or the Web.

Come to think of it, Internet access might be convenient if you need to display a recipe you've found on the Web while you're busy preparing it in the kitchen. Details are sketchy at this point with no pricing or availability information forthcoming, but the refrigerator looks like a fairly high-end unit, capable of holding 26.6 cubic feet of groceries.

Smart Zipel, the wireless TV in my fridge [Akihabara News]

Samsung Intros No-Touch Touchscreen

Charlie White — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 13:34:08 EST

Samsung, the company that tries to introduce a new product each and every minute of the day, now brings you the CX719TD 17 touchscreen LCD display. But don't actually touch it, you must use a stylus instead of your finger. That stylus stays charged up for three hours before it needs to be replenished. Samsung is quoting a contrast ratio of 700:1, and although it's a pretty nice-looking unit, you d better really like this touchscreen technology because you'll pay dearly for it: it's $920, about three times more than you'd pay for a run-of-the-mill 17-inch LCD flat panel. Ouch.

SyncMasterMagic CX719TD, the "TabletPC" screen [Akihabara News, via Newlaunches]

Acer Ferrari F20 Display: Going Fast While Sitting Still

Charlie White — Thu, 16 Feb 2006 13:49:13 EST

As Ferrari continues its indiscriminate branding campaign, one has to wonder if the next Ferrari-branded object will be a matched set of kitchen sponges. The latest item to bear the Ferrari badge is this 20-inch Ferrari F20 LCD monitor from Acer. Tom's Hardware tested the $549 monitor and lauded its high-quality design and finish, but didn't care much for its Ferrari logo which they described as a little cheap-looking. Its specs and performance were average, with its unusual 1680x1050 resolution (making it a true 16:9 panel) delivering a brightness of 300 nits, 800:1 contrast ratio and a quoted 16ms latency that Tom s measured as slower than that. That's certainly not the equivalent of that under four-second zero-to-60 time of the 483-hp Ferrari F430, and that brings up the one nit we have to pick: if it doesn t offer the ultimate in performance, why call it a Ferrari?

Is the Acer F20 the Ferrari of LCD Monitors? [Tom s Hardware]

Purchase info for Acer Ferrari F20 Monitor [Amazon]

Gorgeous Flat Panel Alchemy

Charlie White — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 16:48:11 EST

Here's a guy who took a four-year-old 15-inch flat panel display and turned it into a work of art he calls "TransTFT." Antti Hakala s idea was to expose the workings of the monitor, bringing all of its technology out into the open for all to see. He started by removing the LED panel from its old plastic casing. Next, he created the new case for the panel by precisely cutting $18 worth of clear plastic, using Lexan for the base and polycarbonate for the plastic surround for the panel. Using a few cheap screws from a hardware store and lots of skill and artistic acuity, Hakala put it all together, but thought something was missing. So, as a final and unplanned flourish, he decided at the last minute to mount two LEDs into the edge of the monitor, giving it an eerie and other-worldly red glow around the edges. Neat.

Trans TFT [Metku Mods]

Browse flat panel monitors [Amazon]

Something's Fishy Around Here

Charlie White — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 08:52:30 EST

Some clever people are using their flat panel displays to play back a video loop depicting fish swimming around in a tank. Well now here's a twist on that idea, where you hang a fish tank on the wall and disguise it as a flat panel display. Available with a choice of six tropical reef-like backgrounds, the AquaVista 500 is an aquarium that includes everything you need to set up a hospitable environment for fish, including gravel, a vacuum, a fishnet and a special extendable claw to help you reach all the way down to Davy Jones locker. Just add fish and water, and you're good to go. The aquarium has a built-in overhead lighting system, as well as a pump, filtration system and heating controls that are all regulated by a proprietary embedded LCD control panel. Available with a decorative wood or plastic frame, the aquarium is 4.5 inches thick and 26 inches square, holding 6.6 gallons of fresh water. The turnkey system includes a wall mounting bracket, and at $300 it's a lot cheaper than that plasma or LCD display you've been gawking at. Hang it near your front door for the most powerful feng shui.

AquaVista Tank [Red Ferret]

Product Page

Sharp to Produce Even More Aquos LCD TVs

tgrumet — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 12:40:14 EST

Here's yet another hint that LCD flat panel TVs will be going down in price next year: Sharp has announced plans to boost LCD output at its number one Japanese plant by about 20 percent next spring. The move should cost about 15 billion yen and was inspired by strong sales in the 32- and 37-inch LCD TVs. Always nice to hear.

Sharp to spend Y15 bil to hike output of LCDs [Japan Today]

Compare current Sharp Aquos prices [Shopping.com]

Cameras Just Not Enough for Canon

tgrumet — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 10:39:37 EDT

Like many large consumer electronics companies these days, Canon has decided to expand its business from cameras and copiers to flat panel TVs, betting that this burgeoning market will bring them more opportunities for interesting products—as well as a lot more cash. By next year, Canon hopes to be selling 40-50-inch surface conduction emitter (SED) panels and is working with Toshiba to make this happen. It also plans on actually building a new production site for these panels, which they expect to be pounding out 3 million units by 2010. Of course, to make things even more exciting, Canon President and Chief Executive Fujio Mitarai says they are working on developing three types of display technologies: SED panels, organic light-emitting diode displays (OLED) and projection displays, and planning on using OLED screens to replace LCDs in 2007.

Canon eyes move into TV products [The Age]