Sony BRAVIA KDL-52XBR9 Review
Sony BRAVIA XBR Series KDL-52XBR9
Sony’s XBR models are usually its best and most expensive - the latter of which is definitely a fact for the Sony KDL-52XBR9. As for being one of the best, the KDL-52XBR9 may not match the LED-lit KDL-55XBR8, but offers a ton of excellent features of its own to justify its price and status as a flagship model.
Sony BRAVIA VE5-Series KDL-52VE5 review
Sony BRAVIA KDL-52VE5
Nowadays, HDTV companies compete with each other not just in the terms of the image quality of their models, but also their energy efficiency. After all, ‘going green’ is a popular trend, and the Sony KDL-52VE5 is the perfect offering for HDTV shoppers who want to do just that.
Blu-ray Goes 3D
One of the reasons why consumers buy HDTVs is because they want to enjoy the stunning video quality of Blu-ray movies to the fullest, and now, they have another reason as the specifications for 3D Blu-ray have been finalized, meaning it won’t be long until viewers get to put on their 3D glasses at home while enjoying the amazing visuals that made Blu-ray win over HD DVD.
Just this week, the Blu-ray Association released the codec for 3D Blu-ray - Multiview Video Coding or MVC that will present individual high-resolution images for each eye while taking up only half the disc space. The actual format will be demonstrated by AMD in January for the 2010 CES (Consumer Electronics Show) and according to Nvidia, 3D Blu-ray movies may start hitting the shelves as early as next summer.
The 3D Blu-ray discs can be played by current Blu-ray players but to get the full 3D effect, consumers will need to upgrade their player or get a Sony PlayStation 3, which has enough horsepower to play full 3D content. Dedicated 3D Blu-ray players are also being developed for a 2010 release.
Also, only a handful of HDTVs are 3D compatible, but that may change soon with Sony entering into a partnership with RealD to create full 3D consumer electronics for 2010.
Pixel Qi Solar-Powered HDTV In The Works
Today’s High-Definition televisions are taking on a more environment-friendly approach, with many equipped with power-saving features and meeting Energy Star standards. The more energy efficient LED-lit sets are increasing in number, too. None of those, however, can match the solar-powered HDTV which Pixel Qi promises to deliver.
According to Pixel Qi, the plans to develop a mass produced solar-powered HDTV unfurled in November. It also said the HDTVs will consume only 10 watts - perfect for third-world countries which do not have enough electric supply.
Even more surprisingly, Pixel Qi is aiming to sell its solar-powered HDTV for just $100 a set.
Last year, Sharp also unveiled its solar-powered HDTV at the CEATEC convention - a 52-inch LCD HDTV with its own solar panel - but mass production has yet to start.
Pixel Qi is currently one of the most innovative computing companies, having won the top award from Laptop Magazine at the Computex 2009 convention for its laptops with low powered, electronic ink displays - the same display used by ebook readers like the Kindle and Nook - which can extend their battery life to as much as 40 hours. The current average battery life of a laptop is four to nine hours.
Pixel Qi is also one of the companies behind the One Laptop per Child project.
Samsung Introduces New ‘Entertainment-Centric’ HDTV Monitors
LCD HDTV screens are known to double as computer monitors, but can a monitor double as an HDTV? While this is not always the case, it certainly is for Samsung’s new HDTV monitors - the 19-inch 933HD and the 23-inch 2333HD.
Both come with a digital TV tuner and offer a 10,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, along with a 5-millisecond response time and a 16:9 aspect ratio, so consumers can enjoy watching movies in their original widescreen format, making them both truly “perfect companions for users who want integrated HDTV functionality from a desktop monitor” as described by Samsung Electronics America Information Technology VP Doug Albregts.
Both also offer various settings to enhance picture quality like on a regular HDTV, such as MagicColor, MagicBright and Color Effect.
The 233HD model, though, has a higher resolution - 1920×1080 - and two HDMI inputs for connecting to other HD devices, like a Blu-ray player, while the 933HD has a resolution of 1360×768 and one HDMI input. The 233HD also offers Dolby Digital sound.
The new Samsung HDTV monitors retail at $329.99 and $249.99 respectively and are now available in the US.
Both sport a sleek style with a black glossy frame that gently curves along the bottom where it is finished off with a crystal-like acrylic bar. Both models also come with a remote control.
