If you haven’t bought a new TV set for a good 4 or 5 years, then 2010 is the year to do so. The future of  TV sets is about improved quality, slimness and 3D capability. CES 2010 in Las Vegas came to an end on the 10th of January. After taking a close look at the HDTVs on display, we’ve outlined the trends predicted for 2010 and shortlisted this year’s most exciting launches.

After a year of speculation, top TV manufacturers confirmed that 2010 will be the year of 3D television – with manufacturers like LG, Sony, Samsung and Toshiba announcing that 3D TV sets will be on sale in the UK by April. With Sky announcing that 3D broadcasting will be available by October, we strongly recommend that if you are planning on investing in a new HDTV set, go for a 3D one.

OLED is also set to be the next big thing in picture quality. The only problem is that manufacturers like LG can only make OLED TV as big as 15 inches; however we expect to see bigger sets over the next few years as the technology inevitably advances. OLED (which stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode) produces super crisp pictures with unbelievable quality and definition.

So, that’s enough small talk. Let’s get down to our list of best HDTV’s set to hit the shops in 2010…

LG Infinia LE9500 3D-Ready LED TV

For those who were lucky enough to be at this year’s CES will testify that LG’s 6.9mm model is the world’s thinnest LED TV. LG’s Infinia LE9500 3D-Ready LED TV comes equipped with an arsenal of innovations that includes 3D–Ready support, Skype capabilities and streaming media from Netflix, VUDU, YouTube, Napster and Yahoo! Widgets.. With this model, LG have broken conventions of LED TV design by transforming the screen into the actual speakers – which allows it to be so thin without compromising sound quality.

Toshiba Cell TVs

Besides using the same type of processor used in the PlayStation 3 and offering native 3D capability, Toshiba has packed its next generation of HDTVs with every feature we ever dreamed of. Toshiba also claims that, thanks to a new technology called TriVector Cell, TV series will be able to convert 2D content into 3D content in real time. No demo was available so we’ll have to hold off our judgement for now.

Samsung LED 9000 Series

The 900 series is the next gen of Samsung’s LED LCD TVs and the flagship model the Samsung C9000 is perhaps one of the slickest TV sets we’ve ever set eyes on. Just so you can comprehend the C900’s sleekness: the model is the same width as a number two pencil. The Samsung C900 is of course 3D, and is also capable of converting 2D content into 3D, again no demo was available.

LG 15-inch OLED TV

Despite its size, the LG 15-inch OLED TV is the biggest possible OLED TV to date, but give a few more years and we’ll see 26, 36, 47-inch OLED TV sets. OLED is the future of HDTV, this LG OLED produces super crisp picture with and absolutely stunning picture quality.

Sony Bravia Full HD 3D TV

As expected, Sony also caught the 3D flu that contaminated the world’s top television manufacturers and also introduced a new series of 3D TVs at this year’s CES. Sony will offer three separate lines of Bravia Full HD 3D TVs. The LX900 series, due out this summer, is available in size up to 60 inches and includes an edge-lit LED backlight system. Other features include 240Hz processing, integrated WiFi and two active shutter glasses for watching 3D content. It features what Sony calls a Monolithic industrial design with a smooth glass surface from edge to edge.

The consumer electronics giant also used the 3D wave to introduce its first 3D-capable Blu-ray player with WiFi connectivity and instant streaming of online content.

Following our previous post where we guided first time HDTV buyers towards making the right purchase, we are proud to announce our top 5 recommended HDTVs best buys for this Christmas.

LG 19LH20

The LG 19LH20 is a 19 inch HD Ready LCD TV with built in digital Freeview powered by LG’s Twin XD engine, invisible speakers and a resolution of 720p, Ideal for smaller rooms and bedrooms.

LG 22LH2000

The LG 22HL200 is a 22 inch HD Ready LCD TV with a 720p resolution, built in Digital Freeview and 1 HDMI socket. Same as the 19LH20 this LG LCD TV is ideal for smaller rooms and bedrooms because of its reduced size.

Samsung UE40B6000 LED TV

The Samsung UE40B6000 40″ FULL HD 1080P LED TV innovates in both style and technology, this new series from Samsung is a clear winner that’s guaranteed to please its viewers.

The new LED design is cleaner and greener using 40% less energy than most LCD TV’s giving you potential savings on your energy bills. This TV is made with no mercury or lead and the ultra slim design means the UE40B6000 requires little packaging.

Sony KDL40Z4500

The Sony KDL40Z4500 40 inch Full HD LCD TV has the smoothest and most detailed fast-moving images thanks to its world-first Motionflow 200Hz technology with image blur reduction.

Powered by Sony’s BRAVIA ENGINE 2 you will experience incredibly clear and define pictures as well as watch TV movies and games in high definition – ideal for hardcore gamers that are looking for a top notch screen resolution.

Samsung UE55B7020

With unmatched picture quality, incredible slimness and minimal environmental impact, the Samsung UE55B7020 LED TV is a whole new species of television. Discover a whole new era of television.

Christmas is just around the corner and if you are thinking of upgrading your TV set now is the time to do so. With HDTVs of all sizes being more affordable than ever, now is time to join the high resolution revolution.

With so many brands and models with varying specs now available, your quest will require knowledge and above all patience. To help you in your quest here are a few points to consider before purchasing a High Definition TV:

1. Size Does Matter

Sometimes the bigger does not mean better. Each HDTV size, be it a Plasma or LCD TV, has an optimal viewing distance. Determine the distance between the TV to where you would normally watch it and use the table below to determine what size TV will best suit your needs.

Based on the Lechner Chart

2. Viewing Angles

Normally we sit looking direct at the TV set, but you also need to think of guests and family members. For instance, it’s worth taking into account that Plasma TVs have better views from obtuse angles compared to LCD TVs where viewing quality is reduced from such angles.

3. What HDTV Technology should I Choose?

As you’ve probably gathered, HDTVs have two main technologies: Plasma and LCD. But new technologies have emerged since HDTV’s early days. Technologies like OLED and Rear Projection are now available but should really only be considered in very special cases.

LCD TVs are the more popular of the two HDTV technologies, with the widest range of screen sizes and an improved picture performance. LCD HDTVs are suitable for brighter rooms with large windows as they reflect less light.

Over the years LCD HDTVs dominated the sales in the mid/low size range forcing Plasma TV manufacturers to refocus their efforts on larger TV set. If you are thinking big (we’re talking 50 inches plus), you want to look for a Plasma TV. It is important to remember that Plasma is not the best choice for rooms with too much light in, as the glass on the screen reflects direct light more readily than LCD screens.

4. Resolution

Thanks to the Blu-ray revolution and the next generation of game consoles (particularly PS3 and Xbox 360) resolution is a key feature in HDTVs. For serious gamers a Full HD with 1080p is undoubtedly the best option but, again, viewing distance remains a factor because from 12 feet, a normal person with a perfect eye-sight cannot tell the difference between a 720p and a 1080p TV regardless of size.

5. Contrast Ratio

Very simple tip here: when it comes down to contrast ratio the higher the better.

And with that, we’ve covered all the basics you need to know before purchasing your first HDTV. For those readers who already own an HDTV and would like to share their personal experiences feel free to leave your comments below.

Sony has officially announced their PlayStation 3 Slim that will retail for $100 less than the current PlayStation 3 fat which is also being reduced in price.

According to Gizmodo, the PS3 slim will come with a 120GB drive, and will be 32% smaller and 36% lighter than the standard PlayStation 3, as well as using 34% less power.

The $300 price will apply to all PlayStation 3s and the Slim will be available to the public during the first week of September.

The current PS3 model will be reduced to $300, whereas the 160GB PS3 will be $400. There will be a new PS3 logo as well as modifications to the official name from PLAYSTATION 3 to PlayStation 3.

It’ll also have a BRAVIA Sync feature that’ll allow you to control the PS3’s XMB with your Sony TV remote as long as they’re connected via HDMI. And the TV will automatically turn off the PS3 when the TV goes off.

Sony also says that they’re eliminating the feature of installing other operating systems on the Slim, so no more Linux.

And there will only be two USB ports.

To shop for the current Sony Playstation 3 please click here.

For the past couple of weeks rumours of a smaller version of the Sony Playstation 3 are getting stronger and we may very close to an official confirmation and release date. Rumours are so hot that we even included in our latest poll: 3 Gadgets for Xmas – Zune HD, Apple iTablet, Sony PS3 Slim

While doing some research on the subject, we even found that some American based shopping websites are already pre-selling a PS3 Slim priced at $300 which includes Blu-ray, a 120 GB HD, DualShock 3 controller and a HDMI output with 1080p support.

With the confirmation of the PS3 Slim prices on the current chubby Playstation 3 are likely to drop but that is not the only reason for a price drop on the PS3.

According to a very reliable source we found out that Sony found a way to reduce the Playstation 3 production costs by 70% which is already raising some eyebrows at Microsoft and Nintendo, manufacturers of the Xbox 360 and the Wii respectively. Though the drop in costs maybe has more to do with going to a 45nm fab as IBM has got the cell processor down to that levels – the original PS3 was 90nm.

With those PS3 Slim rumours, some retailers jumped to conclusions and have already reduced their prices, which strengthen the rumours about a slimmer version of the Playstation 3.

All these rumours could be confirmed later today during Sony’s press briefing at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, and according to the show’s press site, Sony is factoring in a three-hour presentation, a very long time to just announce a price cut and a new Playstation 3 version.

Industry experts and gamers around the globe are in two minds, while some believe Sony will announce a release date for Gran Turismo 5 others think Sony’s 3 hour presentation will have to do with the new motion controller, Sony’s contender to Microsoft’s Natal presented at this year’s E3.

Tired of searching through your collection of remote controls to find the right one. A new research project has come up with a very different way to control all the gadgets in  a typical living room.

CRISTAL (Control of Remotely Interfaced Systems using Touch-based Actions in Living spaces) is a research project from a group of universities that attempts to create a more natural way of interacting with devices found in a typical living room. The system offers a live video view of the living room displayed on a tabletop, so users can can walk up to it, see the layout of the room and touch the table to interact with the TV, photo frame or any of the other devices – the prototype can also control the lights and a Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner.

You can see how this system works in a video the team have produced.

One of the team members Dr Stacy Scott says:

“We wanted a social aspect to activities such as choosing what to watch on TV and we wanted to make the process easy and intuitive,”

Stacy estimates that the current cost is around £7000 but she is confident that in a few years something like it will be a viable consumer product, especially as Microsoft is also experimenting in this area.

2009 is turning out to be a bumper year for gadget fanciers with a number of long awaited electronic gadgets just launched or on the runway to a launch for the Christmas shopping season. 

Apple iTablet

With the long in the gestation Apple Tablet / iTablet due for a launch before Christmas. Will apple be able to create a new type of computer product or is this another Newton a  nice technology that in the end goes nowhere

.

 Zune HD

Microsoft’s OLED iPod killer is out in the states to very good reviews which is not common for Microsoft hardware products – could this be a turning point for Microsoft?

 Sony PS3 Slim

There have been loads of rumors about a slimed down and cheaper Play Station 3 for some time now. And there have been glimpses of pre release marketing with a new 120GB model being the most common rumor. Sony have apparently managed to reduce the cost of producing a PS3 by 70% and maybe be gearing up for an assault on the XBOX and Wii  at Christmas.

Let us know what you think in our poll

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A US court has banned American Software Company RealNetworks from selling a program that lets people make copies of their DVDs.

The ruling stops Real from selling RealDVD, a piece of software that allows you to make back-up copies of their movie discs and save them to their computer.

Although free DVD ripping software is already available online, Real raised the hackles of Hollywood executives in 2008 because it paid for a license to the DVD Copy Control Association, believing that it could be interpreted to allow the services they wanted to provide.

In her ruling, Judge Marilyn Hall Patel said:

“While it may well be fair use for an individual consumer to store a backup copy of a personally-owned DVD on that individual’s computer, a federal law has nonetheless made it illegal to manufacture or traffic in a device or tool that permits a consumer to make such copies.”

Campaigners had argued that consumers had the right to make personal copies of material they had legally obtained, and that Real should not be punished.

Real Networks said that it was “disappointed” in the ruling and would take time to examine the verdict closely before considering whether to appeal.

Do you agree with the judges verdict or do you think we should be able to copy our own DVDs??

Either way you can watch them on the DVD players and recorders available here at AJ Electronics, for more details please visit the website.

Google has announced a new version of its search engine which is said to be faster and more accurate than ever before.

The upgrade, which has been dubbed “caffeine” by insiders, was announced on Monday after the company opened up access to web developers.

Although little about the appearance of the new version has changed, engineers promised that radical changes behind the scenes would result in vast improvements for users.

The company said in a statement: “For the past several months a large team of Googlers has been working on a secret project: next-generation architecture for Google’s web search.”

Caffeine will allow Google to index the web at a higher pace – gathering more information and doing it faster.

Martin McNulty, director of search marketing specialist Trafficbroker wrote on his blog: “Google’s Caffeine is undoubtedly faster, almost twice as fast at times. It’s like a Google Gti.”

The company claims that significant changes to the way the system works will improve the experience for users – although it will also send shockwaves through marketers who try and optimise their results to appear higher up in Google’s index.

This new Google “caffeine” injection will increase the speed of your searches on your MacBooks and Sony Living Room PC available here at AJ Electronics.

It looks likely that Microsoft will launch a new version of the Zune MP3 Player on September the 5th or 8th.

Microsoft say the about the Zune HD

• Zune HD is the next iteration of the Zune device family and brings a new level of listening and viewing experiences to the portable media player category.
• Zune HD comes with a built-in HD Radio receiver so users can listen to higher-quality sound than traditional radio on the go. Users also will have access to the additional song and artist data broadcast by HD Radio stations as well as additional channels from their favorite stations multicasting in HD. If you don’t like the song playing on your station’s HD channel, switch to its HD2 or HD3 channels for additional programming.
• The bright OLED touch screen interface allows users to flip through music, movies and other content with ease, and the 16:9 widescreen format display (480×272 resolution) offers a premium viewing experience on the go.
• The HD-compatible output lets Zune HD customers playback supported HD video files from the device through a premium high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) audiovisual docking station (sold separately) direct to an HD TV in 720p.*
• Zune HD will include a full-screen Internet browser optimized for multitouch functionality.
• Zune HD is Wi-Fi enabled, allowing for instant streaming to the device from the more than 5 million-track Zune music store.

Even some Apple fans have been saying that maybe this is the MP3 player with a chance of making some inroads into the iPods dominance. And with Apple getting a lot of bad press over problems with the iPhone app store recently* and Microsoft getting the better of Yahoo in the search deal, may be Steve Ballmer isn’t such a bad replacement for Bill Gates.

The launch will be USA only at first it will be interesting to see what features a UK /Euro version of the Zune HD would have – the HD radio feature would have to change quite radically.

What do you think is the iPod going to be knocked off the top spot as the must have MP3 Player?

*note: The author thinks that most of Apples problems are due to its iPhone deal with ATT – you don’t get a nick name like the “Death Star” for nothing.