LCD HDTVs are improving continuously to catch up to the Plasma HDTV quality and to reduce their power consumption. We are now entering the LED Backlight era for HDTV’s, LED backlit HDTV technology is now maturing with Samsungs new UN46B7000 LED backlit LCD TV being a good example of the new breed of LED LCD TV’s.
This 46 inch LED LCD HDTV from Samsung has one of the best picture quality seen on a LCD HDTV, it is only 2.1 inches thick and uses less power than just about any HDTV of its size and power.
The Samsung UN46B7000 also offers one of the best contrasts seen on a LCD TV with a resolution of 1080p and the innovative custom 120 Hz settings.
A optional Wi-Fi dongle allows network connectivity which includes DNLA and Yahoo Widgets. This system gathers Internet-powered information, called snippets, into a bar along the bottom of the screen. These widgets include information such as stocks, weather, news, and access to Flickr photos.
Other highlights on the LCD HDTV include four HDMI inputs, two USB inputs, a VGA style input and a single component-video input/composite video. An RF input for antenna or cable, an optical digital audio jack, and an Ethernet port complete the picture.
Overall the Samsung UN46B7000 LED backlit LCD offers excellent picture quality, great design and tremendous colour accuracy rivalling the best Plasma HDTV’s with much lower power consumption.
TV retailers and manufacturers have agreed to phase out all TVs without digital TV tuners at the end of 2009.
Non digital recorders will be also phased out including analogue DVD recorders and shops will need to have better labelling and consumer information.
The Digital Switchover Supply Chain Group which represents major names like Sony and Panasonic as well as independent retailers have requested that the conversion of all TV digital sets is speeded up to ensure that they are all equipped with digital tuners. So far both Sony and Panasonic have successfully migrated all their TV products to digital.
As much as nine out of ten large TVs sold this year already have digital tuners but only 15% of smaller screens under 26 inches are ‘digitally ready’ and 64% of recorders are without a digital TV recorder.
The Co-Chairman of the Digital Switchover Supply Chain Group said, “We’ve already seen a rapid transformation in the market for larger, flat screen televisions in the shape of LCD TVs, the vast majority of which are now digital. The moves we are announcing today will further benefit consumers by continuing that transformation across the full range of television and recording equipment”
Panasonic announced at its convention in Amsterdam yesterday that it will expand its line of VIERA series of plasma and LCD TV’s.
With screen sizes ranging from 19 to 54 inches, the new line up will include plasma and LCD models in eight series.
The series will also incorporate Panasonics Viera Cast service, a new service in Europe, allowing the viewing of internet content from sources such as YouTube and Eurosport (keeping in line with the current manufacturer trend of internet enabled LCD TVs), the ability to view pictures and movies from a digital camera or camcorder, and can permit the viewing of media content from a networked PC.
The 2009 Panasonic plasma and LCD TV range will also feature IPS Alpha panel with large aperture ratio resulting in clearer pictures, a wide viewing angle and a 50,000:1 contrast ratio.
The pundits agreed the Samsung had the best new TV’s at last weeks CES show. They announced three new LED LCD series, all of the new LCD TV’s feature LED backlights and have improved blacks, the high end with has a 240Hz refresh rate, and each just over an inch thick. Gizmodo have a nice picture showing the new ultra slim LCD TV’ here
The Samsung LNXXB8000, LNXXB7000 and LNXXB6000 HDTV’s are all slim ( approximately an inch/25mm”) Touch of Color bezels (the 8000 being in a new chrome and clear “prism” finish). The new TV Sets feature built-in Ethernet for Netflix streaming, as well as integration of the Yahoo Widget Engine, an open platform for third-party widgets for weather, Flickr photos, etc, The 6000 and 7000 series will come in 40, 46 and 55-inch sizes, with the 8000 series ditching the 40-incher.
Now, the differences: the LNXXB8000 is the only one to feature a 240Hz refresh rate. The LNXXB7000 looks to be the same deal in a different-coloured chassis and down to 120Hz. And the LUXIA LCD TV’s use 40% less power, featuring an optimized “energy savings mode”.
And, not to be forgotten, the traditional Samsung CCFL LCD TVs has got improvements as well, with 240Hz Motion Plus now standard on the new 7-series 750 LCD line. Series 6 LCDs and Series 8 Plasmas also get an update for 2009.
Research from Curry’s suggest a resurgence in the old skool portable CD player this Christmases. 
45,000 players were sold in October alone, which might be something to do with the fact that they’re now much more affordable.
Aside from the cheapness factor, Category Manager at Currys Yvonne Ho reckons some people are still struggling with digital music, whether this be ripping and encoding it or copying it across and managing it on a player.
She says
"There is definitely still a market for portable CD players, particularly at this time of year, as they make great stocking fillers for people of all ages and are primarily bought for their ease of use and by the people yet to digitise their music collections."
We can see that there’s life left in the old CD player as there will always be people who don’t want to get involved with MP3s, don’t have the internet or aren’t confident on a computer."
AJ Electronics has a Sony DEJ021S CD Walkman for 25.99
Sony has been working on wireless HD technology for a while now Sony’s latest innovation is a new series of HD TVs that combines cutting edge design with the latest technology.
With Sony BRAVIA EX1 Series wires become a thing of the past, thanks to the BRAVIA 1080 Wireless technology which allows you to connect all your home entertainment devices with a simple connection to the media receiver.
The 1080i HD signal is sent to the screen using BRAVIA 1080 Wireless technology, with no delay to whatever you’re watching or playing at the time. High speed and High Definition, it’s a state of the art solution that gives a real time reaction.
The BRAVIA Engine 2 guarantees more detailed and crisp clear pictures with vibrant colours and super smooth motion and the Advanced Contrast Enhancer technology will make you get a perfect contrast in every scene.
Another interesting feature is the Picture Frame Mode that lets you display one of six pre-loaded images or one of your favourite photos. The Sony Bravia EX1 also gives you an option do create a slideshow, all you have to do is plug in a compatible USB memory card select the photos you want to display set the timings and watch all your photos in High Definition.
The Sony BRAVIA EX1 series is available in three different sizes 52", 46", 40" with a choice of a black or silver frame. Soon to be available at AJ Electronics
