Televisions

If you're not thrilled with the trend toward sandwich-board TV stands, you might want to consider something like this recent addition to Sony's Bravia line of LCD sets. The new Esprit TAV-L1 is built with a sliding decorative panel that hides a 32-inch TV behind it, in a variety of designs to suit your decor. Sony says the Esprit, which is available only in Europe at present, "fused cutting-edge European interior trends with the best of Sony's exclusive sound and vision technology." We like Chip Chick's description a lot better: "A force to … Read more

Vizio is at it again. The price-busting flat-panel TV specialist has set its sights on the huge-screen category with a 60-inch plasma TV, the VM60P HDTV, that will retail for $2,999 when it hits stores in February. That price is the best I've seen for any flat-panel TV larger than 50 inches, and it helps people shopping for a massive picture consider something other than rear-projection sets. The closest comparable HDTV I can think of, Panasonic's 58-inch TH-58PX600U, costs more and has a smaller screen, although if Panasonic's excellent track record is any indication, its picture … Read more

TVs galore this morning.

Microtek, known for its scanning and digital imaging technology, announced Wednesday that it was launching two television lines.

The Microtek line includes a 42-inch flat panel plasma television for $1,500 and a 50-inch version for $2,000. The Cineon line offers a 42-inch flat panel plasma for $1,600 and a 50-inch for $2,200.

On Friday, Microtek announced that it will be adding a 42-inch LCD HDTV to each of those new lines. The L42CX2A for $1,900 will be added to the Microtek line and the CL42HA for $2,000 will be added … Read more

Hannspree has come out with some interesting televisions in terms of physical design as it continues to change its image.

The company is known for its kitschy televisions for kids. They have everything from toy helicopters to stuffed animals encasing TVs. While the company is still maintaining its children's lines, it's also bringing that sense of whimsy to adults with lines that offer hints at other fantasies.

In addition to the travel Hannslounge 26-inch widescreen LCD HDTV, Hannspree has televisions based on a man's belt, the cello, and even pearls.

The rubber-encased Hannstime.square 12-inch LCD TV … Read more

We told you so. Vizio had promised to come out with a 47-inch LCD television with the highest resolution (1080p) for under $2,000, and it has.

The $1,900 TV is the latest of Vizio's "Gallevia" line, as well as the latest salvo fired in its trench warfare with other relative newcomers in the flat TV business--namely Westinghouse, which has a competing product around the same price.

In a recent interview with News.com, Vizio CEO William Wang said, "We don't believe anyone can call $3,000 affordable" for a 1080p TV. For … Read more

The mad scientists at Samsung's R&D labs have apparently been working overtime. Their latest creation is a double-sided LCD screen that can show different images on the front and back of the same display.

It's able to do this, according to Fareastgizmos, because it's controlled by two gates that operate each pixel. Pretty neat trick, huh? The rear display is slightly less bright than the front, but that's a minor quibble at this stage of the game.

Speaking of games, we can think of at least one useful purpose for a double-sided monitor: Making … Read more

Now this is retro. While other gadget makers waste their time with reproductions of phones and alarm clocks, Telstar Electronics is doing right by TV designs of yesteryear under its "Predicta" brand.

Despite their distinctive '50s look, Brandish says these sets are outfitted with modern technology such as DVD and stereo hookups. Pictured here is one of the more eye-catching versions, which it describes this way: "The Meteor, the quirkiest of the models, is designed by Mike L. Scott and has aircraft/UFO inspired legs, a hand-built hardwood cabinet and a 24-inch screen, which pivots on a … Read more

Last night LG said it would release a combination Blu-ray/HD DVD player in early 2007. The news comes with no other details, but I expect the company to divulge a bit more information, perhaps including a mocked-up image or even a physical box of some kind, at the company's press conference, scheduled for 8 a.m. PT this Sunday at CES. Until then we're in the dark as regarding questions such as "When exactly?" "How much?" and "Is this for real?"

LG has made a similar announcement before, so I'll … Read more

Only a day after fellow Craver Michael Kanellos noted that the little guys were driving much of digital TV market, one of the giants has decided to step in with a new tactic. Rather than just compete in the brutal price wars of recent months, Samsung will introduce a whole new line of thinner rear-projection TVs that The New York Times says will cost 30 percent less than the plasma screens on the market today.

Samsung, the second-highest seller of plasmas and LCD sets in North America, plans to make the new TVs in some of the largest mass-market sizes (… Read more