Televisions

Still more reasons why all HDMI cable are the same

Even after two articles, and a tremendous number of page hits, there still seems to be lots of questions about HDMI cables. I credit this to the complexity of the topic and the mountain of misinformation out there, rather than any particular failing of the writing on my part. Judge as you see fit.

But the fact is, a recent reposting of my original article lit off a bevy of new questions. Instead of expanding on that already bloated article, I figured a new one would be a better idea.

On to 3D, 1.3/1.4, getting physical, and more...… Read more

Get a 50-inch Insignia HDTV for $499.99

Best Buy is having a fairly decent sale on Insignia TVs today, with just about every model in the lineup discounted by $30-100.

The top pick, IMHO: the Insignia NS-50L240A13 50-inch LCD HDTV for $499.99 shipped (plus sales tax in most states). That's one of the best prices I've ever seen on a TV of this size.

It is, to be fair, an entry-level model, with a non-LED LCD and 60Hz refresh rate. Of course, until a couple years ago, most HDTVs had the same specs.

The NS-50L240A13 features three HDMI inputs, along with the usual assortment … Read more

Sony wants to keep 4K name

Sony has announced that it will keep the 4K name for the successor to 1080p, despite the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) deciding on the new Ultra High Definition tag.

Sony's new name for the technology will be 4K Ultra HD and follows the CEA's announcement yesterday that resolutions of 3,840 pixels horizontally and at least 2,160 would be called simply Ultra HD.

A Sony spokeswoman has contacted CNET and said the company "lauds the CEA's efforts to come up with a common language" but the company wanted to make the name more clear.… Read more

Ultra High Definition officially replaces 4K

The display format formerly known as 4K will now be called "Ultra High Definition" in the home, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) announced in California today.

The CEA said it chose Ultra HD to denote that it has a higher resolution than the existing 1,920x1,080 pixels of full high definition.

To qualify as Ultra HD, a display needs to have a resolution of at least 3,840 pixels horizontally and at least 2,160 pixels vertically, the CEA said. Additionally, the product will require at least one 4K-capable digital input and display 4K content natively without … Read more

Set-top box setup: Which resolution is best?

Cable box or satellite box, DVR or digital media receiver, it's important to set the output resolution so it looks best with your TV.

But what looks best with your TV?

The answer is probably easier to find than you'd imagine.… Read more

Poll: Will you be buying the 'Avatar' 3D Blu-ray?

It was almost three years ago that "Avatar" debuted in cinemas, and today eager fans can finally do what they wanted to do when it first came out on Blu-ray: watch it in 3D at home.

The reason you couldn't buy it on 3D Blu-ray until now? Panasonic bought the exclusive rights for the 3D version for 18 months, and this expired in February of this year. Up until today, if you wanted a copy of "Avatar" in 3D, you either bought a Panasonic plasma, or shelled out up to $100 for a copy from … Read more

Which gadget would you buy for $300?

In the past week, CNET has reviewed three separate media devices, each costing $300, and one of them was a television. And guess what: the TV wasn't terrible.

The three products were the TCL L40FHDP60 ($309), the 3M Streaming Projector ($299), and the Apple iPod Touch ($299). Seeing them all together got me thinking: which one of these would I actually buy if I had the money? Is there something else I'd rather do with my $300?

Until we find out whether the Apple iPad Mini exists, I cast the net out a bit farther and two other … Read more

Rumor Has It: The ultimate cable killer coming from Boxee?

According to the report, the rumored new device would combine a TV tuner with a DVR and media-streaming capabilities, so you could record over-the-air TV. Do you care? Emily does, but she could be alone on this one -- just like she's alone in not knowing who one of America's favorite stars is.

Also, Facebook might finally release a native Android app so HTML5 will stop holding everyone back from stalking their friends at the speed of light.

Speaking of light, Sony's next flagship phone could be made out of a Norse god's lightning bolt and … Read more

Samsung TVs tune in to Spotify

Owners of Samsung's astonishingly thin 2012 smart TVs will soon have another app to play with: Spotify. A deal has just been inked that will give Spotify Premium subscribers in Europe access to millions of streamed tracks and their playlists directly through the set. That means you'll need to pay a small monthly charge to Spotify get it to work -- in the U.K. that's 10 pounds ($16) per month.

The app has a different interface to the one you may be used to from the desktop application, and has been designed to work with a TV remote. It's very similar to the one I use at home on my Virgin TiVo box -- take a look at the gallery above to see what it looks like.