November, 2008 | HD TV PROFESSOR

Month: November 2008

Are You Ready for Some 3D-Fence?

November 28, 2008 | Author: Muneeb Mannan

Those NFL fans with the goofy hats and face paint are going to be emerging -- literally -- on screens on December 4th in the first ever 3D live broadcast of an NFL game. When the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders face off in an intrastate contest, fans in Boston, Hollywood, and New York will be able to watch 3D coverage in local movie theaters. The experiment is a...

Happy Thanksgiving

November 27, 2008 | Author: Muneeb Mannan

I'm not here today. I'm off with family and friends, enjoying the holiday, and I hope that this is a happy day for you, too. These are difficult times for many people, and getting a flat screen TV may not be in the cards for many this year. Whatever your circumstances, I hope that you have plenty to to be thankful for on this day, and that your blessings outnumber...

Bracing for Black Friday

November 26, 2008 | Author: Muneeb Mannan

I recognize that there are many sites that give you the "inside scoop" on the Black Friday offers. And this year -- more than ever -- the retailers themselves have been tipping their hand and pre-announcing their own specials. And then let's not forget the fact that we've been seeing Black Friday pricing on lots of items for the past month. But I can't let this seasonal mayhem pass without...

120 Hz Gaining Ground

November 25, 2008 | Author: Muneeb Mannan

A new flat panel report from DisplaySearch indicates that the proportion of LCD panels with 120 Hz refresh increased from 12% in the second quarter of 2008 to 16% in the third quarter. This is a big increase: one third more in just one quarter. The shift becomes more significant when you break it down by size. 120 Hz panels held just a 6% share in 32" panels, increasing to...

Seniors to Get DTV Help

November 24, 2008 | Author: Muneeb Mannan

As I've mentioned here frequently, the elderly are one major segment of the US population who are most likely to be adversely affected by the upcoming transition to digital television broadcasts. They are least likely to be technology-savvy, and most likely to depend on television broadcasts for their entertainment and information. Add the fact that until recently, residents of nursing homes and similar group residences were not eligible for converter...

Reader Question: DVRs after the Transition

November 21, 2008 | Author: Muneeb Mannan

Q: The transition to digital broadcasts poses a problem for some people who record daytime shows on their VCRs to watch when they come home from work. I asked the salesman at Radio Shack about the two converter models they sell, and they do not have a timer feature to set up like a VCR. I have seen ads online for cards that could handle this, though in what seems...

Fireside IPTV

November 20, 2008 | Author: Muneeb Mannan

A new administration, and everything changes. Barack Obama has already announced that his weekly radio address to the nation will also be filmed and then posted on YouTube. If nothing else, this is a president who understands communications in the 21st Century. In fact, he's already started using the Democratic weekly address as an opportunity to discuss his plans for the country and the transition issues. You can see this...

HDTV Transition: One More Exception

November 19, 2008 | Author: Muneeb Mannan

The transition from analog to digital television broadcasts in the U.S. can best be described as "exceptional". On February 17, 2009, all TV stations in the country will stop broadcasting analog signals, and will only broadcast digital. Except some that are not full-power stations. And except for most of the stations in Wilmington, NC, which made the switch in September. And maybe except for some stations in markets along the...

LCD TV Prices Sinking Fast

November 18, 2008 | Author: Muneeb Mannan

It's not a good time to be an LCD HDTV maker. Sharp is Japan's largest LCD TV maker -- and fifth largest LCD panel maker worldwide -- and they're taking it on the chin. According to a report from PriceSCAN, the average selling price for LCD HDTVs 50" and larger fell by 6% in October alone. That's a huge amount, especially when you consider the manufacturer's profit margin is only...

Need Help with a Converter Box?

November 17, 2008 | Author: Muneeb Mannan

February 17, 2009 is just four months away. If you have any of your TVs connected to an antenna, you should be thinking about how you're going to get a signal after the digital conversion. Your old analog set can have a long life after the digital switch-over, but you'll need a digital converter box. (My old Almanac entry from a year ago still gets a number one position on...