Buzzword: Is it worth paying more for 240Hz?

One of the big decisions you’ll have to make if you’re shopping for a new LCD TV over Black Friday (or any time soon) is whether to pay more for a TV with 240Hz technology or 120Hz. These technologies are often advertised as reducing the blur in fast motion that has been an inherent problem for LCD TVs with the standard 60Hz refresh rate. It won’t cost you too much more for 120Hz, which has become fairly common over the past two years, but 240Hz is still available mainly on larger and pricier sets. My colleague, Jim Willcox, blogged on this a few months ago, and I think the eve of Black Friday is the perfect time to remind you of his advice, while adding a few findings from our latest tests.

Is 240Hz worth it? That depends. Our tests have shown that LCD TVs that quadruple the frame rate to true 240Hz can reduce motion blur in fast action scenes to the point that it’s barely noticeable, comparable to the rock-solid images on plasma TVs, which don’t suffer from motion blur. LCD TVs that double the frame rate to 120Hz, and those that use a 120Hz frame rate along with a scanning backlight to simulate 240Hz, don’t do as well, but they’re typically better than 60Hz TVs. Notice I said “typically.” That’s because the implementation of these technologies really determines how effective they are. We’ve found some models that show very little reduction in blur despite faster refresh rates. For our TV Ratings and reviews (available to subscribers), we test TVs on a model-by-model basis to show you which sets do a good job at reducing blur.

“Unfriend”: Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year

Ladies, gentlemen, wordsmiths of all ages: Introducing the Word of the Year 2009—and by, extension, buzzword of the year?—as determined by the New Oxford American Dictionary:

unfriend – verb – To remove someone as a ‘friend’ on a social networking site such as Facebook. As in, “I decided to unfriend my roommate on Facebook after we had a fight.

The word was chosen for its currency and potential longevity, according to Christine Lindberg, Oxford USA’s Senior Lexicographer. Visit the Oxford University Press Blog for a list of 2009’s Word of the Year finalists. (Two of the finalists have already been featured here on the Electronics Blog. Which ones? Find 'em here and here. Yes folks, we're that prescient.) —Nick K. Mandle

Buzzword: Are "derivative" TV models a good buy?

If you’re on the hunt for a discounted TV during the holiday shopping season, you may come across some model numbers you haven’t seen in our TV Ratings (available to subscribers) or anywhere else, even from major brands. These TVs are known as "derivatives," and they generally differ from the standard models in a manufacturer's line. Because the derivative sets are lower-priced, they typically have lower specs and lack some features found on standard models.

There are several reasons why manufacturers offer these sets. One is that it allows them to hit specific retail price points during promotional shopping periods, something they couldn’t do with standard models. This lets bigger-name companies compete on price with lesser-known secondary or tertiary TV brands without disrupting pricing for their standard models. A company may also use derivative models to get their brand into a new channel of distribution—say, a mass merchant such as Walmart or a warehouse club like Costco—without upsetting their more mainstream retail partners. Since the model numbers, and usually, specifications, are different, shoppers can’t directly compare the models sold in these different types of retail outlets.

As we mentioned in a previous post, we’re already seeing some derivative LCD models from Samsung—LN-B400- and B500-series sets —and Sony (KDL-L504- and S504-series sets). Last year, Panasonic also offered a few derivative models that were sold only during the holidays.

Buzzword: Net neutrality (and why we support it)

Since last month, the Federal Communication Commission's push for net neutrality—the principle of an open Internet unhindered by the filtering or blocking of lawful Web sites by service providers—has sparked controversy among lawmakers and pundits. Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports (and a supporter of the FCC's initiative) has published a rundown on the basics:

Network neutrality is a fancy way of saying the networks that deliver the Internet should treat all content, sites, and applications equally and shouldn’t discriminate against certain traffic based on its source, destination or message. The basic idea is the Internet should be open so consumers have unrestricted access to lawful Web sites and online businesses can compete freely.

The FAQ, found at our sister site, HearUsNow.org, also discusses what's at stake for consumers and what next steps the FCC is taking.

Last week, the agency drafted six proposed rules [PDF] by which an Internet service provider would have to comply. In reality, the first four are already enforced. Rules five and six are the new additions:

Under the draft proposed rules, subject to reasonable network management, a provider of
broadband Internet access service:

Verizon's first Droid ad goes on the iPhone attack

Click for the the Droid promo site (with ad).

Verizon has begun running a hard-hitting ad aimed at building excitement for its first phone powered by Google's Android-operating system. Dubbed the Droid, the phone, which until recently went by the code name "Sholes," is expected in early November. It joins other Android-powered phones already on the market, including T-Mobile's G1 and myTouch, HTC's Hero on the Sprint network, and the Motorola Cliq, which debuts this Friday.

The ad, which first appeared on network TV over the weekend promotes the Droid mostly by assaulting the iPhone, the Apple smart phone.Over happy pop music and rapid-fire images, apparently to emulate Apple's own advertisements, the ad highlights the iPhone's limitations, including these:

• The lack of a physical keyboard
• An inability to run simultaneous applications
• The absence of a 5-megapixel camera
• It's hard to personalize
• Its batteries are not replaceable by the user

The happy music ends abruptly, and the ad shifts to emulating a futuristic broadcast alerting the masses that a new mobile challenger will arrive in November. Viewers are directed to DroidDoes.com, a Verizon site that brags that the Droid possesses the missing iPhone features. It also highlights the new 2.0 version of the Android operating system, which succeeds the existing 1.5 version.

Some people who’ve handled the device say the Droid is the most sophisticated mobile device to hit the market to date from a hardware standpoint. When you combine that with the Verizon network, a consistent leader in our cell-phone service Ratings, available to subscribers, you’ve got a promising challenger to the iPhone.

Buzzword: Malvertising

Last week, my colleague, Jeff Fox, was perusing the New York Times online when a window popped up warning him (and many others) that his computer was “at risk” and in need of immediate protection. The window looked legitimate, very similar to his own security software. But Jeff knew better. From years covering all the nasty maladies that can infect a computer, he recognized the popup as a “malvertisement.” He immediately closed his browser and, to be safe, ran a virus and spyware scan of his hard drive. Had he followed the popup’s prompt, seeking protection, he might have exposed his computer to an online attack.

So-called malvertisers have become adroit at smuggling their software into online ads, where they can entice or frighten users into following harmful links in hopes of remedying a supposed problem with their computer. The tactic NYTimes.com readers saw—a malvertisement warning them of infection—is known as “scareware,” as it hopes to snare less savvy folks than Mr. Fox. (Another coworker mentioned to me recently that his elderly father, unaware of such ploys, is notorious for clicking on malvertisements, which infect his computer.)

Perhaps in response to the attack on such a well-trafficked, reputable site as NYTimes.com, Microsoft last week filed five lawsuits against alleged malvertisers. Although the guilty individuals remain anonymous, Microsoft hopes that the suits, which are directed at several front companies (named Soft Solutions, Direct Ad, qiweroqw.com, ITmeter INC. and ote2008.info) will uncover the culprits.

To protect yourself, be vigilant. Be wary of any popup windows that look fishy, especially if they appear alarmist. When closing such a window, carefully click the “X” in the corner and not anywhere inside the window itself. Sometimes the popups make it exceedingly difficult for you to get rid of them. In those frustrating cases, it’s best to quit your entire browser.

For more on staying safe online and avoiding clever tricks like malvertising, see our free Online Security Guide. —Nick K. Mandle

Is a "240Hz" LCD TV better than a 120Hz LCD?

You might have noticed a new spec in LCD TV ads recently: 240Hz. In an August 2 Best Buy circular, for instance, the promo copy for Sony's XBR9 LCD sets says: "240Hz gives you extra-clear fast-action movies and sports," and a pitch for Samsung's B8000 LCD sets says 240Hz makes "fast-action movies and sports look smoother and more precise."

240Hz is an extension of 120Hz technology, which has been touted for some time. Both are an attempt to address a traditional weakness of LCD sets—motion blur during fast-moving scenes. 120Hz technology, which doubles a TV’s usual 60Hz frame rate, is now common on all but the smallest and least expensive set. When implemented well, this frame doubling does minimize the appearance of motion blur on scenes with fast-moving action.

As you may have guessed, 240Hz takes it one step further. But not all 240Hz sets offer comparable anti-blurring reduction. That’s because there are two different approaches to 240Hz technology.

Buzzword: 4G

This term, increasingly in use in the wireless world, refers to the next—and fourth generation—stage in the evolution of networks for mobile devices.

4G technology promises to increase the rates at which phones and other portable devices can access the Internet and data services. The increase will be dramatic, to a rate as high as 70 to 100 megabits per second, or up to a hundred times faster than today’s high-speed, 3G networks allow. Though interference and other factors will limit how often those maximum speeds are achieved, 4G networks should alleviate network congestion and allow for music and video to be streamed and downloaded more quickly to phones and other mobile devices.

Quality levels could also be higher for that content—for example, video will likely be in high-definition mode, which is too data-heavy for today’s mobile networks to support. And 4G will also facilitate the uploading of content, such as high-def videos, from devices to the network and the Internet.

Alas, you likely won't enjoy 4G in any meaningful way for several years. That's because both of the two competing 4G technologies, WiMax and Long-Term Evolution (LTE), are only in the trial stage. WiMax proponent Sprint and its recently acquired partner Clearwire have been testing WiMax in several U.S. cities since 2008, but no rollout of the technology has yet been scheduled. LTE backer Verizon is pushing to launch its 4G network in 2010, but only in select areas. It's been reported that a 4G-enabled device from Apple is one reason for Verizon's aggressive timetable. Besides Verizon, LTE enjoys the support of AT&T and T-Mobile.

In addition, the chances are that the earliest 4G-compatible devices will not be phones but laptops or netbooks. Why? Their bigger batteries promise longer battery life on the new networks.

The faster a network is, as a rule, the more power demands it makes on devices that connect to it. (Case in point: iPhones that run on the slower 2G network have better battery life than when they run on 3G network.) Until there are significant improvements in battery technology and the energy efficiency of phones, 4G-compatible phones would likely either have unacceptably short run times or have to grow to an unacceptable size to accommodate a bigger battery.  —Mike Gikas

Buzzword: Blogola

You’ve likely heard of the “payola” schemes of early broadcast radio, where local radio stations would receive money from record labels for giving certain artists’ songs preferential air time. Now you may hear a lot more about so-called “blogola,” which some say is the Internet-era equivalent.

The term describes the acceptance by some blogs of free products or services, or other gifts and remunerations, from companies looking for a positive review of their offerings. It’s controversial enough to have now attracted the attention of the Federal Trade Commission.

The AP reports that the federal agency is looking to implement a set of guidelines to combat blogola and enhance transparency in the blogosphere. Unlike journalists who work for news organizations that have a set of ethical standards, many bloggers, who are often self-employed, have no official obligation, and many do not disclose gifts and perks they receive.

Some of the highest-profile cases of blogola have involved technology blogs. In 2006, Microsoft, AMD, and PR firm Edelman were criticized when it was revealed they had sent Acer laptops pre-loaded with Vista to prominent bloggers, hoping for a review of the then-new operating system.

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know how Consumer Reports operates: No blogola or payola here. For the record, our policy is to accept no gifts—including free products or trips—from any manufacturer. (We will sometimes make exceptions for modest items provided to all media, such as food at news conferences or thumb drives that contain product information.) Neither do we run ads, as you may have noticed on ConsumerReports.org or in our magazine.

What do you think of the FTC’s initiative? Is it a necessary move, or, as Caroline McCarthy at CNet has questioned, will the attempt to regulate the diverse and crowded blogosphere be like “herding cats?” —Nick K. Mandle

Update: For another take on the FTC's plan for bloggers, check out Jeff Blyskal's post on the Consumer Reports Money Blog.

Are you living the life of “weisure?”

Photo: bhikku/Flickr

You’re lounging in a beach chair, your kids play in the sand before you and your significant other is asleep on a towel. You shift your chair to stay in the shade of the umbrella, not to just stay cool, but because the sun’s glare makes it impossible to read your cell phone's screen as you tap out:

“Bob: At the beach with family. Here are the data you need for today's presentation. Keep me posted.”

Sound familiar? If so, you’re living a life of “weisure,” a new term coined by sociologist Dalton Conley.  This blurring of work and leisure time isn’t just because wireless 3G networks and multifunction smart phones are becoming more prevalent, According to Conley, people engage in weisure because work is becoming more enjoyable to many.

Really? A quick poll to smart phone users: Do you use your phone for work on vacation? Is it out of necessity or because you genuinely enjoy it? —Nick K. Mandle

Related: Home Blog – Buzzword: Weisure
CNN.com – Welcome to the “weisure” lifestyle