More movies from Internet-connected TVs

Vizio recently announced its first Internet-enabled LCD TVs which will be able to stream content from Netflix. (Click to enlarge.)
[ Photo courtesy of: Netflix.com ]

Internet-connected TVs were somewhat of a novelty last year, when the few sets available offered mostly basic news feeds, but they’ve rapidly become big news. Several major TV brands now have sets offering access to countless thousands of movies and videos on Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand, and YouTube, plus weather, stock updates, financial news, photo-sharing sites, and other content accessible through Yahoo widgets.

Sony, which already had a deal making Amazon’s 40,000-plus videos instantly available through its Internet-enabled Bravia sets, just announced that viewers will be able to access Netflix content (some 12,000 titles strong) starting this fall. A few weeks ago, Vizio announced that its first Internet-enabled sets, due out this fall, will offer content from Netflix, Amazon, Vudu, and more. Panasonic added Amazon to its list of partners a few months back. Meanwhile, LG has deals with Netflix and YouTube, among others. Samsung has a number of partners, including YouTube, but as yet hasn’t announced a deal with a major movie provider for its Internet-connected TVs. (Samsung Blu-ray players, like those from LG, can stream Netflix movies.)

We’re getting more and more of these TVs in our labs and will be testing their connectivity and other features down the road. In the meantime, if you’ve been using any of these sets and services, let us know what you think about them. —Eileen McCooey

New Sharp Aquos LCD TVs: Bigger, and thanks to LED backlights, brighter

Sharp's new line of Aquos LCD TVs is not only bigger, but brighter, thanks to LED backlight technology.

Sharp is adding a handful of new models to its Aquos LCD TV lineup for the back half of 2009. Among the highlights: Larger E77-series sets in 60- and 65-inch screen sizes, plus a new LE700 series, Sharp’s first line with LED backlights. The LED models arrive later this month, while the larger E77-series sets will hit in September. 

Sharp’s first foray into LED backlighting is a bit unusual. Unlike many of the newer LED models we’ve seen, which use “edge” LED lighting around the perimeter of the panel, the LE700 models have full-array backlights spread across the entire back of the set. Typically, full-array backlights can be locally dimmed—some segments of the screen can be kept dark while others are illuminated—a technique we’ve found can help improve black levels, a common LCD weakness. But to cut costs, LE700-series sets don’t offer local dimming. Instead, Sharp claims black-level and contrast improvements can be achieved using a new 10-bit “X-Gen” panel, which offers greater pixel control to minimize light leakage, plus a wider aperture that lets more light pass through the panel, bumping up peak brightness. LCDs TVs with local dimming are likely arrive sometime next year, executives told us.

Another advantage to LED backlights, Sharp said, is improved energy efficiency. By combining an LED backlights with an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts the TVs brightness based on room light conditions, most LE700 models exceed Energy Star 3.0 guidelines by 60 percent or more, making them the most energy-efficient LCDs to date, Sharp claims. We look forward to checking both these claims once we get the sets in our labs.

Cablevision's "remote" DVR: Will it be a better option?

With the Supreme Court's decision, "Remote DVR" may be on the way, but when that will be and how much it will cost remain to be seen.

The Supreme Court’s recent decision not to hear a final appeal by broadcasters and movie studios seeking to block Cablevision’s proposed “remote DVR” technology opens the door for the company, and others, to offer such a service.

Unlike a conventional DVR, which stores programs on a hard drive in the cable box in your living room, Cablevision’s planned remote DVR service lets you store programs on the company’s servers. Because the technology resides within the cable system’s network, subscribers can use their existing cable boxes instead of renting new equipment. This would free consumers from the storage limits of their hard drive (often about 30 hours of HD video). It could also theoretically make the service cheaper, since the cable companies don’t have to deploy and service separate boxes.

So when will we be able to get this new service? Unfortunately, no time soon, since Cablevision says there’s no timetable in place for a rollout of its remote DVR service. Instead, Cablevision’s first application of the technology will be far more prosaic: Subscribers with standard cable boxes will be able to pause live TV when the phone rings—something I (and Cablevision subscribers with DVRs and cable-phone service) can already do with my DirecTV DVR service, which displays Caller-ID information on the TV screen.

As a result, many questions remain as to how the service will really work.

In the CR test labs: New Blu-ray players

The latest batch of Blu-ray players are in our labs now. Check back in a few weeks for updated Ratings.

Things are once again cooking in CR’s DVD test labs, where we’re putting 11 new high-def Blu-ray players through their paces. All the new players we’re testing are BD-Live models that can access extra online content from the movie-studio’s servers, or download firmware updates from the manufacturer when new features are available.

Some of the models also offer access to additional Web-based content, such as movies from Netflix and Amazon Video on Demand, videos from YouTube, or streaming music from services such as Pandora.

These models will be part of the latest Blu-ray player Ratings (available to subscribers), which should be posted in a few weeks.

Here are some comments on the models currently being tested:

JVC XV-BP1: JVC’s first Blu-ray player can play back high-def AVCHD video files shot with a camcorder, and can internally decode DolbyTrueHD and DTS-HD Master lossless audio formats.

LCD TVs: Lower prices, new features help fuel sales despite a slow economy

While the on-going recession has taken its toll on sales of any number of consumer products, LCD TVs have so far bucked the trend by continuing to sell well. In fact, according to Austin-based market research firm DisplaySearch, for the first three months of the year LCD TV shipments in North America were 26 percent higher percent higher than they were a year ago. (Note: DisplaySearch upped its shipment numbers from 23 million to 26 million units since the release, above, was released.)

Why are LCD TVs continuing to sell so well? Certainly the transition to all-digital TV broadcasts has helped, as many consumers have opted to replace older analog sets with newer models with built-in digital tuners. Others may have decided to forgo an expensive vacation in favor of a new big-screen TV and more time with the family at home. But lower prices, better performance, and compelling new features are all certainly playing a role in LCD TV sales continuing to rise despite the economic downturn.

As we report in the August issue of Consumer Reports, LCD TVs aren’t just cheaper—they’re also getting incrementally better, so much so that 21 of the 25 sets in our Select Ratings in the issue are recommended. They’re also adding new features, such as access to Internet content, that go beyond the traditional TV viewing experience. Sets are also sporting slimmer and more stylish designs.

Vizio XVT LCDs have high-end features

Vizio VF551XVT 1080p LCD TV
Click to enlarge.
[ Photo courtesy of Vizio. ]

Vizio, a company whose low prices have helped make it a top-selling brand of LCD TVs, is coming out with a new series of 1080p HDTVs offering step-up features, such as 240Hz technology and LED backlights, at prices well below those of more established brands.

In July, we’ll see the first Vizio sets (“240Hz SPS”) that combine 120Hz refresh rates with a scanning (flashing) backlight to produce a 240Hz effect—the same process used by models from LG and Toshiba.This fall, Vizio will offer its first TVs with LED backlights: 47- and 55-inch XVT-series "TruLED" models.

The company is also introducing its first VIA (Vizio Internet Apps) Internet-enabled models, which use Yahoo's widget platform to access online content from various providers, including movie services from Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand, and Vudu. Also in the pipeline are two new slim-line models—in 32- and 37-inch screen sizes—that are just 2.5 inches deep.

Vizio's new TVs use full-array LED backlights with local dimming, bucking the recent trend toward edge-lit LEDs from companies such as Samsung. Vizio executives told us that for larger-sized screens, full-array LEDs offer better brightness uniformity and viewing angle. The company also said its LED backlights can be completely turned off, which could improve black-level performance. In our tests, we’ve found that models with full-array backlights offered better black-level performance than edge-lit sets, although a halo effect may be visible at times. The company said it will likely use edge-lit LEDs in smaller screens later this year.

New LCD and plasma HDTV Ratings

If you’re looking for a new LCD or plasma HDTV, we’ve got some good news: Our latest TV Ratings (available to subscribers) have just been posted. And while prices varied widely, performance was fairly consistent among all but a handful of brands. In fact, of the 49 models in our latest TV Ratings, all but three delivered very good or excellent HD picture quality.

One thing that is differentiating new TVs is extra features. In the LCD camp, we tested a fair number of sets that include 120Hz technology to reduce motion blur, and even a “240Hz” set—from Toshiba—that combines a 120Hz refresh rate with a scanning, or flashing, backlight to achieve a 240Hz effect.

We also tested six models that use LED backlights, rather than conventional fluorescent lamps. Four of these sets use edge LEDs, which are placed around the perimeter of the frame. The other two use a full-array backlight with local dimming, meaning that individual areas of the backlight can be kept dark while other areas are illuminated. We found benefits and drawbacks to both approaches.

LED LCD TVs: Toshiba says yes, Mitsubishi says no

Mitsubishi says it has no plans for LED LCD's.

Taking different approaches to LCD backlighting this week at the CEA’s Digital Downtown trade event were Toshiba, which launched its first LED backlit LCDs, and Mitsubishi, which said it had no plans for LED LCDs in the foreseeable future.

Toshiba is offering two new LED-lit sets, 46- and 52-inch models in the Regza SV670 series. These models, priced at $2,300 and $3,000 respectively, use full-array backlights that can be locally dimmed.

At the event, Toshiba also showed 42-, 47- and 55-inch Regza ZV650-series sets, which include the company’s ClearScan 240Hz technology, which uses 120Hz refresh rates in conjunction with a scanning backlight to create a 240Hz effect. Prices range from $1,300 to $2,400. The company also became the first company to roll out models with Dolby Volume, which keeps volume levels consistent when you change programs or inputs.

At Mitsubishi’s press conference, the company said that no LED-lit LCDs were in its product plans, as it will continue to use Wide Color Gamut Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (WCG-CCFL) backlights. The company is adding 240Hz technology—like Toshiba, a 120Hz refresh rate combined with a scanning backlight) and Ethernet connectivity to its 249 Diamond Series line. The company said it would be announce Internet content partners in the near future.

Mitsubishi also said it had added two full-range drivers to improve the 5.1-channel, 16-speaker sound system—called Integrated Sound Projector—that’s included in the company’s new Unisen Diamond 46- and 52-inch 249-series LCD TVs. The sets also have energy-saving music-only operation, so music can play while the display itself is turned off. The company said it would offer a 40-inch model with the sound projector sound system this year.

Mitsubishi also renewed its commitment to its rear-projection DLP business, including LaserVue models that use a laser backlight.  Sizes range from 60 to 82 inches, and all sets are 3D-ready.--James K. Willcox

LCD HDTVs: More, cheaper LED models on the way

We expect to see more LED-lit LCD TVs, like this 8000-series Samsung set, thanks to falling LED backlight prices. Click to enlarge [Photo: Samsung]

We’ve generally been impressed with new LCD TVs that use LED backlights instead of conventional cold-cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL). However, these models have tended to be significantly more expensive than their lamp-lit counterparts, and thus have largely been reserved for pricier step-up series.

But rapidly falling prices will make LED backlights increasingly common in LCD TVs, predicts El Segundo, California-based market research firm iSupply. In a new report, the firm says that by 2013, nearly 40 percent of all LCD TVs will use LED backlights, up from about 3 percent this year. Some manufacturers, such as Samsung, have already shifted a good portion of their LCD models to LED backlighting.

While the first LED-based LCD sets we reviewed, from Samsung and Sony, were “full-array” backlights that span across the entire back panel of the TV, we’re now seeing more TVs with “edge” LEDs, which are placed along the perimeter of the set. Full-array backlights are more expensive, but they can be locally dimmed—where some segments of the LED panel can remain dark while others are illuminated—which can improve black levels and contrast. Edge LED backlights can’t be locally dimmed—and we haven’t seen the same black level and contrast improvements in these sets—but they do allow sets to be thinner and lighter.

Another benefit: Compared to CCFLs, LEDs are “greener,” in that they’re more energy efficient and don’t contain mercury, a carcinogen.

The good news is that if you’re considering an LED-lit LCD set, prices are coming down. According to iSupply, the price difference between LED LCD TV and its CCFL-lit counterpart can range from $300 to $700, depending on the size and type of LED used. But that gap will narrow, the company says, as panel suppliers reduce the premium for LED to under $100 for 40- and 42-inch sets, and to about $150 in the 46- and 47-inch screen sizes.—James K. Willcox

New HDMI 1.4 connection adds Internet, 3D, and 4K video

HDMI helped to clear up cable-clutter by sending digital audio and video through a single cable. The new HDMI 1.4 spec now adds Ethernet, too.

Later this year, new HDMI 1.4 connections will likely start showing up on HDTVs and Blu-ray players, and perhaps later, cable and satellite set-top boxes, and digital receivers.

The 1.4 specification offers much different capabilities than earlier versions. Perhaps the most game-changing feature is the addition of an Ethernet channel, which allows a single HDMI cable to carry Internet data (up to 100 megabits per second) along with digital audio and video. That means the growing number of TVs and Blu-ray players that connect to the Internet won't require a separate Ethernet jack.

HDMI 1.4 also supports 3D (which needs two separate 1080p video streams), and video resolutions four times greater than the best resolution offered today, 1080p. One day, home displays will be able to support the "4K (4096x2164/24Hz and 3840x2160/30Hz) resolutions" now found in many digital movie theaters.

The downside to a new HDMI spec, of course, is more confusion for consumers, as there will now be four different "versions" of HDMI 1.4 cables: standard and high speeds, both with and without the Ethernet channel. That means you'll have to read the labels carefully in order to get the cable you need and avoid paying more for one you don't.