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

Adobe Flash to your TV: Let's get interactive!

Not content to remain tethered to the computer, Adobe’s Flash technology is about to make the jump to televisions and other consumer-electronics devices this fall, promising to deliver high-def video and other web-based content seamlessly to TV viewers. The technology, called Flash for the Digital Home, is an optimized version of Flash Lite—designed for mobile products—that can run on TVs, Blu-ray DVD players, and settop boxes.

As far as we know, Vizio is the only TV brand that's announced support for the specialized version of Flash, which will be available later this summer in XVT-series TVs that feature Vizio Internet Apps (VIA), the company's online TV platform. But Flash for the Digital Home has already garnered the support of some major players, including Atlantic Records, Comcast, Disney Interactive, Intel, Netflix, and The New York Times, among others.

This is part of the Open Screen Project, Adobe's plan to let you access Internet content from almost any kind of device without going through a computer or web browser. Flash for the Digital Home will give users the ability to combine traditional TV viewing with access to new types of Internet-delivered content, including streaming HD video and music, along with interaction with social-networking communities. Flash Lite is currently used to deliver multimedia content to mobile devices, including cell phones.

We'll be looking for additional product announcements from TV and Blu-ray player manufacturers to see how broadly this new technology will be adopted—and of course testing models when they become available to see if the technology lives up to its promise. —Will Dilella

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 speaker Ratings: Use them to make a sound choice

Speaker tests are conducted in Consumer Reports' anechoic chamber.

Purchasing a new set of speakers is one quick, easy way to upgrade your sound system—and we’ve just posted new speaker Ratings (available to subscribers). These latest Ratings reflect updated testing procedures—both measured, objective scores and subjective evaluations by trained listeners—performed in our recently renovated audio labs.

Although passionate audiophiles might spend well into five figures for just a pair of speakers, you don't have to pay a fortune for decent sound. Our recommended bookshelf speakers cost as little as $90, and go up to $340, per pair. Our top-rated 5.1-channel system, from Energy, costs just $400 for four satellite speakers, a center-channel speaker, and a powered subwoofer.

One good thing about buying speakers: If you’d like a multichannel surround-sound system but are tight on cash, you can start with two speakers (front left and right models) and then add center-channel and rear surround-sound speakers later. Just stay within the same brand and choose models that are sonically similar (or timbre-matched, in audiophile parlance) so the tonal quality of the sound remains consistent throughout the room.

Best of all, you can consider the money you spend on a speaker upgrade as an investment, since speakers generally last a long time and are less likely to become outmoded than other home-theater gear. —James K. Willcox

T-Mobile wants your kitchen counter

Already common in customers' pockets and handbags, wireless carrier T-Mobile wants to develop a phone for your kitchen counter. The cellular service provider is planning to sell a home phone and tablet computer in early 2010, reports the New York Times. Both will run on Android, the open-source platform developed by Google.

T-Mobile isn't the only cell carrier attempting to establish itself as a home phone. Verizon's Hub and AT&T's HomeManager are tabletop consoles that attempt to streamline household communication, from phone use to Internet tools like email, checking the day’s weather, or even watching a movie.

The takeaway: Conventional landline customers are, in increasing numbers, switching to cheaper Internet-based plans from cable companies, or relying entirely their mobile phones. Wireless carriers are hoping to snare some of these defectors by offering them a richer array of home-based services and hardware. For more help on finding the right mobile phone for your needs, see our free online buying advice on cell phones and smart phones. And if you're looking for more ways to save money on your phone bills, check out our post on cutting your cell phone bill and tips for finding the best phone deals. —Mike Gikas & Nick Mandle

High-def video streaming services: Are they really HD?

Recent months have seen a rash of new products that connect to online video services, such as Netflix, that allow you to stream—and in some cases, download—movies and TV shows from the web for display on your TV. While most of the fare so far has been in standard definition (SD), limited amounts of “high-definition” programming is now available, and more is expected to come. Given that immediate access to HD content will be a key selling point for many prospective customers, we wanted to know if the quality of these streaming HD shows was equivalent to what we're used to seeing from high-def TV services and Blu-ray discs.

In a word, the answer is no. In our tests, streaming HD movies looked to be about the same quality as standard DVDs. Standard-definition movies from the streaming services looked a lot like VHS tapes.

The one standout for quality was a new video technology, called HDX, from a lesser-known player, Vudu. HDX titles, however, are downloaded, not streamed, which can be time-consuming. So while Vudu's streamed content, in both SD and HD, fared no better than the others, movies downloaded in the Vudu HDX format are delivered in 1080p, with crisp detail and rich colors. Though not as sharp as the best Blu-ray titles, Vudu HDX movies at least looked like high-def. (Click on the image above for a closer look at the VuDu media player.)

Macworld 2009: What to expect at today's keynote

Leave it to Apple CEO Steve Jobs to steal everyone's thunder—even by his absence.

As I noted yesterday, speculation concerning the fate of Macworld, and the decision by Jobs to skip delivering the keynote for health reasons, has so dominated the blogosphere that even educated guesses regarding what new Apple products may be announced at the keynote address for the Apple community's trade show is taking a back seat.

Never one to shrink from risky speculation, I'll take a stab at handicapping what Apple VP Phil Schiller—subbing for Jobs—may say today:

• The first thing we're usually treated to at a typical keynote are stats: sales milestones, total downloads of songs/films/apps. iPhone App Store stats will be a new category to boast about, and since Mac market share has passed double-digits in the domestic market, expect some celebratory oration there, as well.


• We'll likely see a demo of Snow Leopard, OS 10.6. As Apple back in June filed for patents for a 3-D interface, it's also possible that we'll get a first taste.


• We may see some upgrades to the iLife and iWork productivity suites, possibly with a web component.


• There may be some incremental improvements to iPod Touch and iPhone, along with new offerings at the iTunes Music Store.


• We may get a look at Apple's first major update to their Cinema Display line of monitors in many years.


• I expect we'll hear something about AppleTV, the set-top box that ferries content to your TV set. Will it undergo yet another facelift to boost lagging sales, "merge" with MacMini, or quietly disappear, like the XServe Raid? More likely we'll see some updates to MacMini, and they'll sneak in some of AppleTV's features when they think no one is paying attention.

CEDIA gets the Blus: New Blu-ray models debut from major brands

Reflecting the market's inexorable move to high-definition content, a number of manufacturers introduced Blu-ray players at CEDIA. Several are so-called Profile 2.0 models with a feature called BD-Live, which enables you to download Internet content such as movie trailers. If you want Internet connectivity, look specifically for a player that has BD-Live (or can be upgraded to include it), as earlier designs lack this capability.

Here's a rundown of what we've seen at the show so far:

LG launches Netflix-enabled player

LG Electronics surprised audiences when it revealed the price for the previously announced BD300 player: $400, which is $100 less than expected. The BD300 (click on image above for a closer look) is a BD-Live model with the unique ability to stream movies and TV episodes from a Netflix online library of about 12,000 titles (a Netflix subscription is required). The player offers internal decoding of the new Dolby TrueHD high-resolution audio format, and will presumably pass DTS-HD Master audio as bitstream (the specs are a bit unclear). The BD300, which has a USB port for playing back digital music, photos, and videos stored on a flash drive, will be available next month.

MacBook Air, super-thin notebook, introduced

What may be the most talked about of Apple's four major product releases Steve Jobs introduced today is a new addition to the MacBook line called the MacBook Air. With a teardrop profile only 0.76 inches at its thickest point, it's the thinnest notebook computer ever. (You can get closer looks at the new MacBook Air by clicking on each of the embedded images.)

Apple didn't compromise much on features. There's a full-size, backlit keyboard, 13.3-inch screen, iSight webcam, large trackpad with multi-touch gesture support (similar to the iPhone's, which lets you use your fingers in more ways than the traditional tapping and sliding), plus a new magnetic latch.

There are only three ports on the right side: USB2, MicroDVI, and a headphone jack. (There's no Ethernet port for wired networking, but that's not really an issue with a notebook designed for extreme portability.) Apple says that the 1.6-GHz Core 2 Duo processor is 60 percent smaller than chips made for other models. The standard MacBook Air comes with an 80GB hard drive—or a 64GB solid-state drive for an additional $999. The standard memory configuration is 2-GB and Apple claims 5 hours of battery life. The built-in wireless capability supports 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR.

There's no internal CD/DVD burner; to use discs you need the $99 external MacBook Air SuperDrive which connects to the USB port. Also, a new custom application in Leopard called "Remote Disk" lets you wirelessly "borrow" other users' CD/DVD drives.

In keeping with Apple's environmental initiatives, MacBook Air notebooks have a fully recyclable aluminum case, displays that are mercury and arsenic free, and logic boards that are BFR and PVC free. In addition, the packaging has 56 percent less volume, to save trees.

The base model, which starts at $1,799, pairs a 1.6-GHz processor with an 80-GB Parallel ATA hard drive. A second model that features a 1.8-GHz processor and 64-GB solid-state drive starts at $3,098. Both ship in two to three weeks, but can be pre-ordered starting today.

Compared with Windows-based 13-inch slim-and-light notebooks we've rated (Consumer Reports' Ratings are available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers only), the MacBook Air is pricier and its hard drive is a bit slower and has a smaller capacity, but weighs more than a pound less. When compared with notebooks in the 3-pound range, such as the Sony TZ series 11-inch or Toshiba Portege R500 12-inch, its pricing is very competitive.