In the CR TV Labs: New LCD, plasma HDTVs

Samsung's 46-inch LN46B650 LCD TV

Panasonic Viera TC-P46G15 Plasma TV

Although we’re now just a week or so from posting our latest LCD and plasma TV Ratings (available to subscribers), our engineers have already starting testing additional LCD and plasma models for the Ratings we’ll publish in August.

Here’s what’s currently being evaluated in the CR TV labs (listed here in alphabetical order by brand):

LCD TVs
LG 42LH50: This 42-inch 1080p TV with 120Hz technology has the company’s NetCast Internet service, providing online access to instant Netflix videos and other content via Yahoo Internet widgets. It also has a room light sensor to save energy by adjusting TV brightness to the room’s light conditions.

Samsung UN46B8000: This pricey 46-inch 1080p LCD is an ultra-slim (1.2 inches) set with edge LED backlighting. The set, a 240Hz model that actually quadruples the TV’s frame rate, includes Samsung’s Medi@2.0 Internet service, with access to online content, including Flickr and YouTube, via Yahoo Internet widgets. It can also wirelessly connect to a home network via an optional USB dongle, and comes with preloaded with some content, such as games, workout routines, and recipes.

Samsung LN46B650: This 46-inch mid-line 1080p set has 120Hz technology, and sports a new, ruby Touch of Color design. It includes Samsung’s Medi@2.0 Internet service, plus the ability to connect wirelessly to a home network via an optional USB dongle. Like its pricier, sleeker brandmate, it comes with some preloaded content.

Samsung LN26B460: This smaller-size Samsung LCD is a 26-inch 720p set with three HDMI inputs, more than most TVs of this size. It has a headphone jack for private listening.

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.

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

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.

Tips for better DTV reception

[ Photo courtesy of Mykl Roventine ]

Evidently the DTV transition on June 12 didn’t disrupt life as we know it, judging by most reports we’ve seen. But two weeks into it, we’re still hearing from consumers who are having problems getting some of the digital channels available in their market. Here’s some advice from the FCC, which has been tracking problems presented to their experts at support centers or via the toll-free help line (1-888-CALL-FCC), which is still in operation.

Many stations changed their frequency on June 12, but the old frequency might still be stored in the memory of your digital converter box or digital TV—even if you rescanned after the transition. To clear the memory, you need to run a “double rescan,” in effect, rebooting the system to wipe the slate clean.

The problem could also lie with your antenna. You might need to relocate or adjust the one you have or get a different type. As the FCC points out, one of the most popular spots for indoor antennas–on top of the TV– may not be the best spot. A location higher up or near a window, and away from electronic equipment, may provide better reception. You’ll find many useful pointers in the FCC’s factsheets on antennas and reception. —Eileen McCooey

DTV transition: Smooth going for most

The transition to digital TV has been relatively tranquil.
[ Photo courtesy of woodleywonderworks. ]

Despite some trepidation about how the shut-off of analog TV broadcasts would go, by most accounts the switch to all-digital over-the-air TV broadcasts went fairly smoothly, with no widespread outages reported.

There also appeared to be ample supplies of DTV converters for last-minute shoppers, although the FCC did report that there were some shortages of antennas. It’s recommended that you shop online if you can’t find a converter box or antenna at a local retailer.

Make sure to rescan channels
The FCC, which monitored the DTV switch by 971 full-power stations last Friday, said it received more than 315,000 calls to its toll-free help lines. The most calls came from the Chicago area, followed by Dallas-Ft. Worth, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore markets.

Of those calls, almost 30 percent had to do with digital converter boxes; the FCC reported that most issues were resolved simply by having the callers re-scan their converter-box tuners to receive stations that had moved to new frequencies.

So if you’re still having any problems, try rescanning the channels; also, some stations will be upping the power of their broadcasts, so you might get a channel you previously couldn’t. If problems persist, you can still call the toll-free help line, 1-888-CALL-FCC, or visit the DTV website for more information.

Also, note that 118 stations have agreed to maintain analog “nightlight” broadcasts for up to 30 days after the transition. These stations will continue to broadcast emergency and DTV transition information via analog signals in the evening for those who haven’t been able to successfully make the jump to digital. Here's a list [PDF] of the nightlight stations.

Commentary: Goodbye, my old friend – Analog TV

The switch over from analog to digital TV signals on June 12, 2009 marks a definite end to the familiar, decades-old way television programs arrive into millions of American homes.
[ stock photo courtesy of: Kenn Kiser ]

June 12, 2009. The day analog television died. We all knew this day was coming, but that doesn't lessen the pain. Allow me to offer a eulogy for my dear old friend.

Given that I'm a Gen-Xer and a native son of New York City (media capital of the world), it's no surprise that TV was a big part of my life growing up. I spent a lot of time (maybe too much) in front of that glowing screen. Ask me my favorite happy childhood memories and I can immediately list: The Sesame Street gang teaching me my A-B-Cs (PBS, Channel 13); watching School House Rock on ABC Saturday mornings. (Who knew that catchy ad-like jingles could teach you stuff and be fun? "Conjunction Junction, what's your function? Hooking up words and phrases and clauses..."); and watching movies at 4:30 weekday afternoons instead of doing homework. (Thanks, WABC Channel 7—especially for the many “Godzilla” weeks!)

Maybe I had a sheltered childhood, but over-the-air TV opened up a wonderful world of entertainment (and learning)—all for free... using just a simple antenna. It captivated millions of others, including the nearly 106 million Americans who watched the finale of M*A*S*H, the more than 90 million who discovered first-hand, who shot "J.R." on Dallas, and the nearly 53 million who watched Friends go for that one last cup of coffee at "Central Perk." Truly free TV was indeed powerful in its day.

Loud TV ads: Consumers Union supports curbing the volume

Consumers Union supports the CALM act, which would limit the volume on television commercials.
[ stock photo courtesy of: ralaenin ]

You're serenely watching your favorite TV show when it abruptly cuts to a commercial for a local car dealership loudly hawking a sale. The sudden change in volume—markedly higher than on the show you've been watching—gives you heart palpitations.

It's a consumer complaint that dates back 45 years, and Consumers Union (our nonprofit publisher) has taken up the banner of keeping the ad noise down. Joel Kelsey, an advocate and policy analyst in CU's D.C. office, testified [PDF] before the House Energy and Commerce committee in support of the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act, or CALM act. (Don't you just love government acronyms?)

The FCC's current broadcasting guidelines have no volume restrictions. The agency claims that "perceived loudness" of TV broadcasts is "a subjective judgment" that varies with the type of ad. It also says it has found no evidence that volume is deliberately raised for commercials.

However, under CALM, introduced by Rep. Anna G.Eshoo [D-CA-14], ads cannot exceed the sound level of the loudest portion of the particular TV show in which they're placed. And that loudest allowable volume can't be sustained for the entire length of the commercial.

So, let's say you're watching a cop show which has moments of quiet dialog, and then one or two wild car-chase scenes with loud gunfire and tires squealing. Any commercial spot shown in that hour-long drama can't be louder than those gunshots, and it can equal that volume only in small doses: the entire 30- or 60-second pitch can’t be as annoyingly loud as those squealing tires.

"We believe this widespread consumer issue is a result of more than just the arbitrary, or subjective, perception of consumers. Rather, it is a real consumer grievance that deserves a new approach in the new era of digital communications," said Kelsey.

In addition to our headquarters and testing center in Yonkers, N.Y., Consumers Union has three branch offices in Washington D.C., Houston, and San Francisco dedicated to consumer advocacy on a range of issues, from communications to health care to food and product safety. To see what our advocates are up, check out the Consumers Union web site and, for telecommunications matters, hearusnow.org. —Nick K. Mandle and Will Dilella