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Holiday Special - Black Friday 2009 - What's On AD - Part II - Sears, Target, Ultimate Electronics, Walmart

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:00:53 +0000

Thanksgiving is supposed to be the day we give thanks for all we have, and for the blessings of family and friends. However, in this age of consumerism, for many, Thanksgiving is actually a way to fuel up that body with enough calorie energy for coping with the next day's intense holiday shopping.

The question is, which store to go to first? Who has the best deals? Check out a sampling of possibilities below in Part II of my Black Friday Special:

SEARS - Doors Open 4AM: Early Bird Deals - 4:00AM to Noon
Samsung BD-P1600 Blu-ray Disc Player - $149.99
Sony BDP-S360 Blu-ray Disc Player - $149.99
Sony DVP-SR200P DVD Player - $34.99
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Panasonic SC-BT200 Blu-ray Home Theater System - $549.99 (early bird)
Samsung HT-BD1250 Blu-ray Disc Home Theater System - $397.99
Samsung DVD Home Theater System - $197.99 (early bird)
Sony SAV-HDX589 Home Theater System with Wireless Rear Speakers - $329.99
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LG 55LH40 55-inch LCD HDTV - $1,499
Proscan 40LC45Q 40-Inch LCD HDTV - $539
Samsung LN22B350 22-inch LCD HDTV -- $249
Samsung LN46B500 46-inch 1080p LCD HDTV - $899
Read more...

Holiday Special - Black Friday 2009 - What's On AD - Part II - Sears, Target, Ultimate Electronics, Walmart originally appeared on About.com Home Theater on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 11:00:53.

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Holiday Special - Black Friday 2009 - What's On AD - Part I - Best Buy, HH Gregg, Meijer, Kmart, Radio Shack (The Shack)

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:00:15 +0000

The question is, which store to go to first? Who has the best deals? Check out a sampling of possibilities below in Part I of my Black Friday Special:

Best Buy - Doors Open 5AM
Insignia NS-BRDVD3 Blu-ray Player - $99
Sony S360 Blu-ray Player - $149
Samsung P4600 Blu-ray Player - $279
Samsung P1600 Blu-ray Player - $149
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Klipsch Icon VF-35 2-Way Floorstanding Speakers - $186.99 each
Klipsch Icon VF-36 2-Way Floorstanding Speakers - $236.99 each
Samsung HT-BD1250 Blu-ray Home Theater System - $399
Sony DAV-HDX589 Home Theater System with 5-Disc Upscaling DVD Player - $279.99
Sony STR-DH800 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver - $279
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Dynex 32-inch 720p LCD HDTV - $299
Dynex 40-inch 1080p LCD HDTV - $499
Insignia NS-L4Q120-1GA 42-inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV - $699.99
LG 32-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV - $439
Samsung LN32B530P7F 32-inch 1080p LCD HDTV - $497
Read more...

Holiday Special - Black Friday 2009 - What's On AD - Part I - Best Buy, HH Gregg, Meijer, Kmart, Radio Shack (The Shack) originally appeared on About.com Home Theater on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 06:00:15.

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Holiday Special - Digital Sound Projectors, Surround Bars, and 3-in-1 Speaker Systems

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:00:08 +0000

Here is a great gift idea for the holidays. A single component home theater sytem produces a surround sound listening environment using one speaker box, or one speaker box paired with a separate subwoofer. For some examples of some one and two-piece home theater systems that make great gifts, check out my Digital Sound Projectors, Surround Bars, and 3-in-1 Speaker Systems - Top Picks.

Holiday Special - Digital Sound Projectors, Surround Bars, and 3-in-1 Speaker Systems originally appeared on About.com Home Theater on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 06:00:08.

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Question of the Week - How Much are Blu-ray Disc Players?

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:00:42 +0000

Although DVD is the most successful home entertainment product in history, ever since it was introduced in 1997, it lacks true high definition playback and recording capability. Two competing camps came up with a solution: Blu-ray and HD-DVD. However, only the Blu-ray format now remains. To find out the answers to questions about Blu-ray check out my latest "Question of the Week Series" on Blu-ray Basics. This week's question: How Much are Blu-ray Dics Players? Also, be sure to check out my complete Blu-ray FAQs.

Question of the Week - How Much are Blu-ray Disc Players? originally appeared on About.com Home Theater on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 10:00:42.

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Possible DirecTV Sale Looming

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:00:51 +0000

According to a recent interview, DirecTV Chairman, John Malone has indicated that either AT&T or Verizon might in a position to purchase DirecTV. However, DirecTV has just announced a merger with Liberty Media. So, how will all this play out? Check in with TV Predictions for more details. My question: How would all this affect resolution of the voluminous number of complaints and pending legal actions related to DirecTV's policies and customer service?

Possible DirecTV Sale Looming originally appeared on About.com Home Theater on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 17:00:51.

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Universal to Offer Blu-ray/DVD Combo Packs

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:00:40 +0000

Taking notice of Disney's new practice of including both Blu-ray Disc and DVD copies of its recent high-profile home video releases as combo packs, Universal has also decided to take a similar approach with the re-release of several catalog titles. The idea behind this strategy is to reach out to the increasing number of consumers that have Blu-ray Disc players in the main viewing room, but still have DVD players in other rooms of the house. For more details, check out the report from Video Business

Universal to Offer Blu-ray/DVD Combo Packs originally appeared on About.com Home Theater on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 11:00:40.

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Oregon and Ontario May Follow California Lead On TV Regulations

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:00:43 +0000

I told you so... For more details, check out the reports from Oregon Public Broadcasting and The Toronto Star. Who's next? I'm betting on Massachusetts and Washington State. For more on what Oregon and Ontario may have to look forward to, check out my report and commentary on California's decision to regulate TV power consumption.

Check out an insightful perspective on this issue from Julie Jacobson of CE Pro

News Update 11/21/09: California Senator Dianne Feinstein Urges Federal Adoption of California TV Regulations

Oregon and Ontario May Follow California Lead On TV Regulations originally appeared on About.com Home Theater on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 19:00:43.

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Optoma HD20 1080p DLP Video Projector - Product of the Week

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:00:26 +0000

Looking a video projector as a gift this holiday season? If so, here is a great idea. Optoma has a large stable of very good video projectors, but the HD20 is one of their best values yet. Under the hood, the HD20 houses a DLP-based projection system with full 1920x1080 (1080p) native pixel resolution that delivers up to 1,700 lumens light output, 4,000:1 contrast ratio (500:1 ANSI), has a maximum 4,000 hour lamp life (3,000 in bright mode), and has two HDMI inputs. The HD20 is also NTSC, PAL, SECAM, and PC/MAC compatible. The HD20 also has a practical Super-Wide setting that optimizes viewing for 2:35 aspect ratio films without a special lens. A backlit remote control is also included which is easy to use in a darkened room. At a $999 suggested price, this projector is a great value. For a more detailed look at how to install and use the HD20, download the User Manual

Optoma HD20 1080p DLP Video Projector - Product of the Week originally appeared on About.com Home Theater on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 11:00:26.

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Holiday Special - Home Theater-In-A-Box Systems

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:00:58 +0000

Looking for the perfect gift to get that special someone started in home theater without all the hassle of buying everything and figuring out how to install it? Then a home theater-in-a-box system may be just the perfect gift to give this holiday season. These systems come packaged with everything you need to get a basic home theater started including a DVD player/AV receiver (combination or separate components), all the speakers, including the subwoofer, a remote control, and, the best of all, all the wire is included to connect it all together. Check out some of my favorites.

In addition, for a closer look at what you need to know before purchasing a home theater-in-a-box system, check out my article Home Theater Easy and Inexpensive - What You Need To Know About Home Theater-in-a-Box Systems.

Holiday Special - Home Theater-In-A-Box Systems originally appeared on About.com Home Theater on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 13:00:58.

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California Energy Commission Approves TV Efficiency Regulations

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:00:10 +0000

In a meeting filled with self-congratulatory comments about the hard work of its members and staff, as well as the leading role that California plays in impacting government regulations across the nation, the California Energy Commission by unanimous vote, formally adopted regulations on November 18th 2009, on how much power televisions can consume in California beginning in 2011, with stricter standards to take effect in 2013.

After waging a battle in previous hearings to prevent the implementation of the new regulations, there were no comments at this meeting from TV manufacturers or related industry spokespersons. However, the CEA (Consumer Electronics Asssociation) has been active in its opposition. Check out their side of the argument. The only comments made by those in attendance at this meeting were in support of the CEC's decision. However, the Consumer Electronics Association released an official response later in the day.

For more background on what has led up to this point, as well as my perspective on this issue, refer to my previous report on the California Energy Commission meeting held this past October 13th, 2009 .

Commentary

Now that California has made its decision to regulate television energy consumption, there is little that can be said that can change this fact. However, the CEC's decision was made despite the fact, even acknowledged by commission members and their supporters, that voluntary efforts, such as Energy Star and the natural progression of innovation has contributed significantly to increased energy efficiency in televisions and will continue to do so in the future.

However, the widely used Energy Star program is not considered good enough by the unelected state bureaucrats of the CEC. Also, to make matters worse, some industry supporters, such as Vizio, which essentially expressed no opposition because their products are currently meeting the proposed regulations ahead of time, have lent unjustified credibility to the CEC's proposal. These companies may regret their support as regulations get more stringent as time goes on. Read more...

California Energy Commission Approves TV Efficiency Regulations originally appeared on About.com Home Theater on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 16:00:10.

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