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Attention Californians: Your TV is Safe...For a Little While Longer

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:00:10 +0000

Due to the last minute submission of comments by the CEA (Consumer Electronics Association) in opposition to proposed TV energy consumption regulations, the CEC (California Energy Commission) has postponed its decision until at least November 18th. For more details, check out the report from CE Pro.

For more background, plus my perspective on this issue, check out my earlier post: California Energy Commission Holds Hearing On TV Regulation

Attention Californians: Your TV is Safe...For a Little While Longer originally appeared on About.com Home Theater on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 07:00:10.

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Denon AVR-2310CI 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver - Product of the Week

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:00:57 +0000

When it comes to Home Theater Receivers, Denon offers some great options, and the Denon AVR-2310CI is a great value. The AVR-2310CI is a 7.1 channel home theater receiver that features audio decoding/processing for all Dolby/DTS surround sound formats including the Dolby Pro Logic IIz option. Other features include 5 HDMI inputs, multi-zone expandability, and provisions for custom installation control. Also featured is analog to HDMI video conversion and 1080 upscaling via built-in Anchor Bay VRS procsessing. To make speaker setup easier, the 2310 also includes Audyssey MultEQ. Rounding out with a full 105WPC across seven channels, the AVR-2310 deserves to be at the heart of any home theater system. Definitely worth consideration.

Denon AVR-2310CI 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver - Product of the Week originally appeared on About.com Home Theater on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 10:00:57.

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Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen to be Issued on a USB Flash Drive

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:23:41 +0000

In a peek at a possible disc-less future for movie releases, Paramount has issued the popular summer blockbuster, Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen, on a USB Flash Drive for a suggested price of $29.99. However, for that price, is it up to Blu-ray standards? For all the details, and what it may trend for the future, check out the reports from High Def Digest and Video Business.

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen to be Issued on a USB Flash Drive originally appeared on About.com Home Theater on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 15:23:41.

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Ultra High-Definition TV Closer To Reality

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:00:58 +0000

While billions of dollars are being invested by broadcasters, manufacturers, and consumers on currently available HDTV technology, and with 3D TV just beginning to get off the ground, the next step in television technology, Ultra High Definition Television (UHDTV), is moving beyond the early development stage. UHDTV promises to deliver up to 16 times the detail of today's 1080p HDTV technology.

However, before you get too excited and get buyer's remorse on your recent HDTV purchase, UHDTV still has a lot of hurdles to overcome, especially the added infrastructure cost for broadcasters, production and remastering retooling for content providers, revision of any applicable ATSC and FCC broadcast regulations, not to mention the added cost for the consumer.

Also, the true benefit of UHDTV resolution would probably be most applicable to very large screen applications, such as video projection. Of course, let's not forget the possible energy use regulations (such as those being attempted in California) that may restrict the future availability of very large screen televisions. For more details on the prospects of UHDTV, check out the report posted at Business Wire.

Ultra High-Definition TV Closer To Reality originally appeared on About.com Home Theater on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 10:00:58.

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Home Theater Term of the Week - S-Video

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:00:46 +0000

S-Video refers to analog video connection in which the B/W and Color portions of the signal are transfered separately. The signal is then recombined by the Television or video recording device at the receiving end. The result is less color bleeding and more defined edges than with a standard analog composite video connection.

S-Video is sometimes confused with S-VHS, for more information on this, check out my article: The Difference Between S-VHS and S-video.

For additional terms and definitions, check out my Home Theater Glossary

Home Theater Term of the Week - S-Video originally appeared on About.com Home Theater on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 10:00:46.

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Best Buy Jumps on the Movie Download Bandwagon

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:00:54 +0000

With movie download/streaming via network media player enabled products becoming increasing popular, Best Buy has jumped on board the bandwagon by inking a deal with Sonic Solutions/Roxio to provide CinemaNow access to its network/internet capable Blu-ray Disc players, PCs, and set-top boxes and other upcoming products. For all the details, check out the report posted by ChannelWeb

Consumer Alert! Kmart Black Friday Deals Leaked (TV Predictions) Note: Stay tuned for my complete Black Friday Report as the popular shopping day gets closer.

Best Buy Jumps on the Movie Download Bandwagon originally appeared on About.com Home Theater on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 04:00:54.

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Quick Tip: DVD Recording Times and Disc Writing Speed - Important Facts

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:00:32 +0000

When you buy a blank recordable DVD, on the label it not only refers to the disc size and record mode time, but also refers to Writing Speed. The disc label may indicate a 2x, 4x, 8x, or higher Writing Speed capability. What does this mean to the average consumer? For the answers, check out my Quick Tip: DVD Recording Times and Disc Writing Speed - Important Facts

Quick Tip: DVD Recording Times and Disc Writing Speed - Important Facts originally appeared on About.com Home Theater on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 10:00:32.

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Top Home Theater Gifts for Holiday Shoppers

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:01 +0000

It is that time of year where the stores begin to fill with eager Christmas and Holiday Shoppers looking for great deals on consumer electronics products, such as televisions, DVD players, Audio systems, and more... For those that haven't been able to keep up with latest, check out my Top Home Theater Gifts for Holiday Shoppers. These products are examples of good value in both price and performance that will enable you to put together a great home theater system for yourself, your family, or a special friend.

Top Home Theater Gifts for Holiday Shoppers originally appeared on About.com Home Theater on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 10:00:01.

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Question of the Week - Are There Blu-ray Disc Recorders?

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:00:13 +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: Are There Blu-ray Disc Recorders? Also, be sure to check out my complete Blu-ray FAQs.

Question of the Week - Are There Blu-ray Disc Recorders? originally appeared on About.com Home Theater on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 10:00:13.

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3D Home Theater To Be Big By 2013...

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:00:11 +0000

...That is unless the World ends in 2012. All kidding aside, the continued popularity of the 3D movies is exciting manufacturers to make 3D-capable televisions for the home. In fact, many DLP Rear Projection televisions are already 3D-ready, and Panasonic and Sony plan to roll-out 3D flat panel Plasma (Panasonic) and LCD (Sony) for consumers this coming year. According to current projections, over 28 million 3D-capable televisions will in homes by 2013. However, how many consumers will actually take advantage of that 3D capability is still an unknown. For the latest update on this continuing story, check out the report from Yahoo News/AP.

Previous 3D Reports and Related Stories:

San Diego Comic-Con Reveals A Glimpse At The Future Of Home Theater

Panasonic Takes Home Theater 3D on the Road

Panasonic Makes Bold Move With New 3D Plasma TV

Samsung Unveils 3D LCD TV (Electronista).

OnScreen Media Summit Tackles 3D (Broadcasting and Cable)

3D Home Theater To Be Big By 2013... originally appeared on About.com Home Theater on Saturday, October 31st, 2009 at 13:00:11.

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