TV Sleuth

Thankfully, with the advent of digital television technology, the dimension of TV screens has gone through an upgrade as well. Most DVDs of theatrical films and many new television series are now issued in anamorphic widescreen, with a 16 x 9 dimension. Because of the dimension mismatch, on a 4 x 3 screen, a widescreen image ends up letterboxed, with black bars at the top and bottom. Letterboxing wastes valuable scan lines, leaving you with a picture that’s not only smaller but also fuzzier, which you may have seen in years past with television broadcasts of feature films. On a widescreen TV you can adjust it to reshape its pixels getting the same image squeezed into a more compact space, leaving you with wasted screen space.

Analog TV was originally fixed at a 4 x 3 image size, one-and-a-third times wide as it is high (hence also known as 1.33:1). It was close to the 1.37:1 ratio established for theatrical films by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. But in the early 1950s, when TV viewing began to cut into movie-theater attendance, movie studios tried various widescreen formats (such as Cinerama, Panavision, and CinemaScope), which could be as wide as 2.76:1. Most of today’s feature films are intended for screening at 1.85:1. (For more about widescreen cinema, see The American WideScreen Museum.)

Widescreen TVs (including all HDTVs) and most widescreen DVDs have a ratio of 16 x 9, or 1.78:1. This allows most films made in the past half-century to be shown full-screen with little or no letterboxing. These screens display older films, and non-HDTV signals, with black bars at the left and right—unless these screens have been adjusted to stretch the image for a fake widescreen effect. Many cinema display computer monitors have a 16 x 10 (1.6:1) ratio. That’s close to 1.618:1, the Golden Rectangle, which Greek geometer Euclid called one of the most pleasing shapes to the human eye. (For more information about the Golden Rectangle, see Wolfram MathWorld.)

Whether the dimension of television screens changes in the future is yet to be determined, but you can be sure that widescreen televisions are here to stay as they can offer the cinema-like experience from the comfort of your living room with exceptional clarity.

By TV Sleuth | tags: TV Education, Widescreen

JVC LT-32P679 32″ P-Series LCD TV with Teledock for iPod

It’s great to have a sleek LCD television that provides an amazing onscreen image with spectacular sound, and it’s even better when your television comes ready-built to offer you more viewing and listening options. With the P-Series television from JVC you’ll be able to get more media on your television with ease, particularly from your iPod. Although the LT-32P679 isn’t limited to just multimedia players, because it will allow you to easily connect your computer or digital cameras as well. With this television, you have the Teledock for iPods front and center that allows you to easily connect the ubiquitous Apple multimedia player for quick and easy access to your music, video and pictures. This 32″ LCD television also provides robust sound from the stereo speakers that each produce 10 watts of crystal clear sound and it displays song title and artist name on the TV screen when you play audio files. Not only can you play all of your media files, but the JVC P-Series LT-32P679 will also charge your iPod making it the ideal docking station as well as the ideal television. As this television takes its ques from the iPod you can sit back and control what you see and hear using the television remote, which includes a circular keypad, and it’s ready to play high definition video as well a low quality internet video. As digital media has been put more into our hands with digital media players, the JVC P-Series LT-32P679 32″ LCD HDTV makes it even easier to get more of our favorite media front and center in our living rooms.

By TV Sleuth | tags: 32", 5000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio, iPod Teledock, JVC, LCD, P-Series LT-32P679

Although many people might think that HDTV and digital video are the same thing, they actually began as separate technologies, before they merged to form the basis of today’s video revolution.

HDTV, also known as high-definition television, emerged in the early 1980s as an experimental Japanese analog system developed by Japan’s public TV network, NHK, which began research and development for this technology as far back as 1963. It offered near-theater-quality pictures and a surround sound, but it required too much bandwidth to be transmitted on standard TV channels. NHK marketed its analog HDTV worldwide under the names Hi-Vision and MUSE (Multiple Sub-Nyquist Sampling Encoding), but it never spread commercially beyond Japan.

The FCC rejected NHK’s analog HDTV for use in the United States, because it required 9 MHz of broadcast bandwidth, which was 1.5 times that of the standard U.S. television channels. In addition, the FCC felt political pressure to nurture a homegrown advanced-TV system, hoping to stem Japan’s dominance of the video-hardware industry. As Canada’s FCC equivalent, the CRTC, nearly always followed the technical standards adopted in the United States by the FCC, Canada again followed the lead of the United States for digital television.

In 1982, the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), was formed by several industry and professional associations which included the National Association of Broadcasters, the National Cable Television Association, and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, among others. The committee’s name was based on the old NTSC acronym, and this group would spearhead private-sector efforts to create a new way to produce, send, and receive TV signals. In 1987, the FCC formed the Advisory Committee on Advanced Television Service to oversee the government’s side of advancing TV technology. Initially, it rejected several proposals for enhanced analog TV systems, because none of them provided enough improvement over traditional NTSC signals within the bandwidth of a standard TV channel.

As analog video uses a continuous, variable electrical signal, the new solution would be digital. In contrast, digital video uses a sequence of discrete binary digits or 1s and 0s following the basis of computing technology. These digits would form the pixels (picture elements), that combine to produce final picture you see on screen. Digital video images weren’t intrinsically superior to analog video images, but they provided an opportunity to move beyond the NTSC’s primitive color encoding. They could be copied and retransmitted with no degradation in image quality, and more importantly, these digital signals could be compressed by replacing redundant information with mathematical algorithms.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, digital video surfaced on two fronts. The first came on the professional end with lightweight chip-based cameras and tape-less editing systems, which eventually revolutionized video production that makes today’s nonstop news channels and reality shows more feasible. The second front came in the mid-1990s with the proliferation of the world wide web gave rise to various new compressed video formats from the likes of Apple, RealNetworks, and Microsoft among others by bringing small-screen-size video clips to computer desktops around the world. As broadband connections were not not readily available at the consumer level back then, image compression was standard in every online-video.

Digital video compression wouldn’t end these these proprietary systems, as other digital video standards are available for license to the industry as a whole. The most prominent of these is the MPEG series of specifications that is named for the Moving Picture Experts Group, the international consortium that originally worked out both audio and video compression standards. The audio-compression format known popularly as MP3 is a subset of the group’s earliest video format, MPEG-1. The group’s MPEG-2 video standard has become a basic part of digital TV standards in the United States. Thanks to digital compression, high-definition signals could at last fit into standard broadcast TV channels, with room for one or two standard-definition signals as well.

By TV Sleuth | tags: Digital Broadcast, Education, hdtv, TV Technology

Television’s original developers and regulators did their best to give us a simple and easy-to-use home entertainment device, given the technology at hand then. The ability to send moving pictures through the air in real time was one miracle; making their reception easy enough for the average family was another. Regularly scheduled telecasts began in the United States in 1939 just 3 years after they’d already begun in Britain. The first stations in Canada didn’t launched until 1952, although many Canadians were already receiving broadcasts from northern U.S. stations. In the days before digital broadcast technology, there were analog broadcasts of varying types that were incompatible from country to country.

The National Television System Committee (NTSC), made up of corporate and governmental representatives, devised the transmission standards for North American TV. They included 525 horizontal lines (including 480 devoted to the picture), at 60 interlaced fields or half-frames (for 30 total frames) of black-and-white pictures per second, transmitted on 6 MHz channels, with frequency-modulated (FM) audio. In the early 1950s, a second NTSC was formed to add color information to the signals. The committee chose RCA’s “compatible” color scheme, which enabled existing black-and-white TV sets to receive monochrome versions of color transmissions. This coloring was done by adding a color signal (chrominance) to the existing brightness signal (luminance), which added color without enhancing the signal. By the mid-1980s, the NTSC phased in stereo sound and closed captioning subtitles for the hearing impaired, which were the last major additions to NTSC analog TV. For more than 4 decades, all video innovations including videotape, camcorders, cable, VCRs, and other video equipment sold in the United States and Canada would be made to these NTSC specifications. The NTSC color standard has long been derided by videophiles as “never the same color” becuase of the relatively fuzzy picture and the wandering color hues, but NTSC will soon become part of history.

When European countries decided to switch to color in the 1960s, they chose to go with newer and more advanced broadcasts standards — either PAL (phase alternating line), developed in Germany, or SÉCAM (séquentiel couleur avec mémoire, or sequential color with memory), developed in France. Both of these standards offered more lines with better color than NTSC, but were not only incompatible with the NTSC system but also within their own countries’ black and white telecasts. Even with the different standards, European viewers enjoyed sharper pictures with higher resolution and more stable colors than those in North America. As well, for several years, Europe’s broadcasters would simulcast the same shows on separate color and black and white channels, before they finally shut off the black-and-white channels. The British Broadcasting Corporation launched color channels in 1967 and didn’t scrap the last black and white channels until in 1985.

Now, the United States and Canada are going through a similar transition from analog to digital television technology advancements that include the ever important color-stabilization, among other things. Digital television transition is a game changer for the way we watch TV in the near future.

By TV Sleuth | tags: Digital Broadcast, Education, hdtv, TV Technology

Pioneer PDP-6020FD KURO 60″ Class Plasma 1080p HDTV

When you’re looking to get the ultimate in picture quality, there’s nothing that surpasses the on-screen image quality of a plasma television. Although plasma TVs provide you with the deepest dark colors that provide for greater color contrast, they are not all created equal, but you will get the ultimate picture when you’re watching the Pioneer KURO PDP-6020FD plasma HDTV. With this television you’ll see more than just a clear crisp picture in extremely high 1920×1080 resolution, you’ll also see the big picture because this television measures 60″ diagonally to provide you with a massive screen that’s great for watching movies and major sporting events. This television also provides you with more than just an amazing visual experience, since this Pioneer also comes with 36 watt detachable stereo speakers making sure that the sound quality matches the picture quality. Along with great video and sound quality having the Pioneer KURO PDP-6020FD in your living room you’ll be able to connect your computer and other digital devices for listening to music, viewing digital photos and even surfing the web, making this a multifunctional high-definition television that supports various audio and video formats. This HDTV has everything you’re looking for in picture and sound quality, and has a design that will compliment any existing home theater systems. When you’re ready to watch the big picture in amazing clarity, then you’ll want to buy the Pioneer KURO PDP-6020FD 60″ Plasma HDTV for is one of the best onscreen images you’ll see.

By TV Sleuth | tags: 1080p, 60", KURO PDP-6020FD, Pioneer, Plasma

Philips 52″ Diagonal 1080p Full HD LCD HDTV w/ Digital Tuner, 52PFL7422D/37

We often base our buying habits on how good a product looks along with how well it performance and if its price point is affordable. With this Philips television you’ll get the high-style HDTV you desire with the performance to match and it can be yours for less than $2000 making it very affordable. This 52″ LCD television isn’t just about its sleek look and inexpensive price, because it also offers top-end features like 1080p resolution with a 10000:1 dynamic contrast ratio that ensures you’ll see images that are crisp and amazingly sharp in detail. The 52PFL7422D/37 supports any high-definition signal, whether it’s from a Blu-ray disc player or a game console, so you’ll get the great visual experience no matter what your intention. As the Philips 52PFL7422D/37 also has integrated Dolby Digital sound, you’ll also hear audio that has the clarity to match the on-screen picture. This television will even make it easy to connect all of your home theater and other digital devices thanks to the USB and HDMI ports, which will even allow you to use this HDTV as a PC display. If you’re looking for style and functionality in your next television, then buy the Philips 52PFL7422D/37 52″ LCD HDTV which also comes with an attractive price.

By TV Sleuth | tags: 10000:1 Dynamic-Contrast, 1080p, 52", 52PFL7422D/37, hdtv, LCD, Philips

Curtis Mathes CMMX32 32″ LCD HDTV

If you’re ready to upgrade your television from a standard analog box-like TV set to a sleek new HD flat panel wide screen but are afraid of what that might cost, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised that you can have a brand new 32″ LCD HDTV for less than $700. Although you won’t be getting the largest or most advanced television available, you’ll definitely see a marked improvement in the viewing quality of everything you watch with the comfort in knowing that you bought your new HDTV at a rock bottom price. This Curtis Mathes television comes with both an analog and digital tuner while offering a 1500:1 contrast ratio that is ready to provide you with high definition quality programming if you have an appropriate HD source. The CMMX32 has the same same sleek design you might expect from a more expensive flat panel television, and it comes with the appropriate connection ports to accommodate your other digital devices helping you create a true home theater system. At less than $700, you’ll have all the viewing capabilities you require with the Curtis Mathes CMMX32 32″ LCD HDTV to enjoy a better television viewing experience.

By TV Sleuth | tags: 1500:1 contrast ratio, 32", 720p, CMMX32, Curtis Mathes, hdtv, LCD

Samsung DTB-H260F High Definition Terrestrial Tuner

There are plenty of television stations that broadcast high defintion programming, but to get those signals you’ll need a terrestrial high defintion tuner. With this terrestrial tuner from Samsung that picks up those HD signals, you’ll immediately see how much crisper and clearer everything looks on your HDTV. When you have the DTB-H260F you’ll be able to watch the free high defintion television shows that are made available from your local high defintion broadcast stations. If you have an older television and haven’t yet moved up to a new flatscreen television that come with built-in HD tuners, then this is the best option for you to view those HD broadcast programs. Having the Samsung DTB-H260F1080i will allow you to have flexibility with your terrestrial HD viewing, as it solves the 1080i, 720p or 480p/i output and HD audio dilemmas that you may face, by providing you with the appropriate options and connections. With this terrestrial HD tuner you’ll be prepared for high defintion broadcast televison at an affordable price, with a device that is designed to fit in with any home theater system. When you’re ready see what’s available to you from the terrestrial HD broadcast signals, then buy the Samsung DTB-H260F High Definition Terrestrial Tuner.

By TV Sleuth | tags: DTB-H260F, High Definition Terrestrial Tuner, Samsung

Vizio 32″ Class Plasma HDTV with Digital Tuner, VP322HDTV10A

If you ever thought that you couldn’t afford a plasma television, then you would be wrong because Vizio makes one that’s affordable. This 32″ widescreen television offers everything you could want and need in clear high-definition, and its size allows it to fit in just about any room of your house. With the VP322HDTV10A you won’t have to give up room space or picture quality, as this plasma television produces bright colors and dark blacks while achieving a 30,000:1 contrast ratio with a 5ms response time that ensures everything you watch is sharp. This HDTV gets the same picture quality that you’ll find in larger and more expensive plasma televisions, but with the Vizio VP322HDTV10A you’ll be paying a fraction of the price. As with with any other flatscreen television available today, you’ll have multiple HDMI connections allowing you to create the perfect home theater system. If you’ve been looking for a plasma television that will fit your room and your budget, then get the Vizio VP322HDTV10A 32″ Plasma HDTV for its clear picture quality with its compact size and price.

By TV Sleuth | tags: 30000:1 contrast ratio, 32", hdtv, Plasma, Vizio, VP322HDTV10A

Olevia 747i 47 1080p LCD HDTV

If you’ve been waiting for just the right time to get an HD television so you can start watching high defintion programming at an affordable price, then now is the time. With this Olevia HDTV you’ll be viewing the very best that television has to offer in image quality with an incredibly sharp 1080p resolution image. The 747i delivers studio quality images, no matter what you’re watching, thanks to the SiliconOptix Realta Hollywood Quality video processor that highlights the subtle nuances that you would normally miss on a regular television. As the Olevia 747i produces such amazingly rich images with the most vibrant colors that can be seen from its wide 178 degree viewing angle, you may find it hard to turn this LCD television off. Along with the great picture that you’ll see by just watching television, you’ll also be able to connect your digital devices such as MP3 players, digital cameras and laptop computers for even more access to high quality digital media. This 47″ LCD television has everything you could want in a TV including an exceptionally affordable price for such a large screen. When you’re ready to see the best that television has to offer, then buy the Olevia 747i 47″ LCD HDTV and watch television in high definition.

By TV Sleuth | tags: 1080p, 1600:1 Contrast Ratio, 47", 747i, hdtv, LCD, Olevia