Yahoo and Samsung have announced an expanded multi-year partnership
to integrate its broadcast interactivity service into the company’s
Smart TVs.
Broadcast interactivity is Internet-enhanced television with a twist.
Under the arrangement, Yahoo’s SoundPrint audio fingerprint
technology will unite with Samsung’s SyncPlus platform. The combination
will result in real-time content in conjunction with TV shows and
advertisements on Samsung TVs.
“Today, consumers are engaging in interactive TV program experiences
more and more,” Eric Anderson, vice-president of content and product
solutions at Samsung Electronics America said in a press release.
“Samsung’s SyncPlus service combined with Yahoo! Broadcast
Interactivity and SoundPrint will provide consumers with a very
entertaining experience. We are very pleased to partner with Yahoo! and
we look forward to a successful collaboration in the years to come.”
Yahoo’s interactive television programming could come in the form of
trivia, additional show insights, program statistics and gaming options.
Showtime Networks and National Geographic Channel are two of the
initial TV programming partners to offer trivia.
For example, Showtime Boxing fans could access in-depth fight
information such as photos and videos. They could also test their
knowledge of boxers or vote for the boxer they think will win the match.
The system also gives users the option of using their Smartphones or
tablets as a stand-in for their remote control to view or share bonus
content. Users can also receive on-screen prompts about other viewing
options.
The Yahoo-Samsung partnership will also foster new forms of
advertising by extending traditional 30-second commercials into
“immediate actions.”
Broadcast interactivity-enabled commercials, will allow advertisers
to embed calls-to-action for downloading apps or digital media,
providing coupons, ordering samples, reading reviews or viewing product
information.
“We are thrilled that our expanded partnership with Samsung extends
our platform’s footprint, enabling our content partners and advertisers
to reach many more consumers,” said Ron Jacoby, vice-president of
Connected TV at Yahoo!. “Content owners can augment their programming,
and advertisers can create compelling calls-to-action that allow
audiences to engage on marketing messages the moment they are
delivered.”
Showing posts with label TV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TV. Show all posts
The 10 Best HDTVs
For all the hype they've received in the past year, 3D TVs 3D TVs
aren't exactly flying off store shelves. The biggest problem is that there's still very little 3D content available. Also, when they started hitting the market last year, 3D sets were priced much higher than their 2D counterparts. Now, however, prices have come down a bit—probably because these models aren't selling as quickly as manufacturers had hoped.
If you're in the market for a new HDTV HDTV
anyway, it doesn't hurt to get a 3D-ready set if you can find a deal. After all, all the 3D TVs listed below deliver excellent 2D performance too. One thing to keep in mind, though: 3D TV doesn't always just mean paying for the set itself. Many manufacturers sell the required glasses separately for as much as $150 a pair. So if you want to be able to enjoy 3D with family and friends, tack on a few hundred dollars the price of your TV. (The only exception here is Vizio's XVT3D650SV, which uses passive 3D, and four pairs of glasses are bundled with the set.) Also if you're going to watch 3D Blu-ray discs, there's also the cost of a 3D-enabled player. But the good news is that you don't have to buy everything at once; you can get the set first and add the 3D accessories later.
If you're ready to make the move to 3D, check out our list of the best 3D TVs below, along with current street prices, or compare these 3D-ready HDTVs side by side. For a top-rated 2D TV, check out The 10 Best HDTVs. And for general HDTV buying advice, read Guide to Buy an HDTV.
HDTVs Included in this Roundup:
Samsung PN58C8000
Current Street Price: $1,349.99
Samsung's PN58C8000 58-inch 3D-ready plasma HDTV delivers top-notch picture quality, is beautifully designed, and comes with a wealth of Web apps.
Sony Bravia KDL-55HX800
Current Street Price: $1,349.99
The 55-inch LED-backlit Bravia KDL-55HX800
delivers solid 3D imagery and an even-better 2D picture. When we reviewed the set, we knocked it for an overly high price ($3,400), but with a current street price of around $2,000, it's a lot easier to recommend.
Vizio XVT3D650SV
Current Street Price: $3,400
The first passive 3D HDTV, Vizio's 65-inch XVT3D650SV
delivers theater-like 3D on a big screen, and includes four sets of 3D glasses, five HDMI ports, and a generous catalog of Internet apps.
LG Infinia 47LX9500
Current Street Price: $2,099.00
With its slender profile, ultra-thin bezel, and edge-to-edge glass, LG's 47-inch LED backlit HDTV is a thing of beauty. And with solid 2D and 3D image quality and deep blacks, the picture isn't bad either, but a $4,300 list price at review time was tough to swallow. The current $2,500 price makes this set much more attractive.
Mitsubishi WD-60738
Current Street Price: $1,100
The 60-inch Mitsubishi WD-60738 delivers loads of screen real estate for very little money. The set's 3D-image quality is outstanding, but since it's a DLP TV, its bulky and has some uniformity and viewing-angle issues.
Panasonic TC-P42GT25
Current Street Price: $800
The 42-inch Panasonic TC-P42GT25
plasma HDTV delivers deep blacks along with solid 2D and 3D imagery and at less than $1,000, the price is right.
Sharp Aquos LC-60LE835U
Current Street Price: $2,300
Sharp's 60-inch LC-60LE835U LED HDTV
isn't cheap, but between its green power-saving mode, its wide color range, and strong 2D- and 3D-picture performance, it's a solid choice for a large-screen 3D HDTV.
Prices are current at the time of this writing, but are likely to change quickly and often.
aren't exactly flying off store shelves. The biggest problem is that there's still very little 3D content available. Also, when they started hitting the market last year, 3D sets were priced much higher than their 2D counterparts. Now, however, prices have come down a bit—probably because these models aren't selling as quickly as manufacturers had hoped.If you're in the market for a new HDTV HDTV
anyway, it doesn't hurt to get a 3D-ready set if you can find a deal. After all, all the 3D TVs listed below deliver excellent 2D performance too. One thing to keep in mind, though: 3D TV doesn't always just mean paying for the set itself. Many manufacturers sell the required glasses separately for as much as $150 a pair. So if you want to be able to enjoy 3D with family and friends, tack on a few hundred dollars the price of your TV. (The only exception here is Vizio's XVT3D650SV, which uses passive 3D, and four pairs of glasses are bundled with the set.) Also if you're going to watch 3D Blu-ray discs, there's also the cost of a 3D-enabled player. But the good news is that you don't have to buy everything at once; you can get the set first and add the 3D accessories later.If you're ready to make the move to 3D, check out our list of the best 3D TVs below, along with current street prices, or compare these 3D-ready HDTVs side by side. For a top-rated 2D TV, check out The 10 Best HDTVs. And for general HDTV buying advice, read Guide to Buy an HDTV.
HDTVs Included in this Roundup:
Samsung PN58C8000Current Street Price: $1,349.99
Samsung's PN58C8000 58-inch 3D-ready plasma HDTV delivers top-notch picture quality, is beautifully designed, and comes with a wealth of Web apps. Sony Bravia KDL-55HX800
Current Street Price: $1,349.99
The 55-inch LED-backlit Bravia KDL-55HX800
delivers solid 3D imagery and an even-better 2D picture. When we reviewed the set, we knocked it for an overly high price ($3,400), but with a current street price of around $2,000, it's a lot easier to recommend. Vizio XVT3D650SV
Current Street Price: $3,400
The first passive 3D HDTV, Vizio's 65-inch XVT3D650SV
delivers theater-like 3D on a big screen, and includes four sets of 3D glasses, five HDMI ports, and a generous catalog of Internet apps.LG Infinia 47LX9500
Current Street Price: $2,099.00
With its slender profile, ultra-thin bezel, and edge-to-edge glass, LG's 47-inch LED backlit HDTV is a thing of beauty. And with solid 2D and 3D image quality and deep blacks, the picture isn't bad either, but a $4,300 list price at review time was tough to swallow. The current $2,500 price makes this set much more attractive.
Mitsubishi WD-60738
Current Street Price: $1,100
The 60-inch Mitsubishi WD-60738
delivers loads of screen real estate for very little money. The set's 3D-image quality is outstanding, but since it's a DLP TV, its bulky and has some uniformity and viewing-angle issues. Panasonic TC-P42GT25
Current Street Price: $800
The 42-inch Panasonic TC-P42GT25
plasma HDTV delivers deep blacks along with solid 2D and 3D imagery and at less than $1,000, the price is right. Sharp Aquos LC-60LE835U
Current Street Price: $2,300
Sharp's 60-inch LC-60LE835U LED HDTV
isn't cheap, but between its green power-saving mode, its wide color range, and strong 2D- and 3D-picture performance, it's a solid choice for a large-screen 3D HDTV. Prices are current at the time of this writing, but are likely to change quickly and often.
Guide to Buy an HDTV
Undoubtedly, the biggest trend in HDTVs this year is 3D TV. But the truth is, not everyone wants to spring for a 3D-ready HDTV and the accessories required to bring 3D to your living room. If you're not sure, Buy a 3D TV Now or Wait? can help you decide, and if you're dead-set on getting a 3D set, here's a list of the best 3D TVs that’s been tested. Whether 2D or 3D, selecting the right HDTV isn't easy: what type of set should you get? How big should it be? How about resolution and other specs? What sort of extras do you need? Understanding the basics will help you make your choice (and your video) crystal clear, so here's what you should consider when shopping for an HDTV.
Plasma or LCD? What About LED and DLP?
Plasma TVs were the only flat-panel models available when they were first introduced more than a decade ago. But given the remarkable rise in the popularity of LCD TVs in the past couple of years, many manufacturers have stopped making plasma sets, while the remaining players—LG, Panasonic, and Samsung—are shifting toward producing larger screen sizes and plasma-based 3D TVs.
The popularity of LCD TVs can be attributed to some of the technology's inherent advantages over plasma, including a wider range of screen sizes including smaller ones, a very bright picture, and better energy efficiency. And LED-backlit LCDs offer even greater energy efficiency and are often thinner than CCFL-based LCDs, especially edge-lit LED models. But LED-based sets can suffer from some picture uniformity issues like 'blooming,' where lighter parts of the picture bleed into darker ones, reducing overall black levels.
Plasma's strengths include its very dark blacks, and overall picture consistency, which (unlike CCFL or LED) doesn't exhibit color shifts, loss of saturation, or reduced contrast when viewed at wider angles. With plasma you don't need to be front and center to have the best seat in the house. And a plasma's fast-pulsing pixels are inherently well-suited for minimizing detail loss in fast motion like action films or live sports. Also, plasma can give you good bang for your buck if you want a really big screen.
Finally, Mitsubishi is still making DLP (Digital Light Processing) HDTVs. Other manufacturers ceased production of these bulky sets years ago. The Mitsubishi WD-60738 offers 3D support on a big 60-inch panel for less than $1,500, but the set is 15 inches deep and suffers from some uniformity and viewing-angle issues.
Where Will Your New TV Go?
Choosing the right HDTV will greatly depend on the room in which you're planning to watch it. Finding the right display size for your viewing environment is simple—go as big as you can fit in the space (budget permitting, of course).
This chart will help you figure out which screen size will work best. It outlines the minimum ideal distance for viewing HD material on various screen sizes. Sit any closer to the screen and you'll start to notice the pixel structure of the display. Also, keep in mind that standard-definition (SD) video on an HDTV will look disappointing at the distances listed on the chart, so consider moving your seat back to improve the appearance of SD material.
Room lighting is also important. You want a TV with a screen that produces the best-looking picture under typical conditions. If you usually watch TV in a dimly lit room, plasma is your best bet because it can seamlessly reduce the overall intensity of the picture when displaying bright scenes so you can take in more subtle details. can create brighter pictures, so they work well in brighter rooms.
In a well-lit area, screen color can also strongly influence the impression of picture quality—images on darker screens (LCD or plasma) can appear to have more contrast and greater saturation. Most LCD
sets have very dark-colored screens, but some models incorporate a glossy screen finish that acts like a pair of sunglasses, making video black appear even darker (boosting picture contrast). Just be aware that these shiny screen surfaces can also increase distracting reflections. If you want to use an LCD TV in a darkened environment, consider choosing a model that can automatically dim its picture in response to reduced room light levels—or one that you can easily adjust manually—to reduce eye strain.
Choose Your Resolution
1080p resolution (1,920 by 1,080 pixels, progressively scanned) remains the pinnacle for consumer home-theater material, and all other things being equal, you want the screen resolution of your HDTV to match this format in order to provide the most detailed picture possible. But many factors affect the perception of picture detail, including distance, the quality of your eyesight, and the quality of the video material.
At a viewing distance of 12 feet, it would be difficult to distinguish between a 720p and a 1080p display showing the same 1080p video (like a Blu-ray movie) if you have 20/20 vision. 1080p is most critical with bigger screen sizes, where larger numbers of smaller pixels create a more seamless image. It's less important for screens smaller than 40 inches, since you'd have to sit very close in order to notice the additional details. These days, though, 1080p sets are becoming the norm and no longer command premium prices. If you can afford 1080p, go for it.
Make the Right Connections
Your ideal HDTV should provide enough video connections not only for now, but for the foreseeable future. The most important input is the High Definition-Multimedia Interface (HDMI), which supports most forms of digital video and audio (from upscaling DVD players, game consoles, set-top boxes, and even some camcorders) using a single cable. Smaller HDTVs should provide a minimum of two HDMI ports and larger ones at least four. If you plan to hook up older analog video devices to your HDTV, make sure your new set provides enough of these connectors too, as many manufacturers are reducing the number of analog inputs on newer sets.
Besides 3D, the other big development this year has been Web-connected televisions. Virtually every HDTV released in the past 12 months integrates an Ethernet port so you can connect the set to a home network to gain Web access. (Some are even Wi-Fi-enabled or offer optional Wi-Fi dongles so you can connect wirelessly.)
Besides the typical Web weather, news, and stock ticker widgets, television manufacturers are piling on the Web apps. If you want it, you can find an HDTV with video streaming from Netflix, Vudu, Amazon On Demand, Blockbuster, or Hulu Plus; music streaming from Pandora, Slacker, or Rhapsody; and social networking in the form of Twitter or Facebook. And many sets include a wide array of these services.
Panasonic offers videoconferencing via Skype on some of its TVs and to blur the lines between the Web and your HDTV even further, Sony recently released a line of sets that integrate Google TV, which includes a full Chrome browser. Also most of today's HDTVs include a USB port so you can play music and display photos or video stored on USB flash drives and hard drives.
Which Set to Get?
The first thing to remember when you're ready to shop: Always compare prices before you buy. Rarely does an HDTV sell for its full list price, so some savvy online shopping can save you a bundle. And always read reviews first: For our top-rated models, check out The 10 Best HDTVs. For all of the latest reviews, here is HDTV Product Guide.
Plasma or LCD? What About LED and DLP?
Plasma TVs were the only flat-panel models available when they were first introduced more than a decade ago. But given the remarkable rise in the popularity of LCD TVs in the past couple of years, many manufacturers have stopped making plasma sets, while the remaining players—LG, Panasonic, and Samsung—are shifting toward producing larger screen sizes and plasma-based 3D TVs.
The popularity of LCD TVs can be attributed to some of the technology's inherent advantages over plasma, including a wider range of screen sizes including smaller ones, a very bright picture, and better energy efficiency. And LED-backlit LCDs offer even greater energy efficiency and are often thinner than CCFL-based LCDs, especially edge-lit LED models. But LED-based sets can suffer from some picture uniformity issues like 'blooming,' where lighter parts of the picture bleed into darker ones, reducing overall black levels.
Plasma's strengths include its very dark blacks, and overall picture consistency, which (unlike CCFL or LED) doesn't exhibit color shifts, loss of saturation, or reduced contrast when viewed at wider angles. With plasma you don't need to be front and center to have the best seat in the house. And a plasma's fast-pulsing pixels are inherently well-suited for minimizing detail loss in fast motion like action films or live sports. Also, plasma can give you good bang for your buck if you want a really big screen.
Finally, Mitsubishi is still making DLP (Digital Light Processing) HDTVs. Other manufacturers ceased production of these bulky sets years ago. The Mitsubishi WD-60738
offers 3D support on a big 60-inch panel for less than $1,500, but the set is 15 inches deep and suffers from some uniformity and viewing-angle issues.Where Will Your New TV Go?
Choosing the right HDTV will greatly depend on the room in which you're planning to watch it. Finding the right display size for your viewing environment is simple—go as big as you can fit in the space (budget permitting, of course).
Room lighting is also important. You want a TV with a screen that produces the best-looking picture under typical conditions. If you usually watch TV in a dimly lit room, plasma is your best bet because it can seamlessly reduce the overall intensity of the picture when displaying bright scenes so you can take in more subtle details. can create brighter pictures, so they work well in brighter rooms.
In a well-lit area, screen color can also strongly influence the impression of picture quality—images on darker screens (LCD or plasma) can appear to have more contrast and greater saturation. Most LCD
sets have very dark-colored screens, but some models incorporate a glossy screen finish that acts like a pair of sunglasses, making video black appear even darker (boosting picture contrast). Just be aware that these shiny screen surfaces can also increase distracting reflections. If you want to use an LCD TV in a darkened environment, consider choosing a model that can automatically dim its picture in response to reduced room light levels—or one that you can easily adjust manually—to reduce eye strain.Choose Your Resolution
1080p resolution (1,920 by 1,080 pixels, progressively scanned) remains the pinnacle for consumer home-theater material, and all other things being equal, you want the screen resolution of your HDTV to match this format in order to provide the most detailed picture possible. But many factors affect the perception of picture detail, including distance, the quality of your eyesight, and the quality of the video material.
At a viewing distance of 12 feet, it would be difficult to distinguish between a 720p and a 1080p display showing the same 1080p video (like a Blu-ray movie) if you have 20/20 vision. 1080p is most critical with bigger screen sizes, where larger numbers of smaller pixels create a more seamless image. It's less important for screens smaller than 40 inches, since you'd have to sit very close in order to notice the additional details. These days, though, 1080p sets are becoming the norm and no longer command premium prices. If you can afford 1080p, go for it.
Make the Right Connections
Your ideal HDTV
should provide enough video connections not only for now, but for the foreseeable future. The most important input is the High Definition-Multimedia Interface (HDMI), which supports most forms of digital video and audio (from upscaling DVD players, game consoles, set-top boxes, and even some camcorders) using a single cable. Smaller HDTVs should provide a minimum of two HDMI ports and larger ones at least four. If you plan to hook up older analog video devices to your HDTV, make sure your new set provides enough of these connectors too, as many manufacturers are reducing the number of analog inputs on newer sets.Besides 3D, the other big development this year has been Web-connected televisions. Virtually every HDTV
released in the past 12 months integrates an Ethernet port so you can connect the set to a home network to gain Web access. (Some are even Wi-Fi-enabled or offer optional Wi-Fi dongles so you can connect wirelessly.) Besides the typical Web weather, news, and stock ticker widgets, television manufacturers are piling on the Web apps. If you want it, you can find an HDTV with video streaming from Netflix, Vudu, Amazon On Demand, Blockbuster, or Hulu Plus; music streaming from Pandora, Slacker, or Rhapsody; and social networking in the form of Twitter or Facebook. And many sets include a wide array of these services.
Panasonic offers videoconferencing via Skype on some of its TVs and to blur the lines between the Web and your HDTV even further, Sony recently released a line of sets that integrate Google TV, which includes a full Chrome browser. Also most of today's HDTVs include a USB port so you can play music and display photos or video stored on USB flash drives and hard drives.
Which Set to Get?
The first thing to remember when you're ready to shop: Always compare prices before you buy. Rarely does an HDTV sell for its full list price, so some savvy online shopping can save you a bundle. And always read reviews first: For our top-rated models, check out The 10 Best HDTVs. For all of the latest reviews, here is HDTV Product Guide.
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