We all think of the greatest level of quality in a home theater to be HDTV with 1080P. This gives you a great big picture of 1920 x 1080resolution, this is better than your computer that you are reading this on is very likely. There is another thing to think about thoug that is written about in the following article.

High-Def FAQ: What’s the Big Deal About 1080p24? | High-Def Digest

The difference to think about is frames per second. In a movie we are used to seeing 24 frames in one second and for full motion video we can see a difference between 20 and 24 frames per second. Video games on the other hand will need 60 frames per second for you to be very satisfied because our context changes so quickly unlike a movie. The above article does a great job in describing the difference between different 1080P resolutions.

When high definition programming first arrived on the scene, is was somewhat of a novelty. Programming service providers didnt carry a lot of channels in high definition and the television sets themselves were quite expensive and that particularly held true for the larger models, where the full effects of high definition programming could be more greatly appreciated.

Then as time progressed two things began to happen and one of them was that satellite TV programming service providers like Dish Network began to add more and more channels to their list of channels in high definition that they carried.

The other thing that began to happen was that the price on high definition TV sets began to fall steadily. Another thing that began to take place was that more and more people began to become aware of high definition programming.

Many of them saw the display models in home electronics retailer show rooms playing high definition programming on them, or they might have seen one in a friends or family members home. Once a person sees the difference in the picture quality on a high definition TV set, they can then truly appreciate the difference that the technology makes.

One thing that they cant sample correctly in a home electronics show room, is the difference that the digitized surround sound, with Dolby noise reduction feature makes on the programming. They might have heard a little bit of the superior sound quality, but until a person sits in a room with the full effects of the theater style surround sound, they just cant truly appreciate the difference.

Movie theaters have been using surround sound technology for years, so most people know what it is like at a theater, but they have trouble realizing that that quality of sound effects can be brought to their own living room so easily.

Surround sound is just what it sounds like. Its when the sound during a program or movie seems to come from all directions and it is more like the sound a person experiences during every day life. So a ball game viewed high definition with digitized surround sound is so much more real natural. Its as close to actually being at the game itself without actually going there. A good movie that is played on a high definition big screened TV is just like seeing it at a theater.

Many people dont realize that now they can easily afford the high definition big screened plasma TV of their dreams, because they havent been back to recheck the falling prices on them. Another thing they dont realize is that Dish Network is now the premier source of high definition programming, with a full thirty-one channels in their home entertainment arsenal.

When you factor the cost of high definition programming and the cost of the TV against how many times a person watches TV and do the math, its surprising to realize that coming up to high definition with Dish Network only costs a few pennies more for every time you watch a great program or movie from Dish Network. If you are one of those people who havent given high definition a good look for some time, maybe now is the time to take another glance at it.
About the Author

Written by David Johnson. Find the latest information about a great Dish Network Offer as well as a Directv Satellite Offer

Just as I exposed the low quality in HDTVs a few weeks back comes another story that thanks to a court ruling HDTVs may go up in price soon.

In a recent 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that Manufacturers are allowed to set minimum pricing for their products sold at retail. The implication of this ruling is that manufacturers, including makers of HDTVs, can enforce minimum pricing guidelines for retailers that sell their products. As a result, it is possible that the days of deep-discounting for products, such as LCD and Plasma televisions, may be nearing an end. This may also have implications for online sites that are authorized dealers for specific products.

How minimum pricing usually works is that if an authorized retailer is caught selling a specific product, such as HDTV, for less than a stated minimum price guideline, the manufacturer involved can legally discontinue supplying the offending retailer with its products. For more details, check out report from TV Predictions. If you are planning to buy a flat panel television, now may be a good time, before the trickle down from this ruling takes effect on the retail level.

There is a scam taking place and precious few people know that it is being perpetrated.

Walk into any stereo store, best buy or other TV dealer and ask about HDTV. The salesperson will of course show you the latest sale item, explain how great the picture is, maybe talk about HDDVD or BluRay but almost never will the conversation turn to pixel depth, why? Well because this years newest HDTVs are more concerned about price and less concerned about quality. Sure the quality is great and it is always getting better but if you visit a Costco you will see what I am writing about.

At Costco just as an example you can see racks of big screens. There are Plasmas, LCDs, a token rear projection. But, the little tag will tell you a little bit more. That tag with the price will tell you the resolution and the resolution really ranges. The best you can find and the one that people think that they are getting is 1080P but out of 20 sets in my latest trip to Costco only 2 had this magical high resolution.

What are these resolutions?
OK, so maybe you are now scratching your head wondering what all of these resolutions mean. HDTV has three main resolution, 1080, 720, and 480. Here are the resolutions.

1080p 1,920×1,080 lines
720p 1,280×720 lines
480p 852×480 lines

As compared to your standard computer monitor which is either 1024×768 or 1280×1024. Or if we look at what we are used to today the horizontal resolution of VHS tape is (about) 240 lines; broadcast TV (about) 330 lines, laserdisc (about) 420 lines; and DVD (about) 480 lines

Progressive vs Interlaced
The P or I at the end is the way that the TV screen gets painted. Just to simplify, I, which is interlaced is the way that a TV generally looks with every second line being painted at a time and alternating to every other second line at once. P stands for progressive which means that every line is painted with every refresh and looks a lot more smooth to the eye to watch.

Found this great list of 10 tips for watching the Super Bowl. I am sure that the ideas are great for any sports event but here we are on the cusp of the biggest game of the year.

Settling in for three-plus hours of championship football—and championship advertising—requires pre-game prep. Since many of us in the EH offices specialize in such things, we’ve combined our resources to assemble a few nuggets of gametime wisdom.

1. The Big Game offers an excellent excuse to buy a new TV, but watch out for irrational exuberance. Select a screen that fits your room, your budget and your future plans. You don’t want to be paying off a TV that’s obsolete by next year’s game.

2. Be careful about hanging your own flat panel. Installing a mount and placing the screen requires a deft hand, so unless you’re 100% sure that expensive panel is going to hold, call a professional.

3. You’ll undoubtedly need to get up during the game, but that doesn’t mean the game can’t come with you. Professionally installed multiroom distribution can send audio and video feeds all over your home, so if you’ve already got zones set up, make sure you’re porting the game feed to all your A/V equipment. If a professional installation isn’t in this year’s game budget, you can pony up $150-$250 for a Slingbox and zip the TV feed to any PC in the house (even that laptop in the bathroom—don’t worry, we won’t tell).

4. Every room has a sweet spot where the audio and video converge in perfect harmony. You need to find this spot and anchor yourself to it. Do whatever it takes—bribery, threats, deals with the devil, kung fu, etc.

5. Never, ever watch football in standard definition. If lo-fi is all that’s available, turn off the tube and listen to it on the radio. There is absolutely no substitute for HD.

6. Time-shifting a football game is anathema to true fans. You can use the DVR to rewatch fancy commercials and zoom in on wardrobe malfunctions, but make sure the game is always in real-time.

7. Speaking of DVRS … we love those ingenious time-shifting boxes, but they’ve got a nasty habit of switching to another show just as our team is about to pound it into the endzone for the go-ahead score. Spare yourself the pain by clearing out your DVR’s to-do list before the game.

8. If you’re one of the fortunate few whose team is playing in the game, understand that poor officiating and inexplicable playcalling are par for the course. When the refs hit your team with an idiotic pass interference call (see: 2005 AFC Divisional Game, New England vs. Denver), put down the remote and back slowly away from that multi-thousand-dollar television. Two seconds of rage can destroy years of TV enjoyment.

9. The inane game commentary of national TV announcers can cause brain hemorrhaging. If you feel blood dripping from your ear, mute the TV audio and crank up the radio broadcast.

10. And finally … chicken wings and touchscreens are mortal enemies. Nothing kills an intricate programming macro like an LCD caked in buffalo sauce.

OK, I know that I have put up a lot of guides to HDTVs over the last little while but I promise that this should be the last one. Hewleet Packard has whet is considered by many as a great guide to HDTV and I will post it here and then mayve we can get more component and other posts up soon

If high-definition TV (HDTV) is all about clarity, then why are so many people still so fuzzy about it? Because it can be downright confusing.

If you’re still tripping over types and terminologies, follow these simple steps to learn the newest buzz words and the best ways to fit an HDTV into your budget and your lifestyle.

Step 1: Understand the basics
The first thing you should do is come to terms with a few of the words and phrases you may hear used as you shop.

HDTV is short for high-definition television, which offers clear, precise images with rich colors and contrasts. Traditional standard-definition television (analog or digital) uses up to 480 lines per picture. In comparison, HDTV can deliver lifelike picture quality with either 720 or 1080 lines per picture, digital sound and wide-screen viewing.

More lines per picture results in crystal-clear, true-to-life images.

HD and HD-Ready
HD televisions have integrated (or built-in) HD technology, providing all the equipment you need to accept and reproduce high-definition content right out of the box. HD-ready means the TV is capable of displaying HD content, but a separate HD tuner is required to convert on-air, cable and satellite signals to higher resolutions.

All of the latest models of HP TVs have integrated HD capability, which means they require no additional HD tuner. You might also hear the HD tuner referred to as an HD receiver, decoder or converter.

Resolution
Resolution refers to the number of pixels a television is capable of producing. You will see these measurements given as ‘pixels wide’ x ‘pixels high.’ A television with the ability to display HD content can have resolutions of 1024 x 720, 1366 x 768 or 1920 x 1080. The greater the pixel count, the higher the resolution.

Step 2: Define your TV viewing preferences
Plasma and LCD TVs both use the latest technologies to deliver a stunning, high-definition picture that is vastly superior to standard television. Compare them here to find out which one is right for you, according to your lifestyle.
LCD TV: The ultimate TV for sports enthusiasts

The big game looks incredible on an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) TV. They offer lightening-fast response times and an ultra-wide viewing angle. Watch the ball fly and see the crowd cheer in stunning, crisp detail.

Step 3. Determine the right size for your home
Here’s a simple formula for choosing the right TV to meet your space requirements and deliver the best viewing experience.

Divide the screen size (measured in diagonal inches) by five. The resulting number, measured in feet, is the approximate distance for ideal viewing. For example, if you’re considering a 50-inch diagonal TV, you should sit approximately 10 feet away. So, if that puts you hugging the rear wall of your den, think a bit smaller.

The ideal viewing position for best picture quality is directly across from the center of the screen. A larger viewing angle — the area in front of the screen that provides optimum viewing — means better picture quality for people sitting to the far right or far left of your TV. Take note: All HP TVs feature an ultra-wide viewing angle of 170 degrees for optimum viewing anywhere in the room.

Step 4: Figure out your budget
Which TV type offers the most bang for the buck? The answer depends on your preferences, but generally speaking — and assuming the same screen size and resolution throughout — LCD is most expensive, followed by plasma and rear projection TVs.

Got the picture?
Hopefully, you now have a clearer picture of what HDTV is all about. To learn more, check out our interactive video, online classes and buying guides — created to help you get the most out of your shopping experience and all that HDTV has to offer.

Why all the buzz and why now?
By February 17, 2009, television broadcasters will stop their analog signals and broadcast all of their programming in DTV (digital TV), opening the door to a world of digital content.

Unless you use a set-top box or a digital-to-analog TV converter, you cannot use an analog television to receive digital TV because its older tuner is not compatible with digital transmissions.

However, with HP televisions, you will be ready to enjoy all the best digital TV has to offer for an immersive HD experience — enhanced by HP Visual Fidelity technologies.

Many many questions are always coming up and being asked about HDTV especially now that HDTV is hitting the mainstream more now and not jest with Audio and movie enthusiasts. Here are 10 common questions and their answers

1) What is High Definition?
“High definition” or HD is the highest form of the new kind of television called digital television. Digital HDTV is a whole new viewing experience, like a movie theater in your home, even on smaller HDTV sets. HDTV means a widescreen TV picture with 5 times more information on the screen than conventional analog TV. What’s more, HDTV offers 5.1-channel digital surround sound, like a movie theater.

You can enjoy FREE over-the-air HDTV on Channel 9 (and other local stations). Virtually all local TV stations are now broadcasting digitally and there’s lots of programming to watch, like ABC’s popular Desperate Housewives and Monday Night Football as well as NFL on CBS and Fox on Sundays and most primetime programming on all of the major networks. Please visit http://www.wftv.com/tvlistings/index.html and click on the WFTV-DT tab to view the complete HD program listing for WFTV.

All you need is an antenna (a rooftop, attic or indoor antenna) and an ATSC receiver. This can be a separate set-top box (like LG’s LST-4200) that will work with an HDTV monitor or an INTEGRATED HDTV that includes the ATSC receiver built-in. (Many are available from various brands including LG and Zenith, see lgusa.com or zenith.com).

2) How many channels are in High Definition?
More than 1,400 TV stations around the country (including all of your local channels) are broadcasting DIGITALLY. Digital TV broadcasts mean snow-free, ghost-free pictures.

The highest form of digital TV is high-definition TV or HDTV. You can enjoy FREE over-the-air HDTV on Channel 9 (and other local stations). There’s lots of programming to watch, like ABC’s popular Desperate Housewives and Monday Night Football as well as NFL on CBS and Fox on Sundays and most primetime programming on all of the major networks. Please visit http://www.wftv.com/tvlistings/index.html and click on WFTV-DT tab to view the complete HD program listing for WFTV.

There also are other HDTV channels on cable and satellite, like ESPN-HD, Discovey HDTV Theater and HBO-HD to name a few.

3) Can I get HD off the air?
Absolutely. You can enjoy FREE over-the-air HDTV on Channel 9 (and other local stations). Virtually all local TV stations are now broadcasting digitally and there’s lots of programming to watch, like ABC’s popular Desperate Housewives and Monday Night Football as well as NFL on CBS and Fox on Sundays and most primetime programming on all of the major networks.

All you need is an antenna (a rooftop, attic or indoor antenna) and an ATSC receiver. This can be a separate set-top box (like LG’s LST-4200) that will work with an HDTV monitor or an INTEGRATED HDTV that includes the ATSC receiver built-in. (Many are available from various brands including LG and Zenith)

A good rule of thumb is if you can receive a good over-the-air regular (analog) signal with your existing antenna, you should be able to receive a superb digital HDTV signal. Thanks for writing.

4) What is the real difference in High Definition from the TVs we have always owned?
HDTV is a whole new viewing experience, like a movie theater in your home, even on smaller HDTV sets. HDTV means a widescreen TV picture with 5 times more information on the screen than conventional analog TV. What’s more, HDTV offers 5.1-channel digital surround sound, like a movie theater.

You can enjoy FREE over-the-air HDTV on Channel 9 (and other local stations). Virtually all local TV stations are now broadcasting digitally and there’s lots of programming to watch, like ABC’s popular Desperate Housewives and Monday Night Football as well as NFL on CBS and Fox on Sundays and most primetime programming on all of the major networks.

All you need is an antenna (a rooftop, attic or indoor antenna) and an ATSC receiver. This can be a separate set-top box (like LG’s LST-4200) that will work with an HDTV monitor or an INTEGRATED HDTV that includes the ATSC receiver built-in. (Many are available from various brands including LG and Zenith)

5) Is HDTV clear when you are close to it the screen?
Many of us remember our parents telling us, “Don’t sit too close to the TV.” Sitting close wouldn’t hurt your eyes, but as your question indicates, old analog TV doesn’t look so good up close.

That’s one of the beauties of HDTV: you can sit closer to the screen and will not see the scan lines and interference that you see on analog TV. It doesn’t mean that consumers are moving their sofa closer to the screen; it means they’re getting bigger, widescreen sets that help create a home theater experience.

Experts call this the HDTV holiday season as millions of consumers make the transition from old analog TV to new digital HDTV.

6) Does the HD TV completely fill the screen of a HDTV or does it have black bars on the top and bottom?
Answer: The answer is yes (and no). If your 60-inch screen is in the widescreen 16:9 format (which most high-definition sets are), Channel 9’s stunning HDTV images will fill the screen beautifully without so-called “letterboxing.” Old squarish 4:3 displays will display the widescreen TV picture with black bars on the top and bottom.

7) Are there lots of channels available in HD?
Yes, there are lots of channels now. Right across the country lots of regular stations do a great job in high-definition with everything from Monday Night Football to the Oscars to Desperate Housewives.

Other broadcast channels offer FREE over the air HDTV if you have an HDTV receiver and antenna. Cable and satellite also offer HDTV channels like HBO-HD, ESPN-HD, Discovery HD Theater, etc.

8) What size do HDTVs come in?
HDTVs range from 17-inch LCDs to 30-inch CRT (picture tube) models, to rear-projection HDTVs (in the 40- to 70-inch range) to hang-on-the-wall plasma HDTVs in 42-, 50- and 60-inch sizes.

A visit to a local retailer like Best Buy, Circuit City or Absolute Sound in Winter Park should help put all this in perspective.

9) I heard plasma HDTVs only last 5 years then the picture is gone. Is this true?
That’s a great question. The short life of plasmas is an urban myth. In fact, LG Electronics now has 60,000-hour plasma panels. That equates to about 27 years of normal TV viewing.

10) Do you need a special cable connection to receive HDTV?
No you don’t need a special cable connection to receive HDTV.

While you can receive HDTV by paying your cable or satellite operator to deliver it to you, one of the best ways to receive HDTV is FREE using an antenna to pick up Channel 9’s digital broadcast signal using a new HDTV receiver.

Answers supplied by:
John I. Taylor
Vice President, LG Electronics USA
Chairman, HDTV Committee, Consumer Electronics Association
Member, Academy of Digital Television Pioneers

Many homeowners are struggling with an important, electronic question: What is the ideal display for my home theater? Many people have fought this debate, but I’ll try to make clear some important considerations.

The most important detail to consider when deciding between a projector and a large plasma television is ambient light. A room with lots of windows presents a problem for a projector because every little bit of ambient lighting degrades the projected image. The ideal environment for a projector is one where you have total control over the lighting. If your home theater uses a projector, you are limited to using it when you can eliminate other light. A plasma screen can be used anyplace, anytime.

Assuming your home theater has blackout curtains, or exists deep underground; let’s examine differences between a plasma television and a projector. One advantage of a projector is that you can get a much larger picture than is available in plasma.

Projectors can produce images comparable to an 81-inch screen and larger. This just isn’t possible with a plasma screen. However, plasma’s have the advantage of not needing any amount of space. A projector must have a long enough corridor to project its image on the wall or screen. To get an 81-inch or greater image, you need a decent distance between the projector and the target. Second, a projector’s image is dependent on more than the quality of the projector; you must be projecting onto a specialized surface or you lose detail. A top of the line HD projector with a very high native resolution would be wasted if you were just projecting the image onto a wall. You need an equally high quality screen with features such as a matte finish to eliminate reflection and glare. A plasma display requires no additional equipment.

Overall, a projector has the potential of creating a beautiful image, but it needs too much to work effectively. If you’re creating a private movie theater with lighting control and an investment in a screen, mounting equipment, and blackout curtains, then a projector is your piece of equipment. For everyone else, I suggest a plasma television.

About The Author
Jakob Culver is founder of the website www.plasmatvarena.com providing information, articles and reviews about plasma tv’s. To find more articles like this one visit the site http://www.plasmatvarena.com/.
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