The Best LCD TV When You Are Low on Cash

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LCD TVs are no doubt the Cadillac of televisions. They bring us a crisp, clear view of our favorite movies and shows the way a plasma or regular old TV can never do. They are designed so that you can watch television from any angle and the view won’t be distorted.

You get less glare with your LCD TV, and they are the lightest and most compact televisions on the market. Not to mention the fact that your husband drools when you say, ‘LCD TV.’

With all of the benefits of LCD TVs, they come with a pretty heavy price tag. So how do you find the best LCD TV for you? You can find one in your budget that will make you happy. Here are a few of the most popular choices for the best LCD TV to purchase when you’re working with a small budget.

Samsung offers a great 15 inch LCD TV that is no frills, low cost, and still delivers the optimum quality and picture that makes these televisions so popular. For a smaller television at a lower cost, this is one of the best LCD TV options on the market.

So, if the 15 incher just won’t do it for you, Sharp has a great 32 inch model that performs with excellence for less than a thousand dollars. This big boy has multi pixel technology, and gives you a breathtaking view of your favorite shows and movies. It is without a doubt one of the best LCD TV choices on the market that won’t have you selling your house to keep your TV.

If you’re still thinking, “bigger, bigger,” Aquos has a great 46 inch television that runs for less than two thousand dollars. This TV is one of the best LCD TVs you can buy for such a good price with such a big size.

This TV features some of the largest viewing angles, so there is less of a chance of distortion when you’re watching it from an angle. It also comes with a warranty, of course, and HD. I bet you guys are already seeing the big game on this big boy TV [http://www.bestlcdtv.thebestreview.net/reviews/best-lcd-tv-size.html].

It’s really not difficult to find a good LCD television that is easy on the purse, if you shop around and check out the good deals.

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Why You Should Wall Mount Your Flat Screen TV

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Over the past couple of years mounting TVs on the wall has really taken off and wall mounts are now more popular than ever. Of course, having your TV mounted to the wall looks fantastic, but there are also a number of practical benefits too, so if you are looking for reasons why wall mounting is such a good idea you have come to the right place!

Let's be honest, the simple fact is that a lot of people want to use TV wall mounts simply because of the way they look. Most wall mounts can easily be installed in less than an hour using just basic household tools and instantly add a touch of contemporary style to any room. But wall mounts aren't just form over function; they offer much more than that.

As TV displays get larger and larger, it can become increasingly difficult to find a good location for them, especially in small rooms. Yes, a 45 inch flat screen TV can deliver a fantastic home cinema experience, but where exactly are you going to put a TV that is so large? If you use a traditional TV stand then the chances are that your TV will get put in the corner because this is the only practical place for it...but that doesn't mean that you will get the best view of your favourite movies or shows.

And what is the point in buying a large screen TV if you can't get the best possible view? By using a wall mount you can position your TV in whichever location gives you the best viewing experience, and since the TV is on the wall, you are freeing up valuable floor space too.

Using a TV wall mount can also help to protect your TV from accidental damage. OK, some people may have a special media room that is set up to house all of their home entertainment equipment, but for most people their TV has to share the living room with other family members or house mates, kids and pets. It would only take a small knock from a child running past a traditional TV stand to send your set crashing to the floor. Wall mounting obviously removes this danger as your TV would be safely fastened to the wall out of harms way.

Another great thing about wall mounts is that they offer you increased flexibility since you can get mounts that tilt and swivel, and even mounts that have fully articulated arms. Mounting your TV on the wall using this type of mount allows you to adjust the viewing angle to suit whatever the lighting conditions are at the time; and with the articulated mounts you can even pull the TV away from the wall and watch it from an adjoining room. This type of freedom simply isn't possible with traditional TV stands, unless of course you fancy man-handling a bulky and expensive TV set every time you want to alter its position.

TV wall mounts help your TV to become part of the room, rather than just a large plastic box in the corner; they help to protect your TV from damage; they let you get the perfect view and they save you floor space, not to mention the dose of style that they inject into a room. The real question to answer isn't why you should wall mount your flat screen TV; it's why you shouldn't wall mount it!

See Also : TV buying guide LED television

Turn Your TV Into a Huge PC Monitor

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Turning the Big Screen (or any TV) into your PC monitor is a great idea for many reason's. It can make playing game's easier and funner. It's like seeing "World of Warcraft" for the first time. You can also sit back and be alot more comfortable. Watching your PC on a TV screen is alway's better for movies, for obvious reason's. Some people enjoy the set-up when working. Either building website's or creating power point presentation's or whatever the project is.

There a few other reason's that converting a TV into a PC monitor is catching on. For one, many like using the surround sound or even the stock TV speaker's when watching movies or listening to music download's. Or you can switch over to a show or football game while working on whatever project your stuck doing. Not to mention, you dont have to worry about getting food or drink's all over the keyboard or mouse.

When your used to staring at the standard size PC monitor , it can be quite exciting to read your email on a 36 inch Television screen.

It truly is fantastic to flip your TV into a PC monitor. It's even better when you try it on your Big Screen. If you have seen it before , than you already know. If you haven't , then you might want to learn how now. It's not too hard , but writing this down might be a good idea.

Basic Conversion Instructions

First thing's first, you are going to need a "VideoCard". A video card is simply hardware that is used to generate and output images to a display. Some main function's of the video card are video capture, TV tuner adapter , Mpeg decoding, connecting multiple monitors and connecting joystick's. You can usually purchase one for around $30.00. That will get you a 256 MB card that is more than enough for most function's.

Assuming that your PC has an "S-Video" port ,you will need to plug an "S-Video" cord into the "S-Video Out". Then connect it to your television set in the "S-Video In" port. For sound you will need an RCA cord. Hook the RCA "Red and Black" into to the corresponding port's on your TV. Make sure you hook up the opposite end of the RCA into your PC or laptop. If you dont have one , your PC speaker's will work for this.

Now we are ready to adapt the PC setting's and Video Card setting's.

Right Click anywhere on the desktop screen
Click "Properties"
Click "Settings"
Then Click "Advanced"

Now. in your "Graphic Card" setting's you will High light the "Display Settings" tab. Once there choose the "Single" display option. The dual will leave your PC screen blank or all you will see is the screen saver.

Next select the "Clone" option for the TV. That will send the PC signal through the "S-Video" cable to the TV screen. Now press your "TV-Video" button on your TV remote. What you are searching for is the "Video" option that will display your PC's screen. Once you have the Money Shot , (Well , you know what I mean) that mean's your TV is set-up correctly. That also mean's it is time to click the "Apply" tab in your "Video Card" setting's.

That's it , click "Yes" to confirm and you are done. It's time to have some fun with your PC to TV connection. Once you can perform this operation like the "back of your hand" , it's one of the coolest function's available.

Thanks To : TV buying guide LED television

How to mount your satellite dish and get the best signal

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If you could have a provider of satellite TV on your local cable company, a problem difficult to show the installation of the same dish. The provider companies offer short, sending a technician to your house for the initial installation, but may be charged. And what if you have problems with the reception afterwards, and I need to change? Also, if you choose to install the satellite dish you may need to assemble and aligna couple of times before "Picture Perfect". So, here is some information and tips for better signal from the satellite dish, including where and how to set the antenna for best reception.

Where is Mount Plate
The first step is deciding where to mount the dish. Since the actual satellite that sends signals to your satellite dish in the living room about 22.300 miles above the equator, you must install it if you owncan see a clear, unobstructed view of the southern sky. This is the guideline for selecting the generalized mounting area so you can then further determine exactly where to put it.

You should try to avoid mounting your satellite dish on the roof of your home because not only can that cause possible leaks, but you will also want to have easy access to it for clearing snow, leaves, etc. from the signal path or repositioning the dish later on. Think back to the old-style, roof-mounted metal 'tree' antennas that were used way-back-when, and what an inconvenience it was for someone to have to climb up to the top of the house and adjust it - not fun or safe, especially in bad weather.

How to Mount and Adjust the Dish

o Once you've chosen the exact spot, attach the mounting plate to your house so that it is flush and level with the mounting surface.

o Use silicone to fill in any extra space around the drill holes to prevent pests and the elements from getting inside.

o Assemble the antenna/dish and mount it to the plate.

o To determine the best position for the dish, you can use a compass in conjunction with the markings on the antenna mechanism itself. You can also use an electronic satellite locator to help you fine tune the signal reception.

o Attaching the cable to the antenna/dish and drill a hole to insert the cable through and hook that and the coax cable up to your TV and receiver box.

o Note: If you're running the cable up or down through a wall to reach the TV, using a cable snake will help you maneuver it.

o Turn on both the TV and digital receiver box and check the current reception quality.

o If need be, fine-tune the coordinates of the dish position:

o Adjust the Elevation (up or down) designation of the dish

o Adjust the Azimuth (left or right) signal position of the dish

You may have to go back and forth into the house a few times to check the reception, and it would be helpful to have someone inside alerting you to the reception quality, but following these guidelines will help you to end up with the best signal strength.

You can also:

1. Refer to your user manual;

2. Use the remote you were provided with and follow the built-in 'set-up' menu options on the TV screen; and/or

3. Contact the provider's customer service department for additional questions or assistance.

Thanks To : LED television TV buying guide

Information on the elements of a flat screen TV Mounts Know

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Accessories, flat screen TV in a society or to ensure a fixed position is a TV mount. Depending on the size of the TV media are available for wall hanging on television and support for the TV spot on the floor will be positioned on a desk or on.

It's easy, flat screen TV Mounts are needed to hang a flat screen television. In general, increases in a complete kit sells formount the television. There are several items which must be taken into account before installing the mount.

Flat screen TV mounts ought not be positioned near any source of heat since there would be a potential for damage to the television. The mount must be located on a stable platform or level area of the floor in order that there is no room for the television to wobble. Should your purpose be to mount the television to the wall, you must be Make sure no electrical cables or other behind the area where you want to mount is.

You can get a stud finder, screwdriver, drill, hammer and need a small key to install correctly, the TV media. The time required to install the media and the TV hanging TV screen size and the size should be large, you will probably need at least one assistant.

These media can be requested at any timeexcept that the consumer electronics and accessories for entertainment or door in stores for the home. You can also find online the frame, but be careful what you buy, you can use the model of television.

As with other products for which you buy, it is better to do comparison shopping to get the best price for your flat panel TV mounts. In addition, contributions are available online, should be useful as youdeciding. The modern televisions of today are engineered for mounting, which makes flat screen TV mounts a necessity.

Numerous types of TV mounts are available on the market, even some which allow the television to be rotated so that it may be viewed from various positions. This provides an easy of setting the TV to whatever viewing angle you desire.

Another item of information which should be of interest is that some flat screen TV mounts utilize titanium ball bearing rotators while others are composed of stamped metal. Obviously, titanium is more expensive than materials of other composition.

Related : TV buying guide LED television

Flat screen TV Stands

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the advent of flat screen TV, the whole concept as an entertainment center has changed. Previously TV stand with a bulky big space at the center of employment in September The entertainment centers were also required to have enough width to make room for television. But now days it is possible to construct two thin TV is the availability of flat-screen TV. Flat screen TV stands are allthe rage now as more and more consumers are choosing them over traditional models. The reason for their popularity is that they are both space saving and also available in various elegant designs.

Another reason for choosing them is that an average flat screen TV is 32 inches. This is why, traditional TV stands cannot accommodate them. Therefore, when you choose a one, you by default need to select a flat screen TV stand. You can also choose to wall mount but you will still need apparatus to accommodate your other entertainment media equipment related to it. Therefore, it is advisable that you select a stand that has ample storage options.

When buying flat screen TV stands you must plan to get one that is at least two to three times larger than your current need of storage. The reason for buying a bigger stand is not extravagance, rather foresight. The way entertainment media and technology is advancing, it is fair to assume that within the next two years you will accumulate a large amount of media. If you buy a flat screen TV stand only according to your current requirement, you may feel the need of upgrading it soon. This will prove to be an unnecessary cost and also it may be difficult to match a new one with your furniture and décor later. However, if you feel buying a bigger than necessary TV Stand is not possible due to either lack of space or lack of funds, you can decide on a flat TV screen stand appropriate for your need, and then develop a habit of going through your accumulated media every few months and discarding obsolete stuff.

See Also : LED television TV buying guide

A plasma or LCD HDTV TV - Which is better?

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Though both LCD and plasma are available in the form of thin flat panel displays, but from a technological point of view, these two flat panel displays process the image differently.

Plasma uses a matrix of small gas plasma cells charged by precise electrical voltages to emit light and create the image by image. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) - work by trapping a liquid crystal solution between two sheets of polarized glass. When an electricalCurrent is passed through the liquid crystal changes the polarization of light through them in response to voltage - as a result, more or less light can pass through the polarized glass on the face of the display.

It is not the scope of this article for details about the issue in terms of how these different display technologies vision - after all, what really counts is not what happens behind the screen, but Rather how thesedifferent display technologies work as a TV screen. At the same time, it is worth noting that it is these differences that each technology will give this, their strengths and weaknesses, and therefore makes a better choice than others under certain circumstances.

The following list shows the main differences between these two flat-screen technologies:

Format: For the momentConflict between plasma and LCD-TV area occur in 40-50 inches. In fact, most LCD TVs up to 50 inches, larger screen sizes are also available, although the selection is still very limited. This means that anything larger than 50 inches, a plasma display is your only real option if what you are after is a system-view satellite television. On the other hand, the smaller end of the spectrum, namely 15 "to 36" TV, LCD is the way to go if what you wantis something elegant and thin (less than 4 cm deep).

Value: This field is leveling at a fast rate. Until very recently, plasma is the obvious choice for all screen sizes where collision between these two technologies occurs, that is no longer the case. In general, plasma still leads by a good margin only in larger screen sizes - 50 inches and up. To small (up to 44-inches), the price advantage when it comes to plasma vsLCD TV, LCD TV shift begins more.

Total Video Performance: Both the latest plasma and LCD flat panel TFT display capable of excellent image quality - with bright and crisp. However, plasma flat panel monitors are more suitable to use basic home theater screen. The cell structure of gas inside a plasma display is such that the light is not lost between adjacent cells (or pixels). This plasma display makes it suitableDisplay deeper blacks - and therefore more suitable for television and film scenes in which dark and light content is shown more than once.

In comparison, the nature of LCD technology - where a backlight passes through the layer of liquid crystal - which is hard for him to reach the "real" blacks (ie true absence of light), because more light loss adjacent pixels.

This does not mean that LCD panel s are not suitable for use as TV screens, LCD TV todayextremely high contrast panels able to display very deep blacks, but the latest plasma TV still have a slight advantage.

Viewing angle: what was a clear advantage for plasma displays is more and more of a non-issue especially with the latest generation of LCD televisions, but ...

Do not always assume that viewing angle is no longer an issue when comparing plasma vs. LCD TV. The tendency - especially with the cheaper LCD TVs - isthat the deterioration of image quality with off-axis viewing more than with LCD plasma, with emphasis.

persistence and burn-in LCD TVs has a technological advantage, they are not susceptible to burn-in and image in the LCD - retention named as "stick image" is often completely reversible.

It 'important to recognize here that during the burn-in stick in plasma displays and LCD panels is in bringing an image to burn, but thesetwo completely different phenomena.

Burn-in is not so important, as it uses a plasma TV in the recent past, particularly for people with normal television standards. Similarly, attack with LCD TV image can not intervene in the normal home entertainment experience.

Viewing distance: It seems that the pixel size and shape of an LCD panel enables a softer image quality as equivalent to a large plasma panel for the same pixelcount.

This means that even if your viewing distance falls within the recommended distance of about twice the width of the screen of an HDTV, if lower than at least nine feet, you'll probably be better with an LCD TV.

Lifespan: this is not a problem with both technologies. In fact requires both plasma and LCD TVs have a cited half-life of 60,000 hours. Although only 30,000 hours, which would mean that more than 14 years when used6 hours per day. So, if the average size of households in the U.S. TV replaced every seven years!

In other words, use both plasma and LCD extremely stable and reliable display technologies. As such, duration more dependent on quality rather than the manufacturer's display technology.

Answer: Plasma TVs take an advantage here, because even though LCD technology has improved in some extent this is becoming less and less, yet LCDstill a long way to go to reach the same level of pixel response time, such as listings of phosphorous.

Power: The advantage here goes to power as LCD panels consume them less. Estimates indicate that the use of LCD panels can result in% energy savings, around 30 for the same screen size plasma.

For Decision

Is there a market for plasma and LCD - Plasma provides a larger screen for yourDollar, deeper blacks, but the LCD does not suffer burn-in and the bottom end of the market (less than 40 inches diagonal), LCD is your only way forward if you want something slim and elegant.

It's all a matter of knowing what are the advantages and disadvantages of each in relation to your specific needs.

This Article is a Extract from a series of informative guides toPractical-Home-Theater-Guide.COM in plasma and LCD TV sections of the site.

It covers only the basics when it comes to comparing plasma vs. LCD TV. There are many more considerations to consider TV to choose the right technology to show a flat screen.

For more information, see the detailed http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com/plasma-vs-lcd-TV.html the site.

Last updateOn May 10, 2007. Copyright (c) 2004/2007 http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com. All rights reserved.

Related : LED television TV buying guide

Samsung Touch of Color LCD Flat Screen

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Have you ever heard of the Touch of Color LCD TV? It 's just a promotion, a new invention, a future-oriented technology or simply a smart display? It is probably a combination of all these.

Manufacturers are now challenged on how to increase their sales on LCD televisions. LCD-TV has become very popular in the market, many brands are popping up and competition is increasing. Samsung has developed a solution to win the battle for market share of LCD-TV - The touch of colorLCD flat screen.

TV Samsung has really done a great success with its touch of color LCD flat screen. The design characteristics and is a great success for consumers. Touch of Color LCD TV has cut a bit artistic 'amber piano black bezels them, which made her look elegant apartment, lean and fit. Due to the popularity of television, this means that consumers are worried that their television should also look attractiveif it is disabled. Would love for her television decorating a piece of art that are in harmony with all. It 'is expected that other manufacturers would follow the trend and Samsung come with their distinctive and elegant designs in the future.

What exactly is color touch? This is essentially a design feature to the outside of television. It 's like any other TV that do not appreciate notgood work when activated. But, of course, Samsung would not fail in this one area. The only difference is the unique and elegant appearance.

To make a high maximum image quality, offers the Samsung Touch of Color LCD TV at full 1080p resolution. You create the ideal image you can imagine, this is the essence of high definition TV. This is much better than conventional TV.

Samsung offers this technology called Auto Motion Plus WithThis technology allows Samsung to offer a response time of 4 ms and a frame rate of 120Hz, because it doubles the frame rate of 60 Hz to 120 Hz TV, a precise transition between frames. Compare up to the early versions of LCD TVs, Samsung Touch of Color TV is able to handle motion very well. This makes it ideal for entertainment with fast action in the state, such as sports and action movies.

Another feature of the Touch of Color TV is the contrast ratio50,000:1, which is a big improvement over last year's model with 25:000:1 contrast ratio. The contrast ratio is a very important feature of television, it measures the ability of television to produce dark blacks and bright whites. That is, if the contrast ratio is higher, erupted in preventing or faded images that reflected on television with the help of lower contrast.

Another great feature of the new model year is the link info. Itprovides access to various free RSS feeds such as news, sports, weather and stocks on the Ethernet port.

Although it's touch Samsung's color is not really a new invention, you could say they are the consumers seeking more, and there may be increased trend starts one with a television, his time may be the same as an artistic decoration itself is not when lit. 'S Touch of Samsung LCD flat screen color is a real value for your moneyall its amazing features - High resolution images, attractive design and fashion.

Related : TV buying guide LED television

The Advantage of Having a Flat Screen TV

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Aside from the low profile and an increase in space, a flat screen TV gives you the highest resolution among any other kind of television. This one of a kind television has a very low glare unlike a normal TV screen which catches light from any direction. The flat LCD TV does not deliver glare to its viewers. This television is like a mirror and is only sensitive to particular light interferences from a certain direction. The flat LCD TV will not reflect light back unless there a very dominant light from a specific location.

A normal TV contains what we call a cathode ray tube which is like a gun that fires out electrons at a fast speed to the surface of a CRT. The electrons that strike the surface then glow and produce a pixel on the monitor. This is the reason why screen of a CRT television needs to be curved because there must be enough depth for shooting of the image. A flat LCD TV has no cathode ray tube like those in the normal televisions. It uses a light source with filters that are polarized and in between them is a thin layer of liquid crystals. This makes the flat screen TV thin.

An LCD television is usually much more expensive but its power consumption is lesser as compared to a normal TV. So in the long run you actually save more money because your electricity bill is cut down. Another major advantage of the flat LCD is the precision of the image that it gives. There is no other clearer image on other kinds of television since it has no curved screen unlike the normal televisions. A flat TV also has a better resolution than most normal television sets. You will appreciate the difference when you watch the usual TV program, more when you watch DVD movies since they are of higher resolution than the everyday TV programs. Movie lovers will surely love the LCD TVs.

Tags : LED television TV buying guide

Buy Big Screen TVs Online For Cheap

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It's summer time and hot! Too hot to be outside right now, so most people are staying indoors and watching a lot of television. Now is the perfect time to buy big screen TVs. You can buy them for fairly cheap and stay inside from the summer heat to play with your new toy. You will also have it ready for later in the year when it comes time for football season!

Picking a TV can seem like a hard choice since there are so many options available though. Here is some basic info about the types of TV sets available, and a brief look at this season's best selling big screen TVs.

First of all you need to decide if you want a flat screen or a rear-projection TV. Flat-panel screens are getting more popular everyday due to their size. These are the ones that are so thin you can even hang them on your wall. Ultra cool! But they are the most expensive option and only get up to a certain size (if it was too big it would fall off the wall!). The other option is a rear-projection TV. You can get them in whatever size you want, but they are much thicker so you will not be able to hang them on the wall. Rear-projection TVs are usually cheaper, but the picture quality is incredible for both types of sets. I would choose what is best for you based on price and available space.

Once you decide what type of set to buy, you need to decide on the specific big screen TV you want to buy. This season Samsung is definitely the hottest brand available. They have stiff competition with other popular brands like Sony and keep advancing their technology. At Amazon right now, the most popular big screen TV is the Samsung LN46A550. This 46" LCD HDTV has great bang for the buck. Samsung also has many other TVs in the top 10 list, while Sony, Sharp, and Panasonic are quite popular too. There are lots of great quality, cheap big screen TVs available, and now is definitely the time to buy.

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Plasma calibration without a single penny

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Ok, you've gone out and bought a brand spanking new plasma TV, but how do you make sure that you're getting the best picture out of it? To do that you need to adjust the picture settings on your plasma TV, otherwise known as "plasma calibration" in the AV industry.

Before you start, you should know that the best calibration for your plasma TV will depend on your source material (i.e. what you're watching), your input device (e.g. DVD player or satellite box) and the amount of ambient light in your home environment... among other things. You should also be aware that your plasma TV needs to be run in for at least 200 hours to allow the phosphors to stabilize, or else you will have to repeat your plasma TV calibration in the future.

You may not own a plasma TV calibration DVD, so this article will try to walk you through the steps using readily available material. Remember to use the best available connection to connect your input device to your plasma TV. In descending order, the cleanest signal (and hence best picture quality) can be obtained via: HDMI = DVI > VGA = component > SCART (RGB) > S-Video > Composite.

1. Adjust Brightness. This actually determines the black level on your plasma TV: too high a setting and black will look gray; too low and dark grays are swallowed into blackness. To set brightness to its proper level, simply play a DVD with lots of black scenes (e.g. opening scene from Star Wars). Now crank your brightness up until the black on your plasma TV look gray, then slowly dial your brightness down until the black in the movie JUST matches the black on the black bars on top and bottom of the movie.

2. Adjust Contrast. This determines the white level and is responsible for how much light your plasma TV actually emits. To set contrast correctly, play a DVD scene containing a shiny bald head/forehead (e.g. The Fifth Element). Now increase contrast until the bald patch is glaringly Your eyes hurt, and then tone down until you are satisfied that you see all the details in the white.

3rd Adjust the focus. The most badly encoded source material for this use, edges increase, but if done excessively haloing introduce edges and blades around. It is better to be a "User Menu" (etc from your DVD, satellite receiver), adjust zoom fire to occur, many artifacts, playing at the edges of words, then sinkuntil the ringing just disappears.

4. Adjust Color. Color can either be too saturated or too dull... either way the picture will not look right, with the most noticeable errors found in skin tones and green foliage. As a rough guide, you can use a DVD scene with a hand and tinker with the color until the color matches that of your own hand.

What I've described above is 4 basic steps for plasma calibration using only what's available to you. If you wish to strive for more accuracy you can get a HDTV calibration DVD, but you'll need to know which one to buy and how to use it to calibrate plasma TV because the majority of them are still catered for the CRT market.

See Also : TV buying guide

Placing a TV Screen Outdoors - Points to Consider

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When looking to deploy a TV outdoors, you have to be mindful of several potential issues it does not matter if it for your own back yard, near your hot tub or outside your bar or restaurant, some serious issues will need to be addressed.

What is the potential theft risk? This can be if the neighbourhood is rather rough and there is a high crime rate in the area. This can have a two fold effect, your insurance for the TV will be very expensive and the insurance company will insist on some theft protection.

Will the TV be left outdoors all year round? If so, you need to consider some kind of heating and cooling source dependant upon the lowest and maximum temperatures in your region, otherwise the TV could be left in an icy tomb if it snows a lot and this will cause the internal TV circuits to corrode and fail. On the other hand, if the TV does not have adequate cooling and overheats, this too can cause the TV to fail. 

If the TV is to be left outdoors all year, the cables for the TV should be deep in the group to prevent them from breaking down and failing, the last thing you want to find just before you sit down for the big game is that the TV will not work and this could be caused by the failure of the TV cables. 

If you are certain of installing an outdoor TV system, you should seriously consider an outdoor TV cabinet, these come with cooling and heating solutions that have been proven in Canada and Norway.

Related : LED television

Increasing the Benefits of Dynamic Signage in Cinemas

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By 2012, market experts predict that dynamic advertising will be utilized in almost 90 percent of the world's retail space. Within the consumer world, cinemas have been an appropriate medium for dynamic signage. These solutions capture the attention of movie-goers in lobbies, as they manoeuvre around the site to and from theatres and their amenities. A world away from the more traditional static print advertising, a single dynamic POS (point of sale) screen can easily and quickly provide a range of companies with striking and animated imagery.

An experienced visual technology solutions integrator provides a unique consultative approach to this market. They will address every aspect of a signage solution - from engineering and manufacturing components to installing and maintaining them. In effect, choosing one who is more nimble than another, dynamic signage companies will be capable of delivering a tailored system.

The Dynamic Cinema Scene Solution

Cinema marketers and promoters cater for cinemas and corporate brands. In theatre lobbies they positions brands in front of targeted buyers by running commercial spots on dynamic advertising stands and also deliver comprehensive concession, box office and on-screen program management and planning. It uses new media technology, such as digital media and mobile marketing to promote brands and theatre amenities.

For cinema marketing kiosk products, digital signage integrators provided custom backend hardware, imaging, staging, installation and technical services to fulfil the project and its rollout requirements, offering comprehensive service and support. This effectively deploys large screen custom kiosks in a movie theatre environment which traditionally caters to the demographics of children and young adults.

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Saving Money For That Flat Screen TV

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So you've been looking at that huge flat screen TV, but it doesn't fit into your budget. And unfortunately, your credit cards are maxed out. It looks like the flat screen is another item to add to that growing wish list that will never happen.

But it doesn't have to be that way. With careful planning, you can easily save enough money to get that flat screen, vacation, or even that new car you've been drooling over. It 's just a matter of priorities. All of us spend money on small frivolous items that we can really do without. If you take all of your little impulse purchases, it can add up to a substantial amount at the end of a year.

Take that coffee you buy every morning on the way to work. Along with the occasional bagel, it amount to about $2.50 per day. It doesn't sound like very much money and you can easily afford it, so what's the problem? The problem is this; if you bring in a coffee from home, you can save that $2.50 expense. Over the course of a year, you will save about $360 from this little change.

Have you considered refinancing your mortgage? Interest rates are currently at historic lows. If your existing mortgage rate is significantly higher, you could save $200 to $300 a month by refinancing. (Of course, you should consult with a professional before making a decision like this.) If refinancing is right for you, you could easily save $2400 per year.

Food is another area where you can save money. Never go shopping without making a list beforehand and only buy items on your list. This will eliminate those impulse purchases that can really put a dent in your budget. Use store brands and generics instead of the name brands. Use coupons and look for stores that offer to double (or triple) them. By making just a few of these changes, you can easily shave 15% off your food budget. Your annual savings could easily add up to $800 a year.

The few savings listed above add up to over $3500 a year. You would have more than enough to get that flat screen TV. You might even have enough left over to order a high definition pay per view movie.

Get all the details on how to slash expenses and put money in your pocket!

Related : TV buying guide

How to Use Your LCD TV as a Video Monitor

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Unlike a plasma television that offers the danger of burn-in, you can learn how to use you LCD TV as a video monitor. It makes for a clear and crisp picture to go with yoru computer or video games. The versatility of an LCD TV is perhaps what makes it most attractive to many buyers. A few tips on how to use your LCD TV as a video monitor will help you see just how great an LCD television can be in your home.

LCD screens actually have their roots in computer monitors. The wild success of LCD computer screens has led to the development of larger screens to use as television sets. Many of the characteristics are the same, but in order to compete with plasma, the televisions have actually developed higher quality pictures in the last couple of years.

A word of advice, though: if you are planning to use your LCD just as a computer screen, consider actually buying an LCD monitor. If you do not, you will end up paying for a tuner, AV inputs, and other television features that you don't need. On the other hand, if you are gaming on your LCD screen, a big 30 inch screen can be impressive when you show it off to your gaming buddies.

The first step in learning how to use your LCD TV as a video monitor is making sure you have the right television. In order to make the switch from TV viewing to monitor for your computer or games, your television needs to have a VGA or other options for connection to a PC or gaming system. If it does not, then you are going to be very disappointed.

Make sure your computer is near your LCD television. You do not want to have to run cables and wires all over the house to accommodate your computer usage. Additionally, it needs to be close enough that your view of the monitor will actually be reasonable when using the computer. You would be surprised at how many people say they want to use the LCD screen for their computer monitor, but forget to put the computer near the television.

Next, in learning how to use your LCD TV as a video monitor, you need to make sure you have all wires and cables run that you need so you can switch easily. Run cables through the walls or conduit to both your computer and the cable input for your home. That way when you decide to switch your LCD screen between television and computer use it will be smooth. If you are really savvy, you can also set it up so that a switch or channel change will move you from computer or video monitor to television screen without a lot of work.

Learning how to use your LCD TV as a video monitor is valuable. Since the picture is so clear and well contrasted, you will reduce eye fatigue and squinting headaches brought about by traditional monitors. Just make sure you have the right television and are prepared. Then, you will be all set for dual use of your LCD TV.

See Also : LED television TV buying guide

How to Turn Your TV Room Into a Home Theater

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If you bought a 50" plasma and receiver with surround sound a few years ago and you want to kick it up a notch for the upcoming football season here's an idea...

Thanks to the fact that HDTV projectors are far less expensive than they used to be, you can turn your TV room into a full blown Home Theater for as little as $3,000.00. Here's the concept....use your plasma for most TV shows and when it's time to watch the big game or movie, turn your room into a home theater by sending your HDTV signal to a projector that shoots an image 120" diagonal on to a screen mounted in front of your plasma.

How to Do It

Screen: You are going to mount a retractable HDTV screen above and just in front of your plasma and mount a HDTV projector in the back of the room. The most common size screen is 120" diagonal. Determine what screen size you should purchase, go to mountsandmore.com

Projector: Sony is the biggest player in the front projector market. Two favorites are:

Sony VPL-VW60: Home Theater magazine says the "SonyVPL-VW60 is a" great projector at a great price". It projects a beautiful1080P image and sells for about $5,000.00.

If you're tight on money, the Sony VPL- AW15 is an incredible deal at about $1,100. No kidding, no typo! Although this model is only capable of projecting an image in 720P format, (1080 is best) Home Theater Magazine says "No rear projector or flat panel at anywhere near the cost can offer a big screen experience like this!"

Projector Mount: Due to variables like ceiling height, you're going to need a little help here. I suggest contacting projectorpeople.com and have them help you determine the correct projector mount.

Connections: Your HDTV projector only needs two connections, power and HDMI (high definition multi media interface).

Power: If you can afford it, have an electrician install a power outlet near the location you will be installing your projector. If you don't have the budget, just buy an extension cord that closely matches the color of your wall and run the wires as cleanly as possible to the nearest outlet.

HDMI: You will need to run a HDMI cable from your receiver to your projector. It looks best if you run your wires in the wall or under the carpet. You may want to have a home theater installer handle this for you.

You will need to purchase a HDMI switch as most receivers have only 1 HDMI out connection.

Black Out Curtains: The black in a projected image comes from the black in the room so you need to keep your room as dark as possible when you are in Home Theater mode. I suggest logging on totarget.com/ where you can purchase black out curtains and rods for as little as $29.99 each and install yourself.

If you're a do-it-yourself person, you can save some money installing yourself. If not, I recommend contacting finding pre screened contractors through the use of an online service called servicemagic.com/ Service magic is an on line contractor referral service that will get you three bids on anything you need to get done.

Project Specifications and Budget

HDTV Projector:
Model 1: Sony VPL AW15
Price: $1,000.00
Model 2: Sony VPL VW 60
Price: $5,000.00
Where: shopzilla.com

Screen:
Model: Da-Lite Model C - Video Spectra, HDTV Format 119" diagonal
Price: $480.00
Where: mountsandmore.com

Projector Mount:
Model: Varies by application
Price: Varies by application ($250.00 - $500.00)
Where: mountsandmore.com

HDMI Cable:
Model: HDMI 1.3
Price: Varies by length ($50.00 to $100.00)
Where: mycablemart.com/

HDMI Switch:
Model: 3 port Enhanced HDMI switch
Price: $50.00
Where: mycablemart.com/

Black Out Curtains:
Model: Target Eclipse Suede black out curtains
Price: $300.00
Where: target.com

Installation:
Price: Varies by application ($500.00 - $1,000.00+)
Where: servicemagic.com

See Also : TV buying guide LED television

Give Your Flat Screen TV Some Calibration - For Free!

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There is nothing better than getting a brand new flat screen TV!

Except for the obvious things! A new flat screen TV can be for many of us, the window to the world At least that window should give as clear and detailed view as possible, you clean your windows at your home, do you not?

Try not to get carried away!

When you go to view a new flat screen TV do they not all look fantastically attractive? All lined up with excellent pictures? But they never seem to look the same when switched on back home! They should do if they were set correctly! If the manufacturer has not already..The shop has!
I am talking about things to look for when purchasing a new flat screen TV.

The false look

Tweaked up picture settings? Large spacious surroundings? these are just two ways retailers improve the appearance of new flat screen TVs.

The problem

Almost all new flat screen TVs come out off the box with the wrong settings! They are turned way up to impress you with their falsely set...settings

You can not even correctly adjust them because unless you live in a very large room, you will not have the same environment in your home as in the showroom two nothing to the retailer!

The cure

The answer is to be able to quickly (as you may be in a busy shop) calibrate the TV this can be done easily by following these steps.

Firstly, freeze a scene on a dvd that has dark and bright areas
(this will be your test scene)

1. Turn your 'brightness' setting (completely down or off), all the shadowy areas will (hopefully) be black, then slowly increase the brightness whilst watching the shadowy areas until you see detail and the black areas are still deep black.

2, Next, focus on a bright area with detail, turn the contrast right down (the whites go grey), then slowly turn the contrast up until the whites are as white as possible with clear detail.

Now check the blacks are black and whites are white, if they are not, simply go through steps 1 and 2 again until they are!

3. Now turn off the 'Sharpness' or 'Detail'...and increase it until the picture is as sharp as you prefer.

(change your DVD scene to a facial scene)

4. Now turn your color setting off or right down and then increase it until you get a realistic skin tone.

5. Adjust 'Tint or Hue' so you can not detect any green or magenta.This is the most natural reproduction your TV is capable of!

It will take a while to get used to the picture, depending how high the settings were originally, you may think it is 'a bit dark' but your eyes will readjust.

Friends Link : TV buying guide LED television

Big Screen Sports and the TV Salesman

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NFL, NHL, NCAA, NASCAR. They all look better on a big screen home theater system and sound better on a multi-channel surround system. If you buy the right equipment - that is!

The Super Bowl has become one of the biggest motivators for buying a big screen TV. On the Saturday before the big game, visit your local Best Buy or Costco and look at all the guys roaming the floor looking at plasma screens, LCD tv's, and giant rear projection systems. The sales people are busy explaining to them why they need to buy a whole host of expensive add-ons to 'really' make the system work at its full potential and wives and girlfriends are asking them to explain again why it's a good idea to spend the money they were saving for a downpayment on a house to buy a TV.

The really sad thing is, by waiting until the last minute and not doing a little research, most of them will end up buying a home theater system that isn't what they expected. Marketing people throw around terms like 'High Definition' as though it has one meaning, but not all 'High Definition Televisions' are the same. The word 'Digital' is even worse. And then comes the jumble of letters like DVI, HDMI, and HDCP. Choosing the wrong system components can cost you a lot of money and waiting until the last minute is the best way to make a mistake. Buying a TV is a little more complicated than it used to be.

If you want to feel like you're on the field as the shoulder pads crunch or experience the rush of being inside a stock car burning up the track at the Brickyard, get started early with a little research and planning and you'll get the home theater system you've been dreaming about.

Here's a few tips to get you started:

Make sure you can get an HDTV signal - You may have to upgrade your cable or satellite service and hardware before you can even receive High Definition. DTV (Digital Television) does not equal HDTV. A standard definition picture blown up usually looks pretty lame and some TV's don't do a very good job with this.
Check for a Tuner - Not all HDTV TV's have a channel tuner built in. This may not be a big deal if you have cable or satellite, but it is if you plan to receive signals over the air.
Check your Connectors - Make sure you know what type of connectors are needed to hook-up your Tivo, Media Center PC, cable or satellite box to the TV.
Plan for Other Upgrades - You may need to consider upgrading your Tivo, Media Center PC or DVD player.
Plan for New Furniture - This may not occur to you right away, but the entertainment center you have probably won't fit with a widescreen TV. Also, if you intend to hang a flatscreen on the wall, you'll need a hanging bracket and the tools and skills to firmly attach it to the studs. Plasma TV's are heavy!

Gentlemen, Start Your Shopping!

Visit : LED television TV buying guide

Step-By-Step Tips for selecting a projection

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You are ready to buy a projection screen, but don't know which one to pick among the different types offered by the store. Here are some ideas to narrow your choice down.

Step 1: What type of screen do you want?

- Fixed frame screen. Installed in one fixed location. Ready to use anytime.

- Motorized Screen. Installed in one fixed location. Press remote to use screen.

- Manual pull down Screen. Installed in one fixed location. Pull down screen to use.

- Pull-up Screen. Can also be carried around

Step 2 : What type of AV format do you want?

- 1:1

- 4:3 like TV and PC monitors

- 16:9 like movie screens

Step 3: What color screen do you want?

- White

- Gray.

White Screen vs. Gray Screen debate. It is said that Gray projection screens absorb ambient light better. There is greater contrast because black colors seem blacker. White projection screens are perfect to use for those with the newer, higher contrast models of projectors.

See also fabrics in step 4, that already come in gray or white.

Step 4 : What Fabric do you Want?

Choose the Fabric of your Projection Screen. Note that the Gain is the brightness from the middle of the screen. A gain of 1.0 means the amount of light that is projected on the screen returns to the viewer at the same brightness no one is absorbed and everything is redrawn with perfect consistency from every angle.

Glass beads. High brightness, gain greater than 2.9, effective scattering angle more than 32, high contrast and resolution, fine color rendition, excellent vision. reflective beads are air isolated and permanently attached to the screen surface. screen surface is flat, prevents mold, moisture and odors. Fireproof. The brightness does not drop moretime.

Pearlux Fabric. High brightness, gain of more than 1.4, effective scattering angle more than 100, high contrast and resolution, fine color rendition, good vision in bright circumstances. Stable physical parameter and less attenuation. Flat and odor-free.

Grey Glass Beaded. High brightness, gain of more than 2.8, effective scattering angle more than 32, high contrast and resolution, fine color rendition, excellent vision. Best choice for home theaters. Fabric increases saturation of black and gray colors, improves contrast. Reflective beads are air-isolated and durably attached to screen surface. Screen surface is flat; prevents mildew, moisture and odor. Fire-proof. Brightness does not decrease over time.

Matt White.

Diffusion screen surface, with effective scattering angle more than 160 degrees, high brightness coefficient (more than 0.92), anti-glare, fine color rendition, wide viewing angle, soft Light. No visual fatigue after long reflection. Stable physical, less cushioning.

Grey Matt White

Diffusion screen surface, with effective scattering angle more than 160 degrees, high brightness coefficient (over 0.85), anti-glare, fine color rendition, wide viewing angle, soft light. No visual fatigue after long reflection. Stable physical, less cushioning. Odorless

Grey Vinyl

PVC screen surface with an effectivescattering angle more than 160 degrees, high brightness coefficient (more than 0.82), high contrast, wide viewing angle, soft light. No visual fatigue after long viewing. Stable physical parameter, less attenuation, flat and free of smell. Odorless.

White Vinyle

PVC screen surface, with effective scattering angle more than 160 degrees, high brightness coefficient (more than 0.90), fine color rendition, high contrast, wide viewing angle, soft light. No visual fatigue after long viewing. Stable physical parameter, less attenuation, flat and free of smell. Odorless.

Step 5 : What screen size do you want?

How to choose the screen size for you:

The Diagonal Size is the distance from a lower corner of the screen, diagonally across to the other side upper corner. Diagonal sizes are always given with the specifications.

The suitable watching distance is equal to the diagonal of the screen.

- The recommended width of screen :

If you want a 4:3 format, width is Diagonal times .80 (W = Diagonal x .80)
If you want a 16:9 format, width is Diagonal times .82 (W = Diagonal x .82)

- The recommended height of the screen :

If you want a 4:3 format, width is Diagonal times .60 (W = Diagonal x .60)
If you want a 16:9 format, width is Diagonal times .49 (W = Diagonal x .49)

- Note the space margin needed by the screen when it will be installed. The recommended space from the ground to the bottom of the screen 0.7 to 1.25 meters.

For example, you are thinking of buying a 100 electric screen with 4:3 format

1. The screen size is

Diagonal = 100

Width W = Diagonal x .80

W = 100 x .80

W = 80 in

Height H = Diagonal x .6

H = 100 x .6

H = 60 in

The screen size is 80 in x 60 in

2. And the space needed for your screen is

Width is greater than 80 inches - 80 inches plus allowance at the sides

Height should be greater 60 inches - 60 inches plus space from the floor.

Thinking about these factors ahead of time will narrow your choices to the projection screen that is perfect for your needs and use. Fergameri USA can provide the best screen suitable for you at affordable prices.

Contact Fergameri to get your quote.

My Links : LED television

Professional Tips for shooting better home videos

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Ensure adequate light. Shooting indoors, turn all the lights in the room, if possible. This will avoid graininess when the camera tries to lighten the image. As a last resort, use a light on the camera, though it gives you a "deer in the headlights" look natural compared to more lamps. When shooting outdoors, keep the sun on or sideways. This will prevent the person fromSquinting in the sun, or too light in the background.
Turn off the auto-iris (exposure), if possible. The iris is what controls the amount of light into the camera. Usually this is set to be automatic, so not having to think. But the result is the video image is lit continuously as pan and between subjects, or darken your subject, if you do not see why you're a bright window were obscuredbehind them. If you have the option of manual exposure camera, be sure to do the manual will be.
Avoid zooming. Walk around (up to 5 feet) on the subject, as far as possible and avoid zooming, which makes the image shaky and obscured the view to your topic. The more you lose the light, as a. If you shoot people or children, a close up of them as we continue at full zoom zoom seems as ifOn the right beside them, not a stranger far PEEK try a. Also, your sound much stronger, cleaner and closer, if you shoot close to the subject.
Frame the subject properly. Now that you have the camera close to the child in a walker, has now turned the frame where the head is not in the center of the viewfinder all the time. Try to always put on the back of his head near the edge of the viewfinder. This is anotherThe image most pleasant to see, instead faces pressed against the edge of the screen.
Exceeded, then change it later. You get much more memorable moments with the camera when the camera is actually recording is compared to when it is turned off. Sun consistently exceeded, even when nothing happens, it seems, because after all! Go back and edit later from the slow stuff. If it seems too slow or too expensive to invest so that allVolume is considered an upgrade to-tape camera not as a DVD recorder, hard disk recorder or even a good digital camera capable of decent full-screen video shoot and record on a memory card. You can record non-stop and can delete the boring scenes immediately. The result is very beautiful together, enlightened and entertaining movies that your family will love forever.

My Links : LED television

The advantage of a flat screen TV

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Apart from the low profile and an increase in space, flat screen TV offers a the highest resolution with any type of television. This TV is very unique little glow in contrast to a normal TV screen, which captures light from Any direction. The flat LCD TV provides its viewers with no glare. Television is like a mirror, and it is only sensitive to disturbances, especially the light from a certain direction. The flat screen TV is notunless they reflect the light of a very dominant light from a particular position.

A standard TV is a CRT, the call as a gun, putting out fires electrons at high speed on the surface of a CRT. The electrons then hit the shiny surface and create a pixel on the monitor. This is why a TV with CRT should be folded because it has enough depth for image registration. A flat LCD TV does not like CRTnormal TV. It uses a light source with filters, which are polarized and among them is a thin layer of liquid crystals. This makes the thin, flat screen TV.

LCD TV is usually much more expensive, but its energy consumption is lower than a standard TV. So in the end actually save more money because it reduces the electricity bill. Another great advantage of a flat liquid crystal is the precision of the image there. ThisNo clearer picture of other types of television, because there are no curved screen in contrast to normal TV. A flat-TV has a resolution better than standard TV. Appreciate the difference, if the program you watch normal TV, if you have more movies, since a higher resolution than the ordinary TV programs are in. Movie lovers will love the LCD TV.

Friends Link : TV buying guide LED television

life plasma television - why should not worry

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However, there are different opinions, is the general consensus is that plasma televisions have a long life to do. As one with a flat screen TV is usually more expensive than other TVs, its duration is usually the cost to justify the addition.

These TVs also provide a clearer picture, the joy of making this a sound investment for a television person.

When people begin to thinkthe possibility of adding a plasma TV in their collection as electronics, which usually ask myself what is the average life expectancy.

Plasma TVs deliver clearer, more distinct images than an LCD screen and are more inclined to take longer. The average person looks at a couple of hours of television per day, which means it can take up to ten years, if you see only eighty hours of television a week.

Early versionsplasma technology of today is not cost effective or environmentally. These older versions ran quite hot and listening to a person unable, to their fans. If charging to verify first before, how long should that most people do not have time to investigate.

However, a person is deemed the average use of time, and not the type to see more than a couple of hours at night, tend to take their checkbooks or credit cardsout and buy one just can not afford.

Today the average life span of plasma TVs is as impressive as the picture. Advances in technology and the fact that new models burn just as hot, the picture is clean and razor.

For people who simply watch a movie every now and then, or the news while preparing for work or in bed, as this is a wise investment.

Models can be hung on walls or set on special media that are builtfor flat-screen TV. The fact that save space, sometimes used to justify the purchase, but all in all, there are few good reasons to consider a plasma television.

When you buy a plasma TV type, life span plasma television should be taken into account. Usually requires a very long time with the extended display, so you should not worry about that are not worth the investment.

Related : LED television TV buying guide

Plasma TV Maintenance

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After you buy a plasma TV it is a good idea to learn how to maintain it so it will last you a long time - after all it is not a cheap gadget that you can change every few months without feeling a sharp pain in your pocket. So just make sure you know where the weaknesses are so you don't abuse your TV in that area. Also it's good to know the truth about some rumors like the one about refilling your plasma TV with gas.

The Recharging Myth

As a plasma screen television produces images, it uses electricity to burn xenon and neon gas in order to illuminate phosphors. Because of this, many people believe that the gas will run out over time. The notion of having to "recharge" your plasma screen television is a myth. The amount of gases consumed in normal use is minuscule, and they will last throughout the normal life of the screen.

Burn-in and Plasma Screen Televisions

If you leave a plasma screen television on for too long while it is displaying a single image, the television can suffer from burn-in. Burn-in occurs when an image is permanently etched on to the screen of the television, leaving a pale "ghost" of that image no matter what is displayed on screen. The burn-in was a major disadvantage of plasma screen televisions, one that wasn't shared by LCD televisions. However, you don't have to worry about burn-in if you have a new model of plasma TV or even if you have an older one and use it for normal television, DVD, and occasional computer use. Plasma screen televisions that suffer from burn-in are often found in corporate settings, where a single image, or a single channel with a news ticker, can burn into the screen.

Preventing Burn-In of Older Plasma Screen Televisions

Burn in will only occur in older plasma screen televisions that display the same image, or the same part of an image, for an extended period of time. Using the screen to display a single image, like a picture, for a long period of time will inevitably cause burn-in if your plasma TV is older than a couple of years. Using the screen as a computer display for long periods of time will cause the desktop of the computer to be burned in to the screen. Also, constantly viewing news programs that have stationary on screen objects (such as news tickers) will cause these objects to burn in to the screen. Most high-end plasma screen televisions have an option called "white wash" that will eliminate a burned in image. Using the white wash will shorten the life of your screen however so don't abuse it.

Maintaining Your Plasma Screen Television

One of the beautiful things about plasma screen televisions is that they require little or no maintenance. There are no gases to recharge or bulbs to replace like it is the case with projectors or DLP TVs. All you have to do is insure that the television is placed within a safe environment and used properly. Make sure that it rests in a clean, cool, and dry space. When you install it make sure you leave enough room around it so air can flow and cool the plasma TV. Clean the screen regularly and don't use chemical solutions for that unless the manufacturer recommends it. Don't leave the television on when its not in use. If you follow these steps, no maintenance will be required and your TV will last you a very long time.

Recommend : TV buying guide

Energy Efficiency - Buying a New Plasma, LCD or Flat-Screen Television with Energy Star

Are you in the market for a new television set? Are you considering a plasma, LCD or flat-screen model? Have you considered it's energy efficiency? While most people shop for televisions with specific features already in mind, they rarely consider energy efficiency. Why is energy efficiency important in televisions? According to Energy Star, "today's TVs, when combined with related products like DVD players and set-top boxes, make up about 10% of a household's annual electricity bill."

Powering Your TV and it's Effect on the Environment

Watching television may seem harmless enough, but it's important to realize the environmental impact of the electricity you use. Generating electricity is a dirty business - especially in the United States. In 2006, nearly half (49%) of the country's 4.1 trillion kilowatt hours of electricity generated used coal as its source of energy. Why do we still rely so heavily on coal in today's more environmentally conscious world? You can find the answer in a recent MIT report titled The Future of Coal where they state, "Coal is a low-cost, per BTU, mainstay of both the developed and developing world," they continue with the following frightening statement, "its use is projected to increase."

Growing Power Needs

If 10% of your household's annual electricity bill doesn't seem outrageous to you then consider the following, according to Keith Jones of Digital CEnergy Australia, "by 2012, it will be safe to say that televisions will use more power than the average refrigerator in an average household."

Energy Efficiency - A Simple Solution

Thankfully, there is a simple solution - energy efficiency. The more energy efficient your new television is, the less electricity you use and the less pollution you contribute. With the help of Energy Star, finding an energy efficiency television has never been easier. Energy Star rated televisions use about 30% less energy in comparison to standard units. Energy Star also provides ratings on almost every type of television on the market - from standard TVs, to HD-ready TVs, to the largest flat-screen plasma TVs.

To maximize the energy efficiency of your new television, if possible, I recommend holding your purchase until after November 2008. According to Energy Star, "in November 2008, a new, much more stringent ENERGY STAR specification for TVs will be effective." This new standard will include efficiency improvements for both standby and active modes.

Finding Energy Star Rated Televisions

If you are ready to shop today then you can find Energy Star rated televisions using their free web-tool:

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=TV#FAPSearch

The following stores also carry Energy Star rated "Home Electronics" so you should be able to compare Energy Star models personally.

Best Buy
Costco
Sam's Club
Sears
Wal-Mart

To find the closest store near you, Energy Star provides the following free web-tool:

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=store.store_locator

It's important to always remember using energy efficient devices is an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint. Not only does energy efficiency help save the environment for future generations, it also saves you money each money by lowering your monthly electricity bill. When you purchase your next television, make the environmentally smart choice and purchase one rated by Energy Star.

Tags : TV buying guide

TV Viewing Distance and Screen Placement in the Home Theater

The optimum TV screen size is directly related to the available viewing distance - but there are other factors as well that need to be taken into consideration.

Viewing Distance: Is it just a matter of personal preference?

Sit too close to your big screen TV and you will be able to see the image build-up structure - scanning lines or pixels forming the image - thus distracting your attention and spoiling your home theater experience. Yet, sit too far away, and the impact will be lost.

There are differing opinions on the best way to determine the optimum TV viewing distance for a specific screen size. Just go to the movie theater and you will soon realize that it is all a question of personal preference - some would sit at the very back. Others would go straight to the front row, as they prefer the bigger picture and a wider angle of view, while some would simply choose their seat randomly somewhere in between these two extremes.

The truth is that there are no scientific rules her. This does not mean that there aren't any guidelines that you should follow when planning a big screen purchase or a would-be home theater room.

SMPTE Recommendations and the THX Certification standards:

The Society of Motion Pictures and Television Engineers (SMPTE) recommends that the screen size for home theater use should occupy a 30 degrees field of view - in the horizontal plan - for the audience. Alternatively, the ideal TV viewing distance should be such that the screen width occupies an angle of 30 degrees from the viewing position.

This 30-degrees viewing angle seems to have been accepted by many as the standard in home theater and motion picture viewing.

This SMPTE guideline is also in line with the THX certification standards in that these recommend that the back row of seats should have at least a 26 degrees viewing angle and while recommending an optimum viewing angle of 36 degrees.

It is believed that within these viewing angle limits, the viewer will get better immersed into the action movie itself.

Vision System limitations:

There is also the issue of TV viewing distance based on visual acuity. This does not represent the optimum viewing distance - rather, this relates to the maximum viewing distance beyond which some picture detail will be lost.

Technically speaking, visual acuity is a measure of the eye spatial resolving power and indicates the angular size of the smallest detail that a person visual system can resolve. A person with 20/20 (or 6/6 when expressed in meters) normal vision can resolve a spatial pattern separated by a visual angle of one minute of arc angle i.e. 1/60th of a degree, at the eye when viewed at 20 feet away. Expressed differently, a person with normal 20/20 vision is capable of identifying an object with a height of 1.76mm at 20 feet way.

In terms of TV viewing distances, these represent the point beyond which some of the picture detail will no longer be resolved by the viewer vision system.

So How Does All This Translate In Practical Terms?

A few rules-of-thumb can help put in practice the guidelines detailed above. These rules for viewing distance refer to the screen width rather than the screen diagonal and therefore apply to both 4:3 and 16:9 display formats.

A general rule for the TV viewing distance based on the SMPTE and visual acuity guidelines, is that the nearest TV viewing distance between you and your big screen TV should be limited to approximately twice the screen width (more precise 1.87 x screen width for a subtended angle of 30 degrees), while the furthest distance being no more than five times the width of your screen.

This rule of thumb should give you a fairly good approximation for your TV viewing distance. It does not necessarily represent the ideal home theater viewing distance but rather the limits within which your TV viewing distance should theoretically be out of the trouble zone.

In other words, move closer than twice the screen width size, and the picture scanning lines, pixels and any other video artifacts will become too visibly intrusive - leading to distractions that will spoil your movie watching experience. Move further away than 5 times the screen width and your vision system will no longer be able to resolve all the picture detail.

But...

It is also important to realize that these maximum and minimum viewing distances should be seen in the light of the video signal definition.

A fully resolved high definition TV (1080i, 1920x1080) supports a closer viewing distance than standard analog TV. Thus while twice the screen width would be the ideal TV viewing distance for a HDTV display, it would be a bit too close for standard TV; in the later case, a three times the screen width would be a better option.

Similarly, the five times the screen width as the maximum view distance, while more than adequate for a standard analog TV picture, is a bit too far away for a person to see the fine detail supported by a HDTV picture - a three to four times the screen width represents a more practical limit for the maximum viewing distance in the case of HDTV.

These rules-of-thumb work best with big screen TV sizes in the range 42-inches and over.

When it comes to the use of regular-size standard definition analog TVs in the home theater, i.e. up to 36" / 40" diagonal, the optimum viewing distance range is between 8 feet and 12 feet. TV sets smaller than 36-inches aren't big enough to qualify for Home Theater use; their smaller screen size will not provide the desired impact on the viewer.

Vertical Angle of View & Screen Height:

For optimum viewing, the eyes of the viewer should be level with the center of the screen.

Maximum vertical angle of view: In those home theater set-ups where this is not possible, the SMPTE guidelines suggest that the maximum vertical angle measured at the seated eye height from the front row center seat to the top most part of the projected image should not exceed 35 degrees.

This does not represent the optimum viewing angle but rather the limit beyond which the viewer will be subject to an increased neck strain.

This maximum vertical angle limit is always measured from the front row as this represent the extreme angle of view.

Minimum angle of vision: While there do not appear to be any specific SMPTE or THX guidelines in this respect, yet studies have shown that if the screen size occupies less than 15 degrees of the viewer's vertical field of view, than that image appears small.

Practical Considerations:

In a typical home theater set-up, you do not need to really worry about neither the maximum vertical angle of view, nor about the minimum vertical angle of vision for an effective movie theater experience.

If one were to adhere to the recommended TV viewing distance of twice the screen width (as further detailed above based on the SMPTE guideline of 30 degrees horizontal field of vision), you would automatically be complying with the minimum angle of vision. The reason being that there is a fixed relation between screen height and width in accordance to your home theater screen aspect ratio of either 16:9 or 4:3.

Further more, in a typical home theater setup, it would be very difficult to exceed the maximum vertical angle of view beyond which you will be subject to an increased neck strain.

Taking into account that most home theater rooms are approximately 10 feet (3m) high, the resultant vertical viewing angle is normal well within the maximum of 35 degrees detailed in the SMPTE guidelines - all you have to do is just remain within the twice the screen width guideline for your viewing distance.

Tags : TV buying guide LED television

How to accept the best Flat awning TV

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Choosing the right technology

Plasma and LCD TVs look the same, but they are not. Some features or options don't differ a lot, but these are the major differences:

Size

If you arfe looking for an extra large TV, go for a plasma. Plasma TVs are the current size champions, particularly when comparing TVs that consumers can easily purchase. LCDs are catching up in size with their developing technology, however, and may surpass Plasmas in the near future. This may be due to difficulties in producing glass large enough for larger plasmas.

Burn-ins

With the latest plasma technology, this is less of an issue than ever before. The Pixel Orbitor, for example, is a method of reducing burn-in used by plasma manufacturers. It requires no additional programing from the end user as some older burn-in prevention techniques did.
Note: If you plan to use a plasma for gaming, some games with permanent 'dashboards' may still cause some burn-in. If you will be using the television for display use only, go for an LCD. Plasmas are more likely to get burned-in pixels.

Miscellaneous

- LCD TVs are far less fragile than plasmas. This is also an advantage when the tv set has to be shipped or moved to a different location.

- LCD TVs are also much easier to install than plasma TVs.

- LCD TVs have a better performance at high altitudes.

- LCD TVs are often cheaper than plasma TVs. The difference in pricing is getting smaller, however.

Ofcourse, all this information is available all over the web. For a detailed comparison sheet, I recommend using Wikipedia's comparison sheet.

Flat Screen TV comparison, don't get it wrong

If you have made a choice between plasma and LCD (I'll name it Flat screen TV from now on), you can pick a TV of your choice. Flat screen TV comparison will able you to find out exactly what you want and what'll fit the budget.

Brands

The following brands are being considered as the best manufacturers of Flat screen TVs:

- Hitachi

- Panasonic

- Philips

- Pioneer

- Samsung

If you are looking for a product with outstanding quality, we recommend choosing one of these brands.

Features

Different Flat screen TVs have different features. Most of these features look the same, but there are a couple of unique features as well:

- Ambilight

- HD ready or not?

- Picture in Picture

There are lots of comparison website available, but you will have to know how to use them. Filter the models by brand, price and features and the choice will be a lot easier.

Thanks To : LED television TV buying guide

How to Clean Your LCD TV screen

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* Easily Scratched!

First we have to understand a little bit of background about LCD screens to know why we should be careful when cleaning. LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display; which has crystal molecules sandwiched under layers of polarized panels. These panels are usually made of "plastic-like" polymer materials, and like any plastics they can be easily scratched or gouged, even by just your fingernails! That's why cleaning LCDs requires special care while cleaning compared to the old glass CRT monitors!

* What You'll Need

- rubbing alcohol (aka isopropyl alcohol)

- distilled water (not tap water!)

- A soft cloth (lint-free)

* Steps

1. Dilute the rubbing alcohol into a mix with about 50% alcohol and the rest distilled water.

2. Pour this solution into a spray bottle. Old Windex bottles are good as they spray in a mist pattern with just the right amount to get good coverage on your screen. The spray bottles that squirt a single stream tend to drip solution all over the place.

3. Spray the mix onto a soft lint-free cloth. Old t-shirts and microfiber car wash cloths are both good choices. Large cloths are better since it helps to reduce the risk of leaving streaks on the screen from too much pressure.

4. Gently wipe the cloth on the screen in a circular consistent motion. Apply even pressure to the cloth and be careful not to push too hard, or scrape the screen with your fingernails!

* Suggestions

- Costly products that you buy at the "computer screen cleaning" aisle of your local computer store contain the same basic ingredients of alcohol and water! Some even contain other harmful chemicals such as ethylene glycol, which may be ok on older glass CRT monitors, but should NOT be used on LCD screens! Some of the extra chemicals can also be harmful to the environment and to your health.

- Be sure to use Mineral water! Not tap water; you don't want hard mineral spots on your screen.

- Don't use tissue paper; they will leave lint and spots of paper stuck to your monitor. Also they're too thin, risking damage from your fingernails poking through.

- Don't apply too much solution. If you do, just wipe it off with the cloth and use less.

- You can also use lint-free lens wipes from photography stores, but they're thinner so be careful about your fingernails poking through.

- For a cheap ready-made solution from the store, you can also use CD/DVD cleaner, It's already designed to be plastic-safe, and is a simple solution of about 50% isopropyl alcohol.

* Some Precautions

- Don't use Windex or other glass cleaners! These contain ammonia, which is ok for glass, but WILL hurt your LCD screen!

- Try not to use the really cheap paper towels, like the tough brown ones in public washrooms. They can scratch your screen.

- Be sure to shut down your computer and your monitor, then unplug from the wall. This reduces the risk of electric damage in case you spill some of the solution on components.

- Don't drink isopropyl alcohol! It's toxic!

- If you aren't sure, you can test a small corner of the screen first.

Follow the steps and suggestions above, and your trusty LCD monitor should give you years of clean, clear, trouble-free service.

Visit : TV buying guide