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The California Energy Commission (CEC) delayed a vote on setting new energy-efficiency standards for TVs in the state, planning to now address the issue at its Nov. 18 business meeting. The Commission is considering proposed sales restriction for energy-hogging TVs that will be imposed in two tiers, in January 2011 and January 2013, though the first phase of restrictions will not include TVs larger than 58 inches. Click here to read the proposed energy requirements. The proposal has generated much controversy, pitting the environmental advocates… View this story
Displays • Flat Panel • HDTV • LCD • Plasma • Industry • Manufacturers • Dealers • Retailers • Green Technology • Info and Answers • Product News

Black Friday can come weeks early if you know where to shop online. BuyDig.com has a great combo deal on the LG 42PQ30 42” 720p plasma with a Panasonic BD60K Blu-ray player with a GGI Hookup Kit for $619. If purchased separately, the price would be around $885. The 42-inch plasma features a 600hz sub-field drive, 12,000:1 contrast ratio, and 3 HDMI inputs. The BD60K is an entry-level player that features BD Live. The hookup kit contains high-quality interconnects (all 6ft lengths), including two HDMI… View this story
Displays • Flat Panel • HDTV • Plasma • Blu-ray • Deals • Product News

For legendary blues guitarist BB King, the thrill isn’t gone when it comes to touring. The 83-year-old “King of the Blues” is still on the road with his famous Gibson guitar “Lucille” performing 100 concerts per year. And King gets from gig to gig on more than just a simple set of wheels. King rides in a $1.4 million, 45–foot luxury motorcoach that has more than $200,000 worth of electronics inside, making it a center of inspiration for laying down tracks, reviewing audio and video,… View this story
AV Components • Blu-ray • Digital Media Servers • Multiroom Audio • Multiroom Video • Receivers • Set Top Boxes • Displays • HDTV • Lighting Control • Cool Homes

Vizio has added two small-sized LED LCD TVs that have profiles of less than one inch, the 19-inch VM190XVT and 23-inch VM230XVT. The TVs use edge-lit LED backlighting that is usually found on larger screens. Only the 23-inch model is 1080p, but both feature 20,000:1 dynamic contrast ratios, 5ms response times and 300 nits of brightness. Both models also offer two HDMI inputs, a standard PC input, SRS TruVolume to eliminate “volume inconsistencies” and SRS TruSurroundHD. Other features on both TVs: Ambient light sensors that… View this story
Displays • Flat Panel • HDTV • LCD • Product News

Update: Sears is offering a series of “Black Friday Now” deals that will be available every Saturday between Oct. 31, 2009 and Christmas from 7 a.m. to noon. Due to Halloween, doorbusters sales will start on Friday, Oct. 30 at 5 p.m. Not to be out-leaked by OfficeMax, the Black Friday ads from Sears have been posted on BlackFriday.info. Black Friday is on Nov. 27, 2009, and Sears has some great deals on consumer electronics and DIY products, including TVs, Blu-ray players, home theater systems,… View this story
AV Components • Blu-ray • DVD Players • Cables, Wires and Tools • HDMI • Displays • Flat Panel • HDTV • LCD • Plasma • Furniture • Gaming • Games • Deals

Samsung has added Amazon Video On Demand and officially rolled out Blockbuster OnDemand to its LCD and Plasma HDTVs Series 650 and above and LED HDTVs Series 7000. Owners of those select HDTVs can download the Amazon Video On Demand widget, which supports HD, for free from Samsung’s Internet@TV service. Amazon Video On Demand offers more than 50,000 movies and TV shows that are available for rent or for purchase. There is no subscription for Amazon On Demand, users only pay for what they watch.… View this story
Displays • Flat Panel • HDTV • LCD • Plasma • Blu-ray • Web Services • Product News

The fight over proposed sales restrictions of energy hogging TVs in California is raging on, with both sides making impassioned cases before the California Energy Commission (CEC) in a public hearing yesterday, Oct. 13. The CEC has proposed limiting the sales of TVs in the state to only those that meet energy-efficiency standards, starting in 2011 and with a second, stricter tier of requirements in 2013. Trade groups such as the Consumer Electronic Association (CEA) and the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) oppose… View this story
Displays • LCD • Plasma • Industry • Manufacturers • Installers • Dealers • Retailers • Power Management • Green Technology • Info and Answers

The much-hyped DTV transition passed pretty quietly earlier in 2009. Consumers, for the most part, have adapted to the change without a hitch, settling in with their flat-panel TVs, HD projectors and digital television converter boxes. That’s the cue for engineers on the manufacturing side to push out the “the next big thing” to build on TV’s momentum. Some of the projects these engineers are working on can be evaluated as a logical technological progression in the format, while others will be evaluated as extreme… View this story
Displays • Flat Panel • HDTV • LCD • Video Projectors • Product News • Slideshows

Tiger Direct has just lowered its price on the Panasonic TC-P46U1 46” 1080p plasma display to $799 until Sunday, October 11, 2009.  This is a close cousin to the Panasonic S1 plasma series that I’ve referred to as the poor-man’s Kuro on more than one occasion, the main difference being the U1 lacks the new Anti-Reflective filter.  Shipping costs vary, but even at the worst case ($99) it’s a full $200 less than the next lowest authorized dealer, and $400 off Tiger Direct’s usual cost.… View this story
Displays • Plasma • Deals • Product News

The jury is still out as to whether or not 3D will be the next big thing in consumer electronics. Big-name manufacturers like LG, Panasonic, Mitsubishi and Sony are betting on it, either having already released 3D TVs or planning to in the near future. You can bet that by next year, there will be many choices dotting the 3D landscape, but will those choices be affordable enough to get you to actually go out and buy a new TV, Blu-ray player or gaming console?… View this story
Displays • LCD • Product News

The 3DTV market is set to explode over the next three years, according to research firm GigaOM, reaching up to 46 million units by 2013. GigaOM says that as 3D becomes a standard feature with a slight cost premium, similar to 120 Hz refresh rates today, consumers will opt for 3D-capable TVs even if most of the content isn’t 3D. According to GigaOM, both Sony and Panasonic are betting that 3DTV sales will help rejuvenate their sales. Sony is set to release its first 3D… View this story
Displays • HDTV • Product News

CEDIA Expo is not just for exploring new technologies and enlightening CE Pros. It’s also a great place for doing your own virtual shopping – virtual as in, “If I had the money, I would buy ….” Virtual shopping also applies to products that are not yet available, and ones that are inexpensive enough, but you couldn’t be bothered to install them. After CEDIA Expo 2009, I came away with a nice shopping list for my own home—some items I’ve coveted for years; others that… View this story
Displays • Flat Panel • HDTV • Video Screen • Furniture • Lighting Control • Shades and Blinds • Safety and Security • Product News • Slideshows