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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

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

Each week we’re highlighting some of the entries in our “What Do You Want to Control?” contest, sponsored by Control4 and Electronic House. Registration is still open for entering into the sweepstakes. Requests range from conveniently lighting your home to simply controlling every aspect of one’s life. No big chore. And while last week the wives were hoping Control4 could control their husbands, this week it seems the husbands are joking back a little. So here goes with a sampling: I desperately need Control4 to… View this story
Home Control • Home Control Systems • Manufacturers • Product News

Technology companies placed in four of the top five spots in Newsweek’s survey of the greenest top 500 corporations in the United States. That’s great news, though a few of the top green dogs may be no surprise: Hewlett-Packard and Dell, ranked number one and two, respectively, have had strong environmental and recycling policies in place for years. Some of the other rankings in the survey may surprise you. Microsoft beat out Apple, and Yahoo topped Google. AT&T and Apple failed to break into the… View this story
Industry • Manufacturers • Retailers • Green Technology • Info and Answers

The California Energy Commission (CEC) has decided not to propose restricting the sale of TVs with screen sizes larger than 58 inches that do not meet energy efficiency standards. The CEC’s proposal to restrict the sale of TVs that don’t meet energy efficiency standards has been met with resistance from groups that say the move will effectively ban the sale of most big-screen and plasma-based TVs. The final proposal from the CEC has been posted and omits sales restrictions of televisions with screens in excess… View this story
Displays • LCD • Plasma • Industry • Manufacturers • Retailers • Green Technology • Info and Answers

A new LED TV line was the centerpiece of Sharp’s CEDIA Expo 2009 booth. And why not? “Eventually, we’ll probably be all-LED,” said spokesperson Melissa Non. Sharp’s Aquos LED LCD TV Series, which began shipping in August, flanked a waterfall at the entrance of the booth. Attendees could take a closer look at the 32-, 40-, 46- and 52-inch models. Demoing its LED technology, Sharp showed a stripped down TV with the “UltraBrilliant Full Array LED backlight” exposed. It was part of an emphasis on… View this story
LCD • Blu-ray • Manufacturers • Product News

It’s official: Toshiba has a Blu-ray player in its CEDIA Expo 2009 booth (No. 3025). Toshiba, which was a big supporter of the HD DVD format, offers the Profile 2.0 BDX2000 Blu-ray player with BD Live. The player will ship in late October or early November for $249. And, no, it doesn’t play HD DVDs. Although the format war didn’t work out the way Toshiba had hoped, maybe its late arrival in the Blu-ray category is advantageous. The BDX2000 has a cool flip-down front panel… View this story
Manufacturers • Shows and Expos • Product News

Are you ready for a wholesale HD makeover? Come on, it’s almost 2010 already, time to go high-definition. Panasonic’s been at the forefront of HD technology with its range of flat-panel TVs, camcorders, Blu-ray players and such, and now Electronic House and Panasonic are giving you the opportunity to infuse your life with the latest HD goodies. From today, September 2, 2009 until the stroke of midnight on December 1, 2009, you can enter to win Panasonic’s Living in High Definition Sweepstakes, starting by clicking… View this story
Manufacturers • Product News

The California Energy Commission (CEC) still plans to vote on a controversial television energy use requirement that could restrict the sale of inefficient TVs in the state, starting in 2011. Opponents to the plan, led by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), say the restrictions would effectively ban the sale of plasma-based TVs and many large-screen LCD TVs. The CEC says the mandates will save Californians $18 to nearly $30 per year per television in energy costs. The CEA says it will cost the state $50… View this story
Displays • LCD • Plasma • Industry • Manufacturers • Retailers • Green Technology • Info and Answers

You’ve been hearing quite a bit about 3D lately, whether it’s the slew of movies that are being released in the format or the 3D-ready TVs or the PC games. Sure seems like “the next big thing,” so are you ready to take the plunge? Mitsubishi’s been on the leading edge of 3D-ready big-screen DLP TVs, evidenced by the bunch it released earlier this year including an 82-inch whopper. Now the company has teamed with a gaming site, IGN.com, on a 3D Home Entertainment Sweepstakes… View this story
Displays • DLP • Manufacturers • Product News

Architectural (in-wall and in-ceiling) loudspeakers have become the leading product sellers for many companies. Their popularity is driven by the desire to be heard and not seen. It’s much easier to get the wife’s approval when the speakers are blending and not clashing with a room’s decor. Professional electronics installers have responded to this trend by pushing their manufacturing partners to develop more ergonomically friendly, better sounding solutions. Through all of this, several manufacturers have emerged with “go to” products for installers.  Here are the… View this story
Speakers • In-Wall Speakers • Manufacturers • Audio • Info and Answers • Slideshows

If you haven’t bought an Energy Star-qualified TV, don’t feel bad. You’ll get a chance to be even more energy-efficient, as the Energy Star specifications are being dialed up for TVs. Some 50-inch TVs may have to reduce energy use by 50 percent or more to qualify as an Energy Star TV. The proposed revisions, which Energy Star plans to put into effect on May 1, 2010, could require 42-inch HDTVs to reduce power consumption by 93 watts while on (from the current requirement of… View this story
Displays • Flat Panel • LCD • LCoS • Plasma • Green Technology • Manufacturers • Info and Answers