Geoffrey Morrison/CNET If you read my “What is refresh rate?” post, you’ll know that plasma TV manufacturers (Panasonic, Samsung, and LG) make a point in claiming a “600Hz” refresh rate on their TVs. As we discussed in that article, it’s not exactly comparable to LCD’s 120 and 240Hz refresh. So what is 600Hz, and how …
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Geoffrey Morrison/CNET The Consumer Electronics Association has decided on a name for 4K resolution: Ultra HD. I guess this leaves room for future resolution increases, with names like Uber Ultra HD (UUHD), Super Ultra Definition (SUD), and, of course, Fantastic Ultra Brilliant Amazing Resolution (FUBAR). But 4K is still largely just an increase in resolution, which is only one aspect …
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HDMI cables don’t have numbers! HDMI.org Even after two articles, and a tremendous number of page hits, there still seems to be lots of questions about HDMI cables. I credit this to the complexity of the topic and the mountain of misinformation out there, rather than any particular failing of the writing on my part. Judge as you see fit. …
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Original video frames (1 and 2) at 60 frames per second aren’t enough to fill 120Hz and 240Hz LCDs. Duplicating the original frames is one method. Alternately, frames can be interpolated to fill the gaps. In this example, the TV’s processor creates frame 1a from the difference between 1 and 2. This (along with 2a, 3a, etc.) makes up the …
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On one side, there’s 4K: four times the resolution of your current TV. LG, Sony, JVC, and others have all announced or shown upcoming 4K displays. On the other, there’s OLED: Organic Light-Emitting Diode. Significantly better picture quality than your current TV, plus lower energy consumption, and even thinner cabinets. So what’s more exciting? With 4K, there are many potential …
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One of the things I take for granted as a TV reviewer is the translation from model number to things like screen size, model line, display type, and so on. I’ve gotten a few e-mails lately from people looking for help trying to decide between similarly priced models, with radically different model numbers. Are they similar? What does the alphanumerical …
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In a small room away from the main convention center at the CEDIA Expo, LG showed off its upcoming 84-inch 4K LCD, the LG 84LM9600. I got a close-up look at the new ultraresolution panel, got a lot of questions answered, and got a rough idea what we can expect when it starts shipping next month. Curious? I was too. …
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Most “smart home” automation systems require a significant investment in additional equipment in order to smarten up your otherwise not-so-smart gear. Sony and Control4 want to simplify the buying process, and bring home automation to a much wider audience, by integrating a full Control4 “brain” into Sony’s new ES line of receivers. Sony and Control4’s features (pictures) +3 more See …
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Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Rumors abound that the next-generation PlayStation will be able to output 4K resolution. Normally, I find rumors about as useful and interesting as other people’s gas, but this one stinks on a different level. Allow me to confound with reasons why I think 4K output with the PS4 is simultaneously likely, and pretty much irrelevant. OK, not irrelevant, …
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Geoffrey Morrison/CNET CNET reader Doug asks: Hello! I was watching a movie on Blu-ray the other day filmed in the 21:9 aspect ratio and I realized that it technically wasn’t “1080p” since about 1/4 of the screen was taken up by the horizontal black bars (called “letter boxing,” correct?). Anyway, I was just wondering how many pixels were being used …
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