Classic Layout

A size zero model that everyone will love

You know that LCD on your wall? Let me tell you something: it’s fat. Huge in fact. And it’s ugly. What on earth have you been feeding it? Pies? That’s the wording I propose JVC uses in the advert for its ultra-thin LCD that was demoed in Athens last week. This prototype was really, really …

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TV is weird here, but the TVs are great

Greek TV is weird. First of all, they show about a million adverts per break, including one that appeared to be an instructional film on how to carry two cups of espresso on a huge tray. After five hours, when the adverts had finished, a live game show came on. I know it was live, because in the bottom right-hand …

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JVC’s ultra

Good news: your widescreen TV is obsolete. Sure, you may well have just spent a fortune on an exciting new flat panel, thinking everything would be cushy until the next big thing comes along, say, ultra-high-definition television. Crave is here to prove you wrong, as JVC has a prototype TV that will make your current screen look positively square. Sorry …

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What’s the best LCD TV for under £1,000?

I have a budget of around £1,000 to spend on an LCD TV. My requirements are: two HDMI inputs, two Scart terminals, a PC connection and Picture-in-Picture facility (including from a PC). My viewing distance is approximately 3m, so I’m not sure what screen size to choose — 32-inch or 37-inch? Whenever I look at TVs in high-street shops the …

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Crave Talk: When will the HD DVD vs Blu

I have no doubt that by this time next year the skirmish between the two hi-def disc formats will be over. Who will win? I haven’t got a clue, to be honest, but what I can comment on is what I like and what I hate. I’ve seen slightly more of HD DVD than I have of Blu-ray. The Toshiba …

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Sharp at CES: 14 new screens and a giant

At this year’s CES, Sharp unveiled 14 new screens, plus another one that’s too big and expensive for anyone to buy. At the top end, the company announced the 65-inch LC-65D93U (pictured). It’s set to retail for around $11,000, which sounds expensive but converted to sterling is a paltry £5,600. Not too bad, then, if you’ve got both a burning desire …

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A night at the ballet

Last night I went to a live production of Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, best known for its male swans (bear with me, the tech connection is coming). Today I’ve been watching the DVD, and I’m struck by the differences between the two experiences. It’s Swan Lake… but with male swans My theatre seat cost £48, whereas you can find the …

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I want to download movies

There are times, when I’m sat at home bored of celebrities shouting at each other, or being told I am what I eat, that I really just want to watch a movie. The problem is, while my DVD collection contains some great stuff, I’ve seen it all. What I need is a way to grab movies off the Internet so …

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A Freeview PVR, with added stuff…

Today I’ve got a Top Up TV Anytime box, built by Thomson, on my desk. I’m excited about this for one main reason: I own the Thomson DHD4000 and I think it’s a brilliant PVR. The DHD4000 only cost me £99 and it’s incredibly useful. The best thing about it is that it’s a twin-tuner PVR, because watching one channel …

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