Hasta La Gadget!

So, you are thinking that it is time you ditched that first generation LED TV in your living room, and move on with the times to one of those svelte and nearly bezel-less TVs from the likes of Samsung and LG? Perhaps, but then again, budget is always a constraint, especially in such economically challenging times for some. Sceptre has managed to strike a careful balance between price and performance all this while, and their latest Sceptre 32-inch LED HDTV is no exception, where you will be pleased to hear that it will be accompanied by MHL technology. Just what is MHL technology, you ask? Well, MHL technology has nothing to do with hockey, but it will enable smartphones and other compatible portable devices to connect directly to high-definition televisions and displays

This will be Sceptre’s first LED HDTV with MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link) technology in the market, where the extremely svelte 32-inch looker is said to be specially designed to deliver the ultimate interactive home entertainment experience. In fact, if this model takes off wonderfully, do expect to see more HDTVs from Sceptre that will feature MHL technology. Imagine using your large screen TV in the living room as a display or speaker for your smartphone or compatible portable devices, not to mention the HDTV’s remote itself is capable of controlling the connected device.

Specially developed by the MHL consortium, MHL technology will rely on a single cable to support up to 1080p high-definition video and surround sound audio, and to sweeten the deal further, it can simultaneously charge the connected device.

What other specifications does this Sceptre 32-inch LED HDTV with MHL technology carry? For starters, it is a true 16:9 widescreen, has a 1920×1080 resolution and a rated LED backlight life of over 50,000 hours. Other integrated technologies include auto dynamic contrast enhancement, auto-volume level control, sound equalizer settings and surround sound capability. You can pick it up for $599.99 a pop if you are interested.

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[ Sceptre 32-inch LED HDTV sports MHL technology copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

In one of the smoothest and perhaps most irresistible measures made thus far for the new high definition television technology, Japan has announced that it will be broadcasting the 2014 World Cup in 4K. This means that everyone working with a 4K television by then (read: everyone with bottomless wallets) will be watching this Brazil-based sporting event inside Japan next year. So those of you with an entertainment establishment of any kind (sports bars, we’re looking at you), you’ll want to think about which model you want to pick up between here and then.

This announcement was made via the Asahi Times by the Japanese ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication and will also be marking the world’s first official 4G television broadcast. It would appear that this move may have something to do with the fact that Japan has several major-label manufacturers of 4K TV sets inside its borders, but you never know. Panasonic, Toshiba, Sony, and Sharp may very possibly have something to do with this push.

While there are bits and pieces of 4K Optimized media in the wild like Total Recall (good luck finding a copy), you’ll find that the current offerings from Hollywood and the like are still scant. This first broadcast will be pushed through Japan’s communications satellites rather than direct broadcast satellites, the second option coming on “at a later stage” according to Broadband TV News. We’ve still yet to hear exactly when the USA will be gaining such excellence in our above-and-beyond displays galore.

Have a peek at the timeline below to see recent explosions in 4K technology appearing over the past few weeks. SlashGear had the opportunity to check out several 4K TV sets at CES 2013 and we’re expecting more throughout the year – this high definition madness has only just begun!

World’s First 4K TV broadcast set for 2014 World Cup is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

As it turns out, the general public — even us heathens who’ve cut the cord — like watching video content on televisions rather than monitors. A stat chart culled from The NPD Group’s, “Connected Intelligence Report, Application & Convergence” revealed the latest US-centric news on Netflix Instant usage; it puts HDTV use far above that of more traditional platforms like PCs and laptops. Averaged across age groups, 40 percent of people using Netflix Instant in the US are doing so on HDTVs, while just 14 percent are going through computers (both desktops and laptops). That’s not just Smart TVs, but also, “another device connected to the TV” — so that’s game consoles, streaming boxes, and software level built-in streaming.

A mere 13 percent are using the service on tablets, and a paltry 8 percent are streaming on smartphones (a stat David Lynch would assuredly relish). Unsurprisingly, users are primarily of the younger variety: over 50 percent of 18 to 25-year-olds make up the HDTV statistic, and that group makes up nearly a full quarter of PC folks. Of course, none of this is a huge surprise to anyone that’s ever tried comfortably watching anything longer than a few minutes on a 13-inch laptop screen. Check out the full chart just below.

Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Displays, Home Entertainment, Laptops, Tablets, Internet, Software, HD, Mobile

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Source: The NPD Group

While 4K TVs are excellent, for the next couple of years most of us will still be selecting a 1080p model when we’re out shopping, and now we’ve got a little more detail about some of the new ones Sony announced last week. After letting its “Triluminos” RGB LED lighting technology fall by the wayside after 2009 because of its high cost, Sony has brought the brand back in this year’s HDTVs. Noted in the press release and highlighted today in the MIT Technology Review, this iteration uses QD Vision’s quantum dot technology to enhance the red/green/blue LED backlighting the series is known for. According to the CTO of QD Vision, the TVs start with a blue backlight — instead of the standard white LED — which stimulates quantum dots that emit “pure green and pure red.” Sony was very proud of its Triluminos tech at the show and our experience at demonstrations seemed to validate the quality of the approach. While we’ve been hearing about quantum dots for years, this is reportedly their first appearance in a mass produced consumer product, once it hits homes we’ll be able to tell if the wait was truly worth it.

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, HD, Sony

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Source: MIT Technology Review

We must admit, we were a bit surprised when we heard that Westinghouse — not exactly the first name in HDTV — would be bringing a 110-inch 4K HDTV to CES. Naturally, once we got to Vegas, we had to see the thing for ourselves. Its size is as impressive as you imagine, and the native-res 4K video looked really good on such a massive screen, with nearly 180-degree viewing angles and vibrant colors. Unfortunately, the unit we saw was an engineering test mule, so the back was all exposed panels and circuit boards and there was some ghosting on the screen itself. However, we were assured that those willing to pony up the obscene $300,000 asking price can get a flaw-free TV custom installed via special order at the end of Q1 of this year. Want to see more of what all those dollars will get you? Check out our gallery of shots below.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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