Recently in TVs Category
VIZIO made the announcement that they've inked a deal with Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. Not sure what the bigger news is here: The endorsement, the fact that VIZIO has that kind of cash, or that Beyoncé goes by Jay-Z's real last name.
Either way, we can expect to see three years of Beyoncé shaking her groove thing in print, web and other ads, as well as on the actual packaging. The singer will also get to don an engineer's cap, contributing her two cents to design and performance characteristics of new products.
"What I love about VIZIO is how committed they have been to customers and their focus on delivering tremendous performance at a great value," said the actress and singer. "As a performer, I can relate to that, because my fans spend their hard-earned money to see me perform, and I give everything I can to make sure I exceed their expectations. I'm excited to be associated with such a successful company."
Best Buy is showing off laptops from Toshiba, Dell, and Sony. Why? Not just because they carry them in stores, but because they are now part of the company's Blue Label 2.0 line.
What makes the Blue Label red-hot is that users can stream video and photos from the laptop to a flat-panel TV. Each model boasts Intel Wireless Display technology, as well as the new Intel i5 processor, 4GB of memory and a 500GB hard drive. New users will also get 30 days of Geek Squad support to help start the streaming process.
Toshiba will have a 14-inch model, Dell has 15.6 inches, and Sony will launch a 13-inch laptop -- all exclusive to Best Buy. The models will start selling in stores and online on January 17. Pricing will start at $899.99.
VIZIO is keeping the CE industry on its toes, launching even more products for the budget-conscious consumer. The company will soon start selling two universal remote controls, the XRT100 and the VUR9M.
If you're looking for a nice digital touchscreen, the XRT100 is designed to work with VIA-enabled TVs, as well as any legacy A/V component. It looks like the company is taking a page out of the Harmony playbook, offering one-touch access to multiple devices on its 3.5-inch LCD.
The VUR9M isn't as touchable, but it does have backlit volume and number keys so you don't fumble in the dark. It also comes pre-loaded with tons of IR codes for different devices.
The XRT100 has no release date, but the VUR9M should be available in March. VIZIO hasn't said a peep about pricing.
I was thinking about switching to FiOS, but here's some news that makes me think otherwise: DirecTV is planning an all-HD 3D channel. Wow wee.
Gary Merson, the HD Guru, says that the channel will include movies, sports and other programming, all in HD. Expect to wear those goofy 3D glasses. We'd also recommend a cold compress in case your cornea tries to explode.
DirecTV will show off some of the content at CES next month. DirecTV's current HDTV subscribers will get a firmware update to get the channel, which is expected to launch early 2010. The content will also be compatible with new 3D HDTVs from Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, LG, as well as Mitsubishi's current DLP models.
Shopping for a TV? Well, give me some of that money. You might be able to spare some if you buy a VIZIO. Even better, the manufacturer has just announced eight new models to make your decision more confusing.
The models, coming under the XVT name, will range from 32 to 55 inches. The 42-, 47- and 55-inch LCDs will include 240Hz SPS (Scenes Per Second) and Smooth Motion technology, with two models adding in TruLED with Smart Dimming backlight features. They will also release 32- and 37-inch 120Hz Slim Line designs.
For more details, prices and release dates, check out the announcement at Big Picture Big Sound. -- Rachel Cericola
Bang & Olufsen just announced they are now touring the U.S., touting the super sparkly, super pricey BeoVision 4 TV. They can afford to go first class, too -- after all, these things ain't cheap.
First, let's talk about the nice things. This mammoth 103-inch plasma definitely looks pretty. Available in including black, silver, red, blue, and dark grey, each one gets its own "white-glove" delivery and installation process. There's also an optional floor stand that can raise and tilt the screen at the touch of a button.
Well, all of that probably won't amount to a hill of beans, because frankly, you'll never be able to afford one. The BeoVision 4 is only available as via custom-order, for a mere $93,050 (wall mount) or $111,805 (motorized floor stand). -- Rachel Cericola
If you stand close enough to Mitsubishi's new Unisen, you may feel a breeze. That's because the new TV line is packing in 16 speakers to deliver Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. It sounds cool, but is someone's math a little off?
Designed to eliminate all of those pesky speaker cabinets and wires, Mitsubishi says that the Unisen line will feature screen sizes ranging from 40 to 52 inches. The unit also has some crazy built-in technology that allows you to punch in room dimensions to get the best sound possible.
Other features include Smooth 120Hz Film Motion, a thin frame that measures less than an inch, and the EnergyStar seal of approval. Here are the prices:
Unisen 249 Diamond Series- 46 in. - $2,799
- 52 in. - $3,299
- 40 in. - $1,999
- 46 in. - $2,399
- 52 in. - $2,899
- 40 in. - $1,799
- 46 in. - $2,199
- 52 in. - $2,599
All of the Unisen models should start shipping in May. -- Rachel Cericola
Nothing says love like a free TV. Newegg.com must love its customers very much, because they are giving away a TV each and every day for the entire month of March.
This isn't one of those teeny black-and-white models that you stuff on the kitchen counter, either. They are giving away 52-inch Samsung HDTVs -- 31 sets in total. All you have to do is visit the site, enter your name, address and some other info. Then you can come back every day, clicking like a mental patient to see if you've won.
As an added bonus, each winner also gets a Rosewill wall mount and a Belkin HDMI cable. On April 1, the site will choose one grand prize winner that can laugh in the face of the other winners -- because they will score a $10,000 home theater system, which includes a 63-inch Samsung plasma and a surround system with Polk and Onkyo goodies.
Newegg's free HDTV giveaway runs from March 1 through March 31, 2009. Get your entry in while the getting's good. -- Rachel Cericola