Television Technology Reviews, News

Cello iViewer TVs: BBC iPlayer and YouTube built-in

ian.morris@cnet.co.uk (Ian Morris) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:38:02 +0000

It's been a long-time coming, but finally iPlayer is going to be available on a TV for the first time without any additional hardware. The pair of TVs from Cello will be sensibly priced too

Freeview HD launch: BBC HD and ITV1 HD now available -- sort of

ian.morris@cnet.co.uk (Ian Morris) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:28:02 +0000

On 2 December, Freeview HD launched, at least technically. Sadly, there's no equipment that can receive the broadcasts at the moment, but the channels are certainly up and running

TiVo to make triumphant return to UK with Virgin Media

ian.morris@cnet.co.uk (Ian Morris) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:56:02 +0000

You might think you know what a PVR is, but in the UK we're really stuck in the past with our digital recording antics. Happily, Virgin Media is bringing TiVo back

Philips 9704: LED Pro TV with Wi-Fi

jason.jenkins@cnet.co.uk (Jason Jenkins) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:15:02 +0000

Philips is trying to conquer the high-end TV market with its new 9704 range, in the form of the 40-inch 40PFL9704 and 46-inch 46PFL9704. �2,500 for a TV, anyone?

Sony Bravia EX1 (KDL-52EX1) review

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:25:02 +0000

Sony seems to have let its mad scientists loose on the 52-inch, 1080p Bravia KDL-52EX1 LCD TV, judging by its bold, picture-frame design. Its appearance won't appeal to everyone, but the 1080i wireless connectivity is handy and the set's pictures aren't bad either

BBC: We may do 1080p on Freeview HD

ian.morris@cnet.co.uk (Ian Morris) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:02:02 +0000

We've been trying to find out which format BBC HD would use on Freeview for some time now -- we were surprised to learn the service could use 1080p

Philips Cinema 21:9 (56PFL9954H/12) review

ian.morris@cnet.co.uk (Ian Morris) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:42:02 +0000

If you're a movie lover with deep pockets, the Philips Cinema 21:9 is unlikely to disappoint, offering a truly immersive way to enjoy films shot in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio in the comfort of your couch. Its great picture quality and fantastic audio are also complemented by a lovely design and plenty of features

Runco LED projectors Q-750i and Q-750d: Almost certainly excellent, but costly

ian.morris@cnet.co.uk (Ian Morris) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:03:02 +0000

We love video projectors for watching movies, but the problem is those lamps, which don't generally last very long and cost loads to replace. Now Runco thinks it has a solution, albeit a pricey one

LG LU7000 (22LU7000) review

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:46:02 +0000

The 22-inch, HD Ready 22LU7000 LCD TV isn't perfect, but it still outclasses the majority of other combination TVs, and its front-mounted, built-in DVD player is unusually practical. Such is the TV's convenience, in fact, that we think many people seeking a secondary set may be happy to overlook a couple of picture flaws

Terrestrial 3D TV: A short history

nate.lanxon@cnet.co.uk (Nate Lanxon) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:56:02 +0000

To celebrate the week of 3D TV coming our way on Channel 4 this week, we thought you might enjoy an excursion down memory lane and into the history of terrestrial 3D telly

BBC HD on Freeview: Rolling out across UK in 2010

ian.morris@cnet.co.uk (Ian Morris) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:48:02 +0000

The BBC today announces which regions will get HD services on Freeview. Manchester and most of London will be the first, going live on 2 December

JVC Xiview LT-42WX70 review

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:38:02 +0000

The 42-inch, 1080p LT-42WX70 LCD screen is a brave attempt by JVC to bring something new to the TV table. It's eye-wateringly expensive, but it offers awesome colour reproduction, excellent contrast and exceptionally sharp pictures, as well as a stunning design

Philips Cinema 21:9 TV: Hands-on photos

ian.morris@cnet.co.uk (Ian Morris) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:33:02 +0000

We've been looking forward to the Philips Cinema 21:9 LCD TV for what seems like aeons, so when it finally arrived, we fired off some photos -- it's exciting stuff...

Head of BBC HD says 'reducing bit rate has no impact on picture quality'

ian.morris@cnet.co.uk (Ian Morris) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:07:02 +0000

In an extraordinary interview with Points of View, the head of BBC HD says there's no evidence that reducing the bit rate has a negative impact on picture quality. Sadly, science disagrees

Sky Player asks permission to spy on you

richard.trenholm@cnet.co.uk (Rich Trenholm) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:07:02 +0000

Sky has sent an email to customers explaining the changes coming with AdSmart, a targeted advertising system that builds a profile on you

Samsung B550 (LE40B550) review

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:49:02 +0000

The 40-inch, 1080p LE40B550 LCD TV offers remarkable value for money, outperforming its budget price point by a country mile. Its speakers lack bass, and other Samsung TVs have more features, but its picture performance is great and it looks gorgeous

Channel 4 3D Week programmes revealed: The Queen, Miley Cyrus and Frankenstein

richard.trenholm@cnet.co.uk (Rich Trenholm) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:21:02 +0000

Channel 4 has revealed the programmes for its 3D Week starting on 16 November. The Queen joins Miley Cyrus, Derren Brown, Jason Voorhees and Baron Frankenstein in three dimensions

Loewe Connect 42 Media Full-HD+ 100 DR+ review

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:44:01 +0000

The 42-inch, 1080p Connect 42 Media Full-HD+ 100 DR+ is the very definition of a premium LCD TV. It looks stunning in every set-up option, its multimedia capability is unparalleled, it delivers positively Olympian sound, and its pictures are frequently awesome

BBC banned from using DRM on Freeview HD

ian.morris@cnet.co.uk (Ian Morris) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:10:01 +0000

The BBC proposed a form of DRM on its HD service some time ago, and was roundly criticised for the move. Now it appears Ofcom isn't up for any copy protection either

LG SL9000 (42SL9000) review

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:57:02 +0000

The 42-inch, 1080p, LED-edge-lit 42SL9000 is a mighty handsome LCD TV, with an astonishingly slender profile. It also offers tonnes of features, good picture quality and an extremely attractive user interface. Overall, it's an admirable attempt at stealing Samsung's super-slim-TV crown

Philips 9000 (47PFL9664H/12) review

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:56:02 +0000

If ever there were a TV to warm the cockles, the 47-inch, 1080p 47PFL9664H/12 LCD TV is it. It's impressively slender and attractive, it's packed with more features than you'll ever use, and it delivers one of the best AV performances we've ever seen from an LCD TV

Sony Bravia Z5800 (KDL-40Z5800) review

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:37:02 +0000

The first telly from Sony to sport a built-in freesat tuner, the 40-inch, 1080p KDL-40Z5800 LCD TV is also one of the company's finest-performing sets. It's expensive and its audio isn't all it could be, but its pictures are generally fantastic and it looks very cool

freesat iPlayer beta service imminent

ian.morris@cnet.co.uk (Ian Morris) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:37:02 +0000

It's not much of a secret that iPlayer was going to turn up on freesat at some point. The good news is, we now know there will be a beta program run at the end of November

Toshiba Regza SV (46SV685DB) review

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:17:02 +0000

The 46-inch, 1080p, LED-backlit Regza 46SV685DB is Toshiba's best flat-screen TV to date. Its pictures are superbly sharp, detailed and colourful, and it produces dark scenes with a depth and naturalism that no ordinary LCD TV can match. It doesn't come cheaply, though

Sky+ HD party: Hangover, Harry and Hanks in hi-def

richard.trenholm@cnet.co.uk (Rich Trenholm) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:54:02 +0000

Sky+ HD is offering customers a free film and an M&S voucher to start the high-definition party in December