New HDTV Features
Now that analog television sets are extinct, consumers may think they have only one choice in a HDTV or High Definition Television set. Actually among the various panel technologies available, such as Plasma or LCD, there are unique features that enhance the viewer experience available from specific brands and models.
Not all HDTV’s are created equal. To help the new HDTV consumer become aware of the latest features now available in HDTVs, this article reviews a few of these here.
InfoLink RSS Service
This feature takes up-to-the-minute news, weather, sports and stock information that is normally available through an Internet browser on a PC and makes it available to the HDTV viewer. RSS or Real Simple Syndication is basically a regularly up-dated data feed service provided by information based websites or blogs. An Ethernet port or computer network card is available on some HDTV’s to allow access to these sources of real-time information such as the stock markets when they are open. The Samsung LN46A650 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV is one such TV, set up for receiving updated RSS information.
Connectivity
Analog television sets primarily brought viewers either cable or over-the-air broadcasts. Later, entertainment becomes more sophisticated with video and DVD players. The HDTV’s today have features that expand viewer’s options even further partly due to the connectivity and networking capabilities of the new generation of High Definition technology.
HDMI or High Definition Multimedia Interface input jacks allows such devices as disc players, game consoles, satellite dish components, cameras, camcorders and laptops to be connected. If any of these devices are CEC-enabled — Consumer Electronics Control, a HDMI-CEC feature can control all these with one remote.
For people interested in hooking up their various devices to a HDTV, the connections or inputs to look for in a HDTV are HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface version 1.3), Ethernet port, Component video, S-Video, A/V, PC, RF antenna and HDMI-CEC. The Samsung LN52A650 52-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV contains all these connections.
Interpolate Frames
On LCD HDTVs, the higher the frame rates the less blur in any scenes where there is motion such as in sports television. Usually, the same image is repeated to increase the frame rate. However, new technology called “Auto Motion Plus,” such as that available in the Samsung LNT4671F 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD TV, intelligently calculates the ‘middle’ image between adjacent frames and inserts it in between. Any motion then appears to transition fluidly from one frame to the next.
