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ELECTRONICS
WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS LG 55LM960V NANO FULL LED, FULL HD, CINEMA 3D, SMART TV, Cinema Screen Design, Multi- Award Winning 1920 x 1080p 1000Hz
TO BUYING A NEW
television All this talk about top television shows has surely inspired many of our readers to buy the TV of their dreams; one that is bigger than the Beatles and jam packed with the latest technological treats. This month, we provide you with a handy guide to terminology and suggestions for five top buys. What is LCD HDTV? LCD and plasma TVs are two of
the oldest types of HDTV in existence. LCD images comprise pixels, each of which is broken down into tinier pixels made up of green, red and blue light. Fluorescent lamps force a white light through these pixels. The latest technology has improved colour, black tones and viewing angles, and many LCD TVs now boast ‘smart TV’ features and 3D viewing modes.
What is LED TV?
LED TVs are quite simply LCD TVs boasting LED backlighting. There is little difference in quality between LCD and LED TVs, though LED TVs consume less power and have a faster response time. In some cases, LED TVs don’t display even brightness across a screen as well as LCD TV does.
What is Plasma TV? Plasma TV consists of tiny
cells comprising two glass panels separated by a narrow space injected with charged ionised gas (plasma). In the past, viewers would complain of screen images getting stuck and trails following image onscreen, but the newer plasmas have a higher refresh rate than any other type of TV, affording superior fluidity to the viewing experience. Plasma TVs are less energy efficient than LCDs or LEDs, though.
What is Projection HDTV? The latter normally comprises a gigantic screen and Digital Light Processing technology, which uses a rear projector to magnify images onto the screen. The lamp needs to be replaced frequently and images aren’t as crisp, but this TV is still a top choice for gamers, as screens can reach up to 82 inches (208.28 cm) in size!
What does ‘1080p’ or ‘1280p’ mean? ‘P’ in
this case refers to the number of vertical pixels per line afforded by different television sets. The higher the pixel number, the higher the resolution (detail). Bear in mind that larger sized televisions can have lower resolutions and relatively small sized TVs, higher resolution; size and resolution are two separate matters. Opt for a minimum resolution of 1080p. If you are after a TV sized less than 40 inches (101.6cm), 720p is fine.
What is a Refresh Rate? The latter basically measures the smoothness with which fast scenes can be viewed. The higher the refresh rate (and the resolution, for that matter), the better. When buying a TV, opt for a minimum refresh rate of 120Hz.
LEADING BRANDS’ LATEST MODELS Samsung UE55F8500SL SMART TV, 3D HyperReal Engine, Micro Dimming Ultimate 1920 x 1080p 1000Hz
What glasses will I need to watch 3D TV? Glasses are either ‘active’, battery-powered or ‘passive’
which are much lighter and easier to manage. All 3D TVs can also be viewed in 2D mode, so you will only need the glasses for dedicated 3D films and programmes.
What is Smart TV? So-called ‘Smart TV’ normally includes a plethora of computer-like features; for instance some TVs allow you to directly download apps, surf on the Internet, stream content digitally and use social networking sites like Facebook directly (think of them as a huge iPad you can also watch TV on). What is an HDMI Cable? A High Definition Multimedia Interface Cable. It allows you to experience ‘full HD’ video in your home. If you want to enjoy the full video potential of external sources like HD set-top boxes, ‘upconverting’ DVD players and Blu-Ray players, you need to connect them to your TV with an HDMI Cable.
Panasonic SMART VIERA® VT50 FULL HD PLASMA, 3D THX, SMART TV, Infinite Black Ultra Panel 1920 x 1080p
INNOVATION PANASONIC TC-P55VT50 PLASMA HDTV This TV
boasts a cool 2D-3D image feature, fantastic black levels and crisp picture quality. The richness of colour is an added bonus.
LG EA9800 OLED TV The curved screen on this ultra-high-tech TV eliminates visual distortion and loss of detail on the sides. Colours are incredibly accurate and imagery is crystal clear.
SONY W9 LED TRILUMINOS 3D (active glasses) FULL HD, X-Reality PRO, One-Touch screen with NFC 1920 x 1080p
SONY XBR-46HX929 LED HDTV Beautiful colours, deep blacks and a super thin screen make this TV a firm favourite around the world. SAMSUNG LN46D630 LCD TV We love the amazing colour accuracy, deep black tones and excellent refresh rate. PANASONIC OLED UHD TV This stylish TV has a high-definition panel boasting four times the resolution of the LG EA9800 OLED TV, though it doesn’t have its nifty curved screen. e 32 / MAY 2013 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM
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