lcd

Feds demand $1B from LCD maker for price-fixing

The U.S. Department of Justice has reined down hard on a Taiwanese LCD screen maker in court, demanding $1 billion in fines and significant jail time for two former executives.

According to the Associated Press, AU Optronics carried out an extensive price-fixing scheme that feds said was the most significant ever prosecuted in the U.S. During a federal trial in March, the jury found both AU Optronics and two of its executives, Hsuan Bin Chen and Hui Hsiung, guilty of price-fixing.

The original complaints for the case alleged that the company worked to create an international "cartel&… Read more

Global TV shipments down again as Samsung dominates

The television market struggled through a second consecutive down quarter this year, new data from NPD DisplaySearch has revealed.

The research firm reported today that total TV shipments worldwide hit 51.6 million, down eight percent compared to the same period last year. LCDs once again dominated the space with 85.5 percent market share and 44.1 million shipments. Cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions came in second place with 8.4 percent share and 4.3 million shipments. Plasmas could only muster the third-place spot with 6.1 percent share and 3.2 million shipments.

So, what's happening? … Read more

The Burson Soloist will make your headphones sound better than ever

The Burson Soloist looks and feels like a scaled down high-end stereo power amplifier, but the Soloist is a headphone amp. The chassis is constructed from thick slabs of machined aluminum that dissipate the heat from the amp's Class-A electronics. The amp would appeal to Ferrari and Leica camera owners who appreciate no-holds-barred industrial design. The Soloist is the real deal.… Read more

How to replace a broken laptop screen

Whether it's cracked or has one too many blown pixels, a broken laptop display can stop you dead in your tracks. But with the right tools, a little technical know-how, and a bit of patience you can replace a damaged LCD.

Note: In this article, I show you how to replace the screen on an Asus UL50V notebook, which has an LED-backlit LCD. Depending on the make and model of your laptop, the internal hardware and specific steps may vary. The general process, however, should be the same.

Should you try this fix? If accidental damage is covered under … Read more

Hands-on(ish) with LG's 4K TV

In a small room away from the main convention center at the CEDIA Expo, LG showed off its upcoming 84-inch 4K LCD, the LG 84LM9600.

I got a close-up look at the new ultraresolution panel, got a lot of questions answered, and got a rough idea what we can expect when it starts shipping next month.

Curious? I was too.… Read more

Get a 24-inch LCD HDTV for $109.99

Earlier this week, I posted a TV deal that sold out very quickly. Let's hope this one lasts a little longer.

Today only, and while supplies last, Kmart has the Haier L24B1180 24-inch LCD HDTV for $109.99 shipped (plus sales tax where applicable). Note: That price appears after you add the product to your cart and then click through to checkout.

Update: Oh, for the love of... It's already sold out. Come ON, resellers! If you don't have enough inventory to last even the early hours of the morning, don't make this your "deal … Read more

Sony readying super-sized 84-inch 4K TV

Sony plans to introduce a super-sized 84-inch LCD television during IFA 2012, Europe's major consumer electronics show, a source told CNET.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed to CNET that the upcoming 84-inch TV can display a massive 3,840x2,160 resolution (four times the number of pixels in a conventional 1080p set), also known in the industry as 4K. We learned that the 84-inch Sony TV features a side-lit LCD panel (think thin) and removable speakers. In terms of design, our source describes the aesthetics as a reimagined retro-style appearance with a modern twist. … Read more

Get a 19-inch LED HDTV for $59.98

Looking for a wee TV for the den, bedroom, kitchen, screened-in porch, or master bathroom? (Oh, like you've never thought about it.)

While supplies last (and they won't last long), Target has the Westinghouse EW19S4JW 19-inch LCD HDTV for $59.98, plus sales tax in most states and $9.99 for shipping.

Update: Aaaaaand...sold out, just as I expected. It's worth checking again throughout the day, as Target might free up more inventory, but seeing as this was a clearance item to begin with, it might just be gone. Bummer!

You might be able to avoid … Read more

Are letterboxed movies really 1080p?

CNET Reader Doug Hagemeister asks:

Hello! I was watching a movie on Blu-ray the other day filmed in the 21:9 aspect ratio and I realized that it technically wasn't "1080p" since about 1/4 of the screen was taken up by the horizontal black bars (called "letter boxing," correct?). Anyway, I was just wondering how many pixels were being used on the TV. Thank you!

Ah, letterboxing, how I love you.

To understand letterboxing, we have to talk about aspect ratio. HDTVs are 16x9, or 1.78:1. Slightly wider than they are tall, they're pleasantly rectangular. Old-fashioned tube TVs were 4x3, or 1.33:1, so closer to square. … Read more

Why 4K TVs are stupid (still)

Editors' Note: An updated article entitled Why Ultra HD 4K TVs are still stupid was published on January 28, 2013.

A few months ago, hot on the multitude of 4K TV announcements at CES, I wrote an article called "Why 4K TVs are stupid."

I was shocked, shocked to find so many angry, contrary opinions on the subject. I mean, this is the Internet. Surely everyone is cordial and like-minded.

The comment section was the usual bog of ad hominem, straw man, and plain nonsense arguments. But buried deep within the chaff were a few good questions worthy of rebuttal. So if you'll indulge...… Read more