tv

The Korean electronics giant today talked up new features of its 2013 lineup during an event in New York. We also now have information about pricing and availability for Samsung's other TVs, including its LED 8000-series and its plasma 8500-series TV sets. (Check out the handy chart for LED and plasma TVs below). Many of those products are already popping up at online and brick-and-mortar retailers.

Samsung also said it has added three new apps to its smart TV portfolio -- Fox, Spotify, … Read more

I bought a BDI stand for my TV 10 years ago, and it still looks great. That says a lot about BDI's quality -- I'm constantly swapping out gear, and the stand is good as new. They no longer make the mostly glass unit I own, but their range of new models is huge.

Most of BDI's current designs feature medium-density fiberboard (MDF) construction, with gorgeous, real hardwood veneers. MDF is better than solid wood in these types of cabinets, real wood shelves bow or warp when heavy gear is placed on them for long periods of … Read more

What are wired people around the world doing in the living room and bedroom? Consuming content on their mobile devices, according to Motorola Mobility's Fourth Annual Media Engagement Barometer. Consumers globally are watching 25 hours of TV and film programming per week on average, up from 15 hours in 2011.

Fifty percent of respondents said they watch programming on their TVs in the living room, while 40 percent use their smartphones or tablets instead, the study found. The Motorola Mobility (owned by Google) survey of 9,500 consumers in 17 countries found that among the 36 percent of respondents … Read more

Everyone has heard of outdoor speakers -- they come shaped like lamps, rocks, or even tree stumps -- but have you ever heard of an outdoor TV? California's SunBriteTV says it wants to make 2013 "the year of the outdoor TV."… Read more

Hulu is boasting a redesigned Apple TV app made specifically with the device in mind. The video-streaming company released the new app today.

The updated app, which requires a subscription with Hulu Plus, offers faster menu navigation.

It now shows content categories -- like TV, Kids, Latino, or Search -- in the navigation bar at the top of the screen. You can click on the category names to jump to each category and see the most-recently added content. The main screen also has a "Shows You Watch" tray to keep track of your most-watched series.

Hulu added some … Read more

Intel has unveiled a new reference design kit for a Web-based TV set-top box that will be based on the Atom processor and tap Hillcrest Labs' motion control technology.

Controlled with a handheld remote, Hillcrest's Freespace Motion Engine software gives subscribers the ability to control their TVs with "mouse-like navigation and point-and-click simplicity," the company said in a statement. Intel is showcasing the software at the TV Connect 2013 conference in London.

"Operators are seeking better and innovative ways to help consumers find and navigate shows and applications," Ran Senderovitz, general manager of Service Provider … Read more

How would you feel if Simon Cowell came out of the closet?

Yes, your closet. The one that is full of your truly fashionable black clothes and discarded board games.

That seems to be the remarkably exciting premise of a new venture created by Cowell, together with the nice people at YouTube.

TV talent shows have been struggling of late. Why, last week's "American Idol" managed a series low in the Thursday ratings.

Cowell's own "The X Factor" has largely been disappointing too. Can you tell me who won the last one? Or the first one, even? Or anyone who won "America's Got Talent?" … Read more

A hotel near Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., is now using some of the iPhone and iPad maker's home entertainment technology in its rooms.

Starwood Hotels' Aloft Hotel has put an Apple TV in all 123 of its rooms, the company said today.

Of note, the hotel is located on the same block as one of Apple's external campus buildings, and just two blocks from its headquarters on Infinite Loop.

"Guests can choose among thousands of movies and TV shows from iTunes, connect to Netflix for films, Hulu for television shows, MLB.com for sports, and … Read more