tvs

Study: 123 million connected TVs to ship in 2014

The popularity of televisions that feature built-in applications and can connect to the Internet is on the rise, a new study from DisplaySearch has found.

According to the research firm, shipments of the more capable sets, better known as connected TVs, are expected to rise at a compound annual growth rate of 30 percent in coming years, with total shipments of the sets expected to reach 123 million in 2014. In 2010, connected TVs accounted for 20 percent of all television shipments, the research firm found.

Built-in applications such as Netflix and Twitter are available on sets from a number of vendors, including Vizio and Panasonic. Samsung announced in January that app downloads on its line of televisions hit 2 million since its marketplace launched last year. The company also estimated that television vendors shipped 6.5 million HDTVs featuring built-in applications worldwide in 2010. It believes that figure will jump to 20 million by 2012.… Read more

What turns people off from buying 3D TV

Try as they might, Panasonic and Sony have yet to convince consumers that 3D TV is a necessity.

Released today, a new study commissioned by The NPD Group found that while people know more about 3D TV now, they're not generally any more convinced of why they need one.

A year and a half into the 3D TV era kicked off by Sony and Panasonic and since joined by others, 45 percent of people who said they wouldn't buy a 3D TV said the reason is it is too expensive. And 42 percent of people said the reason … Read more

Samsung eyeing weak first-quarter results

Samsung's first quarter is likely to show an increase in sales but a drop in operating profits due in part to weaker demand for its LCDs.

Although actual results will be announced at month's end, Samsung today offered a peek at its first quarter. The Korean electronics company estimated that operating earnings for the quarter ended March 31 would fall to between 2.7 trillion won ($2.5 billion) and 3.1 trillion won, down from 4.4 trillion won in in the year-ago quarter.

Sales are expected to rise to between 36 trillion and 38 trillion Korean … Read more

New QWERTY flip remote for Samsung Smart TVs

Text entry using a regular TV remote is, more often than not, an agonizing experience. And with Internet use on televisions becoming increasingly popular, this is a teething issue most HDTV makers will have to resolve. An alternative is to provide a free app with QWERTY keyboard support, though this is currently available primarily for iOS and Android devices. Samsung is working around this bottleneck by following in Vizio's footsteps and launching a QWERTY flip remote endowed with a complete set of number and character keys for its new Smart TVs.

Other notable features for the remote include a directional pad, teletext keys, and a monochrome LCD display on an angled brushed-metal shell. The opposite side of this clicker also provides familiar conventional controls such as volume and channel rockers, as well as video playback and recording buttons. The QWERTY TV Remote is included with every premium model, including the LED D8000 and D7000 Series and Plasma D8000 Series. It is compatible with LED series D6300 and up (sold separately for a hefty $99.99 starting next month).

(Source: Crave Asia) … Read more

Earthquake likely to affect LCD, memory prices

Beyond the devastating loss of life and property, the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan last week are likely to shorten the supply and increase prices of key electronic components, according to a report released yesterday by IHS iSuppli.

Most of the factories for the major electronics makers managed to escape severe damage as they were located far enough away from the epicenter of the quake and the areas affected by the tsunami.

However, the disaster has severely affected the country's transportation and power grids, leading to problems shipping and receiving parts, getting people to work, and maintaining production.… Read more

Panasonic details new 2011 plasma, LCD TVs

Panasonic's 2011 plasma and LCD TVs have just begun shipping, so the company took the opportunity to officially announce pricing and availability today, as well as divulge a few more details about the TVs.

Before you get too excited, however, I'll mention that the company was not talking about its flagship VT30 series, one of our Best of CES 2011 nominees and odds-on favorite to be the best-performing TV of the year. I'm guessing they'll wait until April, when the 55-incher ships, to stage a separate press event all about the VT30.

We've covered the … Read more

Apple could be working on television

We know Apple already sells Apple TV. But it might be working on an another kind of Apple TV--as in an Apple-branded television, not a set-top box that hooks up to your TV.

Eagle-eyed bloggers at 9to5 Mac noticed a job listing today that Apple posted that leaves little doubt it's something the company is at least exploring.

The listing asks, rather benignly, for someone who wants to work on "new power management designs and technologies." But in what will Apple use this new power-management technology? The listing goes on to say that it will be used … Read more

LEDs, EnergyStar drive flat-screen TV efficiency

The newer your flat-screen TV is, the more energy-efficient it is, according to a study released today by industry group the Consumer Electronics Association.

The CEA commissioned an analysis, done by technical services company Tiax, which found a significant decrease in power consumption by flat-screen TVs from mid-decade to 2010. (Click for PDF.)

The average "active mode" power use of LCD flat-screen TVs in the 35-inch to 54-inch category was about 250 watts during the years 2005 to 2007, but is now closer to 100 watts, according to the study. From 2003 to 2010, the LCD power density--or … Read more

Is now the best time to buy a TV?

In a word: "probably."

"Now," or less specifically, "after the Christmas buying season, around the end of football season, and before the new TVs come out," is indeed a great time to get a bargain price on many TVs from last year. Retailers are making room for the new 2011 TVs, the earliest of which are scheduled to arrive later in February, by lowering prices on the 2010 models.

My advice: If you've been waiting for the best price on a 2010 TV, now's the time to buy. If you are worried … Read more

Five 'hot' bargain TVs among CNET readers

When it comes to TVs, everybody likes to know what CNET--and in particular, senior editor David Katzmaier--thinks are the best models. That's why we have top products lists and why a lot of people tend to check out the sets on those lists. But then there's a whole group of TVs David doesn't get a chance to review that are popular with readers and show up high in CNET traffic reports.

Those models usually are more entry-level sets that manufacturers tend to avoid sending to us because they know we grade pretty tough and it's not … Read more