Consumerist
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advice
Don't Clean Your HDTV With Windex
Windex works great on your windows, but will it clean your TV? How about those expensive cleaning kits they sell at Best Buy? Our sister publication, Consumer Reports, says that both of them are bad ideas, but for different reasons. More » -
superbowl
Don't Buy 1080p HDTVs For The SuperBowl
For those of you thinking about buying an HDTV for the SuperBowl, just remember that you don't need to be springing for that 1080p. This game will not be broadcast in 1080p and no SuperBowl ever has. For The Big Game viewing purposes, a 1080i or 720p will do just fine. It's just an unconfirmed rumor at this point, but I've also heard that analog sets will be able to receive the SuperBowl signal as well.
(Photo: satinpeter)
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shopping
Helpful Information For Those About To Impulse Buy A TV For The Superbowl
We know you just can't handle the thought of watching the magnificent Arizona Cardinals in standard def, so before you run out and buy the biggest TV at the store — here is some information from Consumer Reports that will help you be set up and ready to go by the time your Larry-Fitzgerald-jersey-wearing friends show up. More » -
directv
DirecTV Install Imbroglio Makes Longtime Customer Want To Destroy Furniture
While we're waiting on our video boys to harvest the clip of Whoopie's rant against DirecTV on The View this morning, here's a little reader-submitted DirecTV install nightmare to tide you over. Andy used to think DirecTV was pretty good, but his experience trying to get them to hook up an HD/DVR to his TV has felt him feeling like he is "going to explode, or destroy pieces of furniture." More » -
banana republic
Morning Deals
- Banana Republic: 30% off today only with coupon code HAPPY30 or printable coupon
- Sears: Free Masterlock with printable coupon
- MusiciansFriend: AKG Handheld Condenser Microphone for $100 + free shipping. Today only.
- Timbuk2: Save up to 60% off Messenger Bags, Backpacks, & More
- New York & Co.: Extra 20% off Store-Wide Women's Apparel
- Office Depot: Viewsonic N3235w 32-inch LCD HDTV $470 & Free Shipping
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hdtv
This Coloring Book Helps Children And Grownups Understand HDTV
Reader Andy sent us this great coloring book he made that helps explain high definition television to children, parents, and luddites.
More »
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pr
Circuit City Denies Its In-Home TV Calibration Is A Total Scam
Speaking on behalf of Circuit City in regards to our post, "Circuit City's In-Home TV Calibration Is A Total Scam", Mike Vallebuona of New Media Strategies (a company that protects its clients from "online attacks, rumors and misinformation") send us the following pulsating pile of drivel: More » -
ripoffs
Insiders: Circuit City's In-Home TV Calibration Is A Total Scam
According to a Circuit City employee, their in-home tv calibration service is a complete ripoff. Basically they give the employees glasses like you might get at a 3D movie and they're then supposed adjust the balance and contrast and brightness with the remote control. When he complained to his manager, his boss said to just, "make believe you're changing some settings. When you're done, tell them how much better their TV looks. Besides, once you perform the calibration, they can't get a refund." Will we soon see Circuit City in-home calibration kits being hawked in the back pages of Boy's Life? Full letter, inside... More » -
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complaints
Comcast Spews BS When You Complain About HD Degradation
David wanted a straight answer from Comcast as to whether they were degrading his HD signal, but instead was fed a colossal trough of baloney. The executive customer service rep who replied to David's email said Comcast is using a "new system" for HD and while it "works well with clean 1080i signals, we're making some adjustments to improve how it handles other types of HD signals so we can bring you the best HD picture. We apologize this has not created the HD experience that we intended, but we will work towards getting it right. " Sure... check out this previous post, Comcast Degrades HD Quality To Make Room For More Channels, for the science and proof of how Comcast (and other cable operators) are degrading HD feeds to make more money. The full exchanges between David and the Comcast reps, inside...
More »
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cable
Comcast Degrades HD Quality To Make Room For More Channels
When you order Hi-Def TV, you expect it to be on the shining Excalibur level, but it looks like Comcast is degrading the quality of some HD channels in order to make room for more channels. To test this theory out, Avsforum member bfdtv recorded the same shows from the same channel at the same time on both Comcast Hi-Def and Fios TV. The left is the FiOs. The right is the Comcast. As you can see, the Comcast signal looks like crap. The forum thread has more screenshots, a signal analysis, and some source videos. So far the Comcast channels receiving extra compression are: Discovery Channel, SciFi, USA, Food, NatGeo, UHD, A&E, HGTV, Starz, Cinemax, HBO, TLC, Animal Planet, Discovery HD Theater, and History HD.Comcast HD Quality Reduction: Details, Screenshots [AVSforum] (Thanks to thedave!)
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survey says
Best Buy Says You Don't Know What You're Doing With HD
Best Buy hired a firm to take a survey of the state of the American public's knowledge of HDTV, and sad results are in. You don't know what the hell is going on with your television. More » -
complaints
TWC Charges $30 To Drop Off A HDTV Box At Your House... Or You Could Get It Yourself
Brandon says he just got and HDTV and called TWC to see about swapping his digital cable receiver for an HDTV receiver. TWC said no problem but it would be a $30 "carrying charge," which amounted to basically a TWC worker throwing an HDTV receiver in the van and driving a few miles to drop it off at Brandon's house. More » -
hdtv
1/4 Of HDTV Owners Do Not Realize They Are Not Watching HDTV
If you didn't understand what the title of the article meant, you're probably one of the people's we're talking about. According to AZ Central: More » -
hdtv
Last-Minute Super Bowl HDTV Buying Guide
Gizmodo has a nifty guide to snagging the perfect HDTV for this Sunday's Super Bowl. They offer three picks, ranging from roughly $1,300 to $6,000 in price. More » -
sales
No Big Super Bowl Discounts on HDTVs?
If, for some strange reason, you missed seeing this glorious image last night on an HDTV, you're not going to be happy about this next bit of news: Retailers might be doing away with big Super Bowl discounts on HDTVs. From CNN Money: More » -
hdtv
Confused Consumers: Why Isn't My HDTV Picture Clear?
Consumer electronics retailers are doing a crappy job of explaining HDTV, so much so that people sometimes return the sets as defective. More » -
readers
Man Forces Best Buy To Sell Him $1999 PlasmaHDTV For $1499
By insisting on his consumer rights, Sandar got Best Buy to sell him a $1999 plasma HDTV for $1499. More »
hdtv
Target is testing sales of used electronics on its website to move returned items that are in "perfect working order"—mostly iPods and HDTVs right now. [
New York, 2:18 PM
Sat Jul 4
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