In a great example of the fact that not every USB charging station is as innocent as it looks, security researchers have identified a new, easy way for attackers to digitally eavesdrop on your smart phone when you think you’re charging it — and watch everything that appears on your screen while you’re doing it. [More]
hdmi
DirecTV Customers With Older HDTVs May Have Trouble Watching HBO
By 4.20.12
Even if your older HDTV has an HDMI port, you may not be able to connect your DirecTV receiver to your TV — at least not if you want to watch HBO. [More]
Best Buy Sells Overpriced HDMI Cable For More Than Many TVs
By 11.26.10
We’ve seen many an overpriced HDMI cable in our time, especially in places such as Best Buy, so it takes a lot to make us do a double take. Never to be underestimated, Best Buy has come through with a (crack) smoking deal on a cable that costs more than many of the retailer’s Black Friday TV deals. [More]
Time Warner Cable Rep Tells Me Company Doesn't Solve HDMI Problems (Updated)
By 10.25.10
Aaron couldn’t get the HDMI port of his Time Warner Cable DVR box to work. When he went to customer service with the problem, he says the rep told him TWC provides HDMI as an option to customers but does not support it. [More]
All HDMI Cables Are Pretty Much The Same
By 8.20.10
MSNBC’s HD Guru blog skewers the shifty HDMI cable industry, which is based on ridiculous, unsupported claims of higher data speed, frame rates and refresh rates in exchange for exorbitant prices. [More]
Never Pay More Than $10 For HDMI Cables
By 3.31.10
You already know that coat hangers sound just as good as those pricey Monster cables, but this infographic really lays out the full argument on why you should never pay more than $10 for HDMI cables. Whether it’s gold-plated connectors, EM RF interefence shileding, or “gas injected” cables, it’s all the same thing: goldbricking. There’s no reason to drop $250 on a four-foot cable. [More]
Best Buy PS3 Bundle Comes With Overpriced HDMI Cable?
By 3.29.10
Reader Chris sends in a link to a (backordered) bundle Best Buy is offering. It contains a 120 GB PS3, a wireless controller, and a “Rocketfishâ„¢ – 8′ HDMI Digital Audio/Video Cable for PlayStation 3”. For all of this, you pay only $394.97. Trouble is, the controller and PS3 usually go for $300. See update. [More]
MPAA Asks FCC For Control Of Your TV's Analog Outputs
By 11.9.09
The Motion Picture Association of American wants to rent movies to TV viewers earlier in the release window, but they don’t want anyone potentially streaming that video out to other appliances. That’s why last week they went back to the FCC to once again ask for the power to disable analog ports on consumer television sets.
Meritline Using Misleading "Free HDMI" Cable To Sell Digital TV Converter With No HDMI Output?
By 4.22.09
Matthew emailed us with an interesting link to a Meritline offer that he says is making the rounds on deal sites. The Airlink digital-to-analog converter box is a fairly generic offer, but Meritline is offering a free HDMI cable with it. The only problem is, there’s no place on the box to use the cable. If you just see “free HDMI cable” and don’t read the specs closely, you’ll be in for a rotten surprise when the box arrives. But hey, free cable.
The "Monster Difference" Is Easy To See When You Compare HDMI To Crappy Composite Cables
By 3.23.09
Engadget says they’ve caught Fry’s electronics and Monster Cable pulling a fast one on their customers, again. They first noticed this cute little display last year, but it’s apparently still being used. Here’s how it works.
Remember: You Don't Need To Buy Expensive Cables For That New TV
By 12.26.08
Adam writes in with a reminder for those of you who got a new TV, Blu-Ray player, or video game system this holiday season: you don’t need to spend a fortune on fancy HDMI cables.
CNET Says Cheap HDMI Cables Just As Good As Pricey Ones
By 3.12.08
CNET has weighed in and agrees with what we’ve been telling you: cheap HDMI cables are just as good as pricey ones.
Do you really need to spend that much money on a single HDMI cable? Absolutely not–those cables are a rip-off. You should never pay more than $10 for a standard six-foot HDMI cable. And despite what salesmen and manufacturers might tell you, there’s no meaningful difference between the $10 cable and the $50 cable…The editors at CNET are so confident that cheap HDMI cables offer identical performance, we’ve been using inexpensive Monoprice HDMI cables in the CNET Home Theater Lab for more than a year with no issues.
They recommend buying from Monoprice.
Circuit City's Firedog Charges $169 For 'Home Theater Installation', Doesn't Hook Up HDMI Cable
By 3.12.07
•Demonstrate operation of system
Ask The Consumerists: When Is Hi-Def, Not?
By 8.21.06
Like many others, Andy’s not getting that amazing hi-def signal on his hi-def TV. His 42 inch, plasma, 2 grand plus, hi-def TV.
