HDTV Tech

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HDTV TechA/V Veteran
Home on the High Dynamic Range
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jul 19, 2022  | 
High dynamic range is still the hot tamale in today's video world. While it's been around for a few years now, nothing new in video has yet made HDR yesterday's news. Here’s why.
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CES 2021HDTV Tech
TV Trends of CES 2021
Al Griffin  |  Jan 19, 2021  | 
The annual CES tradeshow put on by the Consumer Technology Association was an "all-digital" event for 2021. On the plus side, that allowed us to report on the show from the comfort of our homes dressed in hoodies and sweatpants instead of suits. On the negative side, we didn't get proper "screen time" with the array of new TVs introduced, many of which hold the promise to be pretty spectacular.
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HDTV TechA/V Veteran
TV Tech Explained: Mind Your (HDR) PQ
Thomas J. Norton  |  Aug 20, 2019  | 
In TV Tech Explained: Mind Your Gamma I covered gamma and its importance for playback of standard dynamic range (SDR) video. But high dynamic range (HDR) is a new and very different animal.
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HDTV TechA/V Veteran
TV Tech Explained: Mind Your Gamma
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jul 30, 2019  | 
Unless you're accustomed to turning on your new set and never touching any of the controls beyond volume (and if you're reading this that's probably not you) Gamma is a control and a subject worth knowing more about.
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HDTV Tech
HDR (High Dynamic Range) Explained
Kris Deering  |  Feb 05, 2019  | 
My experience covering home video extends back to the early days of DVD. But of all the new technologies and formats I've covered in that time, none has generated as much confusion as high dynamic range (HDR). In this article, I will attempt to demystify the subject of HDR, a technology that I find to be the most significant development to hit home video in years.
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HDTV Tech
Talking TV: Contrast Is More Than Just Black and White
SV  |  Jul 26, 2017  | 
This guest technical primer was submitted by Dave Rodgers, marketing manager for Elite Screens Inc. and a 20-year professional in the audio/video and wireless communications industries.

You might be surprised to learn that there is more to contrast than just black and white. The intensity of color matters just as much. While the topic of black-white level has been explained in all its glorious intricacy by the best minds in the AV world, I prefer a more basic approach — one that makes sense to someone who doesn’t know lux from lumens.

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HDTV TechA/V Veteran
Key TV/Video Terms Explained
Thomas J. Norton  |  Sep 06, 2016  | 
We tend to forget that not all readers have been around the block when it comes to the language of video. Those that have know the tricks of the trade, and what all of the terminology means. True, even they’re sometimes mistaken, and we ourselves can get caught out from time to time with what’s being offered this year (or this week!) in the ever changing high definition (HD) and ultra high definition (UHD) world.

But manufacturers seldom offer much help in this, or even do their best to obfuscate. In their specs, descriptions, and promotional copy, one thing you won’t find clearly stated is what their products won’t do...

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HDTV Buying TipsHDTV Tech
The New TV Tech: What You Need to Know
Al Griffin  |  Dec 22, 2015  | 
TV shopping has become vastly more complicated over the past decade. Buyer confusion used to revolve around issues of 720p versus 1080p, LCD versus plasma, edge-lit versus full-array, 3D or not 3D, and “What’s a smart TV?” All manageable problems, in retrospect.
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HDTV Tech
State of the Arc: Curved Screens Are Here, But Why?
Bob Ankosko  |  Jun 11, 2015  | 
Are curved screens going to take over the world? If you walk into one of the 500 Best Buy stores featuring Samsung’s impressive Entertainment Experience display area, you might think so at first glance. Stylish curved-screen TVs are front and center in the ultramodern space, displayed under glowing “Curved UHDTV” signs that beckon you to come over and take a closer look.
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HDTV Tech
HDR: The Other OLED
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Jan 14, 2015  | 
What makes a good TV picture? Sharp detail? That’s a factor, sure. Vibrant color? Of course. What about brightness? Definitely, you don’t want a dim picture. How about black level? That’s vital. After all, you don’t want grayish blacks; that wouldn’t be lifelike.
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HDTV Buying TipsHDTV Tech
How Smart Are Current Smart TVs?
Al Griffin  |  Jan 24, 2014  | 
There’s no doubt that Smart TVs have been getting smarter. While the earliest Smart TVs were limited to streaming movies and basic Web browsing, today’s models may encompass voice or gesture commands, the ability to “throw” your favorite photos to the screen from your smartphone, facial recognition for customized user menus, or even the ability to recommend shows based on your past viewing.
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HDTV Tech
So...What’s an OLED?
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Nov 01, 2013  | 
After years of speculation and skepticism, drooling and disappointment, longing, frustration, and pensive excitement, Organic Light-Emitting Diode televisions are finally available. OLED (oh-lead, if you like), is the first true next-generation HDTV technology since LCDs emerged from their nascent toy stage and started stomping all over plasma TVs.
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HDTV Buying TipsHDTV Tech
The Bawl of the Smartass TV
Michael Antonoff  |  Jun 25, 2013  | 
A customer walks into a showroom and the TV says, “Hey, big spender, come spend a little time with me.”

The customer replies, “Of all the TVs on the wall, why should I spend any time with you?”

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HDTV Tech
New Display Measurement: Input Lag
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Jun 23, 2013  | 

Starting with the September issue (and now, online), we're adding a new measurement to our objective TV/projector tests. It's called "input lag" and while it's not as important as contrast ratio or color accuracy (which we already test for), it's an important metric for gamers, and anyone who notices issues with "lip sync."

So here's what it is, how we test for it, and what, if anything, you can do about it.

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HDTV Tech
Tech Trends 2013: Video
Al Griffin  |  May 09, 2013  | 

In this four-part article, Geoff Morrison examines the future of Ultra HD and OLED TV (below); Al Griffin looks at the latest developments in Smart TV; Geoff gives us an update on what's happening with plasma TV; and Al finishes with a discussion of the devices and technologies that will deliver 4K Ultra HD content to homes.

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