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Übergizmo: If it weren’t about the price, most folks out there would want a few Bang & Olufsen products in their home. Now the company has just announced its BeoVision 8, which is a smaller version of its BeoVision 10 LCD, and less expensive. This 4-inch display touts 240Hz motion processing, something that the folks over at B&O claim to be nearly double that of the conventional LCDs. Being a B&O product, you’d expect it to sport some pretty awesome sound quality. The BeoVision 8 will be available this summer, and should set you back around $5,400, pricey, but it shouldn’t force you to sell your assets, right?

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Cnet: 3D this, 3D that: anyone would think the whole world was 3D or something. However you feel about the third dimension being displayed on your telly, if you’re looking for a new TV — to watch the World Cup on, for instance — it makes sense to consider 3D-capable screens. You might not care about it now, but at some point in the future someone might come up with a compelling use for it.

There may not be any 3D coverage of the World Cup on either the BBC or ITV this year, but if you’re a Sky Sports subscriber, there’s going to be plenty of football for you to watch in 3D next season. Either way, all these TVs offer more than just 3D support, so you won’t miss out on great features just because your TV is one dimension up on its competitors.

LG
LG has adopted a unique attitude to 3D, in that it’s the only company that’s supporting both active and passive display technology. This might not mean much to you, but it’s useful to have a choice about what sort of TV and 3D glasses you want to use. Our 3D FAQ should help you decide which technology is best for you, if you’re in any doubt.

LG’s range is pretty impressive. There are two TVs from its Infinia LX990 range, one 47-incher and one 55-inch model. These are LG’s flagship models, with 400Hz picture mode and the now-ubiquitous Internet access, with YouTube video and access to Skype. You get two pairs of 3D glasses included too, which is fine if you’re just a couple, but not so good if you’ve got two 3D-hungry kids as well. Infinia TVs also feature full LED backlighting, which means you get the best possible contrast levels and local dimming to further improve colour and black performance.

Next up is the LX6900 range, which has another two TVs. The panels are 47 and 42 inches, and can display a 200Hz picture. You only get one pair of active 3D glasses included with these TVs though, which is going to make 3D viewing a very lonely experience until you shell out for more. The LX6900 TVs feature LED edgelighting, which means they’re super slim and have excellent black levels.

Both the LX990 and LX6900 ranges come with Freeview HD tuners too, which will give you access to HD World Cup matches, albeit in 2D. The 47LD950, on the other hand, has only a standard Freeview tuner, and is a standard LCD panel, with CCFL backlighting, where the other two ranges both feature some sort of LED illumination. That equates to slightly less impressive black levels, but will help keep the cost of these screens down. You also get four pairs of glasses with this TV, which is great for family use.

LG also has the LD950, which is a 47-inch passive 3D display. In this system, the TV is more expensive than traditional LCD panels, because an extra layer is fitted to the TV to make it work with cheaper passive glasses. If you’ve ever been to the cinema, and been allowed to keep your 3D glasses, you’ll have experienced passive 3D. This TV will suit football fans, because it has a resolution that matches Sky’s proposed 3D broadcasts. If, however, you want Full HD 3D, this isn’t the TV for you.

Sony
There are two choices with the Sony range of 3D TVs. You can either buy a set that’s 3D-ready but needs an additional glasses pack, or you can get a TV that comes with everything you need to start watching 3D — although video material is your responsibility.

If you want an all-inclusive package, the LX903 models are for you. You get Freeview HD included, along with built-in Wi-Fi access to Sony’s new online media service. Expect LoveFilm and BBC iPlayer on this soon — a real boon for Sony TVs, which have suffered from a lack of innovation in recent years. These TVs come with two screen sizes, either a modestly large 40 inches or a moderately gargantuan 60 inches. The smaller model is expected to cost around £2,000, with the 60-inch beast expected to set you back £3,500. The LX903 models come with one pair of 3D glasses each, with extra models costing £100 or so.

The HX range comes in four variations: two have 903 in their names and two have 803. The main difference is the 803 models are 100Hz, while the 903s are 200Hz. Both sub-ranges have Sony’s MotionFlow picture processing, and that claims a doubling of their native refresh rate to 200Hz and 400Hz respectively. The other key difference is that the 903-branded TVs are full LED backlit, whereas the 803 range features the slightly less contrast-capable edge lighting.

The HX903 models come in either 52- or 46-inch screen sizes, while the HX803 can be purchased with either a 40 or 46-inch screen. All of these TVs come with Freeview HD built-in and access to Sony’s aforementioned online video service.

Panasonic
With the simplest 3D range, Panasonic has just two 3D models, one with a 50-inch screen, the other a massive 65-inch model. The VT20 comes with two pairs of 3D glasses, so assuming you have a 3D source, such as Blu-ray or Sky 3D, you’ll be able to get started straight away.

Aside from their 3D credentials, the Panasonic TVs are the company’s high-end screens. You get a NeoPDP panel — Panasonic’s best and blackest to date. There’s also access to the VieraCast service, which allows you to watch YouTube video, share photos on Picasa and other online stuff. There’s also a THX mode, which allows you to get the best possible quality sound from movies. Panasonic promises its 600Hz mode will produce a full 1080p image, even for moving content — this is harder than you might think, and most TVs don’t manage it.

The 50-inch Panasonic 3D TV will cost you around £2,000, while the 65 goes for a much more ridiculous £5,000. Still, if you want a truly involving 3D experience, then you have to go for the biggest possible screen, and until 3D projectors arrive, this is the daddy.

Samsung
Samsung has taken a slightly different approach to 3D, in that it’s opting not to include 3D glasses with any of its TVs, badging them simply as ’3D ready’. If you want glasses — and if you want 3D, you’ll need them — be prepared to pay extra. Prices seem to vary wildly online, but each pair will cost between £50 and £100. A voucher system currently means you’ll get free glasses, but this is only a short-term offer — Samsung says it may start including glasses in the future.

In terms of the selection of models available, Samsung’s is probably the most impressive. It can claim to have the second-largest 3D TV on the market, with its 63-inch C7000. This plasma model features a Freeview HD tuner and Samsung’s clunkily named Internet@TV service, which will give you access to online video and widgets that can access Twitter, Facebook and the weather on your TV. If you want a slightly smaller plasma, the C7000 is also available in a 50-inch variant too.

Samsung’s C8000 series is its flagship line-up, with screen sizes of 40, 46 and 55 inches. The design of this range is intended to wow, with a funky brushed-metal look and slender, polished stand. Also included are Internet@TV and the ability to make calls with integrated Skype. An optional camera makes video calls possible too, and is available from the Skype online store.

The C8000 range features the ability to record TV shows to USB memory, which means you get a basic PVR included in the price. Don’t expect to be able to record one channel and watch another, but even so, this is a smart little addition to TVs, and one we’d love to see more of.

The LCD C7000 range is similar in specification to the plasma models we mentioned earlier. Available in 40, 46 and 55-inch sizes, you get the same Internet features as the other Samsung models. The LCDs in the C7000 range, unlike the plasmas, sadly don’t have Freeview HD access, which is sure to disappoint World Cup fans keen to see HD football. The finish is also a more modest brown, as opposed to the space-age, metallic sheen of the 8000 series.

The last TV in Samsung’s arsenal is the LE40C750. This model is identical to the C7000 range, just with a slightly more boring case. Seriously, that’s the only major difference we can discern after some time staring at the spec sheet.

Samsung is also the first company we’ve seen to offer a pair of 3D glasses aimed at children. Its kid-friendly, blue-framed pair are also rechargeable, which should mean you can plonk the little terrors down in front of a 3D movie without worrying about having to replace fiddly watch batteries, or worrying about them being swallowed. The adult versions aren’t rechargeable, and also aren’t blue-framed.

These ranges are bound to change over the next year, so we’ll try to keep you up to date. Expect full reviews of all these TVs as soon as is humanly possible, and in the meantime let us know in the comments section if you have any questions.

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Übergizmo: Fancy purchasing a TV pretty soon, but do not know where to start? Perhaps you might consider a Samsung LED or LCD TV after reading this post – after all, selected models from either line from Samsung will be incorporated with InstaPort technology from Silicon Image, where it will change HDMI input within one second – basically, this removes the time of waiting for the input to look for a source, giving you instant change in the blink of an eye. This is something nice to have but not essential, then again who are we to say in this world that has a “I want it now!” attitude? Perhaps it might end up as a common feature in all TV brands sometime down the road, who knows?

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Gizmag: Anyone who has had a chance to experience 3D, whether it be at the cinema or on one of the multitude of 3D TVs hitting the market, will be aware that image brightness takes a hit thanks to the eyewear required for the 3D effect, be they passive or active shutter. Now Sharp has given its four-primary-color TVs we first saw at CES earlier this year the 3D treatment. The company says the sets not only boast the industry’s highest brightness, but also feature extremely low “crosstalk” – the undesirable double “ghost” images evident with many 3D TVs.

Sharp’s four-primary-color TVs uses four pixel colors, (red, green, blue and yellow), to produce images instead of the standard three, (red, blue and green). Sharp says adding yellow to the mix contributes to brighter, more vivid colors thanks to higher light transmission efficiency through the panel and a wider range of colors that can be reproduced. (more…)

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Engadget: No two ways about it, 2009 was a bad year for plasma. How else could you describe a year where the so called king of plasmas — and to many, HDTVs — exits the market? It was a hard enough hit when Kuro lovers learned that Panasonic would be manufacturing ‘em instead of Pioneer, but when at the last minute Pioneer canceled the plan before the first Panasonic-branded-Kuro ever shipped, plasma lovers everywhere died a little inside. But all was not lost and Panasonic, Samsung and LG proudly continued on and didn’t miss a beat when Vizio joined the quitters of 2008 — Panasonic even opened the biggest plasma plant yet in 2009. Panasonic did step up, and by some accounts filled the void left by the Kuro by managing to win most of the best of awards of 2009; only to be tarnished by reports that the black levels were depreciated faster than expected.

But the year wasn’t all bad, as plasma prices dropped and in the second quarter of last year it actually did pretty well. Then at CES 2010 Panasonic’s 3D plasma demo stole the 3D show, and early reports showed that the new line offered even better blacks and a better 3D effect than LCD TVs. So while there are no signs that plasma will ever be the king of flat screen TVs, it has proven for yet another year that although LCDs garner the lion’s share of HDTV sales, plasma still owns a piece of the market and offers some advantages over the competition. So while the LCD vs plasma debate has never been as fun or as meaningful as a format war — after all it isn’t like choosing one excludes you from viewing content — it is an interesting battle to follow. In the coming years we expect LCD to continue to push plasma up in size and plasma to push LCD blacker and faster. So the great news is that in the end it is the consumer that is getting better HD viewing options.

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Techwatch: The rise of 3D television has been dramatic over the past year or so. In fact if it were not for the science fiction film Avatar, we would have to ask would 3D TV be around as it is today.

With BSkyB launching a dedicated 3D channel and others on the way, an entire industry has been created on the back of a film. So far, Samsung, Sony and Panasonic have dipped their toes into the uncharted waters of the 3D market. However, it is the Korean based company LG that has jumped in feet first and taken up the 3D TV challenge. Read more…

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Techdigest: Sony have today announced the release of two new sets of wireless headphones, the MDR-RF4000K and the MDR-RF810RK.

The MDR-RF4000K sets have been designed to complement the look of Sony’s new “Monolithic” range of Bravia TVs. They feature a small charging dock which the headphones can be folded and tucked away into for storing, as well as a wireless range of 30 metres. 40mm long-stoke drivers provide a frequency response range of 12Hz to 22000kHz.

The black headphones will deliver 7 hours of music between charges, while popping in a single AAA battery will provide you with 10 hours of audio if you cant get to a wall socket. Closed-cap headphones allow for top-notch sound isolation, while there’s also an adjustable headband for maximum comfort.

The MDR-RF810RK sets are a little lighter at 220 grams. They have a generous wireless range of 100 metres away from the base station, though that’s likely only to benefit those with MTV Cribs-sized houses. Like the MDR-RF4000K, it features a 40mm driver, but a smaller frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz. The rechargeable battery will last for 13 hours per charge, whilst an AAA battery will this time provide as much as 28 hours of audio playback.

Though no pricing details have yet been revealed, you’ll be able to pick up the new Sony wireless headphone range in April.

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Japan Corporate News: Sony Corp. has pulled the plug in Japan on sales of a next-generation flat TV due to sluggish demand, a setback for a product the company had trumpeted as a sign of its revival as an innovator.

Sony had stopped production of ultra-thin TVs using organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology for Japan, just a little over 2 years since it launched its first set. It will keep selling the TVs in overseas markets.

OLED displays use organic, or carbon-containing compounds that emit light when electricity is applied. They produce crisp images and do not need backlighting, making them slimmer and more energy-efficient than LCDs.

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Engadget: Hope you’re ready to see the make believe world in a new dimension ’cause Samsung’s first Full HD 3D set is now shipping Stateside. Amazon shows a pair of 55-inch UN55C7000 TVs with 3D 240Hz motion technology in stock with a $3,299.99 price tag and free delivery.

Yeah, that’s a day earlier than expected but we doubt anyone’s complaining. Remember, you’ll still have to drop another $150 or so on the shutter glasses if you ever plan to flip the switch from 2D to 3D mode; something you might want to do when actual 3D content starts to arrive.

Update: Looks like Sears is shipping now as well, including the 46-inch UN46C7000 little brother for $2,600.

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Electronista: The HDMI organization has made the 3D portion of its 1.4 available spec for public download.

HDMI spec v1.4 was completed in June 2009, but was only available to companies that had signed an HDMI Adopter Agreement.

The announcement on Wednesday makes the new standards accessible to all other content producers and manufacturers. The group also stated that an update to the specification, dubbed 1.4a, will be released in the near future, possibly to address a mandatory 3D broadcast format.

The group had announced in December 2009 that HDMI v1.4 would add support for 3D content without the broadcast component. HDMI v1.4 establishes protocols for several 3D display technologies including frame, line, or field alternative methods; side by side display modes, and 2D plus depth methods.

It also includes data for the first time and supplies a 100Mbps Ethernet connection as well as two-way audio signals.

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CNet: Sony has announced that its new line-up of Blu-ray products will go 3D with a firmware update this year.

Sony announced a line-up of 3D home cinema products at CES in January, including the Bravia LX and HX 3D TVs.

The range of products to go 3D includes the BDV-E670W, BDV-E870, and BDV-IZ1000W. We’ve contacted Sony for a full list of which products will get the update, and when.

The big question is whether an update will be available for the PlayStation 3. The 3D Blu-ray spec was only finalised in December, so manufacturers are wasting no time. Other 3D Blu-ray players coming soon include the Samsung BD-C6900 and Panasonic DMP-BDD300.

All well and good, but what are you going to watch? Monsters vs Aliens looks set to be the first 3D Blu-ray release, with Avatar no doubt close behind. James Cameron has hinted that a 2D release will come first, followed by a 3D release towards the end of the year, if there is enough uptake of the technology. Disney is weighing in with A Christmas Carol at the end of the year.

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Engadget: Over the last several months complaints that Panasonic’s plasma HDTVs experience sudden adverse changes in their black levels after a certain number of viewing hours have been piling up in an AVSForum thread, and now that behavior has been confirmed, though not very well explained, in a response the company sent to CNET today:
“In order to achieve the optimal picture performance throughout the life of the set, Panasonic Viera plasma HDTVs incorporate an automatic control which adjusts an internal driving voltage at predetermined intervals of operational hours.

As a result of this automatic voltage adjustment, background brightness will increase from its initial value … The newest Viera plasma HDTVs incorporate an improved automatic control which applies the voltage adjustments in smaller increments. This results in a more gradual change in the Black Level over time.
Especially considering many buyers purchased their televisions specifically for those deep black levels, you can see why a TV suddenly going Sammy Sosa overnight would be upsetting.

One of the reigning theories in the thread indicated by poster & calibrator D-Nice has been that this is by design, but a flaw in the settings caused the large jumps (around double the brightness, as measured by several owners light meters) instead of a much more subtle change. So what now for owners or potential buyers?

Without more details about what is going on and whether or not anything can be done about it, like CNET’s David Katzmeier, it’s hard to see how we can continue to recommend these HDTVs for purchase without knowing what they will do months or years down the line.

The ball is in Panasonic’s court now, a speedy response could do a lot to assuage the concerns of current and potential owners.

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