Home Entertainment & Automation Services in Matthews, NC.
Home Entertainment & Automation Services in Matthews, NC.
Home audio and Video Services in Matthews, NC.  TV installation, Surround Sound, Home Entertainment Systems
Are Plasma TVs Still Alive?

LG and Panasonic are trying to revive plasma displays.

CRT TVs. Laserdisc. VHS. Beta. CED (bet you have to look that one up).

All of these once represented a state-of-the-art technology, but have since made their way to that big home theater in the sky.

Many consumers think plasma displays also are dead, or are on their way out. But plasmas shouldn’t be relegated to the book-ends of the display market just yet, at least not as far as LG Electronics and Panasonic are concerned.

LG is releasing eight new plasmas, including its INFINIA line. Trying to kick the stereotype that plasmas are thick and heavy, the INFINIA series includes a 60-inch model that’s only 2-inches thick and only 95 pounds. These models will feature:

-LG NetCast for access to Internet streaming media like YouTube, Netflix, Pandora, and more
-“Wireless Media Hub” design that allows components, such as Blu-ray players, to be connected to a hub that wirelessly transmits the signal up to 90 feet
-THX certification
-Light-sensing automatic calibration
Panasonic will release more than 20 models, including four 3D-capable TVs that range from 50-65 inches. The 3D sets, which won both “Best In Television” and “Best In Show” at CES 2010, will include one pair of 3D glasses. Other features include THX certification, NeoPDP picture enhancements, and Viera Cast network streaming.

Plasma won’t take back the middle of the flat-panel TV market, but it will look to continue to be the meat of many high-end display lines and an important part of the push for 3D in the home.

by Stephen Hopkins

http://www.electronichouse.com/article/are_plasma_tvs_still_alive/

Custom Installation Services, LLC – Home Theater, Audio and Video Services, Home Automation  in North Carolina and South Carolina

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Say Goodbye to Analog Ports on Blu-ray Players

analog_sunsetAll high-definition video will be supplied through the HDMI connection on Blu-ray players.

The installation world is facing something of a paradigm shift with the upcoming “Analog Sunset,” referring to the phasing out of analog ports on Blu-ray players.

After December 31, 2010, manufacturers will not introduce new hardware with component video outputs supplying more than an SD resolution (480 or 576i).

If the manufacturer has existing models in its line-up, it will be able to continue selling that model until the end of 2013.

The idea is that all high-definition video will be supplied through the HDMI connection.

But that’s not the end of the story. After January 1, 2011, software manufacturers will be able to insert something called an Image Constraint Token into any Blu-ray disc. This bit of digital information will turn the high-definition component video output OFF the player(s).

This is true today for Blu-ray players, but it does not currently apply to other high-definition sources, including satellite and cable boxes.

Potential Fixes

This will clearly cause some discomfort for installers who have, in the past, avoided HDMI because of technical issues associated with the format. If the installer did not take into account the possibility of a change in format, they may be facing an unpleasant situation.

There are a number of potential remedies for installers who have component-only wiring in place. The first choice would be to deploy a set of baluns, which use either two or, later this year, one Category 5e or 6 wire to carry the HDMI signal. Essentially, these devices are either stand-alone boxes or wall plates, with RJ45 and HDMI jacks for connectivity.

Another alternative is wireless transmission of HDMI, with all the perils associated with wireless devices, including range, interference issues and cost.

Another choice is using five coaxial cables with a variation of the baluns.

Manufacturers are also exploring devices that will support HDMI over a network connection, over coaxial cable, and over power lines. Results may vary on the format and form factor you choose.

By Fred Harding

http://www.cepro.com/article/say_goodbye_to_analog_ports_on_blu_ray_players/

Custom Installation Services, LLC – Home Theater, Audio and Video Services, Home Automation  in North Carolina and South Carolina

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4 Tech Gifts for Valentine’s Day
 

 

 

 

 

C.I.S. - Your Media Room Experts in Charlotte, NC!

C.I.S. - Your Media Room Experts in Charlotte, NC!

Set the stage for a romantic evening at home with the addition of a few electronic products like dimmers and a wireless music system.

 

 Forget the dinner at a fancy restaurant, a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates.

They’ve been staple gifts for Valentine’s Day for way too long.

It’s time to shake things up.

With a few simple electronics additions, you can turn your own home into a romantic hideaway with some mood lighting, music and more. Plus you can use them and stay in on birthdays, too.

Click here for 4 Tech Gifts for Valentine’s Day.

by Lisa Montgomery

http://www.electronichouse.com/article/4_tech_picks_for_valentines_day/

Custom Installation Services, LLC – Home Theater, Audio and Video Services, Home Automation  in North Carolina and South Carolina

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Custom Installation Services, LLC | P.O. Box 132 Matthews, NC 28106 | 704-400-8701 | dmiller@cis-nc.com
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