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Today's Industry News

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What is Professional Calibration?
Written by Kevin Miller   
Tuesday, 08 January 2008
colorbars.jpgProfessional television calibration takes what we, at TweakTV, are suggesting as a starting point to the highest level of system performance and accuracy. It is essentially a fine tuning of your entire video system by a qualified trained technician with reference level test equipment. What we are providing with the User menu settings for digital cable and/or Satelllite via the HDMI inputs of HDTVs is just a basic start in what we refer to as “System Calibration”. A full professional system calibration includes setting up all the video sources including the cable box and/or satellite receiver, DVD player, and calibrating each input on the TV with a variety of sophisticated TV test equipment.
Last Updated ( Saturday, 03 May 2008 )
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Vizio: VO32L 32-inch LCD: First Look
Written by Kevin Miller   
Wednesday, 02 July 2008
vizio vo32l_angled.jpgAccording to sales figures from last year, Vizio's VX32L was the largest selling 32-inch HDTV in the U.S.  This year's VO32L 32-inch LCD panel promises to be another big hit. Vizio was kind enough to lend TweakTV this new model for a Sneak Preview for our members. With a street price of just $649, the VO32L is aggressively priced to say the least.

The VO32L has very generous connectivity for a set in this price category. It sports three HDMI inputs, which is unusual in an entry level product. As far as features go, there are a few that are noteworthy including the built-in QAM off-air digital HDTV tuner, which enables you to get local HDTV channels with an inexpensive indoor digital antenna. Zenith used to make one called the Silver Sensor that sold for about $40. Selectable color temperatures are available including Cool, Normal, Warm, and Custom. The Custom options will give a qualified technician some rudimentary grayscale controls that actually work pretty well. I was able to dial in the grayscale on my sample to a fair degree of accuracy, although I suspect at its price few will opt for professional calibration of this set.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 03 July 2008 )
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OLED and New Developments in LCD Flat Panel HDTVs
Written by Kevin Miller   
Friday, 20 June 2008
mini-l1000013.jpgSony Press Trip To Tokyo (June 2008)

Sony graciously brought a select few press members to Japan for a week long trip focusing mainly on new developments in their HDTV lineup. We arrived on Tuesday, June 10 in the afternoon. The next day, we began with a tour of their new showroom at the company's headquarters in Shinagawa,Tokyo where Sony showcases all its consumer video products, as well as, the company's well regarded professional broadcast products. The tour ended with an impressive demonstration of Sony's 4096 x 2160 or what is commonly referred to as the 4K x 2K digital cinema projector, model SRX-R220, in the showroom's elaborate theater.

Last Updated ( Sunday, 22 June 2008 )
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Pioneer PDP-5080, 6080, 5010, and 6010 Calibration Issues Part II
Written by Kevin Miller   
Thursday, 05 June 2008

pdp5080hd.jpgOn April 19th I published a short piece on a rather serious issue I encountered in the field while calibrating the very popular Pioneer PDP-5080 720p resolution plasma panel. You may recall that when I completed the grayscale calibration in the service menu, and exited the service menu to take measurements to check the accuracy of the grayscale, I found that it hadn't retained the calibration settings at all. Quite by chance, I found that if you turn off the Pure Cinema, then the calibrated grayscale returned.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 05 June 2008 )
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Pioneer and Calibration
Written by Kevin Miller   
Saturday, 19 April 2008
pioneer_pdp_5080hd.jpgI recently did my first professional calibration for a TweakTV customer who lives in Queens, New York. The set was the very popular Pioneer PDP-5080HD 720p resolution regular line model. I have done hundreds and hundreds of Pioneers over the years whether the regular line, the professional line or the highly acclaimed Elite series.
Last Updated ( Saturday, 19 April 2008 )
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Where to Buy Your HDTV
Written by Kevin Miller   
Tuesday, 19 February 2008

Depending on what your needs are, there are a few different options open to you for purchasing your new HDTV.

One of these options would be to buy it on the Internet. If you are a do it yourselfer, then internet purchasing may be the right option for you. Be careful, and do some research beforehand on the company you plan on making the purchase with. Make sure the seller is an authorized reseller for the product you are planning on buying, and that it will come with the full manufacturer’s warranty.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 09 April 2008 )
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The Case For (Quality) Calibration
Written by Terry Paulin   
Friday, 08 February 2008
isf-logo.jpgSo you’ve got a new TV and you want to get it calibrated. You’ve read all the articles that say it’s smart money spent to make your new set as good as it can be. You may have even visited the ISF website and found a recommended guy in your area. But the guy you called wants $400 and you heard that Sparky down at the Geek Squad is now offering “ISF” calibrations for $300. A chance to save a buck? Let’s take a closer look.

 

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 02 July 2008 )
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ANOTHER OPINION ………A Matter of Integrity
Written by Terry Paullin   
Wednesday, 02 April 2008

I guess it’s a sign of the times. With TV shows like “Survivor” and “The Bachelor” espousing the virtues of deceitful behavior and getting big ratings, why should I be surprised that specifications from A/V manufacturers occasionally stretch the truth. I’m not, and they do…and they continue to on an ever more frequent basis. Still, one has to draw the line somewhere.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 13 May 2008 )
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A Dozen Socks, Five Gallons of Pickles, and a flat panel HDTV: What’s In The Back of An SUV Leaving
Written by Michael Hamilton   
Monday, 07 April 2008

socks.jpgIf you guessed that was a Carnac bit from the Best of Carson DVD box set you wouldn’t be too far off…that’s available at Cost-Club as well. When it comes to a bargain for an HDTV using money that was hermetically sealed in a mayonnaise jar on your porch until the “time was right”, perhaps the feeling of being all-knowing and all-omniscient has you donning a massive, red velvet turban with adorning flowing cape. Once the domain of canned goods that, were they to fall on your foot, would wreak the same kind of damage as an Al McGinnis slap shot, savvy merchandising has propelled your local warehouse club into a formidable electronics powerhouse.

 

Last Updated ( Saturday, 14 June 2008 )
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