Archos Docking Adapter Kit for 404 504 and 604 Series Players
Posted by HDTV in Electronics Jul 30th, 2009 | No CommentsArchos Docking Adapter Kit for 404 504 and 604 Series Players
Quickly charge your Archos / Transfer photos directly from a Digital Camera via USB Host / Transfer files to and from a PC
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Archos Docking Adaptor Kit
Its a great kit to have with your Archos 604. No need to lug the laptop on vacations…you can connect your camera to the dock and download your pictures in minutes! Great buy!
5 Stars Great accessory
This was a great accessory for my Archos 404. It charges faster than attaching it to my PC and there are more ways to connect it to various devices. Highly reccomended.
5 Stars Fast Charge
I was skeptical buying this charger for my Archos 404, because I didnt expect it to charge faster than the USB cable that was provided with the product. It charges fully from dead in about 2 hours! I am glad that I purchased it !
5 Stars A welcomed addition to my Archos 604
IT makes the recharging of the Archos battery quite a bit faster than the USB cable alone. It is light weight but I do not take it in trips, I use it at home to recharge the battery and connect the ARCHOS 604 to my desktop and transfer files, for travel I use the provided cable and my laptop that I need to take anyway. If you do not have to travel with a laptop then this would definitively be worth taking with you.
4 Stars A nickel here, a dime there
Although this product works well why the hell didn’t they include this absolutely essential item with the product? Was it because they wanted us to pay extra and buy a little bit of this and little bit of that? By the way the Archos unit itself is very good, but the learning curve is extensive and the buttons are so unintuitive that it makes operation rather frustrating at times.
Samsung LN55A950 55 Inch Touch of Color 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV
Posted by HDTV in Electronics Jul 30th, 2009 | No CommentsSamsung LN55A950 55 Inch Touch of Color 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV
Make a statement with SAMSUNGs new Touch of Color design. It features a hint of color naturally blended into the traditional piano black frame. Transforming our already stylish TVs into a work of art, it truly is unlike anything youve ever seen.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Question on Settings for best viewing
Hi,
Got my Samsung a950 recently, and its an exceptional TV. Fantastic picture and sound.
Had a question on the settings…the Movie mode is the worst. Too dark. The Dynamic is too bright and colors too saturated. I tried to lower the backlight and contrast for Dynamic, but still didn’t feel right.
The Standard seems to be the best. Can someone let me know what ideal settings they use for Standard settings (backlight, contrast, brightness etc.), and also the settings they use for Detail settings and Picture settings ?
Thanks.
5 Stars A week with the LN55A950
I did recently purchase the Samsung LN55A950 and must say it has been a remarkable TV.
I rarely write reviews on anything. I don’t love LCD or hate plasma. I have no desire to persuade anyone to buy this TV. I am just a guy who ditched a 20-year-old Trinitron because it was, well, time. When it comes to new purchases on anything I wait… wait…wait… and then buy the best I can afford.
I went with LCD over plasma because even though plasma image retention and burn-in issues are declared to “resolved”, I frankly was not interested in pampering, break-in or TLC of any kind for a television. I watch - and will continue to watch - a lot of non-16×9 content with black bars at the sides or top/bottom. Also my room is quite bright with a lot of windows and I wanted to be able to crank this puppy up whenever I needed to. I was a bit concerned about potential glare issues on this set but I have had absolutely no problem.
To me, this set has the contrast of a plasma and the “pop” of an LCD. I had a chance to see this set in a store environment prior to purchase (it was set in “dynamic” torch mode, of course). Still, I was immediately struck by the inky blacks of the LN55A950 as compared to any of the other LCDs. This is due largely to the LED backlighting instead of the cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) used in most large LCD displays. Actually, most LCDs have nice black levels to my non-videophile eye but the LN55A950 was in a category of its own and rivaled any plasma I saw in terms of inky blacks.
At home, I haven’t done any calibration yet but out of the box it looks just great. Blu-ray content is spectacular. I also have been quite pleased with the up-scaled quality of standard broadcast and typical DVD content.
5 Stars The Samsung LN55A950
One of the best HD-TV sets on the market (if not the best)
with top of the line auto motion plus 120Hz and an
amazing 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.
Its sleek design is impressive as is its astounding picture.
Full 1080p HD videos look better on this unit than on any other
HD-TV.
Out of the box the first thing you notice about this set is
its stylish design, the “Touch of Color” red that
accompanies the edges of its frame compliment its glossy
black exterior.
One should note that the series 950 is very slim for a 55 inch
LCD which is a plus for my particular media cabinet.
At its core the colors of the 950 are definitely more vivid
than on those of previous models such as the Samsung series
540 or even the ever popular Samsung LN46A650.
Once the unit is powered on a simple musical tone is played and
from there it takes only seconds (3-4) for the unit to display its first image.
Be aware that some have referred to seeing reflections or
a “halo” which occurs around the
upper glossy frame of the set under certain lighting.
While I have seen this myself I should note these instances are rare and will not distract you from the image on screen so for me this is a non issue.
Oddly the 950 also includes a built-in
hard drive (1 GB in size) and comes pre loaded with games,
recipes, work-out tips, and even gorgeous HD art.
While an interesting feature, this exercise is meant only
as a preview of the potential uses of TV’s in the future
as all the included material is mostly forgettable.
You can also attach your own USB hard drive to this TV via wiselink.
To take advantage of this feature I purchased the
Western Digital WD TV HD Media Player. With it I can see the full potential of 1080p HD videos such as Blu-ray but without the hassle of discs or the need for a disc player.
Finally any one looking to purchase a new HD-TV set should
seriously consider this one as I have yet to see any model
top the 950.
5 Stars LN55A950 Review
I’ve wanted a High Def TV for several years and wanted to replace a CRT in the bedroom and living room. I spent way to many hours reviewing TV’s online and in stores but decided to take the plunge for the bedroom needs first. I had the choice boiled down to 3 sets, the Sony 40W4100, 40XBR4 and the Samsung LN40A650. Ultimately I pikced the samsung and have not regretted the choice. I have been very impreseed with the black levels (50K to 1 contrast) as well as the most important feature, non high def picture. The set has incredible off angle viewing as well as a myriad of picture settings. I am a techno junkie and have tested almost every variant of picture adjustments they offer. In the end I just set it on Dynamic mode and let it do its thing.
In December of 2008 I decided the address the living room needs and again went back to study all the options. In the 3 month gap from obtaining the bedroom setup Samsung released the A950 series. The list price was shocking but not as shocking as Sony’s XBR 8 Series. While the Sony has received great reviews I ultimately choose the LN55A950 and paid a little under 4K from crutchfield. (they will negotiate if you send them links to other etailers)
I have to say this was absolutely the right choice. This unit is coupled with a Samsung BD-P2550 Blue Ray player and is outright the best picture for the money on the market today. Even Samsung’s new LED TV (actually still and LCD) does not get the rave reviews as the A950. I highly reccomend you look at this TV is your in the market.
5 Stars Great LCD with Hi Tech Features
This is my second Samsung TV and I am very happy with this purchase. Sure its a pricey TV but its also loaded with great features, tons of settings, and the latest LED backlight technology which provides black level that takes LCDs into Plasma territory without the power demands or heat of plasma. This new 55 inch takes less power than my old 40 inch LCD panel due to the smart backlight which turns down (or off) LEDs in dark areas of the displayed image.
Overall I think its picture quality is up there with the high end Sony (LDC) and Pineer (plasma) displays. Samsung has really made a name for themselves in the last few years with there continually improving line of LCDs. I really like how each input saves its own settings so you don’t have to adjust whenever you switch inputs.
For gaming: Like other LCDs, in its default configuration there can be some trouble with some games with latency and image blur. I had one major issue with Rock Band when the animation behind the scrolling notes made the notes blur. You can use “E-Mode Game” to fix this but I found a better solution. Because you can not change the brightness/contrast or backlight with “E-Mode Game”, I used HDMI2 input for the Xbox 360 and changed the label on HDMI2 to “PC”. This tells the TV that you have a PC hooked up to HDMI2 and skips some of the color and image processing just like the “E-Mode Game” but you can now control brightness/contrast and backlight. This only works on HDMI2 and its briefly mentioned in the manual but it makes a much better low latency game mode than the “E-Mode Game” that Samsung provides.
For Movies: Much better than any other LCD due to the great black levels. Deep blacks and good dark detail can be seen with this TV with the right settings. With LED backlight and a Blu Ray player, blacks are actual black instead of dark gray and the black bars on widescreen movies disappear from view. And because its and LCD, bright seens have much more punch than even the best plasma displays.
For TV: If its standard definition don’t expect too be impressed. I think the scaler and standard def TV feed looks good for what it is and you can use the LOW setting of dynamic contrast and auto motion plus to make it palatable. But if you have HD TV it should look great on this TV.
Negatives: There is only one real negative to this TV but for me its a very, very minor one. When viewed from an angle, you will loose the inky blacks even from just 30 degrees off axis. Its not a big deal for me for two reasons. The couch is directly on-axis and it looks great from any seat on the couch. From the side chair (about 40 deg) it still looks great and you would probably not even notice you were losing some black level until you move to the couch. Off axis, this TV still looks as good as any high end LCD I have seen. So if you will often need to watch off axis, you do lose some of the benefits of the LED backlight and maybe you should go for a plasma because all LCDs have this issue and most have it much worse than this TV. I just think its noticed more because the on axis blacks are so good. That is why it is often mentioned in reviews. Then only other minor issue is that the stand does not swivel. That would have been a nice touch but with a TV of this size, I probably would not move it much.
For Geeks: This TV is great. The number of different settings you have to play with are unbelievable. You can even do both color balance and grayscale calibration with this TV without needed to go into the services menu. You are provided with full grayscale setting (RGB Gain and Cut) and Color (RGB and YCM) from the standard settings. I really like this because I can try to calibrate it myself without the worry of messing up the service menu settings.
So, you pay a lot for this TV but I think its worth it for the picture quality and a chance to check out LED backlight technology before all the other LCDs get it, and they will! I think LED backlighting is a breakthrough for flat panels and will continue to improve over the next few years and become standard for LCD. So, I just paid a premium to see it now.
Samsung LN19A451 19 Inch 720p LCD HDTV White
Posted by HDTV in Electronics Jul 30th, 2009 | No CommentsSamsung LN19A451 19 Inch 720p LCD HDTV White
Enjoy the clarity of HD in a stunningly modern design with a unique white bezel and frame to suit your decor. True 720p resolution offers amazing LCD image detail, complemented by a 3,000:1 dynamic-contrast ratio for vivid colors and bold blacks. An HDMI input lets you connect quickly and easily to your peripherals. Call up a variety of menu options and preferences via a smart user interface. Speaking of smart, the intelligently hidden speakers ensure a sleek, clean look that fits in almost any surroundings. TruSurround delivers a compelling, virtual surround sound experience through any two speakers playback system, including internal television speakers and headphones. It is fully compatible with all multichannel formats up to 5.1 channels Stereo broadcast reception, (MTS & SAP) with 181-channel capacity. SRS TruSurround XT - TruSurround is a patented SRS technology that solves the problem of playing 5.1 multichannel content over two speakers V-Chip system allows blocking of rated TV and movie programs determined by the parent to contain objectionable content Trilingual on-screen displays in English, Spanish or French. Channel coverage - VHF 2-13, UHF 14-69, and CATV 1-125 (up to 181 pre-selected channels) Antenna - CATV/VHF/UFH 75-ohm, F-type Rear Connections - 1 HDMI High Definition Multimedia Interface, 1 Component (Y/Pb/Pr), S-video input, RF input, Composite AV, Headphone, and PC D-sub Dimensions - Width 18.8 x Height 13.70 x Depth 2.6 / 18.8 x 15.2 x 7.1 with stand Weight - 10.1 pounds / 11.2 pounds with stand
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars Love it
I am very proud of this purchase. It is the perfect size for my bedroom. The picture is great. The only thing I don’t like is the plastic base. It looks a bit cheap. But, other than that, I have no complaints.
5 Stars Samsung 19″ LCDHDTV
We are very pleased with this product thus far. The picture is good as well as the sound. We have it mounted with a wall bracket in our kitchen.
5 Stars Great value
This was a perfect replacement for the old 13 inch CRT TV we had in the kitchen. It’s compact and lightweight with a great HDTV picture off our amplified attic antenna. We’re at least 20 miles from most stations and 60 miles from some (Batavia, Ohio not Detroit for this TV).
5 Stars Samung LCD HDTV
The picture quality is very clear and sharp. We have DISH Network. I feel confident to say this is a excellent tv to buy for your first purchase of HDTV for its size.
5 Stars Samsung Savvy
This is my first flat screen and I love it. I had reviewed consumer reports and though the 19 inches were not reviewed Samsung was highly rated in other categories. I have not been disappointed. The picture is incredible and the sound is superb. This is the perfect small flat screen you’ve been looking for. Remember it is 19 inches. You might want to go to 22 for bedroom or another area. This 19 is perfect for kitches, work rooms, etc. Love this little Samsung!
Samsung LN26A450 26 Inch 720p LCD HDTV
Posted by HDTV in Electronics Jul 30th, 2009 | No CommentsSamsung LN26A450 26 Inch 720p LCD HDTV
Enjoy the clarity of HD in a stunningly modern design with a unique bezel and frame to suit your decor. True 720p resolution offers amazing LCD image detail, complemented by a 5,000:1 dynamic-contrast ratio for vivid colors and bold blacks. Three HDMI inputs let you connect quickly and easily to your peripherals. Call up a variety of menu options and preferences via a smart user interface. Speaking of smart, the intelligently hidden speakers ensure a sleek, clean look that fits in almost any surroundings. TruSurround delivers a compelling, virtual surround sound experience through any two speakers playback system, including internal television speakers and headphones. It is fully compatible with all multichannel formats up to 5.1 channels Stereo broadcast reception, (MTS & SAP) with 181-channel capacity. Hidden bottom speakers with 5 Watts x 2 audio power SRS TruSurround XT - TruSurround is a patented SRS technology that solves the problem of playing 5.1 multichannel content over two speakers V-Chip system allows blocking of rated TV and movie programs determined by the parent to contain objectionable content Trilingual on-screen displays in English, Spanish or French HDMI-CEC allows peripheral devices such as a DVD player to be controlled by TV remote control Channel coverage - VHF 2-13, UHF 14-69, and CATV 1-125 (up to 181 pre-selected channels) Antenna - CATV/VHF/UFH 75-ohm, F-type Connections - 3 HDMI High Definition Multimedia Interface (2 rear, 1 side), 2 Rear Component (Y/Pb/Pr), Rear RF Input, Side S-video input, Composite AV (Rear, Side), Side Headphone, Rear PC D-sub, and Side HDMI-CEC Dimensions - Width 26.4 x Height 17.7 x Depth 3.5 / 26.4 x 19.7 x 8.5 with stand Weight - 18.3 pounds / 21.4 pounds with stand
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars TV review
We’re very satisfied with this TV - it’s just the right size for the viewing area and the picture is clear and the controls easy to use.
2 Stars Disappointing Image
We own three other Samsung LCD TVs and love them. This one, which we use in our kitchen, has been a disappointment. The image is not sharp unless you are looking at the screen directly and from about six feet or more. The screen tilts upward and is not good when mounted above eye level, as our is. It also tends to lose the signal and black out momentarily.
5 Stars best TV in the house so far
A very good TV (Samsung hasn’t let me down yet), if a little pricey. Turns out - you always get what you pay for. So what if it doesn’t have a built-in DVD player? It shows all the clearQAM channels without a box, and in glorious 480i (even this is an improvement over analog cable’s “snow”-channels) or 1080i (NBC comes in 1080i) or in this case its max being 720p. The overall picture quality is amazing and the sound is pretty good too (included are several sound and video modes to suit your tastes for watching movies as opposed to playing an xBox.)
Perhaps the only con I can think of is the small vertical viewing angle. This, however, was completely taken care of by mounting it on a Peerless tilt/swivel wall-mount.
1 Star DONT buy this SAMSUNG
This tv stinks– wont sit right in stand
you cant angle it
blacks are gray
sound leveler does NOTHING
HD looks regular def
shiny sides reflect and looks bad, also reflects line on top of screen
shiny remote flashes what ever hits it
In HD mode you cant see dvd player graphics, you need to switch to av1 mode and then its very very dark so yo uhave to switch back!!!!
5 Stars Great TV
I bought it two months ago. No complaints about it so far. I got a used (like new) and saved a lot. I am currently using it for my PS3 and as a monitor for my laptop. This TV is great for college students esp living in dorms.
Samsung LN37A550 37 Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Posted by HDTV in Electronics Jul 29th, 2009 | No CommentsSamsung LN37A550 37 Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Samsung’s 550 Series is a perfect way to step up to Full HD 1080p resolution. A fast 5 ms response rate produces smooth-motion scenes for sports and action movies, and a dynamic contrast ratio of 30,000:1 makes for deep blacks and crisp lines (15,000:1 in 32-inch and 37-inch models). Superb connectivity and networking with a USB port and 3 HDMI 1.3 ports with Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) means these HDTVs play well with all of your other electronics. Easily enjoy MPEG and JPEG files stored on external devices by connecting through the side-mounted USB 2.0, turn your LCD into a full-scale home viewing gallery, or connect your MP3 player for a dynamic audio experience.
Key Features
- New – 30,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio: up from 15,000:1 on 2007 models (15,000 on 32-inch and 37-inch models) (Learn more)
- New — Fast 5ms response time: down from 8ms on 2007 models thanks to a new high-speed liquid crystal
- Full 1080p HD (Learn more)
- 178-degree viewing angle from all four axes with Super Patterned Vertical Alignment (Learn more)
- 3 HDMI 1.3 ports: Simplay compliant (Learn more)
- USB 2.0 port: connect devices directly to your HDTV–view JPEG photos or MPEG movies or easily listen to your MP3 player through your HDTV’s audio system or your home theater system
- DNIe Digital Natural Image Engine improves the picture by enhancing the contrast, detail, and white balance (Learn more)
- Hidden speakers with SRS TruSurround XT audio (Learn more)
- Wide Color Enhancer technology and Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL) offer a wider color range (Learn more)
- Picture-in-Picture (PIP) enables convenient simultaneous viewing of TV programs and video or PC sources
- V-Chip system allows blocking of rated TV and movie programs determined by the parent to contain objectionable content.
- Trilingual on-screen displays in English, Spanish or French.
- Variable sleep timer to turn the TV off in varying time intervals.
- Auto wall mount compatible: 3-dimensional operation via TV’s remote control; no external IR receiver required.
- Swivel stand included
- 1 year parts and 1 year labor warranty (90 days parts and labor for commercial use), with in-home service, backed by Samsung toll-free support
Step Up Features
- Series 6: 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, AutoMotion Plus 120Hz image interpolation for smoother motion, 4ms response time, Transparent and Opaque Color (TOC) bezel, Clear Panel, Ethernet port with Infolink free RSS feeds, 4 HDMI 1.3 ports, Sports and Game modes, Compatible with Samsung’s Home Digital Media Adapter for playback and navigation of Internet and stored PC multimedia
- Series 7: Internal flash memory (1GB) with pre-loaded interactive content such as cooking recipes, children’s entertainment, HD artwork and more, Integrated woofer for an enhanced audio experience, DLNA-Compatible: for better interoperability with electronics, computers and mobile devices from many different manufacturers
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Step Up Features
- Series 6: 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, AutoMotion Plus 120Hz image interpolation for smoother motion, 4ms response time, Transparent and Opaque Color (TOC) bezel, Clear Panel, Ethernet port with Infolink free RSS feeds, 4 HDMI 1.3 ports, Sports and Game modes, Compatible with Samsung’s Home Digital Media Adapter for playback and navigation of Internet and stored PC multimedia
- Series 7: Internal flash memory (1GB) with pre-loaded interactive content such as cooking recipes, children’s entertainment, HD artwork and more, Integrated woofer for an enhanced audio experience, DLNA-Compatible: for better interoperability with electronics, computers and mobile devices from many different manufacturers
- Series 8: super-slim 1.9-inch thick profile
What size TV should you get?
Learn More
Full HD 1080P
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Full HD, or 1080p, contains 1.5 times more scanning lines than conventional HD TVs. More scanning lines mean more pixels, more details and a better picture. The new Samsung LCD TV with resolution that is approximately 2 times greater than conventional HDTVs, creating the most perfect picture imaginable.
Samsung’s 1080p panel uses a new high-speed liquid crystal to cut response time to 4ms. The fast response time, coupled with Samsung’s Auto Motion Plus 120Hz motion blur reduction technology dramatically reduces motion blur and judder. |
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30,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio/500 nit Brightness
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30,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio will give you a picture better than you ever thought possible, with whiter whites, blacker blacks and a nearly infinite subtlety of gradations in between. As two of the most important determining factors in overall picture quality, contrast and brightness levels achieve new heights in this latest generation LCD panel. Samsung’s new LCD TV’s give the most stunning realistic picture quality ever. |
Digital Natural Image Engine
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DNIe The Samsung Digital Natural Image engine. This exclusive Samsung technology dramatically improves the picture by enhancing the contrast, detail, white balance and reduces. |  |
Wide Color Enhancer/Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp
| The NTSC (National Television Systems Committee) has established the color standards all TVs in America try to meet. And typical LCD TVs only meet about 72% of this standard. Samsung LCD HDTVs use Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp back lights to give you 92% coverage of the NTSC standard, ensuring truer, more breathlessly vivid colors.
Samsung’s exclusive Wide Color Enhancer technology delivers more brilliant colors, even in bright areas of the picture where blues and greens are washed out on conventional screens. The system displays wider color reproduction, showing you truer colors – the fresh green of spring foliage, the intense blue of the summer sky. |
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Connectivity
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To make the Series 6 a true entertainment hub for any home, Samsung has incorporated advanced HD connectivity and networking capabilities that expand the HDTV’s functionality. A wide variety of multimedia devices can be connected to the set through any one of the four Simplay compliant HDMI 1.3 inputs (including one on the side), and the handy HDMI-CEC feature lets you control all your CEC-enabled peripherals using just one remote.
Connect HD digital devices like disc players, game consoles, and satellite dish components into the 2 rear connections and use the side-mounted input for cameras, camcorders, and laptops. HDMI is the best performing interface for displaying an HD source on an HDTV. Once connected, users can easily access device menus and manage and display content through the newly redesigned Wheel Key Remote control and the HDTV’s sophisticated content management interface. All Connections
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