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Panasonic Exhibition at CES - Source: Gizmodo

As I mentioned in a November 3rd news brief, the California Energy Commission planned to vote on a potential ban of power-hungry TVs. The vote was scheduled for November 4th, but after receiving a lot of new information (mostly provided by their vocal opposition), the energy commission postponed the vote until today, November 18th.

And their decision?

The ban was passed with a unanimous vote. The regulations begin in 2011 and will become tougher in 2013. Click here for more details.

- There’s a noticeable presence online of complaints filed against Sony for the color optical block in their TVs, specifically in Vega models. A news outlet in Cincinnati recently decided to investigate the issue and wrote a brief article about Sony’s problems. Have any of you encountered this issue? The common complaint by users is the appearance of patchy, blue dots and/or the loss of color.

- In the wake of the California Energy Commission’s ruling (or lack thereof–it was postponed–I’ll keep you updated) regarding limiting the energy consumption of TVs, Sony is promoting its “eco-friendly” televisions. Supposedly, the brand’s KDL-VE5 series of TVs has a built-in “presence sensor” that detects when the viewer leaves the room and automatically turns off. Our friends over at CNET reviewed the Sony KDL-VE5 and found that the new technology works fairly well (if customized).

- Lincoln Spector (what a name!) at PC World recently assessed Sony’s Bravia 40W5100 HDTV. The cool feature of this new model is its internet capabilities. Spector writes:

The ethernet-equipped 40W5100 has the most comprehensive selection of Internet entertainment options I’ve yet seen in a television. Offerings include Amazon Video On Demand, Blip.TV, Bravia Internet Widgets (which are based on Yahoo Widgets and include weather, news, finance, and Twitter widgets), CBS (mostly just clips with a few full episodes), Sports Illustrated, YouTube, how-to videos, and far more options than I can list. Netflix on-demand movie streaming is promised for sometime in the fall.

While these features predict the eventual, complete integration of TV and the web (on the TV platform), Spector (Lincoln, not Phil) highlights that some of the features, especially YouTube, still need improvement.

- Finally, rumors are circulating that Sony is releasing new, larger OLED TVs sometime in 2010/2011. According to a leaked document outlining prototypes, Sony is updating it’s “flagship XBR series with the XBR11 LED W-backlit LCD and XBR12 Advanced LED RGB-backlit LCD sets coming in sizes from 32- to 60-inches featuring 240Hz Motionflow, a new Bravia Engine 3 PRO with HD Video processor, and UV2A panel technology” (via Engadget). Here’s the document:

Leaked Sony Document - Source: Engadget

P.S. – Dear Sony, I didn’t steal the document. Best Regards, Ryan

Name: Justin Frederick

Justin, Reegan, and a creepy frog at the Rainforest Cafe

Position at ShopJimmy: Sales Rep

One sentence job description: I try to help ShopJimmy.com grow in all ways possible.

Favorite LCD breakage story: A lady once told me that she cracked the screen of her LCD after she threw her cell phone at her daughter and missed!!

TV model in your living room: Magnavox 32PFL5332D

Family: Wife Heidi, Daughter Reegan (16 mos.), Dogs Hoops (beagle) and Ellie (yorkie-poo)

Hobbies: Golfing, watching all sports, gambling, hanging with my two beautiful ladies!

Favorite restaurant: Buffalo Wild Wings

Go-to Pandora station: “Coldplay Radio” or “311 Radio”

Beverage of choice: Vodka Tonic

In-flight reading material: Sports page

Sports team(s) you root for: Minnesota Twins, Vikings, Timberwolves, Wild, Gophers

Three things you’d bring to a deserted island: Computer, grocery store, balloon boy’s dad Richard Heene

On a web dating service, you’d describe yourself as: Very married

You can find me on…

- Twitter: not yet

- Facebook: yes

- MySpace: never

- LinkedIn: yes

It’s official! An updated Website Cruiser, the website building service developed by Suite 38 (a subsidiary of ShopJimmy), is up and ready for you to check out! Here are a few of its cool features:

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Don’t miss this opportunity to increase the success of your business! Join Website Cruiser today!

It looks like the future of high-definition TVs is spelled L-E-D. But, what’s the deal with this new technology? Is it a giant leap forward or a few baby steps in the right direction? Let’s find out…

In the ‘Personal Tech’ section of The New York Times, Eric Taub wrote a great article explaining the differences between LED, LCD, and plasma technology. For more information, Gizmodo’s Matt Buchanan also analyzed LED technology.

Michael Miller, from PCMag.com, recently attended a Samsung press event where the electronics company unveiled their new LED TV (technically, it’s an LCD with “LED edge-lighting”), as well as, disassembled one to show the TV’s components. I’ve posted the pictures below (click on images for larger view):

LED Bezel - Source: PCMag.com

LED "Backlight" - Source: PCMag.com

LED Panel - Source: PCMag.com

LED Electronics - Source: PCMag.com

LED TV Wall Mount - Source: PCMag.com

Lastly, Phil Hinton (with an accent that’s a combination of William Wallace and the Geico Gecko) at AVForums.tv reviewed Samsung’s LED (LCD) TV.

After reviewing the articles, pictures, and video, what’s your verdict?

Adam, Nate and I headed south yesterday to visit some suppliers. On the way back today the boys were a little tired, they just looked so cute that I thought I would share it with you all

Give them grief!
Jimmy

- California’s efforts to regulate the energy efficiency of its 35 million televisions (about one per California resident) continues to raise significant backlash from the electronics industry. Under the new proposal, new (sold after January 1, 2011) TVs under 58 inches would be required to use 30% less energy by 2011 and 50% less by 2013. The regulations are a direct response to the growing popularity of power-hungry, flat-screen LCD and Plasma TVs. Critics of the proposal highlight that advancements in technology have drastically improved the energy efficiency (or lack thereof) of old CRT tube televisions. The California Energy Commission estimates that the proposal will save the state $8.1 billion by 2021 and could vote on the proposal as early as tomorrow, November 4th. (via The Mercury News)

- Research firm InStat is predicting that a new version of HDTVs will hit the retail market in the next five to 10 years. Dubbed “Ultra” HD, the new technology will improve picture resolution anywhere from four to 16 times the resolution of current HDTVs. The new technology is in the experimental stages in Japan and also some movie theaters (locations not specified). (via TVPredictions.com)

- On a similar note, Samsung just released pictures of it’s 3mm thick, LED backlit, LCD HDTV. While the specs on the TV are still somewhat unknown, the model shown in Samsung’s pictures is 40-inches, 120Hz, and 5000:1 contrast ratio. (via Gizmodo)

- David Katzmaier, Senior Editor at CNET, recently reviewed all of the HDTVs on the market. Here are his top five, based on their design, features, and perfomance:

1. Samsung UNB8500 series
2. Panasonic TC-PV10 series
3. Samsung PNB850/860 series
4. Samsung UNB8000 series
5. LG LH90 series

Do you agree or disagree with David’s review?