Check out this article from Gizmodo.
http://i.gizmodo.com/5214792/giz-explains-the-difference-between-100–and-100000-speakers

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OneCall

With an incredible depth of crisp, clear, real-life colors created by a wide range of black gradations, VIERA flat panel HDTVs truly usher in a new VISUAL ERA. Improved resolution delivers theater-quality reproduction, and sporting events such as the Olympics, plus season premieres and other progra…

TH-42PX80U 42-inch Plasma HDTV

Best value for the money!

Pros: Attractive Design, Fast Setup, Simple Controls, Great Picture

Cons: Audio Quality

Best Uses: Movies, Home

Describe Yourself: Enthusiast

Looks great right out of the box! Picture clarity and colors are great. Sports in HD look utterly amazing!

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Camera lenses are a big investment for many photographers. Gizmodo explains why lenses are the real key to getting the best pictures from your SLR camera. After all, the lense is the first point of contact your image hits before it goes into the camera.
[ via Gizmodo ]

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A 2 TB SDXC memory card can store 100 HD movies, 60 hours of HD recording or 17,000 fine-grade photos. Faster bus speeds will enable professional-level recording in compact consumer camcorders and increase the number of frames shot in a second with SDXC cameras.

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The new BRAVIA VE5-series models offer substantial power savings thanks to a zero-watt standby power switch, along with motion and light sensors that minimize energy usage without compromising performance.

The 52-inch KDL-52VE5, the 46-inch KDL-46VE5 and the 40-inch KDL-40VE5 models (all measured diagonally) are also the first to incorporate Sony’s exclusive micro-tubular Hot Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (HCFL).  The technology helps reduce power consumption by almost 40 percent compared to the company’s other LCD HDTV models.

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Sony has released the Cyber-shot DSC-G3, the world’s first WiFi camera with a built-in web browser, enabling users to upload images and video directly to websites when WiFi connection is available.  In addition to its wireless sharing capabilities, the new camera is built for high-performance imaging. The 10-megapixel camera is about three-fourths of an inch thin and includes a 4X optical zoom lens.

The Cyber-shot DSC-G3 model is also a “photo album in your pocket” and has 4GB of internal memory that can store nearly 1,000 full-resolution photos. The 3.5-inch screen is perfect for photo-like viewing with high contrast and wide-angle viewing. The DSC-G3 also comes with complimentary AT&T Wi-Fi access at thousands of AT&T hotspots across the United States, including participating coffee shops, selected book stores and major quick-serve restaurant locations, as well as hundreds of upscale hotels and airports.

The Cyber-shot DSC-G3 camera is now available in black for about $500.

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Nearly 2,000 people brought their outdated electronics to a recycling event Saturday at Huppin’s Warehouse.

The free drop-off was so popular that traffic snarled on the Broadway freeway exit. Lines of pickups formed, with old TVs and computer terminals stacked in the truck beds like cords of firewood.

The event started at 7 a.m. Seven hours later, 10 semitrucks were full of e-waste, and Huppin’s reluctantly began turning away donations.

“We’re out of capacity,” said an apologetic Murray Huppin, president of Huppin’s Hi-Fi Photo & Video, who promised to put on another event. “Unfortunately, we didn’t anticipate this level of turnout.”

About 175,000 pounds of electronics were collected. They’ll be shipped to Seattle, where about 90 percent of the materials, including plastics, will be recycled and reused, Huppin said.

Other sponsors of the event included Sony Corp., Waste Management Inc. and The Spokesman-Review.

Kendal Kazanis waited in line for 2 1/2 hours. She was cleaning out clutter and got rid of a trunk load of old videocassette recorders and computer gear.

“I’d rather see it recycled than go into the dump,” said Kazanis, who deemed the wait worthwhile. In return for dropping off the goods, she received a coupon good for $25 to $150 off the purchase of a television.

Dean Weiss’ North Side neighbors filled up his pickup with antiquated electronic equipment.

“We’re taking one for the team,” said Bill Kalivas, who came with Weiss and was entertaining a bored 3-year-old in the back seat.

By the end of the day, Huppin’s parking lot took on a museum-like feel, with generations of electronic equipment on display.

“I saw a lot of stuff from the 1970s,” said Huppin, who was helping unload equipment.

Bulky, old-style computer monitors were common. So were old televisions, which appeared far down the evolutionary ladder from today’s sleek, flat-screen TVs.

“That might be pre-TV. It’s almost an antique,” said Huppin’s employee Guy Marshall, pointing to a console with AM/FM radio and a variable-speed turntable. Household ownership of electronics is exploding. Washington state averaged one TV per household in 1970, and personal computers hadn’t hit the market. By 2009, the Department of Ecology estimates that there will be one TV for every resident and more computers than people.

More electronics per household also means more discards, said Miles Kuntz, manager for Ecology’s electronic products recycling program. Proper recycling is critical, he added.

A computer contains a host of chemicals, including lead, mercury, cadmium and flame retardants. Many are toxic in small doses, which is why government agencies don’t want old electronics in landfills.

To encourage recycling, a law takes effect Jan. 1 that will allow Washington households, schools, charities and small businesses to recycle TVs and computers for free. Kuntz said electronics manufacturers will pay for the program, which is expected to cost about $8 million annually.

To find a free drop-off location after the New Year, call 1-800-RECYCLE.

That may be an option for Charlie Greenwood, who was turned away from the Huppin’s event. His van was stuffed with 30 years’ worth of electronics, contributed by four families. But he arrived at 3 p.m., after donation collection had stopped.

Greenwood couldn’t contemplate unloading the van on Saturday evening and stuffing the old gear back into attics and basements.

“Snow tire season is coming up,” he said. “I figured that I would leave it in there for ballast.”

Myk C

It’s guys night out. Football, beer and some beirut (aka beer pong). And then the phone rings…

Wife: “Honey, I can’t make the TV work. Your sister and I want to watch a movie, but we can’t figure out how to make it come up.”
Me: “Use the receiver remote to switch the TV to HDMI2. Then switch the receiver to Video2. Then hit the DVD button on the receiver remote and push play. Then push the receiver button the remote so you can control the volume.”
Wife: “Sigh….. it’s not working. How come there are five remotes on the table and you’re the only one who knows how to use this?”
Me: “Ok let’s just start over. Turn everything off.”
Wife: “Nevermind!”
Me: “Wait, it’s not that hard to do. It’s only like 3 steps.”
Wife: “I can barely hear you anyways, forget about it. Don’t come home late.” (Click)

This was the straw that broke the camel’s back. What was easy and protocol for me, is not so much the same for my wife. I’d tried to convince myself that I “needed” one long ago, but up until this point, I’d never run into the nightmare that ensued above. I’ve always been in love with the Logitech Harmony remotes, I just was never able to pull the trigger on one. I finally pulled that trigger.

The Logitech Harmony One is a technical advancement in home theater that many have been waiting for. The look, the feel, the functionality…. the touchscreen! It just a downright sexy piece of tech gear. It can control up to 15 devices (I have 5) and multiple “Activities” like “Watch HDTV” or “Watch a DVD.” They are customizable so you can create your own like “Listen to Radio” or “Play PS3/Blu-ray.” You push one button on the remote, point it at your devices and the remote does the rest by switching all your devices to the correct inputs/outputs/channels/etc and even turns off the other devices not being used if they were on

Universal Remotes are all about the WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) and the simplicity and ease of use after you’ve cast all your other remotes to the junk drawer, is all the acceptance she’ll need. Set her up with her own page of her favorite channels and all she has to do is touch the on-screen logo and it goes to that channel. She tried to “Watch HDTV” and something didn’t work? All she has to do is use the help button and the remote will ask her the questions to fix the problems. (i.e. Is the TV on? Is the TV on now? Did that fix the problem?)

Well it must be a chore to setup then? Nothing that good is easy, right? Wrong. Setup of an electronic device has never been easier. Hook up the remote via USB to your computer, it walks you through the setup. You tell the system what devices you have and what you want to do with them and you’re done. The best thing is that this is a smart state machine and does not program using macros. It know the state of each device at all times and does not require the myriad of IR codes like other remotes. Whatever hell you’ve got yourself into in the setting up of your home theater, the Harmony One is your lifesaver.

In my search for ways to customize the remote with custom channel icons I literally stumbled upon a great site for Harmony icons at http://www.iconharmony.com/. It includes hundreds of networks and channels and many of their sub “HD” channel logos. Amazing! I setup all the favorites on the 4 available pages.

$199 (Buy)

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