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A few weeks ago, my friends and I were trying to decide at whose house we were going to watch a big game. My friend, Ken’s house has the advantage because it is located in the center. It is 5 miles from my home, 6 miles from Jim’s, and 12 miles from Bret and Sally. However, Ken is a new father so our viewing experience might be interrupted by the baby’s frequent crying.

Jim suggested that we watch it at Bret and Sally’s house. The problem was that they live on the outskirts so they are far from everyone. They do have a HDTV LCD TV, but they are horrible house cleaners. Since a few of us are allergic to mold, we don’t want our viewing of the game to be interrupted by severe allergic reactions.

We finally decided to watch the game at my house. I also have a HDTV LCD TV, but it is not quite as brand new and spiffy as Bret and Sally’s HDTV LCD TV. My friends probably want to watch the game at my house because I always serve the best snacks and there is plenty of room for everyone.

I purchased new speakers for my HDTV LCD TV because the day of the big game was at hand. The speakers added high definition surround sound to the high resolution image. My friends arrived early, so we had time for a beer run and some small talk. Finally, the hour of the big game was at hand. We all felt like we were part of the action as we watched the big image on the HDTV LCD TV. Our team was also ahead so our mood was quite lively.

The problem was that things can change pretty quickly in professional football. At the midway point of the game, our team was behind by seven points. As a result, we all cheered pretty loudly to support our team, as we watched the big image on the HDTV LCD TV. We were glad when it was time for the halftime break because we could run out and grab some more munchies.

Our team was fighting back by the time we got back. We were soon all hooting and hollering, while we watch the high definition image in glorious colors that saturate the television. The game was down to the line, but out team prevailed in the end.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning HDTV LCD TV [http://www.newconsumerinfo.com/consumer-information/consumer-news/hdtv-lcd-tv-offers-great-viewing.html]. Visit our site for more helpful information about HDTV LCD TV [http://www.newconsumerinfo.com] and other similar topics.

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You might be shocked to find out that quality HDTV is now very inexpensive. Unlike your friends who bought those giant projection TVs that have a fuzzy picture and used to invite everyone over for the game in the early part of the new millennium, your wait was worth it. How many of these monstrosities have you seen on Craigslist? Some people just want to give them away. Waiting for inexpensive HDTV was certainly worth it.

Whether you need an inexpensive HDTV for the living room, one for the bedroom, or even one for the bathroom, shopping online for HDTV is really the way to go. Not only can you view lots and lots of models, but getting it to your home is no problem. You don’t need to borrow a friend’s truck, or beg a neighbor to bring you to the store with their SUV. As inexpensive as HDTV might seem in your common brick-and-mortar stores, online LCD HDTV is even more inexpensive because online retailers don’t have to pay for the overhead of a physical location. Why get dressed up to go out and shop when you can shop online in your pajamas. The coffee at home is lot cheaper, too.

What was considered to be inexpensive HDTV prices of last year are now expensive. Believe it or not, it is true. For example, a high-quality television that would have cost $1000 last year is now available for $500, or even less. Your wait was certainly worth it. You could probably outfit your entire home with various sizes of inexpensive HDTV devices for much less than you think. Your friends who switched from their giant projection television to a $5000 plasma 5 years ago won’t believe that you were able to purchase a far better HDTV for the inexpensive price of roughly $500. It really is amazing, the superb quality you can now get for such an inexpensive price. Click here to see some inexpensive HDTV options.

http://www.ifoyer.com — Portal to the Popular Internet. Always free. No pop ups, or internet annoyances. Get there online in style from the top level of the web!

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Actually, You CAN get a Converter box and just convert Your OLD CRT TV… And Get Hi Definition pictures on it!

But there are only Standard Definition Digital Converter Box coupons available.

• This Is Because The Government Is Offering 2 Coupons Per Household, worth $40 Each.

This is enough at this time to buy a Quality Standard Definition box…

But A High Definition Box Requires A Bit More Cash…

And a Common Response Is..

• Aren’t digital converters the same as HDTV converters?
• No.

Remember, there is a difference in price between SDTV and HDTV Digital Converters.

• Standard Definition Digital Converter Boxes: Display Standard Definition Programs Only…
• High Definition (HDTV) Digital Converter Boxes: Display Both Standard Definition, and High Definition.

If you get your hdtv converter rebate, You can buy a Standard Digital Converter Box, because they are cheap at this time.

Many Standard Digital Converter boxes are the same price as two $40 coupons, which you will be eligible for.

…Therefore:

You will need to weigh up the difference in price and functions, if you want to view High Definition.

It’s definitely worth the extra cost because many Free To Air Networks and or Stations are Transmitting Different Programs on these HD channels!

Also you will not see High Definition Channels on a Standard box.

The NTIA has issued about 20 million coupons so far.

However, the coupons have a 90-day expiration, and of those that have passed that date, less than half have been redeemed.

• So, you need to be quick…

According to a press release from Zenith, the company has shipped more than a million converters, and about 6 million units of all brands have been bought using the rebate coupons.

Estimates for the number of US households with TVs and no cable or satellite subscriptions are as high as 20 million.

And if you consider the fact that many homes with cable or satellite also have an “extra” TV somewhere that is not connected, and so depends on a broadcast signal, the total number of households could be even higher.

So with less than 200 days to go until the digital TV transition on FEB 17, 2009!!

It appears that fewer than a third of those who will need a converter box have used a coupon to buy one.

If you get a HDTV converter box, you WILL get HDTV.

ONLY If you also have a High Definition TV set.

So Why haven’t HDTV buyers been told these facts? Much More Here: http://www.hdtvinfofaq.com

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The world of High Definition Television (HDTV) is full of new technology, new concepts, and new buzzwords. One of the most compelling buzzwords is “1080p”, the designation for the highest possible screen resolution available on an HDTV. If you are researching HDTV, you’ve heard this term many times and might be convinced that owning a 1080p set is essential to your happiness. Maybe it is, but there are several other factors in your purchase that are just as important as resolution.

Let’s take a few moments and think about what 1080p really means. The 1080 refers to the number of pixel rows in the broadcast and also in the TV display. The other common resolution standard is 720 pixel rows. Ideally, the broadcast resolution and the display resolution should match, but the TV will make adjustments if they don’t.

The letter P stands for Progressive, which means that every 1/60 of a second, a complete image is sent to your TV set. If the broadcast standard is the popular 1080i, that means it’s interlaced, so every 1/60 of a second you receive half an image. This is to save bandwidth in the broadcast.

Every HDTV has a progressive display, so when it gets 1080i interlaced content, it sticks two consecutive half-images together, but each whole image takes twice as long to show, and fast-moving sports or movies might look choppy. This is why 1080p HDTVs are something to get excited about: they can accept 1080 rows of pixels, 60 times a second, so they give you fine resolution and smooth motion.

So, that’s all well and good- 1080p is obviously better than the other common display standard, 720p/1080i. But that doesn’t mean you should give in to the hype just yet. If you’re not willing to consider anything but a 1080p set, here are four factors that might make you reconsider:

• input source: You will only take full advantage of a 1080p set if you have 1080p input, and this is still fairly rare. 720p input, which you get from broadcast, DVD players, and even most HD-DVD and Blu-Ray players, will look just as good on a 720p set. 1080i input will look a little better on a 1080p set, though, because it won’t be adjusted to a lower resolution.
• screen size: One result of changing from 720 rows to 1080 rows is that the pixels will be smaller on the same size screen. On sets smaller than 50 inches, the pixels are incredibly small no matter which resolution you have, so there’s really no advantage to 1080p on these sets at normal viewing distances.
• cost: If you’re considering a plasma HDTV for the deep color saturation, high contrast ratios and other reasons, you will really have to pay a premium for a 1080p set. It’s nearly impossible to tell the difference between a 720p plasma and a 1080p plasma in the 40 to 50 inch range.
• other quality factors: All else being equal, 1080p resolution is better than 720p. But the thing is, all else is usually not equal. Other factors like contrast ratio, black level, color saturation, a high quality signal, and overall quality of the HDTV are actually more important than the resolution of the screen. It would be foolish to choose an inferior and probably more expensive set just because it has one cool feature.

Someday in the future, when HDTV technology is a little more advanced, the 1080p standard will probably be applied in every set, and there will be one less decision to make in the buying process. But for now, it’s important to take advice from manufacturers with a grain of salt, and consider all your options.

About the Author

Tom Webster writes for FlatHDTV.net and the FlatHDTV Blog FlatHDTV.net is an online guide to the HDTV revolution.

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Netflix currently has the highest rating for e-commerce customer satisfaction according to market research company ForeSee Results. Founded in 1997, Netflix is now the world’s largest subscription service for streaming movies and TV episodes over the Internet and DVDs sent by mail.

VIZIO is another fairly new company with a laser focus on customer satisfaction. Founded in 2002, VIZIO HDTV is now the top selling LCD HDTV brand in the U.S., according to iSuppli, a market intelligence company.

Netflix streaming movies on VIZIO

Now Netflix will stream its movies and TV episodes directly to customers through the new VIZIO Internet Apps HDTV. This service is on demand — no downloading or waiting is required.

VIZIO class XVT Internet Apps HDTV is available now

VIZIO’s new state-of-the-art high definition televisions are Internet-ready - no set top box is required. Simply plug an Ethernet cable into the port provided on the HDTV and connect it to your high-speed broadband Internet service modem or router. With VIZIO’s built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi functionality, you can also connect to the Internet wirelessly.

VIZIO Internet Apps HDTVs are available in 42-inch, 47-inch, and 55-inch models.

For easy interaction with Internet content on television, each VIZIO Internet Apps HDTV comes with an innovative VIZIO universal remote control device. Click on the remote’s VIA button to activate an Internet Apps dock which appears along the bottom of the screen. Use the VIZIO universal remote to control your cable box, DVD player and other devices connected to your HDTV.

The remote is IR-Bluetooth-enabled so you do not have to point it directly at the HDTV. There is a full Qwerty keyboard for interacting with online television content including custom controls for gaming apps and content navigation. The keyboard slides away when not in use.

Now you can choose from a wide world of Internet content - from movies to games, sports, news, stock prices, sports, Internet radio, and much more. Some services are free - others, like Netflix, require a subscription or fee on demand.

Netflix offers a wide selection of movies and TV episodes

Netflix members can instantly watch unlimited TV episodes and movies streamed to their VIZIO Internet Apps HDTV, and receive DVDs at their homes. Netflix distributes movies by major film studios as well as films from smaller independent studies - known as “Indie films.” These films enable Netflix to reach niche customers as well as the broader market.

For more info, news and review, check out VIZIO VIA HDTV.

To learn more about Netflix streaming movies on VIZIO Internet Apps HDTV go to Neflix on VIZIO.

Welcome to streaming movies from Netflix on VIZIO Internet Apps HDTV.

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The decisions needed with HDTV are more complex than the ones that were required with the previous technology. It is important to get these details right, or our entertainment system will be compromised.

Video Module

An ideal size HDTV will have viewing distance from the viewer to the screen that is about 2-3 times the width of the TV screen. Choosing the right size screen is one of the most important decisions when purchasing a new HDTV.

Most consumers say they want a wall mountable HDTV. However, according to the NPD Group, a consumer and retail market research information firm (NPD.com), only 13 percent of current LCD TV owners and 25 percent of plasma TV owners say their set is mounted on the wall.

“Consumers are drawn to flat-panel technologies for their wall-mounting capabilities, but the difficulty of such an installation often leads them to explore alternatives such as stands or retailer installations.” said Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis, The NPD Group.

It is tempting to delegate the decision making to a local salesperson. This is not wise. Studies show that the many of the salespeople at your retailer are not as knowledgeable or unbiased as we would hope. For example, one study showed that 37% of salespeople steered customers away from plasma HDTV systems because of the “burn in of plasma displays”, when burn in was eliminated as a problem several years ago (J.D. Power and Associates). The study concluded that the salespeople steered customers to the more expensive LCD systems.

“Television shoppers who visit mass merchants may be more concerned with obtaining a low price and may not be seeking expert advice. However, television shoppers should be aware that the lower prices they find at mass merchants are primarily due to the fact that these stores tend to carry second tier brand TVs, rather than major brands such as Sony or Panasonic. When pricing for a specific television model is compared at each type of retailer, the prices are surprisingly similar,” J.D. Power’s Larry Wu.

HDTV Video Format:1080p, 1080i or 720p: the higher number is better, right? Even though 1080i technically has a higher resolution, it is not the obvious choice. Most networks have opted for the 1080i format; because it provides the higher resolution, while ABC, Fox, ESPN, and the National Geographic Channel have chosen the smoother pictures of 720p. 1080i is delivered in interlaced format (the “old” format), meaning that your TV set draws each frame in two passes: once for the even horizontal lines and a second pass for the odd lines.

The 720p (Progressive format, the standard in Europe) has fewer lines of resolution than 1080i, but delivers pictures that look slightly smoother than the interlaced image, especially when there’s a lot of movement on the screen, like sports.

The new king is 1080p, which is the best of both worlds. Progressive scanning with a higher resolution. Little programming is currently available in 1080p, but 1080p systems should be able to convert 1080i source material into a 1080p picture.

Source of Programming

One of the choices, which DVD player to purchase, became much simpler recently. Blu-Ray became the de facto choice with the withdrawal of the alternative, HD DVD. The other choice that must be made is: satellite, cable, or antenna programming. A fourth choice, IPTV, which is TV over the Internet, can no longer be easily dismissed.

More than 100 million U.S. homes can receive HDTV from their cable system, and all of the top 100 cable markets in the country have available HDTV programming. Unfortunately, most cable providers carry only a few of the 50+ available HDTV networks. While HDTV local channel selection is generally better on cable than satellite, the major satellite companies offer more national HDTV channels than almost every cable provider. By 2010, 60% of U.S. homes will use a satellite signal, up from 15% in 2002.

IPTV is not yet available across the country. Currently, when it is available, IPTV usually offers about 25 HDTV channels.

Audio Subsystem

The Audio component of the HDTV system is very important. George Lucas (Star Wars) once said audio is half the movie viewing experience. Most HDTV programming today includes more than two channels (stereo) of audio. The most popular programming is encoded in Dolby Digital 5.1, which has five full bandwidth channels plus a subwoofer channel (for the earthquake effects).

Surround speakers would include two front speaker spaced as far from the monitor as possible, two speakers at the back of the room, a center channel, above or under the television that delivers most of the dialogue; and the subwoofer on the floor for the low-frequency bass. Subwoofers are multidirectional, so you can put them anywhere in the room.

If we are to maximize the effect of our wall mount system, we may want to use in wall and/or in ceiling speakers. This results in a cosmetically sophisticated installation.

System Interconnect (Cabling)

The cables used are important, but it is important to know what to prioritize about the cables. It is common for consumers to spend a large amount of money on cables, but for the wrong reasons, and still result in an inferior performance.

To fully utilize high-definition programming (HDTV), either coaxial component cables (red, blue and green, sometimes called “RGB”)), a digital visual interface (DVI) cable, or a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) cable is needed. This is in contrast with the red, yellow and white composite (RCA) cords, or the round-ended S-Video cable used by standard definition TV.

An HDMI is the preferred pick for the ultimate in audio and video quality. Look at the back of your TV and you’ll see several options. Depending on the unit chosen, you might have to buy these cables separately. Cables can be expensive. If you are choosing largely on the basis of price, your choice can be circumvented by the need to purchase separate cabling.

Cables are one of the details that can be chosen poorly, and result in an overall unsatisfactory experience. Details are important.

Installation Decisions

Select the right installation location. This will be decided by the size and shape of the room. An ideal wall should be at least twice the width of the display because you should have a minimum distance for audible separation for the front channel speakers. Choose a location that minimizes ambient light, especially directly across from the screen.

With some HDTV models, the manufacturer will offer a specific mount for your set. Plan on spending about $250 for the mount. If a system advertises “VESA Compatible’ or “VESA mount”, VESA stands for Video Electronics Standards Association, and this display is designed to work with VESA standard mounts. If not, look at the back of the display and check for threaded screw inserts to which a mount could be attached. A minimum of four screw inserts is needed. Tilt wall mounts enable the user to change the angle of the display, and can help reduce glare from ambient light.

A wall mount on an exterior wall will be probably be a more difficult installation than on an interior wall. Exterior walls typically offer more obstructions, including insulation, than interior walls. Exterior walls may be built with fire-blocks. These horizontal braces or blocks are generally found about halfway up the wall, and significantly increase the difficulty of passing the wiring from your equipment up to the display.

Decide if the wires are going inside the wall or on the outside. You should not run the power cord inside a wall as it is against NEC (National Electric Code), except when executed by a professional electrician. If you choose to install the cables on the outside of the wall, there are cable management raceways available at your local home improvement store that will attach to the wall with a cover that snaps into place. If the wires are going to be run on the inside of the wall you will need a drywall keyhole saw or a utility knife to be able to cut holes in the sheet rock.

A good idea is to create a molding that will be used as a cover for the cables. If the power cable(s) will be outside the wall, then the rationale for running the other (signal) cables inside the wall is reduced. Either select a cable tray that matches your wall or paint the cover. It will look very natural, and will be easier to maintain than cables in the wall.

The right HDTV hardware, the best program source, an awesome audio subsystem, the correct electrical interconnects, and well-chosen installation decisions will result in a terrific theater system. Now, get out the popcorn.

About the Author: Brian Bradshaw is a Certified Technical Specialist (InfoComm CTS). Areas of expertise include Video, Audio, WiFi, Computation, HDTV, Satellite Systems, and Communications. He has a communications technology business serving the southwestern U.S. with offices in Plano, Texas (Dallas) and Peoria, Arizona (Phoenix). More information can be found at his Website: http://bradshaw-vacuum-technology.com

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LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. LCD TVs are quite famous over the recent years due to their fault-less clarity and picture perfectness. Usually it is said that LCD has a greater lifespan than plasma TVs. But that does not mean that LCD TVs do not undergo wear and tear at all and work all through one’s life. They too can undergo problems and other faults just like any other electronic device does. They generally work based upon the twisting and untwisting of the crystal.

The normal lifespan of LCD TVs is said to come to approximately 60, 000 hours. Some manufacturers also claim that their LCD TVs can last up to 80, 000 hours, when used under controlled conditions, like the room temperature, the other climatic conditions, the maintenance conditions etc. The display effect of these LCD TVs would definitely reduce as time passes by, because they are constantly being lit by powerful lights that could dim, just like the other electronic devices, over a period of time. This results in the picture getting dim as time goes by. Hence, the most important thing to be considered in an LCD TV is the actual lifespan of the light source of the LCD. There should be good warrantee provided for the light source of the LCD TV as this is the mean thing that controls the picture effects and clarity.

The quality of this light source is important to maintain the perfect white balance in the LCD TV. The back lighting bulb should be definitely of higher quality for the longevity of the TV. So it is better paying more for the branded ones that offer exchange or maintenance warranty rather than the cheap ones that do not have any warranties on them. Also the contrast levels have to be taken care of. The more the contrast levels, for a longer period of time, the faster the TV would age off. The lower the ambient light levels, the more the life of the light source.

Some Sharp LCD TVs provide separate units that have the light source, whereas the others have the light source placed along with the other units and so if the light source is out, the whole LCD TV becomes a waste. The main thing to be considered here and always to be remembered is the warranty of the back light. Unlike the other types of television the LCD TVs cannot be used for the whole lifetime because of its limited lifetime. The light beams are the main source used in the working of an LCD TV. When compared with the plasma television the LCD TVs have a short lifetime and the maintenance of the device is also easy when compared with the normal televisions.

Visit LCD TV Reviews site to read unbiased reviews on Acer, Goodmans, Hitachi, NEC, Toshiba and 40 Inch and 32 Inch LCD TV reviews.

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High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is state-of-the-art connection technology, allowing uncompressed sound and video signals to transfer from your source equipment directly to your high definition television (HDTV). Instead of a bunch of tangled-up connections like you have with DVI or with component video (those red/green/blue jacks), HDMI completes your audio and your video transfers using just one small jack.

So how does this all affect you, as the buyer of all of this complicated technology? What this means is that you will only need to purchase one cable, not several as you did in the past, to connect your HDMI source equipment (like a Blu-ray disk player, Xbox 360, Wii, HD cable or satellite box, new A/V surround receiver, etc.) to your HD television.

It could not be any easier. Your video resolution will be an astounding 1080p, and you will also experience uncompressed discrete surround audio that is unbeatable. But some people will state, “The component video cable device I have now appears to work alright with my new HDTV.” And, the fact is that, most of the time, this is the truth. However you won’t be able to use your component video cable for joining together a Blu-ray player with a new HDTV and get all that the new HD medium will give you. On a television that is larger than fifty inches, switching over to Blu-ray and going up to 1080p is just like getting your windows washed. Yes, you can see through them adequately now, but when they are really clean you can see a huge difference.

Another reason to use HDMI connections is their compatibility with the new A/V digital surround receivers. It is possible to get Dolby TrueHD as well as DTS-HD Master Audio tracks through HDMI. Your Toslink optical and coaxial digital cables could never accomplish this, and you will be amazed by how much better it is than your regular DVD surround soundtrack. Everything pans throughout your 5.1 or 7.1 theater, immersing you in the audio-visual experience in a fully controlled manner. You can see how different it is from the moment that you begin.

Now you can understand how HDMI can make your connections so much easier, letting you get rid of the tangled web of wires behind your entertainment center and giving you a video and audio quality that is absolutely fantastic when you use your new 1080p television, projector, or Blu-ray disc player.

When Vic Metten needs HDMI cable, he goes to Best Deal Cables, because they carry DVI cables, 1080p HDMI cables, and component video cables all at reasonable prices. Also, their HDMI cables have unique clips that keep them secure while they are attached to equipment. So, for superior picture clarity and quality, choose the best HDMI cables.

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While it’s generally agreed that High Definition Television is the TV technology of the future, there is an even more advanced type of technology on the horizon that could eclipse it! This technology is 3D HDTV.

It has a picture resolution that’s similar to the resolution of an HDTV set, but it’s also capable of producing images that appear in three dimensions. In fact, these devices can give viewers the impression of being surrounded by images. For example, one reviewer who experienced a demonstration with a prototype of this kind of HDTV set described butterflies and flower petals flying out from the screen towards him for a very realistic effect!

Of course, 3D video technology isn’t really anything new. In fact, 3D movies were popular decades ago, but they had the disadvantage of requiring that viewers wear special glasses with polarized lenses in order to provide the illusion of a three dimensional picture. The technology that 3D HDTV is based on is different. A 3D HDTV screen actually displays different images at different angles. That way slightly different images will enter each of the viewer’s eyes and provide the illusion of depth. The more different angles of an image that the TV displays, the more realistic the three dimensional effect.

Naturally 3D HDTV technology is not without its problems. For one thing, creating a TV screen that can display several different angles of the same image at once- while projecting them in different directions- is quite a feat. One thing that adds to the complexity of this problem is the fact that the more distinct angles of the image that the TV can display, the more realistic the effect is. This is particularly true when people are moving in front of the screen. The fewer distinct angles that the image is displayed in, the more likely the image is to appear choppy to someone passing in front of the TV screen. With only a couple of different angles, the viewer is less likely to catch them while moving and looking at the screen.

Fortunately the latest models of these sets are able to display their images in enough angles to provide a pretty realistic effect under a variety of conditions. This is especially valuable because of the fact that 3D HDTV’s are mainly marketed as ways for businesses to get the attention of potential customers in public spaces.

While there are functioning prototypes of 3D HDTV displays, they’re extremely expensive at a cost of over twenty thousand dollars to produce! While this may seem like a lot, the enthusiasm of early adopters is expected to drive the price down rapidly to the point where they could be widely available- and mostly affordable- within a few years.

During that time frame, the bigger problem will be finding content to display on these sets. While it may be somewhat surprising, there is already progress being made on this front. For example, Steve Spielberg is working on a movie in 3D, as is James Cameron. There is also software being developed that has the promise of converting two dimensional HDTV programming into three dimensions.

This fascinating technology could make HDTV obsolete just as it seems to be getting off the ground.

J. Hall writes articles about the latest developments in technology, electronics, and television. She’d like to inform you about the latest Dish Network Deals and how you can find the best Dish Network Specials.