Top 10 Christmas Toys 2008

JVC
LT19DK8ZJ black
19″ digital LCD TV Currys Price
£229.99

monthly product support
£3.99
Standard Delivery Free

Reserve & Collect
or Home Delivery,
subject to availability

JVC
LT19DK8WJ white
19″ digital LCD TV Currys Price
£229.99

monthly product support
£3.99
Standard Delivery Free

Out of Stock

Samsung
LE19R88BDX black
19″ Digital LCD TV Currys Price
£269.00

monthly product support
£3.99
Standard Delivery Free

Reserve & Collect
or Home Delivery,
subject to availability

Philips
26PFL5522
26″ HD Ready Digital LCD TV Currys Price
£349.00
save£20

was£369.00
monthly product support
£4.49
Standard Delivery Free

Reserve & Collect
subject to availability

Sony
KDL20S3000U black
20″ digital LCD TV Currys Price
£349.99

monthly product support
£4.49
Standard Delivery Free

Out of Stock

Samsung
LE26A456C
26″ LCD TV Currys Price
£379.00
save£10

was£389.00
monthly product support
£4.49
Standard Delivery Free

Reserve & Collect
or Home Delivery,
subject to availability

Toshiba
32AV505D
32″ LCD TV Currys Price
£379.95

monthly product support
£4.49
Standard Delivery Free

Reserve & Collect
subject to availability

Sony
KDL23B4050
23″ LCD TV Currys Price
£399.99
save over£45

was£449.00
monthly product support
£4.49
Standard Delivery Free

Reserve & Collect
or Home Delivery,
subject to availability

SAMSUNG
LE22A455C white
22″ digital LCD TV Currys Price
£399.99

monthly product support
£4.49
Standard Delivery Free

Reserve & Collect
subject to availability

Samsung
LE32A456C
32″ LCD TV Currys Price
£419.00

monthly product support
£5.99
Standard Delivery Free

Reserve & Collect
or Home Delivery,
subject to availability

High Definition explained
Since high definition exploded onto the scene, there’s been a lot of jargon flying around. Here’s the deal.

HD and HDTV explained
HD stands for High Definition in general and relates to all the latest technologies required to bring clearer and sharper television pictures into your home.

HDTV refers to high-definition programming.

HD-ready describes the actual TVs.

HD-ready TVs

• can accept and display HDTV programming - up to the resolution of the TV
• need to be connected to an HD source to actually receive HD programming
• have an HDMI or DVI terminal so that they can accept a HDTV signal
• have a screen with a minimum of 720 horizontal lines; so-called full HD TVs have a minimum of 1080 horizontal lines
• have a component video input

That means that to watch HD programmes, you’ll need
• an HD-ready TV
• a set-top box to receive HD signals – you can get from broadcasters such as Sky, Virgin and NTL
• a subscription with a broadcaster that delivers HD programmes

Sky currently offers 12 HD channels. The BBC is currently running HD trial broadcasts, available via satellite and cable. Even if you don’t subscribe to HD programming, buying a HD-ready TV means you’ll be able to enjoy other benefits, including watching current DVDs at a better resolution.

What makes HD better?
So what gives HD television and programmes such incredible detail, clarity and intensity?

More pixels equal more resolution. And resolution is the main reason why high-definition pictures look better. Instead of having 480 visible lines of detail, HD programming and HD-ready TVs can display as many as 1080 delivering incredible clarity and detail. That’s up to 5 times more detail that a standard-definition television. HD also uses millions more colours than normal TV. Edges and lines look distinct and colours are richer and more natural than ever.

The 3 HD formats

There are 3 different high-definition formats.

1. 720p has 720 lines and is a progressive scan format - progressive scan means that the whole picture is loaded at once, rather than line by line, delivering a smoother image that stays sharp during motion.

2. 1080i has more lines and pixels.

3. 1080p, the third format, combines the superior resolution of 1080i with the progressive-scan smoothness of 720p. All 1080 formats are known as full HD.

So which should you choose – a TV with 720p, 1080i or 1080p?

Consider that
• 720p resolution is the most widely available and affordable
• most current HD programming is in 720p format
• you will still be able to receive higher standard HD programming such as 1080, the quality will simply be ‘downgraded’ to 720p

720p
For most of us then 720p will still deliver incredible detailed and realistic pictures and means you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of emerging HD technologies.

1080p
Gaming enthusiasts and movie fans with Blu-ray or HD DVD players will find that a 1080 television is the only way to fully experience the true potential of high-definition PS3, blu-ray and other HD DVD players. Plus, we’re seeing more blu-ray and HD discs being released, providing cinema-quality picture and sound.

What else affects the picture?
The number of pixels and resolution isn’t the only factor affecting the picture quality. Contrast ratio (the difference between the blackest blacks and the whitest whites) and brightness are factors. A higher level of brightness, for example, will produce a more vibrant picture. Average brightness is 500cd/m2.

Most manufacturers also incorporate their own picture-enhancing technologies to deliver more brilliant, realistic colours and to bring further clarity to fast-action scenes. Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, LG and Philips all have their own collection of such technologies.

Posted by Santa Little Helper on August 31st, 2008 at 1:37 am
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