Category Archives: Equipment

Efficiency

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Stephen Dawson

I’ve just installed Samsung’s new top of the line 64 inch plasma. Looks like it’s a pretty good TV, but the reason I’m writing this is simple: I did it all by myself, fairly easily. This mighty beast, even though … Continue reading →

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Momentarily Spooky

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Stephen Dawson

Week before last Samsung did its 2013 TV launch. Included was its 85 inch 4K model, which it’s treating like a super custom install. They’re produced to order, you get free ‘Evolution’ upgrades for a few years and a tech … Continue reading →

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Down memory lane

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Stephen Dawson

On 2 March 1983 the CD was launched it the US and Canada (it was October the previous year in Japan). Australia was not far behind. I bought the second CD player to be sold in Canberra, or so I … Continue reading →

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The Centre of the Modern Home Entertainment System

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Stephen Dawson

Yep, here it is: That eight port network switch hovers above my system. One port is connected to the router, of course, and the others to a home theatre receiver, a Blu-ray player, two PVRs, a Telstra T-Box and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer, Equipment | 1 Comment

Restore saves all

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Stephen Dawson

My iPod Touch, which isn’t very old at all, has been flaky for ages. Most irritatingly the double tap on the home button, which brings up pause and skip keys and volume slider, has been totally unreliable. It would work … Continue reading →

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Do you have a recent full HD Samsung TV?

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Stephen Dawson

If so, can you do me a favour? A number of Samsung TVs I’ve reviewed lately are unable to apply the ‘Screen Fit’ aspect ratio to HDTV. But that might be due to all the 1080i stations in Canberra broadcasting … Continue reading →

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OLED

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Stephen Dawson

I am very keen to see one of these: a 55 inch OLED TV. I wonder how much they will be. Some of my new TV reviews are up on cnet now as well. For example, the LG 55LM9600, which … Continue reading →

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Passive vs Active 3D TVs, revisited

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Stephen Dawson

In my post ‘Sorry, but it is half vertical resolution‘ I claimed that my tests support the view that passive 3D TVs, with current technology, provide only half the vertical resolution of active ones. I made reference therein to an … Continue reading →

Posted in 3D, Blu-ray, Equipment, Testing | 5 Comments

Sorry, but it is half vertical resolution

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Stephen Dawson

A new commenter on an old post claims, quite sharply, that my statement that LG passive 3D TVs are ‘half resolution on 3D’ is not correct. He says: ‘The brain combines the image for full HD def. Anyone with a … Continue reading →

Posted in 3D, Blu-ray, Equipment, Testing | 11 Comments

On-line reviews

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Stephen Dawson

I’ve been doing a few reviews for cnet.com.au lately, for those interested. Most recently the Sharp XV-Z30000 3D projector and the Panasonic PT-AR100EA 2D projector have been put up. Expect four more over the next week or so. Also, I … Continue reading →

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