Goodbye 16:9 Aspect Ratio and Hello 21:9!

I think it's safe to say that we have all determined that wide screen television viewing is head over heels better than how we used to watch tv (back when your screen looked like a bubble). However, future HDTVs may have a viewing style that is even wider than our current widescreen format. HDTVs of today have a more rectangular 16 x 9 shape, though a wider 21 x 9 display standard is said to be in the making and was announced at the Consumer Electronics Association, or CEA.

Vizio's upcoming 58" 3D LED CinemaWide display is believed to be the very first television in production that will feature the new 21 x 9 shape. The device isn't set to be released until March for a retail price of $3,499.99 and will come with a total of four pairs of 3D glasses.

In addition to the 58" device, Vizio is planning a 70" and a 50" model as well set to be released in the second half of 2012. CinemaWide HDTVs allow movies shot in the cinema standard 16 x 9 aspect ratio to be automatically re-sized to the 21 x 9 ratio display without any black bars on the top or bottom. In addition to movies, other 16 x 9 content can be scaled up also.

The CinemaWide devices also allow users to use Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Yahoo TV and other apps on the left side of the screen while the full 16 x 9 video fills the rest of the screen.

According to a statement from Vizio's Vice President John Schindler, "We wanted to give consumers a good choice to watch movies and standard TV while you use the internet. This also offers a new look and feel for prospective TV buyers [that are] looking for something more modern in their homes." The CEA is currently in the process of developing a standard that would allow 21 x 9 content to be transferred via HDMI cables as well.

The TVs that Vizio is creating have built-in technology that would allow them to function without the CEA having to update the standard for HDMI cables. According to Schindler, "We really want to lead the charge." Ultra-wide video is also "closer to a cinematic experience," according to Vice President of Technology and Standards at The Industry Trade Group Brian Markwalter. Markwalter also added, "That is the aesthetic to it - to get the more sweeping panorama."

Source: USA Today - New Vizio HDTV breaks widescreen barrier for movies, apps

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Lenovo Unveils Android 4.0 HDTV at CES 2012

Companies are really starting to make waves in terms of computer monitors and televisions. People flipped out when they announced LED TVs and went crazy over Google TV but now there is something even greater to drool over, Android 4.0 TV. That's right, Lenovo has officially unveiled its first generation Idea TV, a 55" HDTV that has comes with Android's Ice Cream Sandwich.

Reports are coming in from all over about the device which is on display at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show right now. The device is a full 1080p HD television that centers around an Android-based home screen, dubbed by Lenovo as the "Sandwich Screen". From here you use a touchpad located on the TV's remote to navigate between a standard TV feed, a video-on-demand screen and an apps screen with all of the video-on-demand content streamed via Lenovo's servers directly to the television.

Lots of reports are complimenting the device's smooth operation, especially compared to remote-based interfaces out there. In addition to that smooth operation, the 1.5GHz processor in the television makes switching between things very quick. Also, moving between the home screen, video-on-demand screen and apps screen is also very quick and precise.

Lenovo also noted that the Idea TV will also allow you to stream content wirelessly from your tablet, smartphone, laptop, desktop or any other device in your house or from 200GB of cloud storage that Lenovo is also throwing in with the Idea TV. Overall, reports are saying that the television handles like you would want it to and that everything runs smoothly and quickly, allowing for easy and enjoyable transitioning between medias.

The only real problem with the Idea TV is that Lenovo will only be releasing the first generation model in China. It is still unclear as to whether or not this device would actually succeed on the market, but if it does well in China, you can expect Lenovo to start branching out the second generation Idea TV to an extended customer market.

Source: Gizmodo - Eyes On Lenovo's 55-Inch Idea Android HDTV: It Might Make You Want to Move to China

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FedEx Driver Tosses Computer Monitor Over Fence

I'm sure you have all heard the story by now. A man orders a computer monitor and has it delivered to his house by FedEx, only for the delivery man to carelessly pitch the extremely fragile piece of equipment over the customer's fence like it was a piece of trash. That's right, this driver, whom the customer had no choice but to trust with his package, just tosses the monitor right over the fence.

The video, which made its way around YouTube like wildfire, claims to be surveillance footage from the owner's house that captures the FedEx driver tossing the monitor. The poster of the video wrote, "Here is a video of my monitor being 'delivered'. The sad part is that I was home at the time with the front door wide open. All he had to do was ring the bell on the gate. Now I have to return my monitor since it is broken."

News of this obviously reached the heads of FedEx, especially after every single news station in the country was reporting on it and blasting the video all over t.v., and needless to say, they weren't happy with what they saw. The video itself has nearly 8 million views on YouTube and as for the driver, well, a FedEx spokeswoman put it lightly saying, "This won't be his best day."

I think the fact that the customer's door was wide open is the worst part. I mean, how lazy does the driver have to be if he won't even ring a bell and wait a few seconds for an answer? Oh, and this may be just me but it looks like the security camera is in plain view. I mean, did he not see it directly next to his face? Regardless, this is definitely not the proper way to deliver any package, let alone an expensive, breakable computer monitor. Thankfully, FedEx shipped another one to the customer, completely free of charge, and apologized immensely for the behavior of the driver. The video of the incident is below.



Source: CNET - Computer monitor tossed over fence by FedEx man

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Call us toll free 877-422-1907 between 8am EST and 5pm PST M-F. Talk to an expert about your serious security camera needs.