GeekSugar

How-To: Properly Place Your TV For Optimal Viewing

GeekSugar — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:05:40 -0700

Before you drop all that money on a 46-inch flat panel HDTV you found on sale, maybe you should make sure there's enough room in your studio apartment for that bad boy. What, you think that just because it's flat you can fit it anywhere? As fun as it may seem to turn your apartment into a full-fledged movie theater, you should know that there are optimal viewing distances that you should adhere to. The general rule of thumb is to place your TV at a distance of three times the height of your screen (3 x H) away from your sofa.

For example, if you're buying a TV that has a screen height of 30 inches, you should sit approximately 90 inches or 7 feet away to view your picture in all its splendor. Just a little something to keep in mind before you buy that new LCD!

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Tech @ Home: Mounting a Flat Panel TV Above Your Fireplace

GeekSugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:03:38 -0700

Although it looks nice, mounting a flat panel TV above your fireplace can take years off of its life if you aren't careful. Aside from possible smoke damage, your new LCD or plasma screen was built to run at a specific temperature (check your owners manuals for exact specs, but usually between 32-100°F), so watching a movie and building a roaring fire can actually damage the components inside your TV if it gets too hot.

Thankfully, all is not lost. If there's no stopping you from mounting your set, there's a quick test you can do to find out how hot your fireplace will get. Attach a thermometer to the spot you've chosen to mount (tape and a cheap thermometer from a drug store will do the trick), build a fire, and let it burn. After a few hours, if your chosen spot is getting close to your set's maximum operating temp, then you shouldn't burn the fire and watch the tube at the same time, or choose another place for your TV to call home.

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5 Gadgets You Didn't Get For Xmas, But Should Buy Anyway

GeekSugar — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 04:00:25 -0800

I've been there before: I wanted a certain gadget for Christmas, but due to financial constraints, availability, or just plain oversight, I did not find them in my stocking or under the tree come Christmas morning. It's gonna be OK. Take all that cash you've accumulated from your relatives, or just go ahead and splurge (you never know when prices will dip this low again) and get what you really wanted for Christmas. Check out my picks on gadgets you didn't get for Christmas, but should buy for yourself anyway in this slideshow. Source

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Panasonic Creates a Wiimote-Proof Plasma TV

GeekSugar — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:11:59 -0800

I love how Panasonic unveils a new line of beautiful plasma TVs at the HD Networking Conference in Valencia, Spain and their biggest selling feature is the fact that they can withstand Wiimotes! According to Gamertell, these televisions can resist up to four joules of energy - preventing your wiimote from shattering your TV screen in a game of Wii Tennis, Bowling, Boxing, and the list goes on and on. I guess if you're a Wii fanatic, this television plus an upgraded Wii strap will do the trick - better to be safe than sorry!

Would You Give Up Sex for Six Months for a Plasma TV?

GeekSugar — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:45:49 -0800

Six months?! Really?! That's how long HALF of a group of British men surveyed claimed they would give up sex for - for a 50-inch Plasma TV. I balked at the length of six months (both for the sake of believing men would really give it up that long, and also because, well. . .six months?!) Then again, that's 50 inches (insert terrible "size matters" joke here) of beautiful, flat, plasma display. That's 50 inches of Project Runway, Lost, and Gossip Girl.

Maybe I could do it. Maybe. I seem to remember very few of you saying you'd give up sex to keep your cell phone, so I'm doubly curious. Spill it!

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My Favorite Gadgets Round Up: 50 " Plasma TV

GeekSugar — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:01:42 -0800

Thanks to teamsugar user Gibby who sent us this fantastic shot of her new 50 inch Philips Plasma television. Gibby was telling us that all those DVDs are her younger sister's - it looks like quite the extensive collection! We also commented on this gadget diva's iPod below the TV, which just happens to be a 60GB video iPod. Great gadgets Gibby!

I want to know what's in your purse, on your desktop and in your pockets. To learn how to post photos of your favorite gadgets in the group, read more

I know that this long list looks scary, but trust me, once you get the hang of it, it'll be a snap the second time around.

First of all, join the My Favorite Gadgets group
Click "Create and Share!" on the left hand side
Choose "Blog"
Give your photo a Title
Leave the category as "general"
Change the channel to "technology and gadgets"
Add keyword(s) (for example mine for this photo was "My Favorite Gadgets")
Click on the "Add Image" link below the "body" box
A popup window will happen - click on "Browse" to find your image on your computer
Once you have the image chosen, click "Submit"
The popup will show you your image, choose size: "normal" - if you want, you can give it a title (which will show up as a caption)
Click "Insert" and the popup will go away
Your "body" box will now have some text in it. Leave it as is. If you want to add some text before the picture, do it before the code that has appeared.
Click Submit

So join the My Favorite Gadgets group and start posting your great photos! Yours just might end up on the Geeksugar homepage!

Gold-Plated TV's Pricetag: $132,000

GeekSugar — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 12:01:56 -0800

When it comes to luxury gadgets, there are some splurges I wholeheartedly understand, and others I will never, ever get. Samsung and LG have long been in a battle over who will make the largest TV, with Samsung currently winning out with a 102-inch model. LG on the other hand, is holding its ground with a 71-incher that comes plated with genuine gold. It is simply beyond me why even the most wealthy geek in the world would find this necessary, but I'll indulge your curiosity anyway.

In fact, there are more than 4 pounds of 24-Karat gold on the model, which also features full HD (1920 x 1080), and an impressive 600W home cinema system for surround sound and integrated display facilities for viewing digital photos and MP3 track playback.

The gold version costs a whopping $132,000, which in some parts of the county, is the median home price. I suppose the makers aren't completely insane, as they only made 1,000 units. For another picture, just read more

Expected Holiday HDTV Price Drop Explained

GeekSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 06:00:52 -0700

If you're in the market for a new HDTV and are ready to plunk down your money for that new set - hold off! The prices of HDTVs are expected to plummet in the coming months, which can mean huge savings for you.

There are a number of factors that may lead to LCD and Plasma TV prices hitting the deck this shopping season, one of which is the economy. We're afraid to spend our money! So retailers have to make it irresistible for hesitant shoppers to hand over that credit card, while they clear out their inventory to make room for the newer models to come.

Another reason for the deep discounts? The digital signal switch. If you haven't gotten on board with digital, and are still using an analog signal TV (with the 'ole bunny ear antenna), you have until February 17, 2009 to get your hands on a converter box, or to upgrade your television. What a better way to usher in this new era of digital viewing than with a LCD TV, deeply discounted to sell?

Want to know when the best time to buy might be? Hint: it may not be when you think! Find out when you read more.

If you're planning on buying a high-end set, you may not find the best prices at the crack of dawn on Black Friday. Last year, we saw the best deals on name brand TVs in the three weeks before Christmas, when retailers were still trying to push out those remaining models while battling it out over prices. Good things come to those who wait? Most likely!

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Forget LCD; Go for Plasma, Says Maker of Both

GeekSugar — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 13:10:11 -0800

The LCD vs. Plasma debate has been a hot topic for geeks everywhere for the past few years with some extolling the greatness of the plasma, and other saying it would "burn out" before its time.

However, the tables have suddenly turned - well slightly - as the New York Times reports Panasonic, the consumer electronics company owned by Matsushita Electric Industrial and the world’s biggest seller of plasma TVs, has altered its "to each his or her own" stance. (It must be noted that the company sells a full line of popular LCD sets as well.)

Panasonic now says it believes that plasma technology is under unfair attack from competitors making “desperate attempts” to denigrate what it sees as plasma’s superiority, Bob Greenberg, Panasonic’s vice president for brand marketing is quoted as saying.

For Panasonic's six facts you need to know before you buy a flat Panel TV, just read more

Daily Tech: Samsung's P960 Is the First to Get Mobile TV

GeekSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:27:33 -0700

Mobile TV in Europe will be making its debut on a Samsung P960. Let's just hope it heads this way sooner rather than later! - CrunchGear
Apple staffers (aka "Apple geniuses"), will soon be getting a wardrobe change, which will include dark blue shirts for the behind-the-bar Genius and Creative employees and light blue shirts for the specialists. - Boing Boing
Wish your electronics looked more stylish in your home? Here are some amazing examples of total geek-chic dwellings. Talk about inspiring! - Unplggd
Google has just added Street View turns to Google Maps! - Lifehacker
MySpace is getting more annoying by the minute. Now users can take part in MySpace Karaoke and post it on their MySpace page. - USA Today
Wondering what the heck plasma TVs are? Gizmodo goes back to basics and breaks down the definition of Plasma TVs into an easy-to-understand format. - Gizmodo