PC World: Home Entertainment Update

How to Choose a Future-Proof Video Camera

Thu, 8 May 2008 05:00:00 UTC

Camcorder technologies are changing fast. Here's how to pick the right camera for you--and ensure that your video memories will stand the test of time.

Toshiba 46XF550U LCD HDTV

Wed, 7 May 2008 01:00:00 UTC

This underpowered, overpriced HDTV does not stand up well to the competition.

Samsung LN46A550 LCD HDTV

Wed, 7 May 2008 01:00:00 UTC

This all-around excellent TV is easy to use and a delight to the eyes.

Westinghouse TX-47F450S LCD HDTV

Tue, 6 May 2008 18:45:00 UTC

A decent but unspectacular TV at a very good price makes for a good bargain buy.

Syntax-Brillian Olevia 747i LCD HDTV

Tue, 6 May 2008 18:45:00 UTC

Badly designed set has a very good picture to compensate for its shortcomings.

Vizio VO47LF LCD HDTV

Tue, 6 May 2008 18:36:00 UTC

Great image quality and a fantastic price make this HDTV impossible to overlook.

Soyo SYXRT4791AB LCD HDTV

Tue, 6 May 2008 18:30:00 UTC

A very appealing price and good speakers aren't enough to offset this TV's poor picture quality.

Mitsubishi LT-46244 LCD HDTV

Tue, 6 May 2008 18:30:00 UTC

An okay TV at an exorbitant price makes for a losing combination.

Sharp LC-46D64U LCD HDTV

Tue, 6 May 2008 18:00:00 UTC

Poor picture quality makes avoiding this set an easy call.

LG 47LBX Opus LCD HDTV

Tue, 6 May 2008 17:16:00 UTC

A swiveling stand and USB-based music and photo capabilities don't make up for this HDTV's poor image quality.

After Abandoning ITunes, NBC Shows up on Zune

Tue, 6 May 2008 04:50:00 UTC

After a pricing spat with Apple led NBC to pull its video content from iTunes, the broadcaster has struck a deal with...

Fake Your Depth of Field

Mon, 5 May 2008 08:00:00 UTC

Blur the background for attractive portraits--long after the photo was taken.

The Top 15 Vaporware Products of All Time

Mon, 5 May 2008 05:01:00 UTC

These big ideas were supposed to revolutionize technology, but beyond a few prototypes, they never actually appeared. In a few cases, you'll probably be glad they didn't.

Photo Contest: Hot Pics for April

Sun, 4 May 2008 23:30:00 UTC

Subscribers to Dave Johnson's Digital Focus took these shots; read Dave's May 5 column for the Hot Pic of the Month winner.

Casual Friday: GTA Bore

Fri, 2 May 2008 05:00:00 UTC

You may have heard of this game: Grand Theft...Auto...something. Plus we score you a couple free GTA games and take a spin with Mario's new ride.

Wireless High-Def Starts Integrating

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:39:00 UTC

If you're tired of ugly HDMI video cables, wireless high-definition is starting to come into focus with Sharp's X-series.

SageTV HD Media Extender

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:00:00 UTC

This box delivers good-looking video from your PC to your TV--assuming that you can get it connected.

I Want Wireless Entertainment, and I Want It Now

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:00:00 UTC

Wireless, multiroom home audio is here, sort of. But wireless HD video is still mostly a pipe dream.

Tech Trend: For HDTV, Don't Overlook Overscan

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:00:00 UTC

Make sure your high-def television displays a true 1080p image.

Canon PowerShot A470 Point-and-Shoot Digital Camera

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:19:00 UTC

This bargain-priced, no-frills camera offers very good image quality.

NEC NP100 Portable Projector

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:00:00 UTC

The affordable NEC NP100 portable projector provides bright images for both business and home-entertainment users.

Sony to Double LCD TV Production at Slovakia Plant

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:40:00 UTC

Sony plans to double the production capacity of LCD televisions at its plant in Nitra, Slovakia, it said Monday. The expansion...

Frequently Asked Photo Questions for April

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:00:00 UTC

Dealing with a bright background and recovering lost photos. Plus, do airport screenings and fading batteries affect your camera?

Is HDTV Compression Damaging Picture Quality?

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 23:00:00 UTC

To deliver more HDTV channels, cable and satellite services are resorting to new compression algorithms. But some viewers fear that quality is suffering as a result.

Casual Friday: MTV's Virtual Music Scene

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 UTC

This week we play entire albums in Rock Band and cruise New York's virtual Lower East Side, then score you some sweet DS deals (while supplies last).

Onkyo TX-SR805 Home-Theater Receiver

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:30:00 UTC

The first home-theater receiver to decode DTS Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD from Blu-ray movies produces phenomenal sound.

The 10 Best Compact Cameras

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:00:00 UTC

The newest compact digital cameras give you only limited controls in most cases, but low prices and excellent image quality make these low-frills options worth considering.

Four Handy Photo Rules

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:00:00 UTC

Follow these rules of thumb to take better pictures and get more reliable results.

5 Habits for Greener Computing

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 05:00:00 UTC

Want to save power, paper, printer ink, and--oh, yeah--the earth, too? These simple hints will make your computing life more eco-friendly--and cheaper.

Casual Friday: Gran Turismo Edition

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 05:00:00 UTC

Take a Gran Turismo 5 test drive, make some hard turns with new hardware, and check out the hardest (and easiest) games you'll ever play.

Canon PowerShot A470

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:38:00 UTC

This bargain-priced, no-frills camera offers very good image quality.

Windows vs. Linux--Plus, a Microsoft Wii?

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:00:00 UTC

Readers debate the relative virtues of Windows and Linux OSes, consider a possible Wii-like game controller from Microsoft.

Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS Digital Camera

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:23:00 UTC

Sleek design, superb image capability and intuitive controls make the SD1100 a solid buy.

Top 10 Point-and-Shoot Cameras

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:00:00 UTC

Easy to use, point-and-shoot cameras are a great choice for the casual photographer. Ratings and rankings can change due to pricing and technology changes, so check back frequently for the latest info.

Panning for Action Gold

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:00:00 UTC

Capture fast-moving subjects like cars, cheetahs, and kids with a simple camera technique.

5 Gadgets That Make You Seem Artistic

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 05:00:00 UTC

You may have never been trained as a painter or musician, but today's tech tools make faking it easy. Here's our favorite gear for the creatively minded.

Nikon S52c Still Limits Transfers over Wi-Fi

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 02:04:00 UTC

Thinking of buying a camera with Wi-Fi built in? Think again. Camera makers still largely want you in their walled garden, and forget about security when transferring photos. Eye-Fi breaks some of the barriers with its unique alternative.

Casual Friday: BD-Live Goes Live

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 05:00:00 UTC

This week we check out the first BD-Live disc to see what the big deal is, and then we go game-mod crazy.

The 5 Best SLR Cameras

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:16:00 UTC

Single-lens reflex cameras offer powerful features and the flexibility of interchangeable lenses, so you can shoot like a pro.