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Tech2
Why We Measure
Brent Butterworth  |  Nov 23, 2011

A few weeks ago I found myself mentioned in a rant by CNET's Steve Guttenberg. Steve thinks it's dumb for anyone but a product designer to measure the performance of audio gear. He mentioned me because I take the opposing view.

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Music ReviewsBlu-ray Movie Reviews
This Week in Blu-rays and Music, November 22, 2011
Ken Korman  |  Nov 22, 2011

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Home Theater Geeks Podcast
Podcast 88: Eisuke Tsuyuzaki
Scott Wilkinson  |  Nov 22, 2011
Eisuke Tsuyuzaki, CTO of Panasonic North America, talks about the importance of online apps in TVs and other consumer electronics products for content delivery and social interaction (including Skype, which he used on a Panasonic Viera VT30 during the podcast), the success of 3D in its first two years, issues surrounding 4K, the importance of mobile content, ultra-premium flat panels, answers to chat-room questions, and more.

Run Time: 58:11

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Beats, Red Courtesy Phone, Please: HTC's Rezound
Michael Berk  |  Nov 21, 2011

HTC's Rezound, which made its way out to consumers last week from Verizon, is the first US phone to get the full Beats Audio treatment, the specifics of which have been hazy 'til the release of this very device. So has HTC's substantial investment in Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine's headphone juggernaut paid off?

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Ask S&V
Plasma Break In
Scott Wilkinson  |  Nov 21, 2011
You've convinced me not to worry about future 3D technology and to just get a 3D TV now. I'm finally about to go to the store, but instead of getting the Samsung UA46D7000 LED LCD, I'm going to get the Samsung PS51D8000 plasma, a cheaper yet larger and higher-end model. My one concern is that, since the PS51D8000 is a plasma, do I need to break it in? I know you do it all the time for reviews, but I've read that Samsung has said that it's unnecessary anymore. So should I break it in, just be careful for the first 100 hours, or not worry at all?

Nik in Gladstone, Queensland, Australia

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50 Cent, Back in the Headphone Game
Michael Berk  |  Nov 21, 2011

Neither bullets or corporate disputes can stop 50 Cent, it turns out.

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Headphone Amp/DAC ReviewsCustom Installation How-To
Best Gifts for 2011
SV Staff  |  Nov 21, 2011

Every year around this time, the editors and writers of Sound+Vision put their heads together to come up with a list of the best gift ideas for the holiday season.

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Tech2
Review: Kindle Fire Page 2
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Nov 21, 2011

It began, as so many things do, with Star Trek. Premiering just days after my 9th birthday, Star Trek: The Next Generation instilled unto me to many of the core principles I still hold dear: people working together can solve anything; when in doubt, scan; and, of course, bald dudes rule.

It was the technology that really wowed my young mind: the ship, the transporters, the replicators, and especially the tricorders all were added to my permanent Christmas list. Sadly, none of those yet exist (damn you, science!), but the P.A.D.D., barely more than set dressing, is perhaps the first Star Tech that you can actually buy.

And by any measure, that makes tablets fracking cool.

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Tech2
Review: Kindle Fire
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Nov 21, 2011

It began, as so many things do, with Star Trek. Premiering just days after my 9th birthday, Star Trek: The Next Generation instilled unto me to many of the core principles I still hold dear: people working together can solve anything; when in doubt, scan; and, of course, bald dudes rule.

It was the technology that really wowed my young mind: the ship, the transporters, the replicators, and especially the tricorders all were added to my permanent Christmas list. Sadly, none of those yet exist (damn you, science!), but the P.A.D.D., barely more than set dressing, is perhaps the first Star Tech that you can actually buy.

And by any measure, that makes tablets fracking cool.

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Vote
Do You Prefer Active or Passive 3D Flat Panels?
Scott Wilkinson  |  Nov 18, 2011
Yesterday, I posted a blog mourning the premature death of so-called "active retarder" 3D technology. That leaves two types of 3D flat panels to duke it out—those that quickly alternate the left and right images on the screen synchronized with active-shutter glasses and those that use a film patterned retarder (FPR) to alternately polarize the odd and even lines on the screen, which are isolated for each eye using passive-polarized glasses.

There are many pros and cons to consider with each technology. Active-shutter glasses unequivocally provide full 1080p resolution to each eye, but they also block more light from reaching the eyes than passive glasses, so the image is typically dimmer. In addition, many people complain about seeing a flickering effect with active glasses that is nonexistent with passive glasses, and active systems are more prone to crosstalk/ghosting. And don't forget that active glasses are much more expensive than passive glasses, not to mention that active glasses are heavier, bulkier, and require replaceable or rechargeable batteries. On the other hand, while FPR displays often have a wider horizontal viewing angle, they have a much narrower vertical viewing angle. And they might not deliver full 1080p to each eye, though this is hotly debated, as discussed in my recent blog.

So which 3D flat-panel technology do you prefer—active-shutter glasses as championed by Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, and Sony, or FPR with passive glasses as espoused by LG, Toshiba, and Vizio? If you haven't actually experienced them, which one seems more appealing to you?

Vote to see the results and leave a comment about your choice.

Do You Prefer Active or Passive 3D Flat Panels?
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