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Flat-panel TV prices move higher: Ready for the upsell?

In what could be construed as a shocking development in consumer electronics, flat-screen TV prices are creeping higher, according to data from research firm IHS.

IHS' iSuppli unit, which tracks the electronics supply chain, reports that flat-panel TV prices have climbed 11.4 percent since December 2011. In April, the average price for LCD and plasma TVs was $1,248, $78 higher than four months ago.

That jump may not sound like a lot, but it's the highest four-month spike over the last year. What's causing the price creep? … Read more

Get an HDMI cable for $3 (or less)

Buying an Apple TV or Roku box? A Blu-ray player? A $99 Xbox 360? These and other TV-centric devices have one thing in common: they don't come with the HDMI cables necessary for the optimal connection to your TV.

Shoppers often make the mistake of assuming that whatever the local electronics store charges for an HDMI cable is just the price you have to pay. But although retail prices have come down in recent years, they're still way higher than what you can find online.

For example, Best Buy charges $24.99 for a Dynex 6-foot HDMI cable. … Read more

Why do plasma TVs look washed out in the store?

CNET Reader Rob asks:

I've been reading your articles on HDTV and find them very informative so, here's something I need cleared up. You mentioned how plasma TVs can control the brightness of individual pixels, made me think they should have a superior picture to LCD -- so I went looking at plasmas. I noticed that they seem to have a "washed out" look, an overall dimmer picture than LCD. Everywhere I go this seems to be the case. What's up with that? Thanks.

A common question, and a huge issue with plasmas, but not how you might think.… Read more

Crave giveaway: Vizio 42-inch 3D TV!

Congrats to Matthew S. of Stamford, Conn., for winning a Super Mario Bros. gift pack in last week's giveaway. This week, we've got a hot one for you. OK, so it's not a huge 3D TV, but it's still a 3D TV -- the 42-inch Vizio E3D420VX from Vizio.

I should also point out that this is a review sample, so it's slightly used, but it was fully checked out by our TV guru David Katzmaier, who had some good things to say about the set. While its 2D picture quality was only OK, he said the Vizio E3D0VX series "has excellent features for the price, including 3D and robust streaming." (Read the full review here).

Normally, it would cost you about $599 to buy this TV (or only $510 for a refurbished model), but one lucky winner will get it for free. How? There are a few rules, so please listen up. There will be a test. … Read more

Apple TV set may not launch until 2014, says analyst

Consumers waiting for a TV set from Apple may have to sit tight for a couple more years.

Apple won't launch any type of TV this year, says J.P. Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz. Instead, the company is likely to build up to such a product in two separate phases.

First, Apple would expand its current TV box by launching a more advanced set-top module sometime in 2013 at the earliest. Then the company could unveil a full-blown TV with a display and speakers in 2014 or later, the analyst said in a research note released today.

Why no … Read more

When HD isn't HD

Not all HD is the same. For that matter, just because you have an HDTV, that doesn't mean you're actually watching high-definition video. A variety of factors could be conspiring to create an image that's not nearly as good as what your TV is capable of.

Make sure you're getting the most from your TV with this guide.… Read more

Get a 42-inch plasma TV for $299.99

Recently, while shopping for a new TV, I found myself waffling between LCD and plasma. I've always chosen the former because they tend to pair better with PCs (and I'm a media-center guy), but because the TV in question was going to marry a TiVo, that wasn't a concern.

I'd also steered clear of plasmas because of longstanding issues with burn-in, but a little research revealed that thanks to improvements in plasma technology, it's not really a problem anymore.

Most of all, plasmas used to fetch a premium price -- but these days they're … Read more

I want my dumb TV

When it comes to smart TVs, manufacturers are basically charging money for nuthin.'

Or to put it in less dire terms, the smart TV suites included in today's TVs offer little value. That's not to say I don't enjoy Netflix, Amazon Instant, and HBO Go as much as the next broadband Internet subscriber, it's just that I can get the same great apps and content on devices as cheap as the $50 Roku LT. So why would I want to spend $100 extra or more on a TV that has these features?… Read more

Where to find 3D movies to watch at home

Here's a happy fact: 3D-capable HDTVs now cost little more than their non-3D counterparts.

Here's another happy fact: 3D-capable Blu-ray players now cost little more than their non-3D counterparts.

And, finally, a sad fact: You can't rent 3D movies from Netflix. Or your local Redbox kiosk. Nor can you stream or download them from Amazon, Netflix, or iTunes.

So now what? What good is the gear if there's no content? Turns out there are a few sources that can deliver 3D goodness to your home, either through the mail or over the Interwebs. Here are your … Read more