Amazon is coming for literally everything in your home. Your books, home security, entertainment systems, car — even how you sleep — can all be connected, and Amazon wants to be that connection. The slew of new Amazon hardware and software features they announced this week shows they’re impressively close, and we are slightly overwhelmed just thinking about it all!
My first HD TV was a Sony. It was packed with the latest technology available at the time. Now, pricing and availability for the new 65” Sony BRAVIA XR A80J 4K HDR OLED TV has just been announced. The new BRAVIA looks great, and it offers bleeding-edge technology. It’s not inexpensive but, as the saying goes, you get what you pay for.
When we talk about MediaTek, it’s usually in the context of their hard work behind the scenes in bringing 5G to phones everywhere. But they do more than just 5G chips; they’re also bringing their ability to provide AI processing units to 4K smart TVs with their new MediaTek MT9638 smart TV chips!
8K televisions were first introduced a few years ago when many of us were still upgrading our TVs to 4K. It landed firmly in the “I don’t really need it, nor do I want to pay for it” category for me, but it might be time to rethink that stance, as all TCL 6-Series Roku TVs released later this year will feature 8K resolution.
As we recently posted, Roku is expanding its reach by obtaining exclusive rights to all of the failed streaming platform Quibi’s content. That is just one small reason Roku announced that, according to NPD’s Weekly Retail Tracking Service, they are the #1 selling smart TV OS sold in the U.S. and Canada. I can totally appreciate why.
At Samsung’s (virtual) press conference presentation yesterday, the company announced new products and initiatives that reflect their commitment to innovation. Televisions that are more immersive than ever were on display, as were innovations that can make entertainment more accessible to more people. Here’s a look at some of what they shared.
Vizio currently offers several television lines; their OLED line starts at $1299.99, the P-Series starts at $1199.99 for a 65” television, and a 40″ M-Series starts at $399.99. By contrast, you can get a 40” V-Series television for just $229.99. The V705x-H1, which I was sent for review, has an MSRP of $659.99 and is currently available for $549.99.
Roku prides themselves on their laser focus — it’s all about making streaming the best possible experience for their users. Their interface is simple, their devices are plug and play, and their entire ecosystem is built around offering multiple options at every price point. We took a look at the Roku StreamBar and new Roku Ultra and came away very impressed!
What do you have going on every week until Christmas? Hopefully, whatever it is, you’ll have time to enter this huge giveaway from VIZIO each week because you’re not going to want to miss it. To celebrate their partnership with Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics for the Marvel’s Avengers video game, VIZIO is giving fans a chance to win a Quantum 4K HDR Smart TV, a V-Series 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar, and a digital copy of Marvel’s Avengers in weekly giveaways!
VIZIO announced today that they’ve teamed up with Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics to be the official HDTV and soundbar partner for the highly anticipated Marvel’s Avengers video game. VIZIO’s HDTVs are optimized for gaming thanks to their IQ 4K HDR processors as well as the ProGaming Engine. Paired with a VIZIO soundbar, you’ll be ready to game.
If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us all, it’s that streaming is an essential service. It’s also taught us to wash hands better, but that’s more life advice and less relevant to why you’re probably reading Gear Diary. In any case, if you’ve been working your TV to the limit, check out the new TCL 5 and 6 Series 4K smart TVs with Roku!
Xiaomi may not be the first brand that people in the US think of for smartphones, but they are ranked at #4 worldwide behind Samsung, Huawei, and Apple. Their smartphones have garnered praise from stateside reviewers for having excellent cameras, best-in-class features, and, most importantly, affordability. But Xiaomi makes more than just smartphones; they also sell home, health, and lifestyle products that include routers, fitness bands, LED desk lamps, air purifiers, and electric scooters, to name just a few.
If you’re looking for ways to keep yourself and your quarantine-mates entertained while waiting out the pandemic, and if you live in an area with Comcast Xfinity services, you should check out the Easter eggs they’ve hidden that you can access right now with the Xfinity Voice Remote.
Let’s face it, there are a plethora of options when it comes to TV companies out there that promise you everything and then some, but many come with a hefty price tag. InFocus is attempting to wow you with its displays first, and if you’re into all of the additional features, there are some of those for you as well.
Do you remember the book Fahrenheit 451? Chances are you remember the book burnings, but there’s a less apocalyptic aspect of the books that is coming true: televisions are evolving from a small part of our homes to central pieces of artwork that integrate deeply into the walls around us. LG is ready to help you decorate with their new lineup for 2020!
VIZIO is making some big moves at CES 2020 in Las Vegas, announcing its first-ever OLED TV as well as their largest TV ever; an 85-incher for a movie theater experience in the home. VIZIO is also debuting new immersive soundbars as well as SmartCast 4.0 which includes more voice control and a new VIZIO Voice Remote.
Samsung is a major player in many areas, but one of the places where they’re consistently pushing the envelope is in televisions and displays. Sometimes what they’re offering isn’t so much for the average person’s living room, but inevitably the tech they show off in their fancier concepts eventually shows up in our living rooms, so it’s worth paying attention to even their wilder ideas!
People who are out to buy televisions tend to fall into two groups; one is the “I only buy <brand name>” group, and the other is the “I couldn’t tell you the manufacturer of my current television, I just want certain features.” If you’re in the latter category, you should put Konka televisions on your radar for price and features!
We had the chance to check out Samsung’s new QLED televisions at CES, and they were stunning. Samsung sells literal work of art TVs called “The Frame”, but even their QLED televisions are jaw-dropping in both looks and price!
TCL is best known for their high-quality televisions. This year at CES, they have new releases for home theaters as well as new headphones for consumers at all levels. So whether you need to upgrade your home experience or just rock out better on your daily commute, TCL has a product for you!
If you’ve been inquiring about cutting the cord, Nuvyyo, creators of the Tablo OTA DVR announces the next generation of their Tablo series with the Tablo QUAD; I think it will be a huge hit.