LGGulf Blog » Home Entertainment

Only the Best: Top-rated Blu-ray™ Players and Home Theater

lgadmin — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 10:29:20 +0000

Only the Best: Top-rated Blu-ray™ Players and Home Theater.
If you’ve got a great TV, why spoil it with sub-optimal video inputs and stereo outputs?<>
A Blu-ray™ player and a great home theater system makes can make a world of difference for your home entertainment.
For video input, nothing can beat the amazing picture quality of Blu-ray™ players. Same applies for the 3D surround sound of a home theater system. But there are so many different models out there and it’s getting harder and hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. Most serious consumers will be checking out the expert reviews to help them make their choice.
Over the course of 2011, LG has received some really great reviews and ratings for our Blu-ray™ players and home theater systems from well-known publications around the world, and we’d like to share those with you.

Blu-ray™ Players

1. BD 660 (3D)

Scoring 81 out of 100, the BD660 ranked 1st out of 12, and was awarded Best Buy in the November issue of Which?, a well known tech publication in the U.K. It was noted for having simple on-screen menus, user-friendly remote, and of course excellent pictures!

2. BD 690 (3D)

This 3D Blu-ray™ player was ranked by the same consumer research publication as the top choice with the highest score among 12 other competing models. In fact, including the 660, this model and the BD650 took 1st, 2nd and 3rd!

Home Theater System

1. HX976TZW (5.1 ch)

This beauty of a home theater system was given the highest honors by both Stuff Magazine and What Hi-Fi, both very well-known tech publications based in the U.K. Stuff selected it as their Test Winner with 5 stars in their October issue, while What Hi-Fi also gave it 5 stars in their November issue and awarded it the Best Cinema System of 2011.

2. HX906SB (5.1 ch)

The HX906SB was chosen by Norway’s LYD & BLIDE as the 1st out of 5 models, with 5 stars. It was also chosen as Spain’s OCU as the Compra Maestra (Best Buy).

And that’s not all, many other LG Blu-ray™ players and Home Theater Systems have fared quite well against the competition in tests conducted by many publications around the world. It just goes to show that great picture and great sound is universally appreciated.
If you were having trouble finding the right system for you, these publications make for a great start. And although these are European publications, the results can be effective in the Gulf region, or any region, for that matter. No matter where you are, or what language you speak, there’s a great chance that you’ll run into LG products recommended as the top choice or best buy.

Give your Home a Hi-Tech Make-over This DSF!

lgadmin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:01:59 +0000

So, the Dubai Shopping Festival is back! And that means it’s time for some SERIOUS shopping. <> Let’s face it: the drive behind the shopping frenzy this season is the combination of unusual offers, marvelous prizes and the generous shopping vouchers. So it’s the perfect time to make those big purchase decisions.

And when it comes to amazing offers, LG has got you covered.

Make some SMART shopping decisions with the We call it ‘LG 3D Smart Surprises’, a bundle of exciting offers, available just for you from the 5th of January till the 5th of February. So if you needed some extra motivation to give your home an ultimate technology revamp, here are just a few of our offers to whet your appetite…

Exciting Prizes:

Purchase any LG product worth AED 250 (or more) and you could win an LG 72” Cinema 3D Smart TV, a 3D Blue Ray Player and a Home Theatre system. All this is in addition to many exciting weekly prizes.

Make a ‘3D Smart’ choice, and win exciting prizes

3D Smart Bundle Offers:

Now some of these offers will leave you utterly gobsmacked! We want to help you fill your home with the latest and finest in Hi-Tech entertainment – and we want you to not have to break the bank doing it either. Have a sneak-peek at a couple of our offers here:

Vouchers:

Here’s a great deal just for the serious shoppers among you! This DSF, buy any LG product worth AED 399 or above and get AED 150 LG Smart TV Upgrader voucher. How’s that for a cherry on top?

If you would like to know more about shopping bonanza offers this DSF, visit
www.lg.com/ae or call the LG Call Center at 800-54(LG ). Enjoy your sprees!

Social Center: Logging on to Facebook and Twitter (Tips & Tricks)

lgadmin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:04:52 +0000

Many of us are glued to our Facebook and Twitter feeds, and we’re tied in across multiple platforms. But what do you do when you want to tweet something about your favorite TV show while you’re watching it? <>We all know the situation well, trying to focus on the screen across the room while typing something out on the Smartphone or tablet sitting on our laps. You don’t want to miss any of the action, so your head bobs up and down straining to concentrate. It’s hardly the ideal situation when you’re on the edge of your seat, right?
That’s where the Social Center that comes installed on every LG CINEMA 3D Smart TVs comes in. It keeps you connected to Facebook and Twitter, allowing you to tweet or leave messages on your friend’s walls, without having to look away from your favorite program.
And it only takes a few simple steps to get set up.

The Social Center appears by default on the bar at the bottom of the screen when you hit the Home button on your Magic Motion Remote Control.

Here you can log on with your LG App store ID easily with your ID and password. Notice that even when you’re logging in, you can still view the channel you’re watching.
Once you’re logged in you’ll see a login page for Facebook with tabs that allow you to switch between FB and Twitter. Again just log your self in with the appropriate ID and passwords.

So when you’re logged into your Facebook account, you quickly see your news feed. The Like button is right there, or you can leave a comment. You can also update your status, all while glued to your favorite show!

Let’s go over to the Twitter tab, located at the top. Again, once you’re logged in you can view all your tweets. If you see a tweet that you like, simply hover your pointer over it and click it.

Here you can RT with the red button or reply by hitting the green.

And if you only want to stay connected to one account, you can always click the +/- button at the top of the screen, and opt to delete your Facebook or Twitter account from the Social Center.
That’s it! Simple, right? The whole process is quite straightforward really. Once you’ve read our guide, it should be a walk in the park to get yourself connected. Our suggestion: give your Smartphone a break or, even better; use the TV time to let it charge. We’ll keep you connected.

Know Your Ports, Do More with Your LG CINEMA 3D Smart TV

lgadmin — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:00:58 +0000

Alright, so you’ve bought yourself a beautiful new LG CINEMA 3D Smart TV. You are really excited to set it up and enjoy great 3D content.<> But before you dive right in and start powering things up, take a moment and figure out the various ports. It’ll make your set-up easier and you’ll probably learn a few tips on how to make the most of your newly purchased TV. We say “probably” because our engineers have packed plenty of ideas in these units.
Let’s take a look at the ports:

That’s a lot of ports! Your CINEMA 3D Smart TV may not have an identical layout,
but it will most likely have a similar configuration.

Now let’s understand what each of these ports can do for you:

HDMI Port

The HDMI port is a great place to start. Until a few years ago, avid video gamers were the only ones making the best usage of this port. Well, thankfully today there are so many digital peripherals around us that can make use of HDMI ports. Besides your game console, you can also connect digital SLRs, computers, notebooks, camcorders, and even tablets. As the name suggests, it’s a FULL HD connection and delivers astounding sound quality and HD videos.

RGB Port

Not all of us have HDMI ports on our PC’s. But this isn’t a problem. Whatever computer you do have, will have a RGB connection. It’s been a standard for video/monitors for about 2 decades. So if you don’t have an HDMI port but still want to connect your PC, just unplug your monitor and plug that same cable into the TV. Switch the input on, select “PC” and you’re good-to-go. Just keep in mind that you’ll need a separate audio connection for your sound.

USB Port

USB ports have become pretty common on most of our computers these days and you’ll find a bunch on your LG CINEMA 3D Smart TV as well. What many people aren’t aware of is that the TV comes with a special software which is programmed to read just about any kind of memory storage device that has a USB connector. Photos on your camera? Plug it in. A movie stored on your thumb drive? Just plug it in. The TV will do the rest, prompting you with a screen to choose the file. Just connect, click and view to your hearts content. You can even connect your external hard drive.

Connecting your Home Theater System

Not all home theater systems were made with the same specifications. But the basic ones have at least 2 channel speakers, which mean you’ll definitely need the analog stereo audio ports – One for the Right and One for the Left. They are typically color-coded red and white. But most home theater system these days are digital so just locate the digital optical ports on the back, match the wires to the colors and enjoy!
Learning the functions of these 4 basic ports on your new CINEMA 3D Smart TV will open a whole new TV viewing experience. Connect and enjoy!

Introducing LG’s 3D Ecosystem: Why Just Watch?

lgadmin — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:25:59 +0000

With films like Avatar and Transformers 3, we’re starting to get used to seeing great 3D movies in the movie theater. But with so much awesome 3D technology all around us now, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.<>
In fact, you might even say it’s a golden era for 3D fans out there and, for us here at LG, we couldn’t be having more fun! We don’t want to just lead the way towards outstanding 3D TV technology. We’re developing an ecosystem of products that gives consumers the opportunity to quickly and easily enjoy 3D content. An ecosystem that even enables them to make their own 3D movies with all the tools they need to take pleasure in what they’ve created.
Just a few years ago, creating a 3D movie was a difficult dream to realize. It costs a fortune and you need at least two top-end cameras to get it done. But now, with LG’s new smartphone, the Optimus 3D, anyone can do it. Just take out your phone and start shooting! True, no one is going to mistake you for James Cameron, but the Optimus 3D has two 5-megapixel HD cameras that record in 720p at a superfast 30fps, so we’ve got you covered when it comes to quality. The other cool thing about the Optimus 3D is that you can play that video back in 3D anywhere, even without glasses.

The LG 3D Ecosystem: Create, edit and enjoy your own 3D content
And when you come home, that’s when the fun really begins, when you share your newly created 3D content with your friends and family on the big screen, either through a quick and convenient HDMI connection that plugs right into the phone or, even easier, go wireless with DLNA.
Here’s where the LG CINEMA 3D SMART TV and 3D Home Theater System really shine, because it’s all about family viewing. And because the LG CINEMA 3D SMART TVs are certified ‘Flicker-Free’ and have an exceptionally wide viewing angle, the entire family really can get in on the fun comfortably. No one has to crowd around the TV and there is none of the dizziness sometimes caused by conventional 3D TVs

You might be even more amazed by the sound of what you created. With LG’s 3D Home Theater System, you don’t just hear sounds from behind or off to the side. The four tallboy speakers pump the sound upwards so that it cascades down, fully enveloping you in a dome of sound as if you were right there at the scene (or right back where you took the video!). The sound is fuller, deeper, and no details are missed.
You can also enjoy life in 3D outside your house, using an LG A510 3D laptop to play 3D games or watch 3D movies. And don’t worry about your eyes getting tired from watching the 3D images so close. LG created a special Tridef 3D shortcut key that allows you to adjust the depth of the 3D images so you can watch for as long as you want.
And you know the best part? For all LG 3D products, you can use the same pair of lightweight, affordable glasses. No need to spend any more money on glasses!
No other home electronics manufacturer can make the same claim. The LG 3D ecosystem is a perfect fit for you 3D life!

Why LG Plasma

lgadmin — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 09:24:07 +0000

There are certain features that consumers seek in an advanced TV. In this infographic, you’ll see how the LG Plasma TV answers those needs. <> We’ll also reveal how LG’s superior technology delivers a richer experience, enhancing your enjoyment for movies, music, images and more.

FAQs About 3D TVs

lgadmin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 09:11:41 +0000

1. Why do I need to wear glasses, and why are they so expensive?
The 3 dimensional effect is created by two separate images that need to be put together. The glasses help us do that. If you’ve ever been to a 3D movie, it’s basically the same at home.<>
The price difference has to do with the fact that different manufacturers use different technologies. The two main ones are active shutter-type glasses and the Film Patterned Retarder-type (FPR) glasses. Active shutter-types require batteries to receive images from the TV, and the left and right lenses have to turn on and off at a very high rate. These can cost as much as $200.

LG CINEMA 3D glasses are FPR and are so much lighter than conventional active shutter type glasses!
FPR-type glasses are what you get in the movie theater, except a lot cooler. They are thinner, lighter, don’t need to be charged, and they feel great to wear. They have a much wider viewing angle and are remarkably affordable. Read more on the comparison between active and FPR-type 3D glasses here.
2. Is 3D harmful for my eyes? Does it cause headaches?
Some users complain about nausea, dizziness and eye fatigue while watching 3D. Much of this phenomenon is closely related to the ‘crosstalk’ and ‘flicker,’ two phenomena associated with active shutter glasses. It has to do with the rapid pattern shift from side to side and between the colour black and the main image. Watching 3D over an extended period on active shutters can get stressful for the eyes, causing the symptoms mentioned above.
FPR type glasses, on the other hand, don’t show flickering or cross talk. They’re easy on the eyes and can be viewed for a long time without affecting your vision. As a matter of fact, LEXUM eye clinic, a well-known institution in Europe has proven by testing LG CINEMA 3D TVs, that FPR-type 3D TVs are harmless to our eyes. Read more on it here.
3. Is there a huge variety of 3D content to watch?
In a word, Yes. Many consumers ask about this. After all, purchasing a new advanced TV would not be of great benefit if you could not utilize its features, right?
So we created something we call the ‘Limitless 3D’ experience. With an LG CINEMA 3D SMART TV, you’ll never run out of new and exciting 3D content to enjoy.
The Smart TV menu provides a wealth of 3D content on demand, from 3D movies, exclusive music videos and concerts. You can also convert your 2D content into 3D with LG’s outstanding 2D to 3D conversion technology, which transforms dull motion pictures into vibrant 3D images. You can read more on the 3D content on LG CINEMA 3D SMART TVs here.

Keep Watching! Harmless LG Cinema 3D

lgadmin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:36:20 +0000

Remember back in the day when your mom told you to not sit so close to the TV? Or, to stop watching because you’d been at it for hours and she was afraid for your eyes?<>
Mom may not have met LG CINEMA 3D SMART TV. According to The American Optometric Association watching 3D TV does not affect the health of children. The AOA stated that the vision development for the vast majority of children is not in any way affected by viewing 3D images on their TVs.

AOA is not the only organization to verify 3D TVs safety. Meet Professor Martin Filipec of the LEXUM EYE CLINIC, a prestigious eye care institution in the Czech Republic. The LEXUM EYE CLINIC tested out LG CINEMA 3D with FPR technology. The verdict? Filipec verifies that it is absolutely safe. The Family Star, a Czech publication, also took a set of LG’s CINEMA 3D TV. Once again, the results could not have been more crystal clear: it’s even safe for the children. In fact, Family Star liked it so much, it actually recommended 3D TVs for children, claiming that it’s not only safe, but also offers great new experiences for children.
So there you have it. We don’t know about all the other TVs out there, but LG’s FPR CINEMA 3D SMART TVs are perfectly safe, for young and old alike.

BE SMART: Can All Your Kid’s Apps Bring the Family Together?

lgadmin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:22:43 +0000

Your kids’ smartphones practically scream their personalities. They’ve got their customized covers, their wallpapers, the music, all those apps they’ve downloaded. It’s amazing how good the application market has become at helping our kids find their true selves.<>
Most of us are glad to see our children blossom through independence but we also worry about family togetherness, too. After all, it’s hard to share the fun with others on such a small screen. Isn’t there something that all this new application technology can do to make family ties stronger?
There is.

LG was thinking about that with its new LG CINEMA 3D Smart TV lineup, bringing the apps to TV not just to make them smarter but also to help the whole family find some quality time in the family room together. Can you imagine the fun your daughter will have with a fashion app on the much bigger screen at home? And how about your son? A dedicated sports or 3D game app might be just the thing to get him to turn off his PC and come out of his room.
Etisalat and LG entered last June a unique partnership enabling LG SMART TVs users to enjoy Etisalat’s ‘OnDemand’. This great service will enable families to enjoy watching endless movies on demand in addition to a great selection of TV channels for kids that you don’t find on regular Cable TV in the UAE. These channels include: FootSchool TV, which teaches students basic football skills and rules, Kids Co Entertainment, Baby First and many more.

Kids can enjoy the best entertainment and educational content from a wide variety of sources

And if TV shows and On Demand movies were not enough, your kids can click the YouTube tab get the day’s most highly watched web videos in seconds. Of course, if they’re hungry for some 3D experience, LG’s 3D Videos-on-Demand is on tap to provide you with different 3D contents. In addition to all these features, kids can access a full range of quality lifestyle applications and interactive games. They can immediately access the store on screen and easily download from a rich selection of applications. Some of these great Apps include short animated stories, educational games, entertainment games and much more.

With LG’s new CINEMA 3D Smart TV, you won’t have to call out ‘who’s home?’ when you walk in the door. You’ll see them all in the living room right as you enter your house!

Delving into the 3D TV Technology Dispute through 3D Glasses

lgadmin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:04:10 +0000

As the world is embracing 3D technologies faster than ever, it seems to be of great importance to learn about the main factors in choosing 3D TVs.
First, let’s take a look at the terms.<>
Polarized Glasses = Polarization 3D = Passive method.
Shutter Type Glasses = Alternate-frame sequencing = Active method.
The panel is what produces 3D images in FPR 3D TVs, this is why polarized glasses (a.k.a. Passive glasses) are used. On the other hand, for SG (Shutter Glasses) types, the glasses play a critical role in realizing 3D images. This is why Shutter Glasses type, or active glasses are used.
Heavy, Pricey, or Stylish
SG types utilize shutters by inserting liquid crystal between two polarized plates and sending electric signals. This requires batteries, charging and circuits, that really drives up the cost of the glasses.
FPR type glasses only require one polarized plate, so it is very similar to sunglasses. Normally, sunglasses are made by coated UV protective film, and prices greatly differ depending on the material or design. FPR type is very similar. You can expect to see partnerships with famous global luxury brands to develop FPR type 3D glasses that can also be used as sunglasses.

　
How many different 3D products can you enjoy with one pair of glasses?
To use 3D glasses for TVs and other various 3D products, there has to be a standard viewing angle and brightness between TV and FPR type glasses. LG’s FPR 3D products, ranging from TVs, projectors, monitors and notebook computers, can be viewed with a single pair of glasses. You can use the same pair of glasses to watch 3D movies in the theater (types may vary depending on the theater).

Enjoy 3D content from all LG 3D products with a single pair of CINEMA 3D glasses
　
To Sit or To Lay
Our domestic competitor uses linear polarized lenses in the SG type glasses, and when you start to turn your head, the screen darkens until finally you can’t see anything at all. FPR types use circular polarized lenses, which don’t make the screen darker even when you turn your head.　
3D images are created for the left and right eye. Even if you are lying down, the left eye continues to see the left image, and the right eye will continue to see the right image.
Less Crosstalk, Less Flicker
Crosstalk refers to the ratio of when the left and right images are not sent to the desired position and overlap. So less crosstalk (lower percentage) means less possibility of becoming dizzy, and this in turn could be seen as an outstanding 3D display.
Flicker, refers to well…flickering. The biggest side effects of 3D TV viewing are tiresome eyes and headaches. That is why inverter stands were developed. Inverter stands use a part called ballast stabilizers to increase the flickering to over 10 thousand times per second. This dramatically decreased the tiring of the eyes.

Crosstalk

Green TVs by LG

lgadmin — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 07:03:38 +0000

There’s some good news for all the green consumers out there. Straight up, you never have to be torn between getting the really big TV that you’ve been coveting, and finding a smaller TV that’s easier on the environment.

A Carbon Reduction Label? Check!
With today’s advanced technology and constant state of innovation, larger TV screens no longer have to automatically mean more power consumption. And all you have to do to make sure a TV is eco-friendly is just take a look at the frame. What you’re looking for is a Carbon Reduction Label issued by Carbon Trust. If you see it, then you know the company has made a commitment to reduce the carbon footprint of their product or service.

Now with that said, LG is proud to become the first company in Europe to carry the Carbon Reduction Label on our TVs. This demonstrates our commitment to reduce environmental impact at all stages lifecycle, from production, to transportation, preparation, use and disposal. And the label also tells you that LG is committed to make further emissions reductions. Below are some stats to help you understand.

Pretty impressive, right?

The award is especially significant because it shows how much LG is dedicated to bringing environmentally friendly products to the shelves and in the homes of consumers. And we know for a fact that our consumers care about saving energy and the environment.

Being Green is the way to go
Statistics prove that an increasing number of consumers care and are paying attention to the footprint of what they buy. Recent research on UK consumer buying habits, commissioned by the Carbon Trust, showed that 47% of shoppers are more likely to choose low carbon labeled goods over non-labeled. Also, one in five (21%) said they would pay more for carbon labeled products.

So, embrace that big screen! Enjoy your house and feel good about yourself for making a smart choice!

A Very Special LG Fan

lgadmin — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:36:00 +0000

This post takes us to South Africa, home of one of the largest Safari Parks (Kruger National Park) and Sun City (world-renowned resort).
It’s also home to Ryan, an adorable 3-year old boy living in the beautiful city of Cape Town who, believe it or not, is a massive fan of LG remote controls.<>
Now, we’ve all had our share of, let’s call them, ‘unique’ toy collections as babies. For boys, the old standards are the model cars and superhero figures. For girls, depending on the generation, it might have been Barbie dolls and Care Bears. Of course, these days, we’re seeing a lot of crossover in the toy-department, right?
Either way, kids certainly get attached to their toys, and there’s almost always a favorite among their collection.
Which brings us back to Ryan, because his favorite is not a car or a superhero. Ryan collects remote controls. He’s got so many and spends so much time with them, apparently he learned part of the alphabet from them!

Of course he gets some help from his parents and, today, Ryan’s collection now boasts well over 100 remotes. But it’s the LG ones he loves the most. When asked what he wanted for his 3rd birthday, Ryan said “an LG remote cake!” And that’s exactly what he got.

We found out about Ryan when his mom wrote us a letter explaining how Ryan was a very special fan of LG and also asking if there were any promotional goods that she could use for Ryan’s birthday party. Well, let’s just say there was no chance that we would take a pass on that!
LG South Africa put together a package of remote controls, balloons, LG T-shirts and other goods and sent them off for Ryan’s birthday. Needless to say, Ryan had a blast at his party, along with many of his friends.

We were glad to be a part of it and hope it was a memorable event for Ryan, too.