With so many different wireless technologies around today, there is still one place that way too many cords are found, and that’s behind your TV. For some people, they have multiple gaming consoles, home theater receivers, cable TV and more running back there. Well Sharp has finally stepped up to the plate and created a device for their high-end TVs that will eliminate all but your power cord.

The wireless standard that makes this possible is WHDI (Wireless High Definition Interface). This allows HDMI signals to be transmitted in full 1080p, so there is no loss of quality. All of your TV inputs are routed through the box you see above, and then transmitted to the TV without any extra work. The box itself can be positioned up to 100 feet away, allowing you to keep all of your home theater equipment safely tucked away somewhere out of the way.

Of course you’ll need to have deep pockets if you want to go wireless. The WHDI add-on is going to set you back around $800 extra on top of the already steep $4,000 price tag of the Sharp X-Series HDTV.

The RetailBRIDGE cites a study that claims 5.5 million U.S. TV viewers purchased HDTVs during the holiday season and football's Superbowl in February 2008. To put this number in perspective, 28 million U.S. households in total own HDTVs. This means that 20% of the current HDTV population in the U.S. jumped on board during the Christmas season and Superbowl timeframe. Wow!

There are obviously other factors that come into play here: amazingly low prices during those few months (and even still today!), the upcoming FCC transition to all-digital TV, and growing consumer knowledge about HDTV overall. But a major surge in sales during those 3 months is great news for the industry; and just reinforces the importance of the holidays and sports. It's incredible when you think just how important gift-giving and sporting events are to the CE business.

Understanding home theatre connectivity is important in order to get the best performance out of your system — or indeed, to make it work at all. The rear panel of a typical A/V receiver or HDTV can be intimidating, but in this how-to we show you how to navigate the labyrinth of connectors like a pro.

Additionally, you'll get an overview of HDTV connectivity that will help you make smarter purchases, or get more out of HD gear that you currently own.

If you haven't already purchased a high-definition television, it's a good idea to familiarise yourself with how an HDTV connects to things. This information will give you a better idea of what to look for when you enter the retail jungle. And if you've already bought an HDTV, it's still important to understand the basics of your components connection scheme, and ways you can maximise the effectiveness of your purchase.

High-definition console owners makeup 18 percent of HDTV purchases

Most gamers tend to be early adopters of technology. Those who own an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 know full well that a high-definition television is required in order to appreciate the visuals of the latest games to their fullest.

It should surprise few then to learn that of all consumers who purchased an HDTV in the past year, 18 percent of those were gamers buying the set just to connect either an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3.

As reported in findings from research firm Frank N. Magid Associates, 25 percent of U.S. households or 28 million now have at least one HDTV set, that up from a penetration of 20 percent in September 2007. 5.5 million homes introduced HDTV during the holiday and Super Bowl season. 3 million homes added a second HDTV during the same period.

If you're in the market for a High Def TV...one of the first things you'll notice is the big difference in price. On the high end, Sony, Panasonic, and other well known brands. At the low end, discount brands you've never heard of.

But before you buy one to save a hundred bucks...wait till you see what you could be in for.

The Problem

Melissa Steinkamp says with the exception of a little red light, her TruTech High Def TV is "No Def" TV. She says just one month after its one year warranty ended, the LCD TV went black in her Anderson Township home.
She called Target -- where she bought it -- but tells me the store couldn't help, since the warranty had run out.

We already know that over 65% of PS3 and Xbox 360 gamers play on an HDTV. But we didn't know that 18% of HDTV watchers played Xbox 360 or PS3.

That stat was compiled over HDTV sales from only the last year, but the trend is contributed to the falling prices of HDTVs, allowing more of the 21-34 demographic to purchase sets—precious souls between 21-34 want to play their games in HD. And by "HD," we mean "huffing daffodils." It's the only way we'll play anymore.

If you are one of our many readers who have given up trying to stream media files from your computer to your HDTV, then you may be interested in a new device from Iomega called the ScreenPlay HD Multimedia Drive.

The device is combines an external 500GB USB hard drive with a video decoder and HDMI or component outputs so you can load up the hard drive with media files and connect it directly to your HDTV.

The ScreenPlay HD Multimedia Drive 500GB weighs 2 pounds and measures 7.7" x 2.3" x 5", or about the size of a paperback book. Inside is a 500GB 3.5 inch 7200 RPM hard drive formatted with the NTFS file system. Video connection options include HDMI, component and composite video, and SCART (RGB). Audio connection options include composite RCA and coaxial S/PDIF outputs. PC transfers use the USB 2.0 interface. USB, composite video, and component video cables are included. A remote control for navigating the contents of the drive is also included.

Choosing the right HD television set can be an overwhelming experience.

Jim Moran, who sells HDTVs from his Meriden and Middletown stores said consumers searching for a new TV should first decide whether to go with an LCD or plasma set.

"The difference is -- one is done with a gas and the other is done with a LED light. LED will become probably the mainstay in the future, but plasma does come a little less expensive and it comes in larger sizes," he said.

He said that some consumers prefer the softer look of plasma while others like the sharper and more vivid image of an LCD model.

"The LCD will be a little brighter," he said.

He said that many people think they should try to get the biggest screen they can afford, but warned that if you go too big, you could be overwhelmed by the brightness. He said that anything 55 inches or larger should be put in a large, open room.

Westinghouse Digital on Wednesday released its seemingly double-jointed PT-16H610S HDTV. The company dubs the TV a Flexible Lifestyle Display, and is built around a 16-inch LCD capable of reproducing HD content in 720p (1366 by 768 pixel) resolution. The TV's mounting and adjustability options live up to its namesake, as it can be hung upside down as on a kitchen cabinet or mounted on a wall, thanks to dual hinges and an image that rotates by 180 degrees.

The 16:9 aspect ratio TV can accept a 1080p input via an HDMI or component cables, and has a built-in ATSC/NTSC/ClearQAM tuner. An anti-glare coating makes images visible in bright conditions. Instead of buttons, the TV itself features a touch keypad. When not in use, the 16H610S folds flat.

The PT-16H610S is currently available for pre-order at Target stores throughout the US, priced at nearly $300.

MINNEAPOLIS -- When is glorious high-definition not so glorious?

If you ask some cable customers, it's when their systems try to juggle between getting more channels to customers and using up limited cable bandwidth.

Some customers, especially those with high-end plasma, projector and LCD TV sets, are complaining that they are getting less quality than they paid for.

Some cable operators use signal compression to squeeze three digital HD signals into the bandwidth of one analog station. The result can be blocky images with softer images, even for programming produced with HD in mind.