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Monday, 9 December 2013

Philips DesignLine 55PDL8908 (55-inch LED)

This stunningly designed TV offers respectable picture quality, though its smart TV function can be quite lacking.

The good	Crisp and fluid visuals; accurate hues; stunning design; versatile remote control; unique Ambilight function.
The bad	Light 3D crosstalk; poor shadow detail; mediocre sound quality; very limited apps; pricey.

CNET Editors' rating

3.75stars
Rating breakdown
- Performance:7
- Design:9
- Features:8

The latest Philips DesignLine TVs are unlike any other panels on the market, sporting a full glass bezel that extends all the way to the floor. Aside from their good looks, these panels also boast the best features in the 2013 Philips TV lineup, including its proprietary Ambilight function, active 3D technology and smart TV support.

Meanwhile, wireless screen mirroring and second screen function are two notable additions for the enhanced Philips smart TV system. Picture quality-wise, I like the overall natural colors and crisp visuals, but found motion reproduction was either jittery or a tad too smooth depending on the setting.

Let's find out how TP Vision, the new company behind the latest Philips TVs, has fared with its new flagship series.

Design

The highlight of the DesignLine TV's floating glass design is an integrated bezel and floor stand, which is crafted from a huge sheet of reinforced tempered glass. The surface is also tinted, from dark to translucent toward the bottom, to recreate an attractive floating image effect.

A bundled DesignLine wall mount serves as an anchor and lets you lean or hang the panel on the wall. Another nice touch is the translucent rubber feet for protecting the flooring and to prevent the glass from chipping.

But with limited clearance between the panel and wall, the controls on the back and moderately recessed side A/V sockets can be harder to use. Facing the rear, placement of the speakers is far from ideal, too, in my opinion.

With a faux brushed-metal finish and a trendy design, the latest Philips 3D glasses are easily one of the more stylish active shutter 3D models out there. Moreover, they fit well over prescription glasses and are surprisingly comfortable thanks to a pair of soft nose pads. This is despite a hefty weight of 34g each, making them the heaviest among its peers.

Instead of built-in rechargeable batteries, power is supplied from a standard coin-shaped cell. To replace the battery, you will have to unscrew a cover, which can be a hassle for some users.

	Design and layout
Panel depth	41.4mm
Bezel width	15mm
Finishing	Glossy screen; glass bezel in black hue
TV controls	Rear-right: Push buttons
Auxiliary A/V inputs	Left side: CI card slot; earphone; 3 x USB and HDMI
Mounting option	Wall bracket

TP Vision has further enhanced its dual-sided remote control debuted last year. The new version now sports a stain-resistant metallic top and an air mouse function in addition to a keyboard on the opposite side. An accelerometer prevents accident key presses by automatically sensing the clicker's orientation.

Shortcut keys are provided for most of the commonly used functions, such as 3D and smart TV. It is hard to find fault with the build quality of this ergonomic remote, not to mention its generally responsive and tactile buttons.

Form factor	Longish; rounded bottom; 213mm-long
Finishing	Brushed metal and plastic; matte-gray
Backlight	N.A.
Number of keys	91
Input-selection keys	Source; TV

Non-tech savvy consumers should find the intuitive activity-based user menu appealing. A wide selection of picture mode is also available and can be separately configured for each input. The more adventurous crowd can check out a simplified video calibration function known as "Quick Picture Setting" to customize the visuals.

For videophiles, there are many advanced configurations such as a RGBCMY color management system. What's more, Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) professional calibration is supported via the ISF Day and Night picture modes.

	Software menu
User interface	Icon-based; colored
Video modes	Personal; Vivid; Natural; Standard; Movie; Photo; Energy Saving; ISF Day; ISF Night
Audio modes	Personal; Original; Movie; Music; Game; News
Key advanced settings	Gamma; 2-point white balance; RGBCMY color management
Notable extras	Quick picture setting; user guide

Features

In terms of picture-enhancement features, the DesignLine TV is neck-and-neck with all high-end LED-edgelit panel. Onboard local dimming function outputs deeper blacks and is complemented by a proprietary 1,400Hz Perfect Motion Rate technology. The latter is achieved by combining a blazingly fast 200Hz native refresh rate with auxiliary backlight processing.

Another highlight is the three-sided Ambilight XL lighting system, which is designed to mirror the onscreen hues and emits a halo of light enveloping the screen. Some of the benefits cited by the company are less eyestrain and a more immersive viewing experience. A two-player game mode converts any split-screen games into full screen for each gamer by using the bundled 3D glasses.

As the inbuilt video-recording function is only compatible with broadcasters that transmit Web-based program schedule, it will not work in Asian countries where the data is sent over the air. It turned out that our set also failed to receive the guide over the air after changing the relevant TV setting. Time-shifting live digital TV programs using a USB hard drive is not affected, though.

	A/V and multimedia
Video	Active 3D; LED-edgelit; local dimming; 200Hz refresh rate
Audio	15W x 2; Incredible Surround; Dolby Digital
Multimedia	MP3, WMA, AAC, JPEG, MPEG-1/2/4, H.264, VC-1, WMV-HD, MKV via triple USB, Ethernet and Wi-Fi
TV tuner	Analog; digital (DVB-T/C/S)
Miscellaneous	Dual-core processor; DLNA; time-shift

Evaluating the Philips smart TV system left me with mixed impressions. On the up side, wireless screen mirroring is based on the Miracast open standard and the second screen function performed reasonably well. Rather than juggling between multiple controllers, the air mouse and keyboard capabilities of the new Philips remote made it possible to operate all TV functions conveniently.

Dragging down the overall user experience are the sluggish interface and limited downloadable apps. There is no video-on-demand app that offers Hollywood content, while some apps haven't been reprogramed to support the remote's pointer.

	Smart TV and Skype
Apps	Apps downloadable from App Gallery
Web browser	HTML5 compatible
Control option(s)	Remote control with QWERTY keyboard and pointer; remote apps (Android and iOS)
Skype	Via optional camera

On the connectivity front, this Philips is pretty well equipped with three USB ports to connect a Skype camera and USB storage devices plus four HDMI inputs. Additionally, integrated Wi-Fi and an Ethernet socket provide Internet access and DLNA media sharing.

That said, it could have been better if Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) was supported. I am not a fan of the cumbersome component-video cable adapter and Europe-oriented SCART socket, but converters are available to turn the SCART into a more useful composite-A/V input.

	Connectivity
HDMI input(s)	Four sockets; version 1.4
Component-video input(s)	One socket; 1080p-ready
PC input	N.A.
Audio output(s)	Digital optical
Miscellaneous	Ethernet; Wi-Fi

Performance

TV broadcasts

Tuning into the local analog broadcasts, visuals appeared reasonably sharp and very smooth. However, I also felt that the background was somewhat grainy with mild ghosting. Overscan was moderately high for this display, leading to increased cropping around the corners of a program.

With digital channels, noise was noticeably lower with a slight improvement in sharpness. Using the Auto Volume Leveling function effectively minimized any big fluctuation in speaker loudness with toggling between the analog and digital channels.

DVDs

The DVD-upscaling performance of the DesignLine TV was commendable, matching the superb LG 55LA8600 in terms of sharpness and details, but lose out in smoothening out jaggies. These jagged edges were most obvious along the outlines of text and diagonal lines in movies and test patterns. I wasn't exactly impressed with the mediocre noise reduction function, too.

Blu-ray Discs

Selecting the Unscaled aspect ratio resolved the earlier mentioned overscan problem. This was coupled with noticeably higher details with these native 1080p discs. But unlike broadcasts and DVDs, I found Blu-rays displayed on this panel generally too sharp. To preserve the original look of the movie, the TV sharpness setting was eventually reduced to zero.

Minimizing 24fps film judder without causing unnatural motion was near impossible. The panel exhibited the infamous soap opera effect even if its Perfect Natural Motion (PNR) processing is at its lowest level. You could turn off PNR completely, but this is at the expense of visible judder and motion blurring.

3D

The DesignLine TV performed quite well in 3D, rendering crisp 3D visuals with immersive depth. Since the panel is effectively refreshing at 100Hz for each eye, onscreen motion was much more realistic. The Philips active shutter 3D glasses also exhibited surprisingly low flickering and boast very wide viewing angle.

Compared with the Samsung UA55F8000, ghosting (crosstalk) was slightly higher, but still well within tolerance. Be prepared to manually adjust the DesignLine TV's backlight level whenever you toggle between 2D and 3D content since its uses a common setting, while other TVs can be separately adjusted.

Color accuracy

Calibrating the panel yielded balanced primary and second hues, complete with an overall warm color tonality similar to commercial theaters. Add to the strong showings were lifelike skin tones and relatively inky black. That said, we also noticed strong "black crush", masking subtle shadow detail during many dark scenes.

Audio

The 30W audio subsystem played movie soundtracks loud with plenty of reserve power left. But as expected, the rear-facing speakers produced no imaging. The virtual surround sound engine failed to expand the overall soundstage, while dialogs tend to sound a little muffled too.

Miscellaneous

Though it is still unclear what type of panel the DesignLine TV is using, it has a very wide viewing angle and excellent brightness uniformity. I did find the highly reflective front glass distracting under bright room lighting. This Philips is also the least efficient 55-inch LED TV I have tested this year with its higher than usual 85W average power consumption.

	Rating
TV broadcasts	Average
DVDs	Average
Blu-ray Discs	Good
3D	Good
Color accuracy	Good
Audio	Average

Conclusion

The Philip DesignLine TV is an eye-catching panel with unique features such as the floating glass design and Ambilight XL function. It performs admirably, too, but both shadow detail and sound quality should have been better. The sluggish smart TV system and a limited app selection make it even harder to recommend this model wholeheartedly.

Retailing at S$5,599, the 55-inch version also costs more than other flagship LED TVs of the same size screen. This includes the LG 55LA8600, Samsung UA55F8000 and Sony KDL-55W954, all going for less than S$5,000.

Equipment	Model(s)
Reference 3D Blu-ray player	Panasonic DMP-BDT300
Reference DVD player	Pioneer DV-S969AVi
Reference game consoles	Sony PS3/Xbox 360
Reference 4K signal generator	Alienware Aurora R4
A/V interconnects	Monster cables/Philips/Gefe
HDMI distribution	Gefen
Reference LED-lit TV	LG 55LM9600
Reference plasma/3D TV	Panasonic Viera TH-P50VT20S
Calibration tool	SpectraCal Calman 4 with Chroma 5 colorimeter

LG Smart TVs to incorporate AllJoyn for better device interoperability

In a bid to enhance device interoperability, LG has announced that it will be incorporating AllJoyn technology into its upcoming smart TVs. Originally developed by Qualcomm, AllJoyn provides a common software framework that enables seamless multi-platform compatibility.

In theory, you can have different smartphones running Android, iOS and Windows Phone operating systems communicating simultaneously with an AllJoyn-ready LG smart TV. Below is an example of a multiplayer game scenario provided by the chaebol in its press release:

"In Mini Motor Racing, one person could steer his or her car around the track using the LG Magic Remote while the other players control their vehicles via the LG Gamepad app for mobile devices."

There is no specific mention of a roll-out plan or products that will include this technology yet, though it is likely more information will be released during the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas

Zeiss Otus 55mm F1.4 lens tests show unparalleled sharpness

The $4,000 Zeiss Otus 55mm F1.4 lens delivers outstanding sharpness.
(Credit: Carl Zeiss)

What do you get when you build a lens without caring overmuch how much it'll cost? Carl Zeiss's new Otus 55mm F1.4. It costs US$4,000, but so far it delivers stellar sharpness, according to rigorous new a test byLensRentals' Roger Cicala and DxO Labs' DxOMark score.

"By F2.8, this lens is already sharper than most excellent lenses will get at any aperture...Zeiss did what they said they had done: gave it exceptional performance even in the corners at widest aperture," said Cicala, who tested the lens on a Nikon D800e. That camera has a very high resolution 36-megapixel image sensor and, for a little bit of extra sharpness, omits the antialiasing filter that's present in its D800 sibling.

And DxO Labs put the Otus 55mm at the top of its ranking of dozens of lenses, with an "excellent" DxOMark score of 45 on the D800. The closest rival is Nikon's 85mm F1.4 with a score of 40.

DxO Labs gave its highest DxOMark score ever for the $4,000 Zeiss Otus 55mm f1.4 lens.
(Credit: DxO Labs)

It's not a lens for everybody, of course, given the price and the lack of autofocus that's so useful to many photographers. But Zeiss has a loyal following for its premium lenses, and there are lots of professionals and and rich enthusiasts in the photo market. If nothing else, the high scores show how much room there is for improvement in the rest of the lens market.

Zeiss plans more Otus models, too -- an 85mm F1.4 due in mid-2014 and a wide-angle model after that, according to an HDSLR interview with Zeiss' Rich Schleuning.

The need for sharp lenses has been increasing with the arrival of SLR with very high megapixel counts -- originally from Canon, and now from Nikon and Sony. There's no point in adding megapixels if a lens isn't sharp enough to transmit real-world details at the resolution of the sensor. The result has been a new breed of lenses with high resolving power.

And like the Zeiss, some of those lenses are coming from third-party manufacturers, not the dominant camera makers, Canon and Nikon. Sigma has been on a roll recently, scoring high with its Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 lens for lower-end SLRs and its 35mm F1.4 and 120-300mm F2.8 lenses for full-frame SLRs, for example.

The new lenses put new pressure on medium-format camera makers, too; the high image quality narrows the gap between conventional full-frame SLRs and extremely expensive cameras with even larger sensors. And as Zeiss doubtless is aware, medium-format photographers are less likely to freak out about the Otus price.

Time-lapse photography made affordable

If you are keen to try time-lapse photography but do not know where to start, Michron might just be the device to help you jumpstart your interest.

Time-lapse photography is essentially a series of photos compiled together to create a seemingly fast-forwarded video (see video below). However, it can be a tricky and costly experience for beginners who just want to try it out. Enter the Michron, a handy device that programs the camera to take shots at different intervals. The best part is, it is priced at just US$50 on Kickstarter.

The Michron is small and convenient to carry everywhere
(Credit: Michron)

The Michron can be programmed using the iPhone, on Android smartphone, or a computer through the Michron App.

For beginners who are unsure of what settings are ideal, Michron's AutoTimelapse features five pre-set modes -- People, Clouds, Landscape, Cityscape and Stars -- that automatically creates them for you so you do not have to worry about details such as interval timings and exposure.

There are just a few steps to follow before you get rolling.

After choosing the options on the app, connect the phone to the Michron to upload the settings. Once that is done, disconnect the phone and plug the Michron into the camera – and voila! – it will do the magic for you.

You will have to download a software to convert the photos into the final video. The good news is this is a fairly straightforward process.

Michron works with most dSLRs and point-and-shoot cameras. For US$50, you get a Michron, trigger cable, and programming cable. Find out more at Kickstarter.

Canon reveals EOS M2, its second-gen mirrorless camera

The Canon EOS M2 with the EF-M 18-55mm lens.
(Credit: Canon)

Canon announced the EOS M2 on Tuesday in China and Japan, updating the autofocus system that was the chief weakness of the company's its first-generation, high-end "mirrorless" compact camera.

The EOS M2 includes Hybrid CMOS AF II, an updated autofocus system that Canon said is faster than the M's system. It also gets Wi-Fi support, but the sensor is still an 18-megapixel model that tops out at ISO 12,800, or 25,600 if you enable its higher-noise expanded range.

But if you're outside Asia, restrain your enthusiasm for buying one. "At this time, we have no plans to announce in the US," spokeswoman Ellen Heydt said.

The M line is in a very competitive segment in the camera industry: models with interchangeable lenses but significantly smaller than traditional SLRs.

Canon, with a much stronger SLR and compact-camera business than rivals, was late to the mirrorless market but has considerable resources when it comes to camera design, manufacturing, sales, and customers that already own Canon lenses. The M line can accept Canon's EF and EF-S lenses geared for full-size SLRs with an adapter, but it ships with smaller EF-M lenses.

Olympus, Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, Nikon, Pentax, and Fujifilm all are vying for a place in the mirrorless camera market. One reason it's so appealing is that the traditional incumbent players -- Nikon and Canon -- don't have as much power. Another is that the compact camera market is dwindling as mobile phones take over mainstream photography needs.

Festive iPhone cases light up when you get calls, alerts

Your iPhone won't flash constantly, but it will light up in this cool way every time you get a phone call or an alert.
(Credit: Gizmodo)

Does your iPhone case merely protect your iPhone? Bo-ring!

Why not spruce things up a bit with a case that combines protection with festive, blinky coolness? That's the idea behind this line of VanD flashing iPhone cases.

Available in a variety of styles for iPhone 5/5S and iPhone 5C, the LED Cover Flashing Clear Case offers a seemingly transparent protective shell for your handset.

But by leveraging a little-known iOS setting -- LED flash for alerts -- the case will light up to display a nifty embedded pattern every you time you receive a call, text message, e-mail, or anything else that would normally trigger an alert.

When that happens, the LED flash is redistributed throughout the entire casing, meaning you can see the effect not only from the back (as shown in the above image), but also on the sides. It's pretty cool, especially considering that it requires no additional battery power (other than what the LED already draws).

This might be a fine gift item for the iPhone 5 owner who has everything, or for yourself if you like silent but noticeable alerts that also look pretty. The cases sell for $19.99 a piece.

Huawei could usher in octa-core era on December 16

Huawei could be first out of the gate with an octa-core processor.
(Credit: Weibo)

The Honor 4 should be among the first Androids to market with an eight-core mobile processor.

Don't look now, but the octa-core smartphone wars are about to begin. Indeed, Huawei may be first to announce a smartphone with a "true" octa-core processor later this month.

An invitation to a Huawei press event suggests that the Huawei Honor 4 should make its debut on December 16. The processor, which is expected to come from MediaTek, figures to deliver eight cores with clock speeds of 1.7GHz.

(For what it's worth, the international version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 employs an Exynos 5 processor, which Samsung claims to be eight cores at 1.9 GHz.)

Taking a peek at the other specifications, we find that the Honor 4 isn't entirely bleeding edge. Details, such as the 13-megapixel camera, 2GB RAM, and 32GB internal storage, are par for the course with high-end Androids. In terms of display, it's a mixed bag; measuring at 5.5 inches, it's expected to offer a 1,280x720p HD resolution, rather than the 1080p HD we're seeing for larger, high-end screens.

It is not clear which markets are expected to carry the Honor 4; however, we might not look for it in the United States. According to recent reports, Huawei has decided to exit the US market after allegations of cyber espionage. Reportedly, some markets will see this smartphone under the name of Glory 4.

While it's debatable whether MediaTek's octa-core processor can outperform Qualcomm's Snapdragon 805quad-core CPU, both definitely raise the bar.

While we're at it, the next-generation of Samsung and Intel processors won't be slouches. Heading into 2014 we can expect things to get faster and even more optimized -- maybe with a bit of mud slinging.