Audio News for September 1, 2015

by | Sep 1, 2015 | Audio News

Samsung Disses LG’s RGBW Technology – All of Samsung’s 2015 UHD TVs are “true UHD models” which don’t use the inferior RGBW pixel structure adopted by its rival LG on their entry-level smart TVs. Samsung said that TVs using RGBW pixel configurations “do not meet the CEA requirements for UHD TVs due to the limitations on pixel colors. The white sub-pixels that are mixed among the red, green, and blue sub-pixels in RGBW panels restrict and limit the color palate a TV is capable of showing while deluting the overall picture quality by affecting clarity, brightness and sharpness. The RGBW technology enables LG to produce lower-cost smart UHD LED TVs which the company admits do not comply with the CEA’s specs.

Fandor for Film Freaks – Fandor is an interesting film-streaming site which has daily fine articles on films and a large library of unusual films. They have a current article by a specialist in comparing both the original Norwegian feature of 1997, Insomnia, with the Hollywood version of 2002, side by side on one scene. (The American version starred Robert DeNiro, and is not necessarily better but both have their pros and cons.) They also have a free period before a monthly payment is due to access their films. You need either Flash or a Chrome browser.

LG’s SmartThinQ Sensor – is a small disc-shaped device to be attached to many home appliances to make them “smart aware.” They sense feedback such as vitration and temperature and transmit them to a SmartThinQ app on a smartphone. Among other things, it can track how many times the refrigerator door is opened, or tell you when a partcular food item is about to expire. In other words, the gadget raises the IQ of dumb appliances.

Earbud Hearing Loss – was reported on an NBC Today show with a warning from the World Health Organization that over a billion young people are at risk because of personal audio devices, ear buds and high noise levels at live venues. A specialist cited the close proximity of earbuds to the ear drum, which can raise volume by as much as 9 dB. He said probably the largest cause of hearing damage is millennials using iPods and smartphones. Hearing experts recommend buying noise-cancelling headphones or using Apple’s parental control to lock volume levels to 60% or lower. [The worst offender is probably Apple’s cheap white earbuds…Ed.]

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