All 3 CSI Shows are FINALLY BACK!!!!

This week marks the return of the CSI trifecta on the CBS channel with the new season premiers of:

1. CSI: Miami
2. CSI: New York
3. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Ever since the last seasons' finales since...what seems like years ago...I have been waiting anxiously for this week.

Needless to say, my Monday nights, Wednesday nights, and Thursday nights are just not the same without CSI.

This week's CSI premiers was capped off with tonight's 7th Season's premier of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (the Original) which aired at 9 p.m. PST, and I think that I'll be able to have a good and happy night's sleep tonight.

For those that have never seen a full episode of either of the 3 CSI shows, you are totally missing out. Trust me...try it out, and,...you're welcome (you can thank me later). :-)

All of the CSI shows are written, performed, produced, filmed like a full-feature major movie. It's like a "mini movie," but the only thing that's mini about it is just the running time (which is 40-something minutes).

Despite being snubbed (again!) by the Emmy's this year...the CSI franchise is still a winner with a loyal and growing fan base, whom happens to have impeccable taste. :-)

It's because of QUALITY. It's not lousy, waste-of-your-time, another-run-of-the-mill TV shows (like SOOOOOO many other shows on TV these days...MTV and Sci-Fi channels, anyone??)...viewers quickly become fans, and these fans become devoted fans because it's just darn-good entertainment that's intelligent, thrilling, suspenseful and action-packed all nicely put together.

The CSI shows are also presented in High-Definition on TV, which really tops off what is already a whole bunch of yummy goodness. Sure,...you can play catch-up when it comes out on DVD after the seasons ends, but that's just too much time lost, my friend. You're also missing out on major awesome water cooler talk. HDTVs are getting larger, better, and CHEAPER! You probably don't want to wait decades until the HDTVs now get dirt cheap, though. Now is a great time to get one so that you can experience CSI in all its glory (as well as a lot of other great TV)...you can check-out AudioVideoComponents.com for our HDTVs, and we even have the Toshiba REGZA 42" 1080p Flat Panel LCD HDTV as the current Monthly Super Deal! (Psst...we're also working hard...but after watching CSI...on getting more Flat-Panel HDTVs, so visit us often to check-out new additions)

So,...be sure to check-out CSI and get a HDTV. If you're new to CSI, get started with the 1st Seasons of the 3 shows, which are all available on DVD. Although I watch all 3 CSI shows on TV, I still watch the DVDs to not only re-live the experience, and also to know more behind-the-scenes stuff with the commentaries, interviews, featurettes and other bonus features on the DVDs.

Bon Appetit, and stay tuned for more posts about CSI and other great TV shows and movies!

HDTV News ... Sony KDS-R70XBR2 HDTV

Although some may argue that there's already too many HDTV choices available (just take a stroll around your nearby big-box retailer and you'll see what we mean...), making it even more confusing for most consumers to make a decision, we think that it's a good thing.

Besides, who wouldn't want better High Def?

Anyhoo...here's the buzz about Sony's new XBR-2 series of HDTVs:

The successor of the highly-acclaimed XBR-Series, Sony’s flagship Grand
WEGA XBR Series projection televisions carry on the legacy of its predecessor.
Equipped with the same SXRD technology, the XBR2-Series picture captures
movement with unprecedented accuracy, and the Advanced Iris function provides
superior contrast (up to 10,000:1).

The XBR Series has WEGA Engine HD video processing technology for refined
high definition picture quality. The XBR-Series now offers a detachable speaker
design on the 70″ model, and includes three HDMI inputs (1080p) for uncompressed audio/video interface between TV and compatible external components. Bigger,
brighter and better than ever, Sony’s Grand WEGA SXRD XBR2 Series provides the full HD 1080p experience with stunning detail, film-like images, and crisp, smooth motion.

With the KDSR70XBR2, Sony offers a television capable of delivering a
“film-like” image with exceptional clarity, industry-leading contrast ratio, and
unsurpassed color reproduction. The development of the SXRD panel allowed Sony
to achieve this objective through a reflective display technology that’s totally
different from traditional micro display devices. With 0.35 micrometer
inter-pixel spacing and a 92 percent panel fill factor, SXRD boasts the highest
pixel density possible for unprecedented picture brightness and clarity, coupled
with world-class black level and color stability.

The KDSR70XBR2’s optical engine features three separate SXRD panels — one
each for red, green and blue. All three colors appear on-screen simultaneously
for greater stability and accuracy. So color is consistently vivid, flesh tones
remain lifelike and flicker is never a problem.

SXRD technology is the latest display technology developed by the legendary
television engineers at Sony to meet and exceed the demands of a high definition
image at its full 1080 line resolution. Digitally transmitted high definition
signals can contain over two million individual detail points that need to be
displayed accurately and rapidly. SXRD displays those two million detail points
per SXRD panel accurately since the three SXRD panels actually contain enough
pixels to fully display a 1080 line picture without interlacing it. SXRD has the
speed to create a smooth, film like image with a blistering 2.5 ms response
time, which exceeds the demands of even the most rapidly moving high definition
images. And SXRD creates highly accurate, natural colors because the three-panel
design displays all the colors, all the time.

WEGA Engine HD Video Processor is the latest generation of Sony’s exclusive
WEGA HD Engine fully Digital signal-processing path. It includes video
processing functions that are designed to improve overall picture quality. The
WEGA Engine HD has similar functions to the WEGA Engine — a green, blue, and
white color enhancer circuit for a vivid image, digital MPEG noise reduction
circuit to reduce annoying MPEG artifacts, and the digital contrast enhancer
circuit to deliver crisp and vivid images with high contrast. The WEGA Engine HD
adds the following: DRC-MFv2.5–Sony’s exclusive video signal processing that
improves video signals to a realistic and clean picture quality according to
signal types, CCP-XA–generates high purity, high signal-to-noise ratio and
enables the generation of wide bandwidth and stable digital component signals,
IFP2–has functions that optimize contrast and remove noise in the signal to
reproduce video with little noise and blur.

The Advanced Iris function is a special Sony function designed to improve
Contrast expression especially in darker scenes. The Advanced Iris function is
enabled by using either one of two modes, Auto and Manual. The Auto Mode has two
settings designed to work best with video content such as movies that vary
between bright scenes and dark scenes. Auto 1 is for programs that have a wide
range of brightness from scene to scene. Auto 2 is for programs that have less
variation between brightness levels from scene to scene.

If you’re a cable subscriber, the KDSR70XBR2’s CableCARD slot provides you
with access to digitally encrypted cable channels without the need for a set-top
box. The CableCARD, which is provided by your cable TV provider, is inserted
into the TVs rear panel CableCARD slot. After the service is activated by your
cable TV company, the card replaces the need for an external box.

Designed for maximum versatility, Sony’s Grand WEGA XBR line is equipped
with a comprehensive range of input interfaces. The HDMI (High-Definition
Multimedia Interface) is the first industry-supported, uncompressed, all-Digital
audio/video interface. HDMI technology supports enhanced or High Definition
video, together with multi-channel Digital audio to provide matchless image and
sound reproduction. The PC input (D-Sub 15) offers easy connection to your PC,
allowing you to use your high resolution Grand WEGA XBR TV as a computer
monitor.

Considering the remarkable picture quality, its audio has a lot to live up
to. And it does. Sony’s top-of-the-line audio delivers powerful, rich, detailed
soundscapes that fully complement the screen. With MTS Stereo decoding and SRS
TruSurround XT, you’ll get outstanding stereo sound as well as virtual surround
sound.

Source:
http://www.hdtv-news.co.uk/2007/09/14/sony-kds-r70xbr2-hdtv/