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Rick Chess, attorney, real estate strategist, capital-raising expert, and trusted advisor, is passionate about helping entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners navigate complex decisions that can dramatically impact enterprise value and long-term success. Throughout a career spanning more than five decades, Rick has raised over $100 million for multiple organizations, guided companies through acquisitions, governance challenges, and strategic growth, and helped owners prepare for successful exits. We explore The Capital Raising Framework — Focus on Individuals, Not “the Market”; Be Ready to Sell; Start With Who You Know; Connect on Emotion; and Find a Problem to Solve. Rick explains why raising capital is ultimately about understanding people, not pitching ideas, why investors care more about their needs than your opportunity, and how trust-based relationships create opportunities that compound over time. He also shares lessons from raising capital, building influential networks, serving on boards, and helping entrepreneurs avoid costly mistakes when pursuing funding, growth, and exit strategies. — How to be a Trusted Advisor with Rick Chess  Good day, dear listeners. Steve Preda here with the Management Blueprint Podcast. And my guest today is Rick Chess, who is a real estate and exit strategist. He helps business and real estate owners, and the trusted advisors who guide them, turn complex decisions into strategic moves that grow enterprise value and maximize sale outcomes. Rick, welcome to the show.  Thank you. Appreciate it, Steve.  Well, it’s great to have you. And I’m going to ask you my favorite question, which I always ask: What is your personal ‘Why’, and what are you doing to manifest it in your practice?  When you go back in my career, 50-some years, where I’ve been most happy is either growing an organization. That can be a community, that can be a business, it can be an association. And then, at some point, individuals in that association want to move on, whether that’s to retire, to go someplace else, or whatever. And I find that in that world, there are certain things where they might have a Steve Preda who helps them with how to manage day to day. But they get to certain big issues that they’ve never done before, and maybe they’ll never do again. That’s where I like to come in because I know I’m critically important to them. So you’re a trusted advisor. You like to grapple with the big challenges people have in their lives, whether it’s a big real estate transaction, getting ready for an exit, an acquisition, or something like that.  Yeah.  Yeah.  So, I mean, the things that would be—for instance, most folks, if they’re talking about real estate, they have some idea how to fix a toilet. They have some idea how to buy a property. But when they get to a certain point, it’s like, “We need to raise $10,000. We need to raise $100 million,” whatever the amount is, because there’s either a great opportunity or they want to keep moving upward. And they have, again, a Steve Preda who can help them through the process. How they get that capital often is what trips people up. So that’s where I kind of first got into this.  I was an acquisition guy. I knew how to spend other people’s money, but I didn’t know at that time how to raise the money. And I’ve done it several times. I’ve raised $100 million for three different companies. And like everything in life, like with Summit, there is a process that you go through. And I love doing it. I just love doing that kind of stuff.  Okay. So when you are doing capital raising, fundraising, M&A deals, or real estate transactions, is there a framework that has helped you, that you figured out along the way? And think about something that is three to five steps. Maybe it’s a mental model of how you look at things, or maybe it’s a process. How would you describe that framework that you have, or that has helped you, so that the listeners would also benefit from it?  The listeners are best served if they step back from their preconceived notions of, A, how they think capital is attracted, because they usually are wrong. And they step back from how wonderful they are. And those two things are difficult. Because the reality is, no one is waiting to give you money. That’s foolish. You’ve got to sell the concept like you have to sell everything else. And what you sell is not what you think is wonderful. It’s what the market is going to think is wonderful. It’s like with any other product you’re making. “Hey, I made this great widget.” And the population looks at it and says, “I don’t need it. I don’t want it. I don’t know what it does.”  And depending on whether you’re trying to raise $100,000 from friends and family or $100 million on Wall Street, you look at who it is that you know. Because people that you know might at least return your phone call. So if you don’t know Bill Gates, thinking that you’re going to go to Bill Gates and get a billion dollars is, well, stup*d. But if you’re just trying to raise money from friends and family, and you have an aunt who lives three states away that you don’t see very often, and she has some money, okay, then you start with who you know. So, for instance, thinking about one of the many ways that you can raise money, there’s something called intrastate. And it is something that’s allowed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. If all of your money is raised within your own state, there are certain allowances for that.  But if you do one transaction outside the state, it all collapses. So like everything else on the business side, where there are certain rules that you can’t violate without getting into trouble, it’s the same thing when raising money. And I get so many people saying, “I’m going to list this on Wall Street, and I’m going to make…” It’s like, “No, you don’t. You better be prepared. If you’re going to list something on Wall Street, you’d better have $25 million that you can risk just to get it out there. And nine times out of ten you’re going to fail.” Not because there’s anything wrong with you.  It’s just that if you’re going to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with a pair of Keds, a T-shirt, and some shorts, you’re not prepared to climb that mountain. It’s no different when raising capital. And also think about when you were a kid. At a certain age, your parents let you cross the street to see your buddy. Then ten years later, they’ll let you get in the car and drive, but you’ve got to get home by midnight. It’s the same thing with raising money. And there aren’t a lot of folks who have done what I’ve done. So talking to your local lawyer or accountant—who may be wonderful people—but if they’ve never raised money, they’re not the people to talk to.  One of the ways people get taken advantage of on a regular basis is they’ll go to a securities attorney. The securities attorney will charge them $100,000 and write this great offering document, and no one ever gives them a penny. Because lawyers generally have no clue what’s happening in the marketplace. I own my own securities broker-dealer. I’ve also raised money for three different companies. It’s not easy. But like having read your book, Steve, if you follow certain paths, there’s at least a chance for success. Same thing here. Fascinating. So what I’m taking away in terms of a framework: Be aware that people are not out there waiting to give you money. You have to sell them. So that’s the first step. The second one is: start with who you know. Don’t start on Wall Street. Start with the people you know, where you have some trust, the people you understand, and where you have a chance to get there. And then look at some special circumstance that’s going to give you a leg up. For example—  Absolutely. Again, this is coming right out of your book on the business side. You create a widget. So what? But you create a widget that solves a problem. Ah. Then you have something. So it’s the same thing. When you get over onto the money-raising side, it’s: who do you know? Where do they live? How much money do they have? How do I approach them? But then, in the end, it’s not what’s in it for you, it’s what’s in it for them. And for them, if it’s friends and family, your mama may give you some money because she thinks you’re cute.  Your aunt might give you some money because she’s related to your mama. But at some point, you’re going to people who really have a checkbook. They have money in the checkbook. They’re not going to give this up just because you’re cute or you have a great idea. You’re either going to get them because you have something they’ve never heard of, or you have something that really feels like it could solve one of their needs. And their needs are not always what you think. Some people think, “Well, what they need is high cash flow.” What if they don’t need cash flow, but they’re really interested in a cure for cancer?  What if you think, “Well, it’s really going to go up in value”? Well, they have all the money they need. They’re not looking for that. But is this something that is going to allow their nephew to come work for you? Yeah. When you start thinking that you know what other people are thinking, that’s when you’re going to fail. When you can step back and just ask them, “Well, what’s important to you?” If you can’t have a conversation, one, you’re never going to date anybody, and you’re never going to raise any money.  And don’t be slick. You can be slick for three sentences, and at that point they’re going to reject everything you say thereafter. So don’t talk about how much money you’re going to make and all the rest of it. No. Talk about them. Talk about them. Talk about them. Your document should talk about them. Your questions should talk about them. Now, does that mean there are certain people who won’t put money into your deal? Yes, because it doesn’t fit. If you sell high-heeled shoes and a runner comes in, they’re generally not going to buy your high-heeled shoes. They’re not going to invest money in high-heeled shoes.  But if that high-heeled shoe actually is a running shoe, and you can break off the heel and then… I mean, I don’t know. You could come up with something there. And the folks that say no are sometimes your biggest advocates. What? The folks that… Yes. Because you’ve been able to get into their head, and they’ve shaken it around, and they’ve looked at it and said, “No, that’s probably not right for me. I’m not into high-heeled shoes, but I have a friend.” If you’ve done a sincere job, a thoughtful job, you’ve really asked them questions, and you’ve connected on an emotional level, they’ll open the next door. And that’s what it’s about. It’s often a lot of the same things that you teach people about how to sell their company. It’s how they sell—  Rick, this is fascinating. So how do you connect with people on an emotional level? What’s the trick there?  First thing is: why are they going to take a meeting with you? Why they take a meeting with you answers almost everything that we’ve just asked. If they’re taking a meeting with you because you’re related, okay, that’s the emotional connection. If they take a meeting with you because some friend of yours called them and said, “This is a great way to make money,” that’s another reason. If you found them in an article in the paper—yes, there are things called newspapers. They print them. There are words in them. And there’s somebody in there who has shown an interest in something you do.  Then you’re talking to them about that interest. You want to try to avoid cold calls. Really, it’s a waste of your time and a waste of their time. It’s a random thing. It’s like asking every girl who walks by in college, “Do you want to go out on a date?” Sometimes it works. You get slapped a lot, get arrested, and what have you. There’s this thing called the internet, Steve. And what shocks me is how few people—not just my age, but young pups—say, “Well, that’s for watching YouTube videos.” No.  Through the internet, you have so much information. So maybe I can’t find anything about Johnny Jones, but his kids are on there and what sports they play. Huh. Okay, so I used to do judo. I did three years of judo in high school. If somebody’s doing karate or whatever, I have an opening. I have something to talk about. Now, it’s great if what you have to talk about then connects to something else that they want. It’s a linking process of connecting various things together. It’s what I did… I told you I was a member of the General Assembly in Pennsylvania way back in the ’70s.  And I learned there that if I could get people talking about themselves, or their next-door neighbor, or some relative… What’s funny is people are much more likely to tell you about somebody else. So when I go into a company—this is just a side note—when I’m doing due diligence and I really want to know their financial condition, I’m not going to get it from the CFO. I’m going to get it from somebody over in property management. Why? Because the property management person knows not to tell me anything secret about property management, but they’ll talk about finances all the time. And it’s the same thing. If I’m in a family and I want to know about Daddy, I talk to the daughter.  If I want to know about a neighbor, I talk to a neighbor. I can go to the post office. Everything you ever need to position yourself to sell is out there waiting for you. But you’ve got to get out of your head what you think the market is about and start thinking about individuals within the market. And accept that when I’ve raised money, 70% to 80% of the people I call on don’t do a deal with me. But of that 70%, half of them lead me to somebody else. And I keep up with them. They become my support group. They become my unofficial advisors. Because I’m a decent guy, they want me to succeed. And once they know I’m not bugging them anymore, I say, “Hey, you told me I should go talk to such-and-such.  Here’s what I heard.” And then the network just expands. And occasionally, that person who said no has somebody new come into their life and says, “You need to go talk to Rick Chess.” And sometimes the next time I’m raising money, their situation is different. So the person who told me no originally has seen me work the market and close the deal. It’s amazing how attractive an opportunity is once you can’t put any more money into it. And so you let them know, “I know it wasn’t the right time for you to come into my deal, but we did buy this company. We’ve doubled their…” Whatever it is. You continue to work with them. If somebody is willing to give you time on the phone, on Zoom, at a coffee shop, or wherever, they’re your friend for life. They don’t know that yet, but you’re going to make them your friend for life. It’s the old six degrees of separation—the Kevin Bacon game.  Everybody’s related to somebody somewhere. And it’s what makes this fun for me. You were talking before about growing an exit. I love the process of putting together the network and feeding the network. There are people I’ve known for 50 years that I still talk with.  You’re very good at connecting people and making them look good with other people that you connect them to. It’s very gratifying. So this is a long game, right? Absolutely.  It’s a long game because you’re being decent. You listen to people. You find something that helps them. You learn what they need, what is the itch that needs to be scratched, and then you connect people who can help them scratch that itch. And then they will reciprocate, and it becomes a self-perpetuating process.  Well, I mean, an example is the work that I do in North Carolina with a family that owns 44 hotels. A woman who was my CPA left the CPA firm and became the family officer for a large family here in Richmond. A friend of hers who does advisory work with family offices was giving up on a client. So she told my friend, who used to be a CPA. She introduced me to them and said, “Would you be willing to serve on the board of a private company?” I said, “Well, do they pay?” I used to be on the board of a public company, and after a certain age, you’re not attractive anymore.  After a certain age, they want you off the board because the institutions say, “We want a mix on the board. So I got introduced to these people, and I’ve had a great time. Members of the family have hired me for other work, and it just goes on and on. But I’ve learned that you’ve got to pay it forward. So I have students of mine from VCU who I’ve helped place in jobs. I keep up with them. I give them ideas. And they’re often shocked to find that I’m still in touch with them. I’m not asking them for anything. I’m just saying, “Look, I paid it forward to you. Now it’s your turn to pay it forward to somebody else.” And some of them are doing it. Some of them haven’t caught on yet.  But it is the circle of life, and it’s all tied together. And there are skills you have that I don’t have. There are skills I have that you don’t have. We both have folks that work with business brokers because they have a different drive. But it’s also self-selecting. There are a lot of people you’ve met that you don’t do business with. There are a lot of people I’ve met that I don’t do business with. If you’re going to get into raising money, doing governance, or doing exit planning, whatever it may be, one of the most important things is saying no. Or, “No, I don’t want to work with this person.” You can always be friendly with them. Yeah. But I try to fire a client every month. Somebody that just doesn’t fit for me ethically. Yeah. Or I don’t think there’s anything more I can do for them.  I pass off legal work to other attorneys in Virginia. I’m the chair of the Real Property Section of the state bar. There are 1,550 attorneys. I have plenty of attorneys that I can pass things on to, and they’re happy to get the business, and I’m happy. I’ve got somebody that I’ve referred that’s happy that I’ve referred them. My biggest challenge, my wife would say, my son would say, is that I’m a squirrel chaser. Something new and interesting comes along, and I want to get involved with it. And I’ve wasted so much time. So I’m working with this hotel group down in North Carolina. The last time I had worked with a hotel company was 30 years earlier. Two owners couldn’t agree on a direction.  I worked with them for six months. We made a decision. It was great work. I learned a lot about hotels. But I then went 30 years without applying the same skills. And that’s one thing that, with age, I’ve realized. I am better off saying: “I’ll help you with capital, I’ll help you with governance, and when you’re ready, I’ll help you exit.” That’s it.  Yeah.  If it’s not one of those three, I’ll talk about it.  Yeah.  I’ll listen to you. You don’t want to engage me.  Yeah. I mean, people want deep expertise. They don’t want generalists. They want someone who knows what they’re talking about and who can link them to other resources who also know what they’re talking about. And in today’s age, I think this is becoming more important again. Because of the internet, there was a disintermediation going on, but now there is a reintermediation, I believe. Because there’s so much noise out there, you don’t know what is true and what is fake. AI is creating a lot of fake stuff.  The only people you can really trust are the people who are in front of you, or someone recommends them whom you trust. It’s a transparency thing. So I think what you’re doing is very valuable. It’s going to become even more valuable. And knowledge is ubiquitous. You can ask ChatGPT, and it will give you an answer. But how do you get the trust? How do you get the emotion? How do you get the relationships? That’s all human stuff. And if you still have that, then you’ve got what is valuable.  Well, I have a friend of mine who wrote a book, and he wrote it as a fable. What I love about it is that I know the true story behind the fable. And what comes across in every single chapter is that, with that trust, people who were afraid took a step. And often that is the hardest thing. So I go to the gym six days a week, and the gym is hard. Getting in the car to drive there is the hard part. Once I’m there, I’m around friends, I work hard, I sweat, I get better. Getting in that car and driving down the drive…  So in your fable, in your book, and in most of where I’ve had success, I would love to say it was because I was brilliant. Eh, sometimes I will say I was brilliant. But let me give you an example. United Dominion Realty Trust, now based in Denver and originally based here in Richmond, has been around for 35 years. It was one of the original five REITs in the country—real estate investment trusts. I came in as acquisitions director. They hadn’t closed a deal in a year. I closed three in the first three months. I grew the firm tenfold in 10 years, and I had great people. Buddy Scott as an analyst. Catherine Surface as an attorney.  But what I did was look at it and say, “Does anybody know what we’re trying to buy?” Because they had no acquisition criteria. So I wrote a one-page acquisition criteria document and put it out to everybody who had ever submitted a deal. Oh, and we weren’t responding to the submissions. So a submission would come in, they would look at it and say, “Okay, that doesn’t work.” But they never told anybody no. So one of my rules was that anything that came in would get a response within 48 hours.  And it should be specific. “We don’t like this because of the city.” “We don’t like this because of the roof.” Something specific, because I knew they’d pay attention. And by responding within 48 hours, we went from struggling to get submissions to doubling our submissions within a year. Because people were like, “Oh, we know what they want. We know they will respond.” And then—and this probably sounds outrageous—we celebrated. We put out a newsletter every month. This is back when you mailed things, so we’re going way back into the dinosaur era. But anytime a broker brought us something that we bought, we would do a full-page spread on the broker. We were marketing him or her.  People loved us. And they would tell others about us. So owners would know that if they came to us, we’d make a fair offer and we’d move on. So I would love to say that’s because I was a great attorney. I would love to say that’s because I was insightful. It was just like, “Well, damn, this is obvious.” And reading some of your stuff, I’ve seen you point that out to people time and time again.  You give me too much credit. But yeah, I mean, if you’re there, they say that if you work hard for 25 years, you can become an overnight success. So yeah, it does get obvious when you’ve been studying it long and hard. Well, listen, Rick, that’s been wonderful. So what is your final thought for an entrepreneur, a young entrepreneur or founder who’s coming up? Maybe he’s in real estate. Maybe he’s trying to be successful. What’s the most important mindset for an entrepreneur to become successful?  Well, I mean, you’ve got to know something. I mean, you either need to really know construction, or you’ve got to really know how to lease a space. If you’re going into it like they do on HDTV, like, “Oh, we’re going to find this property and it’s going to be…” You’re going to fail. So get good at something. Accept the fact that you’re not going to be good at everything. Find people who fill in the spots where you aren’t good. In the old days, you might have had to hire them. In today’s world, there are fractional CFOs.  And then when you get down to picking your experts—your attorneys, your accountants, the people that cost you real money—ask them a simple question: When was the last time they did whatever it is that you’re trying to do? Not when was the last time they prepared a securities document. When was the last time they prepared a securities document that succeeded? And that’ll knock out two-thirds of them right there.  Love it. That’s fantastic. Well, if you’re listening to this and you want to be successful in business, or you have a business and maybe you’re getting close to retirement and want to figure out how to transition it, how to exit right, and how to structure it… Or maybe you have a family company and you’re trying to put together a board, and you need someone who really understands governance. Or if you’re trying to do a transaction, a merger, or an acquisition, and you need a trusted advisor who will connect you to the right people and help you make it happen, then call Rick Chess. Rick Chess is here in Richmond. He is on LinkedIn. And you have a website as well, Rick, right?  Yep, yep.  What’s your domain?  It’s chesslawfirm.com.  Chesslawfirm.com. So you can go there, and Rick is going to respond because he always does within 24 hours, or 48 hours max, and he’ll help you. So Rick, thank you very much for coming on the show and sharing your wisdom with us. And if you’re listening to this and you like this show, please follow us on YouTube and Apple Podcasts. Give us a review, and make sure you listen to every episode because we have very exciting entrepreneurs and subject matter experts sharing their knowledge. So thank you for coming, and thank you for listening. Important Links: Rick's LinkedIn Rick's website

Before livestreaming became ordinary, satellite communications transformed how humanity experienced the world. In this episode of Movers…In Our Orbit, SSPI Executive Director Tamara Bond-Williams speaks with Robert M. Patterson, founder of The SPACECONNECTION, about the rise of satellite television and the communications revolution that made live global broadcasting possible. Inspired by the Apollo 11 broadcast, Patterson went on to help pioneer satellite sports distribution, HDTV broadcasting, digital transmission techniques, and transportable uplink systems that reshaped television infrastructure worldwide. The conversation also explores what today's NewSpace generation can learn from earlier cycles of communications innovation, industry transformation, and technology hype.

SolarMovies brings a smooth entertainment experience for viewers who enjoy movies, series, and fresh episodes in one convenient place. SolarMovies keeps the layout simple, making it easy to move through action, comedy, drama, thriller, animation, documentary, and other familiar genres without feeling crowded or confusing. Its clean structure helps each title stand out naturally, giving users a comfortable way to choose something for a quick evening watch or a longer weekend session.As a flexible movie streaming site, SolarMovies supports a direct viewing flow through https://solarmovie.vu/ with clear navigation, updated sections, and a catalog designed for different tastes. Viewers can enjoy free movie streaming options while browsing new releases, popular films, classic favorites, and ongoing television content from a single browser-based space. The platform focuses on convenience, speed, and a familiar interface that works well for casual entertainment.SolarMovies also feels practical because solarmovie.vu presents movies and episodes in an organized way, helping users check genres, release years, featured titles, and available quality before watching. The experience is especially suitable for audiences who prefer HD TV shows online alongside full-length films, giving them more variety without requiring extra software or complicated steps. Its structure makes both mainstream titles and niche selections easier to explore.Overall, SolarMovies remains a recognizable name for viewers who value simplicity, variety, and fast access to online entertainment. Whether the goal is to enjoy a recent movie, follow a favorite series, or browse a wider library during free time, the platform keeps the process clear and user-friendly. With its broad catalog and easy viewing style, it continues to appeal to audiences who want a straightforward digital entertainment experience.

 1flex is designed for viewers who want a simple, fast, and flexible way to enjoy online entertainment without dealing with complicated sign-ups or heavy app installations. The platform focuses on browser-based access, helping users explore movies and TV shows directly from their device with minimal setup. For people searching for free movie streaming, HD TV shows, and an online entertainment hub, this type of service offers a convenient starting point for casual viewing.The main appeal of 1flex comes from its straightforward experience. Users can open the site, browse available titles, choose what they want to watch, and begin playback without creating an account. This direct approach makes it suitable for audiences who prefer quick access instead of long registration steps. The website also presents itself as a flexible option for different devices, including phones, tablets, laptops, and smart TVs.Through https://1flex.com.de/, viewers can discover a wide range of entertainment categories, from action, comedy, drama, romance, horror, sci-fi, animation, documentaries, and international films. This broad variety allows 1flex to serve different viewing moods, whether someone wants a light comedy, a dramatic story, or a high-energy blockbuster. The platform's simple navigation also helps reduce the time spent searching and increases the time spent watching.As with any free streaming platform, users should always pay attention to safety, reliability, and local copyright rules before accessing content. Domains may change, ads or redirects may appear, and availability can vary depending on region. Still, 1flex.com.de presents 1flex as a practical destination for viewers who value instant access, simple design, and flexible online streaming in one place. Some us other services you might like.- https://123series.my- Sflix- Soap2day- 123Movies- Moviebox- Moviedex

On this week's show we go beyond the hype to tell you what specs matter most, what specs are mere marketing hype, and we give you some tips for buying your next HDTV. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: The price of Netflix is set to go up for all users New VIZIO smart TVs to require a Walmart account The latest Matter update improves camera streaming Other: Why Did TV Manufacturers Stop Using 8K Panels? What Specs Matter and What Don't When Buying a New HDTV Last week the Brightside Home Theater Podcast did a panel discussion on the real factors that shape picture quality. Check it out when you have a chance, it's very informative (Beyond Resolution: The Real Factors That Shape Imaging). So this week we are piggybacking on their discussion to tell you what specs matter most, what specs are mere marketing hype, and we give you some tips for buying your next HDTV.  Specs That Matter Most Panel Technology (OLED vs. Mini-LED/QLED): Not really a spec as much as a technology but it is important for making the right decision for your room. This is the single biggest factor to consider. Choosing the right panel really matters. It directly affects how sharp, colorful, and lifelike the picture looks in your room — whether you're watching movies in the dark or enjoying sports during the day. Which technology you choose depends on what and where you watch TV. OLED (including QD-OLED): Perfect blacks, high contrast, excellent viewing angles, and natural motion. Great for dark rooms and movies. Newer 2026 OLEDs are much brighter than older ones so if you are watching sports don't count this out. Just make sure you buy one of the brighter panels like the LG G5/G6 series, Panasonic Z95B, and the BRAVIA 8 II. Mini-LED/QLED: Much brighter overall (can exceed 2,000–3,000+ nits), better for bright rooms with lots of ambient light. Good contrast with enough dimming zones, but blacks aren't as deep as OLED. Choose based on your room: OLED for controlled lighting, Mini-LED for bright rooms.  Brightness (Peak HDR nits): Real measured peak brightness in HDR content (especially small bright areas like highlights). Higher is better for HDR pop and visibility in bright rooms (1,000+ nits is solid; 2,000+ is excellent). Full-screen brightness also matters but is less advertised. Ignore vague "ultra bright" claims—look for review-tested numbers. Contrast & Local Dimming (for LCD/Mini-LED TVs): Native contrast ratio (higher is better). Number and quality of local dimming zones (more zones = better control, less blooming). OLED skips this entirely with per-pixel lighting. Poor dimming creates distracting halos. HDR Support: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG. Dolby Vision and HDR10+ are dynamic (scene-by-scene adjustments) and preferred over basic HDR10. Most good TVs support multiple formats now. Refresh Rate (Native Panel Rate): 120Hz native is the sweet spot for most people—smooths sports, reduces blur in action, and supports 4K@120Hz from PS5/Xbox/PC. 144Hz or 165Hz is a bonus for high-end gaming. 60Hz is fine for casual viewing but noticeable in fast content. Gaming Features (if you game): HDMI 2.1 ports (at least 2–4 for full bandwidth), VRR (Variable Refresh Rate: freesync/g-sync compatible to eliminate tearing), ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), low input lag (

On this week's show Braden is on vacation but don't worry! We still have a show for you. Ara reads your emails and takes a look at the week's news. He also takes a look at an article in CNET that claims: The LG Evo AI G5 OLED is the new standard for TVs. News: Amazon is finally rolling out some much-needed upgrades to Fire TV New TV before 'RAMageddon'? Prices expected to rise Others: Take Over Tuesday: Featuring Buzz Schneider of the 1980 Miracle Team 1980miraclemonument.org Home Theater Geeks: Sacramento Sanctuary  Sacramento Sanctuary - Home Theater of the Month Interview! The LG Evo AI G5 OLED the New Standard for TV OLED TVs have consistently delivered the best picture quality in our head-to-head tests -- with the best shadow detail, contrast, color and black levels. Yet, there is one thing LCD-based TVs have always done better: sheer brightness. That is, until the 2025 LG G5 came along. Finally, OLED can reclaim its place at the top of the TV technology leader board with a model that performs brilliantly in almost every single respect. Maybe the forthcoming LG G6 will be even better? Full article here…  PROS Highest brightness of any OLED TV yet  Stunning image quality  Best color accuracy of every TV in 2025  CONS Brightness boost not visible in all content  Remote is not as good as previous versions  Expensive

On today's show we look at HDTV Display Technologies that are no longer with us. Some had a short run and some never made it to the market. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: LG pulls the plug on 8K OLED and 8K LCD TVs Apple's home hub could finally arrive this spring with a rather unique design Roku is Testing a New Home Screen With A New Look Google Home update brings more automation controls HDTV Display Technologies That Are No Longer With Us Over the 21 years we have been doing the show we have seen numerous HDTV display technologies come and go. Some never made it to market and some had a good run but were eventually beat out by something better. These technologies competed during the transition from bulky CRTs to flat panels, but most lost out as LCD, later becoming LED-backlit LCD, then OLED, became dominant for reasons like cost, scalability, picture quality improvements, and manufacturing ease. Technologies That Were Proposed/Demonstrated but Never Commercially Released to Consumers SED (Surface-Conduction Electron-Emitter Display)Developed primarily by a Canon and Toshiba joint venture starting in the late 1990s/early 2000s. It was essentially a flat-panel evolution of CRT technology using electron emitters for each pixel, promising CRT-like motion handling, deep blacks, high contrast, fast response times, and low power in a slim form factor. Prototypes were shown around 2005–2007 with impressive demos. Why it didn't make it: Repeated delays due to manufacturing challenges (high production costs, difficulty scaling/vacuum sealing), patent disputes, and aggressive price drops in LCD/plasma panels. Then by 2009–2010, LCD had become too dominant and cheap; Canon officially froze consumer SED development in 2010, shifting any remaining efforts to niche professional uses. FED (Field-Emission Display)Similar to SED and sometimes grouped together or seen as a precursor/variant. FED used field-emission electron sources (like microtips) for CRT-style performance in a flat panel. Demonstrated in prototypes in the 2000s by companies like Sony and Motorola. Why it didn't make it: Development took too long; manufacturing complexity and yield issues made it unviable. It was overtaken by faster-scaling plasma and then LCD/OLED technologies before reaching mass production. Technologies That Reached the Market but Were Discontinued DLP (Digital Light Processing) Rear-Projection TVsUsed Texas Instruments' DMD (digital micromirror device) chips to reflect light, often with a color wheel for sequential color (or pricier 3-chip versions). Popular in the mid-2000s for large-screen (50–70+ inch) HDTVs from brands like Samsung, Mitsubishi, RCA, and Toshiba, offering good brightness, no burn-in, and sharp images at competitive prices. Why discontinued: Bulky depth (even if thinner than CRT rear-projection), lamp replacements needed, rainbow artifacts (on single-chip models), poor off-angle viewing, and vulnerability to ambient light. As flat-panel LCD and plasma prices fell dramatically in the late 2000s, consumers preferred slim, wall-mountable designs. Rear-projection DLP TVs largely vanished by around 2010. LCOS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) / Variants like D-ILA (JVC) and SXRD (Sony)A reflective microdisplay tech using liquid crystals on a silicon backplane, often in rear-projection or some front-projection setups. Offered excellent contrast, deep blacks, and smooth motion (better than early LCDs). Available in HDTVs from JVC, Sony, and others in the mid-2000s. Why largely discontinued for direct-view TVs: High cost, manufacturing complexity, and lower brightness compared to emerging flat panels. Rear-projection versions suffered the same bulkiness issues as DLP. While LCOS survives today in high-end projectors mostly in JVC and Sony home theater models, it never scaled to mainstream direct-view flat-panel HDTVs and was eclipsed by LCD advancements. Plasma Display Panel (PDP / Plasma TVs)Used ionized gas (plasma) cells to create light, excelling in black levels, contrast, color accuracy, wide viewing angles, and no motion blur. Very popular for HDTV in the 2000s from Panasonic, Pioneer, Samsung, and LG. Why discontinued: High power consumption, heat generation, heavier panels, burn-in risk (though mitigated later), and difficulty scaling to 4K efficiently/cost-effectively. As LCD/LED prices dropped with better brightness, efficiency, and no burn-in, plasma couldn't compete economically. Production fully ended around 2014–2015. Other Notable Mentions LCD Rear-Projection TVs — Used transmissive LCD panels; suffered from similar bulk and light issues as DLP; discontinued early-mid 2000s. Direct-view CRT HDTVs — The original standard; fully discontinued by the late 2000s/early 2010s due to size, weight, and inefficiency. Key Reasons Technologies Fail in HDTV Market Regardless of how good a display technology is, the following will keep it from the mass market: Cost & Manufacturing Yield: Technologies requiring ultra-precise processes (SED, FED, LCoS) couldn't hit competitive prices.  Competing Technologies Improve Fast: LCD and later LED/OLED got cheaper and better quicker than rivals could scale. Form Factor Shift: Direct-view panels beat rear-projection (DLP, LCoS, laser) because consumers prefer thin TVs. Performance Tradeoffs: Issues like power use, burn-in, brightness, viewing angles, or reliability hurt consumer uptake.  In summary, the winners were technologies that scaled cheaply to larger sizes, became thinner/lighter, improved efficiency, and avoided major drawbacks like high costs or reliability issues. LCD/LED dominated the 2010s due to mass production advantages, while OLED took premium segments later for superior contrast/per-pixel lighting. Many promising "next-gen" ideas from the 2000s (like SED/FED) simply arrived too late or proved too hard to manufacture affordably.

SHOW SUMMARY: This installment of the PWTorch VIP Vault jumps back 18 years to the daily Wade Keller Hotlines from Jan. 7, 8, and 9, 2008. The following are the updates and the theme of each:MONDAY – JANUARY 7 (Raw Analysis)TUESDAY – JANUARY 8 (Audio Ask the Torch)WEDNESDAY – JANUARY 9 (News & Analysis including ECW vs. TNA TV ratings)THURSDAY – JANUARY 10 (Audio Ask the Torch including how HD TV might change pro wrestling) This is another episode in our VIP Podcast Vault series going back to our earliest podcasts. We will continue to present VIP Podcasts from 18 years ago exclusively for PWTorch VIP members on our VIP Podcast Feed.

Listen to This Week in Radio Tech episode 781, “Powering Local Radio into 2026 with Chris Marsalis.” Chris and his wife own two successful FM stations in Ripley, Mississippi—The Shark 102.3 and Kudzu 104.9—and he shares how strong local programming, especially high school sports, continues to drive audience loyalty. He explains how creative sponsorships, including FM RDS messaging and integrated digital advertising across streaming and podcasts, have expanded revenue opportunities well beyond traditional spot sales. Chris also discusses his technical work with Mississippi Public Broadcasting, helping maintain two HDTV and FM+HD transmitter sites in northeast Mississippi. This episode is a practical and encouraging look at how committed local broadcasters can thrive well into the future. Show Notes:JC MediaThe Shark 102.3Kudzu 104.9Sun Bear Studio Guest:Chris Marsalis - Owner at JC Media, LLC and Broadcast Technician at Mississippi Public Broadcasting Host:Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, South Seas, & Akamai BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on Facebook - and see all the videos on YouTube.TWiRT is brought to you by:Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Aiir, providing PlayoutONE radio automation, and other advanced solutions for audience engagement.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console. The new MaxxKonnect RMT416 Multi Tuner - 4 to 16 AM/FM/WB/HD web-connected tuners in 1 RU Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube

Listen to This Week in Radio Tech episode 781, “Powering Local Radio into 2026 with Chris Marsalis.” Chris and his wife own two successful FM stations in Ripley, Mississippi—The Shark 102.3 and Kudzu 104.9—and he shares how strong local programming, especially high school sports, continues to drive audience loyalty. He explains how creative sponsorships, including FM RDS messaging and integrated digital advertising across streaming and podcasts, have expanded revenue opportunities well beyond traditional spot sales. Chris also discusses his technical work with Mississippi Public Broadcasting, helping maintain two HDTV and FM+HD transmitter sites in northeast Mississippi. This episode is a practical and encouraging look at how committed local broadcasters can thrive well into the future.

It’s the end of 2025! How has your year been? It’s time to turn a corner, and that’s a good thing. Today we’re talking 2026 trends! What is a trend, according to Dean? Something like the color of the year, according to Pantone. Dean has no problem with that, but what he doesn’t like is when home decor is treated like disposable fashion that you change out every year or two. In other news, home renovation shows like those you see on HDTV are seeing a sharp decline in viewership, so that’s why networks are bringing back the classic home shows we know and love. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the end of 2025! How has your year been? It’s time to turn a corner, and that’s a good thing. Today we’re talking 2026 trends! What is a trend, according to Dean? Something like the color of the year, according to Pantone. Dean has no problem with that, but what he doesn’t like is when home decor is treated like disposable fashion that you change out every year or two. In other news, home renovation shows like those you see on HDTV are seeing a sharp decline in viewership, so that’s why networks are bringing back the classic home shows we know and love. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Rewind show we go back to November 12, 2010 where we read your emails, look at a news story or two.  

Are people building emotional attachments to Al? Are some of us in a (kind-of) 'relationship' with ChatGPT? Can biology connect with technology in that way? Do people really get weird around full moons? How long until humanoid (human-like) robots are in our homes? Why are ultra-HD TV's a waste of money? How can we improve our memory and recall? What are the pros and cons of online shopping? What's the deal with the raw milk movement? Can fitness trackers f**k with our self-esteem and make us feel bad about ourselves? Patrick and I covered it all in this action-packed TYPinstalment. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Rewind show we go back to October 21st 2023 where we read your emails, look at a news story or two, and discus 5G broadcast on how it can change how we interact with your media devices.  

On this episode of the Rewind show we go back to September 30th 2011 where we read your emails, look at a news story or two, and review an HDMI over ethernet extender.  

On this week's show we look at three gadgets that we think are responsible for the year of home automation. We also discuss Dolby Vision 2. All that plus your emails and the week's news on episode 1220 of the HDTV and Home Theater Podcast! News: Live TV streamers leave viewers more satisfied than cable ‘The Paper' to premiere on NBC after Peacock success Samsung's $2,000 Smart Fridges Now Serve Ads, Owners Are Furious Other: Panasonic Blu-ray & DVD John's Streaming Cost Spreadsheet These Gadgets Are Responsible for the Year of Home Automation We have been involved with home automation for a long time and have seen a lot of gadgets come and go. The category was mostly for DIYers or for people with deep pockets. It wasn't until these  three products came out that the year/decade/century of automation was officially upon us.  Philips Hue Smart Bulb - Philips essentially defined smart lighting and is used in 50M+ homes for ambiance/security the world over. Many have copied Philips but for us nothing beats these lights. Nest Learning Thermostat - The Nest Learning Thermostat revolutionized home climate control as the first smart thermostat, pioneering the category with its innovative self-learning technology and sleek design in 2011. Although we use the ecobee and recommend it, the category would not be where it is without the Nest Thermostat.  Ring Video Doorbell - The Ring Video Doorbell revolutionized home security by pioneering the smart doorbell category, introducing remote video monitoring and two-way communication in 2014.  What is Dolby Vision 2 Dolby Vision 2 is a next-generation HDR format announced by Dolby Laboratories on September 2, 2025, at IFA 2025. It builds on the original Dolby Vision by introducing AI-driven tools, enhanced creator controls, and features that extend beyond traditional HDR, such as improved motion handling. The format is designed to deliver more accurate, director-intended visuals across a range of TVs, adapting to content, viewing environments, and display capabilities. It comes in two tiers: Tier Target TVs Key Focus Dolby Vision 2 Mainstream TVs Core upgrades via new image engine and Content Intelligence for improved picture quality. Dolby Vision 2 Max High-performance TVs (e.g., premium Mini-LED) All core features plus premium extras like Authentic Motion for maximum brightness, contrast, and cinematic fidelity.   Main Features Here are the primary features of Dolby Vision 2: 1. Dolby Image Engine A more powerful processing engine that enhances overall image rendering, enabling higher brightness, sharper contrast, and more saturated colors while preserving artistic intent. Supports bi-directional tone mapping, allowing creators to optimize content for specific TV capabilities (e.g., brighter displays) without losing fidelity. 2. Content Intelligence (AI-Powered Optimization) An AI suite that automatically adjusts picture settings based on content type, viewing environment (e.g., room lighting), and device. Light Sense: Upgraded ambient light detection combined with reference data from the source material to dynamically tweak brightness and visibility. Precision Black: Improves shadow detail and clarity in dark scenes, addressing complaints about HDR appearing too dark; creators can embed room/bias lighting info and black-level sliders for precise control. 3. Authentic Motion (Premium Motion Handling) Available only in Dolby Vision 2 Max: The world's first creator-driven motion control tool, enabling shot-by-shot adjustments to reduce judder (stutter) while avoiding the "soap opera effect." Makes 24fps cinematic content feel more fluid and authentic, ideal for movies, sports, and fast-action scenes. These features aim to make Dolby Vision 2 backward-compatible with existing Dolby Vision content (with some improvements), but full benefits require new TVs and mastered content.  Industry Adoption: Hisense will be the first TV brand to introduce Dolby Vision 2 to its lineup. These TVs will be powered by MediaTek Pentonic 800 with “MiraVision™ Pro” PQ Engine, the first silicon chip to integrate Dolby Vision 2. Timing and availability will be announced at a later date. Joining Hisense, CANAL+ is the first media and entertainment group to commit to enhance its lineup – from movies and TV shows to live sport – in Dolby Vision, leveraging the latest innovation to enrich the viewing experience for its subscribers.  

Are the days of product hype, Black Friday rushes, and format innovation behind us? Phillip, Brian, and Alicia hold Shoptalk Fall conversations to the light of agentic culture and predict an increasingly inevitable flattening of tangible novelty. PLUS: Alicia brings on-the-ground insight and breaks down key highlights and impactful sessions from Shoptalk Fall. Peak Format & Innovation SlumpKey takeaways:"Black Friday is every day" has killed the magic of seasonal shopping - constant sales and price monitoring tools have transformed holiday anticipation into year-round algorithmic optimization, stripping away the communal excitement of traditional retail eventsWe're trapped in efficiency over joy - consumers secretly crave the experiential magic of shopping but have locked themselves into frictionless "couch commerce" that prioritizes speed over satisfaction, leaving us operationally optimized but emotionally emptyIn-person retail needs to maintain its experiential advantage - many stores have become fulfillment centers where online order carts block aisles and associates are too busy pulling digital orders to provide the human connection that should differentiate physical retailHome Depot's efficiency wake-up call - Anne Marie Campbell revealed how using sales associates to fulfill online orders degraded in-store service, which inspired the retailer to create a separate team just for fulfilling online orders and ultimately protect the quality of service and experience “Creators are basically the new Black Friday.” – Phillip“It feels like we've come to the end of product…People used to be crazy about TVs as an innovation product. Now, there's no interest at all. You can get an 80” HDTV for $500. We've peaked at the end of format for a lot of these products.” – Brian“‘We're here on earth to fart around.' – Kurt Vonnegut” – Brian LangeIn-Show Mentions:Read our Shoptalk Fall recap on InsidersNew Modes 2025 ReportSalish Matter at the American Dream MallAssociated Links:Check out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future CommerceHave any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of the Rewind show we go back to September 22nd 2017 where we read your emails, look at a news story or two, and discuss what was going on at CEDIA 2017

Precio: https://amzn.to/3UJgU7S  La ClearStream MAX-V es una antena HDTV versátil para interiores o exteriores, con alcance de hasta 60 millas y recepción multidireccional de 65°, lo que permite captar canales en UHF y VHF con gran claridad, incluyendo transmisiones en 4K, 8K y NEXTGEN TV sin necesidad de Internet. Su diseño compacto y resistente a la intemperie facilita la instalación en pared, ático o mástil, e incluye soporte y herrajes. Ligera y duradera, es una opción práctica para disfrutar de televisión  con calidad digital en zonas urbanas y subu

Ya favorite brother siter duo and HD TV talk the best sibling duos. Who has the best sibling or worse sibling relationships in anime? Comment below your favorite sibling duo!News: Vox Machina final season, South Park still going strong, Mighty Nein on Amazon Prime, Demon Slayer collaborated with LA Dodgers, Live action Wind Breakers Ears: Classic Belle Check out 21 Blackjack on Webtoons if you haven't had the chance. Leave a like, subscribe , and share! Follow the Podcast on Youtube, Tiktok, IG, and Twitter @bmorenerdyFollow your host @galaxygreg_ @theedivaxox @iamhdtvAnd remember to Be More Nerds!#anime #onepiece #blueexorcist #podcast #voxmachina #southpark #deamonslayer #windbreakeranime #disneyprincess #disney #fullmetalalchemist #naruto #dragonballz

On this episode of the Rewind show we go back to August 13 2010 where we read your emails,  look at a news story or two, discuss DVRs and the Netflix/Epix deal.  

On this episode of the Rewind show we go back to August 13 2010 where we read your emails,  look at a news story or two, discuss DVRs and the Netflix/Epix deal.  

On this episode of the Rewind show we go back to July 23rd 2010 where we read your emails,  look at a news story or two, discuss how to pick an AV Receiver and why Bluray was not selling like hotcakes.  

On this episode of the Rewind show we go back to July 2nd 2010 where we read your emails, look at a news story or two, and discuss room acoustic treatments.  

This week we are joined by John the Photographer as he takes on our anime aficionado HD TV and the H**** huncho Galaxy Greg. Diva hos the pods fist anime jeopardy game. Who knows anime the best, you'll never be able to guest how this game is going to go. This week's ears are up for a vote do the count add ears or are they just a headband. Comment below!Ears: Aliens - Toy StoryFollow our guest JTP @heythatsjtp and @johnpaulvisuals on IGCheck out 21 Blackjack on Webtoons if you haven't had the chance. Leave a like, subscribe , and share!Follow the Podcast on Youtube, Tiktok, IG, and Twitter @bmorenerdyFollow your host @galaxygreg_ @theedivaxox @iamhdtvAnd remember to Be More Nerds!

As time goes on the games and the consoles we grew up with have a hard time keeping up with modern technology. Plug in your NES or Sega Genesis into a modern HD TV and it just doesn't feel the way you remember it. You may ask, did my games always look and play like this? The answer no. Well sort of... Returning to the show today is my good friend Try from the YouTube channel My Life in Gaming, and we do a pretty thorough overview of what to do to play your retro game systems and retro games on modern televisions. We talk about video signals, resolutions, upscaling, emulation of all kinds and much more. If you ever wanted to learn about how to get the most out of your old game consoles, use this episode as a jumping off point! Checkout My Life in Gaming on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@mylifeingaming Check out The Backloggery! https://backloggery.com/ Shout-out Song: Dedede's Theme (from Kirby's Dream Land) Artist: Karl Brueggemann Album: Micropower https://karlbmusic.bandcamp.com/album/micropower End Song: BITGEN07 [Super Mario Land] Artist: Karl Brueggemann Album: Micropower https://karlbmusic.bandcamp.com/album/micropower Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

On this week's show we take a look at some of the most popular products in our homes. And we read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: iOS 26 Brings Video Streaming to CarPlay, But There's a Catch Don't Expect Netflix to Save U.S. Broadcast Networks HDMI Forum To Reveal New HDMI 2.2 Details At Press Briefing Other: Blockbuster Be Kind Rewind T-shirt - Blue Most Popular HDTV and Home Theater and Automation Products On this week's show we take a look at some of the most popular products in our homes. Most Popular Devices What is the most popular TV size in the USA The most popular TV size in the USA is currently around 65 inches, with recent trends showing it overtaking the previously dominant 55-inch size. Data from 2021 indicates the average LCD TV screen size in North America reached approximately 55.5 inches, with expectations of further increases as larger TVs become more affordable and accessible. Consumer purchasing trends and retailer insights suggest 65-inch TVs are now the most commonly bought due to their balance of immersive viewing and suitability for typical living room spaces, with viewing distances of around 5.4 to 8.1 feet for 4K resolution. What is the most popular TV brand in the USA Samsung is the most popular TV brand in the USA, holding a market share of around 28-30% based on 2020-2023 data. It has been the top-selling brand for 18 consecutive years, with 30.1% of the market in 2023, driven by brand recognition, diverse price points, and dominance in both standard and premium TV segments, including a 22% share in OLED TVs. LG follows closely, with the two Korean brands combining for about 52% of the market. Vizio, TCL, and Sony also rank highly, with Sony noted for strong consumer trust and picture quality. What is the most popular home cinema projector in the USA The most popular home cinema projector in the USA in 2025, based on expert reviews and consumer interest, is the Epson Home Cinema 3800. It's widely praised for its excellent balance of image quality, brightness, and value, making it a top choice for home theater enthusiasts. With strong contrast, vibrant colors, and the ability to project a sharp 4K image, it performs well in both dark and moderately lit rooms. Its affordability compared to high-end models like the Epson Home Cinema 5050UB, combined with features like two HDMI ports and easy setup, contributes to its popularity. What is the most popular AVR The most popular AV receiver brand in the USA is Denon, with models like the Denon AVR-X3800H and Denon AVR-X4800H frequently cited as top performers in 2024-2025 reviews. Denon's popularity stems from its optimal price-to-quality ratio, reliable performance, and advanced features like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and 8K HDMI support. Market data is scarce, but Denon's dominance is evident in consumer reviews, sales rankings on sites like Best Buy, and industry reports, with Marantz (its sister brand) and Yamaha as close competitors. Denon's models are praised for versatility, supporting setups with more than three speakers (e.g., 9.4 or 7.2.2 configurations), aligning with the 10-15% of households estimated to have such systems. What is the most popular voice assistant product in the USA Amazon's Alexa is the most popular voice assistant product in the USA, primarily due to its widespread integration into Amazon Echo devices and its compatibility with over 60,000 smart home devices. In 2025, Alexa has an estimated 77.6 million users in the US, trailing Google Assistant (92.4 million) and Apple's Siri (87.0 million) in total users but leading in smart home ecosystem adoption and versatility. Its popularity is driven by features like hands-free control, extensive third-party app integration, and the ability to perform tasks such as controlling smart home devices, streaming music, and shopping online. The Amazon Echo (4th Gen) is particularly noted for its sound quality and built-in Zigbee radio, enhancing its smart home capabilities. What is the most popular video doorbell in the USA While exact sales data is unavailable, the Ring Battery Doorbell and Ring Video Doorbell (2nd generation) are likely the most popular video doorbells in the USA in 2025.  What is the most popular smart switch in the USA The Lutron Caséta is the most popular for its balance of advanced features, no-neutral-wire flexibility, and rock-solid performance across smart home platforms. Its hub requirement adds cost (around $60-$100 per switch plus $80-$100 for the hub), but users value its dependability and customization options. If you're on a budget or prefer Wi-Fi-based switches, the TP-Link Kasa models are nearly as popular due to their lower price (around $20-$40) and hub-free setup. What is the most popular smart plug in the USA TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim (EP25) frequently comes up as a top contender for indoor use due to its affordability, feature set, and wide compatibility.  

On this episode of the Rewind show we go back to June 25th 2010 where we read your emails, look at a news story or two, and look at a company called Quartics and what they are up to today.   

On this episode of the Rewind show we go back to June 11th 2010 where we read your emails, look at a news story or two, and look at TV Specifications.  

On this episode of the Rewind show we go back to June 4tht 2010 where we read your emails look at a news story or two and look at a CE Pro article from 2010  

On this episode of the Rewind show we go back to May 21st 2010 where we read your emails look at a news story or two and wrap up the 2009 - 2010 TV Season

On this week's show we go back to the second week of May 2007 where we look give you some tips on buying speakers that still hold true today. We also look at wireless speakers and read a couple of emails from back then.   

On this week's show we take a look back at the transition from black and white to color and compare it to the transition to HDTV. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Roku's smart home strategy is making its streaming devices harder to ignore Sonos Strikes a Surprising Deal with Yamaha Masimo to Sell Consumer Audio Business to HARMAN International Other: Robert's Forever Home Theater Has the Best Universal Remote Got Better? - Remote 3 Google AI Reimagines Wizard of Oz for the Las Vegas Sphere!

Legendary KSTP-TV sports anchor Joe Schmit dips into the Coffee Ship this week to talk about recent retirement. Schmit reflects on his transition from TV to PR and his return to TV, and the horrors of shifting from analog to HD TV. We learn about the the adaptation of his children's book about Joe Mauler into a musical, aiming to attract baseball players and emphasizes kindness and compassion. Plus Kenny picks his sports brain and gets Joe's thoughts on the Timberwolves' playoff chances and the Vikings' potential with JJ McCarthy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this week's show we go back to May of 2007 where we look at an article titled: 10 things about sound but were afraid to ask as well as revisiting a trip to Costco. We also look at the news and email of the day.  

In this episode we read some emails concerning mp3 bit rates and more on HDDVD. We also explain Dolby Surround. We finish with a TV Show Theme trivia game. 

I thought it would be fun to go back and listen to a few episodes from the "old" days. Thanks to Milton Scritsmier I now have access to our podcasts going back to 2007.    Let me know if you would like me to continue    

DIVA and HDTV team up for a combo attack on Galaxy Greg's new look. This week we talk anime duo's. Who's your favorite anime duo? Comment below your favorite anime duo.Check out 21 Blackjack on Webtoons if you haven't had the chance. Leave a like, subscribe , and share!Follow the Podcast on Youtube, Tiktok, IG, Bluesky, and Twitter @bmorenerdyFollow your host @galaxygreg_ @theedivaxox @iamhdtvAnd remember to Be More Nerds.

Andrew Parris, Broadcast Television Engineer and Space Communicator, joins Beth from the Cape for a long-overdue chat about life behind the lens at NASA and beyond. With over four decades in broadcast television and thirteen action-packed years at NASA, Andrew shares his extraordinary journey—from diving with astronauts and filming space shuttle landings, to flying on NASA's "Weightless Wonder." Andrew's passion for space never fizzled, and today, he's helping others chase their own cosmic dreams through The Inspired 24, a group he co-founded to expand access to the space experience and the Overview Effect. In this episode, Beth and Andrew launch into memories of SCUBA dives at the WETF, share laughs about zero-G adventures gone sideways (literally), and open up about the emotional impact of witnessing spaceflight tragedies firsthand. Andrew also walks us through his recent work with AstroAccess, supporting inclusive microgravity flights, and Copernic Space, sending stories and digital mementos to the Moon. You'll hear about the human moments behind the missions, the stories you don't see on screen, and the joyful chaos of bridging the technical with the emotional in NASA's most public-facing roles. Andrew's reflections—equal parts heartwarming, hilarious, and humbling—remind us that space exploration isn't just about rockets and research. It's about people, passion, and persistence.     More about Andrew Parris: Andrew Parris is a 3-time Technical Emmy award-winning Broadcast Television Engineer, space communicator, and Commercial Astronaut-in-training. He spent 13 years at NASA's Dryden and Johnson Space Centers supporting shuttle and ISS missions, astronaut training, and global documentation efforts—including trips to Russia and the Baikonur Cosmodrome. After his NASA years, he helped launch the first all-HDTV network with Mark Cuban and directed live coverage of STS-114's launch and landing. Today, he leads The Inspired 24 community, volunteers at Space Center Houston, and partners with space-forward orgs like Copernic Space, MoonDAO, and AstroAccess. He's flown multiple commercial zero-G flights and is preparing for a stratospheric balloon mission with World View in 2026. Want to connect with Andrew or join The Inspired 24? Head to theinspired24.com. Call sign Titan is always ready to welcome fellow space dreamers aboard.  If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share, I'd love to hear it! beth@casualspacepodcast.com Want to hear more about the incredible AstroAccess Zero G Mission? Listen to episode 138 with Zero-G's Tim Bailey: https://www.bethmund.com/casual-space-podcast/2021/0930/138-tim-bailey You can follow our Casual conversations on Casual Space and share in the socials,  LinkedIn - @casualspacepodcast Facebook - @casualspacepodcast Instagram - @casualspacepodcast YouTube - @casualspacepodcast83 YOU CAN HELP US SEND STORIES TO SPACE!  Please visit our GoFundMe campaign and help send more stories to space!  Each dollar helps send a story. https://gofund.me/62f1ff87  or email me at beth@casualspacepodcast.com. *Remember!!! You can send your story to space TODAY! The window for STORIES of Space MISSION 03 and MISSION 04 is NOW OPEN! Send your story, for free, to www.storiesofspace.com

On this week's show we talk about 20 years of the HDTV and Home Theater Podcast! We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: A Software Update Is Killing Samsung Soundbars Apple TV+ loses $1 billion every year, according to new report ESPN might pay up to $2 billion for NFL Network, RedZone Netflix announces it is adding HDR10+ support for videos Apple to Launch HomeOS Later This Year Apple is set to have an exciting year in software development with significant updates planned for iOS 19, macOS 16, and iPadOS 19. However, the tech giant is also preparing to introduce a completely new operating system called ‘homeOS.' This new platform will accompany the launch of a novel device dubbed the ‘HomePad,' a smart display that blends features of the iPad and HomePod.  The homeOS is anticipated to share many characteristics with Apple's existing platforms, yet it will be uniquely adapted for home use. It will feature a customizable Home Screen akin to those on iOS and iPadOS, allowing users to add widgets for weather, stocks, and reminders, launch apps from a grid, maintain a dock for favorite apps, and manage smart home controls. This familiarity should make it intuitive for current iPhone and iPad users. Additionally, Siri will play a pivotal role in homeOS, enhancing the integration of Apple Intelligence to provide a more context-aware and action-oriented voice experience, building on its capabilities from the HomePod and forthcoming iOS enhancements. In terms of applications, homeOS might not launch with a full App Store but it will come equipped with a robust suite of built-in Apple apps. Users can expect essentials like FaceTime, Notes, Calendar, Reminders, Home, Safari, Settings, News, Music, TV, Podcasts, Weather, and Photos. These apps will support the HomePad's function as a central home device, offering both productivity and entertainment options right out of the box, with the potential for more apps to be added in the future. A distinctive feature of homeOS will be its dynamic responsiveness to user proximity, enabled by sensors in the HomePad that adjust the display based on how close a person is. For instance, when a user is far from the device, it might showcase a slideshow of photos via the Photos app or display StandBy-like widgets as a screensaver. As the user approaches, the system will seamlessly transition to the Home Screen. This adaptive functionality underscores homeOS's design philosophy of “iOS, but for your home,” aiming to extend Apple's ecosystem cohesively into home environments and potentially appealing to the vast iPhone user base when the HomePad debuts later this year. Twenty Years of the HDTV and Home Theater Podcast 2,567,649 Downloads ~128K per year or 10600 a month. Our Peak listenership was 2010 - 2015 with a blip in 2020 - 2021 Top ten countries for the current year: United States Canada Australia United Kingdom Sweden Germany Cambodia Spain New Zealand Netherlands

On this week's show we look at where some Americans are spending nearly $100 a month on streaming services. We also look at some new tech from Sony that promises big improvements for LED TVs. All that plus your emails and the week's news on this episode of the HDTV and Home Theater Podcast. News: Apple TV+, Jason Sudeikis confirm fourth season of ‘Ted Lasso' Lawsuits Hit TCL & Hisense: Are Their QLED TVs A Total Scam? Sony Launches Its First New 4K Blu-ray Player In Over Five Years Other: Spectrum is finally offering a streaming-only subscription for Dodgers Many Americans Spend Over $100 per Month on Subscription Services A recent survey by Bango reveals that nearly 25% of Americans spend over $100 per month on subscription services, including streaming platforms and retail memberships like Amazon Prime. This trend marks a shift from the perception of subscriptions as cost-effective alternatives to traditional cable and satellite services, as consumers face rising costs—streaming plans alone have increased by over 20% in the past two years. To manage expenses, many consumers are turning to subscription bundles, with the average American holding 5.4 subscriptions, including 2 that come through bundled packages. A significant portion of these bundles is linked to mobile phone plans, with 55% of subscribers benefiting from such arrangements. Additionally, 44% of users report receiving services for free through bundles that they previously paid for. Convenience is another critical factor driving consumers toward bundles, as 41% express frustration with managing multiple subscriptions across different apps. A strong demand exists for unified platforms, with 63% of subscribers seeking more options like Verizon's +play. Sony Develops Next-Generation Display System  Full Press Release  Sony has developed a next-generation display system featuring a high-density LED backlight with independent drive RGB (red, green, and blue) control, designed for large screens. This innovative technology allows each RGB color to emit light independently, resulting in high color purity and the ability to reproduce a vibrant, wide color gamut.  Key features of this display system include: Wide Color Gamut Performance: The system covers over 99% of the DCI-P3 color space and about 90% of the ITU-R BT.2020 standard, ensuring enhanced color reproduction.    Advanced Backlight Control Technology: Sony's proprietary technology allows for precise control of light gradation, enabling subtle hues and detailed shading across the entire brightness range. This is particularly beneficial for cinematic productions, where accurate color representation is crucial for conveying narrative expression. Accurate Color Reproduction by a Dedicated Control Processor ​By individually controlling the brightness of the densely packed RGB LEDs, it is possible to render bright areas vividly without white clipping and to delicately depict the nuances of light in dark areas without black crushing. Additionally, the display system is equipped with approximately twice the processing power and pixel correction technology compared to conventional local dimming processing, allowing the reproduction of subtle color differences and accurate colors without color shifts. The display system aims to enhance film production and home viewing experiences, aligning with Sony's commitment to supporting creators through professional-grade monitors used for color grading and reference. Mass production of this new display system is set to begin in 2025, with plans for integration into consumer televisions and displays for content creation.

Adam Teicher of ESPN joined us during Monday's second hour to talk all about the Chiefs now that they're down in New Orleans for the Super Bowl. Then we went down memory lane on the first time we watched football in HD. Then we talked about the blockbuster trade over the weekend. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Make a Logo on FiverrLast Updated on December 31, 2024 11:13 am by Jeffrey Powers ATSC 3.0, or “NextGen TV,” is the latest standard in broadcast television (I took a tour on ATSC 3.0 years ago), offering 4K resolution, interactivity, and enhanced over-the-air (OTA) features. So when GTMedia came out with the HDTV X1, I […] The post Does the Bad Outweigh the Good? GTMedia HDTV X1 with ATSC 3.0 appeared first on Geekazine.

On this week's show we discuss Braden's YouTubeTV price increase as well as a discussion on how to reboot your internet modem when it locks up even if you aren't home. One of our listeners, Josh in Huntsville AL, shares his experience dealing with warranty service on a large screen TV. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: LG stops making Blu-ray players, marking the end of an era Venu Sports backers lose motion to dismiss case Amazon's 2nd & 3rd Gen Echo Buds Are Dirt Cheap Try this easy trick to delay your upcoming YouTube TV price increase Other: Pioneer CS-707 | hifi-wiki.com Contact House of Sound NYC for Audio Tours, Events & Partnerships YouTube TV price update Braden received the following email from YouTubeTV raising his TV service costs by $10: YouTube TV has always worked hard to offer you the content you love, delivered the way you want, with features that make it easy to enjoy the best of live TV. To keep up with the rising cost of content and the investments we make in the quality of our service, we're updating our monthly price from $72.99/month to $82.99/month starting January 13, 2025. We don't make these decisions lightly, and we realize this has an impact on our members. We are committed to bringing you features that are changing the way we watch live TV, like unlimited DVR storage and multiview*, and supporting YouTube TV's breadth of content and vast on-demand library of movies and shows. The price of your YouTube TV Base Plan membership will change in your first billing cycle on or after January 13, 2025, and will be charged to your payment method on file going forward. To view your current plan, go to Settings > Membership for updated information. If you are currently on a trial or promotional price for the Base Plan, that promotion is still honored and unchanged. We hope YouTube TV continues to be your service of choice, but we understand that some of our members may want to cancel their subscriptions. As always, family managers have the ability to pause or cancel anytime. You can find more information in our Help Center. With lots of exciting shows and live events ahead in the new year, we'll continue to strive to deliver the best of TV, all in one place. Thank you for being a loyal YouTube TV member. Sincerely, The YouTube TV team Cable Internet Going Down While Away On a recent trip Ara's cable modem locked up and would not come back online until he returned home and cycled power. So how do you prevent this from happening again? Ara takes a look at a solution called Keep Connect, a $50 device that monitors your internet connection and reboots the system when connection to the internet is lost.  Features: Automatic Router Rebooter / Reset - Stop manually restarting your router! Automate the process to ensure highly reliable internet connection uptime  Constantly Monitors Router and/or Modem Internet Health. Keep Connect provides 24/7/365 protection to ensure that your smart home and connected devices are always online and available.  Notifications - Free Texts or Emails from Keep Connect notifying you of detected eventsif you choose to enter your phone number/email. You may also choose No Notifications.  Perfect for Smart Home Reliability - Schedule Periodic Resets to keep your connection fresh and fast.  Premium Cloud Services App Available (iOS App Store and Google Play Store) - Our Premium Keep Connect Cloud Services platform allows using our Online/Mobile App to monitor many locations in one place as well. Cloud Services allows remote management of devices at all locations as well as heartbeat monitoring of your Keep Connects to notify you in the event of an ISP internet outage at one of your sites. Large TV Warranty Experience I've meant to write about my TCL TV experience for quite some time.  What can I say, life is just busy.  I have two more kids than Braden! When I heard a couple of weeks ago a question about warranty experiences for large TVs, I thought I had put off writing this story long enough. After listening to Braden hype up TCL TVs for at least a couple of years, as well as reading many reviews for TVs and watching the developing technology trends at the time, in September 2020 I ordered a TCL 75R635, a so-called 6-series Roku 4K QLED 75-inch TV with a respectable 240-zone backlight array.  The TV had been announced earlier in the year, perhaps at CEDIA or CES and I was ready to replace my 10-year old Panasonic plasma HD TV with this TCL model.  I watched over the next many months for the TV to become available.  While I hoped for a sale, I also knew from watching similar TVs that the stock tended to get bought out pretty quickly.  Amazon finally had the TV available to order in September 2020 and I ordered immediately for a retail price of $1399 plus tax.  I received it on October 3. The TV worked great for about 6 months.  In late March 2021, the screen suddenly and mysteriously slowly faded to a sort of dark backlit state in the middle of whatever my wife was watching.  A backlight was on, but no picture elements were displayed.  You could still hear the TV making sounds associated with navigating the menu when pushing buttons on the remote.  I started a warranty claim March 31 nothing I was well within the 1-year warranty period.  I don't recall exact timing, but a service tech was scheduled to attempt to repair the TV within 10 days.  The day he was supposed to come, he called me beforehand and said he'd already been trying to repair the same model TV for another purchaser.  He asked me a couple of questions about what the TV was doing.  His conclusion over the phone and based on trying to work on the same model of TV was that it was not repairable and he would elevate the case to sending a replacement. Here is where the process got a little frustrating.  TCL honored the claim.  However, the process became surprisingly slow.  As I said, I don't recall exactly when the service tech came, but if it was Day 10, that would have been April 9.  TCL told me on April 23 the TV was finally being shipped.  It was considered a freight shipment, so TCL handed me off to Pilot Deliveries from that point forward.  I had to contact Pilot to arrange delivery if you can believe that!  I also had to coordinate with Pilot to pick up the defective unit.  I did all of this.  By May 3, I still had not received the replacement.  It took another call to TCL at this point to investigate the problem because tracking showed it bouncing all over the map.  I think it came from China.  Landed in California, then I think it made it to Nashville, then Chattanooga, back to Nashville, and hopped over me in Huntsville to wind up in Mobile, Alabama. By this point, Pilot seemed to finally acknowledge they weren't handling this delivery well.  It did get flown one last time to Huntsville.  Then they sent the TV on an unmarked box truck (No "Pilot" markings) with a kid who was maybe 20 to deliver the TV to my home.  The TV was the only thing on the truck.  And, it had fallen over which I suspected when I came around to the back of the truck and saw the driver just finishing standing the box back up.  The driver admitted this was the case when I asked.  But, jumping to the end, the TV has always worked fine.  I had to help get the very large box in the house because they should have sent two people to handle this delivery.  This was May 6 when I finally took possession.  So, a little over 5-week process.  I never expected it to take that long. The rumors amongst forums at the time were that because this was most likely a first production run model (remember, I bought it as soon as it was available), there were manufacturing defects.  And the failure itself was likely because TCL was wiring the backlight array in-series, so if one light goes out, they all stop working.  I think the “dark light” that we could see came from the edges, so maybe the light array was separated into zones somehow.  I guess I'll never really know. Finally, some anecdotes: Anecdote #1:  I am a sentimental sort and I was a little sad to see the original go as me and my kids had broken in that first TV watching the then new Mandalorian series which we greatly enjoyed. Anecdote #2:  My “finance committee” hates it when we spend “large” amounts of money all at once.  In all those years I was listening to you guys, doing research, and waiting for the TV to become available, I banked my Amazon credit card reward points just for a TV.  When the time came, I only paid $61.02 out of pocket for this TV. We've greatly enjoyed the TV ever since.  I couldn't swing $4000-$5000+ at the time for the 55-inch OLEDs that were out then.  But the TCL has always been enjoyable.  HDR and Dolby Vision content especially look great for deep dark blacks.  Would I buy one similar to this again?  Maybe—the technology continues to improve even in just the last 4 years and prices have also come down.  There are lots of options.  Honestly, I think more about a short throw projector for my next TV based on Ara's experiences. Hope you and the listeners enjoy this story about my warranty experience. Josh Huntsville, AL

It's time for Mr. Anti-Social to take the spotlight. He's going to prove hes the anime officanado as we go through ALL his watched anime. Some you know some, he's going to put you on to and some he'll explain badly. This episode is a packed one because we alos review two albums Meg Thee Stallion and Tyler the Creator. So let us know your though on HD list and if you like the albums. Check out 21 Blackjack on Webtoons if you haven't had the chance. Leave a like, subscribe , and share! Follow the Podcast on Youtube, Tiktok, IG, and Twitter @bmorenerdy Follow your host @galaxygreg_ @theedivaxox @hd_n0_tv And remember to Be More Nerds!

Recorded in Mike's brand-new apartment under his ridiculously large HDTV. Highlights: Guest Jason Lichtenberger makes DtN history by delivering the show's first country song, much to Mike's bewilderment.Sean brings a song that's barely a week old.Paul praises a coffee cup.Mike recalls some of his adventures, including hiding out from his parents behind a dumpster. Music by Tears for Fears, niko+ & Clans, Father John Misty, Chris Stapleton, First Aid Kit, and Tune-Yards.

On this week's show DJ Briggs (Bright Side Home Theater) joins me while Braden is taking the month off. We discuss the Key Findings from the RTINGS.COM HDTV Stress Test and we read your emails and take a look at the week's news.  News: Venu Sports Stays Below vMVPD Partners on Price DirecTV UX Update for Satellite Customers Is Its First in Five Years … And Perhaps Its Last U.S. Subscription Streaming Had Its Most Watched Week Ever Roku Most-Used Streaming Media Device Key Findings From Running 100 TVs for Over 10,000 Hours RTINGS.COM We have been following RTINGS.COM's accelerated longevity test on 100 TVs pretty much from the beginning. They started this experiment back in October 2022. They have some key findings out which led them to conclude that thin LCD TVs break faster under prolonged use.  They concluded: The goal of RTINGS.com's ongoing 100 TV longevity test is to push TVs to the limits of their durability to examine failure points as they happen. One clear trend we've observed and investigated is that thin, edge-lit LCD TVs fail prematurely compared to LCD TVs with other backlighting technology. The results of this investigation are unequivocal: edge-lit TVs are inherently prone to significant durability issues, including warped reflector sheets, cracked light guide plates, and burnt-out LEDs due to concentrated heat. These problems manifest after prolonged use at maximum brightness, posing a significant risk to their long-term reliability. This analysis, corroborated by real-world observations, highlights a crucial consideration for  consumers and the industry. As manufacturers continue to push for thinner designs, addressing these durability concerns is imperative to ensure consumer satisfaction and    trust. For consumers in the market for an LCD TV to whom the durability of their purchase is important, we recommend prioritizing models with better heat distribution, such as direct-lit or FALD TVs, for improved longevity and performance.

Scott is on vacation so Chris is the Captain now! The gang discusses their 4th of July. There is a mystery phone caller. Nick and Sarah discuss their ADHD or HDTV??? Chris tries to get to know Sarah and Nick a little more and let them talk since Mr. Scott doesn't let them speak. www.nonewfriendspodcast.comwww.sandpipervacations.com

Working as a Hollywood makeup artist in the early 2000s, Rea Ann Silva designed a sponge that reshaped the face of beauty. She'd been looking for a technique to simplify makeup touch-ups without worrying about the smudges or streaks that were easily detected on HDTV. Her solution? A teardrop-shaped sponge—hand-cut from a foam wedge—that could apply makeup from any angle, and absorb just enough water to be extra-efficient. Actors and fellow makeup artists raved about the sponge, so Rea Ann cold-called an industry insider—who almost hung up on her before agreeing to listen to her idea. That call led to a fruitful partnership that helped Rea Ann launch Beautyblender in Hollywood pro shops, then Ulta and Sephora. Today, the bright pink teardrop sponge is at the center of a multi-million-dollar beauty brand, available in over 50 countries. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.