A discussion of Universal vs Original Remotes. Why should I buy an original remote vs. a universal remote?

Although we’re now just a week or so from posting our latest LCD and plasma TV Ratings (available to subscribers), our engineers have already starting testing additional LCD and plasma models for the Ratings we’ll publish in August.

Here’s what’s currently being evaluated in the CR TV labs (listed here in alphabetical order by brand):

LCD TVs

LG 42LH50: This 42-inch 1080p TV with 120Hz technology has the company’s NetCast Internet service, providing online access to instant Netflix videos and other content via Yahoo Internet widgets. It also has a room light sensor to save energy by adjusting TV brightness to the room’s light conditions.

Samsung UN46B8000: This pricey 46-inch 1080p LCD is an ultra-slim (1.2 inches) set with edge LED backlighting. The set, a 240Hz model that actually quadruples the TV’s frame rate, includes Samsung’s Medi@2.0 Internet service, with access to online content, including Flickr and YouTube, via Yahoo Internet widgets. It can also wirelessly connect to a home network via an optional USB dongle, and comes with preloaded with some content, such as games, workout routines, and recipes.

Samsung LN46B650: This 46-inch mid-line 1080p set has 120Hz technology, and sports a new, ruby Touch of Color design. It includes Samsung’s Medi@2.0 Internet service, plus the ability to connect wirelessly to a home network via an optional USB dongle. Like its pricier, sleeker brandmate, it comes with some preloaded content.

Samsung LN26B460: This smaller-size Samsung LCD is a 26-inch 720p set with three HDMI inputs, more than most TVs of this size. It has a headphone jack for private listening.

Sharp Aquos LC-C5277UN: This 52-inch 1080p, 120Hz model is sold through warehouse clubs. It has five HDMI inputs, one more than most TVs we’ve seen, and features a sensor that automatically adjusts the TV’s brightness to room light conditions.

Sharp Aquos LC-C4677UN: This is the 46-inch version of its larger sibling, described above. Like that model, it’s a 1080p, 120Hz set that’s sold through warehouse clubs. It also has similar features, including five HDMI inputs and the ambient light sensor.

Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR9: This pricey, 46-inch set is part of Sony’s flagship XBR line. Unlike earlier models, which required an optional Internet module to connect to the web, this set has built-in Internet capability. Key features include 240Hz technology that actually quadruples the TV’s frame rate to reduce motion blur, and Bravia Internet widgets to access online content. The company just announced that Netflix has been added as a content partner for Internet-enabled Bravia TVs.

Sony Bravia KDL-40VE5: This 40-inch 1080p LCD, a 120Hz model, is part of Sony’s “eco-friendly” VE5-series line that claims reduced power consumption. One reason is a new type of fluorescent lamp (“hot” cathode fluorescent lamp). In addition, it has two built-in sensors: one adjusts the TV’s brightness to room light conditions, and the other will shut off the TV’s picture if it detects that you’ve left the room. If it doesn’t sense you’ve returned after 30 minutes, it shuts the TV off.

Vizio VO420E: a low-priced 42-inch 1080p set that’s sold through Walmart. Features include picture-in-picture and SRS TruSurround HD sound.

Plasma TVs

Insignia NS-P501Q-10A: This 50-inch 720p plasma TV, sold as Best Buy’s house brand, is low-priced for its screen size. It includes SRS TruSurround HD sound.

LG 60PS60: The largest set in our labs, this step-up 60-inch 1080p plasma has THX certification, and includes a THX-mode preset optimized for movie-viewing. It also includes a USB port for playing digital photos and music.

Panasonic Viera TC-P54V10: This 1080p Panasonic plasma, with a 54-inch screen size unique to Panasonic, is a pricier, step-up model that replaced the old PZ850 series. It has THX Certification, and the company’s Viera Cast Internet service, which can access online content from various partners, including Amazon Video on Demand. It also has an SD card slot, and can play high-def AVCHD video files.

Panasonic Viera TC-P46G15: Part of the G15 series sold through regional dealers and A/V specialty stores, this is a 46-inch 1080p plasma—another size unique to Panasonic—that includes THX certification and the company’s Viera Cast Internet service. It also has an SD card slot, and can play high-def AVCHD video files.

Panasonic Viera TC-P54G10: This 54-inch 1080p plasma is part of the company’s G10 series, which is similarly featured to the G15 models but sold through national chains. The set is THX certified, and includes the company’s Viera Cast Internet service, and an SD card slot with AVCHD video playback.

Panasonic Viera TC-P54S1: This 54-inch plasma, part of the company’s entry-level 1080p S1 line, is also THX certified, but lacks the Viera Cast service offered in higher-priced series.

Check back with our blog shortly, as we’ll let you know when our latest LCD and plasma TV reviews are posted.—James K. Willcox

With tweets on Twitter limited to only 140 characters, many Twitterers economize by shrinking lengthy URLs for embedded links, with help from Web sites that specialize in such shrinkage. Now, at least one such site has been hacked.

URL-shortening site Cligs last month sent more than 2 million Web addresses to an entirely different destination. Phishers are also taking advantage of the trust users have in TinyURL Web addresses by using them to mask malicious destinations.

But easy solutions are available, PC Magazine points out. You can easily decode those cryptic URLs by pasting them into—what else—a URL lengthener. One such tool: Untiny. Just cut and paste the shortened URL into the box, and you’ll get the original address. Make sure it’s legit, click, and you’re good to go.

In other Twitter news, the site announced it was suspending accounts infected with a form of the Koobface virus. The suspended sites were sending out “bogus tweets” when the user logged in. The tweets included TinyURLs that sent users to Koobface malware sites. —Donna Tapellini

This photo was taken in the late afternoon. Note how the warmer sunlight creates softer, less conspicuous shadows, particularly on the face. This lighting technique can improve your HD video as well. (Click to enlarge.)  [ Photo: T. Sullivan ]

Sony recently announced two new flash-memory camcorder models for consumers, the HDR-CX500V ($1,100) and HDR-CX520V ($1,300), which will be available in September. It’s proof that Sony, like all camcorder makers, is continuing to expand its line of HD camcorders while introducing fewer and fewer standard def models.

But in the rush toward this more detailed video format, are we getting more than we bargained for? In the world of show biz, many makeup artists, who are responsible for making celebrities look great in front of the cameras, are concerned about how much detail HD captures. Apparently, HD will, indeed, make a mountain out of a molehill. Even makeup companies are getting into the act: On the Sephora website, you can buy an “HD Elixir” which claims to have an “immediate smoothing effect” on the skin that will make you look better in front of an HD camera.

So what’s an average Joe or Jane to do when it’s time for his or her close-up? Here are a few tips to help you look good, or at least look better, on HD:

This photo of me and my daughter was taken around noon on a cloudless, sunny day. Note how the bright sunlight creates more visible, distracting shadows on both our faces. The raking light also picks up every wrinkle and blemish on my face. (Click to enlarge.)  [ Photo: T. Sullivan ]

• Lighting plays an important role in how you look on camera. If you’re shooting outdoors, consider capturing your video during the early morning or late afternoon/early evening light, which most often have a warmer quality and are more forgiving on your subjects.
• Shooting at high noon on a cloudless day in direct sunlight can create harsh shadows, particularly around the eyes. Direct sunlight, which may rake the face, can emphasize imperfections.
• If you want to soften the HD video in your camcorder, see if it has a “softening” setting. This will actually make the image quality softer and less detailed. Consult the manual or scroll through the camcorder’s menu for such a feature.
• If you’ve already captured video on your HD camcorder, but still want to soften it up a bit, check your video-editing software to see if it has a filter that will soften the image quality. One that does is Sony’s Vegas 9, which includes a defocus lighting effect that can soften detail.

For other suggestions on how to make your subjects look better in HD, including some tips on applying makeup, check out the following websites:

• 
  MSNBC.com
• Videomaker magazine

If you’ve found a way of making your subjects look better in HD, we’d love to hear your tips and suggestions. —Terry Sullivan