Jon L. JacobiFreelance contributor, TechHive
Jon is a Juilliard-trained musician, former x86/6800 programmer, and long-time (late 70s) computer enthusiast living in the San Francisco bay area. jjacobi@pcworld.com
Braven BVR-XXL/2 Bluetooth speaker review: Gigantor lays down the beat
If you appreciate volume, thump, and durability in a speaker, the Braven BVR-XXL/2 should be at the top of your short list. It's IPX5 rated, sounds good for the weatherized category, and even features a magnetic bottle opener.
Marshall's Tufton Bluetooth speaker certainly invokes the brand name, as well as delivering decent sound with a lot of thump, but the price is a bit steep and there's a caveat concerning stereo.
Best TVs: Our top picks, plus plain-language explanations of the most important specs and features
There are plenty of great smart TVs. Our guide cuts through the alphabet soup to tell everything you need to know to buy the one that's right for you.
Hisense R8F 4K UHD smart TV review: This Roku-powered TV delivers plenty of bang for the buck
You'll get very good picture, Dolby Vision, and the excellent Roku OS, but you can forget about bringing your own Bluetooth speakers to the party.
Samsung launches its 2020 QLED TV lineup
The new line includes two new 8K UHD series, with promised improvements in image and audio technology, and support for Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and the company's own Bixby digital assistant.
TV tech terms demystified, part one: Screen size, resolution, and speed
Don't be befuddled by the alphabet soup of acronyms, spec charts, and feature lists you'll encounter when shopping for a new TV. This guide series explains it all in plain language.
TV tech terms demystified, part four: LED backlighting
LED backlights enable thinner flat-panel TVs and save energy, but until just recently, the color has been poor compared to older technologies.
TV tech terms demystified, part two: Display types and technologies
Don't be befuddled by the alphabet soup of acronyms, spec charts, and feature lists you'll encounter when shopping for a new TV. This guide series explains it all in plain language.
TV tech terms demystified, part three: Color standards and definitions
Don't be befuddled by the alphabet soup of acronyms, spec charts, and feature lists you'll encounter when shopping for a new TV. This guide series explains it all in plain language.
What separates a product with an IP67 rating from one rated IP66, IP68, or IPX6? Our simple guide tells you everything you need to know.
TCL 5-Series 4K TV review: This 43-inch smart TV delivers a good picture for minimal moola
This bargain-priced smart TV features surprisingly good color, Dolby Vision, and the Roku interface.
Sony adds a 48-inch OLED and a new 8K UHD LCD to its 2020 TV offerings
Sony continues to improve its highly rated top-of-the-line TVs and adds a new 8K UHD as well as a 48-inch OLED to its lineup
TCL talks Roku TV Ready tech, 8K UHD for the U.S., and mini-LED strategy for 2020
TCL also announced an update to its HDMI 2.1/eARC/variable refresh-rate firmware, and a THX certified game mode for the coming year.
Quantum dots invade Hisense's H8 series, and the dual-cell (two LCD layers) LED TVs are slated to arrive for the fall football season.
LG says 'let's get small' at CES, shows a 48-inch OLED TV
If you're one of the many who don't want a massive TV dominating your space, but still want top-notch image quality, LG's new 48-inch OLED may be what you're looking for.
Articles by Jon L. Jacobi
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