I frequently get asked by people what HDTV should they buy. It’s not a simple answer and requires a bit of qualification before I can prescribe a new set. Budget, ambient light conditions, and existing furniture only represent a start to the questions. Generally, most people have a good idea of what they want and how to make it look cool. It’s more about pointing them in the right direction in system integration than about one brand over another. One thing I always recommend is both professional installation as well as professional calibration. It gets you more life from your set as well as dramatically better performance.

Algolith, a developer of video image enhancement solutions, announces it has begun shipments in North America and Europe of the Dragonfly Home Theater Processor/Scaler, which was exhibited at the CEDIA Expo in Denver. The Dragonfly features the powerful Realta HQV Video Engine by Silicon Optix, the leading supplier of advanced video/image digital processing integrated circuits. It embodies Algolith’s vision of providing superlative image quality.

Monster, the world’s largest manufacturer of high-end cables, accessories and power conditioning products, and The Imaging Science Foundation (ISF), announce that from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31, $10 of the proceeds from each purchase of the Monster/ISF Calibration Wizard via the ISF web site (www.imagingscience.com) and Monster Cable website (www.monstercable.com) will be donated to the Elf Foundation. AVSForum has also generously provided ad space for this worthy project on their web site www.avsforum.com. The Calibration Wizard is a winner of a 2006 Electronic House Product of the Year award.

DVDO, by Anchor Bay Technologies, Inc. (ABT), announces first customer shipments of the DVDO iScan VP20 video processor and A/V Hub. This 1080p capable video processor builds on the success of the iScan VP30 by providing the same high-quality image enhancement technologies. Pricing of the iScan VP20 makes the component ideal for lower priced HD displays in mid to high-end home theater systems and consumers who want to dramatically improve their system performance. While the VP30 offered a wide array of ‘tweakable’ options for videophiles and serious HD enthusiasts, the iScan VP20 features a slightly lower combination of inputs and outputs, along with simplified menu structures in the OSD for mainstream consumers.

Accell, a provider of audio/video interconnects, today announced its new Accell UltraAV HDMI 2-1 Switch for the A/V home theater and presentation markets. The UltraAV HDMI Switch enables concurrent access to two video sources and a wireless remote to swap between each device. It will be available in June for $99.99 MSRP.