Skip to main content

Shopping Guides

  •   Apparel & Accessories
    • General Care Guidelines
    •   Glossary
      • Apparel Terms
      • Footwear Terms
      • Footwear Diagram
      • Handbags Terms
    • Fabrics & Weaves
    • Fashion by Body Type
    • Five Fashion Essentials
    • Handbag Weight Comparisons
    • Fibers
    • Scarves in Fashion
    • Size Information
    • Sunglasses
  •   Beauty
    •   Cosmetics 101
      •   Cosmetic Tools and Care
        • Cosmetic Brushes
        • Face Tools
        • Eye Tools
        • Other Beauty Tools
      •   Makeup Application & Color Guide
        • Cheeks
        • Eyebrows
        • Eyes
        • Foundation
        • Lips
        • Hints for Mature Skin
        • Hints for Quick Application
        • The Smoky Eye Effect
      • Makeup by Occasion
    • Hair Types and Styling
    • Ingredient Glossary
    •   Skin Care
      • Acne/Oily Skin
      • Aging Skin
      • Dry Skin
      • Normal Skin
      • Sensitive Skin
    •   Skin Care Regimen
      • Cleanse
      • Tone
      • Exfoliate
      • Refresh
      • Moisturize
      • Firm
      • Protect
    • Fragrance Types
  •   Computers & Electronics
    •   Choosing a Camera
      • Camera Functions
      • Camera Glossary
      • Digital Cameras
    •   Choosing a Computer
      • Choosing a Notebook
      • Computer Glossary
      • Setting Up Your Computer
    • Choosing a GPS
    • Gaming Systems & Ratings
    •   Home Theater Systems
      • Home Theater Glossary
    • Refurbished Electronics
    • TV Glossary& FAQs
    • Unlocked Phones
  •   Coins
    • American Coin Designs
    • Coin Glossary
    • Grading & Certification
    • History of Coin Collecting
    • History of Coin Jewelry
    • Mints & Mint Marks
    • Other Currency
    • State & Territory Quarters
    • Types of Coin Collections
    • Types of Coin Collectors
  •   Health & Fitness
    • Bicycles
    • BOSU Ball Exercises
    • Heart Rate Monitoring
    • Nutrition Glossary
    • Pre-Workout Warm-ups
    • Resistance Bands
    • Stability Ball Exercises
    • Stationary Bikes
    • Treadmills
  •   House & Home
    • Bath Towels
    •   Bedding
      • Choosing Sheets
      • Down
      • Fabrics, Weaves & Fibers
      • General Care Guidelines
      • Size Information
      • Top Layers
    •   Cookware
      •   Care & Maintenance
        • All-Clad Care
        • Cast Iron Care
        • Copper Care
        • Nonstick Care
        • Stainless Steel Care
      • Materials
      • Pieces
    •   Cutlery
      • Knife Construction
      • Types of Knives
      • Sharpening Knives
      • Safety Tips
      • Care and Cleaning
    • Decor Periods
    •   Dining & Entertaining
      • Food, Drinks & Tabletop
      • Setting a Casual Table
      • Setting a Semi-Formal Table
      • Setting a Formal Table
    •   Feng Shui
      • Five Elements
      • Yin and Yang
      • Feng Shui in Your Home
    • Furniture Styles
    • Furniture Woods
    • Gemstone Globes
    • Home Decor Essentials
    •   Kitchen Appliances
      • Blenders
      • Coffeemakers
      • Deep Fryers
      •   Espresso Machines
        • Types of Espresso Machines
        • Subcategories
        • Types of Power
        • Freshly Ground or Pod?
        • Espresso Glossary
        • Some Basics to Consider
        • Cleaning Your Espresso Machine
        • Cups & Saucers
      • Induction Cooktops
      • Microwaves
      • Rice Cookers
      • Toasters & Toaster Ovens
    •   Lighting
      • Types of Lighting
      • Types of Lamps
      • Light Bulbs
      • Lighting Glossary
    • Luggage Tips
    •   Mattresses
      • Mattress Comfort
      • Mattress Sizes
      •   Mattress Types
        • Air Chamber
        • Innerspring
        • Latex Foam
        • Memory Foam
    • Rugs
    • Sewing Machines
    •   Wine Enjoyment
      • Aerating & Decanting Wine
      • Storing & Preserving Wine
      • Wine Glass Types
      • Wine Glossary
      •   Wine Tasting 101
        • Types of Wine Tastings
        • How to Conduct a Tasting
        • The Tasting Process
        • Tasting Cards
    • Design Motifs & Symbolism
  •   Jewelry
    • Birthstones
    • Care and Storage
    •   Clasps and Closures
      • Earring Backs
      • Necklace and Bracelet Clasps
    • Cleaning Methods
    • Created and Simulated Gems
    •   Gemstones
      • Clarity and Color Grading
      • Settings
      • Mohs Scale
      • Enhancement and Care
      • Shapes or Cuts
      •   A-B Gemstones
        • Agate
        • Alexandrite
        • Amazonite
        • Amber
        • Amethyst
        • Ametrine
        • Andalusite
        • Ammolite
        • Andesine
        • Apatite
        • Aquamarine
        • Aventurine
        • Azurite
        • Beryl
        • Bloodstone
        • Boulder Opal
        • Brazanite
      •   C-F Gemstones
        • Carnelian
        • Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl
        • Chalcedony
        • Charoite
        • Chrome Diopside
        • Chrysocolla
        • Chrysoprase
        • Cinnabar
        • Citrine
        • Coral
        • Diamond
        • Diopside
        • Drusy
        • Dumortierite
        • Emerald
        • Eudialite
        • Fire Opal
        • Fluorite
      •   G-N Gemstones
        • Garnet
        • Howlite
        • Hematite
        • Iolite
        • Jade
        • Jasper
        • Kunzite
        • Kyanite
        • Labradorite
        • Lapis Lazuli
        • Larimar
        • Larvikite
        • Magnesite
        • Malachite
        • Mandarin Garnet
        • Marcasite
        • Moldavite
        • Moonstone
        • Morganite
        • Mother of Pearl
        • Mystic Topaz
      •   O-R Gemstones
        • Obsidian
        • Onyx
        • Opal
        • Ouro Verde
        • Padparadscha Sapphire
        • Pearl
        • Paua Shell (Abalone)
        • Peridot
        • Peruvian Blue Opal
        • Pietersite
        • Prasiolite
        • Prehnite
        • Quartz
        • Queen Conch Shell
        • Rhodochrosite
        • Rhodolite
        • Rubellite
        • Ruby
      •   S-Z Gemstones
        • Sandstone
        • Sapphire
        • Serpentine
        • Sodalite
        • Spessartite
        • Sphene
        • Spinel
        • Sunstone
        • Tanzanite
        • Tashmarine
        • Tiger's Eye
        • Topaz
        • Tourmaline
        • Tsavorite
        • Turquoise
        • Unakite
        • Venetian and Murano Glass
        • Zircon
        • Zoisite
        • Zultanite
    • Glossary
    •   Jewelry Trends
      • Alternative Birthstones
      • Astrology
      • Chinese Zodiac
      • Italian Gold
      • Jewelry Designs
      • Right-Hand Rings
      • Traditional Anniversary Gifts
    • Manufacturing Techniques
    •   Metals
      • Ceramic
      • Copper
      • Gold
      • Plated Silver or Bronze
      • Platinum
      • Ruthenium Plating
      • Stainless Steel
      • Sterling Silver
      • Tungsten
    • Size Information
  •   Watches
    • Watch Glossary
    • Invicta Collections
    • Maintenance, Care & Cleaning
    • Measurements & Sizing
    • Strap & Bracelet Materials
    • Watch Case Dimensions
    •   Watch Components
      • Case
      • Crystal
      • Dial
      • Movement
      • Strap/Bracelet
    • Water Resistance Levels
    • Watch Weight Comparisons

TV Glossary:

Aspect Ratio: The aspect ratio determines how you see an image on your television screen. The aspect ratio of an image is the ratio of the width of the image to its height, expressed as two numbers separated by a colon. The two most common aspect ratios for televisions in the United States are 4:3 which is used for standard-definition video formats and 16:9 which is used for high-definition video formats. The 16:9 image format is the same aspect ratio used in widescreen movies and is commonly referred to as "widescreen." Other aspect ratios exist, but are used very infrequently.

Watching a 16:9 or wide-screen format DVD or video on a TV with a 4:3 aspect ratio will produce those familiar black bars (letterbox bars) on the top and bottom of the screen. Conversely, viewing a program presented in 4:3 aspect ratio on a TV with a 16:9 ratio will produce similar bars on either side of the screen. Viewing a widescreen DVD or video on a TV with a 16:9 ratio will produce an image that fills the screen form top to bottom and side-to-side. Thankfully, many TVs have features that allow for adjusting the aspect ratio to suit your viewing preference or match the presentation of the program you are watching.

Contrast Ratio: This refers to the difference between the brightest whites and the darkest blacks a TV can display. The key thing to consider is how "black" your blacks will be. A higher contrast ratio means a deeper black. In addition, a higher contrast ratio also means you can have more ambient light in the room without washing out the on-screen color.

DLP Technology: DLP technology is an advanced imaging system that uses an optical semiconductor to manipulate light digitally. Simply put, it's a small chip that contains up to 2 million micro-mirrors. These tiny mirrors can reflect a digital image onto a screen or other surface with remarkable clarity, color and brightness. The drawback? DLP sets require periodic bulb changes at approximately 10,000 hour intervals. Bulbs can be expensive. Luckily, they do not have to be replaced very often.

Frame Rate: A TV's frame rate describes how many times it makes a complete picture on the screen every second. Again, the higher the number, the faster images are processed. This makes a difference when watching fast-moving action or playing fast-paced video games with lots of action. The two most common numbers you'll see are 720p and 1080i.

What do the 'I' and 'p' mean? The 'I' indicates that the TV draws images using an interlaced method. The 'p' indicates that the TV draws images using a progressive scan method. In general, progressive scan renders images faster and produces a more detailed, more film-like image.

HDMI:High-definition multimedia interface, or HDMI, is a type of connector cable that carries both all-digital audio and video signals over a single cable, eliminating the need for separate cables to connect your audio and video components. No more tangled mess of cables! In addition, HDMI cables deliver the best possible digital quality signals for both audio and video.

Resolution: This refers to the number of pixels being used to project an image. Generally, the larger the numbers, the better the resolution and the picture quality.

Response Time:This refers to the time it takes a pixel to change state from black-to-white-to-black again. In general, the faster the response time, the better the picture, especially when viewing fast action in movies, sports, and video games. Plasma and CRT televisions have virtually instantaneous response time, while LCD models tend to be a bit slower. The slower response time can result in what is referred to as "image lag" or a slight blurring of fast-moving images.

Q. What's the difference between a "3D-ready" and a "3D-capable" TV?
A. 3D-ready TVs come with the necessary emitter built-in; 3D-capable TVs do not, so you'll need to add on a separate one for 3D-capable TVs.

Q. What do I need to watch 3DTV at home?
A. You'll need a TV labeled "3D-ready" or "3D-capable", a pair of 3D glasses for each person watching, and a 3D video source such as a 3D Blu-ray movie.

Q. What are my mount/stand options?
A. LCD and Plasma televisions are designed to be free standing or wall mounted. Should you decide to mount your LCD or Plasma television on a wall, there is a standardized system to help you identify the correct wall mount for your television. The VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) mount guidelines establish mounting-hole patterns for televisions and mounts. EVINE Live lists a specific product's VESA mounting pattern on the detail tab to help you choose the appropriate wall mount. Carefully review and follow all instructions when mounting a television.

Q. How do I clean my television screen?
A. Please refer to your user's manual/instructions for specific information about cleaning your television screen. There are some general guidelines which are universally accepted. Read the warning labels on all your household cleaning products to ensure they are suitable before applying them to your television screen. Avoid chemical cleaners unless the user's manual/instructions indicate otherwise. Avoid any abrasive cleaning materials such as steel wool. Avoid excess moisture which can seep into the interior of the television and damage it.