CALIBUG HDTV

eHomeUpgrade tipped me off to this sweet little HDTV calibration tool. It's a standard sized USB keychain drive loaded with all the test signal patterns required to effectively calibrate almost any HDTV. You need HD component output or the equivalent using an optional SVGA to HDTV component video converter and a video card capable of 1280x720 or 1920x1080 output to make calibration work properly, but the package of Calibug and converter is considerably less than buying off-the-shelf calibration gear. If you've ever watched a poorly calibrated HDTV and then seen the difference after calibration, you know why this matters. The software in Calibug automatically runs when you plug it in to a USB port on your PC, meaning no installation is required. Configuration supports both 720p and 1080i resolutions. In addition to HDTV calibration, Calibug supports calibration for lower resolution monitors and televisions as well. It includes a handful of additional features like nostalgic test patterns from the early days of television. A Swiss Army Knife version is also available. This is the kind of gadget that makes both a functional tool and holiday gift for the geek who already owns everything.

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