The nation’s 50th state is its first to make the transition from analog to digital. The changeover occurred at noon today. According to the Honolulu Star Bulletin, eliminating the analog signal could leave up to ten communities on the Big Island and Maui without television. Read the latest news on Hawaii's transition at Honolulu KITV's website.

You can read a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chart on the Star Bulletin's website that projects the communities that may have lost reception due to the analog cutoff.

The Star Bulletin reported that “any loss of over-the-air signals will be caused by the shutoff of the stations' transmitters atop Haleakala. New digital transmitters are at a lower elevation at Ulupalakua, which decreases stations' signal coverage.”

Anyone that knows a thing or two about antenna reception knows that the lower the signal tower the less distance the signals will travel. According to the Star Bulletin the towers were relocated due to a government mandate citing “reasons involving military and scientific equipment on the Maui mountain.”

Though, Honolulu TV station KITV reported that the digital transition “is happening now so analog transmission towers can be taken down before the nesting season of the dark-rumped petrel, a volcano-dwelling endangered bird.”

Moving the towers is an unfortunate change to the Hawaiian television landscape for antenna users. This subtle move might force thousands of people into paying for television just because a tower moved down the mountain.

For the Hawaiian residents who lost their reception the need is to get that DTV converter hooked up and fix your reception problems.

Another thing to consider is that antenna users that are connected properly to a DTV converter box might have also lost their signal if the broadcast station changed their digital signal frequency overnight. This frequency is not the same as your channel on the DTV converter box so my recommendation is to run another channel scan on your DTV converter.

The FCC established a call center for Hawaiian digital transition victims, which takes calls Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to noon. The number is (808) 541-2388.

Various news sources are reporting that President-elect Barack Obama wants to delay the digital transition, citing that the nation is not prepared. What do you think of this idea? What impact would a delay of the digital transition have on you? (Make a comment.)

The funny thing is that a lot of people, including me, have overlooked Hawaii’s digital transition date, which is scheduled to occur at noon this Thursday, January 15. (Visit Hawaii's DTV transition website.)

In a way, we'll get a sneak preview of what is expected to happen on February 17, 2009, for the rest of the United States. If Hawaii’s transition goes smoothly, then Obama critics will say that all is well in digital TV land. If it flops, then Obama might be on to something.

One thing is for sure -- Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, is not happy with Obama's desire to delay the digital transition. He issued a letter to the Obama team detailing why the transition should proceed as planned. (Read full letter at www.cepro.com.)

Is it possible that you could control your components with your hand but not holding a remote control where your hand is basically the remote?

Could there possibly be HDTVs that don't require cables? Wouldn't that be a great technology to have when wall-mounting?

Would you like to buy an entertainment center or TV stand that doesn't require tools to assemble it?

These are just three of the technologies that were on display at last week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. To learn more about these products please visit our Home Theater website to get the latest scoop on these products and more.

Timing is everything. I was asked earlier today through email by a reader inquiring if there were any portable televisions with built-in digital tuners that you could easily pick up and go to another room with. There are but not many.

Two of the smallest digital televisions debuted at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Showcase.The T4 and T7 by Eviant measure in at 4.3" and 7" respectively. The design is stylish and the portability is real. A 4.3" screen is something that could fit in a pocket and 7" could easily fit in most purses. They come with a built-in Lithium-Ion battery, built-in speakers, a slim design and included AC and car adapters, remote control, and protective carrying pouch.

The T4 and T7, nick-named ‘The Card’ series, will be on the market in the by the end of March with an expected MSRP of $169.99 for the T4 and 199.99 for the T7.

Pictured above is the T7 7" portable digital TV by Eviant.