Sears said the three Kenmore HDTV models feature: five picture modes (standard, dynamic, movie, user and game), three HDMI inputs, VGA input, SPDIF output, and USB port. The HD Kenmore models quietly went on sale through the Sears’ Web site last month and hit retail stores last week. The category will also include three 4K Ultra HD LED LCD TV models in the 50-, 55-, and 65-inch screen sizes under the step-up Kenmore Elite brand. Sears’ new private label TV lines are comprised of three HD LED LCD TV models in the 32-, 40- and 50-inch screen sizes, each of which will carry the Kenmore badge. Read more on Sears’ new Kenmore and Kenmore Elite TV lines after the jump: Ironically, the connected aspect was missed on these relatively pedestrian Kenmore and Kenmore Elite LED LCD TVs, which lack any internal Wi-Fi connectivity to support built-in streaming apps, requiring users to add on a connected gaming console, media adapter or some other device with Wi-Fi connectivity to access popular over-the-top (OTT) streaming services like Netflix or Hulu. The company is also trying to leverage the brands to add its own spin on “the connected home,” by bringing out products that interconnect via the Internet of Things (IoT) for interoperability, home security and home automation. The move is part of an over-arching effort by the company to squeeze additional profit opportunities out of its long-lived and generally well-trusted private label brands that also include: Craftsman and DieHard. It’s latest effort was to stretch its long-time Kenmore and Kenmore Elite private label brands to encompass lines of Full HD and 4K Ultra HDTVs for the first time. Long-time general merchandising retail chain Sears continues to dabble with new concepts to keep the doors open and the offerings relevant from this vaunted retail institution.

Sears analog to digital converter box