Code Free DVD VCR PAL NTSC Combo

A code free DVD VCR Combo is a three-in-one device and combines DVD, VCR, and MP3 player in one, saving both time and space. You will not have to plug on different gadgets for different purposes like viewing a movie, listening to a music etc. The added advantage is that the combo costs less than the combined prices of all the gadgets taken together. Moreover, there is no standard specification barrier here. With a code free DVD VCR combo you can play video tapes, DVDs and CDs procured from anywhere in the world. It means even if you are using NTSC as your standard, which is a normal practice in the United States, you can play DVDs using PAL or SECAM as their standards. This would not have been possible in your earlier gadgets of DVD players or VCRs.

The system has many new features, not featured in ordinary TVs, DVD players or VCRs available in the market. Some of the main features are:

• It can play any DVD, VCD, Audio CD, and VHS tapes.

• Multitasking is possible since you can watch a DVD while recording a TV program on the VCR.

• Automatic clock set up and channel surfing capabilities.

• Buttons for different modes are easy to handle.

• Remote controlled DVD and VCR decks.

• Composite S-Video and output programs for optimization of connectivity and performance.

• If DVD is not copy protected with Macro-vision, it can record DVD to VHS.

• Provides for child lock.

• Advantage of having RF inputs and outputs so that it can connect with all types of new and old TVs.

Apart from these general features of the Combo, the device has certain special features relating to DVD and VCR too.
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Followings are the features that make the combo all-DVD compatible:

• A 10-bit video digital-analog converter that transforms digital signals to analog signal and vice versa facilitating transmission.

• A 96 KHz with 24-bit source play back system.

• A 27 MHZ advanced digital filter.

• It plays back MP3 files from the CD-ROM.

• During 2x speed playback operation the audio continues without being disturbed.

• Allows DTS enhanced DVDs to be played since it has DTS digital output system installed.

For VCR compatibility, the system provides the following features:

• A Hi-Fi stereo system for maintaining high sound qualities.

• It can playback S-VHS systems better than any other standard resolution.

• Provides for VISS, a VHS Index Search System.

• Provides for Scanning.

• Has a feature for Zero return.

• Allows direct time search and blank search.

• It has four heads for superior slow motion or stop action viewing.

• Consists of 16-event, with one year timer recording.

• Consists of both a time remaining and a real time counter.

Since it is a combo, it normally comes in form of a package. The package contains not only the components but other necessary articles like the warranty and Registration card, user guide, and at times information about other bonus offers. The components in the package includes the DVD-VCR combo, RCA cable for the audio and video connections, Radio Frequency Antenna Cable, a remote control operator, and 1.5V “AA” batteries.

The final part of the set up is purely technical yet no wonders for even a layman. What you have to do is that when all the wires and cables are duly attached to the device, just turn on the device and the in built auto set up will guide you through the rest of the process. However, a few things may not be overlooked as follows:

In the pop up dialog boxes which will guide you through the process of set up, read the instructions and the information carefully, so that you don’t put yourself in setting up things you don’t really want. Allow the set up at each stage adequate time to complete its operation.It will be better if you keep some extra power generation unit available at hand like a small generator or inverter so that in case of sudden power failure, your set up process is not rudely interrupted. An untimely interruption may result in a faulty set up and problems in future.You can refer to the user manual whenever some doubt arises in your mind. The set up process has also a simultaneous in built help process to which you can refer.

Once everything is in place and set up is complete, you are ready for using your device and watch the show. With your remote you can pause, play at 1/8th to normal speed, and you can also zoom the pictures to 4X size for fine viewing. The playback includes the A-B repeat that allows you to replay the favorite segment of your DVD or CD. There is also a Bookmark feature that allows you to come back to a particular vintage point you like most or you can play the chapters at random. The ‘One Touch Recording’ feature in the device makes copying the easiest job. However, this feature cannot be controlled with the remote. The feature allows you to record a DVD to a VHS tape. The record speed ranges from Super Slow (SP) to Super Long Play (SLP). Just by pushing the copy button, it is all done. The VCR supports the S-VHS recording and playback. While the ordinary VCR can playback and record only 250 lines of resolution, this combo can support 400 lines of resolution, making a big difference in the picture quality. You can also audio-dub a pre-recorded videocassette from CD, DVD, a microphone, a stereo system or even a tape deck. However, it cannot record in stereo. Moreover, the searching features like Index Marks, Blank Search, and Direct time search makes searching anything possible.

No device is without its limitations. The new combo has its limitations too. You have to go manual while recording a DVD to a VHS tape. There is no facility for stereo recording in S-VHS recording. The operations on MP3 play back are also limited as it cannot read the ID3 tags on the MP3, which allows information such as the title, artist, album, track number, or other information about the file to be stored in the file itself. While displaying the list of recorded songs, it only displays 4 to 8 characters and thus cannot display the whole title. So the track also cannot be seen unless you use the OSD on the TV which will be a somewhat unnecessary consumption of electricity and use of TV when you are listening to music only.

Despite all its limitations, the device is a great invention combining so many features in one unit. The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. And if you overlook the slight inconveniences relating to MP3 players, the device may score full marks from the prospective buyers and users. Technical people might find out flaws but the average user will be happy to use this device. Many leading companies like Samsung, Toshiba, Phillips, Sony, Panasonic, and JVC are in the fray. A wide variety of models in different range of prices are available for a user to choose from.

110-220 Volt Electronics - A multisystem TV is a TV capable of receiving and displaying different video systems like PAL, SECAM and NTSC. You'll be able to operate a multisystem TV in 99% of the world. Their dual voltage design allows them to be plugged into either a 110 voltage source or a 220 voltage source. In some cases, the plug on the television will not fit your country's outlet, so an inexpensive plug-adapter will be needed. They can generally be picked up at an electronics store such as http://www.planetomni.com for $1.95. With a multisystem TV, such as a plasma, CRT tube type, LCD or DLP, you'll likely need a codefree (sometimes called region free) DVD player. These exist in many forms. When used with a PAL-NTSC TV you'll be able to see the full 625 lines of resolution available in the PAL system and the full 525 lines used in the USA NTSC system. There exists a converting type of DVD player which is codefree in that it can read all of the world's 6 regions and both standards, PAL and NTSC. 140,000 other products are available here: http://www.planetomni.com Tel. # 800-514-2984

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Install a HDTV Home Theater in No Time

By the time you finish reading this article, another new home appliance would have made its debut in the market. I don't mean to surprise you. I'm only trying to hint at the astounding number of comfy goods that are pushing each other to make way into your home. Sure, you have a hectic life as you try to juggle between your job and your family. You have no time for much indulgences maybe. You want to go to the movie theater but wonder that it might waste your precious time. For all your worries I can assure that you can have a wonderful time by bringing home your own fantastic home theater.

A home theater can give your home a much needed facelift. It is not very difficult to set it up either. First of all I would like to recommend to you the option of going in for a high definition television or HDTV. Take my word; HDTV is the future of television. So you don't have to hesitate or think hard. The market is teeming with this new age TVs, all set to entertain you. As I said earlier the home theater installation is not a very hard task.

All you need is enough space to set up a large screen or you also can fit it on the wall because of its sleek build. Now let's look at what you need to do. The first stage is planning which involves figuring out where to place the TV where to place speakers, taking note of power outlets and the wiring that needs to be done. It is advisable to draw a diagram for proper planning. Start by choosing the place where you need to place the TV. Then start laying out the wires to connect the DVD player along with the front and rear speakers. After this has been achieved, test the system to check if sound quality is up to your satisfaction. A little experimentation with position of the speakers obviously helps.

If you want to choose an HDTV home theater installation, there are a range of HDTVs in the market today and a lot of fabulous brands competing against each other. You can go for a Samsung, Pioneer, Westinghouse, LG or a Sharp HDTV. And there are a range of different types of HDTV. There are DLP screens, CRTs, Plasmas and LCDs. They all have their own exciting features but the race mostly narrows down between the LCDs and Plasmas, with the former running ahead in terms of sales. The LCD or liquid crystal display as a screen weighs comparatively much less than the plasma screen. It consequently also has a lower price and a very high picture resolution, a common feature in all the HDTVs. Some of the largest screen come under the plasma TVs. And if you want a large screen at a very low budget, DLPs are the way to go. DLPs also have a very a sharp resolution because of its innumerable mirrors on the screen.

A home theater installation means that you have a mammoth screen indoors. By choosing HDTVs you can lend class to your home. The HDTV home theater installation gives you picture resolution of the highest quality, with its high pixel number. Crisp pictures with rich colors, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, a 16:9 image aspect ratio and a flat wide screen matches the environment of a booming theater. You can even split the huge screen any watch many programs at the same time. So go ahead and install a home theater and have a great time viewing real images and real entertainment.

In case you wish to more about what HDTV and home theatre options best meets your requirements, please visit http://www.hdtvlcdplasma.com/

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The Price Is Right for A Flat Screen HDTV

Thin, light, beautiful, and more entertaining these have been the main characteristics of a flat screen HDTV or high definition television , now add affordable. Flat screen tv comes in different TV technologies such as CRT, plasma, projection, DLP and flat-panel LCD. You will find that flat Panel HDTV screen sizes also vary. They range from 20 inches to over 70 inches. Now prices are plunging for nearly every technology and screen size and flat panel HDTV's have never been more affordable.

Historically flat screens have also been expensive. In fact, a single flat screen HDTV as recently as a year ago had an average price tag of $1,500 to $20,000 depending on the televisions technology, specs and size. Some of the more costly including the 70 inch Sony KDS-R70XBR2 and the popular Panasonic TH-42PX60U 42" Plasma HDTV to name a couple have seen significant price reductions in just the past 6 months.

Some industry experts believe that the average price of a flat screen HDTV will continue to plummet in the coming year due to creative innovations by new players. These so-called newbies, such as Olevia, in the business have started producing quality flat screen HDTV's and cut the cost of production. In fact it was reported in August 2006 that the average price for 40 inch to 44 inch LCD flat panel HDTV's in North America dropped below those for high-definition plasma HDTV's for the first time.

The price of LCD flat screen HDTV's previously had always been higher than Plasma flat panel tv's. This being the case there were not many 40 inch or larger LCD HDTV models manufactured. With the price decrease and a manufacturing increase you should already be seeing more LCD flat screen HDTV models, even 40 inch and above, available at previously unheard of prices.

"We’ve seen this repeatedly in the past," according to Rosemary Abowd, Vice President with Pacific Media Associates. "When the price of LCDs match or drop below the prices for plasma HDTVs of the same size, LCDs win. We expect that LCDs will account for the majority of unit sales in the 40 inch to 44 inch range soon."

You benefit by being able to buy a larger size flat screen HDTV, at a lower price point. So regardless of the technology, because of the pressure of industry competition and price competition the purchase of a flat screen HDTV should be less painful to your bank account.

One industry expert Shelly Palmer Managing Director of Advanced Media Ventures Group, LLC stated that, "All sets of similar prices are of similar quality. This may sound obvious, but it will not look obvious when you get to the store. A 42 inch set for $1,200 is going to be lower quality than a $1,200 37 inch set, right? Think again. All $1,200 sets are the same. All $4,000 sets are the same. All $10,000 sets are the same. There is way too much downward price pressure for this not to be true. You can happily buy bigger for cheaper - you will not get hurt".

Do your research. Determine exactly what you need in a flat screen HDTV. Look at sets from the popular flat screen HD TV manufacturers like Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba, Mitsubishi, Sharp, LG and compare to some of the new guys also. Don't let price deter you from buying a flat screen HDTV any longer, now the price is right.

Have more questions about HDTV and the different technologies available? Get more information on Flat Panel HDTV and answers to your HDTV questions at HDTV Reviews : http://www.hdtv.totalinfoguide.com

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PAL LCD TVs

If you are bent on buying a new state-of-the-technological-art TV set, my choice would be the LCD television that is compatible with the PAL broadcast standard.

PAL, or phase-alternating line, is the standard broadcast system used in most parts of the globe, including Asia. To those residing in select countries of Asia and Europe in particular, it is important that their television sets be PAL compatible. Otherwise, their TVs would not be able to capture the video and broadcast programs. In other words, the television would have no signal and it will not work.

The PAL system is an analogue broadcast standard using some 625 alternating lines, and operates in most countries on the 50 HZ frequency. It is basically a system of encoding colours to produce greater picture details and broader colour luminance.

PAL is the broadcast standard use in Asia and Europe, in contrast to the NTSC system in the United States, Japan and others. The other or the oldest television standard is SECAM, which is still being adopted by a few countries, like France. First commercially used in 1967, PAL has eight different and generally incompatible types in use, throughout much of the world—types B, G, H, and also D, I, K, N and M. Asian countries on the PAL standard include China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Laos, Lebanon, Nepal, Pakistan and Thailand. It is also used in the United Kingdom and most European countries and in some countries in South American and Africa.

A number of these new television models are out in the market, and fortunately, these are configured to work with the different world television standards. The so-called “multi-system” TVs invading the high-end market are able to receive broadcast systems from either PAL, NTSC or SECAM standards. Most of today’s advanced models are generally portable because they are lightweight, and you could even bring your very own TV along, to watch any local broadcast when traveling to almost any point in the globe.

Now, whether you opt for a multi-system model or not, we suggest that you choose a set with Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) monitor. LCDs offer a wealth of advantages not previously possible with conventional television.

Such a TV utilises the liquid crystal technology for its visual output. This technology is generally based on Thin Film Transistor (TFT). Early LCD TVs had certain inherent problems relative to the traditional visual display systems. It displayed 'ghosting' images with fast moving action and was best viewed looking perpendicular to the screen or from a slight angle. In the recent years, these problems have been over-come, and LCD TVs, along with Plasma displays, have become dominant TV products in the world market.

In October, 2004, the market saw the entry of LCD TVs with 40 to 45 inches screen, while Sharp announced the successful launch of a 65 inch panel. Consequently, in March, 2005, Samsung came out with an 82 inch LCD panel.

LCDs belong to the new breed of high-definition television that gives very sharp pictures and amazingly vibrant colors. Because of the vibrant images displayed on the monitor screen, LCD televisions can appear to give off superb contrast as well. This kind of television especially gives off captivating images during bright light situations. Backlight is built into each monitor to provide brightness.

Compared to the traditional Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) televisions, LCD monitors are flat. They are light in weight, unlike the CRT models that are very heavy and bulky. LCDs are so slim and flat that they can make to blend with the interior design of a room and can even be hung on the walls.

LCD or liquid crystal technology use millions of crystals trapped in a liquid base. When electricity is turned on, the heat-sensitive crystals, encased in between two panes of glass, allow light to pass through. In an LCD monitor, this property is manipulated in varying degrees so that the screen produces pixels of a broad range of colors and thus be able to display images. It is the light behind the glass panel that beams light through the monitor display. The liquid crystals, when subjected to electric current, block the light, resulting to patterns of gray and transparent crystals. The most commonly used type of liquid crystal is the twisted nematic or TN liquid crystal.

The tiny transistors are laid on a polarized glass substrate, and specific rows are turned on to allow an electric charge to reach a target column. This way, only a particular capacitor at a particular pixel is charged. This process is done in minutely exact increments, resulting in an amazing range of over 256 shades or levels of brightness for each color pixel.

LCD television traces its history to as far back as 1888 when Austrian scientist Friedrich Reinitzer first discovered the phenomenon of liquid crystallization. However, it was only in 1968 when the earliest LCD was developed by the RCA television company.

LCD monitors used to be available under-20 inch sizes. However, manufacturers have been utilising scientific advances to come up with better and bigger-sized LCD monitors. Certain models now reach up to 50 inches in width.

As LCD technology improves, so does the pricing. Where these TVs used to be more expensive than their Plasma counterparts, LCD televisions are now priced competitively and come in various sizes to choose from.

A very good feature of LCD TV is that its monitor can last up to 25 years or over 60,000 hours of normal use. This is so because its light source is replaceable. It also evades the occasional problem of burning-in, that can affect the other kinds of television. This is owing to the fact that unlike Plasma TVs, LCDs do not use phosphor dots; instead colour filters—red, green and also blue—are utilized in the layered active matrix panel.

The LCD televisions that first appeared in the market did not produce good visuals when compared to CRT TVs. The early models had "ghost" images when displaying fast acting scenes. Today, however, LCD viewing has become a pleasurable experience, and even highly anticipated. Pictures viewed are very smooth and clean because of the so-called "reverse pulldown" correction, that the television does to the distortions caused by the process of transferring film into video for broadcast purposes.

LCD television of all brands and sizes have flooded the market. Among the big manufacturers are Sharp, Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, Hitachi, JVC and LG Philips. Generic LCDs, which naturally come at lower prices, are readily available through the Internet. Prices can run as low as under $200 and as high as over $1,000, depending on its brand, features widescreen or standard aspect ratio and size. LCD TVs come in flat panel, rear projection and now, even in wireless or portable models.

Before buying your new LCD television, however, it is best to remember certain things. Firstly, try to visualize the placement for your TV. Capitalise on the fact that LCD models are sleek and compact. An LCD monitor is actually more of a decorative fixture rather than a mere home appliance. If you are buying a flat panel model though, installing it should be a breeze and almost like a painting to behold. Wall or ceiling mounts and table stands can also be used to display your LCD television.

Also, decide where to buy your new digital TV. It might be better to purchase your LCD unit in an established dealer around your residence to facilitate easier or quicker access to after-sales service. Take note that prices can vary, with stores offering the best prices likewise offering the least quality service. But whether you are shopping via the traditional route or via the Internet, always try to background check a retailer; and find out more about its policies and record of service. Do not forget the insurance.

Aside from the visual experience and the sleekness of designs, LCD technology has made possible, perhaps the important feature of LCD television, is its practical offer of reduced power consumption. LCD TVs are very, very energy-efficient and, inch for inch with CRTs, consume over 50 percent less electricity. In other words, you can bring in to your home big-screen experience sans the extra cost of added electricity. And because “burn-in” is not an issue with LCDs, your family can practically watch your entire favorite broadcast programs or DVD movies nonstop.

110-220 Volt Electronics - A multisystem TV is a TV capable of receiving and displaying different video systems like PAL, SECAM and NTSC. You'll be able to operate a multisystem TV in 99% of the world. Their dual voltage design allows them to be plugged into either a 110 voltage source or a 220 voltage source. In some cases, the plug on the television will not fit your country's outlet, so an inexpensive plug-adapter will be needed. They can generally be picked up at an electronics store such as http://www.planetomni.com for $1.95. With a multisystem TV, such as a plasma, CRT tube type, LCD or DLP, you'll likely need a codefree (sometimes called region free) DVD player. These exist in many forms. When used with a PAL-NTSC TV you'll be able to see the full 625 lines of resolution available in the PAL system and the full 525 lines used in the USA NTSC system. There exists a converting type of DVD player which is codefree in that it can read all of the world's 6 regions and both standards, PAL and NTSC. 140,000 other products are available here: http://www.planetomni.com Tel. # 800-514-2984

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Features and Benefits of DLP TVs

Even today, Texas Instruments remains the primary manufacturer of this technology. Many different manufacturers license the technology from Texas Instruments, and build their products around the TI chipset. In addition to its use in televisions and projectors, DLP technology is used in a number of specialized applications such as lithography and imaging.

DLP technology differs from other video technology in that it utilizes a small digital micromirror device (DMD) to tilt more than 1.3 million of these tiny mirrors, each of them smaller than the width of a human hair either toward or away from the light source contained within the DLP device. This process creates the dark and light pixels which appear on the projection screen.

The light is then filtered through a color wheel rotating at 120 times per second, to produce a technology that is capable of producing some 1024 different shades of gray. It is this gradation of color that really makes DLP technology stand out, and these gradations of color are achieved using color filters which are backlit using just the right intensity of pure white light.

There are four major components to the DLP system:

*The DMD chip, which controls the mirrors

*The color wheel

*The light source and

*The optics

In order to produce the picture, the light from the lamp passes through the color wheel filter and into the DMD chip, which then switches its mirrors on or off according to the color which is reflecting off of them.

This digital light processing, or DLP, technology is rapidly becoming a major player in the world of the rear projection TV, and more than two million of these TVs have been sold. More than 50 manufacturers sell at least one model of DLP based television, and as of 2004 the DLP TV had achieved a 10% market share. In addition, small standalone units, known in the business as front projectors, have become popular items both in the world of business presentations and in the world of home theater.

Advantages of DLP Technology

There are a number of important advantages to television sets that use DLP technology to produce their displays. Some of these advantages include:

*Images that are smooth and free of jitter

*No possibility of screen burn in

*Good contrast

*Good depth of color

In addition, DLP rear projection televisions are generally smaller, thinner and lighter in weight than traditional CRT televisions of similar size. Another potential advantage of the new DLP technology is that the light source is replaceable, which may be able to provide a longer lifespan than either traditional CRT or new plasma screen displays. The light source of the DLP unit is much easier to replace than that in an LCD model, and many models of DLP television feature light sources that are easily changed by the end user. Of course no one wants to replace the light source before its time, and the newest LED light sources on the market, introduced in April of 2006, have been shown to last 20,000 hours before needing to be replaced.

Disadvantages of DLP Technology

Of course there are some disadvantages to DLP television technology as well, and it is important for those in the market for a new TV to be aware of these potential pitfalls. For instance, in some single chip DLP designs, viewers may be bothered by the so called “rainbow effect”, which affects how colors are displayed on the TV and perceived by the viewer.

In addition to this rainbow effect, some possible disadvantages of DLP technology include:

*Not as thin or as sleek as LCD or plasma displays, even though the weight is comparable

*Some models have noisy fans

*The replacement bulbs can be quite expensive, ranging from $200 to as much as $500

Competing Technologies

The main competitor to DLP in the market for rear projection televisions is known as LCoS (liquid crystal on silicon). This technology creates its images by using a stationary mirror which is mounted on the surface of a chip, and then uses a liquid crystal matrix to control how much light is reflected to create the image. These competing standards are still being worked out, so it is important to shop carefully and to read lots of reviews before making a final purchase.

When shopping for a DLP television, it is important of course to learn as much as you can about the new technology, and it is just as important to shop around for the best possible price. When shopping for a new DLP TV, it is important to look carefully at the kind of tuner the unit uses. Many modern television sets are designed to be multisystem devices, meaning that not only are they capable of reading the NTSC signal used in North America and Japan, but they will also be able to deal with competing standards such as PAL and SECAM. This can be an important consideration, so it is important to make sure you understand these various formats and how they affect you as an end user.

It is important as well to look at the type of components that can be connected to the new DLP television. Most modern TVs are built to accept signals not only from cable TV and satellite TV boxes but from DVD players, VCRs, and even computers. The presence of a VGA or DVI connection will allow the unit to function as a computer monitor as well as a television, but it is important to use caution when using any kind of rear projection TV for this purpose. While plasma TVs can often make excellent computer monitors, technologies like DLP may struggle to provide the depth and resolution that computer users are used to.

Even though the prices of televisions in general, and DLP televisions in particular, have become a lot more affordable in recent years, these TVs are still major purchases, and it makes sense to give that purchase the consideration it deserves. As with any purchase, shopping around carefully will help you get not only the lowest price but the best overall value as well.

For more information see: http://www.planetomni.com

110-220 Volt Electronics - A multisystem TV is a TV capable of receiving and displaying different video systems like PAL, SECAM and NTSC. You'll be able to operate a multisystem TV in 99% of the world. Their dual voltage design allows them to be plugged into either a 110 voltage source or a 220 voltage source. In some cases, the plug on the television will not fit your country's outlet, so an inexpensive plug-adapter will be needed. They can generally be picked up at an electronics store such as http://www.planetomni.com for $1.95. With a multisystem TV, such as a plasma, CRT tube type, LCD or DLP, you'll likely need a codefree (sometimes called region free) DVD player. These exist in many forms. When used with a PAL-NTSC TV you'll be able to see the full 625 lines of resolution available in the PAL system and the full 525 lines used in the USA NTSC system. There exists a converting type of DVD player which is codefree in that it can read all of the world's 6 regions and both standards, PAL and NTSC. 140,000 other products are available here: http://www.planetomni.com Tel. # 800-514-2984

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Home Theaters: Which Ones Should I Invest In?

Going to the theatres is fast becoming out of fashion. Thanks to the advantages offered by latest technologies like DVD and satellite, folks are turning more and more to watching movies at home. Home theatres are fast gaining popularity as a good set offers one great advantage – You can watch your old favorite movies which are still on VHS tapes, something which you really enjoy. Moreover, the sound is a lot better with “surround sound” technology and so are the latest DVD players, which offer nice quality and can copy over VCR. The video display unit, however, plays a significant role in making or spoiling your entire experience. For most of us, the display unit is just a regular television, which produces sub-acceptable to fairly good images depending on the make and model of the unit, which ultimately results in people going for High Definition.

Now let’s analyze what to look for in a good home theatre setup- Quality sound, VCR to DVD players, and possibly a new T.V. set. We shall consider all these as if the money would be spent from our own pocket and that we shall be viewing movies as much as an average family in the U.S. does, which is roughly 20 hours per week.

The Logitech Z-640 6 Speaker Surround Sound System is being offered for a competent price of only $69 U.S. – Amazon.com price. Or if you are looking for decent performance, look at the Sony HT-DDW670 Home Theater in a Box System costing approximately $179 U.S. – Amazon.com price. Both of these will produce respectable sound without burning a hole in your pocket.

Coming down to the player unit, the Panasonic DMR-ES40VS VHS/DVD Recorder is a great deal, with its performance and efficiency, at an approximate Amazon.com pricing of $210 U.S. It comes in two color sets- silver and black and perhaps the best feature of this unit is that it can convert old VHS tapes, which we all have around, to DVD readily.

And now, enter the arena of display units, with HDTV sets which are available in a broad range in pricing and styling from the flat to the curved and from the small to the gigantic 50” Samsung HL-R5067W 50" HD-Ready DLP TV, costing approximately $1500 U.S.-Amazon.com price, which is hard to turn down. But if you want your images projected across a wall, expect to shell out anywhere ranging from $1100 U.S. to several thousand dollars, and for obvious reasons, they aren’t all that popular yet. So if you own a regular sized counsel that holds the T.V., the books and records, then you might probably be going to look for something in the 32”to 38” range, and these are readily available in the market, ranging in prices from seven or eight hundred all the way up to thousands. Choosing a fairly nice television, the SAMSUNG TX-R3080WH 30" Wide SlimFit HDTV w/ Built-In HD Tuner, costing approximately eight to nine hundred, is worth mentionable with good picture quality, excellent reputation and all.

Christine Bettridge has loved writing since childhood. She has written Plays, poetry and many articles. Her latest e-book End Time Secrets recently released by Cypress Street Publishing has caused an order craze in the religious world. It can be ordered and downloaded right now through the publishers website at End Time Secrets and she also is the editor of the article directory, Above All Content Visit her blog at: The Bible Sound Blog

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Blu-Ray, DVD And Multi-Region, Codefree, Region Free Variations And Super-Human Vision

It gets rather complicated when trying to describe the differences between Broadcast systems and Video systems so let stick to those video systems found in VCRs, camcorders, DVD and Blu-Ray Disc players etc.

Those are the basic standards and none are compatible with each other. Sometimes the A/C Hertz are 50 MHz (220 volt countries) and sometimes 60Mhz (110 volt countries) and this changes the scanning results of an electron tube, LVD or Plasma etc. 60Mhz, used in the USA for example, renders the image smoother, virtually no discernible flicker. With line doubling and quad-doubling (100 and 220 MHz and then 200 and 440 MHz).

Line doubling actually interlaces the picture into a single scan that reveals the entire frame and doubling again increased the scan lines providing for an even finer resolution and there a better sense of reality to the human eye. Technically it takes the original two-field frame and creates a progressive scan (single non-interlaced frame) output. This produces a higher resolution picture both brighter and smoother.

Some 3rd party Line-quadruplers can upscale to resolutions: 1365x1024, 720P, 1080i 852x480, 1024x1024, 1024x768 and 1365x768 and even higher. When the newest technology in video images hits the world we will be seeing NHK images of more than 6000 lines, up from the maximum of 1080P today.

If they then begin to Line-quadruple an image like that who knows what the mind might achieve if plugged directly into the motherboard of the future. Perhaps an enlarging and enhancing of human vision will be needed in the order of 1,000 eyes, 360 degree views both laterally and longitudinally, 100,000,000 lines of resolution all far outpacing current human ability.

Back to PAL-NTSC for a moment.

These many video systems were created due to incompatible electrical standards such as the Hertz, due to economic exigencies and even political motivations (for example, a country didn't want its TV to be seen by another countries citizens nearby lest they get "ideas"!

With the advent of DVD disc players Hollywood producers decided to take advantage of the new electronic potential inherent in this new groundbreaking technology to better market their movies.

With movies released in VHS VCR tape versions but in 5-6 different and non-competing systems the release of movies worldwide could be staggered according to best marketing practices so rake in as much profit as possible from every country. A movie released in April in the USA didn't have to be released until the right time in South America and the idea of people in Argentina (PAL-N) wishing to buy the film from a US retailer was virtually a useless plan as the Argentine would have no VCR and no TV of the correct system to play and display the images with. PAL-N and NTSC simply do not display correctly on the wrong systems, even the speeds of recording and playback are different. This means an NTSC movie seen on a PAL or other standard would usually be in black and white, have terribly vertical scrolling problems, have a horizontal skew at the top of the picture and be in the wrong speed so even the voices were too fast or too slow. It's a mess!

Until the Japanese VCR (and at one time even Sony's BETA) makers came out with Multisystem VCRs!

Most could only play the tapes from various standards but to display them you'd also need a TV that was multisystem as well, or 2 TVs, or even 3 each being of the appropriate system you were outputting from the VCR.

To get around the need of buying a multisystem TV Panasonic came out with the incredible AG-W1 model which had a built-in digital converter which could play, record and convert to/from all of the world five current systems. It was $4,000 but was a great device producing excellent results, albeit not for broadcasting purposes.

Many people got around having buy the AGW-1 (and its subsequent progeny AGW-2 and AGW-3) by buying a Planet Omni Tenlab Digital systems converter at a fraction of the cost of the AGW-1 and using it with a multisystem VCR. In this way the image quality was the same or better and the price when way down to the consumer.

Soon AIWA came out with the much cheaper MX-1 converting multisystem VCR which wasn't a digital type but used analog converting methods which are much inferior, then Samsung, GoVideo and a few others. Samsung was the actual manufacturer for the Panasonic AGW-1 and 2 and under their own brand they came out with a wide variety of models such as the SV-3000W, SV-5000S, SV-7000W (with the unique French Secam-L tuner built-in).

Planet Omni still has some of the Panasonic, Aiwa and Samsungs left for sale. None have been made for 2-3 years and with the death of the VCR they never will be made again. People worldwide with old home movies should consider having them transferred to DVD discs which can also be converter from PAL to NTSC or NTSC to PAL. All countries using any system but those two will find that their tapes can be converted to PAL and will display perfectly on their TV even if the TV isn't strictly PAL.

People in an NTSC country can utilize converting services such as Planet Omni's and convert tapes or DVDs to PAL or visa-versa to NTSC rather than buying PAL-NTSC DVD recorders (which exist) and a TENLAB converter.

Since the Hollywood producers were rather OK with the incompatible VHS video standards worldwide it was a new problem with DVD disc movies.

As all SECAM countries are also PAL countries as far as their TVs being multisystem go and the same for PAL-M (Brazil) and PAL-N (Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay) countries, this meant that DVD movies only had to be either NTSC or PAL and they could be seen worldwide.

This wasn't very good for Hollywood filmmakers however as too many countries could then buy discs from another country and see movies straight from their first release on disc which sometimes predated even the movies official theatrical release in theaters. This meant that a citizen of a PAL country such as Italy could buy a new movie from a New Zealand (PAL) source and see the movie (with subtitles if needed) perhaps months before the film was actually released theatrically or on DVD in Italy. This infringed on the natural markets of established theater owners and retailers in Italy.

Generally when a European country gets a movie on DVD it is also available at the same time in other Euro countries, but not always. But then an English speaking person in Australia could buy the movie from a UK source and see it in English on his PAL TV.

Again, not very good for business men and bean counters.

So a new technology was embedded into each Hollywood movie shipped out to the various countries around the world. This is called REGIONAL CODES.

They divided the world, as best as they could, into 6 regions based on film release protocols.

These regional codes are built-in to both the DVD players and the DVD movie discs as well.
6 regions, 2 video standards (PAL-NTSC) making things fairly complex.

For example, Europe is PAL and REGION 2 but Japan is NTSC and yet is REGION 2!
This means that a Japanese DVD disc would play on a Japanese DVD player fine but even though it is REGION 2 it would not play on a European PAL TV even if you took the Japanese DVD player to Europe, raised the voltage from 100V to 240V and then tried to play it. The disc would spin, the player would play it but the TV could not display it...UNLESS the TV was also an NTSC multisystem TV.

So how to get around these video standards and regional codes?

The invention of a REGION FREE DVD player (aka Codefree, code free, regionfree, all zone, universal, all region etc). But is that against the law and how can it be done? What does it mean?

By licensing agreement no manufacturer of DVD players are permitted to make a region free player. Each must be set to a specific region. They can be PAL-NTSC both but the REGIONAL CODE must be specific to a certain region. The USA is Region 1... and here are all of them:

Region codes and countries

Region code Area

0 Informal term meaning "worldwide". Region 0 is not an official setting; discs that bear the region 0 symbol either have no flag set or have region 1-6 flags set.

1 Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, United States and U.S. territories

2 European Union, Albania, Andorra, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, Faroe Islands, French Guiana, Georgia, Greenland, Guernsey, Iceland, Iran, Iraq, Isle of Man, Israel, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, Oman, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Africa, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vatican City State, Yemen

3 Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, Taiwan

4 Caribbean, Central America, Oceania, South America (except French Guiana), Mexico

5 African countries not explicitly included in other regions, Indian subcontinent, countries included in the former Soviet Union, Belarus, Mongolia, North Korea

6 People's Republic of China (except Macau and Hong Kong)

7 Reserved for future use (found in use on protected screener copies of MPAA-related DVDs and "media copies" of pre-releases in Asia)

8 International venues such as aircraft, cruise ships, etc.[1]
ALL Region ALL discs have all 8 flags set, allowing the disc to be played in any locale on any player.

ALL Region ALL discs have all 8 flags set, allowing the disc to be played in any locale on any player.

So is it against the law to modify a DVD player and make it CODE FREE?

No, it isn't at all. Many places such as PLANET OMNI have been selling them for years. The quality of the modification rarely varies, it is generally a perfect mod so that any and all DVD movies will play but you'll need a PAL-NTSC TV or a video standards converter to see both PAL and NTSC DVD movies.

Remember that a DVD movie is NOT a DVD-R or DVD+R disc even though it may be a movie that has been recorded.

Most DVD Codefree players will play most DVD-R & DVD-RW, DVD+R & DVD+RW homemade discs.

99% also play CD discs for regular music playback and many play a wide variety of other formats such as MP3, WMA, DVD-Video, Video CD, DVD-Audio, SACD, CD, audio CD-R & CD-RW, WMA, & JPEG and JPEG and Kodak JPEG.

So, a REGION FREE DVD player can play all regions and both PAL and NTSC discs, IE every known type of DVD movie on earth, but what if you don't have a PAL-NTSC TV or a video standards converter?

Besides the fact that you can buy those items there are also CONVERTING Region free DVD players.

Some can convert a PAL DVD movie to NTSC and some can do both that and converter a USA NTSC disc to PAL.

And some can do both but if you ever get a PAL-NTSC TV you can turn OFF the conversion and then see everything, all DVD movies from all countries in all standards on any the TV in the ORIGINAL PICTURE quality. Again, on-line shops such as Planet Omni carry this type as well.

These Codefree, Converting players can be even the most advanced units with all the latest bells and whistles certainly including things like DTS STEREO, Dolby Digital, HDMI and DVI output, 5.1 and higher stereo channel output, Progressive scan and so forth.

But now let's consider what this means as regards the Blu-Ray Disc players that are Multi-region.

As HD DVD is dead as a Hi-Def format we consider that Blu-Ray Disc players and movies on Blu-Ray discs are here to stay until the next leap into the future hits us which may happen around 2012 with the entry of the latest 6,000 Line Super-Hi Definition TVs, some 6 x more realistic and 3D appearing than Blu-Ray and 1080P technology.

As with DVD region Blu-Ray discs and players also have regions, called Region A, B and C.
These are non-compatible regions which include PAL-SECAM-NTSC and all other systems.
The beauty of a Region A or B Blu-Ray disc when played in a Multi-region Blu-Ray disc player via the HDMI output (that is a single cable combining all audio and video signals) is that the TV doesn't have to be Pal-NTSC-Secam or anything specific at all. As long as the TV has an HDMI input all Blu-Ray Disc movies from Regions A and B will play in their full glory and, depending on the maximum resolution possible of each TV, in the highest quality possible. Pal and NTSC no longer exist in the HDMI world, the problems of Hertz, government controls and so forth, Gone with the Wind!

However, there are still Regions A, B and C.

For the Hollywood production companies these 3 Regions are still important, but not as once they were.

Do know that a Blu-Ray Disc movie output thru the regular component, S-Video or composite (A/V RCA cables) still requite the proper standard to view movies with, PAL for a PAL disc and NTSC for an NTSC disc. But in TVs there are no regions so any PAL-NTSC TV can display any PAL or NTSC DVD.

In the case of the Sony BDP-S300 multi-region version available now (110 volt version) you can pop in any Blu-Ray Disc movie from the A and B countries seen below and on any TV with an HDMI input you can see the entirety of any library.

The Sony BDP-S300 multi-region player has been highlyrated by many including reviews such as: "I am delighted with my Sony BDP-S300 Blu-ray Disc Player. It has excellent audio and visual definition. The crystalline clarity of 1080p Blu-ray Disc movies and DVD upscaling brings your DVDs to the highest resolution possible. Purchase this product and you will not be disappointed."

The Blu-Ray Disc Regions are as seen here:

A/North America, Central America, South America, Japan, Taiwan, North Korea, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia.

B/Europe, Greenland, French territories, Middle East, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, plus all of Oceania.

C/India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mainland China, Pakistan, Russia, Central, and South Asia.
The future of Blu-Ray Disc type technology?

In January 2007, Hitachi previewed a 100 GB Blu-ray Disc, which has four layers containing 25 GB each. Unlike TDK and Panasonic's 100 GB discs, they Hitachi claims this disc is readable on a standard Blu-ray Disc drive a firmware update is the only requirement to make it readable to current players and drives.

Many other iterations and variations of the Blu-Ray milieu are popping up including such novel notions as BD9 / BD5 Blu-ray Disc, AVCREC, Blu-ray Disc recordable, HD DVD/Blu-ray Disc hybrid discs, HD VMD/Versatile Multilayer Disc (new low-profile competitor) AVCHD, Digital Multilayer Disk - the successor technology to Fluorescent Multilayer Disc, Enhanced Versatile Disc (EVD), Forward Versatile Disc (FVD) - Taiwanese backed red laser format, Fluorescent Multilayer Disc, Holographic Versatile Disc - standards with 200 and 300 GB storage are under development 3D optical data storage - a next-generation technology expected to provide TB-capacity discs, Protein-coated disc, Tapestry Media, Ultra Density Optical LS-R - a "layer selection" technology allowing the stacking of very large numbers of DVD-like data layers in a single disc, Professional Disc for DATA (PDD or ProDATA) and much more.

Will there still be Regions? Who knows but there will always be a better genius to overcome them.

Multi-region Blu-Ray Players now available! REGION FREE DVD players/recorders and High Definition, HD DVD players,Advanced Optical players/recorders in Blu-Ray DVD players/recorders. A multi region (aka codefree, allzone) DVD player or recorder is capable of playing DVD discs from anywhere in the world, that is all 8 regions and both PAL and NTSC standards. http://www.planetomni.com has many. Many not only play them but convert from one standard to the other for showing movies on any TV on earth. There are also PAL-NTSC 110-220 volts DVD/VCR Combos for use worldwide. CODEFREE DVD / PAL-NTSC VCR combos and MULTISTANDARD VCRs will play 100% all known DVD discs including FRENCH DVDs. You can buy region free and region free converting DVD players and region free DVD recorders from http://www.mindlogic.com . Come with LIFETIME Warranties and ship worldwide. They also carry PAL-SECAM-NTSC TVs, PAL plasma, PAL LCD and PAL DLP multisystem TVs and multisystem converting and non-converting VCRs, voltage transformers, video standards converters & 140,000 other products. Tel. 877-327-5076, 925-686-9945

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Next Gen Televisions - Time to Get a Flatscreen?

If you're one of the Flintstones, you may still be using an old-fashioned curved-screen television. It's time to switch up to one of the new flat-screen televisions, don't you think?

All types of flat-screen televisions - from LCD display televisions to plasma TVs and projector units, are superior to old screens in a variety of ways. They don't lose definition when seen from the edges, making those least-desired seats in your living room perfectly acceptable. They also have significantly better resolution than old-style televisions. You may still be able to make out the pixels when you sit close, but because flat screen television sets use digital technology instead of less-accurate analog, they have a much superior picture, either in still frames or motion. And they are designed to work well with all the latest technology, from blu-ray to HDTV.

Up until recently, flat-screen sets have been on the expensive side, and a lot of people who needed a new set were waiting until the prices came down a little. Well - it's time. Small LCD TVs cost what an old-fashioned television would cost, if you could still find them, and even the large screens are often under a thousand dollars.

Before you buy, though, you need to understand a little bit about these new technologies.

LCD TVs use a liquid crystal display (LCD). Watches using this technology in monochrome have been around for decades, but only in the last ten years have researchers figured out how to create good-quality color liquid crystal that is reliable and long-lasting. An LCD TV has a nice thin appearance, and is basically a layer of liquid crystals sandwiched between transparent layers, with a backlight behind everything. The light shines through the liquid crystals, which have been polarized to show up in the different colors for your display - and there's your television. LCD TVs, when kept dim, use very little electricity, making them great for a darkened TV room. And they are among the cheapest flat-screen televisions you can buy.

LCD TVs do have a couple of drawbacks: first, older models are subject to "ghosting", where a dim image of a previously-displayed picture can be seen through the new picture; for this reason, it's wiser to buy LCD TVs new. They may also not be the best choice for a fast-paced game, as they often have a lag time that can mess you up. Blacks aren't always as sharp and dark as you might like, another reason to view in a darkened room. And if you mistreat it, you can wind up with "dead" pixels, where nothing will display because that segment of LCD has been destroyed. In most new LCD TVs, though, these problems are minimal or nonexistent.

Plasma TVs are also flat-screen televisions, but work very differently from LCD TVs and have a very different set of strengths and weaknesses. While you can lay an LCD TV on its back - carefully - without ruining it, a plasma television can be destroyed if it is laid flat. That's because instead of liquid crystals, it uses an inert gas sandwiched between two pieces of glass to create its display. Seals more easily come loose when the plasma TV is laid flat, allowing the gas to escape right then or over time.

Provided you care for it well and mount it properly, your plasma TV will function well for years. Unlike LCD TVs, plasma TVs display blacks very well (one selling point) and most will also work great for fast-refreshing games. Plasma TVs are often advertised as having the most realistic, highest-resolution, best-contrast display of all televisions, and this is probably true in almost every situation. Drawbacks include the expense - plasma TVs are not economical to make in small sizes, so you'll have to buy a large one - and the relative fragility of these televisions.

Both plasma and LCD TVs usually need good wall mounts. The last thing you want to do with your high-def TVs is install them, only to have them fall down a couple of weeks later! Quality wall mounts for HDTVs should include very good hardware, preferably made by the same manufacturer that produced the television, and excellent directions so you can easily put it up yourself. If you are at all worried that you will not install it right, it may be wise to have someone install it for you.

DLP TVs are the third major set of television displays in use today. These are also called rear-projection televisions, and while they are significantly cheaper than either LCD or plasma TVs, they also are larger and bulkier (though not as bulky as projection TVs were in the past) and have a somewhat less impressive display. Still, for most uses DLP TVs do fine, and because the light source in a DLP TV is usually replaceable by the consumer, they have a much, much longer lifespan.

Very similar to DLP TVs are projector units. These gadgets are often small enough to carry by hand, but can project a movie-screen-size picture if they have a high enough resolution. Similar in appearance to an old-fashioned slide projector, projector units are a great choice for a small area, for someone who needs a portable large television, or for someone who wants a television without having an obvious television.

Your Home Theater

Plasma TVs, LCD TVs, DLP TVs, and projector units are all high-def TVs, as long as they have the appropriate tuner. Once you have them set up, you need to think about other components of your home theater. After all, what's a large-screen television if you have to sit in your old uncomfortable couch to watch it?

Your first thoughts should be for electronics to enhance your viewing experience: good surround-sound speakers for a great theater experience, and universal remote controls to sit in comfort as you control everything in your environment yourself.

Once you have your electronics in line, go for the last thing on your list: theatre furniture. Your home experience, with comfortable chairs that don't fold up when you stand up, can be superior to one at the local movie house. Look for spacious, durable seats that can handle spills as well as roomy cup holders and somewhere to put snacks, remotes, and anything else you habitually keep close while you're watching your favorite flicks.

SNS Designs, Inc. owns a number of websites. They carry wide selection of Widescreen LCD TV, Samgung LCD TV, LCD Flat panel TV. They offer the most popular in home theatre and a number of televisions that range from Sony, Pioneer to LG that everyone can afford.

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HDTV's Surging Popularity - How to Buy the Right HDTV

This year alone sales of HDTV is expected to reach 20 million. In fact, HDTV sales is on track to increase all the time especially during major sporting events, as fans to want to enjoy the big game in all of its high-definition glory! HDTV comes in different prices and sizes. Whether it is DLP, LCD or Plasma, the choice can be overwhelming. Consumers are often confused on what to buy because of their unfamiliarity with the technology.

Studies show that nearly 60% of HDTV buyers are not sure on the difference between LCD, Plasma and Micro Display. Many HDTV shoppers do take time to research but still need to be guided on which product is appropriate for their demands and budget. A HDTV Buyers guide can make this easier.

Cable companies have strengthened the demand for HDTV, as there is already 17 channels that offer HD programming. In addition, HDTV prices have sharply dropped over the past year and some sets cost as lows $1,500.

Comcast has reported that its roster of HDTV customer agents has ballooned to 1,100 and they answer queries and take orders from subscribers. The company has also deployed 1,100 HDTV technicians to assist in setting-up the products at homes.

Terms of HDTV

HDTV - A new breed of TV that combines the capabilities of a HD-tuner and HD-ready display. Nearly all HDTVs' sold in the market today use the 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. An HDTV tuner can still receive analog and digital broadcasts over-the-air.

HD Compatible TV- These sets only consist of the high-resolution display. They can only accept digital broadcasts if hooked with a separate HDTV tuner. HD-compatible TVs can have the 16:9 widescreen ratio or the squarer 4:3 aspect ratio.

Starting on HDTV

A recent study by the Consumer Electronics Association indicated that 71% on consumers it has surveyed plans to purchase an HDTV set soon are already planning and saving up. However, one reality in the consumer market today is that stores do not have the right number trained salespeople that have a good understanding on the new technology.

Most are more concerned on making a quick sale rather than making it easy for the consumer to understand what he is going through. Translating or explaining complicated technology terms is never an easy task. This is where specialised buying guides to HDTV [http://www.which-hdtv.info] can be invaluable and save you hundreds in buying the wrong type!

This is where a specialist HDTV guide will help and potentially save you hundreds of dollars in buying the correct setup. It's hard enough to explain the difference between HDTV and analog TV and it is even more difficult to clearly tell the difference between HDTV and EDTV.

Setting up HDTV

When you decide to jump into HDTV give yourself time to become familiar with the technology. An HDTV setup normally consists of the following, HD-ready TV, receiver, antenna and HDTV service provider. Many HDTV's nowadays already have a built-in tuner, removing the need to purchase an independent box.

Receiver

The DIRECTV HR10-250 High-Definition Television satellite receiver is ideal for those that want to get the most out of watching crystal-clear HDTV broadcasts. The HR10-250 can receive and decode digital signals from DIRECTV's high-resolution broadcasts. The satellite receiver also features a built-in hard drive digital video recorder.

HD-broadcasts feature images rich in detail and surround sound makes a room alive and vibrant. HR10-250 HDTV satellite receiver can be connected to any HD-ready TV and home audio system.

If you are in the market to buy a HDTV, then I would recommend that you research as much as you can. HDTV Buyers Guides [http://www.which-hdtv.info] can be very useful to give you fuller explanation on what to look out for and what to avoid!

W. Yau sells a leading guide to buying HDTV that could save your hundreds of dollars! You can visit his site and get a FREE Report on Buying the Perfect HDTV [http://www.which-hdtv.info].

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What Are LED Televisions?

There was a time in the not too distant past when buying a new television was a pretty simple task.  The truly main concern that one had in doing so was to figure out just how big one wanted it to be.  Well, things have changed greatly quite recently with the introduction of new technology into the home television viewing experience.  So, now the major question to ask is what type of technology would one like to have.

There are now a range of choices in the purchasing of televisions that was previous unheard of.  And, there are main two genres that have been available.  There are plasma televisions.  There are LCD televisions.  A plasma television is basically one that uses individual gas-filled pixels to create an image on the screen.  An LCD (liquid crystal display) television is simply one that liquid crystal-filled cells with a CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent lamp) as their backlight to create an image on the screen.  

Samsung Electronics recently introduced what it calls a "new" technology that it calls LED light emitting diode) televisions into the market.  The talk is that LED televisions are superior than both plasma and LCD televisions.  But, true LED televisions are the giant televisions that you see in sports stadiums that are made of a layer of extremely bright LED lights.  What Samsung has actually introduced is a more advanced form of LCD television that is not lit by CCFLs, but rather by LEDs.

While Samsung has used some cunning to market its LED televisions that actually do give one a better picture than plasma and LCD, it should be noted that its sales pitch is taken from the success of the Sony XEL-1 OLED (organic light emitting diode) TV which are real LED televisions.  The Samsung LED DLP HDTV, for instance, is an improvement over existing technology in three key areas.  The first is that it picture quality is superior because of its color range and quality.  The second is that is is a green TV in that it uses less energy.  The third is that it was ultra thin and quite attractive.

Andrew Markson writes articles about many different topics. You can check out one of his sites,http://www.portablegreenhouses4u.com, which gives information and tips about Portable Greenhouses.

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Tips For Buying a Multimedia Projector

One the hottest pieces of computer peripheral hardware today is a multimedia projector. You can use a multimedia projector for a multitude of tasks, such as: presentations at conferences, board room presentations, projecting videos on to a wall in your home to watch movies, and more. There are a several types of multimedia projectors on the market today. The major question is which projector you should buy? There are many brands and four major types of multimedia projectors.

Multimedia Projector Brands and Types

There are many brands of multimedia projectors to choose from: Panasonic, Optima, Epson, NEC, Infocus, and many more from which to choose. Multimedia projector types include:

Digital Light Processing (DLP): has deeper black background and more portable
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD): better for color
TFT (Thin Film Transistor) Active Matrix: a form of LCD
HDTV home theaters: 480i, 516i, 540p, 720p, 180i, 1080p, 1080i, 1125i (i = interlaced video and p = progressive scan)

The major consideration is the purpose of the multimedia projector and uses in home or business; this will help you select the features you need. Features to consider include:

Image Brightness: range 130 lumens to 6500 lumens
Desired Display Area 5 to 6 feet: 500 to 1000 lumens
Desired Display Area 8 to 10 feet: 1000 to 1500 lumens
Desired Display Area 12 to25 feet: 2000 lumens or more
Wireless: remote operation from computer
Digital Zoom: for large room projections
Keystone Correction: compensates for projectors position not being perpendicular to the screen
Slim Size: business portability
Projector Mount: needed for permanent installations, ceiling or wall
Bulbs: typical UHP, UHE, Halide lamps, 1000 to 4000 hours, chose long life
Business Use: movie clips, animation, photos
Home Theater: LCD, HDTV, high resolution, high contrast, brightness 1000 to 2000 lumens

Resolution is the number of pixels that the projector is capable of displaying. Projectors with greater the resolution produce a better quality projector image because there are more pixels per square inch. A projector with less resolution will have a grainier picture, since there are fewer pixels per square inch. Resolution comes in a variety of selections; your choice of resolution is based on your use of the projector.

For basic power point presentations only, you can use a low resolution projector. If you use a lot color and videos, you will need a high resolution projector. Projector resolution ranges from 854 x 480 to 1280 x 1024.

Contrast is the ratio between the lightest and darkest areas of a picture. You will want to select a multimedia projector with a contrast 400:1 or better. Contrast ranges from 350:1 to 6500:1.

Buying a Multimedia Projector

Once you have narrowed your multimedia projector choice(s) visit your local store and check out its features:

Projector Controls: ease of use
Remote Control: ease of use
Bulb: long life, bulbs are expensive
Connections: cables for PC or MAC, DVD Player, Cable box, Satellite box
Mounting Bracket: if needed for permanent installation
Wireless: compatible with your computer
Operation: salesperson demonstrate use and watch example projection quality
Sound: is the fan noisy
Size: size does matter when it comes to portability
Weight: permanent installations are not really concerned, heavier models are not suitable for portable uses
Carrying Case: provides protection when dragging through airports, etc.
Prices: range from less than $630 to $17000 and more

Resolution and Contrast
Considerations and Features.

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David R. Wetzel, Ph.D. - Currently a FreeLance Writer, Retired University Professor and Public School Teacher. He is an avid technology user and researches technologies which impact everyday business and consumer applications.

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Samsung HD TV - Which Technology Is Best for Me?

Samsung of South Korea is the world's number one brand of consumer electronics. Samsung HD TVs are some of the best available, but with so many technologies, how can you decide on which one is right for you. Most HD TVs fall into one of these three major technology groups, with more types in the works. Each type has an advantage and disadvantage, but all are superb televisions.

DLP - DLP HD TVs work by focusing and reflecting a light source off of a chip with thousands of microscopic-sized mirrors. The advantages of DLP HD TVs include their wide selection of price points and high contrast. The disadvantages are include the rainbow effect, and their expensive replacement bulbs.

LCD - LCD HD TVs work by sandwiching liquid crystal gel between two panes of polarized glass and shining a light source thorough it. The advantages of LCD HD TVs are their vast choice of screen sizes, High Resolution, including 1080p. The disadvantages are they are still somewhat expensive when comparing the same size screen, and the can have a narrow viewing angle.

Plasma - Plasma HD TVs work by exciting gases in thousands of tiny cells. The advantages of Plasma screens include, their wide viewing angle and high contrast. The disadvantages include possibility of screen burn in, and they do not always have the highest resolution at the larger screen sizes.

Choosing which display technology is right for you seems like a daunting task, but rest assured that whichever display type you choose, a Samsung HD TV will look absolutely great in your home and will give you years of enjoyment.

To see extremely low prices on Samsung HD TV's, most likely lower than you will find in any store near you (even when you include shipping charges, if any), visit http://astore.amazon.com/samsunghdtv06-20

Nicholas Scoville has worked in the field of Broadcast Television Engineering for 8 years, currently working with 6 stations in 4 markets. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force, a husband, a father of 3, and a Christian.

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The Rapid Pace of Evolution in Consumer Electronics

The evolution of consumer electronics, high definition displays, digital broadcasts, displays and media is happening at an increasingly rapid pace. Advancements in technology are occurring much faster than before, reducing the time to deliver new technologies to market at an exponential rate. The algorithm for designing and delivering new technology is nearly a fifty percent reduction in time with every significant breakthrough. With such a rapid race for invention the simultaneous introduction of diverse technologies is as inevitable as price erosion and shortened life cycles for what is considered "new" in consumer electronics.

A brief history of Television and the advancement of Display Devices underscores the incredibly increasing pace of developing technology.

In 1876 Eugene Goldstein coined the term "Cathode Ray" to describe light emitted when an electric current is forced through a vacuum tube. Fifty years later in 1928, GE introduced the Octagon, a television with a spinning disc and a neon lamp that created a reddish orange picture that was half the size of a business card. By 1948, twenty years later, the demand for black & white television began a transformation in communications and entertainment. By 1949, several familiar brand names fought for a share of the booming market. These brands included familiar names like Admiral, Emerson, Motorola, Philco, Raytheon, RCA, and Zenith. The market was also saturated with brands like Crosley, Du Mont, Farnsworth, Hallicrafters, Sparton and Tele-Tone. In 1951 CBS broadcasted a one hour Ed Sullivan show in color, but there were only two dozen CBS television sets that could process the color broadcast. In 1954, RCA brought the first color television to market, but only 1,000 units were sold to the public that year. In 1956, Time Magazine called color TV the "most resounding industrial flop of 1956".

The Plasma Display Panel was invented at the University of Illinois in 1964 by Donald H Bliter, H Gene Slottow and student Robert Wilson. The original monochrome displays were popular in the early 1970's because they did not require memory or circuitry to refresh the images. By 1983, IBM introduced a 19 inch monochrome display that was able to show four virtual sessions simultaneously. By 1997, Pioneer started selling the first color Plasma televisions to the public. Screen sizes increased to 22 inches by 1992, and in 2006 Matsushita unveiled the largest Plasma video display of 103 inches at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada.

DLP was developed at Texas Instruments in 1987 by Dr. Larry Hornbeck. The image is created by selective reflection of colored beams of light on a Digital Micromirror Device (DMD Chip). Each mirror represents one pixel on the projected image. The number of pixels represents the resolution. For example, 1920 x 1080 resolution refers to a grid of individual dots of light that are 1920 wide x 1080 high, created from the beam of light reflected off of the same number of tiny mirrors on chip that is smaller than a postage stamp. Concentrated light from a bright Mercury Arc Lamp is beamed through a small rotating color wheel of red, green, blue and sometimes white. The light passing through the color wheel is reflected on the tiny mirrors act independently to point the colored light at or away from the pixel target. The colors perceived by the human eye are a blending of combinations of the red, green and blue reflections in each pixel, and the combination of pixels create the total image. This technology was widely used in Digital Projectors and gradually became a competing technology to Cathode Ray Tube projection television sets, at least until consumers discovered the cost of replacing the high intensity projector lamps.

In 1904 Otto Lehman published a work on Liquid Crystals. By 1911, Charles Mauguin described the structures and properties of liquid crystals. In 1926, Marconi Wireless Telegraph company patented the first practical application of the technology. It was not until 1968 that George Heilmeier and a group at RCA introduced the first operational LCD Display. In December 1970, M. Schadt and W. Helfrich of the Central Research Laboratories of Hoffman-LaRoche in Switzerland filed a patent for the twisted nematic field effect in liquid crystals, and licenses the invention to the Japanese electronics industry for digital quartz wrist watches. By 2004. 40 inch to 45 inch LCD Televisions became widely available on the market, and Sharp introduced a 65 inch display. By March 2005, Samsung introduced an 82 inch LCD panel. Then in August 2006, LG Philips unveiled a 100 inch LCD display. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada in January 2007, Sharp once again claimed the top spot for size as they introduced the 108 inch LCD panel under the brand name AQUOS. From tiny liquid crystals to the battle for supremacy and 108" displays, the demand for bigger size and sharper contrast in high definition video has proved once again that Size Matters.

By 2006 there have been more than 220 manufacturers of television sets, and the list is growing just as the types of technology for displays is expanding. Other display technologies include Vacuum Flourescent Display (VFD), Light Emitting Diode (LED), Field Emission Display (FED), not to be confused with K-FED, and Liquid Crystal on Silicon (SED). As the ability to generate and provide high definition broadcast on demand continues to develop, the demand for improved quality and larger displays will continue to increase proportionally. The technology to watch for the next significant leap in high definition and quality image reproduction will be the Surface Conduction Electronic Emitter Display (SED).

So where will the high definition images come from? This pace of technology and battle for formats is racing even faster than the development of the display devices.

Ampex introduced the first commercial Video Cassette Recorder in 1956, with a price tag of US$50,000. The worlds first Video Cassette Recorder for home use was introduced by Philips in 1972. By 1975, SONY introduced Betamax. The first VHS VCR arrived to market in 1977, JVC's HR-3300, creating a format war that raged for market share during the 19080's. By the 1990's the battle for dominance between VHS and Beta was replaced by a new battle between the MultiMedia Compact Disc from SONY and Philips, versus the Super Density Disc supported by Time Warner, Matsushita, Hitachi, Mitsubishi, Pioneer, Toshiba and Thomson. Amazingly enough, it was Lou Gerstner, president of IBM, who stepped forward and acted as matchmaker to convince the rival camps to collaborate and combine the best of both technologies into a single standard. The result of which became the DVD Consortium, later became known as the DVD Forum. The competing technologies collaborated on standards for manufacturing DVD products with common format until the battle for supremacy was revived in 2006 between HD DVD and Blu-Ray high definition video.

It took 20 years to migrate from a $50,000 commercial device to a Video Cassette Recorder for the home. It was almost a 20 year battle in the format war between VHS and Beta, until rival camps under the guiding hand of Lou Gerstner collaborated on a common DVD format. The common DVD format lasted for a mere ten years until the competing technologies once again took the field of battle to claim dominance in the high definition video market, as HD DVD and Blu-Ray fight for supremacy, movie titles, profit and the bragging rights to define the next standard in the evolution of video. At this pace of technology evolution, advancement occurs twice as fast or in half the time of the proceeding era. At this rate we can anticipate the announcement of the next significant advancement in technology and another format within the next five years. Will the next format combine the best technologies of HD DVD and Blu-Ray? Will the next step in evolution be based on utilization of more colors from the spectrum to create even greater definition? Will the format war for storage medium like VHS tapes and Blu-Ray discs become obsolete as the new medium transforms to wireless video streaming on demand? One thing is for sure, it will not take long to find out. Hold on to your VHS movies, compact discs and DVD's, as these will be collector's items and museum pieces before a child born today will graduate from college.

Are you concerned about having the latest technology when you make your next purchase in consumer electronics? Are you worried about selecting the right format, so your library of movies and collection of media will last longer than your pile of LP records and eight track tapes? Choose a display that supports Digital High Definition, learn about the types of INPUTS for your display device or television, and then pick the one that fits your budget. The types of INPUT and connections are important for being able to take advantage of the best display possible from your television or display device. As for recorded media, take your chances on the media that has the most selection of titles and is compatible with your other entertainment devices. There is a good chance that the state-of-the-art technology you purchase today will be obsolete before your extended warranty expires, so sit back and enjoy the evolution.

Words of Wisdom

"The theory of evolution by cumulative natural selection is the only theory we know of that is in principle capable of explaining the existence of organized complexity."
- Richard Dawkins

"Television is the first truly democratic culture - the first culture available to everybody and entirely governed by what the people want. The most terrifying thing is what people do want."
- Clive Barnes

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
- Arthur C. Clarke

bout the Author: John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. http://www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, educational articles and references to local affiliates for consulting and executive coaching. http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.

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Samsung BD-P1400 Reviews of the Multi-Region Blu-Ray Disc Player Version

Region code Areas

The multi-region version plays all REGION A And B Blu-Ray Disc movies on any TV with HDMI input.

A/1North America, Central America, South America, Japan, Taiwan, North Korea, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia.

B/2Europe, Greenland, French territories, Middle East, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, plus all of Oceania.

C/3India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mainland China, Pakistan, Russia, Central, and South Asia.

Reviews of the BLU-RAY BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player (the is no difference in basic specifications for the
Region A version and the Region A and B Multi-region version so all reviews stand for both versions.):

It's good: Excellent image quality on Blu-ray movies; outstanding soundtrack support with onboard decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD High Resolution and bitstream output for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio; relatively low price compared to other standalone Blu-ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player s; Ethernet port for updating firmware.
MDOJ,

My BD-P1400 arrived late yesterday! The firmware was updated last night via internet download and burning a CD. First impressions:

Video - !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Audio - !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FYI: There is no image or sound quality difference, or any other type of difference, in the USA Region A version of the multi-region Region A and B version of the Blu-ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player.

I have tried a regular DVD and one BRD so far and am very pleased. Load
times are very acceptable. No negatives from me on this unit so far. Will
report more later when I get some of the more seemingly problematic BRDs.

The BD-P1400 has classic Samsung style. The front of the unit is all glossy black, with a thin strip of silver along the bottom.

Got my Samsung BD-P1400 last night and boy was I excited!! Before this review, let me start by saying that this is the first and only Blu-ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player that I have owned and that I may not make some of the comparisons you are looking for. If I don't, just lemme know! I also want to say that I have NOT upgraded to the latest firmware yet as my modem is not near a TV.

Picture

Excellent, duh...... inky blacks, great contrast, detail, everything you expect from Blu

Design: Wonderful looking BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player , the best yet I think. Face is very open, not cluttered, and the piano gloss finish rocks. Good remote too.
Load Times Wonderful. I have 5 movies so far and they all loaded in approx. 15 seconds. Then there was the new F4 Silver Surfer.... This is a BD+ title from Fox and many have had complaints about its load time. The BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player gave me no problem, and the multi-region version from Planet Omni will be even more incredible. Let me say again that this is right out of the box, no firmware update yet!

FYI: There is no image or sound quality difference, or any other type of difference, in the USA Region A version of the multi-region Region A and B version of the Blu-ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player.
Sound

I have not played with the sound much as I don't have my Onkyo TX-SR705 yet. I did notice that there is an option to set the speakers from small to large in analog 5.1 out mode. There are other discussions and reports of people getting full DTS-MA bitstream from this BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player (after firmware upgrade) on other threads and forums. I'm getting very anxious to try this out!

Others

The rest of the stuff is pretty standard. 128x max forward, unit resumes same position in the movie even after powered off, pretty good response times from remote keys, etc.

All in all, this is a dynamite BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player. With the firmware upgrade, this guy will do just about anything that you can expect from a blu-ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player right now!!

In addition to Blu-ray discs, the Samsung BD-P1400 can play standard-definition DVDs and CDs.

FYI: There is no image or sound quality difference, or any other type of difference, in the USA Region A version of the multi-region Region A and B version of the Blu-ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player.

The BD-PBD-P1400's high-resolution soundtrack support is excellent. It has onboard decoding for Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD High Resolution, which means it can output these soundtracks either in PCM format over the HDMI output or via the analog outputs. For newer receivers, the BD-P1400 also offers bitstream output for high-resolution soundtracks. So if you have a newer receiver with onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, you can set the BD-P1400 to output audio over HDMI in encoded bitstream format--letting your receiver do the decoding, rather than the BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player.

There should be absolutely no sound quality difference whether you let the receiver decode or the BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player decode, but some AV fans just love seeing the "Dolby TrueHD" light on their new receiver. If you need a Code free Converting DVD Disc Player for $79.95 Planet Omni also has that and they come with 2 warranties. So far, I am really happy with this purchase. I was not sure I made the right deal because of the negative reviews I read but bought it anyway.

I really don't know why people get upset when it only takes two minutes to get ready to play. I have used it several times with Blu-Ray disks rented from Netflix with no problems. I am still waiting for the eight free movies.

Connectivity is also solid. There's an HDMI output capable of carrying both 1080p video signals and high-resolution audio.

For high-def analog video, there's a component video output (limited to 1080i), and there's an S-Video output and a composite output for standard-def output. (As with all DVD BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player s, there is no DVD upscaling available via component video). On the audio side, there's the aforementioned HDMI output, along with 5.1-channel analog outputs, both optical and coaxial digital audio outputs, and stereo analog outputs.

Rounding out the connectivity is an Ethernet port, which enables you to upgrade the firmware from the Internet--a feature that's been common to HD DVD Players, but very rare among Blu-ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Players.

FYI: There is no image or sound quality difference, or any other type of difference, in the USA Region A version of the multi-region Region A and B version of the Blu-ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player.

The BD-P1400 did a good job of rendering the opening sequence of Star Trek: Insurrection, demonstrating its 2:3 pull-down prowess. Next up was Seabiscuit, and the BD-P1400 did a solid job with the difficult introduction, with few to no jaggies on the black and white photos.

MDOJ,

Just a quick update on the Samy BD-P1400. I have rented some BR's from Netflix and have really been enjoying the BD-P1400 - how about you? All the techno mumbo jumbo aside, as far as I'm concerned this is a great BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player.

I hope that the head dudes in charge of this forum will make a sticky for the Samsung BD-P1400 - hint - hint! watching home movies here...not saving lives.

The Samsung is a REALLY good unit for the price. The multi-region version is just $849.95 from Planet Omni and considering they use a double motherboard specially imported which must cost a fortune plus the intensive labor it's a real great bargain, IMHO.

I was able to plug my unit directly into my modem with a network cable (as per Samsungs directions in the user manual) and the BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player found it's new firmware and loaded it up without the need for me to get on the computer, burn disks...etc. Very cool.

The Samsung has a great image and with the current update I can listen to DTS-HD Master Audio (Sony can't say that for twice the price!).

With the pace at which the technology is moving I think it is very difficult for a manufacturer to manufacture these units, get them to market and have them totally "current" with the new disk technology, (which is changing daily), but Samsung has provided me with a unit that I can just plug into my modem and get an update when they have it available. I think that is AMAZING.

A little patience and understanding can go a long way. After all...it wasn't that long ago that when you bought an electronic component, you couldn't update it at all. I am sure Samsung will come thru with an update soon. I have not run into any disks I could not play as of yet.

Having never seen a 1200 in action, I can't help you - but the BD-P1400 PQ is excellent, but that's what Blu is all about - right?

I have tried several BD's from Netflix as well as a few standard def DVD's. All were great. As far as the handshake issue, I'm not really sure what that is.... and for the off, then play thing... why would you want to do that in a movie anyways?

Great BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player, I couldn't be more happy I got the new BD-P1400 last week. returned the 1200 to get it. (plus 100 price difference in my favor. PROS= the pic quality is by far the best I've seen, even better then the panny I had.

Controls are easy and setup just the same. I don't like it loses the signal at the beginning of the discs.
AUDIO= I am not able to use all the audio features due to my ONKYO being a few years old. I have it setup with a digital optical cable, the sound is really excellent except for the POPS I get every now and then.

As for the BD discs, POTC about 2 minutes, have had no problem, and the multi-region version from Planet Omni will be even more incredible, with any other BD movies. I did notice that after I hit pause and went to hit play, the movie would play for a minute and then stop. I had to hit play again. No big deal.

Used the Ethernet port to download new firmware, can't tell the difference though. I am sorry I am not that technical but this is my blue collar review. any??????s I will answer the best I can

Just finished watching Casino Royale - spectacular!

I have a Playstation 3 that has awesome picture quality for both Blu-Ray and upscaling of Standard DVD's since a software upgrade. We use this for our main HD TV in the family room. I needed another BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player for a second HD TV we just had hung in our bedroom.

I waited for the BD-P1400 to become available since I already committed to the Blu-Ray format and wanted the latest technology available. I cannot say enough about the sound quality that this BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player offers, it is unbelievable. The picture quality is excellent and on par with the Playstation 3. I am seriously considering purchasing a second BD-P1400 for our main set because of the outstanding sound. Great BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player especially for the money.

By far the best Blu-ray I ever tested. Never watch cartoons but now I'm spending a lot of time watching with my kids.

This is a great Blue Ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player. DTS HD MA bitstream finally. I have owned this product for about two months and am thrilled with it; it is really a good deal. I only use my Blu Ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player to play Blu Ray movies, since the sound is piped into a Samsung 5-disc receiver. The picture quality is amazing. I own four Blu Ray discs (which I purchased on Amazon at $14.99 each) and they all play beautifully, with no problem, and the multi-region version from Planet Omni will be even more incredible, and a crystal clear picture.

I bought this BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player in December. I hooked it up with an HDMI cable to a Sony Receiver. The Cable Box from Comcast is also hooked up to the receiver. The receiver is connected to a 42 inch Panasonic 1080P Plasma. Three HDMI cables, that is it.

It has worked flawlessly from the beginning with every Blu-Ray disc we have tried. We get about one a week from Netflix. I can play Pirates of the Caribbean 3. Not sure why the other reviewer could not.

The picture quality is stunning with Planet Earth. I guess I can credit the Panasonic TV mostly for that.

I did the version 1.2 firmware upgrade in December. I just did the version 1.5 firmware upgrade yesterday Feb 5th. I downloaded both and created the ISO CD.

To me it works fast. So you have to wait a few seconds for it to boot up, so what? Go get the DVD while you are waiting.

Most computers nowadays take minutes to boot. I imagine it will never get better, likely probably worse over time since these are in essence computers, and the more technology advances the slower these machines are to turn on and load up.

After doing the firmware upgrade, I checked my settings and noticed they had been reset. If you have a digital receiver, you should make sure that the audio is set to 'bit rate' and not PCM if you want surround sound.

I also had no problem, and the multi-region version from Planet Omni will be even more incredible, playing regular DVDs or CDs either. So when it becomes obsolete, it will replace my other DVD BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player and improve the quality of the regular DVDs with my other older 720P Samsung set.

I don't think anyone should delay buying because of the format war. The minute you buy anything nowadays, it becomes obsolete and is eventually a throw away. So you at least enjoy it while you can, life is too short. At the prices today what the heck, it is cheap, buy now before the dollar becomes worthless! You can get an entire home theatre 1080P HDMI based system with speakers for less than $[...] right now. Thank you China! I got my HDMI cables from Planet Omni, $19.95 for 2 meter length, superb images and sound!

Before I hooked this up, I updated the firmware via the Ethernet port. Once that was done I have had no problem, and the multi-region version from Planet Omni will be even more incredible, with the BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player at all. I debated whether or not to buy this due to some negative reviews, but the deal was just too good to pass up for a stand alone. Those of you that have had problems with this BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player have every right to complain about them here, that's what these reviews are for.

However, the people complaining it isn't 1.1 or 2.0 (no BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player is 2.0 yet) should stop. Nowhere in the description does it say this BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player is supposed to be 1.1. If you want to inform people there are updates coming and this BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player will not be able to benefit, go ahead, but to say it is horrible and obsolete because of it being 1.0 is misleading. I have a feeling most people want to just watch the movie and would rarely use the features of 1.1 (like picture in picture commentary).

If that's you, this BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player is perfect. If you need a 1.1 BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player, get the panasonic. For me this one will work fine for the next couple of years while Blu-ray gets its act together and finalizes an emerging product. I hope those of you that have had problems were able to get them resolved and can now enjoy the BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player as I do.

I have had no problem, and the multi-region version from Planet Omni will be even more incredible with the Samsung BD-PBD-P1400. I just plugged it in, connected it to the internet and started the firmware upgrade utility. After about 20 minutes, the firmware upgrade was successful and I played my first movie without a glitch. Every movie I've played since has also played flawlessly. You can also upgrade the firmware by burning a CD or if you don't have internet, Samsung will send it to you.

This product works just fine on blu-ray disks, also on non-European format DVDs, and on music CD-ROMs. I have found no problem, and the multi-region version from Planet Omni will be even more incredible with it. It even does a superior job of showing plain DVDs on my 40" TV, where my previous DVD BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player only would take up part of the screen.

One clever and undocumented touch is that it seeks out the right TV input choice once a disk is inserted. It may help that the TV is also a Samsung.
I got this on Nov.30, 2007, and unlike what other reviewers have said, the BD-P1400 does start back where you stopped. Everything else looks and works great.

I'm editing this review on March 13, 2008, to reflect my experience with the machine. It appears to me that whether a DVD will start back where it stopped depends on how the DVD was manufactured, NOT on the BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player . Some DVDs, such as "LOST, Season 3", don't even have chapter/scene makers on them, much less the ability to restart after a stop.

Some DVDs, such as "3:10 to Yuma", actually have their own system for marking where you stop or where you may want to go back to, but otherwise require a restart from scratch. But some DVDs do restart where stopped.

My chief complaint with Blu-Ray (not necessarily with this BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player in particular) is that it takes FOREVER for a DVD to start up, then if you do have a DVD that won't restart from where it stopped, you have to go through the painfully long start-up again.

I've learned to NEVER PAUSE a DVD, which causes it to shut down the BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player after a few minutes. Instead, I keep it going at 1/8 speed, then when I come back, I can easily back up to where I was -- a lot faster than a restart.

If there is a better BR BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player anywhere near this price range, I haven't heard of it. Now that HD DVD has died, I hope that DVD makers will focus their attention on making BR DVDs work more easily and FASTER.

This is a great player. The only issue is the firmware upgrade. I used CD-R/RW burning method...easiest and fastest. Burn *.iso image using nero burning rom software. The instructions are in [...]/support. I have both HD-DVD and blu-ray. so far blu-ray is better. HD looks like upconverted DVD. Read the instructions carefully i.e. the new Blu-ray "Live Free Die Hard" contains a note letting you know the software upgrade may be needed.

Lastly, remember this is HDMI 1.3 compatible...so in order to use 1.3 capabilities, you need a cable and TV which is HDMI 1.3 compatible also....the picture is great. Buy this BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player and upgrade the software right away.

I have read and continue to see many complaints about different blu-ray and hd-dvd BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player s not working like people hoped. I can say that with this model I have had absolutely zero issues.

I am sure some people will write that it doesn't load this or doesn't do that, but it hasn't affected me. I have not found a single disc that has not played perfectly. What people have to remember is that in this day and age everything is like a computer, you may have to update, it is part of life now, get over it.

Will the manufacturers eventually get this flawless, probably so but in the mean time I will be enjoying my movies now. If you are an early adopter like I am on technology then any issues you might run into will be no big deal. The BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player is easy to setup, easy to play and loads reasonably fast. Glad I bought it and already thinking about a second one for different room.

Complete satisfaction with this product. Greatly enhances my regular dvd's. I was really surprised about this claim, but the Samsung does as advertised. The blu-ray disc audio is very good. Can't wait until hooking this up with my new surround system.

This product is money well spent for the viewing pleasure it gives. I highly recommend this product.

For its price this is a steal. The audio and video quality here is great, the quality and selection of Blu-ray is top notch and you can be fairly confident you'll be getting blu-ray format movies made for you for years to come. One of the better options for a dedicated BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player if you're not interested in the PS3.

Before deciding to purchase my Samsung BD-P1400 I studied many of these customer reviews and they were very useful. I also read a dedicated AV Science forum online concerning this model BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player. First, all of the information and customer reviews highlight the endemic problem that implementation of newer Blu-Ray standards is occurring gradually. Moreover, features are evolving, meaning that we are all taking some chances when we purchase any Blu-Ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player (that is not a PS3).

I personally have no interest whatsoever in owning a game console. Second, many of these reviews describe in conscientious detail the kinds of problems that people are having, as well as whether and how the problems have been overcome. This review adds data to that second category - practical problems.

When my BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player arrived the very first thing I did was install the latest firmware downloaded from the Samsung web site. I suggest the method that uses a cd rather than a direct network connection; in either case the manuals and web site offer complete directions. Be sure to *confirm that the update was successful* by restarting the BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player , re-inserting the firmware cd, and comparing the disk version to the installed version.

What problems have I had? In a month of watching Netflix discs I have had not one single hiccup, not a single blue screen, no refusals to play any of the BDs or SD-DVDs that others have had problems with - I have had *nothing but perfect performance*! True, some of the other criticisms like slower controls are inherent to the technology. But my BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player has been flawless and my expectations have been significantly exceeded. Without hesitation, I give my BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player five stars.

Pros: My favorite feature, by far, is the 24 frame per second output mode. Movies display exactly as they were intended - be that good or bad - and 'judder' in slowly-panned scenes is significantly improved compared to 30 FPS. This alone, in my opinion, warrants the relatively modest price tag. [In direct comparisons using my 50" plasma TV, the video quality of movies from the BD-P1400 at 24 FPS is clearly superior to the same discs when played through advanced computer video cards that cost the same!] I also like the features and layout of the remote control, which doubles up to control my Samsung TV. Yes, these are basic features within the realm of Blu-Ray, but they have been very capably implemented.

Cons: My only nit-pick is that I would like a set-up feature that allowed the audio and video outputs to be delayed relative to each other by a selectable increment. This would allow perfect lip-sync when using older (i.e. slower) audio decoders/receivers that are not HDMI 1.3 compliant. However, to my knowledge this feature is not offered on *any* new Blu-ray BD-P1400 Blu-Ray Disc Player , since the HDMI 1.3 standard incorporates an automatic synchronization feature if all the components are HDMI 1.3 compatible.

Maybe I've been lucky, but I have not had a single 'playability' issue using the latest build of the latest firmware. Based on this - 5 stars.

Let's hope that Samsung will support this model well into the future by further optimizing the operating firmware, as needed.
In brief: Outstanding picture quality---my wife and I say, even for stills, "Polaroid picture!", breathtaking.

The unit has all the requisite connections. I play it through a Yamaha av-tuner with 7.1 channels, via HDMI, but other connections are available.

There is a simple blue-ringed on-off button, and a tray open-close button; that's it on on-board controls. The remote has several levels of sophistication: It is easy to find and use the power, pause-play-rewind-fast/slow controls, those you will use 99% of the time. The remote also provides movie menu controls (e.g., language), player menu controls, and options for controlling other devices---learn to use them only if/when you need them. There was absolutely no setting up to do---plug and play! Great neuro-ergonomics, i.e., intuitive ease of use.

In over three weeks of regular usage, we have noted some glitches, but it's not clear if it is the player itself or the emerging technology. Several times, the unit went into "Stop" mode as if the button had been pushed; I had to hit "Play" to get the movie started again. Mildly distracting.

What would I also like? Perhaps controls for the av amplifier as well, although that unit has all the buttons needed for TV, player, and amp. Maybe better backlighting on all buttons. This is one heck of a deal, recommended to anyone wanting to get into blu-ray.
Good BluRay DVD. Easy to use. High definition DVD's look great but regular DVD's look better too.

No problems found yet.

the Samsung 1400 is significantly superior to the Toshiba HD-A3. The BD-P1400 supports not only TrueHD, but DTS-HD MA bitstream output over HDMI. The A3 can only extract the DTS 'core' and cannot send bitstream DTS-HD MA out. Only the HD-A35 and the XA2 can do that, but both are significantly costlier than this player. The BD-P1400 can also output full 1080p/24 video, while the A3 can only send out 1080i and does not support 24fps output.

Both are slow to load up, but the A3 is significantly slower, taking almost 2 full minutes to warm up the player and display video on your monitor/screen. The PS3 takes less than 30 seconds btw. The A3 is also very noisy, distractingly so especially because it is a high pitched noise that is hard to ignore.

Overall, the BD-P1400 is a high functioning blu-ray stand alone player, that supports lossless audio output (PCM, TrueHD, and DTS-HD MA) and 1080p/24. I would still recommend a four hundred dollar PS3 over the BD-P1400, but if you really want a standalone player, you can't go wrong with the BD-P1400.
I don't actually own this player, but I have a friend who bought one and he loves it.

This is a excellent blu ray and I am very happy with my purchase, I recommend this player to everyone and the price is great.

It did NOT disappoint in the slightest. I have not had any problems playing any DVD Blu-ray or not. I have not had to download any firm-ware to solve ANY issues. The BD-P1400 worked straight out of the box. The only thing that comes close to a con is that it's slow on start-up and loading.

I am very satisfied with this player and I'm happy. All I can report is that mine works perfectly so far, and I have recommended it to many of my friends when asked for an opinion.

Works wonderfully with my new Samsung plasma... Haven't experienced any issues expressed by other reviewers. Connected with an HDMI to TV and optical audio to Home Theater... Breathtaking PQ and sound.

This Blu-Ray player is first-class. Easy setup. This is my first Hi-Def player, and I am very happy with my purchase. I did the latest firmware update per the instructions in the manual, and it has functioned flawlessly. The player has a modern, slick, glossy appearance. The sounds are incredible, and the images are too beautiful to be described. Very easy to install and use. I never knew the difference that a Blu-ray player can make in the movie watching experience. I am not an expert, just a regular mom that purchased the blu-ray player for family viewing.

I have had this player for about a month now...After updating the firmware, it has been flawless. Amazing picture, quiet unit, looks great in the entertainment rack along with my HD DVD player.

The upconversion is wonderful! Best part is I can use optical and take advantage of the new audio codecs.

I give this player 5 stars!

Not a single problem. I even have it in a tight spot with 2" clearance above top and open back with No overheating problems. None of my movies have locked up or have been unable to play. I have tried Live Free or Die Hard, all the Harry Potters, Planet Earth and others. Firmware 1.5 arrived on Jan 24th and it has seemed to fix all the problems others were having. I would definitely recommend this player to others.

I have a PS3 and a Sony 300 S Blu-ray player, and they are both excellent blu-ray players. However, I love my new Samsung 1400 BD it can decode DTS HD sound, and it makes for a wonderful movie watching experience. The first thing a new owner should do is go to samusung.com and download the latest firmware update (it is a fast simple process). There are also instructions on the owner's manual that explains how to update the player. I have watched the latest Blu-ray releases from Fox, Disney, Sony, etc. and the picture/sound quality is outstanding. Very pleased with the product.

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