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Check Out VIZIO SV420M 42 INCH CLASS 1080P 120HZ LCD FULL HDTV

2010-03-29T02:42:00.001-07:00

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VIZIO SV420M 42 INCH CLASS 1080P 120HZ LCD FULL HDTV Features

Dynamic 50,000:1 Contrast Ratio allows for deeper blacks and brighter whites
SRS TruSurround HD: Creates a high quality surround sound experience while providing optimum bass performance, high frequency clarification and dialog clarity for an enriched entertainment experience
Monitors and balances sound levels so you no longer have to experience volume ups and downs
120Hz: Full High Definition resolution giving you razor sharp clarity, crisp and clear images and an absolutely amazing viewing experience
1080P FULL HD: Full 1080P High Definition resolution gives you over 2 million pixels, making the clarity and detail of your picture razor sharp.

VIZIO SV420M 42 INCH CLASS 1080P 120HZ LCD FULL HDTV Specifications

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VIZIO SV420M 42 INCH CLASS 1080P 120HZ LCD FULL HDTV Overviews

The Vizio SV420M 42'' LCD Full HDTV brings you the latest 1080P Full High Definition resolution for crisp, clear lifelike images and the 120Hz Smooth Motion technology provides a fluid, blur-free experience. The beautiful styling and cutting edge sound technologies complete the package taking your home theater to the next level.

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Check Out Samsung LN40C550 40-Inch 1080p 60 Hz LCD HDTV (Black) for $762.00

2010-03-27T04:14:00.001-07:00

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Samsung LN40C550 40-Inch 1080p 60 Hz LCD HDTV (Black) Features

10Wx2 audio output
Wide Color Enhancer
AllShare
2 ConnectShare Movie
4 HDMI (ver 1.3), HDMI-CEC

Samsung LN40C550 40-Inch 1080p 60 Hz LCD HDTV (Black) Specifications

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Samsung LN40C550 40-Inch 1080p 60 Hz LCD HDTV (Black) Overviews

Make the move to the smoothest LCD action ever. Samsung's LN40C550 LCD HDTV offers incredible color and rich clarity, all on a 40-inch screen. Add the power of Samsung's Wide Color Enhancer, for a picture that optimizes a given color's hue, resulting in more natural rendering of colors and lifelike action. Samsung HDTVs are also ENERGY STAR compliant, helping the environment by using less energy while saving you money.

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Save more for Mitsubishi WD-65737 65-Inch 1080p 120Hz Home Theater DLP HDTV Today

2010-03-24T16:07:00.001-07:00

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Mitsubishi WD-65737 65-Inch 1080p 120Hz Home Theater DLP HDTV Features

Smooth 120Hz Film Motion eliminates motion artifacts for smooth, crisp, fast and slow action content
6-Color Processor for a wider range of colors, brighter colors and whiter whites
Three HDMI inputs and three Component inputs
Displays all images at 1080p; converts lower-resolution signals with Plush 1080p 5G technology
Energy Star 3.0 Qualified for high energy efficiency

Mitsubishi WD-65737 65-Inch 1080p 120Hz Home Theater DLP HDTV Specifications

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Mitsubishi WD-65737 65-Inch 1080p 120Hz Home Theater DLP HDTV Overviews

With picture perfomance that outpaces todays smaller flat panels, Mitsubishi Home Theater TVs offer a larger than life, intensely vivid viewing experience. In screen sizes ranging from 60 inches to 82 inches, Mitsubishi Home Theater TVs define the large screeen entertainment category by offering incomparable value and stronger performance than smaller flat panel televisions!

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Product Information and Prices Stored: Mar 24, 2010 18:07:04

Building a Home Theater

2010-03-22T18:42:00.001-07:00

The first step in building a good home theater is to get a job with a major producer of projection equipment to learn how to set up and maintain your home theater. Although this is what I did, of course it is not necessary to go to that extreme.

My training and experience with Barco Projection Systems, helped in setting up and obtaining the equipment needed for my home theater. I started with a dark basement room that was only about 9 by 20 feet. I had used it for many things over the years, from a play room for my daughter, to a workshop, a space ship, and now a home theater.

From work at Barco, where they were remodeling, I picked up some cloth-covered wall dividers they were throwing out and placed them along the sides of the theater too hide the cinder block walls and reduce the echo for sound improvement. I then paneled and painted the end wall a flat white for the screen. I use the entire wall for a screen with no border, that way the projected image becomes the border and it never looks like the movie is not filling the screen when watching a wide screen version.

It is good to know that all movies are shot on 4/3 ratio film. Wide screen versions just crop the top and bottom to make it look wide. I usually test a movie in both wide screen version and full screen to see where they are cutting the image. Sometimes after a movie had been edited to wide screen it is cut again on the sides to provide a full screen version. Kodak has produced such a high quality of movie film that it allowed the film makers to reduce the area of the raw film and still get an acceptable resolution. I enjoy both the wide screen and full screen versions. But is nice to fill out the entire wall with the picture.

For a projector, I kept my ears open for units being scrapped or sold cheep to employees. A few years after working for Barco they sold off some of the older demo equipment and I picked a Barco Graphic 400 projector. At the same time I bought a second broken projector for spare parts. Total cost was $150.00. Over the years with Barco I collected other used or broken equipment to add to my theater. The Video Enhancer VSE20 was a much needed accessory. Without line doubling the large image produces horizontal lines resulting from the resolution of the TV quality image from tapes and DVDs. The line doubling smooths out and fills in the missing information on the screen, resulting in HDTV quality from all TV and DVD input. No need to buy a HDTV.

With a good stock of extra parts for my old projector and a set of service manuals, I should be in good shape for many years to come. I have had to make a few repairs and adjustments over the years, but it has been worth it. The VS20 creates a lot of heat and after about two hours I would have to let it cool down, so I installed two quiet CPU fans on top of the chassis and solved the problem. When I started building the theater I picked up a display sound system from K-Mart for under a hundred dollars and the surround sound has been great. The projector is mounted overhead so it is not in the way and we have four nice rockers for viewing the movies.

For an added touch I installed rope light along the ceiling with a dimmer control. We occasionally watch TV in the theater but mostly save it for movies. We don't rent anymore, and try to pick out good DVDs to add to our collection. My favorite movie is Ground Hog Day, I never get tired of watching it and it is much better without the commercials.

You can still get good used projectors on E-Bay, try searching "BARCO" and look for projection equipment and video enhancers. The Small DLP technology projectors for under a thousand dollars make good home theaters also and video enhancing is not needed as you can only get the resolution that the projector is capable of. The digital processor in the projector acts as the video enchancer. The large image may not be as smooth as with a CRT projector and the lamp replacement costs are factors to consider when obtaining a large screen projector.

About the Author: Hubert Crowell, Cave Explorer

I have started writing as a hobby and plan to write about my life, work, hobbies, religion and many other things of interest to me and maybe others will enjoy also.

For more information on caving, improving your service department and many other subjects, Please visit my web site at:

http://hubertcrowell.name/

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Do Top-Selling HDTVs Stand Up To Strict Scrutiny? Part 3

2010-03-20T04:49:00.001-07:00

As with every review, I will give you bad news as well as good, with the good news coming first.

The Good...

Samsung is the top-seller of DLP TVs for 2007, and second only to Sony in LCD HDTVs. Samsung prides itself on innovation, in design as well as technology.

Many consider Samsung LCD HDTVs as a viable alternative to Sony, as it has comparable quality at a lower price. Apart from the popularity of LCD and DLP sets, Samsung is also admired for the high contrast ratio in its plasma sets, resulting in deep blacks and vivid colors.

Innovation

While most HDTVs are black, Samsung adds an amber tone to its TV cabinets.

CRT sets need their lamps to be replaced every 3-4 years, which will set you back a few hundred dollars, every time. Samsung was the first to use the Texas Instruments LED technology to eliminate this problem and, in consequence, the necessity of replacing the lamp. Also, this technology is said to have a life of twenty years, which implies large savings, in the long run.

Role Of HDTV Redefined

Samsung has an avowed aim to redefine the role of HDTVs. To this end, its HDTV sets - both entry-level and premium - in 2008 come with side-mounted USB 2.0 and HDMI ports. This facilitates connection of digital devices to view video and images on the HDTV.

Interactive HDTVs

Some advanced models can receive streamed web content and select RSS
feeds, as well as PC files. This is facilitated by a digital media adaptor - an optional accessory. An admirable attempt to convert a TV into an interactive device!

...The Bad And The Ugly

LCD Blues

Samsung LN-S4695D 46" LCD TV has a poorly written manual. That apart, the set has no cable card if you are looking for that feature.

There is color bleeding - a resultant of the backlight. "Pixelization" is evident when you view Standard Definition TV.

This set has a sluggish remote, and channel changes are slow. DVI and USB connections are missing; HDMI and other input ports are at the back, instead of the sides. It also has an 8ms response time which is relatively lower than 4ms in competitor brands.

The next model in this line, the LN-S4696D ha a flawed backlight display.

The Samsung 52" LCD Black Flat Panel HDTV has an intolerable amount of glare. Also, it is difficult to set-up, with much tweaking needed, before you can get a satisfactory picture.

Not Much Luck With Non-LCD Either

An owner of the Samsung TX-T3092WH CRT TV says the set has "some geometry issues", with vertical and/or horizontal lines that are not perfectly straight.
The HP-S4253 Plasma TV is said to have an audible buzzing sound that cannot be ignored even when you turn up the volume. It also has HDMI problems. This set is heavier than an LCD TV.

The Samsung 50" Widescreen Black Plasma HDTV (FPT5084) has a glare problem.

The Samsung HL=S5687W 56" DLP HDTV has an audio problem, and sounds like a mono even when set in stereo mode. This could have to do with the design of the internal speakers. The only solution appears to be to connect it to an external surround sound system.

The Last Word

Looking at Samsung as a cheaper substitute for Sony, the price factor might suffice to console you, if you face niggling worries with your purchase.

Richard J. Runion is the President of Geostar Publishing & Services LLC. Rich loves net research & blogging. His new blog on HDTV is fast becoming popular, as it is comprehensive and well-researched. Read his blog at: http://www.besthdtvreview.com

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Great Price Epson V11H331020 for $699.00 Today

2010-03-18T07:44:00.001-07:00

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Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 705 HD 720p 3LCD Home Theater Projector Features

720p, high-definition, widescreen performance; for movies, games and more
Bright — 2500 lumens color and 2500 lumens white light output
Rich, vibrant true-to-life color — advanced 3LCD, 3-chip technology
Easy setup — 1.2x optical zoom, auto keystone
Versatile connectivity HDMI, USB Type A, Component Video, and S-Video digital connections

Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 705 HD 720p 3LCD Home Theater Projector Specifications

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EPSON PowerLite Home Cinema 705HD Home theater projector

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Selecting the Right Digital Projector For You

2010-03-16T12:57:00.001-07:00

Projectors, especially the high end home theatre models represent a significant purchase including the replacement cost of the projector lamp, which will eventually need replacement. For the novice, selecting the right projector for themselves is a journey which in many cases results in a wrong decision.

It is best to become at least a little bit educated about what the options are and the strengths and weaknesses of the different types of projectors on the market. High Definition projectors are now available and the standard choice, given the future of high definition broadcasts. There are basically three types of high definition projectors: LCD (liquid crystal display) HDTV projector, DLP (digital light processing) HDTV projector, and the newest technology, the LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon) HDTV projector.

An LCD projector produces a brighter sharper image but at certain resolutions and size of the image, pixilation may occur. A DLP projector will give better black levels (provides a better image when the image is a night seen or of an indoor scene in an dim room), although the image details are usually less sharp.

While price is a very important factor in selecting a projector, it is important to make sure the model selected will meet you picture viewing and other needs.

Other considerations include: 1. what will be the room light conditions, as rooms with un-shaded windows will require a higher lumens rating; 2. if the unit will be ceiling mounted, will air conditioning be available as hot air rises and excessive heat may lessen the projector fan's ability to cool the lamp; 3. type of bulb may vary between UHP - Ultra High Performance, UHE - Ultra High Efficiency (most common), or metal halide lamps; 4. how many and what type of connection ports there are; and 5. what size projector do you need (if portability is involved).

While the cost of a DLP HDTV projector ranges around $2,000 or more, an LCD HDTV projector generally is less than $2,000. Recently LCOS HDTV display has become popular given its higher resolution of 1920x1080 internal resolutions, although the cost of $5,000 to $20,000 may be prohibitive.

Finally, note that the cost of replacement lamps range from $200 to $600 so inquire what that cost would be for your model.

G. Thorpe is a freelance article writer and specializes in consumer electronics. Visit http://www.hitachilamp.com for more information on projector lamps and information on changing your lamp.

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A Television Buying Guide

2010-03-14T11:21:00.001-07:00

As technology advances at breakneck speeds, buying a new television set seems to get more and more complicated. But with new innovations such as digital TV, HDTV, Freesat and home cinema sound, if your current TV set is more than 5 years old, now is a great time to upgrade.

This guide takes you through these new innovations and aims to help you make a purchase that will take your enjoyment of television to a whole new level.

LCD or Plasma

LCD and Plasma technologies work in very different ways, but the advantages of both are similar:

* No scanning lines enable a better quality flicker free picture.

* Sharp, clear pictures with less reflection from sunlight.

* Wide viewing angle - slim space saving design.

* Slim attractive TVs that can be wall mounted like a picture.

When choosing between a Plasma or LCD TV, it is really just a question of size. LCD is at its optimum performance up to and including 32 inches, whilst Plasma offers optimum performance at 37 inches and above. Therefore, if you wish to purchase a smaller flat panel set, then LCD offers the greater performance, in contrast if you are looking for a larger screen size, Plasma is the best option.

HD TV

Perhaps the most significant innovation to television since colour technology, High Definition (HD) TV brings detail, clarity and colour, with images often 4xs as sharp as those from traditional television sets. To view high definition programmes you must have a HD Ready TV. Sky and Freesat have already started broadcasting in high definition so you can now enjoy a range of your favourite programmes, films and sporting events with amazing life-like pictures.

If you choose not to invest in a high definition source at this time, you need not be concerned as all HD Ready TVs work excellently with standard broadcasts. As well as enhancing the picture quality and enjoyment you get from the TV, purchasing an HD Ready TV is a way of 'future proofing' yourself.

Integrated Digital Tuner

A TV with an integrated digital tuner (also known as an idTV) allows you to receive all free to air digital channels, including E4, BBC3, Sky News and many more without the need for a separate set top box.

However, if you plan to team your new television with a sky digital subscription than an idTV may not be necessary.

Freesat

Freesat, is a brand new digital satellite TV service provided through a partnership between the BBC and ITV, giving you free HD programmes at no extra cost. Freesat has no contract, no subscription, just a one-off payment for the TV, satellite dish and installation. And because Freesat is broadcast via satellite, it is available to almost every household in the UK. Freesat TV is currently only available with Panasonic TVs.

Home Cinema

A Home Cinema System brings the full sound and big-screen experience of the movie theatre into your home. Technology has advanced so far in the last few years that you can enjoy amazing quality audiovisuals without paying a fortune. Dolby Digital Surround Sound allows you to become absorbed in the action, while a projector TV offers incredibly clear widescreen viewing.

o A Home Cinema System with Dolby Surround Sound takes movie watching to a whole new level. Wherever the action is on screen - that's where the sound comes from in your room. If there's a helicopter chasing the villain from behind, that's where you will hear the chopper blades! It's an experience that makes watching movies even more exciting and puts you at the centre of the action

o Projector TVs provide the closest experience to having your own private cinema at home. They can provide the largest possible screen size an affordable price. With recent advancements in technology there is very little difference between the three types of projection system; LCD, DLP and LCOS. Basically a projector + Dolby Surround Sound = the ultimate viewing experience!

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Home Theater: 3 Ugly Secrets Revealed

2010-03-12T13:00:00.001-08:00

Secret #1: WHAT YOU BUY TODAY WILL BE OBSOLETE TOMORROW, IF IT ISN'T ALREADY.

What you should do about it:

Don't sweat it. Just read what you can before you buy to educate yourself so you don't make a terrible mistake. If you shop wisely, you can get a tremendous leap over what you have come to know as television. The good news is the better stuff coming down the pipe is knocking prices down on the stuff out now.

Plus, consumer surveys SCREAM to the electronics companies that people WANT these new, slim, high resolution Home Theater setups. There are billions of dollars to be made. Those surveys snapped the head of every exec in the biz. They geared up to make more. "Make more" equals "economies of scale" equals "make MORE money," even at lower price points! The first one costs a bazillion dollars: research, tooling up, marketing. Then, with volume, the cost per unit plummets. The guys who want to have very latest get to pay the most. Why be that person?

If you've already purchased a particular technology - Plasma, DLP, LCD, front or rear projector, whatever, ENJOY it. It IS important to realize that wide screen aspect ratio does not equal high-definition TV, though. Some think if the picture is wide, they're there. That might be FAR from there. I hate to say this because I'm a guy and guys hate this - you might want to read the instructions.

Secret #2. And this is really, really big: YOU CAN'T TELL WHAT THE PICTURE LOOKS LIKE FROM WHAT YOU SEE IN THE STORE.

What you should do about it:

What you are doing now. Research. The hard part is cutting through the opinions of weenies who want to see a feather clearly, blowing in the wind at 50 yards. I'll help you there. Read on.

There are three reasons why Home Theater Ugly Secret #2 is true.

1- The sets aren't adjusted right. They are turned way up to dazzle you. The dazzle will bother you when you get home. Worse, it drives the set to what you'd call distortion. The better picture happens when the picture is turned down in brightness, sharpness, contrast, and whatever else has been goosed. Why do they let this happen? It's like a conspiracy that everyone is in on - except you. Because when they are all lined up, 40 sets in a row, the manufacturers know you might think theirs is different and better. But they ALL do it, so it's a wipe. And if a store is a little bit shady, with some hi-def sets to move at a higher profit margin, well, now, those might have been "optimized" to look better than the others.

Yes, most of the hi-def sets CAN be adjusted correctly for you in your home. MAYBE by you.

Did I mention that Bubba the shopper-doofus was there, just before you browsed in, that he found the remote control and screwed up all the settings anyway?

So, you can't trust what you see in most stores. But wait, there's more.

2- Many of the sets are being fed video poorly. A distribution amp or humungous splitter shares the picture among the displays. That hurts the picture. A store might have 40 sets on one distribution, but the ones they really want to move on a purer source, showing a better picture. You'll never know.

3- What you see may or may not be high definition or even good quality. Just as bad, it might be super fidelity you won't likely ever see again. Because, what you watch at home might not be broadcast or cablecast with a good picture.
So, you can see misaligned sets fed bad pictures that bear little resemblance to anything you'd see at home. Ready to drop several THOUSAND on that? Didn't think so. But tens of thousands of people do. Probably WILL this weekend. Eager commissioned salespeople will confide that THIS unit is the superior one. No hidden agenda there, do you think, huh?!

Secret #3. THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH EVERYTHING.

What you should do about it:

Relax. Don't obsess. It's more a matter of things being done different ways by different designers. For example, on this set, the colors are spot on, but the resolution is a little off. On that set over there, the resolution is incredible, but the red... You are still going to love the setup you buy - and remember - you just might have it for 10 years or MORE! You'll look at it more than you look at your wife, husband or kids. I'm talking face time. Relax. We'll get you through this.

A personal note to THE OBSESSIVES:

If you haven't already left this article, I want you to think about the fact that there are millions of screen dots to go wrong. Not that they will, but the 317th one from the left and 119th from the bottom IS a little shaky, don't you think? Time to take a deep breath. One, two, three. Exhale. Even though there's something wrong with everything, if you embrace that thought and LET IT GO you'll be able to enjoy the - uh - big picture. The state of the Home Theater art - even if it IS yesterday's art, is very very nice.

Relax.

Why a Home Theater? And what's it MEAN anyway? Good questions. A Home Theater is simply the natural; evolution of the TV experience. Now that we can, we do. It's how it goes. Basically, you get a shorter, wider picture (more like a movie in a... theater) and the picture is much clearer than the TV you sat too close to as a kid - remember Mom yelling?. And you can have better sound too. It can be all around you, or just in the front. You choose. You can have a box that plays the deep notes - fun things like car crashes, earthquakes, whale farts, cannons. You get to experience them like never before. It's not essential, but it's there if you want it.

A Home Theater is just like going to the movies. Except the screen isn't that big, but you can get a good seat. You don't have to endure advertisements in the 'pre-show entertainment' if you don't want to. You can go to the bathroom and touch the door handle on the way out. No paying $5.75 for a bag of stale popcorn. No popcorn bagging zomboid teenagers. No lines. No sticky floors (unless that's the way you live, not that there's anything wrong with that.)

There. Now you know the top 3 Ugly Home Theater secrets.

But, it isn't quite that simple. At http://www.GreatHomeTheater.com/ there are 9 more secrets revealed. I promise you won't get neurotic or your hands dirty, and I won't talk you out of what can be a tremendous and highly enjoyable leap forward in home entertainment.

Bob Wood, for over 30 years, served in front of, and behind the microphone, at popular radio stations across the United States and Canada. Throughout that journey he developed a passion for great sound and was an early adopter of many of the video toys and tools that have evolved into today's state of the art.

Bob also became known as a voice-actor at that time, leading him to literally hundreds of recording studios where again he would work with top equipment. In the mid 80s, he was able to examine and demo the early high definition broadcast quality equipment out of Japan.

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Television Technology Continues To Improve

2010-03-10T03:51:00.001-08:00

The technology of television has continued to advance through the years too and these days there are more choices and decisions to be made when buying a tv than ever before. Some of the terms can be confusing too, but take heart, there is really only a few basic things to keep in mind in order to make a well-informed buying decision.

Most older tv sets made use of analog technology that only allows so much data transfer of picture and sound at one time. So that meant that television programs could only be presented up to a certain quality level that often was not all that good.

However, with the digital age new ways of transferring the data to television sets has come about and now both picture and sound quality can be much better than ever before. You can still purchase analog tv sets if you wish though, and the prices are incredibly good at this point. Just bear in mind that the technology is moving away from analog and will become almost exclusively digital soon.

Didital television has made available high definition tv sets that boast much improved picture quality and honestly, if you are in the market for a television set that you wish to use for some to come, you will want to get a high definition enabled tv or HDTV.

From there you can decide if you want to upgrade further to a plasma or LCD screen. Both have very thin designs and can be mounted almost anywhere, but they can be expensive. If your busget allows for thwem why not get the best picture quality possible? If it's not necessary, don't worry, because the standard hdtv screen is still very good.

There is more to know about buying television sets and accessories, but this should help you be more informed when you make your next purchasing decision.

Jim Johnson writes on many consumer related topics, including televisions. You can find more information on direct tv, dish tv, dlp tv, dvr, high definition tv, lcd tv, plasma tv, projection tv, satellite tv and more at Television Deals Online [http://www.television-deals-online.com]

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Of LCDs and Flat Screens - The Origin of Modern Televisions

2010-03-08T06:34:00.001-08:00

With the competing technologies of Plasma, LCD and DLP, it is probably obvious that the LCD proves its winning streak.

Right now, LCD's fame and distinction have exploded. They are now considered to be the most advanced and latest high definition form of viewing. Let us review how everything that we know about LCD materialized.

It is a usually unknown fact that the LCD technology came form the year 1888 when Austrian scientist Friedrich Reinitzer discovered the properties of liquid crystallization. In computation, the LCD TV concept is more or less eighty years of age. So when this concept was introduced, engineers used it in marketing their products. The first hard work was recognized to be from George Heilmeier who is an Electrical Engineer from the University of Pennsylvania. He utilized liquid crystallization process in his commercial products. He has a Ph.D, M.S.E., and M.A's Solid State Electronics from the Princeton University. While working with colleagues Nunzio Luce, Louis Zanoni, Lucian Barton, Joel Goldmacher, Joseph Catellano, and Richard Williams, he developed the LCD technology one at a time.

Before the LCD system came together as a whole new technology, its parts were conceived separately. Liquid crystal display or LCD was a by-product of the experimentation with liquid crystals. While the mentioned brains of this technology were experimenting, they found out that it is possible to create clock, digital watches, and calculators through what later came to be known as LCD technology. The digital clock that is famous today is from Heilmeier's hard work with RCA.

The LCD technology was passed to and further developed by James Ferguson. He is a University of Missouri graduate and became the director of the Kent State University's Liquid Crystal Institute. He was able to discover the nematic field effect which led to the prototype for LCD TV displays in the present time.

In 1971, Ferguson's team was able to unveil the first LCD but unfortunately it seemed to be a disappointment because of the "phantom images" that were displayed during its action broadcasts. They have made necessary arrangements and improvements thus the creation of the modern day LCD. Picture transmission was improved and so picture quality became better. Because of this extreme hard work, Ferguson was able to make 100 patents and build his own corporation.

LCD truly came from an amazing mental power and hard work. Right now, LCDs are most likely to replace the traditional cathode ray tubes (CRTs) and improve the home viewing experience of every user. Let us be grateful and thank these brilliant minds for coming up with a brilliant screen for a far more brilliant home theater experience.

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DVR's Represent Leap Forward In TV Entertainment

2010-03-06T03:51:00.001-08:00

If you haven't been keeping up with newer developments in TV technology, then you may be surprised by some of the things that have come about lately. After all, the bulky old fashioned cathode ray tube TV sets have been replaced by LCD displays, plasma screens, and DLP projectors. The VCR has been replaced by the DVD player, and the DVD player will soon be replaced by high def DVD players!

Perhaps one of the most revolutionary new developments in TV entertainment technology has come in the form of the DVR. DVR stands for Digital Video Recorder, and is essentially a computer that's been specially adapted to record TV shows off of the incoming TV signal and play them back at a later time. In that sense, the Digital Video Recorder replaces the recording feature of the older VCR. At first glance, many people might not see the advantage of replacing their VCR's with DVR's. A little more information makes the reason to upgrade pretty obvious.

The fact that Digital Video Recorders are computers makes them a lot easier to use in some important ways. First off, the interface to program the DVR is much more intuitive and easier to learn than the interface of any VCR. This makes DVR users actually want to program the devices to record TV shows when they aren't around, while most of us have given up on this capability of our VCR's! Specifically, DVR's allow their users to program them though an on screen program guide, which makes selecting a show to record as easy as highlighting it and pressing a button. Most DVR's also have the added benefit of being able to record at least two channels at the same time.

Digital Video Recorders also have the flexibility that comes with skipping the use of video tapes and recording video on their hard drives instead. The obvious advantage of this is that video cassette tapes are no longer necessary, but there are a number of other advantages as well. For one thing, the hard drives that are built into DVR's these days are large enough to hold an entire weeks' worth of shows, which makes them the perfect answer to catching TV while traveling. Unlike video cassettes, video that's stored on hard drives can also be accessed in any order without fast forwarding or rewinding. External hard drives can also be used with many newer DVR's in order to increase their capacity even more!

Another great feature of DVR's is that they make skipping commercials easy. The fact that you'll actually want to record the shows to begin with helps with this, but many models also have built in functions that can fast forward thirty seconds. This is useful for being able to fast forward without missing the beginning of the next segment of the TV show. Some models will even detect and tag commercial breaks during recording so that they can automatically skip over them during playback.

The fact that DVR's are available through many TV service providers also makes them extremely easy to find. In all, this device represents just how fare TV technology has come.

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LCD Vs DLP Projectors

2010-03-03T15:34:00.001-08:00

If you've been thinking about buying a home theater projector, perhaps to connect to an HDTV tuner, and have read reviews or done a little bit of research, you'll be aware that there are two technologies competing for the contents of your wallet.

Both LCD and DLP are used in projectors suitable for home theaters, but they work in quite different ways and produce slightly different results. If you ask around ' particularly in electronics stores, you're likely to be provided with a mass of information that's confusing and often just plain wrong. So here, in an effort to clear the fog surrounding projectors, is our guide to LCD v DLP.

LCD

LCD projectors have three separate LCD panels, one for red, one for green, and one for blue components of the image being processed by the projector. As light passess through the LCD panels, individual pixels (or picture elements) can be either opened or closed to either allow light to pass through or be filtered out. In this way the light is modulated and an image projected on to the screen.

LCD projectors have historically had three main advantages over DLP. They produce more accurate colors (due to the three separate LCD panels), they produce a slightly sharper image (although this is as good as undetectable when watching movies) and they are more light-efficient, which means they produce brighter images using less power.

However, LCD projectors also have some disadvantages, although as the technology improves these are becoming less and less relevant. The first of these is pixelation, or what's known as the screen door effect. This means that sometimes you can see the individual pixels and it looks as though you are viewing the image through a 'screendoor.' The second historic disadvantage of LCD v DLP is that LCD doesn't produce absolute black, which means that contrast is less than you would get with DLP.

However, the advent of higher resoltion LCD projectors (particularly 'HD-ready' projectors which have a horizontal resolution of 768 pixels or greater) means that pixelation is less of a problem than it used to be. And the improved ability of LCDs to produce high-contrast images is also allowing them to be taken more seriously by home theater enthusiasts.

DLP

Digital Light Processing (DLP) is a technology developed by Texas Instruments and it works by projecting light from the projector's lamp onto a DLP chip, made up of thousands of tiny mirrors. Each mirror represents a single pixel and directs the light projected onto it either into the lens path to turn the pixel on or away from it to turn it off. Most DLP projectors have only one chip, so in order to reproduce color, a color wheel consisting of red, green, blue and sometimes, white filters is used. The wheel spins between the lamp and the chip and changes the color of the light hitting the chip from red, to green, blue. Each mirror on the DLP chip tilts towards or away from the lens path depending on how much of a particular colour light is required for that pixel at any given instant.

The key advantages DLP has in the LCD v DLP debate is that DLP projectors tend to be smaller and lighter, have better contrast, and don't suffer the same pixelation problems as LCD projectors. There is one problem that some users report with DLP projectors, although it appears to only affect a very small number of people. Because of the way DLP works, at any given instant, the image on screen is either red, green, or blue. However, the images change so quickly, that the human eye doesn't detect this and your brain puts the red, green and blue images together to make a complete frame of video. Unfortunately, some people can see the individual colours, and others can detect them enough to cause eye-strain and headaches. However, technology has improved significantly with the introduction of six-color wheels and faster rotation speeds. The rainbow effect should be a problem for even fewer people. The best way to find out if you're affected is to try out a DLP projector, perhaps by hiring one, before you buy.

Technology in both LCD and DLP projectors is improving all the time. However, at the time of writing DLP still has a slight edge in the home theater market.

Kenny Hemphill is the editor and publisher of The HDTV Tuner, a site which aims to cut through the confusion surrounding HDTV and provide surfers with up to date, accurate and easy to read information on HDTV.

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The Death Of Analog Television

2010-03-01T05:34:00.001-08:00

The looming switch from analog television signal to digital signal has many consumers concerned about being able to continue watching television. Understanding what is entailed in the change will help put most consumer's minds at ease, though there are a few things that will have to be changed in your TV set up, particularly if you still have an analog television.

What Will I Have To Change? For starters, you'll have to buy at least a digital/analog converter if you want to continue using your analog television. This only applies to air to ground signal, though. If you have satellite television service, you already have digital signal and will not lose any programming. Other than purchasing a converter box, buying a digital ready television is your only option. Most TV's produced today are digital ready.

Can I Still Use My Antenna? In some cases, an existing antenna can be used with digital air to ground television signals. Areas that only receive moderate signal with an indoor antenna will most likely need to upgrade to a more powerful outdoor antenna, though. Also, areas that get marginal signal with an outdoor antenna may lose signal completely.

Does My Digital TV Get HD Signal? The answer is simply - No. You'll have to buy an HDTV for that. In addition, you'll have to subscribe to a satellite or cable provider that offers HD channels. (DirecTV HD has the most channles of any provider). There are quite a few different models from which to choose, including plasma, LCD and DLP. New technologies are also being developed to increase the market offerings.

Some areas will have to rely on local channel programming through their satellite television provider. Digital signal offers much greater clarity and better signal, but it does not travel as far as analog signal. Check with your local satellite service company to find out what local channels are offered in your area.

In addition, satellite providers are beginning to offer HD local channel programming, though it is not yet available in any but the largest television markets. The coverage will continue to expand, but it will take several years before it is available in very rural areas.

Does My HDTV Have a Tuner? Many HDTV's have a built in tuner, so you will not have to purchase a separate tuner box to receive air to ground signal. While quite a few models offer this, you should check your owner's manual to make sure. Look for a listing for "digital tuner" or "ATSC tuner."

When Will Analog Broadcasting End? Not long at all. February 17, 2009 is the scheduled date for ending analog signal transmissions. This means that local stations are ramping up their digital preparedness and some are getting ready to start HD broadcasting as well. Make sure that you have a converter box or digital ready television before that date, though, if you plan to keep watching local programming through air to ground signal. A better option, though, is to subscribe to a satellite service provider.

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Buy a Cheap HDTV Today -Don't Wait!

2010-02-27T02:51:00.001-08:00

After February 17, 2009, your regular television set will require a converter box to receive over the air broadcasts with an antenna. This is because North American broadcasters will be serving their markets with a digital television signal. Cable subscribers will probably need new DTV equipment as well to be able to receive any signal. Since you're going to have to spend money to watch what you're watching now, you might as well put that money towards a new digital television set or an HDTV set right now. It only makes sense, doesn't it?

HDTV provides the highest picture quality and the highest resolution of all digital broadcast formats. When you combine that with the new digitally enhanced sound technologies on the market today, you can actually create a home theater environment that your whole family can enjoy. Some people are worried about the potential cost but you can buy a cheap HDTV on the market today if you look hard enough. So don't let that deter you.

To get started in HDTV just remember that you need three things.

1. You obviously need a high definition television set [HDTV]

2. You need an HDTV satellite receiver or a digital set top box.

3. You need to subscribe to satellite or cable HD [high definition] programming.

Once you have those three things you are now capable of watching HDTV in your home. There are still many people who go home after purchasing a brand-new HDTV and wonder why they're not seeingg anything different than before. your HDTV will receive a signal, just like any other television set at this point, but without the other two items you will only receive standard analog television signals. And believe me, once you start watching high-definition television you can really notice the difference in quality from a standard broadcast. In fact, some people with an HDTV have difficulty watching what they feel is now a "washed out picture" on a standard broadcast.

And it won't matter if you get a flat-panel type, like an LCD or a Plasma set, or a rear projection set style in DLP, LCD orLCoS. As long as they are capable of receiving high-definition signals, you'll be good to go. The type you buy will depend on where you want it to go, the room you have and how fashionable you want to be. Just make sure whatever you buy is HD ready.

Digital sound, digital video recorders or DVRs and an HD [high definition] disc player, will complete an amazing home theater experience.

If you are unsure of what you should buy in any of the items from an HDTV, to a satellite package, a digital video recorder or a digital sound system, you can always visit your local electronics store to ask questions and get your answers. There are also an amazing number of forums on the Internet that focus on the high definition scene and the home theater experience that you can visit. You are free to ask questions and an amazing array of volunteers will help you to sort through the myriad options available in the marketplace today.

Prices for HDTVs and associated components have fallen drastically over the last few years. There is no need to wait any longer. Buy your own HDTV today and get started on an amazing experience!

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DLP TVs - Not Your Mom's Projection Television

2010-02-25T03:51:00.001-08:00

Everyone talks about plasma TVs and LCD TVs, but few talk about DLP TVs. These nifty high-def TVs are not the foggy, oddly-angled and difficult to view low-contrast sets of your childhood, but rather high-tech digitized versions of modern movie projectors, the rear-projection set and a screenless projector usually referred to as a DLP front projector.

Front projector is in essence a DLP rear projection set without the box, let's talk about that one first. These DLP TVs don't look at all like televisions; instead, they resemble digital slide projectors, squat little boxes that have a lens on the front. The television picture is digitally assembled inside the DLP unit and projected to wherever you want, usually a wall or a screen. The great advantage of this sort of DLP TV is that you have a picture scaled to whatever size you like. The disadvantage, of course, is the quality is limited not only by the DLP's specs but also by the quality of your projection surface.

Rear-projection take care of that problem, but at the cost of the great flexibility of the front-projection DLPs. These units look much more like the projection televisions of yesteryear, but with an enormously improved picture. While a DLP TV does not approach the contrast value of a plasma television, they are as good as most LCD TVs and are much tougher units.

A rear-projection DLP TV is surprisingly slender - not wall-mountable like a plasma or LCD model, but still only a few inches deep. Models that are wall-mountable or near it are starting to come on market right now, so you can expect that option in the near future. They are also significantly cheaper than plasma TVs, and in larger sizes are cheaper than comparable LCD TVs.

While the picture with a good rear-projection is not quite up to the standards of a plasma, it is comparable with an LCD TV, and it has another major advantage: the backlight is replaceable. With an LCD TV, the light will dim over time, and repairing it is so expensive that it's cheaper to purchase a new television. A DLP TV light source will go out eventually, but the bulb is completely replaceable, in some models designed to be replaced by the purchaser, and much less expensive than a new set. If your television set is destined to get heavy use, a DLP TV is much more economical over time than a similar LCD TV. And a plasma TV? Forget about it! Once its light dims, it cannot be repaired and must be replaced.

The major manufacturers of DLP TV right now are Samsung, Toshiba, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, LG, and RCA. Most experts prefer Panasonics, but any DLP that uses mirror technology that comes from Texas Instruments is going to do well. The main thing to look for, besides picture quality, is a DLP TV that allows you to change the bulb yourself. Newer sets also use LED lighting instead of halogen lights. This is a distinct advantage for two reasons. First, LEDs last significantly longer than halogens (though halogens still have a long lifespan). Second, halogens generate a lot of heat, and the fan used to dissipate it in the set has a whining noise that irritates some viewers. LEDs emit very little heat and do not have the same problem.

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Pioneer BDP-95FD Blu-Ray Disc Reviews For the Multi-Region Version

2010-02-23T04:00:00.001-08:00

The Multi-Region version is available from Planet Omni.

This player is amazing. It's clearly better than the first gen players, bdps1, even the bd91. there are a few little things to consider about blu ray. It SHOULDN'T play cds. if you have 1000 to spend on an Elite blu ray, then you should have good money, like 600 for a Cambridge azure or a like 24 bit cd player. blu ray lasers are very narrow, and will not read cds correctly, and to make them do so would be way more work than is considered worthwhile by the major manufacturers.

That being said, DROOL! best upscaling I have seen on any player to date, full streaming features, and the Pioneer Elite look. It's a really good player and I for one think that it's the best to date.

It plays CDs, as well as internally decodes advanced audio (minus DTS-HD Master) into PCM for transmission over HDMI or analog, for all the legacy receivers out there.

Very nice Blu Ray player though with many nice features. Loads like a computer not as fast as a regular player but no big deal. This model is much better than the last from this line. Picture and sound is so wonderful on a Pioneer Plasma TV.I also have the Elite VSX-91TXH amp to go with my system Great Work Pioneer but work on the prices ok.
WOW That is awesome player!

I am starting to flavor Pioneer the most.

According to the manual for the BDP-94FD, the connector diagram on page 11 shows 8 RCA connectors to support 7.1.

I doubt there will be any major physical changes between the BDP-94FD and the to-be-released BDP-95FD.

I don't claim any special expertise but my experience with Pioneer Elite has been my barometer. I bought a second DVD a couple of years back to support both DVD and SACD which my Denon did not. The Pioneer bested the Denon in both Picture Quality and musicality in my setup AND the Pioneer is still working, the Denon's motor went about 6 months ago. Sounds real simple to me...........

Pioneer's new Elite Blu-ray player, the BDP-95FD, is geared to audiophiles as much as it is aimed at videophiles: In addition to HDMI 1.3a and x.v.ycc color, it has bitstream output of even the highest audio codecs, including DTS HD Master Audio. In other words, if you just bought one of the latest, most kick-ass A/V receivers, you might actually be able to use its audio decoders.
The receiver does a few other things too, most notably acting as a media streamer for PC content from Pioneer's Home Media Gallery system.

Pioneer® Elite® BDP-95FD Blu-ray Disc Player

The new Pioneer Elite BDP-95FD offers unprecedented high definition picture and sound as a result of HDMI 1.3 connectivity. In addition to superb picture performance, the increased bandwidth capacity means the player has internal decoding of high resolution audio formats: Dolby® TrueHD, Dolby® Digital+, and DTS-HD™ as well as bit-stream output for all advanced audio formats including DTS-HD Master for 7.1 surround sound performance. The BDP-95FD can faithfully reproduce the 1080p 24 frames per second (fps) rate needed to preserve feature film sequences as the director intended. The Pioneer Elite Blu-ray Disc player incorporates HDMI Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) to ensure streamline integration with other HDMI-CEC enabled high definition theater components. This feature allows users to control a whole home theater setup with a single remote for maximum convenience capability.

The new Blu-ray Disc player offers Pioneer's exclusive Home Media Gallery that allows users to directly access and playback music, movies and photos stored on a home PC. The user-friendly home networking feature also provides IP networking for immediate downloading and of new digital media files straight from the computer through the BDP-95FD to a connected flat screen television. The Pioneer Elite Blu-ray Disc player is compliant with Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), Window and Apple computers video, Windows Vista or Windows Media Connect as well as Microsoft playsforsure™ DRM technology.

How very happy am I that I was a Pioneer Elite "Target"...The VSX-94 is beyond comprehension, when matched with the Bdp-95, life becomes absolutly, hilariously in harmony..that, and after it took two weeks complete a very effective hook up, I WAS AT ONE WITH ELITEZEN MANUALS....
I just picked up a Pioneer Elite BDP-95HD from the Pioneer Store in Costa Mesa.

I will keep this first post for answers to common questions so that new owners get answers quickly.

Does the Pioneer Elite BDP-95HD generate the DTS-HD Master Audio Bitstream that can be decoded by the receiver / processor?

-- Yes. My Integra DTC-9.8 displays 'DTS-HD MSTR' when I select DTS-HD Master Audio sound track from disk. Audio is un-frig'in-believable!

Are the load times improved over the 94HD?

-- Using POTC: COTBP as a benchmark, it took 22 seconds from pressing START on the remote to the POTC "loading..." message to appear and a total of 38 seconds for the Disney screen to appear

How does the PQ of the 95FD compare to the 94HD?

-- Very similar - 95FD just slightly sharper

How well does the 1080p24fps work:

-- Flawlessly

How is good is the DVD SD upconversion on the BDP-95FD?

-- Excellent (better than the BDP-94HD and the HD1)

REPORTED ISSUES or PROBLEMS: None.

I have been watching Kingdom of Heaven Blu Ray while listening to the DTS-HD MA sound track (Integra displays DTS-HD MSTR :-) Sounds un-frig'in-believable.

Player seems to be operating flawlessly. Boot up time very acceptable. Responds to remote immediately. It is difficult to tell if there are any PQ differences from the PS3 that I had but the DTS-HD MA is mind blowing...

It just took 35 seconds from pushing the close button on the remote to Kingdom of Heaven to begin playing...

With Disk in DVD player and player on stop, using POTC: COTBP it took 22 seconds for the POTC loading message to appear and a total of 38 seconds for the Disney screen to appear...

After setting it up I can't help feeling déjà vu all over again. As you can see in the pic it does look nearly identical to the 94HD and HD1. I do like the class look it has though. I really like that high gloss piano finish look. As Tony said it takes about 35 seconds for titles to start playing. Which actually is a pretty BIG improvement over the two older models. Just like the others initial set up is a breeze. I do like the Pioneer start up screen better on the 95FD. It just looks cooler. I am not only comparing this unit to its brothers (or cousins) but also to the Samsung 1400. This ELITE unit costs more but you feel like it is money well spent.

Once again I love having the resolution button on the remote. Being able to change it on the fly is so much nicer then having to stop the movie and go into the set up menu (like the 1400 and HD DVD players). If there is one feature other manufacturers could learn from Pioneer that would be a good one to start with. Also, having 1080p/23.98 (24) done without issues is a breath of fresh air. Toshiba has been struggling as many of us know so it is nice to get a unit out of the box (just like the 1400, 94HD and HD1) that can do 1080p/23.98 without any EDID issues. I have not spent a great amount of time with this unit but from what I have I can say it is THE best Blu ray player on the market.

The picture Q is very colorful and very sharp. It bests the very impressive (especially for its price) Samsung 1400. Not by a lot in terms of pic Q but when you add the entire package together you know why the Pioneer is more. Picture settings, menu options, great remote (which is light years ahead of the competition) and of course a great picture with great sound. Speaking of sound I have only done a couple of comparisons so far but it is too easy to select bitstream passing in the menu. No confusion here. You are either sending D.D. or DTS via HDMI or PCM... Your call. That easy. I will do more on audio soon but sending the audio to my receiver (Onkyo 905) sounded great just as I expected. It also sounded good the few minutes I had the 95FD doing it. I am not going to say which is better because I do not want to open that can of worms again. So do not ask here. PM me.

I am using the new Sony VPL- VW60 "Black Pearl" (which is the 3rd pic) for all of my comparison so far. It handles 1080p/23.98 like a champ. I can also send it straight into my crystalio II and then tweak the image before sending it to the VW60 in 1080p/23.98. The Pioneer 95FD gets along with all of my other components which I do not take for granted these days.

And yes I am making reference to the XA2 and A35 which are stubborn when it comes to sending 1080p/24 to some displays. In direct comparison to the 94HD the 95FD is obviously a more flexible unit with a little quicker load times. Being able to pass HBR audio directly to the receiver for decoding is a really cool feature. Especially if you purchased one of the newer ones that can decode it. The picture Q is very close. I keep going back and forth. Going straight to my pj it does look like the 95FD is just a little more sharper but their brilliant colors are nearly identical. I will say the home media gallery looks more refined on the 95FD. I have never really got into that feature before but now I am intrigued so I may just jump in!

Bottom line is if you have the 94HD and do not care about the bitstream audio feature then there is absolutely no reason to dump it for the 95FD. However, if you do not and are interested in getting the best Blu ray unit in terms of features and pic/sound Q then look no further than the 95FD! I hate to keep picking the new Pioneer units as my favorite Blu ray unit but honestly the other companies are still two steps behind. The 95FD is the starter in my set up. More to come (SD DVD versus the A35 and XA2 and even 1400) as well as a few more thoughts on audio...BTW, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (BR) is looking and sounding awesome on this unit! Pick up a copy!

Well, I am pleasantly surprised to post that the 95FD has excellent upconversion. Much better than the 94HD and HD1. I even put it through the HQV Blu ray benchmark tests and it handled them very good. Especially my favorite stadium torture test! And as tradition lately it even made my adult videos look great! It is right on par with the A35 and XA2. I will work harder tomorrow and do real side by side comparisons (1400 included) but my first initial impressions are very good to excellent... More to come..

Great report Joe. Thanks. Looks like a winner. I too LOVE the "classic" look and finish of "Elite" equipment. This is definitely the machine I will purchase when my Onkyo 885 Pre/pro arrives.

Have you compared a 5.1 PCM track coming out of the PS3 vs. 95? I know there should not be a noticeable difference, but if you would not mind doing a comparison I would be curious to know for sure.

It is not surprising that DTS-MA sounds better from the 95 as we are getting the full signal vs. only the 1.5 core of the PS3. Can't wait to hear this!
The DTS-HD hi res is from the King Of New York's DTS HD soundtrack (I am reviewing) and the DTS-HD MASTER is from the Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer soundtrack which states it is DTS-HD MASTER...

As I posted earlier in this thread the 1400 is very close but the 95FD produces a sharper image. I also prefer it for SD DVD upconversion. I also prefer all the other cool features like the resolution button on the remote. It is much nicer being able to change resolutions on the fly then having to hit stop and go into a set up menu. Especially when you are trying to compare them! I have spent awhile this afternoon playing different blu ray discs but tomorrow I will do my comparisons between the XA2 for SD DVD upconversion. I predict the 95FD will be on par with the XA2. We need to find out which chip it is using because it is by far much better than the 94HD and HD1... More to come tomorrow...

If the 95 can match the XA2 on SD upscaling this is a tremendous plus. The XA2 makes new DVDs almost look like HD and the only players so far that can do the same job are the very Hi-end Denon's or players costing 5 times more. The Samsung 1200 has the same Reon chip and should also be great but lacks the new audio features. Depending on your tests I will be a new 95 owner soon.

I have the bdp-95fd and the pdp-6010fd display. Extremely happy with it. Firmware support has been excellent. I am using it with a TacT 2.2x digital preamp, TacT digital Boz amp, Escalante Pinyons and a pair of Escalante subs. My connection is through the coax digital output. I have had an signature upgraded Denon 3930 in my system using the same set-up and I must say the sound quality and bass impact blows me away on the bpd-95fd In stock form, the Pioneer bpd-95fd is an excellent performer in terms of audio and video.

Given my system can only process two channel audio through the digital output, am I getting the two channel version decoded Dolby Digital Plus?
Me too, I have the 95 and a 94 receiver and it is quite impressive in the sound department. It is a definite benefit to have the ma tracks. If you have good equipment.

High resolution picture and sound performance come together in the new Pioneer® Elite® BDP-95FD Blu-ray Disc® player introduced at the CEDIA Expo today. Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. is showcasing its highly anticipated player, the industry's first to offer bitstream output of all advanced audio formats including: Dolby® TrueHD, Dolby® Digital+, DTS-HD™ High Resolution and DTS-HD™ Master Audio.

The BDP-95FD ensures a near cinematic experience with its ability to handle 1080p 24 frames per second (fps) reproduction rate preserving a feature film's original sequence. Taking advantage of HDMI® 1.3 connectivity, the new player provides smooth, pristine imagery and dynamic 7.1 surround sound to deliver the full emotional impact of Blu-ray Disc feature films as the director intended.

The Pioneer Elite Blu-ray Disc player leads the industry with sophisticated home theater offerings including HDMI Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) to ensure seamless integration with other high definition theater components. In addition, movies, music and photos can be easily streamed from a home PC to connected 1080p television via the player's enhanced home networking functionality for unrivaled entertainment.

"Our newest Elite BDP-95FD player is like having a movie theater projector delivering best-in-class picture and sound at home. Its high performance is a testament to our optical disc heritage and commitment to delivering the ultimate home theater by introducing lossless high resolution audio that entertainment junkies will truly appreciate," said Chris Walker, senior manager of marketing and product planning at Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. "When combined with a KURO television and Elite A/V receiver, the BDP-95FD immerses home audiences in a seeing and hearing experience like never before."

Next Generation High Definition Performance

Leading high definition home theater, the BDP-95FD delivers unprecedented picture and sound as a result of HDMI 1.3 capability. The new generation HDMI version is designed for smoother connectivity to emerging 1080p flat panel televisions and other high resolution devices. With increased bandwidth capacity, the Pioneer Elite Blu-ray Disc player can transfer larger amounts of uncompressed high definition video and audio resolutions as well as standard DVD that will immerse viewers in an unforgettable viewing experience.

Stunning colors and enhanced picture reproduction are complimented by the player's additional support of lossless digital audio formats Dolby® TrueHD, Dolby® Digital+, DTS-HD™ High Resolution Audio and DTS-HD™ Master Audio. As a result of HDMI 1.3, the BDP-95FD brings the highest quality sound performance of Blu-ray Disc film titles to the living room giving audiophiles up to 7-channels of pristine audio that defines ultimate home theater.

High Definition Integration Made Simple

Streamlining the integration of multiple home theater components, the BDP-95FD offers HDMI-CEC technology. This new convenience feature synchronizes the Blu-ray Disc player with other CEC-enabled products and controls an entire setup with a single remote. With an easy to navigate graphical user interface, HDMI-CEC requires minimal user effort while ensuring premium performance and maximum entertainment.

Cinematic Picture At Home

Mastered at 1080p 24fps, Blu-ray Disc movie titles preserve a feature film's original sequence to faithfully deliver stellar image quality. Pioneer engineers designed the Elite BDP-95FD Blu-ray Disc to handle and output high performance 1080p 24fps signal for natural, pristine film reproduction as the director intended.

Home Media Gallery

Digital media fans can playback their favorite downloaded video and music files as well as personal photos straight from a home PC hard drive to their high definition television through Pioneer's exclusive Home Media Gallery.

This home networking feature provides users a rich, high definition graphical interface with fast navigation to search, select and play desired content. Home Media Gallery offers IP networking for quick access and downloading of new digital media files straight from the computer for immediate viewing through the BDP-95FD on a connected flat screen television. The Pioneer Elite Blu-ray Disc player is compliant with Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) sources, as well as Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, and Media Center editions, as well as 3rd party DLNA server software available for both Mac and Linux based computers.

Some Blu-ray players have Dolby TrueHD, some even have Dolby Digital+, DTS-HD High Resolution or DTS-HD Master Audio, but Pioneer's BDP-95FD is the first to pack all four - guess that's why they call it the Elite.

Pair it up with one of the latest high-end A/V receivers and you'll be able to hear a pin dropped in the background as Bruce Willis takes out a helicopter with a flying cop car (again) in Die Hard 4.0.

As well as its audio treats it ticks the usual high-end 24p, HDMI 1.3 and HDMI-CEC boxes - the latter for taking control of all your HDMI equipped gear from one über remote.

Natch, it's also compliant with Digital Living Network Alliance (or DLNA for short) for accessing content on other compatible kit and it'll stream content stashed away on your PC using Pioneer's Home Media Gallery system.

General

Product Type

Blu-Ray disc player

Form Factor
Tabletop

Width
16.5 in

Depth
13.9 in

Height
4.1 in

Weight
14.6 lbs

Sound Output Mode

Surround Sound

Analog Video Signal

S-Video, Component video, Composite video

DVD

Media Type

CD, DVD, BD-R, BD-RE, DVD-R, BD-ROM, DVD-RW

Built-in Audio Decoders

Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD decoder

Media Load Type

Tray
DVD Repeat Modes

All, Title, Random, Chapter

Supported Digital Video Standards

WMV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2

Supported Digital Audio Standards

MP3, PCM, WAV, WMA

Output Resolution

1080p

Audio System

Digital Audio Format

DTS digital output, Dolby Digital output

Response Bandwidth
4 - 22000 Hz

Dynamic Range
108 dB

Signal-To-Noise Ratio
115 dB

Total Harmonic Distortion
0.0015 %

Additional Features

Gold plated connectors

DVD Features

Picture Zoom
Yes

Picture Zoom Power
2x, 4x

MP3 Compatible
Yes

Additional Features

Parental lock, DLNA compatible, On-screen display, JPEG photo playback

Remote Control

Type

Remote control

Technology

Infrared

Connections

Connector Type

1 x HDMI output ( 19 pin HDMI Type A ), 1 x Ethernet ( RJ-45 ), 1 x Component video output ( RCA phono x 3 ), 1 x Composite video output ( RCA phono ), 1 x S-Video output ( 4 pin mini-DIN ), 1 x 5.1 channel audio line-out ( RCA phono x 6 ), 1 x Audio line-out ( RCA phono x 2 ), 1 x Digital audio output (coaxial) ( RCA phono ), 1 x Digital audio output (optical) ( TOSLINK ), 2 x Remote control ( Mini-phone 3.5 mm )

Miscellaneous

Cables Included

1 x Audio cable, 1, 1 x Video cable

Power

Power Consumption Operational

35 Watt

Power Consumption Standby / Sleep

0.5 Watt

Power Device

Power supply

Type

Power supply

Power

AC 120 V

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Why Your TV Will Die On February 17, 2009 (And What You Should Do About It!)

2010-02-21T04:34:00.001-08:00

It’s coming!

It’s coming on February 17, 2009! It’s about to cut off the signal to your TV, and most likely you’re not prepared for it!

It’s almost as big a shift in home entertainment as happened sixty years ago when television replaced radio in America’s living rooms!

It’s DTV! Digital Television is going to change the way you watch television, and how you interact with your TV set. You’re finally going to get movie theater quality picture and sound at home!

• Digital TV is also going to reach into your pocketbook! All U.S. broadcast stations will stop sending analog TV signals, the kind your regular TV reads, on February 17, 2009. Without a new converter box, your TV will not work!

• Many stations are broadcasting a digital DTV signal right now along side their analog signal, but after 2009 they’ll only transmit in DTV.

• This digital signal can only be properly viewed on a new Plasma, DLP or LCD TV. If you don’t own one, you’ll need a converter box to watch digital signals “dumbed down” to show on your analog TV. In addition to the new Big Screen TV, you'll also need a Dolby Surround Sound amplifier and speakers to get the DTV Dolby sound.

• All new TVs sold must have a digital tuner built-in as of March 1, 2007. Your old analog TV will need a set top converter box to receive television broadcasts after February 2009.

• Your cable provider may be able to send you digital cable or digital satellite signals right now, but that doesn’t mean that you can see High Definition programs on your television. If you have an old style picture tube television, a converter in your cable box can take the digital signal and “dumb it down” to analog so that you can see it. You’re still not seeing the super sharp DTV picture, or hearing the crystal clear digital sound.

• Digital Pictures will be free from the flicker, ghosts and snow seen on analog transmissions. More than twice as sharp as Standard TV, DTV signals allow crystal clear images with higher resolution and picture quality than is possible with old style TV.

• DTV will provide programming in wide screen "movie format”. The digital picture is so sharp you’ll be able to read the small text from your computer hooked up to the TV screen.

• DTV allows multicasting: broadcasters can provide a super sharp High Definition (HDTV) program or several Standard Definition programs at the same time. Sending several program streams on one channel is called “multicasting”. The number of programs a station can send on one digital channel depends on the sharpness (resolution) of each program. DTV can provide interactive video and data services that are not possible with the old analog technology.

• DTV features Dolby Surround Sound to give you that full movie theater sound in your home instead of the old, tinny TV sound you grew up with. With a Surround Sound tuner and speakers installed, you’ll get roaring, sparkling sound assaulting your family from all directions: front, sides and rear!

• If you don’t have cable or satellite TV, you’ll need a Plasma or LCD TV with a DTV tuner, or a digital-to-analog converter box to see digital signals on your analog TV. Converter boxes will be available in retail stores during the transition.

• The National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce will issue two $40.00 coupons per household that can be applied toward the purchase of digital-to-analog converter boxes. Coupons will be issued starting January 1, 2008.

• An Integrated DTV set is a digital TV with a built-in digital decoder or DTV receiver. If you have an Integrated DTV and live in an area with a DTV broadcast station, you won’t need anything else. You may need an antenna (an outdoor antenna is best) to receive over-the-air DTV broadcast programming. Integrated TVs can receive and display current analog signals.

Television is about to leap out of the Stone Age into the future! Make sure you’re ready for it!

It’s as easy as 123!

About The Author

Ike Ridley is an avid videophile and self-confessed “Movie Nut” who created the 123 Guide To Plasma TV. To visit us, just paste this URL into your web browser:

http://www.123-guide-to-plasma-tv.com

Ike has moved to the Caribbean where he clicks away on his laptop under a palm tree.

Be sure to click here for more information on the Digital Revolution in the 123 Guide To Plasma TV!

This is a 100% free article. You may distribute it freely, give away a copy from your own web site or bundle it as a free bonus with other products. You may distribute this article if it’s intact, with the copyright notice and author information intact.

The article contains no affiliate links. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

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Best Projection TV

2010-02-19T03:45:00.001-08:00

With its realistic colors and deeper blacks than most, making for a better home-theater experience. The diagonal screen size measurements of as little as 37 inches (and just 44 pounds.

If you are looking for a cost effective big screen TV then a projection TV is most definitely worth considering, and since you were also looking for best 50 you have come to the right place. It is very easy to install as they tend to be quite light in weight, you simply position it where you want it plug it in and turn it on.

Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below. Projection TVs perform the best if you are sat directly in front of them. The systems come in screen sizes ranging from typical 42" up to a maximum of just over 70".

Reviews say that although the Sony A2020 series of projection TVs are more expensive than others, they have the best picture quality with no chance of rainbows (which are sometimes an issue with DLP projection TVs). They say this particular Mitsubishi will likely need some color adjustments out of the box, but it's capable of displaying cinematic black levels and terrific detail.

Samsung has replaced this arrangement with an LED light source that produces brilliant light with less energy usage, a longer life, and produces better color reproduction by truly mixing red green and blue sources. Samsung's Cinema Smooth light engine brings together the right optics, electronic circuitry and replaceable light source to create a brilliant picture that’s more lifelike and much closer to film.

Best projection TV systems come in screen sizes ranging from typical 42" up to a maximum of just over 70". Lens assemblies from other manufacturers will certainly be different in detail, but the general sequence outlined above will still apply. Samsung’s Cinema Mode lets you see colors the way the director intended, by matching them more closely to production standards.

They can provide a much bigger picture than CRT sets can, and front - and rear-projection models can suit a range of rooms and budgets.So next time when you are planning to buy another appliance,just consider to buy best projection TV system.

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A Look at the Samsung Brand Of HDTVs

2010-02-16T23:45:00.001-08:00

Samsung has earned a good name for itself in the field of home appliance electronics manufacturing. Their line of HDTV sets is a feather in their cap. There all sorts of models launched by the giant – Plasma, LCD and DLP. Although the initial prices are high in accordance with the market trend, it is expected to dip soon.

The new range of models emphasize larger screens and higher resolutions like a 42" monitor, 10000:1 contrast ratio and a 549 billion colors display. The soaring contrast ratio of the latest models might portray an interesting statistical picture, but the consumer needs to understand that the human eye has a limit of perceiving images and its visual system cannot discern the offered resolutions. Basically, the higher the contrast ratio, the better the display is, but anything beyond the eye’s range doesn’t really make much sense.

Samsung offers a number of models to choose from. The basic difference in all the models are their types, size, price and add-on features like input/output slots and ports, PC card slots or SD slots, more speakers, hidden speakers etc. The most popular ones among buyers are models ranging from 42" to 63" with customized mini details like in-built cards (which discard the need of external cable box) and hi-fi speaker systems. The presence of the HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) and component ports is a must for every HDTV set. It is to ensure a good picture quality from the DVD player.

Some of the best-seller HDTVs in the market are the LCD line, which is a good option lower cost in lieu of a 'smaller' screen. The LCD comes in a range of 32" to 46". The 46" LN-S4692D model is a flat-panel display on a swivel stand, which provides a 178 degrees view angle. Its contrast ratio is a decent 5000:1. The smaller 40" LN-S4051D version is usually used by gamers using an Xbox. A contrast ratio of 4000:1 and 8 ms response times in the set is ideal for both gaming and TV use owing to its undetectable motion blur.

The DLP style TV models of Samsung come in a variety of small sizes -50" HL-S5065 and the larger- 71" HL-R7178W models offering excellent picture quality. The largest of all – the 71" HL-7178 contains a digital cable-ready card and 1080p video support scoring over the competitor, Panasonic. Even the smaller versions like the 56" HL-S5688W are designed to provide excellent quality 1080p pictures and come equipped with a 14,400 rpm color wheel which minimizes the 'rainbow' effects.

The specifications indicate the letters - 'i' and ‘p’. The ‘I’ model uses the interlacing illumination technique in which the pixel rows brighten every other line, painting the complete screen in two passes. The 'p' type illuminates in a single pass across the screen. The 'p' types are known to offer a superior picture, but interlaced models are not inferior. Although some older ‘i’ models suffered from some flicker with interlacing, this is being rectified now.

Many less expensive HDTVs come without an in-built HD tuner or HD-ready types. This deficiency is overcome by tuners provided by the cable or satellite boxes without a performance loss. HD-ready are generally less expensive, all other things being equal.

The cost price of an HDTV is defined by the screen size and resolution and some extra add-ons. A careful cost and functions comparison must be made before going in for any TV set.

To find out more about HDTV sets and hdtv home theater systems visit http://www.hdtv-info-guide.com

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Buying an HDTV - The 5 Basic Steps

2010-02-15T02:00:00.001-08:00

Shopping for a new HDTV set can be confusing and intimidating, but if you break the process down into smaller parts, it will start to make sense. The main factors to consider are:

Budget Range
Screen Size
Style (Plasma, LCD, etc.)
Special Uses
Options

Budget Range

First things first. HDTV costs are most closely linked to screen size, but also to display type, picture quality, and brand name. You'll have to read the reviews of individual sets to get all the details, but here is a general idea of what you will get in each price range:

Under $500: 20 inch and smaller LCD, HD-Ready (without tuner) HDTVs. 15 inch integrated tuner HDTVs. You might find some up to 27 inches in certain brands, like ViewSonic and Olevia.

$500 to $1000: 32 inch and smaller LCD, integrated tuner HDTVs, 50 inch and smaller DLP HDTVs.

$1000 to $2000: 46 inch and smaller LCD, 50 inch and smaller Plasma, and 65 inch and smaller DLP HDTVs.

$2000 to $4000: 52 inch and smaller LCD, 60 inch and smaller Plasma, and 75 inch and smaller DLP HDTVs.

Another thing to consider is the substantial discounts you can find on last year's models. HDTV technology is updating all the time, just like computer technology. If you can deal with not having the very latest technology, you can find some amazing deals- 40 percent off, or more, on sets only 18 months old.

Screen Size

Getting the right size HDTV for your viewing space is important. In the old days, the right size TV was the biggest one you could afford, but today many people can afford a TV that is so big it dominates the viewing room, and they are forced to sit so close that imperfections in the screen, or individual pixels, are visible.

Another problem with sitting too close to a widescreen HDTV is that your eyes will be shooting back and forth across the screen, as if you were watching a tennis game from center court. These quick eye movements can make you dizzy and give you a headache.

First, look at the area where you'll be watching TV, and measure the distance from the TV screen to the center of your couch, bean bag, log, or whatever you will sit on. This distance should be 2 to 4 times the diagonal measurement of the screen. So, a 24 inch set would be good for viewing from 4-8 feet, a 50 inch set would be good for a range of 8 to 16 feet, and a 60 inch set would work well from 10 to 20 feet away.

Display Style

The most popular types of flat screen HDTV these days are LCD, plasma and DLP. Cathode-Ray TVs are still around, and they usually have a great picture, but the larger CRTs are extremely heavy and bulky. They are slowly losing out to the flatter-profile technology.

LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display, and is the same type of screen used in most new computer monitors (you are likely looking at an LCD right now), cell phones, and many other devices. LCDs work the best when you want a medium or small set, need a lighter-weight set, or watch TV in a well-lit room.

Plasma sets have a glass screen (as opposed to LCD's plastic) with an ionized gas sandwiched behind it that creates a picture when it is excited by electric charges. Plasmas have a slight edge over LCD in picture quality, especially when viewed from an angle, but may have more screen glare in bright light.

DLP stands for Digital Light Processing. These sets use tiny oscillating mirrors behind the screen to create a picture. DLP sets are technically rear-projection TVs, but are usually quite flat. They are cheaper than LCD and Plasma in the large sizes but are often a little too heavy and thick to hang on a wall.

Special Uses

What do you plan to do with your HDTV? Are you a gamer, a sports fan, or a movie buff? Different types of sets are ideal for slightly different things.

DLP TVs often have very bright displays, but can lose detail in very dark scenes. This makes them great for watching sports, news, and outdoor scenes, but not as good for movies with lots of dark images. Plasma TVs have a great picture, and still look great when viewed from a wide angle- no darkening or color shift. However, a room with lots of windows may create glare problems on the Plasma's glass screen. LCD TVs are much brighter in bright light, so they are well suited for daytime viewing in lighted rooms. In a brightly lit room, an LCD TV can actually look better than a good plasma TV. And LCDs have better, sharper resolution in the mid sizes, so they are ideal to use as an extra monitor for your computer.

Options

All HDTVs come with a slightly different package of features. A tuner is necessary to receive over-the-air broadcasts. Since they add expense, and many people only use their HDTVs for watching cable, satellite, DVD, video game or computer input, they are not always included. Look for an integrated ATSC tuner, or buy an external tuner to get over-the-air broadcasts.

Good speakers are nice to have incorporated into the HDTV. But, if sound quality is really important to you, you'll be better off with high quality external speakers.

Connections are important. You'll want at least 2 HDMI inputs to hook up to a cable box, DVR, or DVD player. Other types of connections, like component and S-Video cable inputs, are handy in case you want to use external components that use these cables. And if you intend to use your HDTV with your digital camera, you will need a USB or memory card input.

Getting Help

Using an online HDTV buyer's guide can help, too. Find one that balances sufficient attention to detail with a big-picture view.

About the Author

Tom Webster writes for FlatHDTV.net, an online guide to the HDTV revolution.

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Make Space On Your Video and Media Shelf

2010-02-13T04:45:00.001-08:00

Oh yeah, home improvements and the honey do list. She is always complaining about this and that right guys? This week it's our shelf that holds our media; VHS, 8mm home movies, our high8 camera tapes, DVDs and the like. She said, "It's cluttered and looks ugly." Turns out she is right gentlemen. I broke out the measuring tape and it turns out one VHS in a cardboard sleeve is exactly one inch wide by nine inches tall. That's a lot of space for one old graduation, wedding video or vacation tape that we rarely watch right? Hey I was in high school in the eighties and we didn't have DVDs so am I really to blame? If we were to convert one VHS tape to DVD we could get five jewel cases with DVDs into the space of one VHS. Better still we wouldn't have to endure the fast-forwarding to our "special part" of the tape, as we could now skip to the chapter that we are looking for. So this Christmas I was asked to dumb down, or re-size the video shelf near our television. I did some research and I made a change.

When I was 26 years old my father died, and for whatever reason my mother deemed me the protector of the family films. I took the footage to my local mall and found a company that would transfer all the footage to DVD for $300.00 and my jaw has yet to lift off the floor. I realize the importance of saving these images for my children and my grand or great grandchildren but $300.00? Come on. So I did my due diligence and found a company that can take care of both problems and solve all my Christmas gift problems as well. Some companies do all of this and so much more for half the price, and I was sold. You probably have the software on your computer to do some of this but it requires time and energy on your part and some pretty fancy equipment as well. Plus they just do it better.

Trust me let someone else do it and be the hero. You can solve all of your gift problems in one click, everyone gets a DVD of the family patriarchs and matriarchs and it looks like a well thought out gift. I am now out in the shop building the new cabinet to house the new dimensions of the DVDs and staining it light oak to match the other furniture around the television, plotting how many DVD spaces there are to hold the converted videos and pictures to DVD. I will say this is one of those gifts that pleases me as much as her. I admit I am almost, or a little OCD and cannot stand clutter in the house, so this is a gift for both of us. I researched some companies in my state, as I like to buy and shop locally and found one that I called and spoke directly to. I sent off VHS, VSC, High8 and three photo albums worth of stills and received nine DVDs in custom cases with chapters to send out as gifts for all of my Christmas list recipients.

I feel good about this gift too, my nieces and nephews should know more about there deceased grandparents and great grandparents, and since they are gone now this is cool for the kids too see them and watch them as young and old people that really existed. All I am saying is make her happy, get rid of some clutter, move into the digital age and get your gifts out of the way, all for the cost of a couple oil changes. If nothing else preserve your memories in your fire proof safe in case of something unforeseen happening to your photos and films. One frozen pipe or water leak can destroy all of your precious memories in an instant. Talk about the little lady getting on you! Protect and share your heritage today, if you don't who else will?

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Viewing Distance on LCD TVs - Seeing Clearly on a LCD TV

2010-02-11T06:45:00.001-08:00

If you have ever tried to watch an LCD television, or if you have tried to look at an LCD computer monitor, you may notice that the picture does not have the same quality from every viewing angle. An LCD television is not quite the same as a picture tube television and there are some rules you need to follow in order to get the maximum viewing enjoyment from your LCD television.

One of the terms you should become familiar with when it comes to determining the distance you should sit from your LCD television is aspect ratio. Aspect ratio is basically the size of the image on the screen and how the television creates the image. The standard picture tube televisions use an aspect ration of 4:3 and for years this was more than sufficient for everyone. The higher your aspect ratio the better quality your picture. HD televisions like LCD televisions use a higher aspect ratio to get a better picture. Typically the aspect ratio for an LCD television is 16:9. This means that the picture is clearer even when you are sitting closer to the screen. This becomes important to understand later in this discussion.

First and foremost on getting the best viewing experience out of your LCD television is where your eyes should be in relation to the screen. With a picture tube you can look at the screen from almost any angle and still see the picture. But with an LCD television you need to have your eyes even with the middle of the screen in order to view the picture on the screen properly. Go ahead and try looking at your LCD television from different angles and you will see the difference. The ideal location for your eyes is right in the middle of the screen.

What about the distance you should be seated from the screen in order to see the picture clearly? This is where the understanding of aspect ration becomes important. Because LCD televisions have a higher aspect ratio their picture is much clearer even when you are sitting close to the screen. Many people use the rule of two arm's lengths to determine how far they should sit from their LCD television. What that means is you place yourself two arm's lengths from the center of the screen. Of course if you have a larger screen then you may want to move yourself back a bit further just to make sure you are able to see the entire screen. But the wonderful thing about LCD televisions is that you can sit as close as you want and you will still be able to see the picture clearly. That is the advantage of LCD televisions using high definition.

Are you about buying a new LCD? Have a look at the Top LCD TVs. Compare and review the best LCD TV brands in the market.

A Brief Guide To Home Cinema

2010-02-09T07:00:00.001-08:00

With the increasing benefits offered by television, sound, and home cinema products sold to consumers, public cinemas are likely to suffer from less interest from consumers wanting to watch feature films on the big screen. The convenience, comfort, and control obtained by watching movies in home make it much more likely that consumers are going to take their desire for the cinema experience to the comforts of their own homes. The only advantage that big cinemas will have is access to first run movies.

Television technology grows by leaps and bounds every year. In fact, many technology industry experts suggest the product life cycle of a typical technology product or component is less than six months. There are many tech companies driving the industry forward, which is a huge advantage for consumers. High definition televisions have revolutionized picture quality. Samsung just announced a new 82 inch HC LCD television.

Plasma and LCD televisions continue to evolve into mini cinema screens. Larger screens are possible because technology is being built into flatter, less weight set top boxes. The clarity of the picture is not only comparable, but more often better than what can be found in the public cinema.

Super sound or surround sound capabilities used to clarify and bring to life the sound effects of films, are also developing at an unbelievable rate. Consumers cannot only find remarkably clear and highly impacting sound from speakers today, but they can find them in extremely small packages. Early in the development of home cinema sound, speakers that offered by best sound effects were large and cumbersome. Now, the sleeker, smaller design of powerful sound components makes it much easier to build high quality sound into a complete home cinema.

It is not just the televisions and the speakers that have enhanced the quality of the home cinema experience. DVD and movie player technology grows, which enables a better performance from the movie itself. High resolution and high definition technology is built into players as well. Audio visual accessories evolve also. Digital receivers and satellite television have improved picture signals for externally sourced entertainment.

Televisions are not the only option for building a home cinema either. High performing DLP projectors and other project technology have created a more genuine cinema quality for ambitious home cinema designers. People can set up their own projection screens and use projection equipment to create a true home cinema experience.

Simone is a home cinema enthusiast and writes on related topics including plasma TVs at her site, Audio Visual Info.

Buying A New Television - Educate Yourself First And Prepare For February 17th

2010-02-07T09:00:00.001-08:00

Are you familiar with HDTV basics? Are HDTV and DTV the same thing? What do I need to know before purchasing a new TV?

Are you thinking about buying a new TV right now, or at some time in the near future.

Is your Television Ready for the Transition from Analog to DTV on February 17th, 2009?

THIS DATE is much closer than you realize.

A better understanding of the transition to Digital TV, and knowing these HDTV basics, will help you to be ready when it's time to consider a new television.

Buying a new television today can be overwhelming and involves more than just visiting your local television or electronics store. Shopping for a Digital TV or an HDTV can be confusing with all the abbreviations, terms, resolution, dpi, formats and the options that you can get on televisions today. And you thought that purchasing a new car was bad.

So What Do Consumer's Need to Know

There are so many decisions confronting today's unprepared consumer, just trying to navigate through this complex maze can be a daunting experience. However, many of these frustrations can be avoided by doing some homework before hand.

Things To Know Before You Go

What is Digital TV ... and is Not. What is the Digital TV Transition... and how it will affects you. How is HDTV different from all other television formats ... and How. Understand what you want and need, so you're not Sold something YOU don't want or need!

So Where Do You Start? Familiarize yourself with the different Terms and Classifications

TV Classifications:

NTSC Analog TV- (National Television Systems Committee), Traditional TV; now being phased out on February 17th.

ATSC Digital TV - (Advanced Television Systems Committee), DTV;
This is "SDTV" - Standard Definition TV - the new, (digital) TV Standard;
replaces NTSC Analog TV.

Integrated HDTV - or simply, HDTV; DTV with an Internal (built-in) High Definition TV Receiver.
This is able to Receive and Display all ATSC TV Signals - Including HDTV Signals.

Digital-HDTV - 'Capable' or 'Ready'- Digital TV that is able to DISPLAY HDTV - BUT ONLY with the addition of an EXTERNAL HDTV Receiver.

EDTV - Enhanced Digital TV - a classification* describing Digital TV's that are basically 'high-end' SDTV's. While these often include some type of technical features, added by the Manufacturer to enhance the picture, nevertheless, the picture quality does NOT equal HDTV. Technically, there is virtually no visual difference between an SDTV and an EDTV - with the possible exception of the higher price.
* For many Consumers, this classification is of questionable value; by paying more for a TV tagged "EDTV" the consumer is only getting what can best be described as an 'upgraded' SDTV. The question is, how 'up-graded' is it, if the TV simply meets the standard for SDTV?

Different TV Display Technologies:

CRT - (Cathode Ray Tube):Traditional TV Technology - The established standard for television displays; best overall value - picture quality and cost; major drawback is bulk and mass as size increases. Plasma Display - Ultra-thin design, High Contrast Ratings, 'Fixed Pixel' Display: Size up to 60+ inches; some display limitations - costly, high burn-in risk; picture quality affected by inability to display black-color; displays are extremely heavy and fragile; picture quality lost as pixels fade; many Plasma Displays do not display HDTV resolutions. Development continues.

LCD - Liquid Crystal Display: Thin design, size limitations; good computer monitor; sharp picture for static displays; problems displaying images in motion; many LCD Displays are not HDTV capable. Development continues.

LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) - Improved LCD Technology, may hold promise for future HDTV display; costly; manufacturing problems continue; development ongoing.

DLP (Digital Light Processor) - Uses Chip and Software Technology - exciting, alternative display technology; excellent HDTV display; eliminates most short comings of other technologies; moderate cost; some viewers question "softer" picture, and use of "color-wheel;" promising future - development continues.

TV Display Configuration:

Aspect Ratio
The width to height ratio of a TV Monitor or Program.

Aspect Ratio can apply to either the television monitor (hardware), or to the TV program format.

Traditional - (4:3) aspect ratio; the display has 'square' appearance. All Analog TV programs are in 4:3 aspect ratio.

New 'Wide Screen' (16:9) aspect ratio; the display is rectangular.

Digital TV (SDTV) programs can be in either 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio.
HDTV is always in 16:9 aspect ratio.

As you can see, consumers have a number of decisions to make, long before making their final buying decision. Understanding the basics of HDTV requires us to become familiar with an array of strange-new 'tech-speak' terms.

Examples:

Aspect Ratio - width to height (4:3) or (16:9); refers to the TV Display and to TV Programs.

Picture Resolution - 720-p; 1080-i; 480-i/p; - and recently added, 1080-p.

Progressive Scan - display method ("p" in 720-p)

Interlaced Scan - display method ("i" in 1080-i)

D/A - A/D - digital to analog and analog to digital converter

STB - Set-top Box (aka: Receiver, Tuner, Decoder or Descrambler)

OTA - 'over-the-air' or 'off-the-air' - refers to Local TV Broadcasts

These are just a few of the new terms you will encounter.

The Digital TV Enigma

As consumers begin their quest for information about the Digital and HDTV, they soon notice what seems to be an "Information-Void." Trying to get Useful, and Reliable information about what is needed to buy a digital television set can seem difficult.

Try asking questions regarding basic HDTV; for example: Does the Transition from Analog TV to Digital TV mean that everyone is forced to buy an HDTV? or, What is the difference between SDTV and HDTV; or What is needed to have High Definition TV reception in your home? Now compare the different answers you get or the lack of knowledge on the sales persons part.

Note: The seller must disclose or have posted information regarding the lack of digital capabilities of any television for sale to you the consumer. This is a government mandate.

In stark contrast, at the opposite extreme, is the continuous flow of 'misinformation' and 'disinformation.' This flood of unreliable information has inundated the general public. The path to useful and reliable information is littered with inaccuracies, fallacies and myths. And this is further aggravated by misleading advertising and marketing ploys.

As an example, here's a question asked repeatedly by perplexed consumers concerning the transition from Analog TV to Digital TV:
"Can you tell me if it's true, that "normal" TV is going to be stopped and everyone will be forced to buy an HDTV? I don't believe they can do this ... But if it's true, when will it happen?"

Okay, that's really two questions...

The answer to the first, is of course - NO, it's not true. At least not in the way the question is posed. While it is true that "normal TV" (meaning traditional NTSC-Analog TV) will end, replaced by ATSC-Digital TV, you will NOT have to buy an HDTV!

IMPORTANT NOTE: The FCC's mandatory transition from Analog TV to Digital TV does NOT refer to, nor mean 'High Definition Television!'

Note: If you choose to keep your analog television you can purchase a converter box that will make viewing your television possible. There are coupons to help with this purchase on the website listed below and it is free to print.

This highlights one of the primary sources of so much of the public's confusion concerning Digital TV and HDTV. These are two discrete terms, yet they are frequently used incorrectly - as if they were interchangeable words with the same meaning. They are NOT the same; they designate two distinctly different classifications of television.|

High Definition Television is 'digital'; however, HDTV is just one (1) of eighteen(18) 'Digital TV Formats' designated in the ATSC Standard.

It is important for consumers to understand that 'Digital TV' does NOT mean HDTV.
Digital television's "Standard Definition TV" - SDTV - is NOT equal to HDTV - High Definition Television.

So, it's up to each consumer to inform her/him-self on the basics of Digital-HDTV.
But - Be careful!
Don't take anything for granted; don't accept statements at face value.
Verify everything you hear or read about Digital-HDTV, comparing it with different sources.

The Digital Difference

Digital TV signals are made up of coded instructions - (the same 'bits' of 'ones and zeros' that make your computer work, and give life to 'CD's' and 'DVD's') - which are transmitted to your Digital Receiver, (aka: Tuner, Decoder or Set-Top-Box "STB") which in turn deciphers the code.

A Digital TV receiver isn't concerned with signal strength, or what conditions exist between your set and the transmitter. As long as the signal gets to the receiver, and the code can be read, the Digital TV is able to reproduce a near-perfect picture - virtually identical to the original, back in the TV Studio.

A distinct advantage of digital broadcasting is that bad reception is a thing of the past. One reason Cable TV caught on is because it delivers clear TV pictures without regard to the viewer's location. Viewers don't have to be constantly adjusting the antenna in an attempt to "tune-in" a weak signal from a distant transmitter to get a clear picture. Digital TV (DTV) eliminates the "snow" and "ghosting" caused by the weak signals from distant or blocked transmitting towers. If the analog television set does not receive a strong, undistorted signal from the tower, you will not get a perfectly clear picture.

Both digital and analog television signals weaken, the farther they travel away from the transmitting tower. On an analog TV, the picture slowly deteriorates from bad to worse as the distance between tower and receiver increases. However, the picture on a digital set will stay perfect until the signal becomes too weak for the receiver to distinguish between a (1) and a (0), at which point the image disappears completely.

This has been referred to as "the cliff effect" - the picture remains stable until it abruptly "drops off" the screen. This might be compared to sending Morse Code. As long as the person at the other end can make out the dots and dashes being transmitted they will be able to read the message. Once they lose the distinction between a dot and a dash they lose the message. Digital TV acts the same way; instead of sending dots and dashes, it sends millions of (1's) and (0's) every second.

As long as the TV Receiver can read the (1's and 0's) it displays a virtually perfect picture. The bottom line ... you either receive a 100% quality image, or nothing at all. What this means to the digital television viewer, is not having to worry about getting a "bad" picture. Either you have a picture or you don't. However, if you are receiving over-the-air, "OTA" (Over the Air) broadcasts, it is crucial for the antenna to be accurately directed towards the signal source - the transmitting tower of the station you are watching.

Adding an "H" to 'DTV' = W O W! While our objective is to become familiar with HDTV basics, so far we have focused mainly on Digital TV - DTV. What then is HDTV - High Definition Television? And what is the difference between DTV and HDTV?

DTV differs from NTSC-analog TV in the technology used to transmit the signal. And we looked at some of the reasons why Digital is better than analog. But when comparing Digital TV or "SDTV" (Standard Definition TV) to HDTV, the difference is as night and day! High Definition Television is digital television - BUT ... It's IMPORTANT to understand that Digital TV does NOT mean HDTV! HDTV is just ONE of (18) ATSC designated formats that comprise Digital TV. In High Definition Television, the picture displayed on your television screen begins as an HDTV signal captured by HDTV Cameras, (or converted from film or another format with HDTV Equipment). The HDTV Signal is transmitted to the HDTV Receiver and finally displayed on an HDTV-Capable TV Monitor. But it must also meet the ATSC Standards for High Definition Television in order for it to be "true" HDTV.
Note: It is more than likely you will confront mis-information stating that Digital TV in various configurations is 'high definition television.' This is NOT True! You may also be told that as long as the TV meets one or two criteria, or if it has been enhanced by the Manufacturer, using some proprietary engineering "magic," this makes it - "as good as" - HDTV. Again, NOT TRUE!

If what you want is HDTV, be sure the television you are considering, is really "True" High Definition Television. How Do you Know a TV is - HDTV? To answer this question a 'bit' of basic TV technology will be helpful.

It will be helpful in understanding some of the basic elements of HDTV by educating yourself. After all, this is a discussion about Digital-HDTV - possibly the most significant 'leap forward' in consumer-technology to impact our society in more than a century!

The image you see on your television screen is comprised of a series of horizontal lines. An electron gun 'shoots' energy beams (light) which strike a layer of phosphor on the inside surface of the picture tube, causing it to glow. These glowing lines create the image displayed on your TV screen. How they are formatted, which resolution is used, what standards are met, are some of the factors that determine the type of television picture you will receive.

TV Resolution.The quality of the picture displayed on the TV screen is primarily the result of the television's "resolution." Put simply, TV 'resolution' refers to how many horizontal lines are displayed on the TV screen.

Note - Although the horizontal lines are counted, (in this instance) this is referred to as the "Vertical resolution," because the lines are counted from top to bottom - or vertically. TV Resolution is sometimes expressed as the total 'pixel' count, which is a product of the number of lines and number of pixels per line

Why Is "Wide-Screen" TV The DTV Standard?

DTV sets are sold in two 'Aspect Ratios.' Aspect Ratio refers to the ratio between the horizontal (width) measurement and the vertical (height) measurement of the screen. This ratio is also used in reference to how the picture is transmitted and displayed on the screen. The two aspect ratios used in DTV are (4:3) and (16:9). That is, (4) units wide by (3) units high, and (16) units wide by (9) units high respectively. Your NTSC-analog television has an aspect ratio of (4:3); the screen appears almost 'square' because it has just slightly more width than height. For instance, a (4') wide screen would have a height of (3').

Go to the link below to find more information on the Analog to DTV Transition on February 17th, 2009 before your left in the dark.

This brief introduction to Digital TV and HDTV basics, provides an overview (intentionally simplified) of how DTV differs from traditional Analog TV, and how HDTV differs from Digital-SDTV; and a little about the Transition from Analog TV to Digital TV. This is just a start towards a better understanding of Digital TV. Now that you're familiar with some of the basics, you are better prepared to begin considering which Digital HDTV is right for you.

http://inform4you.googlepages.com

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Ceiling Fan Direction - Warm or Cool?

2010-02-05T11:45:00.001-08:00

Have you ever wondered which way your ceiling fan should rotate depending upon the season? You are not alone in this dilemma, as many people are not aware of the proper direction ceiling fan should rotate for the right job.

Most fans come with a ceiling fan direction of forward and reverse. When the ceiling fan direction is on forward, it will blow the air in a downward motion. When you stand beneath the fan, you will feel the breeze. When the ceiling fan direction is in reverse, it will blow the air upwards. If you stand beneath the fan, you will not feel any breeze.

The proper ceiling fan direction should be obvious. When you want to enjoy the cooling breezes, you will want your ceiling fan direction on the forward setting. This will circulate the cool air throughout the room to ensure your comfort. If you use your air conditioner in conjunction with a ceiling fan, you will enjoy the cool air without your air conditioner having to do all the work.

In the winter, with the ceiling fan direction on reverse, all the warm air that is trapped close to the ceiling will be sent down to the ground where you will need it most. This will ensure that no toes are affected by the cold. You can save lots of money on your heating bill when you reverse the ceiling fan direction in the winter. Think of the heat stuck up on the ceiling as money, and the ceiling fan direction in reverse can shower you and your family with plenty of dollar bills.

If you have a room with a staircase where the ceiling fan is located, you will want to do the opposite. For a ceiling fan direction in reverse in this case, you will want to send the cold air up and in the forward setting in winter to circulate the heat downward.

Read the instructions that come with your fan to ensure you are operating your ceiling fan direction the right way to enjoy the full benefits of your ceiling fan all year round.

For more information about Ceiling Fan Direction?, feel free to visit us at: http://www.ceiling-fans-zone.info

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Bed Bugs - How Do You Know If You Have Them

2010-02-03T03:45:00.001-08:00

Bedbugs do not feed on waste food like cockroaches or mice and rats do, they feed on the blood of a warm-blooded host. The signs that you have bed bugs are itchy welts, commonly in groups of three. You should see tiny red or brown marks on your linens were you have rolled over them at night and killed them.

If you think you have bed bugs check the carpet, linens and the entire bed frame, bed bugs are never far from there host (you). Check everything within a 30ft radius of your bed.

Look for nymphs and shed skin remember though that you are looking for something that is 1mm total in length and is probably translucent. The bugs go through many different stages before they become adults and are very hard to see before that.

If you cannot find them by visual inspection, you can use the old tape trick to find them. Take a roll of packing tape and tape the bottom of your bedpost and frame rails and all along your baseboards around your bed. You will find nymphs and eggs if you have an infestation. If you find anything that looks like dirt or smudges on the tape after a few nights you need another trick to catch them in action.

Bring a flashlight to bed with you. Wait until it has been dark for at least 30 minutes. Then slowly get the flashlight and shine it under the covers where you have been getting marks on your body. These bugs are very small but you will see what looks like dirt running away from you.

Bed bugs are very robust creatures and have been known to go over 500 days without a meal. If you have them, getting rid of them is another article I will cover later. Trust me when I tell you that you are out of your league in exterminating them.

Tim Russell is an internet junkie. With more than 20 niche websites form coin collecting to bed bugs. Please take the time to visit http://www.bed-bug-bites.net for all your updated bedbug information.

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New Technology Provides Alternatives To HDTV DVD's

2010-02-01T06:00:00.001-08:00

A lot of people are hesitant to make an investment in high definition DVD technology and for good reason. Any new technology needs some time to be debugged so that it can function smoothly and deliver the performance that mainstream consumers expect, but since HDTV DVD technology has been out for over a year, that shouldn't really be a concern. The thing that is a concern for many consumers though is that there are two formats of high def DVD's that can't be played with each other's players. This hearkens back to the days when VHS and Betamax were dueling for supremacy over the video cassette market. When the dust settled after that format war, many people were left with useless Betamax players an no source of new video cassettes to play on them. Now there's widespread fear that the same could happen to anyone who invests in the high def DVD format that doesn't win the present format war.

There are some things that consumers can do in order to enjoy many of the benefits of HDTV movies without actually buying a Blu-ray player or an HD-DVD player. The most cost effective thing to do would probably be to buy an upconverting DVD player. This device plays standard definition DVD's and upconverts the video that comes from them so that it resembles HDTV resolutions. While an upconverted picture isn't as good as a real HDTV picture, it's significantly better than standard definition. This will also provide a way for you to breath new life into older DVD's.

Another option is to download movies in HDTV format. This can be accomplished through Microsoft's Xbox 360, the Apple TV, and several other devices. While the option of downloading High Def movies does circumvent having to use high def DVD's, it's not without its problems. In the case of the Apple TV, it can only get movies from iTunes, it only handles video with a resolution of up to 720p, and the picture that it produces at that resolution is quite grainy. The Xbox 360 doesn't really have problems with the quality of the picture, but the downloads can take extremely long times- sometimes upwards of an hour.

Another option comes in the form of the Vudu. The Vudu is a set top box that downloads video from the Internet and then upconverts the video to HDTV resolutions before displaying it on your TV. While this does eliminate the need for any kind of DVD, like upconverting DVD players, it produces a picture that's less than ideal because of the upconversion.

Another option still, is to get a high def DVD player that's part of another devices that you want anyway. For example, if you want the latest version of Sony's Play Station video game system, you'll get the built in Blu-ray disc player. In fact, there's no way not to get a Blu-ray disc player. If you already have Microsoft's Xbox 360, you can get an optional drive that will play HD-DVD's. If you want the video game system anyway, either of these two alternatives will probably cost you less than getting the video gaming system and a stand alone high def DVD player.

Whatever you decide, hopefully it should be helpful to know that there are alternatives to investing directly in high def DVD technology before you're ready.

E. Sanderson writes articles about the latest developments in technology, electronics, and satellite TV. She'd like to inform you about the latest Dish TV services and how you can find the best Dishnet HD Promotions.

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TV DVD Combo

2010-01-30T07:45:00.001-08:00

As time apes on electronics are becoming more condensed. Now it is no longer the case of the black and whites that we began with. Screen sizes and color of TVs have been upgraded. Entertainment centers are thriving on being compact while maintaining bulkiness.

TV DVD combo comes with a variety to choose from. Their foremost advantage is that they can save space because the DVD option is built exactly into the television. Talk about your complete packages.

My wife and I once desired to upgrade our bedroom by having a television, however she didn't want it to be overbearing and we wanted a DVD. So I set out to browse through Sears, I came upon the TV DVD combo whose price have dropped since time has passed like any other advanced electronic device. Now the hassles of DVDs have ended and the only thing now to do is to enjoy.

You get the two-in-one remote control, which does it all. It's a perfect collaboration. When I first tossed out the idea of the TV DVD combo to my father, he said, "But what if one breaks? That means they both don't work. Then what?" I had to roll my eyes. Come on, what if anything breaks? You end up fixing it or buying a new one. The fact is we've had ours for years and never had a problem with it. The sound and picture are great and the DVDs never skip. What else can one ask for? If you're interested in purchasing this set, the best place to do some evaluation and peruse is online. You can get an idea of price and size. Best Buy is also a great place to check when in the market for any electronics such as the combos.

Peter Gitundu Researches and Reports on Television. For More Information on TV DVD Combo, Visit His Site at TV DVD COMBO

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Remote Controls

2010-01-28T09:45:00.001-08:00

Remote controls – these days we can’t seem to function without them. In modern-day living, remote controls have virtually become an extra limb that we cannot do without.

The Germans first began using them during World War I, to control motorboats and airplanes that would destroy ships by crashing into them. The Second World War saw bombs that were controlled by remote devices. In fact, the first use of remotes in our homes began after the war, when remote controlled garage doors started being manufactured. The T.V. remote followed suit. It was aptly called ‘Lazy Bones,’ and was made by Zenith Corporation, an American company.

Early remote controls were not wireless, and were in fact attached to cables connecting it to the T.V. Subsequent developments saw the making of Flashmatic, the wireless remote that had to be pointed at the television set. The next generation of remote controls used high-frequency sound to transmit signals, and only in the 80s did the prototype of the modern remote control come into existence. These remotes used infrared (IR) radiation to send and receive signals. Today the majority of the remotes manufactured are based on this technology, although some manufacturers use radio-based remotes or those that work with Bluetooth technology.

In present times almost every gadget we own needs a remote control, from TVs, music systems, VCRs and DVD players to home theater systems, some of which require as many as six separate remotes. The day is not far away, when every single gadget we use will need a remote. That is the main reason behind the development of universal remotes, which can control multiple gadgets and be used for almost all the prominent brands. With the addition of these additional features, the appearance of the remote control too has evolved. Gone are the simple remotes that had circular or rectangular buttons on a slim black console. Now remotes have fliptops that open to reveal LCD screens and exhaustive menus.

From controlling home and office appliances to directing robots, weapons and even equipment to be used in space, the humble remote control has come a long away and has now literally become a symbol of power in our hands.

Remote Controls provides detailed information on Remote Controls, Radio Remote Controls, TV Remote Controls, Universal Remote Controls and more. Remote Controls is affiliated with Wireless Speakers [http://www.i-Speakers.com].

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Home Theater Retailers

2010-01-26T12:00:00.001-08:00

When shopping for a home theater system, you need to make sure you buy from a reputable retailer. Shopping around for the products you need to obtain in order to create a home theater system can be very expensive. You do not want to pay too much for already high-priced products. Some retailers charge more for the products you can find in another store at a much lower price.

Some retailers will also sell you inferior products that will not give you the same quality as those from other stores. You do not want to pay a high price for a product that will break down very quickly.

Doing your research on the products you wish to buy, as well as on the retailers that sell them, is a very important first step when purchasing a home theater system. By the time you complete your system, you will end up spending almost $20,000. You do not want to throw away that amount of money by buying inferior products and buying from a retailer that will make you overpay.

Why Buy From National Retail Stores

The best place to purchase your home theater system is through retail stores that are recognized nationwide. These larger chains will be able to offer you many different types of products, and they are generally more trustworthy than smaller localized retailers. These retailers receive their products directly from the distributors of the manufacturers; therefore, they will be able to offer you warranties and rebates as well as other services. If any repairs are necessary, they are generally easier to deal with than smaller retailers. These larger retailers will generally employ a good number of experts that are officially licensed to work on and repair the brand of home theater system you purchased.

Home Theaters provides detailed information on Home Theaters, Home Theater Systems, Home Theater Projectors, Home Theater Speakers and more. Home Theaters is affiliated with HDTV Antennas.

Combo DVD VCR Recorders

2010-01-24T13:45:00.001-08:00

DVD recorders are devices that record data onto a DVD. DVDs are becoming a very good option for storing data because of their high storage capacities, reliability, cost and flexibility. DVD recorders have already replaced VCRs and CD recorders in most homes.

DVD recorders are ideal for storing all kinds of data including movies, TV shows and home videos. The recording quality is also much better than that from CDs or tapes. DVDs are mostly compatible with most recording formats including DVD-audio, CD-audio, DVD-R (write-once), DVD- RW (re-writable format of DVD-R), DVD+R (write once), DVD+RW (re-writable format of DVD+R) and DVD-RAM (re-writable with random access capability). With attractive options such as surround sound, progressive scan, recording options in DVD as well as VHS modes, twin recording formats (allows recording of two different programs on different channels simultaneously), and live TV pausing, DVD players are becoming a favorite with most people.

There are also DVD-VCR combos, which are ideal for playing both DVDs as well as VHS tapes. They also enable copying of home recordings from camcorder tapes or television recordings. Some of the top DVD-VCR combos are: the JVC DR-MX1S DVD/VCR/Hard Drive Recorder Combo, the LG LRY-517 Super-Multi DVD Recorder/VCR Combo, the Panasonic DMR-ES40VS DVD Recorder - VCR Combination, the Pioneer DVR-RT500 DVD Recorder/VHS VCR Combination, the Panasonic PV-DR2714 DVD Recorder/VCR/TV Combo, the Panasonic DMR-ES30VS DVD Recorder VCR Combination and the Sony RDR-VX500 DVD Recorder/VCR Combo. Samsung and Toshiba are some of the other manufacturers of this product.

Most of these DVD-VCR combos also have other advanced features, such as an 80GB or 160 GB hard drive, analog and Firewire AV inputs, video processing for enhancing image quality, flexibility in recording and playing, ability to record in all formats (DVD-R/DVD-RW/DVD+R/DVD+RW/DVD+R DL and DVD-RAM), built-in tuners compatible with antenna, cable or satellite boxes, S-video, DV (iLink, Firewire) video inputs, VHS recording and playback, and most importantly, progressive scan output for playback. Prices of these DVD recorder-VCR combos start from $200, but those with very good quality and more options have a minimum price tag of $300.

DVD Recorders provides detailed information on Buy DVD Recorders, Cheap DVD Recorders, Combo DVD VCR Recorders, Compare DVD Recorders and more. DVD Recorders is affiliated with Digital Voice Recorders.

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Samsung 46 Inch 1080P 120hz LCD LN - T4669 Review

2010-01-22T16:00:00.001-08:00

In the battle between LCD versus plasma TVs one of the issues with the LCD display is its inability to handle fast motion images. The problem shows mostly in sporting games and action flicks. If you watch closely you can see the blurred images while objects are quickly moving. However, the newer LCD tvs have tried to solve this problem by running on 120hz. These LCD's are now able to handle fast motion with virtually no blur. The Samsung LN-T4669 1080p LCD is one of the newer LCD TVs currently on the market that process with 120hz. I have seen many sporting events on this television and could see no motion blur. This 120hz technology doubles the frame rate from 60 to 120 frames/second without repeating the same picture to make more frames, making the transition much more smooth and fluid.

Like most of the newer LCD/plasma sets, the Samsung LN-T4669F also has 1080P resolution. 1080P is the highest resolution currently available which can be seen in either HDDVD or Blu-ray. Most highdefinition programming is only 720p/1080i, but the Samsung is future proof which should comfort any buyer. Watching a scene from Pirates of the Caribbean on this television is simply amazing. The colors seemed to jump off the screen while the picture was crystal clear. The 20,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio provides whiter whites and blacker blacks. I mostly use a Samsung 71" DLP for watching movies and can safely say that the Samsung LN-T4669F clearly gives off a much cleaner and brighter image.

The Samsung LNT4669 has 3 HDMI inputs, 1 is on the side of the television and 2 in the rear. Along with the HDMI inputs, you also have 2 S-video, 2 component, and 2 antenna connections.

The set itself is gorgeous like most of the flat panel televisions on the market. It is glossy black and very sleek. The Samsung weighs 55 lbs. without the stand. The screen itself has a depth of only 4.1" making it perfect to hang on a wall.

Overall this is a great television if you are willing to spend the extra money for 1080P/120hz. If you are like me and watch a lot of sports and Blu-ray/HD-DVD movies then this television is definitely for you.

To learn more about this model, visit Michael's HDTV specials site.

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Hi-Tech Meets Decor - Your High-Def TV and Your Home

2010-01-20T15:45:00.001-08:00

You found the perfect television. It's a great high-def TV, with every bell and whistle you were looking for, and it's exactly the right size to fit into the open spot in your living room. You can even afford it, with cash left over for the surround sound system you need as well. Only one problem: your wife hates it. Too big, too intrusive, and too attractive to all your college friends.

Don't despair: there are plenty of solutions for installing the perfect high-def TV in your home, and some of them will eliminate any appearance of a television in your home - or make your television so attractive that your wife will insist on having one.

The Invisible TV: DLP TVs

A DLP TV is a projection-style set, which are much nicer today than they were twenty years ago when they were the mainstay of any bar setting. The best news is that not all projection televisions are locked into a case; today, you can get sets that look basically like an old slide projector. The scalable image they project will look good on a blank white wall, or on a portable or wall-mounted screen (mountings can be hidden beneath things like decorative shelves if necessary). This is a great solution for a small space, where one room performs several different functions.

The Camouflaged TV

You don't have to go invisible, though. There are plenty of furnishing options for all but the largest television sets: armoirs, closets, and shelf sets can make your TV part of the living room, yet discreet. With the right shelf setup and a screensaver, you can even transform your plasma television into a fireplace; the flickering flame gives your room a romantic and homey atmosphere, and only close inspection reveals the truth!

Wall mounted televisions don't work well with this solution, but there is a unique solution: a mirror cover. A transparent guard covers the screen, transforming the appearance of your high-def TV into a nice wall-mounted mirror. Turning on the set, however, allows the picture to show right through the cover. Certain sets allow for other solutions, though: screen saver-type technology can transform your set into a fishtank, or show the gradual setting of the sun over a tropical island.

The Ultimate Solution: A TV Room

One of the most popular new home improvement choices is a media room dedicated strictly to the television. This allows you to mount your surround-sound system in a perfectly-engineered room, with seating and other amenities that will have your friends over for the Superbowl, her friends over to see the latest chick flick, and for both of you alone to watch the movie of your choice, ending the evening with that romantic flickering fireplace.

Any high-def TV can transform the décor of your room, whether it's your formal living room or the den, a dedicated TV room or your loft apartment space. Just a little creativity and shopping around for what's out there will net you great rewards.

A Buyer's Guide to Plasma TV Technology

2010-01-18T18:00:00.001-08:00

When the first plasma screen televisions came on the market a number of years ago, they were unaffordable by all but the wealthiest individuals and businesses. As with many other forms of technology, however, the passage of time and the improvements in manufacturing methods have led the prices of plasma televisions to fall a great deal, making these great TVs more affordable to a large part of the marketplace.

There are of course a number of different manufacturers who make excellent quality plasma televisions, and the marketplace for these TVs includes a veritable who’s who of electronics companies, including Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, Zenith, Phillips and Sylvania.

And while the prices of these and other plasma televisions have come down quite a bit from their early days on the market, they are still quite a bit more expensive than traditional CRT televisions. The prices of most plasma televisions range from $2,000 to $3,500, but the sale prices many retailers often run can sometimes allow consumers to purchase a good quality plasma TV for as little as $1,500 or even less.

Those in the market for a new plasma TV should begin their shopping with a good idea of what to look for and what to expect from this new technology. Plasma TV technology is quite different from the technology used in traditional CRT televisions, and it is important to understand these differences in order to get the best deal.

It is also important to purchase the highest quality accessories and cabling to go with that new plasma TV. Buying cheap generic cables can ruin the otherwise excellent picture and color quality of even the best plasma TV, so it is important to look for high quality and dependability when shopping for the cables that connect your DVD player, VCR, computer or other input device to the plasma screen.

It is also important for consumers to know that in most cases the plasma TV will not come with its own tuner, and the signal must therefore come from a satellite TV box, cable TV box or similar device. In addition, a number of different accessories, such as DVD players, Laser Disk players and even computers and laptops, can be connected to these large flat screens.

Even though the plasma display TV has only recently come into widespread home use, plasma technology actually has quite a long history, dating back to July of 1964 and research by the University of Illinois.

The screens of these first plasma devices were quite small, and the materials to create them were expensive and hard to come by. The lower cost of these materials in today’s world, coupled with increases in technology, have brought these great TVs into widespread use, and their penetration in the marketplace is likely to grow as the prices continue to fall.

How does plasma technology work?
The secret to plasma TV technology is found in between the two thin panels of mounted glass that make up the screen. These panels are made up of pixels, which are small pockets of compressed gas. Each of these pixels consists of three sub-pixels, which consist of blue, green and red phosphors.

The thing that makes the plasma TV so unique is that each of the sub-pixel is individually controlled using advanced electronics capable of producing more than 16 million unique colors. When the pixel receives an electric current, the gas in the television reacts to form a plasma, which in turn produces light. This light then reacts with the red, green and blue phosphors in order to provide a higher contrast ratio and a better picture. There is considerably less flicker on a plasma screen, due to the fact that all the pixels are emitting light at the same time.

In addition, there is no backlighting or electron beam associated with the plasma TV, and this provides a sharper, brighter and richer picture with a very thin screen. The thinnest and lightest plasma TVs are barely more than three inches thick, and the true flat screen eliminates the fading and distortion at the edges that often accompanies CRT televisions.

These plasma TV displays also provide a much higher screen resolution than CRT televisions, and in addition most sets are capable of displaying a number of different signals, including HDTV (high definition television), DTV (digital television) as well as XGA, VGA and SVGA signals from a computer.

Plasma TVs are also free of the scan lines that plague traditional CRT televisions. The conventional CRT television uses a beam of electrons which scan the picture tube from top to bottom. As the phosphors are lit the image is created. This results in visible scan lines, but plasma TV technology includes built in line doubling, which further improves the quality of the images, particularly when viewing a standard analog signal like broadcast television of VHS tapes.

In addition to the lack of scan lines, plasma displays also have superior color quality and superior depth. The plasma screen is capable of displaying more than 16 million different colors, as well as more realistic colors and more subtle gradations within colors.

Plasma displays also provide a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, providing the best aspect ratio for widescreen DVD movies and for HDTV programming. This wide aspect ratio more closely matches the format of large screen movies, providing for a more enjoyable and realistic viewing experience.

Those viewers who are familiar with the limitations of the rear projection big screen TV will want to know that plasma TVs provide a much more uniform brightness, without the “hot spots” frequently seen in the middle of the screen on rear projection TVs. The plasma display is also free of the corner dark spots that plague rear projection televisions.

And then of course there is the size and slenderness of the plasma TV. It is this thinness that attracts so many buyers, and in fact many plasma televisions are lightweight and thin enough to hang on a wall, as well as thin enough to fit virtually anywhere. This contrast is particularly obvious when one compares a new plasma screen TV to the old rear projection big screen TVs, which could fill an entire room and were very bulky to move from place to place.

There is no doubt that plasma TV technology has a great many benefits over both traditional CRT televisions and rear projection models. In addition, the fact that the prices of plasma televisions have been steadily falling since they first came on the market has made this great new technology more affordable than ever.

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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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LCD, DLP Or Plasma? Oh My!

2010-01-16T20:46:00.001-08:00

Currently, there are three main types of high-def televisions available: plasma, LCD and DLP.

DLP

Let's first look at with the least expensive, the DLP. DLP stands for Digital Light Processing, and is actually a rear projection TV. In DLP projectors, the image is created by a matrix of tiny mirrors, with each mirror representing one pixel on the screen. Though less expensive than other hi-def choices, this technology can still deliver 1080p resolution - the highest currently available.

While DLP televisions are no heavier than the other high definition types, they are quite a bit thicker (about 15-20 inches) and are not designed to be wall-mounted as of yet, though that may change in the near future.

Other minor drawbacks include the possibility of annoying fan noise in some models, and since the technology is more "mechanical" than plasma and LCD, there may be a higher incidence of breakdowns. Projection televisions of any type also are burdened with poorer viewing angles than the direct view sets, and color resolution may not be as sharp.

LCD

At a decidedly higher price point is the next type of set to consider: Liquid Crystal Diode televisions, also known as LCD.

LCD televisions utilize two "polarized" panels that sandwich a thin liquid-crystal gel. That gel is divided into individual pixels, each of which can be darkened or lightened according to how much precise voltage is passed through it - the more voltage, the darker the pixel. Since some light always leaks through the gel, an absolutely black screen is almost impossible for an LCD television to achieve, but advances in LCD technology have put these TVs nearly at the same level as plasma.

LCD computer monitors, because of their light weight and small footprint, quickly became the technology of choice in the industry. The smaller screen sizes created sharp LCD images, so small-screen TVs became LCD's niche. But in the past few years screen size has grown larger and larger while maintaining sharpness, and the previously poor viewing angles have become as good as plasma televisions can offer. Hi-Def LCD televisions are now a viable competitor to plasma televisions on the home entertainment field.

Plasma

Built in a similar manner to an LCD TV, in that a sandwich is created by two panels of glass, the material between the two panels is not a liquid gel, but rather a gas.

Though the gap is narrowing, plasma TVs generally exhibit greater brightness and sharper contrast then the competition - especially as the screen size increases. Plasma televisions can be may measure under 5 inches, and have a very wide viewing angle.

The usable lifespan of a plasma TV is 60,000 hours - which would allow you to watch TV for 6 hours a day for 27 years. Hi-Def plasma televisions can boast of contrast ratios of 30,000:1, a significant advantage over less expensive hi-def televisions. Although screen "burn-in" has been an issue in the past, technological advances have reduced this potential drawback to a minimum.

How to Choose

As with every other aspect of your long-awaited home entertainment project, in the long run the amount of money at your disposal will be the biggest factor in which television you ultimately choose. You would need to itemize the components you must buy, and prioritize it.

Audiophiles could choose to spend more money on a hi-tech surround sound system; others might choose to turn over a greater percentage of the budget to the designer. But no matter which option you choose, be comfortable knowing that any of the choices open to you are vastly superior to to what was available even in the recent past.

Frank Sarntarpia
Home Theater
Home Remodeling Blog

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The Benefits Of Owning A Plasma TV

2010-01-14T22:45:00.001-08:00

If you've been considering purchasing a new television in the near future, you've got a lot options. DLP, LCD, or any other three letter acronyms could tempt you to buy. However, the plasma TV has many advantages over the competition. Let's look at a few of them now.

Besides just being able to say that you have a plasma TV (which is cool all by itself) there are a lot of good things about it. For instance, the quality of plasma is unparalleled in the industry. With plasma you'll find over 16 million colors on your standard screen. That's a lot of colors. It's quite a bit more than you'll find in any standard television. Most likely a lot more than the TV that's sitting in your living room right now. Try finding something on TV that doesn't fit into that color spectrum.

The image clarity of the plasma is also nothing short of amazing. The screen is brighter throughout than any other TV. You're a lot less likely to strain your eyes watching a big, beautiful, bright screen like this. You won't see any blurry images or dull spots on your screen either. Problems like this are a thing of the past.

Are you one of those people that have an old-school projection TV? It takes up half the living room doesn't it? Does your big screen pull double-duty as the mantle? Ever wish you had a big screen without all the wasted space? If so, the plasma is your best bet. Plasmas allow for a sleek design that can be mounted on the wall. Some of them are just a few inches thick, but still pack in a 50" screen. It also weighs about 10 times less than a traditional TV. You won't have to break your back to get it in place. They look more modern and come in a variety of colors. You can blend them with any design elements you have. Get a plasma and you'll be able to actually have the living room back.

Thanks to advances in technology, just having a regular TV isn't enough. Internet connectivity is important in this day and age. Many of today's plasma TV's are compatible to computers. This means that you can use the 50" screen as your monitor. Surf the internet, do some work, or even play games on that amazing plasma screen. In fact, many of the newer models are internet ready. You won't even have to get up to go to the computer anymore. Imagine the possibilities!

Overall, the plasma TV has a lot to offer for the average consumer. If you're considering an upgrade to some form of HDTV this is most likely your best bet. It offers the best in quality, picture, and performance. It will save you space and fit in with your décor. Before you buy, be sure to check out a plasma television.

Andrew Winthorp owns and operates http://www.plasma-screen-tv-review.com - Learn more about the different plasma models, tips and guidelines to help you select the right TV.

Vivitek H1080fFD and Optoma HD20

2010-01-13T00:00:00.001-08:00

Two months ago both Optoma and Vivitek announced the availability of 'below $1000' home 1080p projectors. Both these budget projectors are expected to fly off the shelf during the holidays. Till this announcement, the lowest price you could get online for a 1080p projector was about $300 higher.

These projectors may not have the rich feature set of the higher priced projectors but if you are just planning to view a movie with good image quality and have a small budget (like many of us), these projectors will be more than adequate. The higher prices for marginal improvements may not be worthwhile.

The Vivitek H1080FD has a native resolution of 1920x1080 (1080p), 1800 lumens of brightness and a contrast ratio of 5000:1. It includes multiple input options; most notable are the two HDMI ports. The others are Composite Video, S-Video, RS-232c and a 12v Trigger. The projector uses the DLP chipset from Texas Instruments. It has an estimated lamp life of 3000 hours.

The Optoma HD20 also has a native resolution of 1080p, 1700 lumens and a contrast ration of 4000:1. Optoma states the ANSI contrast ratio, a better measure of contrast, is 500:1 which puts it in the same league as more expensive projectors. The input ports match those of the Vivitek H1080FD (S video port is absent) but the computed lamp life is 4000 hours, about 33% higher.

If you are on a budget and a home theater enthusiast, you cannot go wrong by buying either the Optoma HD20 or the Vivitek H1080FD. And, by the time you reach the end of life of these lamps, newer, cheaper, technology would have arrived in the market.

Find the best projector for your needs. Visit ProjectorWatch.com for in-depth projector reviews.

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Everthing You Wanted To Learn About HDTV And DVD Technology

2010-01-11T02:45:00.001-08:00

There has been an upsurge in a lot of HDTV and DVD technology to match it. Because of this HDTV-DVD just got more accessible and easier to find. This means that you will have more choices to choose from as well. But also because HDTV-DVD just got more accessible you may be confused with all the choices. A closer look at the different DVD options and technologies can help you choose from among them. Because HDTV-DVD just got more accessible, knowing what you have to choose from can make the accessibility less confusing.

First of all, originally DVD formats have been around for ten years. The original kind also gave a lot more storage, up to 4.7 GB than most CD's, which are around 700MB. Not too long after this original technology, there came some more technology that made space increase. This was the advent of double-sided DVD's. Some general information regarding some double-layered discs is as follows: single-sided and layered ones with 4.7 GB and 120 minutes of space, single-sided and dual-layered ones with 8.5GB with 4 hours of space, double-sided and single-layered ones with 9.4GB and 4 hours of space and double-sided and dual-layered ones with 17GB and 8 hours of space.

Most DVD's are read-write mediums although there are some that are read-only. There are three different kinds. They are known as DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM. All of these can be used to record with. Understanding these basics can give you a lot towards understanding the wide variety of accessibility that is out there in DVD options. Especially when you are trying to understand that HDTV-DVD just got more accessible.

The first option is DVD-RAM and can actually be the most expensive kind. Yet this type can be re-written over and over again. Usually up to 100,000 times over a number of years even. This type is the one that would be more desired for video or film editing. The reason for this is because the disc stores data in no particular order. You must make extra careful however that the type of player you are getting or have will work with this type. This is because not all players are compatible with this type of DVD.

Another kind of DVD is the DVD-R type of disc. This is actually the cheaper option when it comes to recordable DVD's. This type can only be recorded on once though. This is why this type tends to be cheaper however. This type of DVD is also compatible with most DVD players that are available out there on the market.

The main difference between the last type, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM is how many times it can be recorded on. The DVD-RW can be recorded on more than once. But it can only be recorded on about a thousand times. Which is a lot less than the DVD-RAM, but this type is cheaper than the DVD-RAM. This is best for those who want multiple recording capabilities but don't need too much and want to save money.

The reason that HDTV-DVD just got more accessible is because there are two new types that have become available recently. The two new types or formats are HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. Toshiba and the second kind by Sony develop the first one. They are very common but cannot play each other's players. HD-DVD can store 15GB on single-layer and 30GB on dual-layer, while Blu-Ray stores 25GB on single-layer and 50GB on dual-layer. HD-DVD can hold 8 hours of space and Blu-Ray 9 hours.

As you can see with so many options now available you see how HDTV-DVD just got more accessible. Hopefully this information will make it easier to understand, even if HDTV-DVD just got more accessible. With the different types more clearly explained your decision should be easier now.

Check out http://www.hdtvland.org/ for articles on hdtv dvd player and dlp versus lcd.

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Tips to Selecting the Best HDTV For You

2010-01-09T02:45:00.001-08:00

When it comes to buying a television set, you are bombarded options. While all the colorful displays may make it difficult to choose, here are some tips to finding the right HD television set for you.

Choose a set that fits inside your budget. While it is easy to calculate the costs of the television alone, also consider the costs of any remote controls, cables, lighting, and sound systems.

Also, consider the size that you will need. Bigger is not always better when it comes to televisions. A television that is too large can be serious overkill to a room, and vice versa. Once you have determined your size and budget, this will narrow down your choices considerably and will give you a better scope as to what sort of TV you will be purchasing.

The next step is to think about what type of programming you like the watch the most. HDTVs come in a few different forms and they work better for different purposes. While you can watch any program on all of these televisions, there are innate pros and cons to each type of set. For example, if you like to keep the news on all day, then a plasma screen television would be a poor choice, as plasmas can frequently "burn-in" keeping that news anchor lower third on your screen permanently. Cinema buffs may want to stay away from LCD screens since the blacks are notoriously poor on LCD screens. Sports fans may want to consider a DLP projection unit, as these can create a big bright image for a minimal cost.

Finally if you plan to integrate your HDTV into an existing sound system, it would be wise to consider the types of connections you can already accommodate, as adapters are often costly and can reduce image and sound quality.

Whatever you decide to go with, take your time in researching each model, calculating the total costs, and then finally choosing a system that will be right for you.

Mina has been a freelance writer for the past 6 years. While she often writes on consumer topics, she has a large variety of content published on and off the web. You can check out her recent work on the topics of moissanite rings and soccer trophies.

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How to Choose the Right HDTV For Your Needs

2010-01-07T04:45:00.001-08:00

Choosing the right HDTV for you can be difficult. It really depends on how much money you have and what you're trying to do. Of course, you also need to consider what other AV gear you intend on buying. In this article I'll help you decide what to look for when shopping for a new HDTV so you don't get too much TV for your needs, or wish that you'd gotten more.

There are three basic types of HDTV's. Each form has it's own advantages and disadvantages so you'll need to weigh all of them before deciding on a particular model.

First there are flat-panel HDTV's. These are the super-thin models that can be hung on the wall. Flat-panel models come in two flavors:

Plasma -

Pros: thin, good picture, good color.

Cons: less-than-perfect black, screen burn-in, costly.

LCD -

Pros: same as plasma plus no burn-in.

Cons: Black is poorest, costly, angle of view.

Both types of flat-panel models feature the same sleek, sexy looks, so in some ways it's just preference.

Next there are projection HDTV's. These also fall into two main types:

Front Projection - This is the closest equivalent to the movie theater experience with a large screen on the wall and a projector across the room.

Pros: biggest screen, potentially best picture.

Cons: expensive, complicated, higher maintenance.

Rear Projection - The picture is projected on the back of a screen built into the HDTV.

Pros: best bargain, no burn-in, fairly thin.

Cons: size, brightness.

Finally there are CRT HDTV's. These are based on the picture tube as in standard TV's.

Pros: cheapest, best color, best blacks.

Cons: smallest screen, bulky, lower resolution.

Given these choices, these are the things you should consider first when buying an HDTV:

What's your budget? Consider your total budget for the TV and all other home theater items.
What size do you want? Make sure the size you're looking at will fit in your space.
-- More than anything else, these two questions will narrow your selections the most --
What do you plan on using it for? Sports fans might prefer a DLP system, while someone who watched Fox News all day might want to avoid plasma due to the potential of burn-in.
What will you hook it up to? Make sure the HDTV you're considering has the connections for all of your other hardware.
Which cool features do you want most? This question should be asked last. No matter how much you want a specific feature, if it's not in your budget or is only available on models that won't work for your application, they're unimportant.

Every HDTV has benefits and drawbacks. Before spending a lot on a new HDTV, make sure you first identify your specific needs then research the different models available that will eet your needs while staying within your budget.

Doug has been writing articles for nearly 4 years. Come visit his latest website over at racingrunningshoes.com which helps people find the new balance trail running shoes they are looking for.

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Should You Get High Definition TV?

2010-01-05T07:00:00.001-08:00

This week, we’ll talk about digital and High-Definition TV, and what these technologies offer us. First, let’s talk a little about how regular TV works. Traditional TVs display an image on your screen by painting the picture one line at a time until all 480 lines are on the screen. These 480 lines are drawn in an alternating fashion, know as interlacing. This means that all the odd numbered lines are drawn so that exactly half the picture on the TV is displayed, then the even numbered lines are drawn in, giving you the whole picture. After one image is completely drawn, the whole process starts again. This happens 60 times per second, giving us the illusion of motion. Interlacing allows our eyes to ‘see’ the image as a whole otherwise we might actually see the TV image being drawn top to bottom. Since standard TV only shows us 480 lines drawn on the screen, the larger the TV screen the less crisp the picture. To see what I mean, the next time you are at an electronics store compare the same show on a 19" TV and a 36". See those lines that are visible in the 36" screen? Those are the TV scan lines, 480 in total. All standard analog TVs have the same resolution, regardless of screen size. Also, standard TV has an aspect ratio of 4:3, meaning that for every one inch of width the screen is three inches high, making a TV screen almost square.

Now, when you enter the world of digital High-Definition TV, that 480 line interlaced picture is a thing of the past. High-Definition gives us the ability to see up to 1,080 interlaced lines of resolution. Further, it also offers the advantage of viewing shows in ‘progressive scan’ mode, meaning that instead of drawing half of the lines on the screen at a time, the entire image is shown on the TV screen at once. Progressive scan can display resolutions of either 480, 720 or 1,080 lines. Now, you might be saying that, even with a big 60-inch high-dev TV if you watch shows broadcast in analog you still will only get 480 lines even though the TV is capable of much more. This is not necessarily true. Many high-def TVs have ‘line-doublers’, which is software that actually enhances the standard TV signal so that it shows up on your big screen with no visible lines at all. And, if you are a DVD fan like me, a progressive scan DVD player will take your high-def TV to new heights that before seemed impossible to reach. With a high-definition picture, the images you see on your TV can almost be compared to looking through a freshly cleaned window. A picture on a high-def TV is so remarkably clear and crisp that many TV stars are so fearful that people will see what they really look like that they are getting cosmetic surgery to enhance their looks. It makes that much of a difference. Further, high-definition TV carries with it surround sound audio. No more with just the old-school left and right stereo. Now you can watch shows like ER with sound coming at you from all four corners of your living room. Last year’s Super Bowl was the one show that really made me appreciate both the excitement of football and the wonders of what high-definition can provide. Also, most high-def TVs have an aspect ration of 16:9, making the picture much wider than standard TV and helping to immerse us into the show by capturing more of our field of vision.

There are so many different types of high-definition TVs on the market these days that it would take much too long to describe each. There are front and rear projection TVs, LCD, Plasma, DLP, among others. Prices range from just over a thousand dollars to more than $15,000, depending on brand, technology used, etc. Suffice to say that any high-definition TV will show a picture that will know your socks off. If you want to know more about the different types of high-def TVs, and which may be best for you, just drop me an email and I’ll be happy to try and answer your questions.

Now, for the Cool Site of the Week... This week’s site is CNet.com. The folks at CNet have what has to be some of the coolest jobs on the planet—playing with and writing reviews for electronic gadgets. Every time I am looking to buy any piece of electronic equipment, from a cell phone to a TV, one of the first places I go is CNet.com. The reviews are excellent and very thorough, and they even have some nice price comparisons so you know where to go to get the best deal.

As always, if you have any questions or suggestions for future articles, please email me at mike@MikeBryant.com.

Mike Bryant has worked as a professional software developer for over ten years. A born entrepreneur, he currently owns Centrant, LLC, a software consulting firm specializing in custom software for small businesses. He currently resides in Jackson, Kentucky with his wife, two kids, and five computers. For more information, please visit MikeBryant.com.

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What Are the Three Types of LCD TVs?

2010-01-03T09:45:00.001-08:00

LCD means liquid crystal display. You may see others calling it liquid crystal diode. This is not correct. One single word makes the whole meaning wrong. It must be confused with LED, otherwise known as light emitting diode. This is the red light that we commonly see in the clock radios. However today, LED lights are already produced in many colors. What is a diode? It is an electronic valve which prevents the current from going in another direction that will interfere with the functioning of the light projection of the TV.

There are actually three different types of LCD TV:
1. Flat Panel LCD is the one which is competing with Plasma televisions. This is the thinnest television, and also the lightest among the others.
2. Rear Projection LCD competes with Digital Light Protection or DLP televisions. This is a much thicker one as compared to the flat panel LCDs. They compete with the DLP models. The rear projection LCD range from 15 - 19 inches in thickness and weighs about 45 kilos.
3. Front Projection projects on a screen and it can reach a size as big as 200 inches or even 300 inches if your room is big enough. This type of LCD TV is very portable. It is also lightweight. One particular model weighs only four pounds. But of course, you must have a place where you want to project your image.

Toshiba manufactures all of these types of LCD TV.

By the terms liquid and crystal in LCD, they both refer to the media where the current is being applied. The crystals intertwine, bend, and twist which totally depend on the amount of electric current being sent through them. Shape transformation allows light to pass through which means that many different shades of each different color are allowed. A simple example of an LCD is the digital watch that we use every single day.

LCD, DLP, Liquid Crystal on Silicon or LCoS are gradually replacing the old televisions. By this we are talking about the CRT monitors which are becoming obsolete as time passes by.

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Samsung LCD TV - Where Did it Come From?

2010-01-01T12:01:00.001-08:00

LCD, plasma, and DLP are the three technologies that are competing to be considered the best. The liquid crystal display is the most likely candidate to win.

LCD TV has become popular in the recent years. Its popularity can now be compared to DVD players. LCD televisions have up-to-date HD TV that has a quality picture and high color quality. However, little do we know how LCD technology came to be and to whom should we be thankful for. This LCD technology actually dates back 1888 by an Austrian scientist Friedrich Reinitzer. See how old this concept had been? George Heilmeier was the first one who had the courage to use this on commercial products. He was an electrical engineer from University of Pennsylvania and he has PhD, MSE, and Masters in Solid State electronics from Princeton. He was able to work with the following people: Joseph Catellano, Nunzio Luce, Lucian Barton, Richard Williams, Louis Zanoni, and Joel Goldmacher. Together, they shaped the LCD technology as we have it now.

Big things come from small ones. So before the LCD TV become one whole piece, the parts that make it up as a whole were first developed. LCD is the result of experimenting with the liquid crystals. RCA found out that they can produce digital clocks with this technology, as well as calculators, watches, and many more. Heilmeier was the one responsible for the digital alarm that we use very much today.

The next in line who was given the task of further developing the LCD technology was none other than James Fergason, a University of Missouri graduate. He was the associate director at Kent State University. He discovered the nematic field effect which became the sample LCD TV display up to present. In 1971, the first LCD TV was out in the market. There were ghosting images on screen that caused much disappointment to many. But as we now see today, they have made the necessary adjustments and the image quality of the modern day LCD TV is almost perfect.

With the popularity that the LCD television is gaining, it will soon totally replace the old CRT monitors that we have. Maybe it is indeed time to switch to LCD technology to experience one of a kind TV viewing experience. With the HD feature of these televisions, you are surely glued to your favorite show.

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Code Free DVD VCR PAL NTSC Combo

2009-12-30T12:00:00.001-08:00

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.
.
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.

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Install a HDTV Home Theater in No Time

2009-12-28T10:00:00.001-08:00

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/

The Price Is Right for A Flat Screen HDTV

2009-12-26T11:00:00.001-08:00

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

PAL LCD TVs

2009-12-24T12:00:00.001-08:00

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.

Features and Benefits of DLP TVs

2009-12-22T10:00:00.001-08:00

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

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Home Theaters: Which Ones Should I Invest In?

2009-12-21T09:00:00.001-08:00

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

2009-12-20T07:00:00.001-08:00

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.

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Next Gen Televisions - Time to Get a Flatscreen?

2009-12-19T02:00:00.001-08:00

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

2009-12-18T01:00:00.001-08:00

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!

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What Are LED Televisions?

2009-12-17T00:00:00.001-08:00

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.

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Tips For Buying a Multimedia Projector

2009-12-15T22:00:00.001-08:00

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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Samsung HD TV - Which Technology Is Best for Me?

2009-12-14T21:00:00.001-08:00

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.

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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

2009-12-13T19:00:00.001-08:00

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.

Friends Link : samsung lcd hdtv 1080p 26 inch lg lh50

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

2009-12-12T16:00:00.001-08:00

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

Friends Link : vizio

Understanding Hi-Def TVs

2009-12-11T11:00:00.001-08:00

When you go out to shop for your first high-def TV, you may be confused by the many, many different specifications you'll find on each. While a complete description of the different specs would take a book, you can learn more than just the difference between plasma and LCD in just the next couple of minutes.

Start with that difference. The three basic types of high-def TVs available today are the LCD TV, the plasma TV, and the DLP TV, a modern version of the old projection television. LCDs and DLPs are back-lit, making it harder to display clear black colors; plasma TVs are lit in a somewhat different manner, so they have very realistic blacks, but they tend to be a little more expensive and a lot more delicate. A DLP TV usually looks good, and the back lighting is simple to switch out for anyone, giving it perhaps the longest lifespan of any other high-def TV out there, and if you have a projector rather than an enclosed system, you can scale the picture to fit your space - a nice advantage. But DLP TVs are also likely to have the worst picture of the three.

Next, size. All high def TVs have a wide aspect ratio, so instead of the nearly-square traditional television screen shape, they have a movie-theatre shaped screen, often called 16:9 aspect ratio. This doesn't vary, so don't worry about that. (Regular TVs, for comparison, have a 4:3 aspect ratio, though this is hardly ever cited.) Screens are measured on the diagonal, so a high def TV may seem smaller than a traditional TV with the same listed screen size - and it is unlikely to fit smoothly into the same space. Keep this in mind.

Resolution is more complicated. Traditional TV has 480i resolution. This means that the picture on the screen is shown in 480 lines; the "i" stands for "interlaced", meaning that odd lines are shown first, then even lines, with about a sixtieth of a second of display before switching. Our vision tricks us into thinking this is a smooth screen. Rarer 480p TVs have all the lines shown at once, and you'll notice a distinctly better picture.

On high-def televisions, on the other hand, sets start at 720p; most are right around 1080p. Watch this; you want to make sure every video peripheral, like blu-ray readers and cable boxes, are compatible with this resolution. A mismatch here is the number-one reason your high-def TV may not look as good as it should. Also, more is not better; while you can get better than 1080p, if your peripherals don't match (and most won't), you won't get a good picture.

All standard high-def TVs will have specs falling in the following ranges. Try to keep your TV and your peripherals matched as closely as possible, and you'll have the best viewing experience.

* 1080 lines with 1920 vertical pixels; 16:9 aspect ratio; and either 60i, 30p, or 24p display (referencing time between refreshes)
* 720 lines with 1280 vertical pixels; 16:9 aspect ratio; and either 60i, 30p, or 24p display
* 480 lines with 704 vertical pixels; 16:9 or 4:3 aspect ratio; and either 60p, 60i, 30p, or 24p display

When choosing a high-def TV, more lines is generally better, 16:9 is better, and a high number plus p makes for the best display. And while HDTV is backward compatible with traditional broadcast, it's smart to invest in HD channels; the picture is much, much better with a high-def TV.

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Buying the Right Television - Part 2 - Options

2009-12-10T10:00:00.001-08:00

Television technologies

Several types of television receivers are available, each with upchecks and downchecks:

CRT

Cathode Ray Tube is the standard the older generations grew up watching. It's like a large light bulb, the screen end coated with phosphorescent pixels, the other with an 'electron gun' which, when charged with electricity, emits electrons; the electrons hit the pixels, the pixels glow. Older CRTs have a curved screen, but newer models are 'flat screen TV'--not to be confused with 'flat panel TV,' meaning the whole TV is thin. Upchecks: Being well established technology, it is least expensive to buy and repair. CRTs project a really dark black. Downchecks: Bigger and heavier than others. If you put something nearby with a big magnet (like a large speaker) you can affect the picture.

DLP TV

Digital Light Processing are projection TVs; they shine light through a color wheel onto a semi-conductor chip with microscopic mirrors. The light is reflected through a projection lens on to a big screen. Upchecks: Clear images with seamless clarity at any size; stunning, bright picture with rich, dark shades; light in weigh, fairly sturdy and not affected by heat, humidity or vibration. Downchecks: Only available in big-screen. A DLP television is flat panel, but needs about as much space as CRTs because they require good ventilation and must sit away from the wall. For a DLP TV, wall mount isn't an option and they don't produce sharp text. They have a very hot light source lamp that needs to cool down properly or it won't last as long as it should. Viewing angles are not as wide as other types.

LCD TV

Liquid Crystal Displays, or LCD TVs, were first used as computer monitors. They have tiny crystals embedded in the screen which glow red, green or blue when hit by an electrical charge. Varying the charge varies the color intensity; varying which crystals get charged varies the color. Upchecks: Images can be very sharp and very bright. If the set is near a window, LDC televisions are less affected by glare. LCD TVs are great for TV wall mounts. Downchecks: LCDs don't do really dark black, and if you want a really big screen, you won't find it on an LCD flat screen TV.

Plasma TVs

Plasma televisions are like a neon sign controlled by a computer. Two plates of glass have microscopic bubbles of neon & xenon gas and pixels between them. When this gas is excited by electrical charges, it becomes plasma, giving off photons which make the phosphor pixels glow. Upchecks: High resolution; a smooth, even image across the whole screen; plasma televisions can display billions of colors for a truly realistic picture; a distortion-free wide viewing angle; a plasma TV is also light enough for a TV wall mount. Downchecks: Black levels are only okay; if left on the same image too long, screen-burn can occur, meaning a permanent 'ghost' image is visible (bigger problem with video games than movies or TV); plasma TVs are heavier and more delicate than LCD televisions of comparable size.

Television features

Aspect ratio

Two numbers describing how screen width relates to screen height. Standard screen is 4:3, meaning a 480i resolution screen is 640x480 pixels. Wide screen is 16:9, meaning a 1080i screen is 1920x1080 pixels. Go wide screen if you can -- you will thank us later.

Cable or Dish TV

If you subscribe to satellite television or cable, your service provider will give you a satellite dish or cable box to decode their signals.

Closed captioning

Text appears across the bottom of the screen to aid the hearing impaired -- also useful for those learning a language -- it's a built-in feature of most televisions and DVDs.

Contrast ratio

The difference between the brightest and dimmest colors the set can show; the higher the ratio, the better the image -- 5,000:1 is good; 10,000:1 is fabulous; 15,000:1 is, well, really expensive!

HDTV versus HD-ready TV

An HD-ready or HD monitor cannot display high definition pictures unless the signal is processed through an external HD tuner before it goes into the set. A true HD television has a factory-installed HD receiver.

Picture-in-picture

A small second picture appears in a corner of the TV screen so viewers can watch two programs at one time. The wife can watch her reality show, and the husband can watch his game, or vice versa.

Response time

The amount of time it takes for a pixel to go from black to white and back again. It's like a camera's shutter speed; the lower the number, the faster the speed, the better the picture.

Screen size

Because one number is more convenient, screen sizes are measured diagonally--a 32-inch LCD TV screen is a little under 28 inches wide x 16 inches high. Difficult as it is to believe, there is such a thing as a too-big television (well, that's what they tell us). Movie and sports fans, especially, want the biggest TV screen they can get, but they also want to see the whole image clearly. Choose a screen that fits your room. If you will sit 5-7 feet away, go up to 41-inches; 8-9 feet, up to 44 inches; 10-11 feet, up to 50 inches; 11-13 feet, up to 60 inches; 13-14 feet, up to 70 inches; over 15 feet, over 70 inches. Of course, you really haven't seen the opening of the first Star Wars
movie until you've watched it sitting 5 inches from a 50-inch TV!

Mounts

TV wall mounts can hang your set on the wall like a picture--great for uncluttered decor schemes. A few sets include a TV wall mount, but most must be purchased separately. If you go this way, get a TV set with a wide viewing angle so you can see it from the side as well as straight on. Be sure you attach the TV mount securely and directly to the studs -- a flat panel TV is still not all that light. A TV shelf is another great wall option.

Final thought: Buy a combo meal instead of a sandwich.

If you have a television, most likely you also have a DVD or VCR or both. You can save money and space by getting a TV/DVD/VCR combo. Choices include TV-VCR, TV-DVD, DVR-VCR, etc. Whatever your platter of choice, these are especially good for dorm rooms, apartments and other small spaces.

For more information:

The Federal Communications Commission (http://www.fcc.gov) oversees the public airways on behalf of the American people.

The FCC's Digital Television website (http://dtv.gov) should be able to answer your DTV questions.

The Consumer Electronics Association (http://ce.org) is a trade group for manufacturers, retailers and others involved with home electronics.

Phoenix Roberts has been a journalist, freelance writer and desktop publisher for over 10 years. Presently, he is an SEO Content Writer for Internet discount retailer Overstock.com (http://www.overstock.com).
(C)2008 Overstock.com--All Rights Reserved.

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Comparing LCD and DLP Projectors

2009-12-09T09:00:00.001-08:00

There are two major types of projectors on today's market, LCD and DLP. Both of them have disadvantages and advantages, and you should be aware of each one before making your purchase. LCD stands for liquid crystal on silicon, and is the major type of projector used today in businesses, schools and at home. One of the big advantages LCD has over DLP is it produces a sharper and clearer image. In the past the major problem with LCD projectors was that sometimes you could see individual pixels if the image was displayed on a large surface. This is a largely been gotten rid of thanks to advances in technology.

DLP stands for digital light processing and is primarily a technology that is pushed by a company called Texas instruments. One of the major advantages of DLP is it tends to be cheaper, and these devices tend to be much more portable and lightweight.

It also recently it was announced that DLP projectors can now be all fitted with 3-D technology which is a big advantage over LCD currently. Also some of these projectors now have dual lamps which means that they can last twice as long before having to replace the bulb.

For most every day functions either type of technology will work well. It is only when you get to that extreme use of these machines like using them in a very large room or giving an image intensive presentation that you reach the limits of these technologies.

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Buying the Right Television - Part 1 - Techno-Jargon Revealed

2009-12-07T19:00:00.001-08:00

Your options in electronics have exploded over the past decade. Home entertainment stores are so full of acronyms--CD, CRT, DLP, DVD, HDTV, LCD--you might think it was an office building full of government agencies! Once, buying TV sets was simple: How big a TV can I afford? Size does matter, price does matter, but they are not alone anymore. Television choices are more complex, but for their troubles, consumers get better TVs and a wider variety of pricing models.

Do I really need a new television?

If your current TV was built before March 2007, it may not be designed to receive the new digital television (DTV). All sets sold after March '07 must be DTV compatible. Also, like everything, TVs wear out. There's great new programming, much of it as HD television or on HD DVDs and wide screen format, coming online almost daily and you really don't want to miss a pixel of it.

What you need to know

Unless you're a television repairman or electronics engineer, you don't really care that the microscopic tilting mirrors have light wheels or that the plasma is neon-xenon gas excited by an electrical charge. (Though you may be fairly surprised that neon-xenon gas ever gets excited.) You care that the magic box makes pretty pictures, and that said box fits your room and your budget. Constantly changing TV technology means that, much as you may not care about the technicalities, you need a passing acquaintance with some techno-jargon so you know what is available to you.

Television terminology

Television vs. Monitor

Televisions are stand-alone devices; they can receive audio and video signals; process them and project them to screen. Monitors only work as components of a larger audio-video system--they project signals to screen, but must be connected to another component (a computer, cable box, etc.) which receives and processes the signals.

NTSC

"National Television Systems Committee"; the government guys who, back in the 1940s, chose the analogue system American TV sets would use; a 525-line/60Hz projection, meaning the television set has 525 lines and shows 60 frames per second.

ATSC

"Advanced Television Systems Committee"; an international group whose members include ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, CEA, IEEE, NAB, SBE, SCTE, SMPTE and EIEIO (just kidding). Back in the 1980s, they defined digital television--SDTV, EDTV and DTV, which, BTW, are compatible with both NTSC TV and HDTV, if that's OK with you, LOL.

Pixel

Short for 'picture element', it's the individual points of color making up a TV picture; pixel count determines resolution, described as the number of pixels forming the picture (1920x1080, for example) or as the number of horizontal lines of pixels (480, 720 or 1080).

Interlace

The projection system in which the TV set lights half of its lines in each scan--abbreviated 480i, 720i or 1080i. Interlace shows less blur in fast moving images by scanning twice as often, but actually projects only about 30 complete frames per second.

Progressive

The projection system in which the TV set lights every line in each scan--abbreviated 480p, 720p or 1080p. Progressive scan shows greater detail by using every available pixel all the time, creating up to 60 frames every second.

Analogue

The television system that used radio waves to transmit pictures and sound the same way some radio stations still broadcast.

SDTV

Standard Definition Television, the backward compatible system--480i resolution plus analogue audio.

EDTV

Enhanced Definition Television, the in-between compromise--480p resolution plus digital audio.

HDTV

High Definition Television--720i, 720p, 1080i or 1080p resolution plus digital audio.

DTV

Digital Television signals will replace all analogue signals on February 17, 2009. Many stations are already broadcasting DTV.

Coaxial or RF, component video, composite video, DVI, HDMI, RCA, SCART, S-Video and VGA

There are numerous types of audio/video cables used to hook together home theater components. You don't need to know what the acronyms mean; you just need to be sure you get the right wires. Read your owner's manual and you'll be fine.

Heard of PAL and SECAM? They are the European equivalents of NTSC. The systems are not compatible. This is only a problem if you buy DVDs from Europe--so don't do that, unless you live there.

For more information:

The Federal Communications Commission (http://www.fcc.gov) oversees the public airways on behalf of the American people.

The FCC's Digital Television website (http://dtv.gov) should be able to answer your DTV questions.

The Consumer Electronics Association (http://ce.org) is a trade group for manufacturers, retailers and others involved with home electronics.

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Unconventional Technology Makes Home Theater Even Better

2009-12-06T17:00:00.001-08:00

When people shop around for HDTV equipment, all too often they fall prey to the idea that they need certain types of HDTV sets, while in reality there are a lot of different options that most people consider. Part of this is caused by media hype of certain types of products, but a lot of it is caused by simple ignorance of the existence of any alternatives.

The case of flat panel HDTV screens is an excellent example of this. Flat panel TV sets are the stereotypical HDTV display technology and are extremely stylish because of the fact that they can be hung on walls like pictures or simply set on a table for an extremely clean look. The major technologies that flat panel screens employ are LCD technology and plasma display technology. One of the reasons for the popularity of flat screen TV technology is that the displays that use it are so versatile. Flat screen HDTV sets can provide a much larger screen in smaller rooms than cathode ray tube or projection screen technologies could simply because they aren't nearly as deep.

While flat panel HDTV sets are undeniably popular and stylish, they're far from the only alternative when it comes to choices for a screen in a home theater system. For example, DLP projection screen HDTV sets can provide a better picture under a greater variety of conditions and at a lower price than most flat panel HDTV sets. That's because digital light processing and produce brighter pictures than plasma screens with deeper blacks and faster response times than LCD screens. Of course the obvious disadvantage is the space that any projection screen TV needs in order to produce an image.

DLP technology also provides another interesting option for HDTV displays in the form of projectors. With DLP projectors, the DLP chip and the light source are contained in one unit which projects the image onto a screen across the room. While such a system needs a minimum amount of distance for the light to travel in order to project a decent size image, it will also make a much more effective use of space than a single unit DLP projection screen TV set.

Another advantage of a DLP projector is that- while this type of HDTV display tends to be more expensive than others- it also offers the best value in terms of the screen size that it can produce for the money. It's not unusual for a relatively moderately priced projector to be able to display a picture that's seven feet across. And the higher end projectors can produce a picture that's a full fifteen feet across! DLP projectors are also good for displaying the graphics from video games and computers as well as HDTV.

When it comes to the set top boxes that will make up a home theater system, it's also a good idea to think outside of the box. For example, instead of getting a separate DVD player, DVR, and receiver; you could get a media center computer that combines all three of those devices. Media center computers can also access the Internet and download video and music, as well as be used to play a variety of computer games. Plus, many media center computers can record video from the TV signal and then burn it onto DVD's that can be played in other devices. When you picture that kind of versatility combined with a DLP projector, you could have a very unconventional but functional home theater system.

N.Evans writes articles for consumers who want to find the best Satellite TV offers currently available. She has written for many major publications about the latest Directtv Offers and Direct TV Specials

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High Definition TV

2009-12-05T16:00:00.001-08:00

The thought of a HDTV came from wide-screen movies. As soon as the wide-screen was introduced, It was seen, that individuals who were seated in the first few rows enjoyed the effect much more, having a level of participation in the action. This was not seen in case of the conventional movies. A greater feeling of 'being there' is felt with the wide-screen occupying a greater field of view, especially peripherally.

High-Definition Television (HDTV) was launched in the market in the year 1998. If stating the reference of HDTV to a common man, it is all about a superior resolution and digital surround sound quality in the new state-of-art television95 – HDTV. It refers to the broadcasting of signals with much higher resolution than before. Today around 80 other devices are sold in the market as HD but in actual they are not HD ready products. They may be good quality TVs, but they lack one necessary condition of being High Definition This is a High Definition Multimedia Interface adaptor which automatically lets the TV set handle the high resolution images all by itself.

Until now, the working of a TV involved some analog signal and a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) unit. The incoming signals were electronically processed into a picture and sound, displaying the picture on the TV screen. This conventional CRT set has a display of about 480 lines of pixels and all the signals worked well for years till the idea of higher resolution evolved. A higher resolution signal for better quality and more clarity could not have worked on this old model of CRT. Also, the conversion of the signals lowered the quality leading to more degradation in the class of the display and sound, in the traditional model of CRT.
The new HDTV is almost incomparable to the Standard Definition Television (SDTV) in many terms, like, HDTV has twice the resolution in comparison to that of the SDTV, providing higher picture clarity.

Further, the range of broadcasting signal for HDTV can also handle higher ‘aspect ratio’ pictures of higher resolution, without the use of ‘letter boxing,’ thus further increasing the over all resolution for such signals. An aspect ratio is the measurement of the image displayed. It is the width of the image divided by the height. A traditional SDTV uses an aspect ratio of 4:3, while a HDTV has a much higher aspect ratio of 16:9 which helps the HDTV to handle bigger pictures and there is no need to compress them as well. HDTV also avoids the use of letter boxing; therefore, one can view the images in their original for wide form. Letter boxing is the technique of compressing the widescreen images to video formats.

The highest resolution of a SDTV is the lowest resolution of HDTV. For the reader’s information, the highest resolution for SDTV is just 704 x 480 pixels, while the highest resolution for HDTV is 1920 x 1080 pixels. Thus a High Definition TV can display 10 times more pixels than an analog SDTV set. The frame rate in seconds, which is best described as the frames per second, or the number of frames required to form a complete picture per second. The technology in a HDTV has a frame rate of 60 per second.

To express the advantages of HDTV purely in non-technical terms here are some of the points listed below:

1. Since High definition TV is digital in nature, it receives the transmitted digital signals. Either there is a signal or none signal at all. There will no blurred signals or weak signals, or signs of signal interferences. An HDTV will either deliver an excellent picture, a still picture or no picture at all. You would never get a snowy or washed out image from a weak signal, effects from signal interference, such as herringbone patterns, or vertical rolling.

2. Most HD programming TVs are presented in the 16:9 proportioned aspect ratios, with wide screens. These screens have some amount of empty space left out at its margins which can be used up easily in case of wide images. This displays the full width of the image.

3. There is also an option of enlarging the screen if the user wants to. In addition to this facility, the images can also be enlarged to fill up the whole screen; however this option will display a distorted, stretched-out picture.

4. A larger bandwidth is used for transferring signals for HDTV, so a very realistic image is formed with true colors. The reason behind this is that, the different colours lie in different ranges of the bandwidth. Therefore, if the bandwidth is increased, so will be the definition of the colours, and naturally better picture quality will be achieved.

5. Since the number of scanning lines are much more in a HDTV, providing a higher resolution, overall visual information is about 2-5 times more detailed in comparison to the normal SDTV. The spaces between scanning lines are smaller or invisible so a better quality is obtained.

6. The increased clarity and detail make larger screen sizes more comfortable and pleasing to watch for the user.

7. Dolby Digital 5.1 sounds are broadcasted along with standard HDTV video signals thus allowing full surround sound capabilities, where-as the broadcasted signals for SDTV are just the basic audio signals.

This new invention of HDTV is surely a noticeable leap in the technology, giving a higher standard to visual as well as sound quality. The true high-definition standard, in contrast, has brought in significantly greater resolution for everybody to enjoy. The up coming new models of HDTV- 720p and 1080i formats, which are very common in today's HD television sets, brings in image clarity several times higher than the standard definition TV model. For the time being, 1080p, the most highly developed and sophisticated HD standard model, is claiming to have images of higher clarity details than anything else out there in the market. All of the HD set-ups are designed for 16x9 widescreen televisions, just like today's movies. So just get out there and enjoy!

In short, HDTV has been termed as the technology of the future. In comparison to a standard analog TV, it features a much higher resolution, clarity and over twice the resolution of DVDs.

Fifty percent of the consumers in U.S. intend to buy a HDTV for their next television. Among the HDTV owners, more than 66% indicate HDTV as their next TV purchase. it is interesting to note that, by law, as from 17 February, 2009, U.S. TV stations will stop analog broadcasting. People continuing with their standard analog TV, will have to procure digital-to-analog converters.

The Right Way to Plan a Front Projection Home Theater

2009-12-04T15:00:00.001-08:00

The concept of 'home theater' means many things to many people. Although some people are content with a 27-inch color TV and a pair of stereo speakers, most recognize a front projection system as the most thrilling and authentic home theater experience. Unfortunately, it is also the most demanding, which is why only about 5% of consumers actually go all the way and install a mini-movie theater in their home.

Thats a shame since a dedicated front projection home theater has so many advantages and benefits that its really worth considering.

For example, with front projection, you get all the benefits of going to the movies (big screen, immersive, theatrical experience), with none of the drawbacks of a night at the multiplex (cellphones, talking, rowdy teens, seat kicking, sticky floors, screen ads, bad sound, out-of-focus prints, crowded seats, no seats, stale popcorn, et. al). Perhaps the single most important benefit: a pause button!

To do a front projection home theater right, you must typically dedicate a single room of your home. This room should be a minimum of 18 x 15 and a minimum height of 7'. You should be able to control ambient light (thick drapes or a windowless basement). Acoustics must be controlled, either with thicker wall construction, room dampening materials, or both.

A dedicated front projection home theater room will cost anywhere from $10,000 to $250,000. You can pay less, but you will generally make compromises in terms of sound quality or picture quality.

These budgets sound high but not if you go out to the movies twice a month. For example, its easy for two people to spend $50 for a date at the movies with a visit to the concession stand. Add a nice dinner and a baby sitter and you're probably paying $200! If you go out twice per month you can lease a new car...or treat yourself (and your entire family) a terrific entertainment experience you can enjoy any day of the week.

Home theater front projectors have historically meant expensive, but prices on these systems - DLP or LCD -- have fallen dramatically in the last four years. What used to cost $12,000 to $20,000 in 2002 now looks better and costs less than $5,000! Excellent quality amps and audio receivers have also come way down in price.

Other system costs have not fallen proportionately. Good-quality surround sound speakers, sturdy furniture, room acoustic treatments, and other "accessories" are priced accurately relative to their quality. In other words, you really do get what you pay for.

A budget of $10,000 to $20,000 (less than $500/month on a home equity line of credit) is quite reasonable and will likely result in a terrific experience for you and your entire family.

To install front projection, it is always a good idea to start the process by consulting a professional. Unless you're planning to keep your projector stored in a closet for special occasions, an experienced professional can make a mediocre system a truly great experience.

Dealer locators are the most obvious way consumers find installers, but these sites list only installers or resellers of a single brand. Another site that assures more objectivity is http://www.allhometheaters.com, a relatively new database that lists virtually ALL home theater and home automation specialists in a local community. The site lets you search by project category AND by zip code proximity of your home. All listings include phone numbers and city/state. Some enhanced listings feature valuable discount coupons, web links, project “samples” showing completed work.

Professional installation of a front projector (ceiling mount with all cables neatly installed) can cost less than $1,000. However, most professionals do more than hide wires. Professional installation can also include professional integration. It is a wise investment.
System integration is an important, albeit, expensive service where all your systems are unified into a single control system. Sometimes it's as simple as programming eight devices into a single multi-function remote control. Better systems have dedicated hardware that distributes high-quality audio (ad even video) to multiple rooms around your home.

A home automation professional can also add other time-savings equipment such as intercoms, home surveillance/security, automated lighting controls, etc. A good installer knows how to install all these systems and make them work reliably and within your budget.

With prices coming down, building a high-quality home theater in your home is not the extravagance it once was and certainly not just of movie moguls. For less than the price of a new car lease you can obtain a top-quality home theater system, professionally designed and installed, to enrich and enliven your evenings for years to come.

The Features and Benefits of the Multisystem LCD TV

2009-12-03T14:00:00.001-08:00

What is an LCD Display?

LCD is short for liquid crystal display, and while LCD technology has been around for quite some time, it has been only in the last decade or so that the technology became suitable for the high quality flat panel television and computer monitor displays we see today. The most notable feature of displays using LCD technology, of course, is the thinness of the unit, but the power behind that thin design is actually quite extensive.

The display on an LCD panel is comprised of picture elements, or pixels as they are known to computer geeks everywhere. The resolution the flat panel display is capable of is determined partially by how many pixels are contained in the display. A typical LCD panel display can range from hundreds of thousands of pixels to millions of pixels, and the higher the number of pixels the better the resolution will be. LCD televisions come in a number of different shapes and sizes, but they are typically designed to accommodate a 16 to 9 display ratio. This ratio makes them perfect for watching widescreen displays like DVDs, as well as traditional television shows.

What are the Differences between LCD and Traditional TVs?

LCD televisions, flat panel computer monitors and other devices have a number of built in advantages, and it is these advantages that have made them such a hit with technology buyers everywhere. Some of the many advantages of LCD technology include:

*Brighter display – the displays on LCD televisions are brighter than those on a traditional CRT television, due to the special way these displays work. While a traditional CRT television or monitor uses a tube to create the display, the LCT TV uses pixels, providing for a brighter display.

*Flicker free performance – the display of the LCD television or computer monitor will also be free of flicker, since the LCD display will have a constant source of light throughout the entire screen. Once the pixel is turned on it remains on. Contrast this to the design of the CRT television or monitor, which must refresh the screen periodically with a ray of light moving down the monitor or TV.

*Low power consumption – another big advantage of the LCD TV is its superior energy efficiency. LCD televisions will be up to 65% more energy efficient than traditional televisions, helping to protect the environment while saving you money.

*Ultra slim design – it is of course the thin and sleek design that turns heads and gets the attention of buyers. LCD displays can be as thin as 49mm (just over 19 inches), meaning that these TVs can be placed virtually anywhere.

*Wall mountable designs – Many LCD TVs are so thin that they can be hung on the wall as you would hang a picture. It is important of course to purchase a wall mounting bracket that is suitable for holding the weight of the unit.

A Guide to Some LCD TV Terms

If you are in the market for an LCD TV, you will likely hear a number of new, and sometimes confusing, terms bandied about. It is important to understand what these words mean to you, the television technology shopper.

*Aspect Ratio – the aspect ratio of the TV helps to determine its suitability for watching movies and television programming in true widescreen format. While the traditional television has always used a aspect ratio of 4:3, i.e. 4” wide, 3” high, the typical LCD television uses an aspect ratio of 16:9, providing a truer widescreen picture perfect for watching DVD and VHS movies, as well as traditional television programming.

*Candela – one of those words you may hear from time to time is candela. Put simply, the candela is a standard unit of brightness, and it is equivalent to the number of candles that would be required to produce the same intensity of light. Therefore a rating such as 450 cd/m2 means that it would take a concentration of 450 candles in a square meter area to produce the same amount of light.

*Contrast Ratio – the contrast ratio is simply the difference in intensity of light between the darkest black and the brightest white on the display. The higher the contrast ratio the sharper and cleaner the picture will be.

*HDTV – high definition television, or HDTV for short, is quickly becoming the standard for television signal technology, and it is important to look for an LCD TV that is HDTV ready.

*Inputs – the TV inputs are important if you plant to connect a DVD player, VCR, game console, computer or other device to the LCD display panel. There are many different types of inputs, and it is important that the TV you choose provide a number of different options for getting signals to the device. A TV with a great many inputs will allow you to connect a number of different devices to the TV, greatly enhancing its versatility and its value.

It is also important to make sure that LCD TV you choose has the proper tuner for playing the TV signal you have coming in to the house. Many plasma screen and LCD TVs will lack a built in tuner, meaning that they will need to pick up that television signal from a cable box, satellite TV box, DirectTV signal or other similar device. It is important to make sure you understand the type of tuner that comes with the TV you are considering, and it is important to purchase all the accessories you will need when buying the TV.

Speaking of accessories, it is important to buy only the highest quality component cabling to connect that LCD display to your DVD player, VCR, Laser Disk player, computer or other device. The highest quality cables will provide the best picture and sound quality, which will further enhance the display of the LCD TV you have chosen.

It is also important, of course, to get the very best price you can on the LCD TV you want. The suggested retail price of the typical LCD TV will vary according to a number of factors, such as the size of the display, the thinness of the display and the quality of the manufacturer. It is important to shop around as much as possible, and to read the reviews of all the models you are considering.

Finally, the ability to play several different television signal formats, such as PAL, NTSC and SECAM, is an important consideration. Different parts of the world use different formats for television signals and video products, and buying one of these multisystem LCD TVs is a good way to make it more versatile and useful while getting the best value for your money.

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

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Television - Getting the Big (and Better) Picture

2009-12-03T01:09:00.001-08:00

Television viewing has certainly changed over the years. From black and white to color in the early days, to the ever increasing size of screens more recently, the home viewing experience is improving. The more recent quest has been focused on increasing picture quality with better color accuracy and clarity. As a consumer, it can be difficult to keep up with all of the terminology and the features of the various types of televisions. For those who have not dedicated time to keep up with this changing world of television, a very brief overview is in order to help in the search for a great picture.

The first step in getting the best possible picture is to receive the best possible signal, which at this time is digital. Satellite TV and digital cable offer the majority of digital television out there at this time. However, changes in broadcasting are forthcoming as all major networks should discontinue broadcasting analog signals and convert completely to digital by February 2009. Digital signals offer many advantages but the most obvious result will be a higher quality picture (and sound). With this change, owning an HDTV set would be of benefit although owners of analog sets will probably be able to purchase inexpensive converter boxes to be able to view the digital signals. Of course, if users want the full picture such as what they see in movie theaters, they will need a "wide screen" with 16:9 aspect ratio versus the 4:3 aspect ratio seen in most traditional sets.

Secondly, a few words about HDTV are in order. HDTV is one form of digital television. It transmits six times more information than you get through analog TV. This gives the viewer stunning pictures with far greater detail, clarity, and color accuracy. An HDTV is capable of displaying resolution of 480i, 480p, 720i, 480p, 720i, 720p, 1080i, 1080p. The "i" means that the signal is displayed on the screen "interlaced" and the "p" means that it is displayed by progressive scan. Progressive scan generally produces a higher quality picture. The highest quality signal a conventional TV offers is 480i, but this is the lowest quality signal for an HDTV. Potential buyers looking for the best picture should accept no less that 720p.

Numerous technologies such as plasma, LCD, and DLP provide displays with outstanding color accuracy, contrast, depth, and clarity. All have a good life span, dependability, and work well in most environments. The choice is primarily based on personal preferences although plasma screens are not recommended for locations at altitudes over 6,500 feet. Plasma tends to offer the largest of screens and is somewhat less expensive than LCD screens of the same size. LCD screens on the other hand emit less heat and use less energy.

Obviously there are many options for getting an outstanding picture to enhance the viewing experience. As there are a number of great technologies, the type of display is less important than getting a digital signal and a set that can both receive the full high definition image and display it with the best possible resolution.

Christine Peppler shares information about home electronics on her homemedias.info website. Visit to find out more about choosing and using a television or satellite TV

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