Friday, November 2, 2007
No Blu-Ray Players for Kmart?
It's out and has been for quite a while now. The newest hottest format for video is Blu-Ray, but if you want one, you'll have to look someplace other than Kmart. The nations declining discount retailer has decided to not carry Blu-ray players, citing the price. They say that they aren't choosing sides and that no one's bought an end-cap, but they feel that Blu-ray players are more focused on home theater enthusiasts and they recognize that those people don't shop for the latest HT gear at Kmart. We don't get into a Kmart much, but the last time we checked the only HD movie gear they had on the shelves was an Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on drive hidden amongst the rest of the 360 accessories.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Is Apple TV really all that?
As Apple TVs begin to arrive in the US, some media outlets have had more than a few days to play with the new set-top device from Apple. While most reviews are calling the device a "simple and elegant," Apple TV--called a "big iPod"--has several significant shortcomings and may not be for all users given other options. Microsoft's Xbox 360 is said to offer better file format/service support, direct internet purchases (movie trailers and software updates are available through the internet), and more. Apple TV also only supports a limited number of file formats, according to PC Magazine's 4 out of 5 star review. Files that work in iTunes don't necessarily work on Apple TV, the publication says; they must be transcoded using Apple's QuickTime Pro (which recently obtained new Apple TV export options) or a third-party software application.
The same review notes that Apple's limited video content selection, high pricing, and limited storage (only 33GB of usable space) makes the device impractical for general video consumption.
CNET News.com also gave the device a 7.7 out of 10 rating, noting several limitations, including file support, quality of currently available iTunes content, lack of HD content--some of which is available via the Xbox 360 marketplace--an oversimplified remote can't control other devices, the inability to purchase iTunes content directly through Apple TV, no internet radio support, and the lack of bundled A/V cables.
"The main issues we have with Apple TV rest not in its performance: it does everything it claims to, and like all Apple products, with amazing ease of use. My problem is with the iTunes movie pricing," PC Magazine notes.
Unlike music, the article notes, most adults don't watch the same video twice, exacerbating the problem of pricing--especially given video rental services such as Netflix.
"What about Netflix? Should I pay $300 for an Apple TV and then about $12 a film on iTunes, when for the price of one iTunes film, I can just have new DVDs all the time? Netflix even offers a streaming service," PC Magazine writes.
"Without a subscription-based movie service or a lower price for films that you can only view for a limited time or a couple times, I think it's hard to convince people that Apple TV is a must-have. It doesn't cost a ton to fill up your iPod, but to load ten flicks that may only be watched once onto Apple TV is going to set you back well over $100…and loading in pirated content takes extra effort and some Quicktime [sic] skills."
Video quality, audio limitations mar good performance
CNET's review also notes the poor video resolution issues as well as consistency in video quality, which the review concluded "were a step down from what you'd see on a $50 DVD player" when played on a large-screen TV.
"Unfortunately, the excellent streaming performance is offset by a drawback that's more the fault of iTunes than Apple TV: generally disappointing video quality. Movies and TV shows in iTunes are currently available in what Apple calls "near-DVD quality"--a maximum of 640x480," the publication writes. "Perhaps 'bad analog cable quality' would be more descriptive--all of the videos were quite soft, lacking the sort of fine detail we've come to expect from well-mastered DVDs."
In addition to video resolutions and consistency issues, iTunes also only supports stereo sound, instead of surround sound, according to CNET. The review concludes the device is best for iTunes addicts, until Apple improves the video (and audio) quality of its iTunes content and offers better file conversion tools to expand the amount of content that can be displayed using Apple TV.
The same review notes that Apple's limited video content selection, high pricing, and limited storage (only 33GB of usable space) makes the device impractical for general video consumption.
CNET News.com also gave the device a 7.7 out of 10 rating, noting several limitations, including file support, quality of currently available iTunes content, lack of HD content--some of which is available via the Xbox 360 marketplace--an oversimplified remote can't control other devices, the inability to purchase iTunes content directly through Apple TV, no internet radio support, and the lack of bundled A/V cables.
"The main issues we have with Apple TV rest not in its performance: it does everything it claims to, and like all Apple products, with amazing ease of use. My problem is with the iTunes movie pricing," PC Magazine notes.
Unlike music, the article notes, most adults don't watch the same video twice, exacerbating the problem of pricing--especially given video rental services such as Netflix.
"What about Netflix? Should I pay $300 for an Apple TV and then about $12 a film on iTunes, when for the price of one iTunes film, I can just have new DVDs all the time? Netflix even offers a streaming service," PC Magazine writes.
"Without a subscription-based movie service or a lower price for films that you can only view for a limited time or a couple times, I think it's hard to convince people that Apple TV is a must-have. It doesn't cost a ton to fill up your iPod, but to load ten flicks that may only be watched once onto Apple TV is going to set you back well over $100…and loading in pirated content takes extra effort and some Quicktime [sic] skills."
Video quality, audio limitations mar good performance
CNET's review also notes the poor video resolution issues as well as consistency in video quality, which the review concluded "were a step down from what you'd see on a $50 DVD player" when played on a large-screen TV.
"Unfortunately, the excellent streaming performance is offset by a drawback that's more the fault of iTunes than Apple TV: generally disappointing video quality. Movies and TV shows in iTunes are currently available in what Apple calls "near-DVD quality"--a maximum of 640x480," the publication writes. "Perhaps 'bad analog cable quality' would be more descriptive--all of the videos were quite soft, lacking the sort of fine detail we've come to expect from well-mastered DVDs."
In addition to video resolutions and consistency issues, iTunes also only supports stereo sound, instead of surround sound, according to CNET. The review concludes the device is best for iTunes addicts, until Apple improves the video (and audio) quality of its iTunes content and offers better file conversion tools to expand the amount of content that can be displayed using Apple TV.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Home Theater Acoustics
We generally think of the speakers in our stereo or home theater systems as the final link in the audio chain — and the one that makes the biggest difference to our ears. But it's really not that simple. There's much more to the sound we hear than just what comes out of our speakers.
The sound that you hear in any room is a combination of the direct sound that travels straight from your speakers to your ears, and the indirect reflected sound — the sound from your speakers that bounces off the walls, floor, ceiling or furniture before it reaches your ears.
Reflected sounds can be both good and bad. The good part is that they make music and speech (like movie dialogue) sound much fuller and louder than they would otherwise. (If you've ever played your speakers outdoors where there are no walls to add reflections, you've probably noticed that they don't sound very good — thin and dull, with very little bass.) Reflected sound can also add a pleasant spaciousness.
The bad part is that these reflections distort sound in a room by making certain notes sound louder while canceling out others. The result may be midrange and treble that's too bright and harsh or echoey, or bass notes that are boomy, with a muddy "one-note" quality that drowns out deep bass.
Because these reflections arrive at your ears at different times than the sound from your speakers, the three-dimensional "soundstage" created by your speakers and the images of the instruments and singers may become vague or smeared.
These same reflections affect the music's timbre, or tonal quality. For example, a flute and an oboe have different timbre; they should sound different even when playing the same note, because each instrument's tones have a different harmonic structure. Reflections can obscure those crucial differences.
So, for all of these reasons it should be clear that your room is really the final component in your system. As with any other component, there are steps you can take to improve your room's performance. Many people find that after accomplishing as much as they can with speaker placement, they still aren't happy with their system's sound. If you feel that the way your room interacts with your speakers is causing problems, it's time to turn to Science; the science of acoustics, or more specifically, room acoustics.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Home Theater - Going Wireless
Dealing with wires and cables is one of the challenges of setting up a home theater system. If you want to eliminate wire troubles such as accidental tripping to unsightly wire clutter, then wireless home theater systems are for you.
You will find wireless home theater systems as an integrated unit or you can buy piece by piece to add to your existing system. As an add-on, the components of a wireless home theater system could include a transmitter and a receiver as well as surround sound speakers. You will connect the transmitter to the amplifier to deliver the audio signal to the receiver, which in turn sends the signal to the rear speakers to which it is connected.
The usual setup of wireless home theater systems consist of the front speakers and subwoofer hooked up to the amplifier with the receiver connected to the rear speakers to produce a surround sound effect.
If you would like a complete set, you can find integrated wireless home theater systems that include three front speakers for the center, left and right, two surround sound speakers, a subwoofer and an amplifier with a fixed transmitter. Some wireless home theater systems also have a DVD player included. Depending on the brand and specific features of the model, wireless home theater systems can cost anywhere from US 200 to 2,000 dollars.
When shopping for wireless home theater systems, a great way to find the best deal is to try out the different systems in person. Visit local electronic stores in your area and then ask a store attendant for a demonstration of the features of the systems they have available that are within your budget. Try out the controls and listen to the sound quality of the speakers until you find the system that suits your requirements best. If you cannot make a final decision yet, make a short list of wireless home theater systems that you like and then go online and read consumer and expert reviews about them.
Once you have chosen the best model, get the best price possible for that system by using a comparison-shopping website. This will save you a lot of time going to individual retailers and checking the price. A comparison-shopping website can survey the prices of wireless home theater systems from online and physical stores so in a few clicks you would know which store has the best price. Just make sure to check if that store is reputable before you make your purchase.
You will find wireless home theater systems as an integrated unit or you can buy piece by piece to add to your existing system. As an add-on, the components of a wireless home theater system could include a transmitter and a receiver as well as surround sound speakers. You will connect the transmitter to the amplifier to deliver the audio signal to the receiver, which in turn sends the signal to the rear speakers to which it is connected.
The usual setup of wireless home theater systems consist of the front speakers and subwoofer hooked up to the amplifier with the receiver connected to the rear speakers to produce a surround sound effect.
If you would like a complete set, you can find integrated wireless home theater systems that include three front speakers for the center, left and right, two surround sound speakers, a subwoofer and an amplifier with a fixed transmitter. Some wireless home theater systems also have a DVD player included. Depending on the brand and specific features of the model, wireless home theater systems can cost anywhere from US 200 to 2,000 dollars.
When shopping for wireless home theater systems, a great way to find the best deal is to try out the different systems in person. Visit local electronic stores in your area and then ask a store attendant for a demonstration of the features of the systems they have available that are within your budget. Try out the controls and listen to the sound quality of the speakers until you find the system that suits your requirements best. If you cannot make a final decision yet, make a short list of wireless home theater systems that you like and then go online and read consumer and expert reviews about them.
Once you have chosen the best model, get the best price possible for that system by using a comparison-shopping website. This will save you a lot of time going to individual retailers and checking the price. A comparison-shopping website can survey the prices of wireless home theater systems from online and physical stores so in a few clicks you would know which store has the best price. Just make sure to check if that store is reputable before you make your purchase.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
The Newer Low Quality HDTV
There is a scam taking place and precious few people know that it is being perpetrated.
Walk into any stereo store, best buy or other TV dealer and ask about HDTV. The salesperson will of course show you the latest sale item, explain how great the picture is, maybe talk about HDDVD or BluRay but almost never will the conversation turn to pixel depth, why? Well because this years newest HDTVs are more concerned about price and less concerned about quality. Sure the quality is great and it is always getting better but if you visit a Costco you will see what I am writing about.
At Costco just as an example you can see racks of big screens. There are Plasmas, LCDs, a token rear projection. But, the little tag will tell you a little bit more. That tag with the price will tell you the resolution and the resolution really ranges. The best you can find and the one that people think that they are getting is 1080P but out of 20 sets in my latest trip to Costco only 2 had this magical high resolution.
Why is this happening? Well simply put there are not as many people out there ready to spend 3000 dollars on a new HDTV so the prices were going to have to drop to get more people in the market to buy a Plasma or LCD TV.
What are these resolutions? OK, so maybe you are now scratching your head wondering what all of these resolutions mean. HDTV has three main resolution, 1080, 720, and 480. Here are the resolutions.
1080p 1,920x1,080 lines
720p 1,280x720 lines
480p 852x480 lines
As compared to your standard computer monitor which is either 1024x768 or 1280x1024. Or if we look at what we are used to today the horizontal resolution of VHS tape is (about) 240 lines; broadcast TV (about) 330 lines, laserdisc (about) 420 lines; and DVD (about) 480 lines
Progressive vs Interlaced
The P or I at the end is the way that the TV screen gets painted. Just to simplify I, which is interlaced is the way that a tv generally looks with every second line being painted at a time and alternating to every other second line at once. P stands for progressive which means that every line is painted with every refresh and looks a lot more smooth to the eye to watch.
By: Bill Nadraszky
Walk into any stereo store, best buy or other TV dealer and ask about HDTV. The salesperson will of course show you the latest sale item, explain how great the picture is, maybe talk about HDDVD or BluRay but almost never will the conversation turn to pixel depth, why? Well because this years newest HDTVs are more concerned about price and less concerned about quality. Sure the quality is great and it is always getting better but if you visit a Costco you will see what I am writing about.
At Costco just as an example you can see racks of big screens. There are Plasmas, LCDs, a token rear projection. But, the little tag will tell you a little bit more. That tag with the price will tell you the resolution and the resolution really ranges. The best you can find and the one that people think that they are getting is 1080P but out of 20 sets in my latest trip to Costco only 2 had this magical high resolution.
Why is this happening? Well simply put there are not as many people out there ready to spend 3000 dollars on a new HDTV so the prices were going to have to drop to get more people in the market to buy a Plasma or LCD TV.
What are these resolutions? OK, so maybe you are now scratching your head wondering what all of these resolutions mean. HDTV has three main resolution, 1080, 720, and 480. Here are the resolutions.
1080p 1,920x1,080 lines
720p 1,280x720 lines
480p 852x480 lines
As compared to your standard computer monitor which is either 1024x768 or 1280x1024. Or if we look at what we are used to today the horizontal resolution of VHS tape is (about) 240 lines; broadcast TV (about) 330 lines, laserdisc (about) 420 lines; and DVD (about) 480 lines
Progressive vs Interlaced
The P or I at the end is the way that the TV screen gets painted. Just to simplify I, which is interlaced is the way that a tv generally looks with every second line being painted at a time and alternating to every other second line at once. P stands for progressive which means that every line is painted with every refresh and looks a lot more smooth to the eye to watch.
By: Bill Nadraszky
Monday, June 11, 2007
Blu-ray Has Arrived
Computer meets video player in the next generation of Blu-ray disc players. Not only do these high-tech wonders display an amazing 1920 x 1080 lines of high-def resolution, they also feature internet connections and Java technology. BD Java interactive technology promises a whole new experience when viewing Blu-ray movies.
Picture-in-picture features have been included in Blu-ray’s rival, HD-DVD, since the get go however it wasn’t a required part of the Blu-ray technology until October 2006. To meet the demands of BD Java requirements, Blu-ray players must meet minimum hardware requirements including memory storage (at least 256MB of persistent memory) and at least 1GB of storage for downloaded internet content.
The days of downloading movies to your laptop are numbered. Who wants to watch movies on a tiny laptop screen anyway? Blu-ray recorders equipped with an internet connection let you watch your HD movies on your own terms, on your own giant screens!
Blu-ray technology incorporates many formats familiar to computer geeks including MPEG-2 which is enhanced for high definition as well as for the playback of HDTV recordings and DVDs, MPEG-4 AVC, and SMPTE VC-1 which is based on the familiar Microsoft Windows Media Video technology. While these video codecs are cool for the geeks among us, for the rest of the world, it simply means your Blu-ray disc player will support these features and the movie studios know it. They’ll use whichever codec best meets their needs with the understanding that these are the common choices from which to choose.
Likewise Blu-ray incorporates a variety of audio codecs including the mandatory codecs such as Linear PCM, Dolby Digital, and DTS Digital Surround. Optional audio codecs include Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, and DTS-HD Master Audio. For the audiophiles out there pick your favorites but don’t expect all Blu-ray movies to have the sound of your choice, it’s purely up to the movie studios to decide what to use.
Contributed by: Martin Wyman
Picture-in-picture features have been included in Blu-ray’s rival, HD-DVD, since the get go however it wasn’t a required part of the Blu-ray technology until October 2006. To meet the demands of BD Java requirements, Blu-ray players must meet minimum hardware requirements including memory storage (at least 256MB of persistent memory) and at least 1GB of storage for downloaded internet content.
The days of downloading movies to your laptop are numbered. Who wants to watch movies on a tiny laptop screen anyway? Blu-ray recorders equipped with an internet connection let you watch your HD movies on your own terms, on your own giant screens!
Blu-ray technology incorporates many formats familiar to computer geeks including MPEG-2 which is enhanced for high definition as well as for the playback of HDTV recordings and DVDs, MPEG-4 AVC, and SMPTE VC-1 which is based on the familiar Microsoft Windows Media Video technology. While these video codecs are cool for the geeks among us, for the rest of the world, it simply means your Blu-ray disc player will support these features and the movie studios know it. They’ll use whichever codec best meets their needs with the understanding that these are the common choices from which to choose.
Likewise Blu-ray incorporates a variety of audio codecs including the mandatory codecs such as Linear PCM, Dolby Digital, and DTS Digital Surround. Optional audio codecs include Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, and DTS-HD Master Audio. For the audiophiles out there pick your favorites but don’t expect all Blu-ray movies to have the sound of your choice, it’s purely up to the movie studios to decide what to use.
Contributed by: Martin Wyman
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