by: David Johnson
Directv’s debut in 1994 turned out to be an auspicious entry into the satellite television market. With a variety of options in programming, some cable subscribers opted for satellite and now more and more are doing so, while others are taking the next technological step by purchasing Directv’s HD receivers as well.
And with the FCC handing down a decision to convert all television to high definition format, commonly known as HD, by 2006, content providers, cable and satellite companies like Directv are in full swing with marketing programs to sell their HD receivers. HD is broadcast digitally at a higher resolution for better picture quality. In the past high definition television used to be a term referred to newer technology in the 1930s that replaced experimental television technology at the time.
Currently, a Directv HD receiver can cost in the five hundred to six hundred dollar range on the cheap side and well over a thousand dollars for higher end receivers. Electronics manufacturers like Hughes, Samsung and others are all touting their HD receivers now for their features, but prices are still a little high, as well as for HD television sets, which average in price over one thousand five hundred dollars
Much has been made of the high definition issue of late and those with a more pessimistic mindset toward HD, some refer to them as hardcore analogue-ers, don’t think a full conversion to HD will be done in time. Even now, those who may purchase an HD receiver are limited to those providers, or television stations or networks that provide content in HD, which some say is up to five times sharper than regular television.
But while Directv has done its part by offering HD receivers, customers recently have complained about the exorbitant price of an HD and Tivo combination receiver, which rings in at a thousand dollars when purchasing it from Directv, a hard pill to swallow for those who may have already spent five hundred to a thousand dollars on a Directv HD receiver to begin with. Tivo allows customers to records hours of television without needing a VHS tape or DVD burner. For the time being some customers are buying a separate Tivo unit and hooking it into their current Directv HD receiver, unfortunately sacrificing some picture quality along the way.
But many customers feel that in time, as with the prices of plasma screen televisions, the Tivo and Directv HD receiver combination will come down in price. So for now, the best bet for those with their Directv HD receivers may be to wait. In time, not only will there be more HD content, but also more affordable receiver options. Standard Directv HD Receivers will likely go down in price as well, along with those with the added Tivo option.
Sources:
http://archive.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/history/topic/182395-1.html
http://www.pvrblog.com/pvr/2005/04/directvs_hd_pro.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDTV
http://www.chartercom.com/products/hdtv/hdtv.aspx
http://www.kaptainsatellite.com
Technology LCD and PLASMA, Pioneer Plasma, Hitachi Plasma, Tips For Buying LCD, Apple, Home Theatre, Cell Phones, Mobile Phone, Digital Camera, Ringtones, Renewable Energy, Toshiba Has HD-DVD-R
Directv HD Receivers Moving With Times
The Apple of my Eye
by: Warren Thompson
It appears that Apple has done it again, folks! I’m sure you have all seen the television commercials, or heard the radio spots, or viewed the ads on your computer. The little company that could has done it again, with the introduction of the iPod Video. Does it really come as such a surprise, though?
It seems that Apple is a company that cannot fail. Sure, they had some difficult times in the past. With so many aggressive plays by Microsoft back in the day, it is unlikely that any tech company would have weathered them with ease. But Apple has always had something that all of Bill Gate’s money could never buy; a true connection with their users.
Since introducing the iPod a few years ago, Apple has seen steady and sustained growth that does not appear to be waning anytime soon. Especially, as they seem to update the iPod every few months now. Dammit, I just bought my iPod Mini a few months ago and they have discontinued it already! They didn’t simply discontinue it, though. They replaced it with the iPod Nano, which is smaller, slicker, and has a color screen. I wanted one as soon as I saw it, or at least until I saw the iPod Video.
Now Apple has introduced to much fanfare, the iPod Video! I was certain that the next iPod would have a video camera in it, but perhaps they are saving that for next month. Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple, didn’t seem too keen on the idea of a video iPod a few short years ago. Funny how things change, huh? They have also announced a partnership with Disney, in which they will provide customers with Disney’s feature films through the iTunes store. You can be sure that Pixar films are on the way, too.
The new iPod Video comes in 30 and 60 Gigabyte models with color screens. You can now store music, graphics, pictures, and video on your iPod. It also comes with a video output that will allow you to hook it up to your television or video projector. I can hardly believe all of the features that the iPod now has. I suspect that the inclusion of a video camera and a cell phone with give Apple complete market domination. They should be out in a couple months, or so one would think. The only thing missing after that would be a Star Trek-type teleporter! Remember, you heard it here first!
About The Author
Warren Thompson is currently obsessing over his new iPod Video. When he is not dreaming up potential iPod improvements, he writes freelance articles for hometheaterfocus.com – an independent home theater guide specializing in the latest information about audio cables - http://www.hometheaterfocus.com/accessories/audio-cables.aspx, S video cables - http://www.hometheaterfocus.com/accessories/s-video.aspx, Plasma televisions - http://www.hometheaterfocus.com/televisions/plasma-televisions.aspx and more.
The Science Behind DLP Television
by: Mitchell Medford
DLP televisions are based on a technology invented by Texas Instruments back in 1987 called Digital Light Processing. The technology is based on an optical semiconductor called DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) chip. It is a highly reliable, all-digital display chip that delivers the best picture across a broad range of products, including large screen digital TVs, and projectors for business, home, professional venue and digital cinema.
The chip consists of over one million mirrors to process light. They come in either single chip or 3 chip configurations. One-chip DLP systems use a projection lamp to pass white light through a color wheel that sends red-green-blue colors to the DMD chip in a sequential order to create an image on-screen. Only one DMD chip is used to process the primary RGB colors. Three-chip DLP systems use a projection lamp to send white light through a prism, which creates separate red, green, and blue light beams. Each beam is sent to their respective red, green, and blue DMD chip to process the image for display on-screen. One-chip models are said to produce a display of over 16-million colors. Three-chip models can produce a display of over 35-trillion colors. The result is maximum fidelity: a picture whose clarity, brilliance and color must be seen to be believed.
When a DLP chip is coordinated with a digital video or graphic signal, a light source, and a projection lens, its mirrors can reflect an all-digital image onto a screen or other surface. The DLP chip and the sophisticated electronics that surround it are what we call Digital Light Processing™ technology.
Benefits of Single chip DLP:
1. Fantastic color accuracy.
2. The best contrast ratios and shadow detail.
3. Generally very quiet.
4. Very little space between each pixel creates a very smooth image, even when using lower resolution projectors.
5. Light engine failures are very rare so repairs are less costly than other technologies.
6. Technology doesn't degrade over time. With proper routine maintenance, DLP™ projectors consistently provide just-out-of-the-box performance. (DLP™ is the only technology that makes this claim).
Benefits of Three chip DLP:
1. Good contrast; much greater than film theaters.
2. Good shadow detail.
3. Can provide high brightness compared to the limited brightness of single chip versions.
4. Overall image quality deemed as the best of any type of micro display technology.
5. Same technology as projectors installed in digital theaters.
6. Pure digital technology.
The bit-streamed image code entering the semiconductor directs each mirror to switch on and off up to several thousand times per second. When a mirror is switched on more frequently than off, it reflects a light gray pixel; a mirror that's switched off more frequently reflects a darker gray pixel. In this way, the mirrors in a DLP projection system can reflect pixels in up to 1,024 shades of gray to convert the video or graphic signal entering the DLP chip into a highly detailed grayscale image.
The white light generated by the lamp in a DLP projection system passes through a color wheel as it travels to the surface of the DLP chip. The color wheel filters the light into red, green, and blue, from which a single-chip DLP projection system can create at least 16.7 million colors. And the 3-chip system found in DLP Cinema™ projection systems is capable of producing no fewer than 35 trillion colors. The on and off states of each micromirror are coordinated with these three basic building blocks of color. For example, a mirror responsible for projecting a purple pixel will only reflect red and blue light to the projection surface; our eyes then blend these rapidly alternating flashes to see the intended hue in a projected image.
About The Author
Mitchell Medford is an author and product consultant for several consumer electronics manufacturers. Visit his website for more information on home theater, LCD TVs, and plasma televisions: http://www.newtechnologytv.com
The Apple of my Eye
by: Warren Thompson
It appears that Apple has done it again, folks! I’m sure you have all seen the television commercials, or heard the radio spots, or viewed the ads on your computer. The little company that could has done it again, with the introduction of the iPod Video. Does it really come as such a surprise, though?
It seems that Apple is a company that cannot fail. Sure, they had some difficult times in the past. With so many aggressive plays by Microsoft back in the day, it is unlikely that any tech company would have weathered them with ease. But Apple has always had something that all of Bill Gate’s money could never buy; a true connection with their users.
Since introducing the iPod a few years ago, Apple has seen steady and sustained growth that does not appear to be waning anytime soon. Especially, as they seem to update the iPod every few months now. Dammit, I just bought my iPod Mini a few months ago and they have discontinued it already! They didn’t simply discontinue it, though. They replaced it with the iPod Nano, which is smaller, slicker, and has a color screen. I wanted one as soon as I saw it, or at least until I saw the iPod Video.
Now Apple has introduced to much fanfare, the iPod Video! I was certain that the next iPod would have a video camera in it, but perhaps they are saving that for next month. Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple, didn’t seem too keen on the idea of a video iPod a few short years ago. Funny how things change, huh? They have also announced a partnership with Disney, in which they will provide customers with Disney’s feature films through the iTunes store. You can be sure that Pixar films are on the way, too.
The new iPod Video comes in 30 and 60 Gigabyte models with color screens. You can now store music, graphics, pictures, and video on your iPod. It also comes with a video output that will allow you to hook it up to your television or video projector. I can hardly believe all of the features that the iPod now has. I suspect that the inclusion of a video camera and a cell phone with give Apple complete market domination. They should be out in a couple months, or so one would think. The only thing missing after that would be a Star Trek-type teleporter! Remember, you heard it here first!
About The Author
Warren Thompson is currently obsessing over his new iPod Video. When he is not dreaming up potential iPod improvements, he writes freelance articles for hometheaterfocus.com – an independent home theater guide specializing in the latest information about audio cables
Home Theatre
by: Andrew A
With all of the technology that is available for people to be able to make their family or living rooms into their own personal home theaters, many people are deciding that a television, no matter how large it is, is simply not enough to complete their home theater experience. A new line of comparatively small and inexpensive digital home theater projectors is now available for anyone looking for the ultimate home theater experience. People who want to truly experience the atmosphere of the theater can now do so by creating their own miniature screening room complete with a home theater projector.
A home theater project isn’t just for showing movies at home. While videotapes and DVD’s can look amazing when viewed through a home theater projector, television programs, sporting events and even video games viewed through a projector are incredibly entertaining. The price of home theater projectors is very attractive when compared to the latest in big screen televisions and plasma TVs. A home theater project can provide the larger view of television programming often for thousands of dollars less than large televisions.
There are a number of different home theater projectors available to choose from to provide the exact viewing experience each individual desires in their home. It is important to keep in mind when deciding to purchase a home theater projector for the home that it will require a relatively darkened room in order for the images to be seen clearly. Many people can remember seeing the older reel-to-reel projectors that their parent’s showed home movies on for years. Today’s home theater projectors have incorporated digital technology into their design in order to be of a smaller size than traditional projectors and to be able to adjust settings for the perfect image.
Today’s home theater projectors project the light that displays images a number of different ways including the use of a liquid crystal display (LCD), mirrors or a combination of both. Home theater projectors that use a LCD is more likely to be less expensive than other models that use a combination of projection techniques. The most expensive type of home theater projector uses something called Liquid Crystal on Silicon to display images that some people believe to offer the sharpest image from a projector. Once a home theater projector has been chosen, it will require a screen on which to display images or if a person enjoys a challenge, he or she can attempt to construct their own original screen.
Most projectors seem to work best when they are mounted up high or even from the ceiling. Cables coming out of the projector tend to be unsightly and can be hidden inside the ceiling or walls. Hiring a professional to complete this task might be the only way to avoid damage and accidents when attempting to do it alone. Some people find creative ways to conceal the cords by covering them with neutral colored tape and then painting over the tape with the color that matches the ceiling or walls. Other people cover cords with furniture like paintings or bookshelves.
Once a home theater projector has become a part of a complete home theater system, most people rarely opt to use their television for their viewing entertainment. Home theater projectors truly allow for anyone to have their own movie theater right in their own living room.
About The Author
Andrew A is the webmaster and owner of “Discounted-Home-Theaters.com" and has been researching and reporting on Home Theatre for years. Click Here ==> http://www.discounted-home-theaters.com/
How Plasma TVs And LCD TVs Differ
by: Joseph Foley
The buying of large-screen TVs has absolutely skyrocketed lately. It seems that everyone wants one – and with good reason. The large-screen TV has come a long way from those faded-out behemoths of old that took up half your living room and never really produced a picture of decent quality. Now, however, especially in combination with HDTV, you can get not only a nice, large picture, but a crisp, clean one too.
Once you decide that you’re ready for a large-screen TV, you quickly discover that you only really have two main options – a plasma TV or an LCD TV. Plasma TVs were first on the scene, but the recent mass production of LCD TVs by major manufactures has put LCD TVs pretty much on equal footing with plasmas. That said, you will still have to make a choice.
If you’re like most people, you not only have no idea how the two differ, you don’t even know the areas you should be considering in order to determine how they differ. But they do indeed differ, and knowing the difference is extremely important if you’re going to get the TV that’s right for you.
You can essentially boil the differences between plasmas and LCDs into twelve basic points. In some areas, plasmas will win out. In other areas, LCDs will win out. In yet other areas, it will depend on your own personal taste in order to decide who wins out.
The twelve ways plasma TVs and LCD TVs differ are the following:
1. The first is a technical issue, and may seem a little boring, but it really does affect other areas. Plasmas TVs are made of chemical compounds called phosphors. LCD TVs use millions of liquid crystals.
2. The next section is related to how big the TVs are and the availability of larger sizes. You have a wider selection of larger-size TVs with plasmas (though LCDs are catching up).
3. The next section is “small size,” which is also important. Plasmas don't come in smaller sizes, which you will need for places like the kitchen.
4. Next is viewing angle. Plasmas tend to have a wider viewing angle (though, again, LCDs are catching up).
5. Although the manufacturers may not like to admit it, each “can” suffer from certain problems. Plasmas can suffer from burn-in effect; LCDs don't.
6. Another problem area, but for LCDs, is “delay.” LCDs can produce a jagged figure when in motion. Plasmas tend to do better. HDTV improves this dramatically for both.
7. The next area is life span. You can replace the light source with an LCD, thereby bringing your original picture back. With plasmas you can't.
8. In the next few sections, the theme of “picture quality” is considered. First, color: LCDs produce sharp, lively colors. Plasmas produce warmer and more accurate colors.
9. Next is brightness levels and the TVs ability to handle different lighting. LCDs tend to do better in bright-light conditions.
10. Also related to picture quality is “black levels.” Plasmas tend to produce blacker blacks.
11. Another area to consider is contrast range. Plasmas, "technically," produce a higher contrast range.
12. Last, and certainly not least, is price. At the moment, plasmas tend to run a little cheaper, but this is changing rapidly as LCDs flood into the market. By the time you read this, in fact, there may be no difference at all.
Essentially, which one is right for you will all comes down to taste: What potential negatives will you not really notice? What positives do you want more of? What do you really want the TV for – movies, sports, news, regular TV shows? Both plasmas and LCDs have strong advocates in their corners. Both have deliriously happy customers. But those happy customers are only happy because they knew what they wanted before they made their purchase. If you want to make the right choice, you’ll have to decide what it is you want and which of the two TVs can best give you that.
About The Author
Joseph Foley
Plasma vs. LCD TVs: To learn more about these two technologies and how your own personal tastes and viewing habits will affect your choice, read the full report at http://www.plasma-vs-lcd.com. You might also be surprised to learn that plasma TVs are like peanut butter and LCD TVs are like jelly. Yes, really. Read the report.
Home Theater's 3 UGLY Secrets
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.
