Blu-ray: A Primer
Blu-ray is an optical disc format which is set to rival http://www.the-hdtv-tuner.com/high-definition-dvd.html">HD-DVD in the race to be the de-facto standard storage medium for HDTV. The HD-DVD vs Blu-ray battle resembles that between Betamax and VHS and DVD+RW and DVD-RW.Currently, the major Hollywood film studios are split evenly in their support fro Blu-ray and HD-DVD, but most of the electronics industry is currently in the Blu-ray camp. The key difference between Blu-ray disc players and recorders and current optical disc technology is that Blu-ray, as its name suggests, uses a blue-violet laser to read and write data rather than a red one. Blue light has a shorter wavelength than red light, and according to the http://www.blu-ray.com">Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), which is made up of, amongst others, Sony, Philips, Panasonic, and Pioneer, this means that the laser spot can be focussed with greater precision.Blu-ray discs have a maximum capacity of 25GB and dual-layer discs can hold up to 50GB - enough for four hours of HDTV. Like HD-DVD, Blue laser discs don't require a caddy and the players and recorders will be able to play current DVD discs.
Codecs supported by Blu-ray include the H.264 MPEG-4 codec which will form part of Apple's QuickTime 7, and the Windows Media 9 based VC-1.The BDA says that although blue laser discs and players are already shipping in Japan, they won't ship in the US until the end of 2005 at the very earliest. It is likely that players will be very expensive initially, compared to DVD players. In Japan, they cost the equivalent of $2000. However, as with all new technology, prices will quickly fall - particularly as Blu-ray will be competing with HD-DVD for that space under your TV..
Kenny Hemphill is the editor and publisher ofThe HDTV Tuner - a guide to the kit, the technology and the programming on HDTV.Free DISH Network HDTV Receiver Guide
DISH Network HDTV Receiver
When you subscribe to DISH Network's satellite TV service you get all the equipment you need for satellite TV viewing - a dish and a four-room receiver system. But what if you want to watch your programs in high definition?
Well, you're in luck. You can upgrade your system and get an HDTV receiver for free when you place your order
DISH Network HDTV Receiver Features
DISH Network HDTV receivers have a host of features including:
* An integrated off-air tuner for high-definition and standard over-the-air
reception.
* An electronic program guide with on-screen navigation so you can see what's on satellite TV.
* Parental locks so you can prevent your children from watching inappropriate programs.
* Interactive TV so you can watch six screens at once, and on-demand...
Hdtv > Free DISH Network HDTV Receiver Guide
First Toshiba HDTV With Two HDMI Ports
Leicester, England (ContentDesk) July 5, 2006 -- Toshiba
has designed the new 32WLT66 LCD TV firmly with the future in mind. The technology used in this LCD master piece is way ahead of the game. There are two HDMI ports as well as an analogue and digital tuner. Thetwo HDMI ports give you the versatility of connecting up a new games console like the Xbox360 or PlayStation 3 as well as a next generation DVD player like HD-DVD and Blu-Ray.The external design is a high gloss piano black finish. You have the option of plugging the computer in or using one of the digital connections on the back including the VGA port and the DVI input.
A further ?150 would get you a sub-woofer to add that extra oomph. The LCD's dimensions are 794 x 559 x 116mm ...
First Toshiba HDTV With Two HDMI Ports
Hdtv > First Toshiba HDTV With Two HDMI Ports
HDTV Magazine Releases The State of HDTV Technology, 2006 Review, and CES Report
Alsea, OR
(ContentDesk) March 29, 2006 -- The much anticipated HDTV Technology Review 2006, by Rodolfo La Maestra, is now available in both a PDF downloadable file for immediate access or a printed version deliverable within days. You might think you have the whole story about HDTV until you thumb through its amazing 207 fact-filled pages, said publisher and HDTV pioneer Dale Cripps. The report is a comprehensive (and searchable) desk reference detailing all existing and near-future HDTV technologies and H/DTV products. It provides a clear explanation of the present and emerging HDTV technologies incorporated in these products,
said co-publisher, Shane Sturgeon, as well as a seasoned assessment of their respective strengths and weaknesses and their likely market successes or failures.
From politics to markets, the La Maestra report delivers unerringly the entire state of the H/DTV industry.Who should have this report? Thats easy, said Cripps, If you...
Hdtv > HDTV Magazine Releases The State of HDTV Technology, 2006 Review, and CES Report
Confused about the difference between EDTV and HDTV?
Confused by EDTV vs HDTV? We don't blame you. The number of acronyms floating about with regard to digital TV is frightening. What's even more worrying is that very often they are used by people who have little or no knowledge about what they mean. If the person selling you doesn't know the difference between EDTV vs HDTV, how are customers supposed to decide which TV or projector top go for?In our guide below, we've tried to distill the technical info into as few words as possible and make it as straightforward to understand as we can.To properly explain EDTV vs HDTV, we need to step back a bit. Traditional TV has 525 lines of video which are interlaced.
Interlacing just means that every frame of video is split into two fields and each field is shown alternately. Although there are 525 lines in the signal, only 480 lines contain video, so it is sometimes referred to as 480i (480 lines interlaced). This is known as Standard Definition TV, or SDTV. While this has worked well enough...
Confused about the difference between EDTV and HDTV?
Hdtv > Confused about the difference between EDTV and HDTV?
DIRECTV HD Programming Guide - HDTV Channels and Prices
DIRECTV HD Programming
HD (high definition) broadcasting represents the latest technological advance in satellite TV. Here's a guide to DIRECTV HD programming, prices, and special offers.
HD TV
HD TV is a television format that broadcasts programs in a high resolution format. This format produces a much sharper and clearer picture than standard (analog) TV format.
DIRECTV HD FEATURES
Here's what you get with DIRECTV HDTV:
* Better picture - With DIRECTV HDTV you get a much sharper image than with regular TV, resulting in a more lifelike picture.
* Wide screen - You get a full-width picture (16:9 aspect ratio) just like you see in the movies, giving you the impression that you're part of the scene.
* Better sound - DIRECTV HD audio programming is broadcast in Dolby Digital format for a three-dimensional...
Hdtv > DIRECTV HD Programming Guide - HDTV Channels and Prices