Why are Wireless Headsets so Popular?

There are a few reasons why wireless headsets are popular. Wireless headsets can give you freedom as well as keep you connected to the phone. Having the freedom to move around and get up from one certain spot is always a plus if you are on the telephone a lot. Another reason why wireless headsets may be popular is because of the fact they are so small. Most of the wireless headsets that are being sold are very small and compact, making wearing them more of a pleasure than a chore.

Can you buy a wireless headset for a cell phone? Yes, Bluetooth has recently come out with a headset that is wireless for the cell phone. This makes talking on the go even easier than before. Without the aggravating wire getting in the way and tangled around you, talking on the phone has been brought to new heights.

Will a wireless headset be compatible with my cordless phone? Yes, depending on the model and brand of your cordless phone, you may be able to get a headset that is wireless to accommodate you. When you go shopping for your headset, be sure to take your cordless phone specifics with you so that you can make sure you get the correct one for your phone.

Can I hook up a wireless headset to my corded phone? Yes, headsets that are wireless originally came out to be used with corded phones. If all you have are corded phones, a wireless headset will set you free to be able to be on the phone and have your hands free. Wireless headsets come in a large variety of brands. Each brand having their own particular styles and models gives you an even bigger selection to choose from. Headsets that are wireless provide you with more freedom while talking on the phone. Not being tied down to a certain spot while on the telephone is a great thing if you are a multitasker.

Waldo has been a sound technician at a recording studio for over ten years. In his line of work, he has tested literally hundreds of different headsets and on http://www.bigheadset.com , he shares his in-depth analysis of different brands, models and bluetooth headset reviews.

Comparison of Digital Television Technologies

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)

This is the picture tube based technology that traditional TV sets have used for years. CRTs do not have a fixed (or native) resolution, they are analogue devices. This doesn't mean they can not display digital signals, however any digital signal must be converted to analogue in order for the TV to display the picture.

Advantages:

* Tried an tested technology. CRTs have been used for decades and are considered to have excellent durability before their picture tubes wear out. Generally a good CRT will require very little if any servicing.

* Many claim that many modern digital technologies lack the black level detail that a good CRT provides. CRTs have a higher contrast ratio that generally results in richer shadow details.

* CRT TVs are generally a lot cheaper to purchase than digital sets.

* Can be viewed in bright surroundings.

Disadvantages:

* CRTs are a lot bigger and heavier than their digital equivalents.

* In order for CRTs to display the best picture their red, green and blue images from their tubes must be perfectly converged (aligned over one another). However this can drift out of alignment over time and require user adjustment which many find annoying.

* CRTs can suffer from the dreaded burn-in. When a stationary image is left on the screen for prolonged periods of time, such as a TV station logo or a heads up display in a video game the stationary part of the image can get a shadow temporarily or permanently burnt into the screen. This is much more likely to happen with very high contrast settings. More moderate settings minimize the risk of burn-in.

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)

A matrix of thin-film transistors (TFTs) supplies voltage to liquid-crystal-filled cells sandwiched between two sheets of glass. When hit with an electrical charge, the crystals untwist to an exact degree to filter white light generated by a lamp behind the screen.

Advantages:

* Usually are very thin light panels, which can be hung on a wall.

* Insucseptable to burn-in issues.

Disadvantages:

* Typically more expensive than plasma displays of an equivalent size.

* Black levels can be quite poor.

* LCD TVs are prone to image lag. This is where a rapidly moving object has a tendency to have a ghosting effect due to the pixels not being able to shut off quick enough. This can be especially problematic when playing video games. Newer models are getting closer to eliminating this effect but they are not there yet.

Rear Projection DLP

This projection TV technology was developed by Texas Instruments, which is based on their Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) microchip. Each of these chips has hundreds of thousands of swiveling mirrors which are used to create the image.

Advantages:

* Not susceptible to burn-in issues.

* Smaller and lighter than CRT equivalents.

* Excellent brightness and picture.

Disadvantages:

* Really needs low ambient light levels in the room when viewing a DLP TV. Not recommended for viewing in a bright sunny room. Settings can be adjusted for ambient light levels but a dark room is really required to get the best out of these TVs.

* DLPs contain a lamp that must be replaced every 6000 - 8000 hours (roughly - there are other factors that effect this). These lamps are quite expensive at several hundred dollars a piece. These lamps are considered a consumable and are not covered in warranties. If you watch TV for many hours a day you really need to factor this cost into your purchasing decision.

* Some people are susceptible to seeing a rainbow like shadowing effect on DLP televisions, especially where there are scenes with highly contrasting dark and light aspects. Newer DLP TVs with 3 chips have greatly reduced this problem. I own an older one chip DLP and have never experienced this problem.

* Poor off-axis viewing. Picture is significantly poorer when watching from an angle, especially vertically.

Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS)

Similar to LCD, consists of a liquid crystal layer which sits on top of a pixelated, highly reflective substrate.

Advantages:

* Not susceptible to burn-in.

* Generally excellent brightness and color quality. Black levels considered to be very good.

Disadvantages:

* Still quite expensive compared to LCD and DLP rear projection sets.

* Like LCD and DLP rear projection sets the lamp must be replaced as necessary.

Plasma TVs

Plasma TVs consists of hundreds of thousands of individual pixel cells that allow electric pulses to excite rare natural gases (usually xenon and neon), causing them to glow and produce light. This light illuminates the proper balance of red, green, or blue phosphors contained in each cell to display the proper color sequence from the light.

Advantages:

* Can be viewed from angles and still retain excellent picture quality.

* Thin and light, can be hung on a wall.

* Excellent colour, detail and brightness.

Disadvantages:

* Significantly more expensive than rear projection digital sets.

* There seems to be more variation in the quality across the range of makes and models of plasma sets. The gap between the best sets and some of the cheap ones can be pretty high.

* Plasma TVs are less energy efficient than other technologies.

* Plasma sets are susceptible to burn-in. Similar to CRTs (above), moderate contrast levels can reduce this risk greatly, but it's still an issue.

Front Projection Systems

Front projections systems comprise two components a projector and a screen. The projector must be placed in front of the screen to projects it's image. Typically a projector will be mounted to a wall or ceiling above and behind the viewing position. Front projectors, like rear projection systems, come in three main flavors CRT, LCD and DLP. For truelly massive screen sizes (>2 meters) front projectors are the only real option for home theatre enthusiasts.

Advantages:

* Capable of scaling picture size to suit your needs. The only option for very large screen viewing.

* Low footprint. The projector itself is quite small and typically ceiling mounted and out of the way. Some screens are retractable and need only be opened when using them.

Disadvantages:

* Lamp life is very short, typically only 1000 - 4000 hours depending on the type.

* Really need a darkened room to properly view the picture produced by projectors.

* If ceiling mounted may need to be professionally installed.

Jof is the owner of Digital TV Spot. More of his articles can be found there.

LCD TV Checklist: Are You Prepared?

LCD flat screen TVs provide a superior picture as compared to a traditional television - and they can come in more attractive styles to boot. A flat screen LCD TV can be mounted on a wall, under a cabinet, on the ceiling? or can sit on a stand or on top of furniture. LCD TVs are versatile, flexible, and provide a better entertainment experience? but how do they work?

LCD flat screen TVs, and LCD technology itself, is based on the properties of polarized light. LCD TVs consist of two, perpendicularly arranged panes of polarized glass stuck together by a liquid-crystal-filled polymer solution. When they are exposed to electrical currents, the crystals untwist to varying degrees, permitting specific amounts and colors of light to pass though them. Flat screen LCD TVs are, in effect, projection TVs that depend on an extremely bright lamp as their light source, so they're considered a passive display.

So how do you choose the right flat panel LCD TV for you? You should at least consider the following factors when shopping for a flat panel LCD TV.

1. Look for a HDMI input. This port keeps the signal all-digital, avoiding degradation that can occur as the signal passes through other components (like your cable box). HMDI carries high-definition audio as well as video. Some satellite receivers and DVD players also connect through this port.

2. Match the LCD TV size to the size of the room where it will be placed. Because LCD TVs have higher resolutions than conventional TVs, you can sit closer than you normally would, so you can view a larger screen comfortably. (Keep in mind a 42-inch screen may overwhelm a small room, though.)

3. Decide if you want the picture-in-picture feature. The picture in picture feature allows you to simultaneously view two video sources at once, with one appearing as a small window on the screen. If you do want picture-in-picture in your flat panel LCD TV, keep in mind that single-tuner picture-in-picture lets you watch TV in one window and another source (like a DVD) in the second window. A flat panel LCD TV with two tuners lets you watch two television sources at once.

4. Do you need HDTV? A flat panel LCD TV with EDTV is cheaper, but it can't display high-definition signals. The price difference between smaller flat panel HD-ready LCDs and ED-ready LCDs is fairly low, so you're better off buying a HD-ready set. In fact, most experts say there's little reason to buy a non-HD LCD television. These lower resolution LCD TVs won't be able to accept high-definition signals, so the picture won't look any better than regular analog TV. And small HD-ready LCD TVs can be found for $500 or less, which is cheap enough that there really isn't much to save on a non-HD LCD TV.

Check to see if the TV comes with a stand or mounting hardware. Most flat panel LCD TVs come with a basic table stand, but wall-mounting hardware costs an additional $100 to $200.

5. Look into the manufacturer's warranty policy before buying online. Some manufacturers have strict policies regarding authorized dealers. If you buy a Sharp LCD Television, for example, from an unauthorized dealer, Sharp may not offer warranty coverage. (However, the retailer may offer a substitute warranty that sufficiently covers you.) The difference in price between an authorized Sharp dealer and a discounter can sometimes be hundreds of dollars, so make sure you're comfortable with the risk of not having a warranty, or make sure you ask the dealer for information about their warranty terms for the flat panel LCD TV you're considering.

6. Finally, learn about LCD TVs. There are far more things to learn about LCD TVs than the above mentioned points. Get educated on how to buy an LCD TV.

Tim Jeffries is author of ?The LCD TV Shopping Guide.? Get your copy at http://www.llcdtv.com

DVD Wholesale Distributors

Wholesale DVD distributors license the DVD distribution rights from studios producing the movies and supply DVDs to retail stores, online merchants, DVD rental companies and mail order stores. Often the DVDs are manufactured or imported by wholesalers themselves.

DVDs are sold as bundles containing different titles. Action, comedy, drama, family, horror, kids, martial arts, and western are some of the popular DVD genres. They are sold as pre-boxed bundles or customized according to orders. Often DVDs contain extra content not available to viewers in the movie theatres. These include interviews with the stars, behind the scenes action from the movie sets and scenes which have been deleted from the movie. These extras are an added attraction for DVD consumers.

The major revenue accruing to wholesale DVD distributors is through the sale of video products to retail shops and video rentals. There has been considerable growth in the mail order rental via the Internet in the US. Netflix, which is one of the largest online rental companies, has more than two million customers. The company expects to have about five percent share of the entire US market in 2006. It ships about three million DVDs each week.

DVD retailers enjoy a good margin and an increasing number of people are taking to purchasing DVDs in bulk from a wholesaler and selling them on auction sites such as EBay and online stores. Several DVD distributors offer drop shipping and mail the DVDs directly to the end consumer on the retailer?s behalf.

DVD mail order via the Internet, digital distribution which includes providing a movie download service via the distributor?s own broadband infrastructure, game stores, video on demand services, and pay-per-view services are the current trends. Video on demand (VOD) systems allow users to watch video over a network as part of an interactive television system. The video can be seen at any time, whereas a pay-per-view system allows television viewers to purchase events for a private telecast in their homes.

Wholesale Distributors provides detailed information on Wholesale Distributors, DVD Wholesale Distributors, Wholesale Clothing Distributors, Wholesale Food Distributors and more. Wholesale Distributors is affiliated with Candle Wholesalers.

How to Use Your LCD TV as a Video Monitor

Unlike a plasma television that offers the danger of burn-in, you can learn how to use you LCD TV as a video monitor. It makes for a clear and crisp picture to go with yoru computer or video games. The versatility of an LCD TV is perhaps what makes it most attractive to many buyers. A few tips on how to use your LCD TV as a video monitor will help you see just how great an LCD television can be in your home.

LCD screens actually have their roots in computer monitors. The wild success of LCD computer screens has led to the development of larger screens to use as television sets. Many of the characteristics are the same, but in order to compete with plasma, the televisions have actually developed higher quality pictures in the last couple of years.

A word of advice, though: if you are planning to use your LCD just as a computer screen, consider actually buying an LCD monitor. If you do not, you will end up paying for a tuner, AV inputs, and other television features that you don?t need. On the other hand, if you are gaming on your LCD screen, a big 30 inch screen can be impressive when you show it off to your gaming buddies.

The first step in learning how to use your LCD TV as a video monitor is making sure you have the right television. In order to make the switch from TV viewing to monitor for your computer or games, your television needs to have a VGA or other options for connection to a PC or gaming system. If it does not, then you are going to be very disappointed.

Make sure your computer is near your LCD television. You do not want to have to run cables and wires all over the house to accommodate your computer usage. Additionally, it needs to be close enough that your view of the monitor will actually be reasonable when using the computer. You would be surprised at how many people say they want to use the LCD screen for their computer monitor, but forget to put the computer near the television.

Next, in learning how to use your LCD TV as a video monitor, you need to make sure you have all wires and cables run that you need so you can switch easily. Run cables through the walls or conduit to both your computer and the cable input for your home. That way when you decide to switch your LCD screen between television and computer use it will be smooth. If you are really savvy, you can also set it up so that a switch or channel change will move you from computer or video monitor to television screen without a lot of work.

Learning how to use your LCD TV as a video monitor is valuable. Since the picture is so clear and well contrasted, you will reduce eye fatigue and squinting headaches brought about by traditional monitors. Just make sure you have the right television and are prepared. Then, you will be all set for dual use of your LCD TV.

Stu Pearson has an interest in Business & Technology related topics. To access more information on lcd flat panel tv or on

Recycled CD Cases

Most CD cases, especially the jewel case CD cases, are made of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. When PVC is used for making CD cases, it releases toxins into the atmosphere that are dangerous for the environment and human beings. PVC is a non-biodegradable substance. This is to say that these substances linger in the atmosphere and the soil for thousands of years, making it impossible for anything to grow there and thus rendering the soil infertile.

Also when a plastic CD case is burnt, it releases dioxins that are toxic carcinogenic agents. One of the best ways to protect one's planet while also protecting one's CDs is to buy recycled CD cases.

There are companies that make and pack their CDs in special recycled CD cases. There are also many companies that provide CD cases with 100% recycled and reused plastic jewel cases. This is the most eco-friendly case for protecting and packaging one's CDs and DVDs. There are also many companies that make cardboard CD cases. But even some of these cases have a PVC tray to hold the CDs.

A better idea would be for people to recycle the CD cases themselves. Instead of throwing away the jewel CD cases, one can reuse them to store their CDs and DVDs. Often, for CDs that have to be kept and preserved, one can obtain spindles. One can also use the paper covers that are available on the market. This will not only reduce the production of new CD cases but also protect the environment in the long run.

One must remember that many of the damages we are doing to Mother Nature are nonreversible. Hence, each one of us should contribute in our own way to protect the environment that we live in. Recycling CD cases is just one of the ways of doing so.

CD Cases provides detailed information on CD Cases, Jewel CD Cases, CD Carrying Cases, Blank CD Cases and more. CD Cases is affiliated with CD Label Makers.

Plasma Television Mounting Options

Mounting plasma television sets is relatively easy. You have a variety of ways of positioning your television including hanging it on a wall.

Location, Location

Where you want to put your plasma television set will be influenced partially by the television that you buy. Before going shopping for your plasma television, first determine where you would like to mount it.

For example, if you wish to do something specialized, like hang it over a bed, or have it installed over your fireplace, you will need carpenters do the work.

Television Dimensions

No matter where you wish to mount your new plasma television, always carry with you the dimensions when you go to the store. And if you can, take pictures of the space where you wish to mount your plasma television.

How To Mount It?

Once you have determined where you want to place your new television, you will need to decide on how you want to mount it. Unlike a normal television, gravity just will not work with a plasma television. If you need to ask why, have your plasma television professionally installed.

You will need to mount your television to a wall, a piece of furniture or a stand. The great advantage is that cords used can easily be hidden. The disadvantage of installing it yourself is that if by accident something were to happen to the plasma television, the manufacturer will try to blame it on your installation.

Hence, you will not be covered by the guarantee. A plasma television is a large, heavy and delicate piece of equipment. In fact, it might not be a bad idea to encase it in glass. You want this television as secure as you can get it. It costs way too much to take chances.

Shopping for a Television

Now that you know how and where you want to mount your plasma television, it is time to go shopping.

Go to a store that specializes in electronics. You do not want the largest or most expensive model. You want the model with the right size and weight to look and fit right into your space.

Also, if you want to mount your plasma television upside down, there are only a few models that can do that without voiding the warranty. With all this information in hand, you are ready to go shopping.

Conclusion

There are several ways of mounting plasma television sets. Depending on the type of set up you have in the room where you plan on having your television, you can choose from any number of means. Wall mounts and specially designed TV stands are among the most popular mounting forms.

Ready for plasma? Louis Zhang provides jargon-free, relevant information on plasma television technology, selection and installation. For more information on setting up your plasma TV, go to www.cool-plasma-television.com/recommends/plasma-tvmounts

The Next Revolution in Home Entertainment IP Based MultiRoom Distribution

The Holy Grail of distributed audio; unlimited zones and unlimited sources, cost effectively. That milestone will be achieved, and soon, through the combination of digital amplification and IP based distribution systems. There are systems available today that use one or both of these technologies, such as Oxmoor's Zon system and Netlinks' Netstreams product line. The trend will only continue to grow.

The beauty of this approach is that digital music is data, and, as such, can be distributed easily via an Ethernet network. The traditional concept of zones virtually disappears, as each amplifier on the network gets a unique IP address, enabling an audio stream to be routed to it. When combined with a digital music server, the number of zones is limited only by the ability of the server to serve independent audio streams.

The advent of cost effective digital amplification, produced by companies such as D2 Audio and Flying Mole, allows a small, highly efficient audio amplifier to be located close to the speakers, either in the room or mounted in an electrical box. The logical evolution of this approach is to collocate amplifier with the speaker, creating an active speaker. Additional benefits are realized by incorporating the speaker as part of the circuit. This enables the designer to engineer the speaker and amplifier circuits for optimum performance as a system.

Low powered designs of this nature could take advantage of power over Ethernet (POE), simplifying system wiring by allowing a single CAT-5 cable to be run from the router to the speaker. This would not supply a large amount of power (about 15 watts) due to the constraints of the 24ga conductors used in CAT-5. However, the efficiencies gained by an integrated speaker / amplifier design would mitigate this concern to some degree. This type of system is sufficient for background music applications in many residential environments.

Higher power systems can use the existing speaker wire, in the case of a conventionally wired system, to carry power. It can / does use the existing control cable, since many systems have been wired with CAT-5 to the volume control location, for the data.

The bandwidth of a traditional 10/100 network allow, for all practical purposes, an unlimited number of zones and sources in a residential environment. Partly because of this, Audio Over Ethernet has been used successfully in the commercial audio and sound reinforcement world for a number of years now. Cobranet, from Cirrus Logic is the most popular commercial AOE system used today. Another popular system is available from Digigram. These systems both use the MAC layer of Ethernet and are not actually using IP for transmission.

For both residential and commercial applications another primary advantage of using Ethernet is the ability to use the medium for transporting both audio and control signals down the same wire. This increases flexibility and reduces cost for both installation and material.

As was true in the commercial world, the distribution of audio (and soon, video) and control via Ethernet will continue to proliferate in residential distributed audio applications. The combination of flexibility, cost effectiveness and capability are to attractive to be ignored.

Steve Faber has almost 15 years in the custom installation industry. He is a CEDIA certified designer and Installer 2 with certifications from both the ISF and THX. His experience spans many facets of the industry, from the trenches as an installer and control systems programmer, and system designer, to a business unit director for a specialty importer of high end audio video equipment, a sales rep for a large, regional consumer electronics distributor, and principal of a $1.5M+ custom installation firm. Steve is currently is senior sales engineer for Digital Cinema Design, a CEDIA member firm in Redmond, WA. See much more on how to get the most out of your home theater and automation system at: Home Theater, Control and Video Distribution

Mini DV Conversion

You may need to convert Mini DV cassette recordings to a format more compatible with a certain kind of player, like a DVD player, or multimedia on your PC. Sometimes, the tape may get scratched due to constant use and replay. Converting it to other formats makes replaying it easy and harmless. Conversion is either through software like DVD Santa, or through use of hardware like DVD recorders. A third method of conversion is through manual digitization.

Software like DVD Santa is convenient to use if you need to convert Mini DV tapes to DVD format, since it does not need extensive computer knowledge. For converting Mini DV tapes to a multimedia format, in case you need to run them on your PC, a software like Firestreamer DV is available online for a nominal charge. The conversion can also be done the other way round, that is, from PC to a Mini DV cassette.

The second method of conversion is through devices such as DVD recorders. The signal from the tape is converted to a digital signal and stored in the DVD. This is an inexpensive method, though it has its disadvantages. It leaves no room for editing the pictures or sound, and the resulting DVD may skip or be jerky because of compatibility issues.

The third kind of Mini DV conversion method is manual, and it is a good option if you are looking for a professional recording quality for occasions like weddings, baby showers, or graduation ceremonies. Also, some kinds of conversion, for example, digital 8 to Mini DV format, are difficult for a non expert and call for special skills. Many professional services are offered for such conversions on various websites. This kind of service is even auctioned on EBay. Some websites offer discounts on more than one DVD copy. This kind of conversion leaves room for careful editing, and any flaw in the recording can be edited or snipped off.

With so many options for those who need to convert the format of their Mini DV recording, there is no reason why they should not be used, especially if you want to preserve the special memories of a wedding or your graduation day.

Mini DV provides detailed information about mini DVs, mini DV camcorders, mini DV conversion and more. Mini DV is affiliated with DVD R Duplication.

A Media Center PC Gives You the Ultimate in Home Automation

Our homes - and our lives - are increasingly filled with electronics, yet more often than not, our home electronics are so independent of one another that they're cumbersome at best and useless at worse. A Media Center PC solves that problem by integrating any number of home electronics and, as a result, giving you the ability to unlock the full potential of everything from your home entertainment system to your home security system.

The secret to full integration is a Windows Media Center, also known as a PC Desktop Media Center. When connected to your TV or HDTV, the Window Media Center becomes the hub of your home electronics. Offering everything from personal logins for each family member to an incredible variety of software, hardware, and services, a Media Center PC gives every person their own document and media libraries.

When it comes to home entertainment, the Media Center PC keeps everything in one place. When connected to a home network, you can watch TV and movies, listen to music, and view photos anywhere in your home. You can connect your digital camera and manipulate photos, create slideshows with music, and even burn them onto DVDs. With the Personal Video Recorder (PVR), also known as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), you can record up to three live television shows at once and watch them at your convenience. Best of all, the PC Desktop Media Center isn't simply a box dedicated to home entertainment; even while it's playing or slideshow, you can still surf the Web, check your email, and have all of the functionality of any desktop PC.

When it comes to a Media Center PC, home entertainment features are just the tip of the iceberg, though. You can also integrate video gaming systems and automatically synch your Windows Media Center with any number of portable devices.

Most compelling of all, a Media Center PC gives you the ability to automate any number of other devices around the home. You can, for example, turn your lights on or off, control the thermostat, and make sure your doors are locked - all with a click of the mouse or the remote control. You can also create your own video security system and run any number of other security devices right from your Windows Media Center. And, you can even set the entire system up to use voice control.

Although such functionality and integration may still seem like the wave of the future, with a Media Center PC, the future is now.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Media Center PC: The Ultimate or Majon's Electronics directory.

StayAtHome Mom's Be Prepared To Join The Music Revolution With The Age Of The MP3 Player

These lightweight, economical portable jukeboxes are showing up everywhere. The MP3 player is the newest rage first among electronic enthusiasts, or electrophobes but now the MP3 is a must have everybody.

The need for a MP3 player is escalating among joggers, stay-at-home moms. The MP3 craze has reached the masses who want more and more music. They want to download their entire collection of music into their player. A music junkie can have thousands of songs stored in one MP3 player. These portable, wireless wizards of entertainment have the ability to store organize and play digital music on demand.

The MP3 player has created so much mass appeal that the introduction of the MP3 player created an entirely new industry of highly profitable paid download sites. The popularity of MP3 players has exploded forcing manufacturers to become alarmed and jumping to find new uses for these products. Podcasting is one of the newest applications for the MP3. Some manufactures have incorporated an mP3 player into a telephone.

Podcasting is like a radio program or even TV like feeds are automatically downloaded into the MP3. The word Podcast refers to the most popular MP3 makers. That is the Apple Ipod. All MP3's can store several hours of podcasts to be played at the owners discretion. You can find thousands of podcasts in dozens of categories. You can download a Podcast on almost any subject because there are podcast about art, comedy, academic subjects, entertainment and politics and this is just a partial list of what is available.

There are three main types of digital audio players:

1) MP3 CD Players

A MP3 CD player (Philips Expanium) devices play CDs. Often they can play both audio CDs and homemade dataCDs that have MP3 or other digital audio files.

2) Flash-based Players (iBox Mediaman)

are solid state devices that hold digital audio files on internal or external media like memory cards.

3) Hard Drive-based Players or Digital Jukeboxes

An embedded hard drive-based player (Apple iPod) These devices read digital audio files from a hard drive. These players have higher capacities, ranging from 1.5GB to 100GB, depending on the hard drive technology.

The Apple iPod and Creative Zen are examples of the popular digital jukeboxes. Of course, the Apple's iPod is the most popular MP3 player. But there is a surprising new competitor for this market.

Surprisingly, a Korean company by the name of Cowon American, part of a Korean multimedia giant,was chosen as the second most popular MP3 player in a gallup poll like survey. It looks like Cowon may be a big player in the MP3 market. Their MP3 players are sold under the name iAudio. Some of the iAudio. The popularity of the iAudio was contributed to the fact that the player is compatible with some of the music subscription services.

Hower, a CNET review of the Cowan system seems to think that the Ipod may still win the MP3 war. The bottom line states the reviewer, The great-sounding Cowon iAudio X5 looks like an iPod killer on paper, but this palm-size music and video player suffers from mediocre music browsing and some key design missteps.

For more information and ultra hot deals on MP3 players please visit Hot-Deals-On-MP3-Players.info located at http://www.hot-deals-on-mp3-players.info where you will find money saving offers on MP3 accessories, cases, batteries and an Apple iPod overview.

My Review of the JVC Digital Video Camera

My brother is an amateur film-maker. It was he who introduced me to the wonderful JVC digital video camera. He loved it so much that I was tempted to buy one of my own. After a few years I finally had enough dough to purchase my very own JVC digital video camera. I had no idea that I would be in for quite a surprise.

After buying it I began a thrilling adventure as an amateur film-maker. The quality you get from this amazing camera was close to that of feature length films made in Hollywood. As long as you have proper lighting, and acquire a competent sound boom, you can make a decent movie with the help of a JVC digital video camera. All at the cost of the camcorder and the editing software needed to put your movie together.

I become hooked with the idea of being a film-maker after trying out my JVC digital video camera. Watching movies is great, but it pales in comparison to the thrill you can get from making your own movie. I was also able to involve my fiend?s in my new found hobby.

We would fashion out a script and with my JVC digital video camera and a few necessary filming equipment, we were on our way in making a potential blockbuster. It usually takes a couple of weeks to finish a respectable twenty minute film.

We would then get together and watch the finished product and try to figure out ways to improve our project. The JVC digital video camera is also excellent for filming the final project. WE entered our project in a amateur movie contest and although we have yet to win a competition our work elicited a good bit of encouraging feedback.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning JVC Digital Video Camera. Visit our site for more helpful information about JVC Digital Video Camera and other similar topics.

Plasma Television Life Span Why You Shouldn't Worry about it

Though there are varying opinions, the general consensus is that plasma televisions do have a long life span. Because a television set with a plasma screen is generally a bit more expensive than other television sets, plasma television life span is generally used as a justification for the added expense.

These televisions also provide a clearer image which makes this investment a sound one for a person?s television viewing pleasure.

Plasma Televisions Do last a Long Time

When people begin to ponder the possibility of adding a plasma type television to their collection of electronics, they will typically wonder what the average plasma television life span is.

Plasma televisions deliver clearer, more pronounced images than an LCD television screen and tend to last just as long. The average person only watches a couple of hours of television a day and that means a plasma television life span can last up to ten years if you only watch eighty hours of television a week.

Comparing Early Plasma Televisions

Early versions of today?s plasma technology were not economically or environmentally efficient. These older versions ran quite hot and a person would not be able to hear over their cooling fans. When the pricing is considered first before the plasma life span is considered, most people will not take the time to investigate further.

However, should a person consider the average plasma television life span, and not be the type to watch more than a couple hours a night, they will tend to take their checkbooks or credit cards out and purchase one as soon as they can afford one.

Nowadays, the average plasma television life span is just as impressive as the picture. Due to the advance in technology, and the fact that new models do not burn quite as hot, the picture is clear and crisp.

For people who like to simply watch a film every now and again, or the news while they are getting ready for work or bed, a plasma television will be a wise investment.

Models can be hung on walls, or set on special stands that are built for plasma televisions. The fact that they are space saving is sometimes used to justify the purchase, but when the plasma television life span is thrown in; there's quite a few good reasons to consider a plasma television.

Conclusion

When purchasing a plasma type television set, the plasma television life span should be taken into consideration. Most will last a very long time with extended viewing so you should not be worried that your investment will not be worth it.

Ready for plasma? Louis Zhang provides jargon-free, relevant information on plasma televison technology, selection and installation as well as a guide to consumer reviews. For more on plasma television technology tips, go to Plasma TV Life Span

Mini DV Camcorders

Mini DV camcorders have many advantages over traditional analog video cameras and even Digital and DVD camcorders. Mini DV camcorders are compact, small and afford better editing. They have a better picture resolution compared to Digital Camcorders and even though they cost more, it comes as no surprise that many people prefer them over their more traditional counterparts.

Mini DV camcorders are sold on many websites, electronics stores, through shopping magazines and niche magazines like the ones dedicated specially to white goods. These camcorders are sold by brand, zoom strength, LCD display properties, price, and size, so it becomes easy selecting the one that best suits your needs.

The major brands of Mini DV camcorders are Sony, Panasonic, and Canon. Sony is the market leader in the Mini DV camcorder segment, while Canon, though a late entrant in the market, is fast catching up. Sony camcorders are popular owing to a wide variety and many innovative features, and they come with a reasonable price tag . The Sony Handy cam DCR HC 42, for example, is a Mini DV digital camcorder with still recording as well as MPEG movie recording features. This light, compact camcorder delighted users with it?s easy to use features and high sound and image recording quality on it?s May 2005 launch into the Mini DV camcorder market. Another new feature is the facility for low light and night time recording. And it has a lithium battery which lasts up to eight hours, far more than the batteries of it?s nearest rivals Panasonic and Canon. The camcorder costs around $600.

Panasonic Mini DV camcorders are the next popular after Sony Camcorders. The PV-GS 150 model, for example, comes with 3 CCDs, instead of one, as is the case with the Sony camcorders. You can choose between internal or external microphone for sound recording. Canon?s ZR 300 camcorder series has similar features, but it is available with only one CCD.

The mini DV camcorder market is still evolving, and newer features are being introduced almost every day, with a decreasing price tag. It is important to research the products available in the camcorder market to check suitability regarding your needs, and to see if the recording format is compatible with players in other formats.

Mini DV provides detailed information about mini DVs, mini DV camcorders, mini DV conversion and more. Mini DV is affiliated with DVD R Duplication.

The Danger Of Extended Warranties

Consumer insurance, extended warranties. You know, these expensive insurance policies that they pressurize you into buying, just as you?re standing at the checkout before the transaction goes through.

Normally, if your new piece of household gadgetry breaks within 1 year, the manufacturer will repair or replace it free of charge. But if it breaks after 14 months, it's your problem. You have to pay for it to be fixed, or (more likely) pay for a new one.

So when you have the chance to extend the cover in return for a 'small' premium, the offer sounds rather tempting. I expect the retailer hopes that you?ll be so keen to get your latest purchase home, that you?ll just say yes and pile it onto your credit card.

And why do retailers sell these warranties? Is it out of the goodness of their hearts to prevent the poor customers being left with a two year old television that explodes and cannot be repaired? No, it?s because they make a damn good profit on the commission they get from the insurance company for selling these policies.

And that gives a clue regarding my next piece of advice. DON?T TOUCH THEM! AAAARRGGHHH! NEVER! DEATH TO EXTENDED WARRANTIES! They?re a blatant waste of money. The very fact that the retailer makes so much profit from these extended warranties means that they?re a waste of money for the consumer.

Buying a four year extended warranty can often add as much as 40% to the cost of the item. So a TV with a ticket price of $2000 could cost $2800 with a four year extended warranty. $800 extra!! And how often do electrical goods breakdown between the end of the manufacturers? one year warranty and the end of a four year extended warranty?

Well certainly no more than 40% of the time. If they did, the cost of the cover would be even higher to allow the insurer and the retailer to make a profit. So here is what I suggest you do.

Refuse to pay the inflated price for any extended warranty and, if you?re the cautious type, save the money that the warranty would have cost you in a bank account. (The checkout assistant will even ?tell? you how much you need to put away to do this! Isn?t that nice of them?).

Then, if your purchase breaks down after the manufacturers? guarantee is over, you?ll have the money (plus the interest that it has earned) ready to buy a replacement. But here?s the best bit?.if nothing goes wrong with the equipment, your money will still be sitting in your bank account rather than the bank accounts of RIP OFF ELECTRONICS PLC and THE EXTORTIONATE INSURANCE CO. You could even use it to help with the cost of replacing the item when it reaches the end of its natural lifespan. How many extended warranties will allow you to do that?

Brilliant!

Still not sure? Well let me put it this way. An extended warranty is just an insurance policy, and insurance is just money paid to cover the potential risk of a certain event happening (i.e. your shiny new super-duper TV exploding within years one to five of your ownership). So, to set the premium, the insurance company uses their experience to decide upon the chances of your new purchase breaking down or being damaged within the time of the extended warranty. The higher the risk, the higher the premium they will charge.

Still following? Good.

But then they need to make some profit, so they charge a premium that reflects a higher risk of these insured events occurring. In effect, you?re paying to cover the actual statistical risk of these events happening, PLUS the insurance companies? profit on the policy.

By keeping your own money, you can cover your own potential loss AND avoid having to inflate the profits of some vast insurance company. Obviously there are potential problems with this tactic. You could be incredibly unlucky and end up in a situation where every piece of electrical equipment you buy blows up or is irreparably damaged one year and one day after you bought it (in which case you?d only have around 40% of the cost of a replacement). But how likely is that to happen?

But the more household goods that you protect in this way the safer you?ll be, because the working lifespan of the different items will average themselves out over time. Some items may last 15 years, while others may only last three.

by Stuart Laing

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Plasma Part 4B LCD Plasma: Things to Know Before Buying an LCD Television

All LCD televisions are also ready to accept HDTV (high definition television) and DTV (digital television) signals and would thus be quite functional a few years down the line, when these signals become more widespread. A majority of LCD screens can also be used as computer monitors because they can be hooked up to a VGA or DVI signal, though the resolutions of various screens tend to vary with different models and brands.

Issues with the LCD television and emerging solutions

Potential buyers who wish to replace their traditional CRT with the latest LCD need to be aware of the pros and cons of the new LCD technology and how the differences between the two technologies would alter their lifespan and viewing pleasure. The viewing angle for LCD televisions based on PVA and S-PVA LCD panels is limited to about 140 degrees, after which distortion sets in. For both light scenes and images and their darker counterparts, LCDs work better due to their high contrast ratio. The disadvantage of this technology lies in the appearance of ?ghosting? when the image varies and moves between different dark shades.

Televisions with CRT technology do not suffer from ?ghosting? as the phosphor contained in the CRT panel is charged by the strike of a beam of electrons. Most of the light is emitted in a comparatively shorter period of time, usually less than 1 millisecond, compared to a refresh period of about 20 milliseconds. For an LCD television, each pixel emits light of a fixed intensity for a stretch of approximately 20 milliseconds in addition to the time it takes to go over to the next state (or the refresh period, which is usually between 12 and 25 milliseconds).

This stretch of time, also known as the response time, can be lessened by the design of the panel, or through the use of overdriving technology, but the response time can only be cut down to the length of the refresh period. Bringing the response time to a level equal to the refresh period is usually enough to watch films and television programs, but for those who want to watch videos shot at 50 or 60 frames a second on certain LCD televisions, some ghosting issues still remain.

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

What Features Come On The Best Compact Digital Cameras?

Compact digital cameras are improving all the time, making snapshots and photos easier and better all the time. And certainly the march toward digital cameras and away from film cameras is in full swing. So what features can be expected to be found on the best compact digital cameras that most people like to use?

* The megapixel rating is important to understand because it determines how much information is stored about every photo taken. In essence, it has to do with the resolution of the photo, and so higher megapixel cameras can store more information and produce larger high quality enlargements. However, most people don't use their camera for anything more than 4x6 photos, and if that is the case a 3 megapixel camera will often work just fine, and a 4-6 megapixel camera will be good for just about anything you will usually need.

* Battery usage varies considerably between compact digital camera models, with some sipping power consumption and others being relative power hogs. Even the worst cameras will provide about 50 shots from a set of batteries, but when you consider that the best cameras will take between 400-500 shots per battery set, it's a huge difference. And it's also a good idea to get a camera that uses AA batteries to save money on power in the long run as you can then use rechargeable batteries instead of throwaways each time.

* The best compact digital cameras also are fast. Each digital camera has to take some time to process an image when the shutter is pressed. Some do this very quickly, others don't. In fact, some can take up to 4-5 seconds to process a shot, during which time you have to just wait until it's done to be able to take the next shot. This can be very frustrating in rapid action sequences. Another problem with speed can be what is called the shutter lag, or time it takes for the autofocus mechanism to finish and then trip the shutter to begin with. Some do this in under a half second, others take a full second or more. When you add up the extra time taken for the shutter lag and processing the digital image afterward, you can see why getting the fastest camera you can is an important feature of the best compact digital cameras.

* The best cameras also have a flexible optical zoom rate of 5X - 10X or more which allows you more ability to zoom in and get great close-up shots when needed.

Of course, all of these top quality features do come at a cost, so you can expect to pay more for some of them as opposed to just the standard camera. But if price is not as much of a consideration in the search, and you want to find the best compact digital cameras for sale, look for the kind of features mentioned above when you shop.

Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including audio and video. You can find out more about digital camera best buys and cannon digital cameras by visiting our Home Theater website.

Battery Devouring Digital Cameras and the People Who Love Them

Millions of people have fallen in love with their digital camera; and for good reason. They are compact making them easy to tote along anywhere a person may wander, they are capable of producing images of outstanding quality which can easily be shared online with others anywhere in the world, and with digital storage, they are a space saving wonder. In addition, digital cameras allow users to save the expense of film and developing. But perhaps the greatest attraction of these cameras is the control they provide over the images one creates during the editing process.

Unfortunately, most of those who love digital cameras have also come to know their dark side; their thirst for power. From the first touch of the button to power a digital camera on, setting the focus, shutter speed, zooming, and providing a flash for image capture, to reviewing images taken and editing, these cameras are energy junkies.

The good news is that there are things that can be done to help to make it easier to live with power craving cameras and to curb their appetite. Certainly, having a camera with rechargeable batteries is by far the best option and charging the battery per manufacturer's guidelines can help sustain optimal functioning. For the people who love their digital camera, there are also steps that can be taken in the way they use it to help reduce the rate of power consumption.

?When finished shooting, remove the batteries from the camera if it will not be used for another 2 or 3 weeks. This will prevent a trickling discharge that can occur when left in the camera.

?Use the on/off function appropriately. Certainly a digital camera should not be left on for any extended period of time as the energy is wasted. However, if another shot will be taken within a few minutes it is better to leave the camera on as it consumes a great deal of energy to power on/off. If the camera has a sleep mode, it is best to set the timer for that function to the shortest interval in case the user forgets to turn the camera off.

?Disable or don't use features that aren't needed. Zoom for instance uses a great deal of power. If the same result can easily be achieved by simply moving the subject or stepping closer, do that instead. Use of the flash function is also energy intensive. Flash should be used only when it will be effective. For instance, if lighting is already sufficient or the subject is out of flash range anyway, don't use the flash function.

?When possible use the viewfinder to set up a shot as the LCD screen consumes a great deal of battery power. Use of the LCD screen can improve some shots such as in the case of close-up/macro photography but in most instances use of the viewfinder is sufficient. (Remember, photographers operated without LCD screens for most of the history of photography!)

?Use other power sources when appropriate. For instance use an AC adapter when downloading images and use the computer for review and image deletion rather than performing such functions directly on the camera.

?Do things manually when feasible. From powering the camera off to focusing; auto anything takes more power.

?Some experts indicate that some types of media storage consume more energy as well. For instance, Compact Flash is said to be a more energy conscious form of storage than MicroDrive Media.

Certainly, the many features offered on a digital camera are convenient and desirable. Users merely need to be aware of the tremendous demands placed on the camera battery by these same features. Understanding this allows a digital camera owner to make a choice between ease of use and conservation of the battery.

Christine Peppler shares information on home entertainment and home electronics products, including digital cameras, on her website at: http://www.homemedias.info

Plasma TV and LCD TV: Televisions of the Future

Although both Plasma TV's and LCD TV's display a big picture in a thin case, there are many notable differences between the two devices.

The plasma television sets are larger than LCD's and measure about 42 inches. The size of the LCD is approximately 37 inches. But a 42-inch LCD TV would cost $1000 more than the plasma television set. The LCD TV?s weigh lesser than the plasma set. The plasma television sets are bulky and therefore they constantly require installation. They are well structured in order to prevent overheating due to constant usage by a means of proper ventilation.

The plasma televisions exhibit a contrast background and therefore are very appropriate for watching movies as you experience the enjoyment of a home theatre. LCD TV?s are mostly bright screened and appropriate if your room is brightly lit. The plasma TV?s do not appear lucid when the room is brightly lit. At the same time, the LCD TV's seem to emit strong rays when the room is darker.

You can watch your television from different angles when you are watching the plasma TV. The same convenience is not available in case of LCD as it bears a flat screen. As you move further we can feel the loss of brightness.

But there are a few disadvantages when you own a plasma television set. When it is linked to video, it often tends to leave an image for a long time. These images often get permanently etched on the screen. At the bottom of the screen, the text or the logos of the other networks are often seen and it causes a disturbance to the viewer. The estimated life of a plasma TV is around 25000 to 35000 hours.

According to Alfred Poor?s anticipations, the LCD television will continue to be an expensive set compared to the other televisions.

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The Results Of Portable MP3 Player Reviews

A portable mp3 player makes it so easy to take your favorite songs with you almost anywhere that you want to go and under almost any conditions. Unlike CD players that have to read the digital music from a CD, mp3 players are much smaller and more compact. That's because the data storage devices used are much smaller than CDs, so the players can be tucked into a pocket of your shirt or pants and be almost invisible as you listen. But there are already many models to choose from, so here are some top picks from examining online portable mp3 player reviews and customer feedback:

1. In the flash memory category, which is the smallest and lightest of mp3 players, almost everyone still favors the Apple Ipod Nano even though some other great players are starting to provide more competition. But Apple dominates in the mp3 player area and the Nano shows why. It has an impressive 2GB of memory which can hold around 500 songs. and is compatible with both Windows and Mac computers. The firmware is upgradeable which is also a plus to keep you up to date with the latest changes in the mp3 field, and has equalizer presets to help you adjust the sound to your liking. The display is especially good even in low light situations, so this model gets a solid pick.

2. In the micro-drive player category the RCA Lyra is a fine choice with 5GB of file storage. It is also compatible with both Mac and Windows and has equalizer presets for customized sound. It's display is not quite up to the Apple standards, but otherwise, it's a solid, quality player.

3. As far as hard drive mp3 players are concerned the nod again has to go to Apple with the Apple Ipod. Apple totally dominates this category selling almost 90% of the high capacity hard drive mp3 players on the market. The Ipod has 30GB of storage space and that is enough to store the entire song collection of many people. It's display is again very good in all conditions, is compatible with both Windows and Mac, and comes with equalizer presets for custom sound. It also has the ability to play video files as well, with excellent picture and sound quality.

As you can see from the above list Apple is still producing the best portable mp3 players, and that is certainly reflected in the high number of units already sold to very satisfied customers. Expect that in the months and years ahead more challengers will emerge with better and better quality and features to give Apple a good run for the money, but at the time of this writing, Apple is still the best overall bet as voiced by many portable mp3 player reviews and consumer feedback as well.

Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including audio and video. You can find out more about best portable mp3 players and best rated mp3 players by visiting our Home Theater website.

Receiver And Subwoofer Crossover Setup

One of the I don't want to talk about it subject for owners of a home theater, is the receiver and subwoofer crossover setup.

One of the complicated things to do when you buy a home theater setting the speakers and crossover menu. Ok, first you must know that you just have to make one adjustment, you just need to make the adjustment in the receiver system and not in the subwoofer system like I was doing it the first time that I setup my first home theater; a waste of time.

Please don't forget to turn the subwoofer on before starting with the setup and putting it in 80 Hz crossover frequency.

When you are doing the setup in the receiver you'll see in the screen of your TV a question regarding wether you have a subwoofer running and what crossover frequency you want to use (many people just told that me the their receivers didn't give them a choice of frequency, that they only have the factory set at 80 Hz. that?s ok). like this the receiver will route all the deep bass frequencies below 80 Hz to the subwoofer via the subwoofer out jack from the receiver.

Note: Before you continue, remember if your receiver has 100 Hz and no other choice, you have to use that instead of the 80 Hz that I was explaining before, I only put 80 Hz because it?s the most common in most applications.

Ok, I was telling you, I recommend to experiment with all the settings, mix them all and see which settings is better for your room, depending of the size, you can select the large settings on your receiver for the front speakers ( the main ones) and small settings for the subwoofer and the surround sound speakers, like this the sounds with frequencies above 80 Hz will go to the front speakers and the sounds with frequencies below 80 Hz are going to the sub and the surround sound speakers. But remember, please, be a child!!! experiment with the frequencies and see which mix you like the most, because, it's your home theater, your room and of course your taste, everybody is different so, it's up to you.

Note: Please don't misunderstand what I am saying above, but remember when I am saying that if you put the subwoofer more than 80Hz, , that is its function and it could turn in to another speaker instead of the sub for your home theater.

Good Luck.

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LCD TVs

Liquid crystal display television or LCD TV uses LCD TFT technology, more often than not, for visual output as opposed to the conventional cathode ray (of the original TV) or plasma technology.

LCD television initially faced problems entering the market, particularly when it came to viewing fast paced action. Also, the viewing angle was rather limited. However, with the advancement in technology, these problems have more or less been wiped out. Today LCD television commands a burgeoning market, especially in the Asian region.

For quite a long time, the general consensus was that the technology used for LCD television was appropriate for small televisions only, and would invariably fall short of plasma technology when it came to bigger televisions. However giant corporations like Samsung, Sharp Corporation and LG Philips have challenged this notion by coming up with LCD televisions with distinctly large panels. 40 to 45 televisions were widely in the market a year ago. Sharp Corporation has successfully produced a 65 panel LCD television. In 2004, Samsung and Sony joined hands to build a factory, with the intention of manufacturing 60,000 panels every month. In 2005, Samsung proclaimed the successful completion of an 82 HDTV TFT panel. It is believed that the LCD market is potentially worth billions of dollars, and television is seen as the main market.

TVs based on S-PVA LCD panels produce good viewing angles. They also give sufficient contrast ratio for viewing scenes that are bright, as well as dark scenes in bright conditions. Also dynamic contrast technology improves contrast when one is viewing dark scenes in dark conditions. Also, there are LCD televisions that throw light on the background to help make dark scenes look darker.

Today, LCD televisions are offering greater viewing angles and better quality images. LCD televisions can also be deemed direct competition to the fashionable plasma televisions. However, LCDs are distinctly lighter and comparatively more durable.

LCD technology is non-emissive, in that it does not give off radiation like conventional televisions. Furthermore, their operation requires less power than plasma or CRT technology.

LCD provides detailed information on LCD, LCD Projectors, LCD Monitors, LCD Tvs and more. LCD is affiliated with LED Displays.

LCD TV Monitors

LCD monitors have an edge over other monitors as they have better resolution and sleek design. Due to the liquid crystal display technology, an LCD monitor can produce 16.7 million colors, which means, the tiniest of hues can be detected. LCD monitors are sleekly built, so they occupy less space on the table. They are also lightweight and very easy to transport.

LCD TV monitors are a combination of monitors used for computers and a normal television. They have a TV tuner built into them, which can allow them to function as both. They also have audio visual inputs, which can allow speakers and even woofers to be attached.

LCD TV monitors work on the principle of blocking unwanted colors from the white spectrum. Their screens have a large number of pixels, each of which twist and turn at appropriate angles to produce an image. The pixels are illuminated by a thin lamp or a projector LCD. Due to this, the LCD TV monitors can be designed very compactly. They also offer great viewing angles. Some LCD TV monitors can also produce good quality images when viewed at an angle as obtuse as 170 degrees.

LCD TV monitors also have non glare screens. This makes them easy on the eyes, even when viewed very closely. Also, they are not affected by light falling on them. Even in a bright room, the quality of image on an LCD monitor will be as crisp as in a dark room.

LCD TV monitors are available in general sizes of 19', 20', 21', and 23' and upward. Smaller LCD TV monitors are also available in sizes of 14' and 17'. LCD TV monitors provide good image qualities irrespective of their sizes. There are some complaints. LCD TVs suffer from high burn rates; which means the image persists on the pixels for longer times. Also some LCD monitors cannot run high density games, which require HD compatibility. Some LCD monitors also produce a ghosting effect. However constant improvements are being made in LCD TV monitors to make these anomalies redundant.

In order to make LCD TV monitors sleeker, companies make their buttons small. Sometimes this becomes an issue if the buttons are too small to be read.

A new type of LCD TV monitor is being designed, which will allow people to watch different programs on the same TV by just changing their angle of viewing.

LCD TVs provides detailed information about LCD TVs, LCD TV reviews, LCD TV monitors, LCD TV wall mounts and more. LCD TVs is the sister site of Industrial LCD Monitors.

Which Portable DVD Player is the Right Choice for You?

Of all the gadgets and technology we have available to us, portable DVD players are among the coolest. While our home AV systems have a standard DVD player, or even an HDTV & DVD player, while we're on the road we like to take our entertainment with us. Whether it's keeping the kids occupied in the back of the van, or amusing ourselves with the latest comedy, portable DVD players are the way to go.

But which is the best portable on the market? Which will give you the biggest bang for the buck? There are a number of differences you should be aware of before you make your selection. The first difference you'll notice is the price difference between a portable DVD and your home entertainment center version. Home versions - basic models, that is - start at under $100 on average, while a portable DVD player starts around $300-$400 for a good quality model.

The things you need to consider when choosing a portable DVD player are picture quality, sound quality, size of screen and battery life. If you choose one that has a great picture display but muddy sound quality, you'll likely be dissatisfied with your choice. By the same token, if your choice has excellent sound features but the picture bites - you'll need to reconsider which model you want. My advice is to see your choices in person - don't buy them over the Internet, unless you choose a vendor that has a great return policy with no re-stocking fees - just in case you don't like your choice when you see it in person.

If money's no object, you may want to start with the Panasonic DVD-LX9, which will set you back about $400. The advantage to this model is that it displays the best picture currently available on its 9-inch screen. A big downside for the Panasonic DVD-LX9 is the short battery life - look for about 90 minutes of playtime for your average movie. This is not for someone looking for hours and hours of movie watching enjoyment. For the price, it may be a better deal to buy a laptop with a 15-inch screen and a DVD drive - you'd have almost comparable picture quality and many more useable features with a laptop.

Panasonic does offer another model that you should take a look at - that's the DVD-LS50 - at about $350 it comes with sharp picture quality, excellent sound, easy-to-use features and about a 3 hour battery life. The screen is only a 7-inch, but that's pretty comparable to other models in this price range. It also has dual headphone jacks, so two people (i.e. kids in the back seat?) can listen at the same time without distracting the driver or others in the room.

If you're looking for longer playtimes - RCA offers a model (DRC618N) that starts at about $200 and registers a playtime of about 3 hours and 45 minutes. The 7-inch screen displays a good quality picture, but the sound quality leaves a bit to be desired. One advantage is the carry-case it comes with - which will strap onto the back of a car's headrest. This model has a single jack for headphones.

For those looking for the lower-priced models, GoVideo offers one (DP7240) at around $200 that has decent sound and picture quality - although not on par with the Panasonic and RCA models. Battery life on this one is only about 2 hours, but the package does include a battery charger, which will extend your playtimes as long as you're driving around. With only a 90-day warranty and a 7-inch screen, the GoVideo model may be a good cheaper addition to your viewing pleasure.

For a more detailed version of this article in html & pdf format or to hear the podcast version of this article go to: Portable DVD Players we are always adding new content to the site so come and check us out!

Guide to Buying a Camcorder

Today's camcorder market is full of new brands and changing technology, with products moving towards greater compactness and more 'cross-platform' features. Choosing the right camcorder for you need not be a daunting task provided you take the time to answer some basic questions about yourself and the technology. You can search for exactly the right product, all the way from brand through model number and vendor right here at Myshopping.com.au. It will take a lot of pressure off you.

What kind of camcorder user are you?

At the outset, you need to think a little about why you are buying a camcorder. There are essentially six loosely defined categories:

1) the traveller, buying a camcorder to record travel experiences;

2) the family, usually with young children or soon to be, wanting to record family lifestyle experiences as the children grow up;

3) the grandparent or retiree, often with a little time to look at the world through the lens and capture moments of life that would otherwise slip by;

4) the technophobe, a person with a genuine interest in finding the best bit of gear to make movies and record things of importance;

5) the artist, similar to the technophobe, but has a deeper interest in the pictures and less interest in the technical specification, usually wanting to make movies and document items of interest;

6) the educator or student, maybe a school or classroom teacher, or student with an interest in multimedia. We can add a seventh category: that of the I just want one brigade who has no real underlying purpose for the purchase.

Once you have some idea of which category your purchase might fall into, then you have some way of being guided through the maze of choices. There are possibly five basic judgements you need to make about the camcorder you want to buy.

1) How comfortable it is in your hand? Remember, if you're a traveller, you will want to lug your camcorder wherever you go. The last thing you want is a lead weight that makes your hand tired before you've even squeezed the trigger.

2) How easy is it to use? You need to be able to easily understand the basic functions of the camera and reach the controls as you need them.

3) Similar to 3 above, how convenient it is to playback your footage and copy it onto another storage medium.

4) What is the picture quality like? Naturally some picture quality is sacrificed for lower prices and added features in some of the range. But at the end of the day, you really want the best picture quality you can get for the money you are willing to spend. After all, it is picture quality-subjective though it is-that you will judge the camera on in years to come.

5) How much you are prepared to spend. Your purchase decision needs to be balanced between the features and accessories you want in your camcorder and the amount of funds you have available.

The technology

The latest digital video cameras make shooting and editing as easy as falling off the back of a truck, and can help you along the way to winning the grand Funniest Home Video prize. Coupling your digital camcorders with video-editing programs on your computer means you can edit, add visual effects, create titles, add sound effects and play it back at different speeds.

Most digital camcorders use videotape, the most common being a format called MiniDV making it easy to edit it on a computer and output your finished movie to tape, Video CD or DVD. All you need along with your digital camcorder is a FireWire interface on your PC, and a video-editing program.

Some camcorders now use flash media memory cards or sticks to store video, which allows for a smaller camera than digital tape types, but at the expense of lower video quality and smaller storage (although this is quickly changing.) There are two big advantages with the memory stick cameras: one is their portability, especially for travellers, and the other is the small size and easy 'plug-in' accessibility of the storage media

There are also camcorders that record directly onto mini DVD discs, which you can then play it back in your DVD player. These cameras use an 8-centimeter recordable DVD discs that can hold up to an hour of video, and record a good quality image. One drawback, however is that the discs have to be 'finalised' by the camera before they can be used in a DVD player. However, there are constantly changing standards in disc technology, and it is worthwhile looking at any new developments in this media.

Main Features

Battery: Power consumption varies from camcorder to camcorder. Although it stands to reason that a camera recording to memory stick will have a longer battery life than one recording to DVD or MiniDV tape. However recording and playback time runs out a lot faster than you expect. There are a different ways to address this issue. In many instances you can buy batteries that provider a longer discharge life than the original one that comes with the camera. Ordinarily a camcorder has its battery at the back of the body in an indented housing that has no cover or door, enabling a larger battery (extended life) to fit. A camcorder with room for an expandable battery will give you plenty of recording time while you're still learning.

Screen: One feature commonly espoused by the camera manufacturers is the size of the LCD screen. The bigger it is, the more you can see what you're recording and what you've captured. But the bigger it is, the more battery power it requires too. Also, some LCD screens are not very effective in bright sunlight, and that's one place you will likely be using your camcorder often. Having a viewfinder as well as an LCD screen is a useful option, enabling you to see what you are recording when seeing the screen in bright light is difficult and saving battery power.

Lens: Camcorders come with a zoom lens allowing you to shoot close-up images of distant subjects. Like digital cameras, there is a distinction between digital (zoom) and optical (telephoto) lens capability. A digital zoom enlarges part of the image to fill the screen, whereas optical zoom is the telephoto capacity of the lens itself. The difference is in the final images. Images with high levels of digital zoom can be grainy and lack definition because only a part of the image that is captured through the lens is recorded. With optical zoom, the full image that passes through the lens is captured. Consequently a higher optical zoom is desirable.

Sound capture. Camcorders usually have a front-mounted microphone. Those with a microphone located below the lens, or at the bottom of the front housing usually produce a better sound capture than those with a microphone mounted on top of the camera. Some camcorders have zoom or highly directional microphones that can zoom into the subject when the zoom lens is used. If you are frequently filming in difficult auditory environments or want to capture 'news style' content, it is best to have a socket for using an external microphone.

Stills: Most digital camcorders allow you to take still images and save them to a memory card. However they rarely offer the same level of control or quality as dedicated digital still cameras.

Controls: Comfort and control go somewhat hand-in-hand. Be sure that the camera you choose is comfortable in your hand and that the important controls are easy to access with your fingers while your eye is glued to the viewfinder. Confusing layouts and labels on much current technology conditions many of us to accept automatic functions and controls. But sometimes the automatic settings simply don't cut it with the conditions in which we're filming. Check out how much of the camera's functionality can be turned 'manual'. You should be able to, for example, make a manual 'white balance,' control the aperture on the lens to adjust the amount of light that is let in, and possibly digitally adjust the gain of the captured image.

Low light functions: Choosing a camcorder that has the ability to film in very dull light may be important, especially if you want to shoot at night or indoors. A special slow shutter mode helped by an infrared light can make filming in ambient lighting very effective, as can built-in illumination from one or more LEDs.

Accessories

Some accessories are necessary for you to have success with your camcorder. You might consider the type of carry case, with good pockets to house additional batteries; storage media lens cleaners and so on. You should consider additional battery power, preferably one with an extended life. You may want to consider a tripod, additional lenses, and a camera-mounted light. You will certainly need storage media for which system you choose. You can check out the full range of accessories for any brand or model by searching our database at Myshopping.com.au.

See All camcorders

Andrew Gates for comparison online shopping service MyShopping.com.au. MyShopping.com.au helps you compare the different camcorders from different brands in terms of specifications and accessories. You can also compare prices from hundreds of different brands and vendors

DVD Players

DVD players are electronic devices that spin discs - shaped exactly like a compact disc - and then read the data on the disc to create image and sound on your television screen. They are a relatively new arrival, but are now very familiar. It truly is an adventure to track the advances that technology?s innovation has made in our lives. In movie viewing, players have considerably been metamorphic. First came the betamax system, then the VHS player. Now, we have the DVD player. There is no doubt -- DVD players have become basic components of home entertainment systems.

The home entertainment system has traversed a long road. More and more gadgetries are introduced as years pass by and the expansion includes much sought-after electronics like computers, GPS devices, cell phones, television, radio components and the likes.

Home entertainment systems have made an effort to bind family and friends to enjoy quality time. Watching a movie with family members or pals has become affordable and convenient through movie players. Admit it ? you feel a certain good when you?re watching a movie on your DVD players at home. With DVD players, movie watching is made more convenient and much less expensive.

DVD players are so accessible. You will find them in shopping malls and department stores all over the world. The raving wave made by the DVD players? fame prompted a lot of manufacturers to produce them in large volumes, thus, radically reducing the price. For an added fun in your life, DVD players are worth the purchase.

DVD Players provides detailed information on DVD Players, Portable DVD Players, Headrest DVD Players, Free DVD Movie Players and more. DVD Players is affiliated with Portable DVD Player Reviews.

The Lcd TV

There is little doubt that the LCD TV is one of the fastest growing markets for television makers around the world. Because they just look so great, people around the world are demanding this amazing experience and they want it at great prices. The LCD TV is one that will be more and more available throughout the next few years. Will you have one?

The first LCD TV?s that came out were not as good as they could have been. Although the technology was new and improving, people did not think that the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) would be worth the investment. In larger versions, faster moving images were harder to see than other types of televisions including plasma screens and cathode ray televisions. But, that has changed dramatically.

In many areas of the world, the LCD TV is in demand. Now that it has been made more effectively through improved technology, you will have no problems with seeing a view clearly. In 2004, television giants Sony and Samsung come together to build a factory that would produce upwards of 60,000 screens for the LCD TV each and every month. Other competitors tried to disprove the quality of these televisions but they were not as successful as they hoped.

In Asia, there is a huge demand for the LCD TV and it continues to grow. Technology keeps expanding as well. Throughout the world, sales are said to be climbing and the expectation is for many televisions in this display would be available and in homes.

If you have not seen the LCD TV, it is worth a trip to take a look at. The pictures are amazing in their quality and you will likely not find a more beautiful display of colors and graphics. You will even realize price savings on these televisions throughout the next years as technology brings costs down as well on the LCD TV.

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The Advantages of Buying A LCD HDTV

If you are in the market for a new television set, there just hasn't been a better time to get high quality equipment that will last for years at low prices. Of course, TV technology continues to improve and as the new HDTV broadcasting format becomes more standardized the prices will continue to fall, but not the precipitous drops that we have seen in the past few years though.

So what about these LCD HDTVs? What makes them so special, and what should you look for when buying one?

Well, LCD monitors have been used in computers for several years now, and they are known for their bright, exquisite color rendition, so it was a natural leap to adapt that technology to the HDTV format. LCD screens are much thinner and lighter than projection TVs and older CRT screens too, so they can be very useful in smaller rooms that just could not support a larger screen before LCD or plasma screens came along. Many people even mount LCD screens to the wall using special brackets that hold them securely in place, and this is perhaps the ultimate in space saving design.

If you have such a great, eye-pleasing monitor you now need to have programming that takes full advantage of the screen's viewing capability, and that's where HDTV comes in. It is two technologies that were meant for each other. HDTV allows television broadcasting to be sent in a signal that is very dense with digital information about both the video and sound. It is a huge leap over the older analog TV broadcasts that most TV stations have been using for years.

In fact, the HDTV signal can carry screen resolution information up to ten times that of the old analog signals. So when you marry that much sharper and rich resolution with a LCD screen that is capable of displaying the signal in all it's intended glory, you have a combination that is hard to beat for sheer viewing pleasure.

Just make sure that the LCD TV that you buy either has a HDTV tuner already in it or is labeled as HDTV Ready which means that it can be hooked up to a HDTV tuner like those used by satellite and cable companies who feature HDTV programming.

Once you view television programming with the combined technologies of HDTV and a LCD monitor, you will wonder how you managed without it all this time.

Jim Johnson is a successful author and publisher on consumer related matters. You can find out more about a sharp lcd tv and lcd tv reviews by visiting our HDTV website.

HD DVD Players: An Introduction

If we take a look at the way the home video technology has progressed over the years, we will be amazed at the extent to which it has changed in such a short period. The VHS (Video Home System) technology brought motion pictures into our living rooms and bedrooms. It was followed by the CDs, VCDs, and SVCDs that were more expensive, but provided excellent quality and utility. This was followed by the DVDs and DVD players that took the market by storm and became the most preferred mode for recording and viewing of movies. Most recently however, the latest technology that has joined the race is HD DVD (High Definition Digital Video Disc), that has much higher storage capacity and enhanced quality attributes.

Correspondingly, there has been a similar evolution in the digital data storage and handling industry. This journey started with the floppy, followed by the CDs, the laser discs, the DVDs, and then the HD DVDs. Data storage and handling are a field by itself and has grown at a phenomenal rate.

VHS

The first step towards home theater was the Video Home System (VHS), introduced in September 1976. It was developed by JVC along with some licensing agreements with Sony. The VHS is a recording and playing standard for the Video Cassette Recorders, well known all over the world as the VCRs. The VHS could record and play back all the analog television signals in existence at the time it was devised. By today?s standards, it is one of the poorest quality video formats. The video recording cassette being big, its recording camera was also big and cumbersome. This led to problems of handling and transportation.

The VHS-C is the Video Home System-Compact, which is the same in quality as compared to the standard VHS, that is, half inch size and 240 lines of resolution. But as the name suggests, it is more compact and allows for the video camera to be lighter, smaller, and more convenient. The VHS-C has to be placed in a regular VHS sized case to enable it to be played on the VHS player. The 8mm VHS tapes are smaller in size and are very convenient to use in recording cameras, but are not compatible with the regular VCRs and cannot be played directly on the VCRs.

CD and VCD

The Compact Disc (CD) is an optical disc that is read by a laser. It is a polycarbonate disc designed to store data, music and video formats. These were played on CD players and were of the CD-R and CD-RW type in particular. It was designed by Philips and Sony in 1988. In 1993, Matsushita, Philips, Sony, and JVC introduced a CD format that could hold a full- motion video. It was called the Video CD (VCD) or the compact disc digital video and had a standard digital format for storing video on a compact disc. These VCDs could be played on VCD players and computers. A video CD can hold VHS-quality video of 74 minutes and has a CD-quality sound using MPEG-1 compression. The VCDs were very popular in the Asian countries due to their affordability factor, but did not get much popularity in the U.S. or Europe.

The low cost of media resulted in rampant unauthorized copying of movies and was hence not widely supported by the United States entertainment fraternity. The Super Video CD introduced later using the MPEG-2 compression was of better quality, but its playing time got diminished to 35 minutes. A DVDV or double VCD had also been designed, in which, a regular CD was ?Over-burned? to incorporate 100 minutes of video.

DVD and HD DVD

The DVDs came into the market in 1997 and were an instant success. This was mainly because of the reason, that even their cheapest version was capable of giving a better picture and sound quality than a VHS, and could process information much more effectively than CDs. With a DVD played back on a DVD player, a consumer could have a much better home entertainment experience. DVD players have been designed to play multi region DVDs, and can playback any TV standard like NTSC, PAL or SECAM. The DVD players are compatible with a wide range of media such as CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, MP3, DivX, and many more.

Riding on the success of the DVD market, the HD DVD or High Definition DVD was introduced in 2005 and was an adaptation of the existing basic structure of the DVD. The HD DVD has a greater storage capacity and can provide better audio and video quality as compared to a DVD. All this is achievable at a marginal cost increase, mainly because the HD DVD can be manufactured using the existing manufacturing facilities for DVDs. This affordability factor is a great contributor to the success of HD DVDs. The HD DVDs are available in ROM, readable and re-writable formats. The HD DVD players are designed using all the features provided in the DVD players. The HD DVDs are integrated with a state-of-the-art content protection technology which is unique to this medium.

The storage capacity is 15 GB for single layer, 30BG for dual layer, and 45GB for a triple layer HD DVD. Also it uses highly sophisticated compression techniques using MPEG-4 for increased capacity. A 15 GB HD DVD can store a full movie and incorporate additional features, with space to spare. Whereas as 30 GB HD DVD can store three movies of 150 minutes each and provide the high definition quality of playback. These features make HD DVDs a favored medium for storage and viewing of movies. With the widespread support from the entertainment industry leaders and the high quality service provided by HD DVDs, they are certainly poised for a highly successful stint.

Where to get REGION FREE DVD players/recorders and High Definition, HD DVD players, Blu-ray,Advanced Optical players/recorders in Blu-Ray DVD players/recorders. A multi region (aka codefree) DVD player or recorders is capable of playing DVD discs from anywhere in the world, that is all 8 regions and both PAL and NTSC standards. That's every DVD movie on earth! Many can 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 in California. They give you a LIFETIME Warranty 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 and more than 140,000 products. Tel.800-514-2984 or tel. 925-686-9945

Home Audio Hurricane Proof Installations

Are you considering a home audio system for your humble habitat? If you are considering a home audio system you may also want to consider making it hurricane proof and weatherproof and that includes the ability to withstand a lightning strike on your home. Home audio systems can be very expensive and chances are during a large storm you will want to turn on the music and forget about the weather outside.

The only problem with this scenario is the weather has not forgotten about you. For instance if you live in a mobile home, they are considered ?Tornado Magnets? and you are sure to get hit with a Tornado. But a hurricane will bring with it very strong winds like a Tornado, as well as lightning and thunderstorms, which can last for 10 to 12 hours before it passes.

This is a lot for your home to endure and the chances of a lightning strike are far greater during this time period. You should therefore consider this when installing your home audio system of the potential eventuality of a lightning strike on your house. If you do not have a home audio system yet and you are going to batten down the hatches and refuse to evacuate, then perhaps while the power is out it might be a good time to install a home audio system.

This makes sense and as long as you have your Mikita battery-operated drills and power tools available so you can still work even though the power is out and you will have all day or all week to install the system and do it to perfection. Maybe the hurricane might be a good thing, as it will give you free time to install your new home audio system. Consider all this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

Best LCD TVs

Buying an LCD TV is more of an art than a purchase. Originally LCD TVs were available in only smaller sizes, but now they are available in sizes as big as 50 inches. Whether big or small screen, LCD TVs suffer from certain flaws: they have lower contrast ratios, slower refresh rates and narrow viewing angles. Despite that, if certain precautions are taken, you could end up with the best LCD TV in the market.

Currently Sony, LG, Samsung, Panasonic, Philips, Sharp are the bigger brands in the LCD TV market. Even computer monitor manufacturers like Dell and Gateway have made a foray into the LCD TV market. But a big brand name does not ensure that the TV is the best. Even reputed companies purchase monitors and other parts from other countries to save on costs. This affects the overall quality of the TV. It is essential to check out the TV while it is in the showroom before buying.

One thing to consider is the aspect ratio. Some widescreen LCD TVs boast of an aspect ratio of 16 to 9. However, believing blindly in this could be a mistake. Some screens just stretch the image to fit the screen. In doing so, the images become jagged and washed out. Best LCD TVs are those that can retain their resolutions even when the image is stretched to fit a 16 to 9 screen. Trust your eyes to judge that.

Another thing is the viewing angle. LCD TVs were big duds earlier regarding their viewing angles. Due to the pixel twisting principle of liquid crystal display monitors, LCD visuals would be almost invisible from more obtuse angles. But now, this problem is diminishing rapidly. Contemporary LCD TVs have viewing angles as obtuse as 160 degrees.

LCD TVs are available in three varieties: standard definition (SD), enhanced definition (ED) and high definition (HD). High definition TVs are the best as they can be used both as computer monitors as well as regular TVs as they can produce both digital as well as analog signals. These TVs have higher freeze rates and so they can better reproduce moving visuals.

These are basically the important features to check while considering a good LCD TV. Best LCD TVs could be those that have all the above features along with sleekness in design, lightness of weight and easy button controls.

LCD TVs provides detailed information about LCD TVs, LCD TV reviews, LCD TV monitors, LCD TV wall mounts and more. LCD TVs is the sister site of Industrial LCD Monitors.

VCRs with Video Converters

The solution

For quite some times the inventors on the line were pondering how to overcome this problem of conflict of standards of video tapes. Video tapes from one zone did not play in other using a different standard. Ultimately they came up with the idea of Video converting VCR as the solution to the problem. A video converting VCR could play any tape using any standard and thus it was possible to view a PAL standard tape on an NTSC TV or vice versa.

Multi-system VCR and Converting Multi-system VCR

A Converting Multi-system VCR is an improved version of the traditional Multi-system VCR. An ordinary multi-system VCR can play video tapes from anywhere in the world. But there is one big constraint. The video tape played on it must conform to the standard the VCR uses. This is the point where a converting multi-system VCR scores over the conventional VCR in a way that it does not require the video tapes to be played which conform to its standards. It just converts in the incoming incompatible signals to friendly signals and makes the viewing of the tape possible. The same result can be obtained by using an external converter or such other device attached to a traditional multi-system VCR, but the quality will be poorer compared to a convertible multi-system VCR.

How to make the choice of brands

Experience reveals that branded products normally works well compared to those cheaper editions of the video converting VCR available in the market. Not only that the reliability is far better than the other ones. A number of branded products are however, available in the market. They include companies like the Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba, Sharp, and Hitachi etc. All of them manufacture regular multi- system VCR but not the video converting VCR. The only company that produced video converting VCR was Samsung, the SV-5000W, but they have discontinued the productions. A potential customer often makes the choice basing on the clarity of picture, quality of audio systems and the life span of the products. So today for video converting VCR, you will require a converter. Some standard converters are the TENLABs or a PAL-SECAM-NTSC compatible television set.

Why the video tapes require a video converting VCR to play

The three most widely followed standards of video tapes are NTSC, PAL and SECAM. All variations of these standards followed anywhere in the world is a combination of two or all of these standards. When the first colour TV was discovered, the NTSC system was introduced in United States and Canada way back in the year 1953. Among the eastern countries, Japan with the obvious influence of United States and its nearness to North America also uses the NTSC standard that uses 525 lines frame to play the video tapes. PAL, the short form for Phase Alternating Line, was introduced in the European Countries in 1960 and immediately gained popularity. The bandwidth of PAL and SECAM standard, that is used in France, are the same and their line frames match too. But SECAM standard transmits colour signals sequentially. NTSC standard is not popular outside the North American countries and SECAM is used only in France and its earlier colonies. Rest of the world uses PAL and even the South American countries use some variations of it.

Issues relating to choice of video converting VCR

Compatibility is the main issue involved in the choice of a video converting VCR. Viewers in North America will opt for a video converting VCR that will enable them to play video tapes with PAL or SECAM standards to be watched on their NTSC TV. Similarly and European or Asian viewer will like to play NTSC video tapes on their PAL compatible TV and these can be achieved with video converting VCRs. In case of the multi-system VCRs, the companies will require the buyer to purchase some PAL/NTSC video converter that would replace a multi-system TV, which becomes otherwise a necessity. There are also systems with the feature of a direct converter that converters all incompatible signals into device friendly signals making viewing possible.

About DVD and video converting VCR

Video tapes are quickly loosing grounds in favour of the new and much more compact DVDs. In fact, DVDs have become the new version for home entertainment. But the problems of incompatibility of standards are also present here and thus some video conversion is also required here. In this case the video converting DVD player is region-free. Sometimes a region-free DVD player is also named as a code-free DVD player, that can play DVDs using any standard from any zone. Incidentally, the standard for a DVD is the same as that of a video tape, namely, the PAL, SECAM, and NTSC. Like Video converting VCR and multi-system VCR, there are several types, models and brands of a code-free DVD player. However, the leading companies are the same as in case of multi-system VCRs like Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, Hitachi, Toshiba, and Phillips etc. The code-free DVD players can play any CD or DVD using any standard procured from any zone on a non-convertible device. With a region free or code-free DVD player you can play a SECAM DVD from France or a PAL DVD from Europe on your NTSC TV. However while buying you have to choose between multifarious models with different price tags depending on your requirement and budget. The prices will also be different basing on the brands and specifications.

About the prices for video converting VCR

Now that a direct video converting VCR is out of market, the possible alternative will be a separate video converter converting your multi-system VCR into a video converting VCR. The cost of branded products is on the higher side. For example if you opt for a product from companies like Hitachi, Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba, Sharp, or Phillips, it may cost you on average $350 that would be higher than the non-branded cheaper qualities available. But the warranty and service provided in case of branded items, compensates in the long run. However, fierce competitions in the commercial world have forced companies to come up with cheaper versions, around $100 per item and in multiples of that amount. For example, Samsung provides a Hi-Fi multi-system, with tape conversion facilities and a world-based TV tuner at approximately $400. However branded models ordinarily will cost in the range of $500 to $1,200 depending on product in respect of multi-system VCR converters and also SVHS playback systems.

The affect of visuals

It is a well established fact that a visual is worth hundreds of words. It is quite easy to apprehend the message with a visual rather than words or any other type of interaction. Even the cavemen used to express their messages by means of pictures drawn on the walls of caves, where a single picture could depict a thousand messages. That is why visual expression is always popular. In earlier days it was movies and then gradually with the coming up of home theater and televisions, video took over. But initially, with the difference of standards such videos were confined to a particular zone. To solve this shortfall, the video converting VCR and later with the advent of DVD the region-free DVD player came into existence. Now the restrictions of standards and difference of geographical zones are no more a hindrance to free viewing of video tapes, CDs and DVDs by the viewers with video converting VCR systems and region-free DVD players available.

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