Archive for June, 2008
Monday, June 30th, 2008
Where do you go if you want to know what’s the latest news about Paris and Paris? What do you do if you need to see what happened to Maria Sharapova after this year’s Wimbledon? Who do you ask if you want to know if the storm is still raging dangerously in Taiwan? How can you find out about the latest news regarding George Bush’s fight against international terrorism? For those questions and just about everything else that you may find yourself curious about, we only have one answer: check out the New York Times.
The New York Times is one of the most read dailies in the United States and there’s really no surprise why it’s so. People have come to rely on the New York Times to provide them with updated news round the clock, online or through the written word, regarding everything under the sun. You can read about the films being shown this week, the current bestsellers in the publishing industry, the latest stock market quotes, the newest trend in summer fashion and a whole lot more.
The New York Times has arguably one of the most credible reputations in the country and so it’s unsurprising that people have become curious about what type of management is behind such a thriving media company. Hence, our article, which tackles the company profile of the New York Times Company, owner of the New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, the Boston Globe and sixteen other newspapers.
Last year, the New York Times Company reached the three billion mark in their revenues. Besides the aforementioned newspapers, the New York Times Company also owns eight TV networks and two radio stations. The New York Times Co. is also house to several Pulitzer Prize writers. A short history of the New York Times Company is provided below:
April 27, 1967 : Class A stock of the New York Times Company has finally landed a spot in the listing of over-the-counter trades.
January 12, 1973 : Adding on to their assets, the New York Times Company has acquired Marco Island Eagle.
January 11, 1977 : The New York Times Company divests several of its business ventures by selling its professional magazine and music publishing business.
February 12, 1980 : The Madison Paper Industries was born, a joint venture between the New York Times Co. and Myllykoski Oy, a Finnish paper manufacturing company.
March 6, 1980 : The New York Times Company decides to sell its Us magazine.
April 10, 1981 : The Australian magazine operations of the New York Times Co. were also sold.
1983 : The New York Times sold times Books, its book publishing operation, and license to its information retrieval service and micro-publishing operations. In return, the company got to acquire several TV stations, launch new magazines and relaunch old ones that it has acquired.
1993 : The New York Times Company announces a $100 million share repurchase authorization.
For more details regarding the New York Times Company and all its affiliations, its website can provide you with contact details and FAQs. The New York Times accept ads, notices, announcements of weddings, obituaries, special events, and the likes. They can also be delivered right on your doorstep, wherever you are, and further information regarding this can still be found in their website.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Monday, June 30th, 2008
There are two different digital formats for TVs. One is SDTV, which means Standard Definition TV, and HDTV, which is the newest in TV technology. This must see new TV gives the SDTV a new look. The picture is so much clearer, sharper, and almost three-dimensional. HDTV has lifelike pictures and theater sound. It has a high resolution, which gives astonishing clarity. It’s sharper, wider and more like a theater screen than a TV set. It is as clear as a computer monitor as it uses the same technology. Since most of us are use to the sharpness and clarity of our computer monitor, it means that we want the same technology when we watch our TV. This computer sharpness has to do with the amount of pixels used on a computer monitor. The lowest resolution is 640 x 768 pixels. Some monitors go as high as 1024 x 768.
Pixels are actually two words jammed together, ¾ picture and element. It’s a tiny sample of video information and these tiny pixels are what make up the overall picture. A pixel per inch is the measure of sharpness on a television display screen. Resolution is based on the number of pixels displayed. One form of high-definition picture formats is composed of 1080 lines and each line has 1920 pixels.
This digital encoding system provides a sharp, clear picture. This encoding could soon make analog television sets obsolete. Once you’ve seen for yourself the clarity, depth and resolution of an HDTV you will want one. Many of the new satellite systems use digital encoding systems and then have to be converted to the analog format to fit your present TV. It looks great, but would look even better if it didn’t have to be converted at all. Digital signals can be broadcast over the air, by cable, or transmitted by a satellite system to your home. It’s then directed to your digital ready TV for clear and sharp pictures and terrific surround sound.
HDTV has the highest digital resolution of the new digital TV’s. Right now, you are only seeing about 525 lines of resolution on your present analog TV. An HDTV with wide screen format has lines from 720 to 1080.
The usual TV set has a picture resolution of about 210,000 pixels. On HDTV sets, each picture contains around two million pixels. What does this mean to you? It means a picture with about ten times more detail than on a standard analog TV. This means wider images, more detailed picture, and Dolby surround sound, just like being at a movie theater. The HDTV movement has revolutionized the TV industry, much like it was revolutionized when they converted from black and white to color. Previously only the very rich could afford to put a home theater in their residence. Now with today’s digital technology and sound, the average person can experience the thrill of having your very own theater. The wide screen format changed the movie audience experience and it now it is changing the home TV experience.
The wide screen allows for a panoramic view that fills our field of vision because our eyes are located side by side. It lends itself to more innovative video compositions and allows directors to compose shots that captivate and pull the audience into the movie or the playing field.
This new technology will demand changes that can be costly for the viewer and for the TV stations and media production companies. Newer technology means newer equipment and that translates into more expense. However, just as the new technology of CD’s, VCR’s and DVD players, the prices will eventually fall.
As of May of 1999, the Federal Communications Commission decided that digital television and HDTV should be the newest standard for broadcasting. The change over has begun with the FCC requiring the top TV networks to broadcast a digital signal in the ten biggest markets.
The networks plan to phase out all analog TV broadcasts by the end of 2006. Your TV won’t be obsolete, but it will definitely not be the newest technology you can enjoy. After you have seen a movie or a sports event on HDTV, you’ll be ready to make the big switch. Research the subject and know what you’re looking for when you go to make the purchase.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Sunday, June 29th, 2008
HDTV has, without a doubt, become the wave of the future in the United State. The FCC has mandated its use by broadcasters, videogame manufacturers are taking advantage of its sound and picture clarity, and many consumers are chomping at the bit to get a hold of this latest technology.
Broadcasting Channels
Most people only think about television offerings when it comes to HDTV. True, all of the major television stations, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBX, and PBS, now transmit in HDTV. In addition, many of the big names in cable and satellite, including HBO, ESPN and Showtime, also broadcast in HDTV. Despite the facts that all of these networks currently broadcast in HDTV, there are still a number of programs that are not in HDTV. This is, however, likely to change as the FCC works toward making the change from analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting. Nonetheless, the advantages of HDTV reach beyond just the television programs being offered.
DVD’s
HDTV is having a huge impact on the home-movie theatre experience. The quality of HDTV televisions, combined with HDTV movie DVD’s is outstanding. Most current movie CD’s come in HDTV and in Dolby 5.1 surround-sound. Even older movies are being digitally re-mastered and include HDTV and Dolby 5.1 surround sound. The digital sound and picture placed on these DVD’s combined with the HDTV television’s ability to decode the digital technology combine together to form an unbelievable home-movie experience.
In addition, HDTV televisions are set up in true widescreen format. For this reason, movies can be viewed in the way the filmmaker intended them to be seen. Watching a movie in widescreen on an analog television, on the other hand, produces irritating black lines at the top and the bottom of the screen.
The combined technology of DVD’s and HDTV televisions has caused many people to say that watching television in this way is like looking through a window because it is so crisp and clear. This, combined with the realism brought on by surround sound, is an excellent way to make movies come to life.
Video Games
HDTV is also the way to go for people who enjoy playing video games. The soon to be released X-Box 360 and the PlayStation 3 have both integrated HDTV technology into their gaming systems. Both Microsoft and Sony have claimed that the graphics and sound of video games will be much clearer and enjoyable for those gamers who have HDTV televisions.
In addition, HDTV tube televisions are a much better choice for video game junkies than plasma televisions. Plasma televisions can experience color burn, which are images that are permanently “burned” into the screen, from video games. This is because certain visuals from video games remain on-screen for extended periods of time.
No matter what an HDTV television set is used for, the resolution of all programs, movies, and video games will be better using an HDTV. This is because the quality of HDTV’s reaches beyond just the fact that they accept digital transmissions. In fact, most HDTV’s are set up to receive analog transmissions, as well. But, for even these analog transmissions, the picture is clearer on an HDTV.
The reason the picture continues to remain clearer on an HDTV television, even when a program is not transmitted in HDTV, is because of the pixels in an HDTV.
Most HDTV’s come with either a 1080i resolution or a 720p resolution. For the 1080i resolution, the “I” stands for interlaced. This term is used because the lines of the television are actually interlaced to form a clear picture. With 1080i resolution, 30 frames of interlaced resolution are transmitted at a time. First, the even lines are transmitted, then the odd. This pattern continuously repeats every second. In all, 1080i resolution provides 1920 x 1080 pixels, for a total of 2,073,000 pixels.
In 720p resolution, the “p” stands for progressive. With 720p resolution, 60 frames of resolution are transmitted every second. The resolution of 720p is of 1280 x 720 pixels, for a total of 921,600 pixels. Many people feel this provides an even clearer picture than the 720p resolution, though HDTV televisions are capable of decoding both resolutions. Since HDTV’s have such a large number of pixels, they can create a clearer picture, even for programs that are not broadcast in HDTV.
Posted in Money Online, Review | No Comments »
Saturday, June 28th, 2008
If you already have digital cable, then it may be simpler to get HDTV into your home than you think. Many cable companies are now letting people switch to a different kind of box which allows them to view HDTV channels. This switch out is sometimes as low as $5 additional per month. If that seems like a lot, you might not think so when you see the quality of the high definition picture which HDTV provides. You will get more of the picture, a wide screen effect, which will make you feel like you are at the movies, and with the right connections, 5.1 surround sound quality or better. Keep in mind that if you already receive digital cable, or a DTV transmission, that does not necessarily mean that you have high definition capabilities on your TV set. However, if you already have digital cable, the chances are that you are only one or two steps away from having HDTV in your very own living room. Here is what you need to know and what you will need to find out from your provider.
The first step is to make sure that you have the right kind of TV set. Buying an HDTV-ready or HDTV-compatible TV will be what the cable company asks you to do first. Do not feel like you are being taken by some mysterious set-up between your cable provider and the forces that be. Whether you were going with satellite or an over-the-air pick-up of HDTV channels, you would still need to get a TV set which has the right set-ups. You will need to do a little research to find out which HDTV you want. Some will offer a built-in tuner. Others will be HD-capable, or HD-ready. HD-Ready and HD-capable usually mean the same thing, which is that your TV set is ready to accept whatever mode of HDTV signal you choose. However, do make sure that you verify that you will be able to actually experience HD on the TV you pick. Some HD-ready TVs only let your receive the signal, rather than really see it.
After you get your new TV set, which should hopefully be your biggest expense for getting HD programming, you can find out how your cable provider will get the technology to your home. Most cable providers are offering new ways to get your HDTV set-up. An upgraded cable box is either rented or bought from them, or they will give you a special Cable Card.
The Cable Card is a new technology for HD-capable sets. The Cable Card will be inserted into the Cable Card slot on your TV. This of course means that you purchased a TV set which has this technology. The benefit to getting this kind of HD-ready TV is that it will allow for you to skip the set-top box all together. These TVs are called “digital cable ready.”
If you go with the cable set-top box option, then you will also receive all the same channels as you would with the cable card set up. The cable provider will add a premium to your monthly fee for having the HDTV service. Many people are finding that satellite companies are requiring that one buys the set-box top from them, rather than renting it. Be glad that you can always give the cable box back to the cable provider when you are ready to move onto the next technology, which is inevitable, if one judges TV technology from the last 20 years.
Whatever you do, find out what your local cable provider recommends first as far as purchasing a new TV goes. Find out what they charge for purchasing or renting the HD set-top box or for the cable card. Also, learn about which stations and channels they offer in high definition and whether you will be able to record them onto your DVR or TIVO, if you want that option, too. Asking a cable representative what they have, or asking about what you would like to have in your home as far as HD options, is sometimes the quickest way to find out which direction to go. If you can afford to get a TV set with the majority of options and capabilities, then you are more likely to be able to upgrade in the future, too.
Posted in Money Online, Review | No Comments »
Friday, June 27th, 2008
No one wants to miss out on the wonderful picture quality which HDTV offers. The question is how to best obtain it. It seems like there are a million different kinds of TVs, receivers, cable boxes and satellites out there with a lot of technical jargon to go with them. With a few tips to keep in mind, however, it can be easy to get that HDTV into your home in no time.
Just as a reminder, HDTV formatting is not available in every area or for every channel. There has been a lag time between the technology and what broadcasters have upgraded to themselves. Starting in 2007, all stations are supposed to be digital ready. Hopefully, competition will get as many channels as possible into HDTV formats. When that happens, stations will be able to offer more and more high definition, or HDTV transmissions. In the meantime, cable and satellite seem to be the way to go if one wants to experience high definition TV for them selves.
The availability of HDTV means that the first step to getting it is to either look at some of the online sites that will tell you how to get it in your area, or to ask your local cable or satellite providers about it. Knowing what your area offers, will give you clues to the next step. Most people are choosing satellite or cable as their means to getting HDTV channels. The reason is simple. While some local stations are offering HDTV formatted transmissions, cable and satellite often have two or three times as many.
If you still want to go with the analog technology, and your TV has an HD tuner built into it, then all you need is an antenna. Keep in mind that this will not be as consistent of a picture as going through cable or satellite. You also will have fewer choices in stations, if you have any at all. If you are a cable subscriber, then you can get an HD cable box from your subscriber for an extra $5 or $10 per month. If you are a satellite subscriber with dish network, then you can rent a box for an additional amount that will give you the HDTV channels. However, DIRECTV will sell you the box, so you can have HDTV access with a one time purchase.
You should also know that there are three different kinds of connections through which HDTV is transmitted from your cable or satellite provider. DVI (digital video interface), HDMI (high definition multimedia interface) and Component Video, also known as RGB (red green blue) are the three types. Neither the Component Video, nor the DVI carries any audio information. This is relevant because you will need separate audio connections such as digital optical or digital coaxial to receive your 5.1 (or greater) sound, which is one of the other features of HDTV transmissions. In contrast, HDMI does carry audio information, but at this time only a handful of audio manufacturers include HDMI connectivity on receivers and preamps. None of these connections are usually included with your HDTV or your HDTV source. One should plan on purchasing these separately for anywhere from $30 to $140.
To summarize the options available, one can view the source of HDTV either from a broadcasting station, or through their cable or satellite provider. Check with these sources to find out how many, or what kind of HDTV channels they offer. Depending on what stations are offered by what source, you can know whether to purchase an HD-antenna, HD-cable box, HD-satellite box or an HD-Set-top box. The HD-Set-top box is sometimes offered by cable providers instead of the HD-cable box. These can vary in price, so make sure they give you all of your options. Consider buying an HD-capable, HD-upgradeable, or HD-ready TV monitor, rather than one with the built-in tuner. The tuner TV does not guarantee that you do not have to buy or rent another box from your cable provider. Also, HD-capable and ready monitors allow you to upgrade as the technology quickly moves along. As a final note, make sure that any cable company you speak to lets you know whether they offer a Cable Card for your HD-upgradeable or HD-capable monitor.
Posted in Money Online, Review | No Comments »
Thursday, June 26th, 2008
Although there are a lot of resources for learning about HDTV, it is still difficult to discern the straight facts. A cable company is going to recommend that you get your HDTV through them, and satellite will tell you that their method is the best. The truth is that they all have their pros and cons, so it all comes down to your personal taste. The most important thing to keep in mind is that the technology has not smoothed out all of its kinks yet. This only signifies that the chances are that as soon as they do, another technology will come creeping up which will require everyone to start over. The easiest way to avoid this is to choose your technology wisely and perhaps with a little more money. This does not mean that you should not try out having HDTV in your home first, before buying all new equipment. Learning about the technology first will help you decide whether to try it through your cable company by renting the HD set-top box for your HD-capable TV, or whether to get the antenna to pick up some of the local broadcasting stations’ HD formatted programs. By breaking down some of the elements of HDTV, you can better understand which method is right for you.
Basically, HDTV is a form of digital TV. The difference between high definition TV and digital (DTV), is that HDTV offers much more quality on three levels. HD uses more lines per image, which is what accounts for the crystal clear picture. It also incorporates wide screen technology into every transmission, which is the best way to create a realistic picture. Finally, HDTV does not just mean a good picture. The digital format of HD allows for 5.1 Dolby surround sound quality to transmit as well. If one has the correct connectors, such as DVI (digital video interface), HDMI (high definition multimedia interface) or Component Video, also known as RGB (red green blue), then you will be able to receive this element of your HD transmission. Adding this component is usually required since only a few TVs include it.
Next, one has to decide which way they want to receive the HDTV signal. This is probably the trickiest part, because broadcasting stations, cable and satellite providers, and TV technology are all on various planes of cooperation and consistency. Looking on the internet for HDTV options in your area, or calling your satellite and cable providers for package quotes should demystify some of the process. All of the options will require that you have a TV monitor with either a tuner built-in, a built-in cable card slot (Cable Card or Cable Card-ready), or with a feature called HD-ready or HD-capable.
The built-in tuner will allow you to purchase an antenna and hook it up to your TV. This will let you pick up HD channel broadcastings from your local stations. Before going with this option, make sure that you know which channels, if any, your local stations provide.
Many people like the HD-ready, or capable option because it usually guarantees that any set-box top that a satellite or cable provider offers for rent or for purchase, will be compatible. Make sure you find out the prices for owning or renting the box from different HD services, and the different prices for HD-ready sets. Getting an HD-ready set with as many bells and whistles as possible should help you keep up with the quickly changing technology.
The Cable Card-ready slot keeps a lot of clutter out of your living room. A lot of people consider it to be a smoother way to receive the signal. Make sure that you like your local cable provider though, because not all of them offer the same HD channels. If you think you might end up switching to satellite, then consider going with just a regular HD-ready set.
Knowing what channels are available through the three kinds of services, antenna (local broadcasting), satellite, or cable, should be able to help you know which one to use. The technology is changing every day, so prepare yourself for a few glitches along the way. Sports, nature, art and movies are some of the most popular genres which HDTV channels are offering, so be sure to base your choice on the variety which it will provide for you and your family.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 25th, 2008
The technology for HDTV-compatible TVs is advancing quickly. A movement toward integration is inspiring developers to create TVs that can do more and more. One day in the very near future, most people will have TVs which are linked to every other media in their home. Your computer, telephone, TV and music will all be conveniently linked to your giant entertainment center. This integration is important to keep in mind when choosing your HD-capable TV. Although there is no way to know for sure what we will need from our TV set five years up the road, it is still wise to be forward thinking in your purchase. Keep an eye out for the following five aspects when you get ready to buy your HD-compatible TV set.
Cable Card-ready? Along with local over-the-air, broadcasting and satellite, cable is racing to keep up with the technology for digital and high definition programming and services. Knowing that people always like sleekness and convenience in their media, more and more cable companies are now offering a Cable Card. This card will give you everything you need to watch your HD programming. The Cable Card-ready TV set has a slot (usually in the back) which will accept the cable provider’s information card. The potential for the card is already being speculated upon, because games and other media besides HD programming can be conveniently put on the card as well. Another benefit to this is that it keeps you from having to have a cable box in your living room. Everything is on the card.
Plenty of ports and hook-ups? If you imagine yourself keeping up with the technology of TV and media, then make sure your brand-new HD-capable TV has all of the ports, jacks and hook-ups you could possibly imagine needing. Do not be shy about having ones that you do not imagine using either. USB ports, and a variety of other hook-ups, may surprise you by how useful they are a year or two up the road. The motto seems to be that you can never have too many ports.
Small screen or big screen? Getting the right size for your TV is never easy, but a couple aspects about HDTV should get you in the right direction. First, as opposed to the big screen TVs of the 80s and 90s for analog programming, watching HDTV on a big screen does not lose picture size or quality. In the past, the bigger one made the analog picture, the more one lost. Because HDTV is virtually a perfect picture with its high resolution, you can never have the picture too big. Second, HDTV is already in wide screen format. Now, you really can feel like you are at the movie theater. Of course, it is not mandatory to get a massive screen, but just know that if you decide to get another eight or 10 inches of TV set, you will not be disappointed.
HD-ready? Is your TV HD-capable? Does it come with an HD-decoder? There are several terms being used in the world of electronics lingo which all basically mean the same thing, with one exception. Some of the TVs, which advertise HD-ready or HD-capable, may actually just mean that they can receive the signal, and nothing else. This means that you receive HD programming, but you do not actually have the capability to view it the way it was meant to be viewed. When you buy your HD-capable TV, be very clear that you want to be able to enjoy all of the features of HD resolution, formatting and sound. Save yourself the trouble of having to return your TV set for one which will allow you to see the high definition you are paying good money to enjoy.
Does your TV include HDMI? So you are ready to buy the 80-inch, Cable Card-ready HDTV-capable set with all of the ports and jacks. You also made sure that you can actually view the resolution of high definition programming. You have everything you need. Well, there might be one more thing to consider. If you can find one of the HD-capable models which includes HDMI (high definition multimedia interface), then you will be able to cut out another accessory. HD-capable sets with HDMI built-in allow you to directly receive the 5.1 Dolby-sound which is part of HDTV formatting. Otherwise, you will need to buy special components or cables. If you are not able to find one with HDMI though, do not fret. These are hard to come by for now.
Posted in Money Online, Review | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008
High definition television is the newest thing to hit the television market. Consumers and movie enthusiasts love HDTV. It offers bright, clear picture resolution, superior audio sound and a wide range of programming. When it’s time to shop for HDTV, here are five things to look for in a new HDTV compatible set.
Choosing a high definition television can be confusing. When shopping for a new HDTV, do research and understand the product. It is recommend that you shop around and ask lots of questions before purchasing. HDTV set ups can be costly. Larger sets can run in the thousands of dollars just for the television. Most HDTV sets that are available for sale are big screen and they are generally expensive. Smaller-screened televisions with digital capabilities are slated to hit the market in 2007.
1. Look at the type of televisions on the market. There are several types of HDTV sets to choose from. Rear projection, plasma and LCD are all types of HDTV. When a television is labeled as HDTV-ready that means the TV has an HDTV tuner built in. This enables the TV set to get over-the-air high definition signals from local networks. HDTV-capable means that the TV set is able to receive high definition signals, but only with the use of an HDTV converter box that is available from the cable or satellite company, or a digital tuner and over-the-air antenna.
2. Consider the price. Many viewers prefer the wall display monitor that either plasma or LCD offers. But, these are usually most expensive of the high definition sets, especially the ones that are sized between 40 to 70 inches. Lower on the cost spectrum, but equally good, are the LCD displays that are sized at 42 inches and under. Larger HDTV sets can cost into the thousands. Smaller sized sets are hitting the market and as the demand goes up, the prices are beginning to come down.
3. Think about the size of the television in comparison to the size of the viewing area before making a purchase. Check to see how far the TV set will be to where the viewers will sit. There are ideal distances to see the picture resolution. For example, for optimal viewing, a high definition wide-screen that measures 50 inches should be viewed at about 117 inches, or just less than ten feet from the screen.
4. Consider a wide-screen if you are setting up a home movie theater. HDTV wide-screen televisions are becoming popular choices for consumers wanting a movie theater-style viewing experience at home. Imagine sitting in a home theater with a large, clear screen and surround sound. With HDTV wide-screen TV, it is possible. There are several benefits of HDTV wide-screen, making it a top choice for movie lovers. HDVT wide-screen sets enable movies to be seen as the filmmaker intended them. It appears as it does in the theater and the viewers see every bit of the movie that is intended. With wide-screen, the TV screen cuts off no part of the image, either at the top or the bottom. Wide-screen shows the colors and lighting correctly. The viewing ratio is not distorted as it often is in a regular television screen.
5. Think about what other options and features you will need when purchasing a new television. Check the warranty. Most high definition sets come with a one-year warranty, which is good. Also, take into consideration the cost of extended warranties that most electronic stores offer. These sets can be a major purchase. A standard plasma television should last around seven years. An extended warranty is usually good between three and four years. An extended warranty may be a good purchase. Something else to consider before spending a lot of money on a new HDTV set is how long the technology will last. With the technology changing quickly and offering better performance in TVs, spending thousands of dollars for a TV that may last only seven years, might not be wise. As the popularity rises, the prices will come down on HDTV sets making them more available to the general public.
Look at the other features that the television comes with such as picture in picture features and the remote control. The remote control may seem trivial, but you will be using it a lot. Make sure it feels good in your hand and that the buttons are laid out logically. If you need buttons with a backlight, check to see if the one you are looking at comes with that feature. Also, if you use the picture-in –picture feature, check to see that it can be used with HDTV broadcasts.
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Monday, June 23rd, 2008
High Resolution
HDTV offers a higher resolution than most conventional television sets. In addition, HDTV’s can display full HDTV and DTV signals, which results in a sharper picture.
Analog televisions have approximately 480 active scanning lines. This results in a resolution of about 330 lines. A VHS VCR has approximately 240 lines of resolution. This is why VHS doesn’t look as clear as the original picture. DVD’s provide about 480 lines of resolution. HDTV’s, on the other hand, provide about twice as much resolution as an analog television.
HDTV is part of the DTV specifications set forth by the FCC. Many video resolutions fall within the umbrellas of DTV. The two main resolutions are 1080i and 720p. The “I” means interlaced and the “p” means progressive. For both, every second has 60 frames of video. Interlaced resolution transmits 30 frames of even lines, then 30 frames of odd lines every second. Progressive resolution, on the other hand, puts 60 entire frames on the screen every second.
An HDTV with 720p resolution has 1280 x 720 pixels, for a total of 921,600 pixels. The 1080i has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, which totals 2,073,000 pixels. Some people prefer the 720p resolution because it provides a more “stable” picture, claiming the 1080i resolution can cause a flicker effect. The 1080i resolution, however, provides a far greater number of pixels. HDTV receivers are capable of receiving both types of resolution and converting them to the format used by the television display. Either way, the resulting resolution on an HDTV is far supreme to the picture found on an analog television.
No Scanning Lines
The 720p resolution provides a crystal clear image and almost completely eliminates scanning lines. This is because, as explained above, the 720P resolution produces all 60 frames of video every second. Despite the fact that the 1080i rotates 30 frames every second, it, too, has much less visible scanning lines because of its use of interlace scanning.
Better Sound
HDTV offers digital audio and CD quality surround sound, creating a much clearer listening experience. Just like CD’s produce a better sound than audiocassette tapes, the digital audio sound of HDTV is better than the sound provided by an analog television. In addition, Dolby Digital 5.1 included in many HDTV programs. To take advantage of the surround sound, however, it is necessary to have 5.1 speakers.
Panoramic View
High Definition TV’s provides a much larger viewing area than regular analog television. The majority of analog television sets are produced with a 4 by 3 aspect ratio. This means that the screen is 4 units wide by 3 units high. Theatrically released movies, however are generally produced in a much wider aspect. This is down in order to take advantage of the field of vision, which is wider horizontally than it is tall. Because HDTV signals are transmitted in a 16 by 9 aspect ration, it is more like the screen used in movies. Therefore, HDTV viewing is more realistic and panoramic.
Wave of the Future
The FCC has passed a multitude of regulations regarding HDTV. Among these regulations is that all television broadcasts must be transmitted in HDTV by 2006. Analog televisions, however, will not be able to take advantage of this technology.
Consequently, HDTV allows the viewer to view his favorite television shows in HDTV format, creating a more “real life” experience, with a clearer, crisper picture. In addition, most cable companies now offer HDTV as a standard part of their cable package. Therefore, consumers don’t have to purchase a special HDTV television or an HDTV-ready television with an HDTV set-top-box.
In addition, new videogame system consoles are taking advantage of HDTV, claiming the graphics of the games themselves will be clearer when played on an HDTV television. HDTV tube televisions are also better than plasma televisions for the videogame player because plasma televisions will experience what is called “color burn” on their plasma televisions. Color burn is when an image is permanently “burned” into the television, just like what can happen to a computer monitor if it doesn’t utilize a screen-saver.
With all of the benefits of HDTV, it is little wonder most consumers are making HDTV television sets their next television purchase.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Monday, June 23rd, 2008
Most consumers are still relatively uneducated when it comes to HDTV. In fact, according to Rick Chessen, the associate chief and chairman of the FCC, American consumers need to realize that “analog sets will have limited capabilities in their future.” But, is it really important to make the switch to HDTV now. Or should you wait till later?
Program Offerings
The answer to this question lies mostly in personal opinion and individual situations. Currently, television channels are not HDTV. Those that do offer HDTV are: ABC, CBS, Cinemax, Encore, ESPN, ESPN 2, Fox, Fox Sports, HBO, HDNet, The Movie Channel, NBC, PBS, Showtime, and Starz, Universal. With the exception of the broadcast networks of ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, and PBS, each of these channels requires cable or satellite service to receive.
Therefore, a person who doesn’t watch any of these channels often might not need to run out and buy a HDTV at the moment. By the end of 2006, however, the FCC has dictated that every channel must broadcast in only digital format. Digital format is not the same as HDTV, but HDTV needs digital format in order to run. If the FCC gets its way, analog televisions will be nothing more than oversized paperweights, unless the owner purchases a special digital-to-analog converter. In this case, the television will be able to show programming, but it still won’t be of the higher quality received by those who own televisions with digital receivers.
No Avoiding the Inevitable
Of course, most people who watch television watch at least one of the channels that currently broadcast in HDTV. So, the question still remains: Should the HDTV be bought now, or should the consumer wait?
With the FCC’s regulations, coupled with the ever-increasing popularity of HDTV, there is no avoiding the fact that HDTV is in the future of all Americans. But, for the true television connoisseur, there doesn’t appear to be much advantage to either waiting to buy an HDTV or purchasing one now.
True, the price of HDTV televisions has fallen since they were first introduced. And, they are likely to continue to fall. But for the person who is passionate about television, it almost seems foolish to wait to purchase an HDTV because it is simply putting off the inevitable. There are no current HDTV breakthroughs on the horizon, so waiting to purchase an HDTV won’t increase the chances of having the “latest and greatest” technology – which technology has already arrived.
For someone who is, however, an infrequent viewer of television or who doesn’t relish the television viewing experience, it might be a good idea to simply wait. When the time comes that all broadcasters are forced to switch to digital broadcasting, it will come time for these consumers to make a decision. They can either purchase an HDTV television, or they can buy a digital-to-analog converter.
If the current analog television still produces an acceptable picture and is still in good working order, purchasing a digital-to-analog is likely the best choice for people in this category. Most experts believe these will only cost about $50-100 at the time the switchover takes place, which makes buying one of the converters quite affordable – particularly when compared to paying hundreds, maybe thousands, of dollars for a HDTV television.
In fact, there has been talk within the government about assisting low-income families in purchasing digital-to-analog converters. This discussion has mostly taken place because it is likely to be low-income families who are most affected by the FCC’s mandate for all broadcasters to switch to digital. The current Bush administration, however, is not in favor of this suggestion.
No matter a person’s level of television passion, a person in the market to purchase a new television in order to replace a new one should seriously consider purchasing an HDTV television instead of an analog television. If a consumer does purchase an analog television, it will soon be obsolete and will require additional money to enjoy television programming. It is worthwhile to save the time and worries and spend a little extra cash on the HDTV now, rather than spend extra money down the road on a television that doesn’t provide the extra perks supplied by HDTV.
Posted in Review | No Comments »
