Home Theater/HDTV/et al...

bmwracer wrote:
Under the guise of "Cigarettes."

LOL. :hehe:

Very clever, huh? No one will ever know! :hehe:

Tu_triky wrote:Very clever, huh? No one will ever know! :hehe:

That said, I guess the cigarettes are sold in the vending machine marked "Panties." :beaten:

bmwracer wrote:
That said, I guess the cigarettes are sold in the vending machine marked "Panties." :beaten:

That's how the girls from Morning Musume who got caught smoking bought their cigarettes...."Mom, I'm going to go buy some panties, I'll be right back."

bmwracer wrote:
Really? :headscratch:

If your DVD player has an HDMI out, you should be able to get 720p (or higher if the player supports it) from your HDTV (if it supports 720p or higher) and not have to hardsub....

For playing Divx files (.avi or such, essentially like reading a data CD), the maximum supported resolution is 720x480. So no .avi files if greater than that.

Regular DVDs can play ok at 720p or higher, so I don't have a problem with that. I just figured out that burning just the .avi files would help me put more stuff on a single DVD, and have subtitle files separate from the actual video. If I want a better resolution, I'd have to burn it onto a DVD format with the subtitles already.

:grumble:

FarOutFreak wrote:For playing Divx files (.avi or such, essentially like reading a data CD), the maximum supported resolution is 720x480. So no .avi files if greater than that.

Yup, I just found that out at my brother's place. :grumble:

Regular DVDs can play ok at 720p or higher, so I don't have a problem with that. I just figured out that burning just the .avi files would help me put more stuff on a single DVD, and have subtitle files separate from the actual video. If I want a better resolution, I'd have to burn it onto a DVD format with the subtitles already.

Or drive your HDTV directly from your PC... :)

bmwracer wrote:
Or drive your HDTV directly from your PC... :)

I've thought about it, and that would involve a mini-DVI->DVI->HDMI cable to drive the TV with a Mac.

Can probably find the DVI to HDMI cable here, but the mini-DVI adapter is surprisingly expensive.

That, and if I decide to start watching stuff from the computer on the TV, that'd be the end of regular TV watching as I know it (not that there's anything good on nowadays). Slippery slope.

FarOutFreak wrote:I've thought about it, and that would involve a mini-DVI->DVI->HDMI cable to drive the TV with a Mac.

Can probably find the DVI to HDMI cable here, but the mini-DVI adapter is surprisingly expensive.

That, and if I decide to start watching stuff from the computer on the TV, that'd be the end of regular TV watching as I know it (not that there's anything good on nowadays). Slippery slope.

Here's your excuse to build up an HTPC. :victory:

Over the Air HDTV – The Free Alternative
Frustrated with high cost, low quality HDTV? Here's how a simple antenna can lead you to the land of free HD.

May. 09, 2008 \ by Ben Hardy

Rate increases, HD-Lite, outages – there are plenty of reasons why subscribers get fed up with their HD service providers. What are the alternatives? Switch to another provider? Thatfs one solution, but it could simply bring its own set of problems unique to that service. Therefs always Over-the-Air (OTA) HDTV. Just like your mom and dad (and grandma and grandpa) got their TV for free through the rabbit ears, so can you get your HDTV for free.

OTA HDTV in Brief
Receiving OTA HDTV is in most ways just like receiving the OTA analog signals that have been around since the days of gI Love Lucy.h Broadcast towers transmit a digital signal which is captured by the receiver (antenna), which is sent to the TV (in this case an HDTV, with either a built-in tuner or using a set-top box tuner). The antenna can be of the outdoor or indoor variety, and can include any number of accessories, including a rotor, an amplifier, and other augmenting features. The digital signals can be broadcast as VHF (Very High Frequency) or UHF (Ultra High Frequency). The VHF band covers channels 2-13, and the UHF 14-69. (After the analog to digital transition in February 2009, channels 52-69 will be claimed by the federal government for reallocation elsewhere). Stations broadcasting in digital can choose to broadcast programs in HD, and many do. Just what is broadcast in HD, and when, will vary from station to station.

One big difference between digital OTA and analog OTA is that with digital there is no in-between – you either get the channel or you donft. As many analog OTA users will attest, gsnowyh pictures can be quite common, caused by a weakened signal due to any number of factors, including distance, geography, and obstructions. The video and audio is coming through, but the picture isnft the sharpest, though it will do. With digital, itfs an all-or-nothing situation. gWe call it the ecliff effect,fh says Shermaze Ingram, Senior Director of Media Relations for the DTV Transition Campaign at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). The digital receiver (antenna) requires so many bits of data to deliver content to the television. If the signal is weak enough such that the antenna is not receiving the minimum required data, it will simply show nothing at all. According to Ingram, however, gif you are already getting good analog signal, you should be able to get good digital.h

As the controversy over HD-Lite continues to grow, many consumers point to OTA HDTV as the best source for quality, uncompressed HD. Here are some facts on OTA HDTV that the consumer needs to know. First, OTA HDTV is compressed, using MPEG-2 technology. This compression has to be done in order to comply with regulations that mandate broadcasters to use 19.4 Mbps per channel – no more, no less. However, broadcasters have some freedom to determine how much of the 19.4 Mbps is allocated for an HD program. gOne can image a pie just shy of 20 Mbps around,h says Kelly Williams, Senior Director of Engineering for the NAB. gBroadcasters can divvy it up any way they want.h And most do, by multi-casting. That is, they will broadcast more than one program on a channel, creating sub-channels. As an example, in my town of Burlington, Vermont, WCAX (a CBS affiliate) broadcasts their analog signal on channel 3, and their digital content on channel 3.1. At any given time during the day they might also broadcast a different program on channel 3.2, and yet another on sub-channel 3.3. This multi-casting enables broadcasters to feed multiple programs at the same time. This can, and will, include HD content. gA broadcaster can make a nice HD picture and still have room for a couple sub-channels that require a low bit-rate,h says Williams. Where some cable companies have been criticized for sending HD-Lite content that weighs in as low as 9 Mbps to make room for all the other bit-rate-consuming content they promise to consumers, the broadcasters have a little more flexibility. The result tends to be HD content compressed only as much as is necessary to make room for a couple low bit-rate sub-channels, like a weather or radar sub-channel or an SD sub-channel that might only need 1.5 Mbps. The result is usually HD content that is in many cases superior to what subscription television service providers can offer. In fact, it isnft uncommon to see broadcasters completely drop their sub-channels for the duration of the HD program being transmitted, maximizing the quality of that HD content.

Do Your Research
Before purchasing an antenna (or even deciding to switch to OTA service) the consumer should do some research on what content can be received. This is going to vary widely, depending on onefs location. The distance to any given tower, as well as the terrain between the tower and the receiver, will impact onefs ability to receive OTA HD. Fortunately, the National Association of Broadcasters and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)have teamed up to bring us AntennaWeb.org, an extremely helpful resource that informs consumers of local broadcasters. Simply type in onefs address to generate a map which details onefs orientation in relation to nearby broadcasters, as well as the distance to their towers. This helps determine which, if any, stations are likely to come in, as well as the direction the antenna should be facing when installed. Inputting an address will also generate a list of nearby stations, their call-sign, channel, and network affiliate, as well as compass heading and whether they transmit in UHF or VHF. The list of channels accessible is also color-coded: they yellow channels at the top will have the strongest signal relative to your location, and the blue and violet channels at the bottom of the list have the weakest.

Once a list of available stations has been generated, the consumer can decide which channels he/she wants to receive. The AntennaWeb list designates stations that currently broadcast in digital, and it also indicates which frequency a station will broadcast on after the February, 2009 switch from analog to digital. This is a vital piece of information. Some stations currently broadcast their digital content (including HD) on a UHF channel, but will be switching to VHF after the transition. This will be a determining factor when it comes to choosing an antenna (see below).

Selecting an Antenna
Rule #1 for selecting an antenna: There is no such thing as an gHDTV Antenna.h This is a marketing ploy used by some distributors and manufacturers to fool consumers. So-called gHDTV Antennash are often designed for indoor use and look very sleek, futuristic, and compact. To receive OTA HDTV, the consumer needs, 1) an HDTV with a built-in tuner (or a set-top box tuner), 2) cable to connect the antenna to the HDTV (most distributers recommend solid copper R6 quad shield coax, and 3) an antenna properly color-coded to receive in-range stations broadcasting in digital. Regarding this last, the general rule is to purchase a combination VHF/UHF antenna. It does not have to be an gHDTV Antennah or a gDigital Antenna.h Remember: these are marketing terms used to confuse the consumer. In most cases, a combination antenna will bring the best chance of receiving all available digital channels (and their accompanying HD content), particularly once the February, 2009 transition is complete.

When shopping for an antenna, look for the CEA-certified color-coding mark on the packaging. Match the color-coded label for an antenna with the colored list of accessible channels generated by the AntenaWeb.org list. Again, this will vary for everyone. gThere is no one solution,h says Ingram. gAs a general rule, the larger the antenna, the better the performance,h says Denny Duplessis, co-founder of Dennyfs Antenna Service in Ithaca, Michigan. Unfortunately, those larger antennas are also commonly considered gugly,h and consumers might shy away from then for aesthetic reasons. Still, Duplessis insists that more compact and attractive antennas can still be found that will adequately perform. hWinegard makes a combination antenna that is narrower and specifically made for high band VHF channels and UHF channels,h says Duplessis. Most markets across the country will have at least one high band VHF channel (7-12), while very few will use the low band VHF channels (2-6).

When using AntennaWeb.org to determine which antenna to buy, Duplessis advises going with an antenna thatfs slightly bigger than you might think you need: gEven if you think a mid-size antenna might do it, itfs worth spending the extra $15 on a bigger antenna, especially if you want to consistently receive channels.h Consumers should note that AntennaWeb.org tends to be conservative when generating a list of available or accessible channels. gThey donft want to tell you that you are going to get channels that you arenft going to get,h says Duplessis. The result is usually a pleasant surprise: consumers might end up getting additional channels that they didnft expect to receive, rather than the converse.

Currently AntennaWeb.org only uses its color-coding system for outdoor antenna recommendation and certification. Additional equipment (like a preamplifier for signal boosting or a rotor for adjusting antenna direction) may be necessary, depending on onefs distance to broadcasting towers and the orientation of those towers. Consumers who are not comfortable installing an outdoor antenna should seek the help of a professional installer. gContrary to public belief, falling is not the #1 cause of injury in rooftop accidents,h says Duplessis. gItfs the overhead powerlines.h If an individual is inclined to install an antenna, location and awareness of powerlines is the most important safety precaution.

My SD set top box died on Friday night: at least I think it did. It was only operatable with the remote, had no buttons or switches on it at all. And now it doesn't work... so I bought a unit for $69.00 that you can fit a hard drive to that turns it into a PVR! So now I just need a decent hard drive. The other good thing is that while it can't display HD channels, it can record them - so you can record, take the hard drive out, connect it to your comp and then remove the HD files and author them :applaud:

Spreadable electronics mean OLED TVs may power themselves
May 15th, 2008


Not satisfied with a future vision that already includes flexible screens and wafer-thin phones, a pair of Japanese companies has pushed the envelope to come up with far-fetched gadgets that do all of the above without ever going near a power socket.

The key to the work by Mitsubishi Chemical and Sumitomo Chemical lies in so-called spreadable electronics – liquids containing molecules of the type used in OLED screens.

Engineers like Tokitaro Hoshijima at Mitsubishi Chemical see the possibility of using spreadable electronics to create both solar panels at the same time">ultra-thin displays and solar panels at the same time [subscription link].

Because solar cells and OLEDs work on similar, but opposite, principles, it is possible to make materials that both take light and turn it into electricity and also do the opposite to provide a controllable display.

Hoshijima and many others are working on a molecular soup that can be spread anywhere and then dried to leave a residue layer that is only 100nm thick. This currently forms the basis for their proposed solar cell.

He explains: gWhat I want to create is a world that does not need power sockets.h He goes on to describe how his paste applied to the back of a phone could be enough to charge the device when exposed to light.

By the same token, researchers at Sumitomo Chemical have created a similar organic solution that can be sprayed onto a surface to create an OLED screen.

Such a display could be on a rollable piece of plastic or even applied directly to a wall. The solar-charging properties described above mean it would never need to be plugged in.

Blue-sky projects like these typically take years to bear fruit, but both companies are looking at getting usable prototype devices ready within the next two years.

Tu_triky wrote:Spreadable electronics mean OLED TVs may power themselves

With a name like Spreadable Electronics, it's got to be good. :beaten:

I'll take mine on whole wheat toast, thank you very much. :victory:

bmwracer wrote:
With a name like Spreadable Electronics, it's got to be good. :beaten:

I'll take mine on whole wheat toast, thank you very much. :victory:

Haha. :hehe:

I'd sure love to see one of those...solar Powered OLEDs are good for watching dramas on long trips.

Tu_triky wrote:

Haha. :hehe:

I'd sure love to see one of those...solar Powered OLEDs are good for watching dramas on long trips.

Sure.. spread it on your toast, watch a few eps of Nodame, then eat the toast.. ;)

Anime Dad wrote:Sure.. spread it on your toast, watch a few eps of Nodame, then eat the toast.. ;)

Itadakimasu! :victory:

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Samsung Goes Ultra-Def with 82-inch LCD
Samsung demonstrated an 82-inch LCD with resolution of 3840 x 2160 at this week's SID conference.

May. 21, 2008 \ by Arlen Schweiger

Not impressed by high-definition? Perhaps you need to try ultra-definition.

Thatfs what Samsung showed this week, in a big way too\an 82-inch LCD featuring ultra-def\at the Society for Information Display (SID) International Symposium, Seminar and Exhibition this week.

Forget about 1920 x 1080, this whopper of a TV features 3840 x 2160 pixels. For that added smoothness, it even has 120 Hz refresh that can be found on some of todayfs 1080p sets.

If colorfs more your thing, this set wonft disappoint (really, how could it at 82 diagonal inches). An RGB LED backlighting increases color saturation to 150 percent, based on the NISC standard of 100 percent, Samsung says.

Wefre not going to guess-timate on the pricing of this baby, but close to six figures is probably a good start. Westinghouse has demofd a $50,000 ultra-def 2160 model, and that was only 52 inches. Wefll be waiting on the edge of our seats.

bmwracer wrote:

Triky Goes Mos-Def with MP3 Player

[image]

bmwracer wrote:[image]

Samsung Goes Ultra-Def with 82-inch LCD
Samsung demonstrated an 82-inch LCD with resolution of 3840 x 2160 at this week's SID conference.

May. 21, 2008 \ by Arlen Schweiger

Not impressed by high-definition? Perhaps you need to try ultra-definition.

Thatfs what Samsung showed this week, in a big way too\an 82-inch LCD featuring ultra-def\at the Society for Information Display (SID) International Symposium, Seminar and Exhibition this week.

Forget about 1920 x 1080, this whopper of a TV features 3840 x 2160 pixels. For that added smoothness, it even has 120 Hz refresh that can be found on some of todayfs 1080p sets.

If colorfs more your thing, this set wonft disappoint (really, how could it at 82 diagonal inches). An RGB LED backlighting increases color saturation to 150 percent, based on the NISC standard of 100 percent, Samsung says.

Wefre not going to guess-timate on the pricing of this baby, but close to six figures is probably a good start. Westinghouse has demofd a $50,000 ultra-def 2160 model, and that was only 52 inches. Wefll be waiting on the edge of our seats.

They just need content. :sweat:

We had problems with one of their monitors and it supported only 2560x1600. Even regular DVI cables didn't work with it. So basically at 82" they just added another LCD tile next to it. They just rearrange the LCD tiles of 2 40" TV and put it in one bezel. :hehe:

Tu_triky wrote:[image]

I missed it. :beaten:

Agreement may mean end of cable set-top boxes

By JOHN DUNBAR, Associated Press Writer

The set-top box, a necessary appendage for millions of cable television customers for decades, is moving toward extinction.

A leading television manufacturer, Sony Electronics Inc., and the National Cable and Telecommunications Association said Tuesday they signed an agreement that will allow viewers to rid themselves of set-top boxes, yet still receive advanced "two-way" cable services, such as pay-per-view movies.

In most cases, cable viewers also could dispose of another remote control since they could use their TV's control rather than one tied to the set-top box.

The agreement marks a significant meeting of the minds between cable companies and one of the world's dominant makers of consumer electronics. The two industries have been feuding for a decade about how best to deliver cable service to customers while allowing them to buy equipment of their own choosing.

Sony agreed to use the cable industry's technology in its sets as soon as possible but could not say when the first such televisions might be appear in stores.

The agreement is between Sony and the nation's six largest cable companies: Comcast Corp., Time Warner Cable Inc., Cox Communications Inc., Charter Communications Inc., Cablevision Systems Corp. and Bright House Networks. The six companies serve more than 82 percent of cable subscribers.

Cable subscribers are generally locked into renting a set-top box from their provider if they want more than the most basic cable TV service.

More than a decade ago, Congress ordered the cable industry to allow outside electronics makers to compete for the boxes. The industry responded by developing the "cable card." The cards are inserted into competing boxes, televisions or other devices and unscramble the cable signal.

The cards have been the source of frequent customer complaints and never proved popular. In addition, sets can only receive signals from their cable company, not vice versa. Subscribers were unable to enjoy "two-way" features such as video on demand, on-screen channel guides and cable company-provided digital video recorders.

Customers will still be able to attach their own devices \ like TiVo digital video recorders, according to the NCTA.

Under the new system, customers will still need to get a cable card from their provider, but the agreement means, hopefully, technical glitches will be eliminated, "two-way" services will be available and there will be no need for the clunky boxes.

The cable association said it was hopeful other electronics manufacturers will also agree to use the same technology.

The industry hopes to head off action by the Federal Communications Commission to impose a two-way standard on the industry.

"Every member of the FCC has encouraged the parties to resolve these highly technical issues in private-sector negotiations," said Kyle McSlarrow, president of NCTA. Tuesday's announcement means they have done so, he added.

The FCC declined to comment on the agreement Tuesday.

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10 Million Homes eCompletely Unreadyf for DTV Transition, Nielsen Says
Nielsen says 25 million homes in the U.S. have at least one TV ready for the transition.

May. 28, 2008 \ by Steve Crowe

Nearly 10 million homes in the United States are "completely unready" for the DTV Transition, according to a new study by Nielsen Media Research.

The study, first reported by the New York Times, says 9.4 percent of homes in the U.S. will have their TVs go black by the February 17, 2009 deadline if changes aren't made.

The number of unready households is down from 10.2 percent in January, indicating that TV fanatics are slowly updating their sets.

Nielsen also says 12.6 percent (25 million) of U.S. households are "partially ready," meaning there is at least one TV ready for the transition.

Seventy-eight percent of homes are completely ready for DTV, Nielsen says.

TVs that aren't ready for the transition account for 7.5 percent of all viewing, according to Nielsen.

According to Nielsen, Milwaukee, Wisc. is the most unready market for DTV with 18.3 percent of homes completely unready.

Hartford and New Haven, Conn. are the markets with the least completely unready homes at just 3.1 percent.

In January, the government started distributing $40 coupons to reduce the cost of converter boxes.