by Ben Tanner
Toshiba today launched the world's first HD DVD player in Japan. The HD-XA1 is the first playe to support the next-generation HD DVD format, officially beginning the next-generation DVD format war between HD DVD and Blu-ray, set to launch this summer.
The HD DVD standard provides high definition (HD) picture quality and enhanced sound, providing support for Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD and DTS-HD sound formats. The player also allows user to play current DVDs scaled to their HDTVs.
The player also supports the HD DVD formats added features, such as support for advanced navigation and interactive features. For example, the player has a 'pop-up menu' that displays movie chapters with thumbnails while the movie plays, allowing users to navigate menus without stopping the movie. The player also supports 'picture in picture', so users can watch commentary or other featurettes superimposed on the actual feature.
The Toshiba HD-XA1 player is the first next-generation DVD player. Sony plans to launch its own next-generation DVD player based on the Blu-ray standard this summer. After both are launched, there is expected to be a period where the incompatible standards vie for control over the market, similarly to the VHS vs. Beta VCR standard wars nearly thirty years ago.
The two standards are intensifying competition on several fronts. In addition to heating up the rivalry between Toshiba and Sony in the consumer electronics market, Sony and Microsoft are also on opposing sides. Sony will include a Blu-ray player with its Playstation 3 next-generation video game console. With Microsoft supporting HD DVD, it will likely offer a version of its Xbox 360 next-generation console with an HD DVSource:D drive. Various movie studios have sided with one standard or another as well.
Source: http://www.digitalmediaasia.com
Friday, March 31, 2006
200cm3 HDTV Camcorder to Dominate Market?
Many people in the industry have said that digital camera video is just sort of a freebie that enables the shooting of SDTV imagery. But finally resolution has reached high-definition television (HDTV) levels. In February 2006, Sanyo Electric Co Ltd of Japan announced its DMX-HD1 digital camera, capable of shooting 720p HDTV video and still images with 5.04 million pixels (Fig 1).
Until now there have only been three consumer camcorders capable of shooting HDTV video, and Sanyo is clearly determined to grab itself a share of the market in the initial stages, while it is still developing. The major sales point is the small volume of the product, only 200cm3. This is about half the volume of the HDR-HC1 manufactured by Sony Corp of Japan, the competing compact HDTV-capable camcorder that is proving such a hit.
While the new design is ultra-compact, the specs of the optical system are on a par with those of a standard camcorder.
Another interesting point is that the viewfinder uses an active matrix organic electroluminescent (EL) display panel. Because it is self-emitting it neatly avoids some key problems faced by existing liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, such as response delay and a narrow viewing angle.
While panel life had been feared to be too short, the firm has assured 20,000 hours, which is significantly higher than the 10,000-hour threshold generally used as a guideline for volume production in mobile gear applications. The extended service life was accomplished by creating white subpixels to joint the exiting red, green and blue ones, cutting power consumption.
Can it Escape Niche?
Even so, it seems unlikely that the new product will have any immediate effect on existing camcorder manufacturers. One of the reasons is the short recording time, due to Sanyo's decision to emphasize the small size and use a memory card as the storage media. A single 2-Gbyte SD memory card can only hold a maximum of 43 minutes of 720p video imagery. For common usage, such as at school athletic events, admission ceremonies and the like, the same one-hour storage medium as today's tape-based systems offer would be preferable.
Another problem is that the systems are not yet in place to play back recorded HDTV imagery. HDTV video files can be stored on personal computers (PC), but in most cases they will have to be transferred to an SD memory card and then played back from the camera to view. This is because only the latest high-performance PCs can avoid dropping frames in decoding. The same procedure is required to play back imagery stored to a digital videodisc (DVD) recorder, because existing models cannot decode 720p Moving Picture Coding Experts Group Phase 4 (MPEG-4) files. Sanyo Electric recognizes the problems with viewing, and commented that it is working out how to best resolve them in the next-generation model.
This problem will likely be resolved by adopting an integrated circuit (IC) supporting H.264 encoding and decoding in the successor to the DMX-HD1. And as one engineer at a camera manufacturer pointed out, "One semiconductor manufacturer is already ramping up for volume production of the chip for HDTV-capable camcorders, in 2008."
Once the maturity of the Codec IC is known, other manufacturers will no doubt move ahead with their own plans for memory card-based HDTV cameras. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd, for example, is one such company. It is even possible that the camcorder manufacturer might develop an H.264 Codec IC before a semiconductor manufacturer gets to it. Victor Co of Japan and other firms are developing HDTV-capable camcorders using 1.8-inch hard disks. It seems that HDTV camcorders will be offering a range of competing recording media for some time to come yet, including Sony's mini-DV tape.
Source: http://neasia.nikkeibp.com
Until now there have only been three consumer camcorders capable of shooting HDTV video, and Sanyo is clearly determined to grab itself a share of the market in the initial stages, while it is still developing. The major sales point is the small volume of the product, only 200cm3. This is about half the volume of the HDR-HC1 manufactured by Sony Corp of Japan, the competing compact HDTV-capable camcorder that is proving such a hit.
While the new design is ultra-compact, the specs of the optical system are on a par with those of a standard camcorder.
Another interesting point is that the viewfinder uses an active matrix organic electroluminescent (EL) display panel. Because it is self-emitting it neatly avoids some key problems faced by existing liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, such as response delay and a narrow viewing angle.
While panel life had been feared to be too short, the firm has assured 20,000 hours, which is significantly higher than the 10,000-hour threshold generally used as a guideline for volume production in mobile gear applications. The extended service life was accomplished by creating white subpixels to joint the exiting red, green and blue ones, cutting power consumption.
Can it Escape Niche?
Even so, it seems unlikely that the new product will have any immediate effect on existing camcorder manufacturers. One of the reasons is the short recording time, due to Sanyo's decision to emphasize the small size and use a memory card as the storage media. A single 2-Gbyte SD memory card can only hold a maximum of 43 minutes of 720p video imagery. For common usage, such as at school athletic events, admission ceremonies and the like, the same one-hour storage medium as today's tape-based systems offer would be preferable.
Another problem is that the systems are not yet in place to play back recorded HDTV imagery. HDTV video files can be stored on personal computers (PC), but in most cases they will have to be transferred to an SD memory card and then played back from the camera to view. This is because only the latest high-performance PCs can avoid dropping frames in decoding. The same procedure is required to play back imagery stored to a digital videodisc (DVD) recorder, because existing models cannot decode 720p Moving Picture Coding Experts Group Phase 4 (MPEG-4) files. Sanyo Electric recognizes the problems with viewing, and commented that it is working out how to best resolve them in the next-generation model.
This problem will likely be resolved by adopting an integrated circuit (IC) supporting H.264 encoding and decoding in the successor to the DMX-HD1. And as one engineer at a camera manufacturer pointed out, "One semiconductor manufacturer is already ramping up for volume production of the chip for HDTV-capable camcorders, in 2008."
Once the maturity of the Codec IC is known, other manufacturers will no doubt move ahead with their own plans for memory card-based HDTV cameras. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd, for example, is one such company. It is even possible that the camcorder manufacturer might develop an H.264 Codec IC before a semiconductor manufacturer gets to it. Victor Co of Japan and other firms are developing HDTV-capable camcorders using 1.8-inch hard disks. It seems that HDTV camcorders will be offering a range of competing recording media for some time to come yet, including Sony's mini-DV tape.
Source: http://neasia.nikkeibp.com
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Sparkling HDTV reception can be yours for free.
By Bill Husted,
ATLANTA — I get great HDTV reception — better than from my HDTV cable box, better than from satellite. And unlike the other choices, it's free. The technology I use isn't secret or new. In fact, it's older than the most ancient TV set in your basement. Yet the picture is likely crisper than any you've seen before. It puts HDTV from cable and satellite in the shade. I'll tell you about it in a moment.
Today we'll talk about several ways to get more enjoyment from your HDTV set. We'll start with my recipe for free, crisp pictures. I don't want to keep you in suspense unless it is absolutely necessary. The best possible HDTV pictures — no exceptions, no quibbles — come from those you get using an antenna.
Here's why: When cable or satellite companies broadcast HDTV programming, they use compression techniques to get all that data into their comparatively narrow pipeline. Compressing the data is good for the folks who deliver the signal — it lets them cram more programming into the bandwidth available. It's bad for you. Hey, condensed milk tastes different from fresh milk, and condensed TV looks different from what you get if you didn't tamper with the signal.
Broadcast TV doesn't compress the signal. I live in town, so I can get away with a simple indoor antenna I picked up at Radio Shack. If you want an even better setup, or if you live a long distance from a broadcaster, you may need an antenna in your attic or even on your roof. You won't have any trouble finding old-fashioned antennas — anything from rabbit ears to the big roof-mounted jobs. In fact, HDTV has created a resurgence for the antenna.
Here's a quick way to find out the specifics of what you need to do from your own home: The Web site http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx will tell you which stations are broadcasting in your area and what kind of an antenna you'll need.
In my own case, there's an added bonus besides the great picture — my cable company doesn't carry the HDTV feed for at least one station in my area. But the HDTV version is available using my home antenna. Truth is, as great as the pictures are, I won't be giving up my HDTV cable service. It offers premium movies and other programming that isn't available over the airwaves.
So let's talk about some ways to get better pictures when you're using a satellite receiver or an HDTV cable box.
The cable you use to connect your satellite receiver or cable box to the TV is really important. Don't scrimp when you buy the cable. The cheap stuff produces a cheap signal. There's a simple rule that holds true: The larger in diameter the wire, the more capacity for the signal.
And the type of connector is a big deal, too. If your HDTV offers a connection type called HDMI, use it. HDMI will give you the best possible way to transfer the signal from the receiver to your set. HDMI was once an upscale option found only on top-of-the-line HDTV sets. But it's common now. Use it if you can, instead of component connection. And avoid S-video connections, since that technology just doesn't do a good job compared to what is available now.
The next thing to consider is a tune-up for your HDTV.
Even brand-new HDTV sets, fresh from the box, need some adjusting to get the best picture. There are two ways to do this. You can simply spend some time with the set and adjust it to best suit your eyes, or you can use a DVD made for that purpose.
If you decide to go the DVD route, look for the Avia Guide to Home Theater or Digital Video Essentials: Optimize Your Home Entertainment System. These are the two discs that are most commonly used. But there's another called the Ultimate DVD — Home Theater Fine Tuning Made Simple that is a little newer. All three of these DVDs are available at Amazon.com. Or, if you live near a large consumer electronics store, you will be able to find them there.
The experts universally recommend using some sort of a disc like this, or even an outside consultant who comes to your home and adjusts the set in a much more precise manner than you could do with a DVD.
In my case, after trying a DVD, I decided to do the adjusting to suit my own preferences. Hey, you're the one who will be watching the set, so even if you favor a picture with warmer or cooler colors than are accurate, go for it. The whole notion of HDTV is to get a picture with quality that rivals what you'd see out a window. My tips will help you get there.
These aren't radical changes. But they make a difference. So the next time you feel like blowing up your TV, try my tips instead.
— Bill Husted writes for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.E-mail: bhusted@ajc.com
Source: http://www.venturacountystar.com
ATLANTA — I get great HDTV reception — better than from my HDTV cable box, better than from satellite. And unlike the other choices, it's free. The technology I use isn't secret or new. In fact, it's older than the most ancient TV set in your basement. Yet the picture is likely crisper than any you've seen before. It puts HDTV from cable and satellite in the shade. I'll tell you about it in a moment.
Today we'll talk about several ways to get more enjoyment from your HDTV set. We'll start with my recipe for free, crisp pictures. I don't want to keep you in suspense unless it is absolutely necessary. The best possible HDTV pictures — no exceptions, no quibbles — come from those you get using an antenna.
Here's why: When cable or satellite companies broadcast HDTV programming, they use compression techniques to get all that data into their comparatively narrow pipeline. Compressing the data is good for the folks who deliver the signal — it lets them cram more programming into the bandwidth available. It's bad for you. Hey, condensed milk tastes different from fresh milk, and condensed TV looks different from what you get if you didn't tamper with the signal.
Broadcast TV doesn't compress the signal. I live in town, so I can get away with a simple indoor antenna I picked up at Radio Shack. If you want an even better setup, or if you live a long distance from a broadcaster, you may need an antenna in your attic or even on your roof. You won't have any trouble finding old-fashioned antennas — anything from rabbit ears to the big roof-mounted jobs. In fact, HDTV has created a resurgence for the antenna.
Here's a quick way to find out the specifics of what you need to do from your own home: The Web site http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx will tell you which stations are broadcasting in your area and what kind of an antenna you'll need.
In my own case, there's an added bonus besides the great picture — my cable company doesn't carry the HDTV feed for at least one station in my area. But the HDTV version is available using my home antenna. Truth is, as great as the pictures are, I won't be giving up my HDTV cable service. It offers premium movies and other programming that isn't available over the airwaves.
So let's talk about some ways to get better pictures when you're using a satellite receiver or an HDTV cable box.
The cable you use to connect your satellite receiver or cable box to the TV is really important. Don't scrimp when you buy the cable. The cheap stuff produces a cheap signal. There's a simple rule that holds true: The larger in diameter the wire, the more capacity for the signal.
And the type of connector is a big deal, too. If your HDTV offers a connection type called HDMI, use it. HDMI will give you the best possible way to transfer the signal from the receiver to your set. HDMI was once an upscale option found only on top-of-the-line HDTV sets. But it's common now. Use it if you can, instead of component connection. And avoid S-video connections, since that technology just doesn't do a good job compared to what is available now.
The next thing to consider is a tune-up for your HDTV.
Even brand-new HDTV sets, fresh from the box, need some adjusting to get the best picture. There are two ways to do this. You can simply spend some time with the set and adjust it to best suit your eyes, or you can use a DVD made for that purpose.
If you decide to go the DVD route, look for the Avia Guide to Home Theater or Digital Video Essentials: Optimize Your Home Entertainment System. These are the two discs that are most commonly used. But there's another called the Ultimate DVD — Home Theater Fine Tuning Made Simple that is a little newer. All three of these DVDs are available at Amazon.com. Or, if you live near a large consumer electronics store, you will be able to find them there.
The experts universally recommend using some sort of a disc like this, or even an outside consultant who comes to your home and adjusts the set in a much more precise manner than you could do with a DVD.
In my case, after trying a DVD, I decided to do the adjusting to suit my own preferences. Hey, you're the one who will be watching the set, so even if you favor a picture with warmer or cooler colors than are accurate, go for it. The whole notion of HDTV is to get a picture with quality that rivals what you'd see out a window. My tips will help you get there.
These aren't radical changes. But they make a difference. So the next time you feel like blowing up your TV, try my tips instead.
— Bill Husted writes for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.E-mail: bhusted@ajc.com
Source: http://www.venturacountystar.com
Get a clear picture on HDTV terminology.
By Don Lindich,
Q: I have a Toshiba HDTV with a 1080p display. Does it convert the 480p signal from my progressive-scan DVD player to 1080p? Do I gain anything from an up-converting a DVD player (such as the Oppo 971) if my Toshiba is already outputting a 1080p display? In any event, I'm very happy with the picture.
Bob Kuhn, Minneapolis
A: Any signal going into your TV will be converted to 1080p for display. More on this later, but first, some background for the rest of our readers.
Numbers such as 1080p, 1080i and 480p refer to screen resolution. The number is the lines of resolution; the higher the number, the better the picture quality. Resolutions of 480 are standard definition television, the format we have been watching for many years. Figures of 720 and 1080 are HDTV quality.
The i and p refer to scanning, either interlaced and progressive. Interlaced scan draws the picture in two separate, interlaced fields. This happens very quickly, so to the viewer it looks like a single image. Progressive scan draws the entire picture in a single pass, producing superior picture quality than interlaced, especially with fast-moving subjects such as sports. This is one reason ABC and ESPN (daughter company of ABC) chose 720p for their HDTV broadcast format.
The most common figures you will see given for TV and DVD players are 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i and, lately, 1080p. The 720p, 1080i and 1080p were specified when the new HDTV format was developed.
The 1080p specification of your Toshiba is tops. It combines the highest lines of resolution with progressive scanning. Standard-definition TV only has a 480i specification; the 480p came later with the advent of HDTV. When HDTVs were introduced, they supported higher scan rates that allowed them to reproduce a 480p image.
Realizing the potential for better image quality, electronics manufacturers developed progressive-scan DVD players. These players take the picture information from the DVD and digitally convert it into a progressive-scan image before sending it to the TV, yielding a better picture.
Whatever signal is fed to your TV will have to be converted to 1080p for display, its native display rate. If you feed it an analog 480p signal from a DVD player, it will be upconverted by the TV to 1080p. It will still look great, but some picture quality may be lost. It is usually better to do up-conversion in the player instead of the TV.
An upconverting DVD player takes the progressive-scan DVD player a step further. Instead of simply assembling the 480-line picture progressively, it converts it to an HDTV resolution such as 720p or 1080i before sending it to the TV. It does not create an HDTV image, but if the upconversion is done well, you will get a better picture than you would with a 480p DVD player. If this upconversion is not done well, it will have picture defects and may look much worse than a standard 480p image. Not all players do upconversion well, and some have been noticeably bad, one of several reasons I recommend the Oppo so strongly. It's only $200, has proven to be a top-grade performer, and is very well supported by the manufacturer. Though it outputs 1080i and not 1080p, I do think it will yield a better image than your 480p progressive scan player and is worth the investment. You can see it at www.oppodigital.com.
Now for your 1080p Toshiba. As I noted before, the 1080p specification is the best available. However, no 1080p video sources exist to feed it a 1080p signal, so everything coming in will be converted to 1080p. As you have noted, it looks great and you are happy. Fact is, most people are happy with their HDTV picture, be it 720p, 1080i, or 1080p. Well-done HDTV in any form looks magnificent, and more variations in picture quality will be seen between different models of TVs than the display resolution.
I think we get obsessed with number crunching sometimes. When shopping, don't choose a HDTV based on numbers, but by looking at the picture it produces.
Don Lindich is the creator of the "Digital Made Easy" series of books. Submit your audio, video and digital photography questions to donlindich@ yahoo.com.
Source: http://www.centredaily.com
Q: I have a Toshiba HDTV with a 1080p display. Does it convert the 480p signal from my progressive-scan DVD player to 1080p? Do I gain anything from an up-converting a DVD player (such as the Oppo 971) if my Toshiba is already outputting a 1080p display? In any event, I'm very happy with the picture.
Bob Kuhn, Minneapolis
A: Any signal going into your TV will be converted to 1080p for display. More on this later, but first, some background for the rest of our readers.
Numbers such as 1080p, 1080i and 480p refer to screen resolution. The number is the lines of resolution; the higher the number, the better the picture quality. Resolutions of 480 are standard definition television, the format we have been watching for many years. Figures of 720 and 1080 are HDTV quality.
The i and p refer to scanning, either interlaced and progressive. Interlaced scan draws the picture in two separate, interlaced fields. This happens very quickly, so to the viewer it looks like a single image. Progressive scan draws the entire picture in a single pass, producing superior picture quality than interlaced, especially with fast-moving subjects such as sports. This is one reason ABC and ESPN (daughter company of ABC) chose 720p for their HDTV broadcast format.
The most common figures you will see given for TV and DVD players are 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i and, lately, 1080p. The 720p, 1080i and 1080p were specified when the new HDTV format was developed.
The 1080p specification of your Toshiba is tops. It combines the highest lines of resolution with progressive scanning. Standard-definition TV only has a 480i specification; the 480p came later with the advent of HDTV. When HDTVs were introduced, they supported higher scan rates that allowed them to reproduce a 480p image.
Realizing the potential for better image quality, electronics manufacturers developed progressive-scan DVD players. These players take the picture information from the DVD and digitally convert it into a progressive-scan image before sending it to the TV, yielding a better picture.
Whatever signal is fed to your TV will have to be converted to 1080p for display, its native display rate. If you feed it an analog 480p signal from a DVD player, it will be upconverted by the TV to 1080p. It will still look great, but some picture quality may be lost. It is usually better to do up-conversion in the player instead of the TV.
An upconverting DVD player takes the progressive-scan DVD player a step further. Instead of simply assembling the 480-line picture progressively, it converts it to an HDTV resolution such as 720p or 1080i before sending it to the TV. It does not create an HDTV image, but if the upconversion is done well, you will get a better picture than you would with a 480p DVD player. If this upconversion is not done well, it will have picture defects and may look much worse than a standard 480p image. Not all players do upconversion well, and some have been noticeably bad, one of several reasons I recommend the Oppo so strongly. It's only $200, has proven to be a top-grade performer, and is very well supported by the manufacturer. Though it outputs 1080i and not 1080p, I do think it will yield a better image than your 480p progressive scan player and is worth the investment. You can see it at www.oppodigital.com.
Now for your 1080p Toshiba. As I noted before, the 1080p specification is the best available. However, no 1080p video sources exist to feed it a 1080p signal, so everything coming in will be converted to 1080p. As you have noted, it looks great and you are happy. Fact is, most people are happy with their HDTV picture, be it 720p, 1080i, or 1080p. Well-done HDTV in any form looks magnificent, and more variations in picture quality will be seen between different models of TVs than the display resolution.
I think we get obsessed with number crunching sometimes. When shopping, don't choose a HDTV based on numbers, but by looking at the picture it produces.
Don Lindich is the creator of the "Digital Made Easy" series of books. Submit your audio, video and digital photography questions to donlindich@ yahoo.com.
Source: http://www.centredaily.com
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Digital Camera strategy: Launch more, sell more.
(The Jakarta Post Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)from THE JAKARTA POST -- MONDAY, MARCH 6, 2006 -- PAGE 19. How do industry leaders maintain their leading position? In the consumer product segment, it seems that one effective strategy is to keep bombarding the consumers with new products. Take Nokia, for example. Trying to keep up with its new handset products is like running a marathon. It demands a lot of stamina. But the result is outstanding. The company has been by far the leading handset producer in the world, controlling more than 30 percent of market share worldwide
Canon may be another case in point. It is hard to keep track of the new digital cameras that it introduces to the market. Just last week, Datascrip-Canon's distributor for Indonesia held yet another press conference in which no less than eight new digital cameras and a two photo printers were introduced. Apparently, this level of aggressiveness has enabled the Japanese company to stay on top
Because they have just been launched, I have not yet had the opportunity to borrow a demo unit. However, there are a number of interesting new features that we can talk about
Let us start with the most affordable models, the PowerShot A420 and A430. Their main attractiveness is, well, their affordability. The 4MP (megapixel) with 3.2x optical zoom A420 carries a price tag of US$155, while the 4MP A430 with 4x optical zoom A430 costs $180. The latter comes in four different colors to match our mood or the color of our clothes
A more important new feature is My Colors. It allows us to customize the colors in the picture that we have taken. It can be used, for instance, to enhance skin tone or add brightness to an object's face. Or, if you want a bluer sea or greener grass in your picture, you can choose the Vivid Blue or Vivid Green setting in My Colors. Both of these affordable models already have this function
In the midrange, Canon introduced the PowerShot A530 and A540. The A530 is a 5 MP camera, while PowerShot A540 is one MP higher. Both also include the My Colors feature, which is part of the Picture Effect functions
Still images can be captured with a 16:9 aspect ratio and they can be displayed on a wide-screen or a standard 4:3 TV set. Furthermore, if we insert a 1GB memory card into one of these cameras, we will be able to record video for up to 60 minutes. Camcorder makers have to work hard to keep their products competitive against these small digital cameras
The high end of this group is definitely the PowerShot A700 ($ 320). It has the large 2.5-inch LCD monitor, which is getting increasingly popular today. More importantly is the ability to capture images at ISO 800 equivalent sensitivity rating. Canon claims that this rating has passed the industry tests for accuracy
Those who prefer the credit-card size Ixus cameras are also in for a treat. The Digital Ixus Wireless, for example can send picture files over a Wi-Fi connection to a Wi-Fi supporting printer. Of course we need to set up the connection before using the wireless connection to ensure that only certain cameras can have their pictures printed
Digital Ixus 60 ($ 355) does not have the Wi-Fi support, but it has a larger, 2.5-inch LCD monitor. Both of them have a Night Display and Grid Line monitor, which makes aiming easier during the dark night
Canon PowerShot S3 IS is another irresistible camera for professional and consumer (prosumer) segment. The IS stands for Image Stabilizer, which ensures that pictures will not be blurred even if you have rather unsteady hands. At 12x, the zoom capability is very impressive, too. This model uses a 36-432 mm lens, which is great for capturing the architectural magnificence of the old buildings in Barcelona. All the nifty features of the other cameras are available in this one. I wish I had this camera during my trip last month
The true professional will certainly choose the 8.2 MP EOS 30D, the latest SLR camera from Canon. There are so many features in this model that only true professional photographers can understand them
Incidentally, Canon is reportedly the current leader in professional digital camera segment. But, for now, let us hope that I can get a chance to review one of the consumer models before they get updated again
Zatni Arbi, Contributor, Jakarta Copyright 2006 The Jakarta Post
Source: http://www.tmcnet.com
Canon may be another case in point. It is hard to keep track of the new digital cameras that it introduces to the market. Just last week, Datascrip-Canon's distributor for Indonesia held yet another press conference in which no less than eight new digital cameras and a two photo printers were introduced. Apparently, this level of aggressiveness has enabled the Japanese company to stay on top
Because they have just been launched, I have not yet had the opportunity to borrow a demo unit. However, there are a number of interesting new features that we can talk about
Let us start with the most affordable models, the PowerShot A420 and A430. Their main attractiveness is, well, their affordability. The 4MP (megapixel) with 3.2x optical zoom A420 carries a price tag of US$155, while the 4MP A430 with 4x optical zoom A430 costs $180. The latter comes in four different colors to match our mood or the color of our clothes
A more important new feature is My Colors. It allows us to customize the colors in the picture that we have taken. It can be used, for instance, to enhance skin tone or add brightness to an object's face. Or, if you want a bluer sea or greener grass in your picture, you can choose the Vivid Blue or Vivid Green setting in My Colors. Both of these affordable models already have this function
In the midrange, Canon introduced the PowerShot A530 and A540. The A530 is a 5 MP camera, while PowerShot A540 is one MP higher. Both also include the My Colors feature, which is part of the Picture Effect functions
Still images can be captured with a 16:9 aspect ratio and they can be displayed on a wide-screen or a standard 4:3 TV set. Furthermore, if we insert a 1GB memory card into one of these cameras, we will be able to record video for up to 60 minutes. Camcorder makers have to work hard to keep their products competitive against these small digital cameras
The high end of this group is definitely the PowerShot A700 ($ 320). It has the large 2.5-inch LCD monitor, which is getting increasingly popular today. More importantly is the ability to capture images at ISO 800 equivalent sensitivity rating. Canon claims that this rating has passed the industry tests for accuracy
Those who prefer the credit-card size Ixus cameras are also in for a treat. The Digital Ixus Wireless, for example can send picture files over a Wi-Fi connection to a Wi-Fi supporting printer. Of course we need to set up the connection before using the wireless connection to ensure that only certain cameras can have their pictures printed
Digital Ixus 60 ($ 355) does not have the Wi-Fi support, but it has a larger, 2.5-inch LCD monitor. Both of them have a Night Display and Grid Line monitor, which makes aiming easier during the dark night
Canon PowerShot S3 IS is another irresistible camera for professional and consumer (prosumer) segment. The IS stands for Image Stabilizer, which ensures that pictures will not be blurred even if you have rather unsteady hands. At 12x, the zoom capability is very impressive, too. This model uses a 36-432 mm lens, which is great for capturing the architectural magnificence of the old buildings in Barcelona. All the nifty features of the other cameras are available in this one. I wish I had this camera during my trip last month
The true professional will certainly choose the 8.2 MP EOS 30D, the latest SLR camera from Canon. There are so many features in this model that only true professional photographers can understand them
Incidentally, Canon is reportedly the current leader in professional digital camera segment. But, for now, let us hope that I can get a chance to review one of the consumer models before they get updated again
Zatni Arbi, Contributor, Jakarta Copyright 2006 The Jakarta Post
Source: http://www.tmcnet.com
Friday, March 10, 2006
The CALIBUG HDTV - It's Time to Calibrate Your HD Display.
A properly calibrated display is like sleeping in clean sheets. You get a better nights sleep and it just feels right. In the past, you’d need to get a DVD calibration disc, like Digital Video Essentials or The AVIA Guide to Home Theate, but now, with HD displays, calibrating with DVD quality test patterns is just silly. Just plug the CALIBUG to your USB port and you instantly have access to hundreds of HD quality test patterns. The only way you could get all these test patterns in the past was via a dedicated Test Pattern Generators/Sync Generators which cost thousands of Dollars. Your computer has VGA/DVI output, which is how you will get these HD patterns on your screen. The CALIBUG HDTV comes in a standard keyfob version ($129) and a Swiss Army Knife ($149) version. This is a great stocking stuffer for a Videophile!
Source: http://www.ehomeupgrade.com
Source: http://www.ehomeupgrade.com
Developer of digital entertainment systems launches a new home entertainment focused PC with offers 1-1/2TB of storage space and runs Windows XP Media
Media Made Easy, a developer of digital entertainment systems, last week unveiled a new system powered by Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition. The new Media Made Easy HDTV Server is available now for a price of $4,199.
The Media Made Easy HDTV Server, the company said, comes ready to join home entertainment systems with a variety of features, including one and a half Terabytes disc space, Intel’s Pentium D hyper-threaded processor, two high definition tuners, two standard definition tuners, Asus’ GeForce 7800 GTX video, 8 channel 7.1 surround sound and cordless operation by finger-mouse, keyboard and remote control.
"Our customers were asking for a high-end, multi-tuner entertainment server,” said Ronald Schwab, CEO of Media Made Easy, in a statement. “They wanted to see movies, recorded television and music delivered using the latest video and audio technology available. We’ve engineered the server using Intel’s most powerful media motherboard and the latest technology from nVidia to power high-definition video for today’s HD displays and surround sound systems."
Source: http://news.designtechnica.com
The Media Made Easy HDTV Server, the company said, comes ready to join home entertainment systems with a variety of features, including one and a half Terabytes disc space, Intel’s Pentium D hyper-threaded processor, two high definition tuners, two standard definition tuners, Asus’ GeForce 7800 GTX video, 8 channel 7.1 surround sound and cordless operation by finger-mouse, keyboard and remote control.
"Our customers were asking for a high-end, multi-tuner entertainment server,” said Ronald Schwab, CEO of Media Made Easy, in a statement. “They wanted to see movies, recorded television and music delivered using the latest video and audio technology available. We’ve engineered the server using Intel’s most powerful media motherboard and the latest technology from nVidia to power high-definition video for today’s HD displays and surround sound systems."
Source: http://news.designtechnica.com
Friday, March 03, 2006
Exploiting HDMI - a versatile standard?
Launched at CES in 2003 and included in over 70 products at CES 2004, it's undeniable that HDMI has achieved early market acceptance Tim Parker, product specialist - interconnect at Micromark, takes a closer look at this developing market.HDMI, or high-definition multimedia interface has achieved early market acceptance. This year's CES gave an insight into the application of HDMI connectors in alternative consumer products. The potential is there to exploit HDMI in broadcast, production and recording studios, as well as virtual classrooms, video conferencing and medical imaging.
In fact, any industrial application dealing with audio and video data can benefit from this technology.
HDMI
Backed by the industry heavyweights - Sony, Hitachi, Panasonic, Philips and Toshiba to name but a few - HDMI is a fast, uncompressed digital link for audio and video data. It was developed as a superior alternative to DVI to connect high definition video sources to digital displays in consumer electronics equipment such as dvd players, set-top boxes and a/v monitors, as well as handheld devices running Windows CE.
Capable of transmitting up to 5Gbps uncompressed digital video and audio over a single cable, HDMI is a derivative of DVI. It also replaces the maze of cabling usually associated with home cinema products. In addition, it enables the transmission of high-definition content along with 8-channel digital audio with bandwidth to spare.
The bulk of products now benefiting from HDMI, unsurprisingly, come from the home cinema and traditional a/v markets and include digital tvs, plasma displays, LCDs, dvd players and recorders, a/v receivers and set-top boxes.
Essentially, applications traditionally requiring several separate audio and visual leads.
On one level, HDMI is eliminating the cost and complexity of multiple cables used to connect current a/v systems, but HDMI also offers a number of advantages over DVI.
Connectors
HDMI uses a compact, reliable and user-friendly connector, similar to a USB connector, and offers a number of advantages over the bulky SCART socket and connector.
SCART leads and sockets are used to provide stereo sound from a stereo vcr, set-top box or satellite receiver to a tv or display. In addition, it can also provide rgb signals for connecting video game consoles or digital tv set-top boxes. SCART connectors, however, are not very sturdy, and in practice tend to give a fair few problems.
In vcrs, for example, the socket is often mounted solely by its soldered connections, and frequent use can make these become loose, creating intermittent problems. If the lead isn't sufficiently well screened this can give rise to picture problems, as can excessive cable length, and many users have experienced the disabling of teletext functions.
In contrast, HDMI connectors are much smaller and save about 40 percent of the pcb space. Surface mount sockets are available with a panel mounting flange, which sits flush within the unit like other consumer i/o components, and has springs on the side and bottom for grounding and mating retention.
The smt connectors are fully shielded for esd protection, gold-plated for reliability and produced with 100 percent lead-free processing. An easy-to-use friction lock design blends in well with home entertainment equipment while providing secure electrical contact with smooth cable insertion and extraction.
Cables
HDMI has been designed to use standard copper cable construction at long lengths. In order to allow cable manufacturers to improve their products through the use of new technologies, HDMI specifies the required performance of a cable, but does not specify a maximum cable length.
Cable manufacturers are keen to tap into the expanding HDMI market and suitable connectors and cable assemblies are now widely available. Most manufacturers offer HDMI-to-HDMI cables in lengths of 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 and 15m. Lengths in excess of 20m have been tested and are regarded as reliable, and as semiconductor technology improves, lengths over 100m can be reached with fibre optic cables and active cable technologies such as amplifiers or repeaters.
Cable assemblies are available in HDMI-to-HDMI styles for true digital connectivity and HDMI-to-DVI versions to accommodate the transition of equipment still using DVI connectors.
In summary
The uptake of HDMI by the CE industry in just the first year has shown that there is a requirement for an alternative to existing standards, especially in relation to HDTV and digital equipment. Although in its infancy, HDMI is still capable of greater things and we are likely to see its implementation in a growing number of handheld a/v devices and wider industrial applications.
Micromark C&CD
Source: http://www.cieonline.co.uk
In fact, any industrial application dealing with audio and video data can benefit from this technology.
HDMI
Backed by the industry heavyweights - Sony, Hitachi, Panasonic, Philips and Toshiba to name but a few - HDMI is a fast, uncompressed digital link for audio and video data. It was developed as a superior alternative to DVI to connect high definition video sources to digital displays in consumer electronics equipment such as dvd players, set-top boxes and a/v monitors, as well as handheld devices running Windows CE.
Capable of transmitting up to 5Gbps uncompressed digital video and audio over a single cable, HDMI is a derivative of DVI. It also replaces the maze of cabling usually associated with home cinema products. In addition, it enables the transmission of high-definition content along with 8-channel digital audio with bandwidth to spare.
The bulk of products now benefiting from HDMI, unsurprisingly, come from the home cinema and traditional a/v markets and include digital tvs, plasma displays, LCDs, dvd players and recorders, a/v receivers and set-top boxes.
Essentially, applications traditionally requiring several separate audio and visual leads.
On one level, HDMI is eliminating the cost and complexity of multiple cables used to connect current a/v systems, but HDMI also offers a number of advantages over DVI.
Connectors
HDMI uses a compact, reliable and user-friendly connector, similar to a USB connector, and offers a number of advantages over the bulky SCART socket and connector.
SCART leads and sockets are used to provide stereo sound from a stereo vcr, set-top box or satellite receiver to a tv or display. In addition, it can also provide rgb signals for connecting video game consoles or digital tv set-top boxes. SCART connectors, however, are not very sturdy, and in practice tend to give a fair few problems.
In vcrs, for example, the socket is often mounted solely by its soldered connections, and frequent use can make these become loose, creating intermittent problems. If the lead isn't sufficiently well screened this can give rise to picture problems, as can excessive cable length, and many users have experienced the disabling of teletext functions.
In contrast, HDMI connectors are much smaller and save about 40 percent of the pcb space. Surface mount sockets are available with a panel mounting flange, which sits flush within the unit like other consumer i/o components, and has springs on the side and bottom for grounding and mating retention.
The smt connectors are fully shielded for esd protection, gold-plated for reliability and produced with 100 percent lead-free processing. An easy-to-use friction lock design blends in well with home entertainment equipment while providing secure electrical contact with smooth cable insertion and extraction.
Cables
HDMI has been designed to use standard copper cable construction at long lengths. In order to allow cable manufacturers to improve their products through the use of new technologies, HDMI specifies the required performance of a cable, but does not specify a maximum cable length.
Cable manufacturers are keen to tap into the expanding HDMI market and suitable connectors and cable assemblies are now widely available. Most manufacturers offer HDMI-to-HDMI cables in lengths of 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 and 15m. Lengths in excess of 20m have been tested and are regarded as reliable, and as semiconductor technology improves, lengths over 100m can be reached with fibre optic cables and active cable technologies such as amplifiers or repeaters.
Cable assemblies are available in HDMI-to-HDMI styles for true digital connectivity and HDMI-to-DVI versions to accommodate the transition of equipment still using DVI connectors.
In summary
The uptake of HDMI by the CE industry in just the first year has shown that there is a requirement for an alternative to existing standards, especially in relation to HDTV and digital equipment. Although in its infancy, HDMI is still capable of greater things and we are likely to see its implementation in a growing number of handheld a/v devices and wider industrial applications.
Micromark C&CD
Source: http://www.cieonline.co.uk
HDTV gets the glamour, but surround-sound makes a home theater go 'round.
If you're investing in a 5.1 surround system - two front speakers, a center-channel speaker, two rear-channel speakers and a subwoofer - use your ears as a guide.
Alan Lofft, former senior editor of Audio magazine in New York and for 13 years editor of Sound & Vision magazine in Canada, has a simple five-point formula for buying a surround system.
1.) Don't buy speakers in a rush, even if you're only buying two for a stereo setup. Listen to them with your favorite recordings.
"Vocals are a good test," says Lofft, now resident expert for Axiom, an online-only loudspeaker company in Dwight, Ontario.
Guidelines For Choosing Home-Theater Speakers
Visit several retail stores, using the same recordings. Stores may favor recordings of their own that have enhanced bass, an unrealistic test of speakers.
2.) Beware of "home-theater-a-box" systems that include speakers and a DVD receiver. "The electronics," says Lofft, "are usually fine - the DVD player and receiver - but more often than not the speakers are really mediocre to poor."
Instead, look for recognizable brand names, companies that specialize in building speakers. For a home-theater receiver, Lofft recommends these brands: Pioneer, Denon, Harman/Kardon and Yamaha.
3.) Be realistic about matching loudspeakers to your room. "Tiny cubes are décor-friendly," says Lofft, "but if you try to put them in a big room and want to get any impact, forget it."
Lofft says bookshelf speakers suit a room smaller than 2,400 cubic feet (that would be 20 feet long by 15 feet wide with an 8-foot ceiling). Larger rooms demand floor-standing speakers.
4.) Want to hear the deep-bass sound effects on DVD soundtracks? A subwoofer is a home-theater essential. In a smaller room, get one with a 10-inch driver. A larger room requires a 12-inch driver.
5.) Budget the same amount of money for an HDTV and surround system. You'll get sound quality that matches the high-definition, high-resolution image from your HDTV.
- Kevin Hunt (hunt@courant.com)
Source: http://www.courant.com
Alan Lofft, former senior editor of Audio magazine in New York and for 13 years editor of Sound & Vision magazine in Canada, has a simple five-point formula for buying a surround system.
1.) Don't buy speakers in a rush, even if you're only buying two for a stereo setup. Listen to them with your favorite recordings.
"Vocals are a good test," says Lofft, now resident expert for Axiom, an online-only loudspeaker company in Dwight, Ontario.
Guidelines For Choosing Home-Theater Speakers
Visit several retail stores, using the same recordings. Stores may favor recordings of their own that have enhanced bass, an unrealistic test of speakers.
2.) Beware of "home-theater-a-box" systems that include speakers and a DVD receiver. "The electronics," says Lofft, "are usually fine - the DVD player and receiver - but more often than not the speakers are really mediocre to poor."
Instead, look for recognizable brand names, companies that specialize in building speakers. For a home-theater receiver, Lofft recommends these brands: Pioneer, Denon, Harman/Kardon and Yamaha.
3.) Be realistic about matching loudspeakers to your room. "Tiny cubes are décor-friendly," says Lofft, "but if you try to put them in a big room and want to get any impact, forget it."
Lofft says bookshelf speakers suit a room smaller than 2,400 cubic feet (that would be 20 feet long by 15 feet wide with an 8-foot ceiling). Larger rooms demand floor-standing speakers.
4.) Want to hear the deep-bass sound effects on DVD soundtracks? A subwoofer is a home-theater essential. In a smaller room, get one with a 10-inch driver. A larger room requires a 12-inch driver.
5.) Budget the same amount of money for an HDTV and surround system. You'll get sound quality that matches the high-definition, high-resolution image from your HDTV.
- Kevin Hunt (hunt@courant.com)
Source: http://www.courant.com
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