Watching HDTV on your Laptop
By admin | December 23, 2008
Do you have a small laptop with a beautiful LCD display? Active matrix is now the standard for laptops and, as a result, the quality of images on most laptops is comparable to most desktops.
Why should you let your TV and your desktop have all of the fun with high-definition programming? High-definition (HD) programming allows you to view movies and television as they were meant to be viewed. Almost all TV viewers who have the opportunity to view HD broadcasts say they strongly prefer them to standard digital and analog broadcasts. Many TV’s now come with HD tuners standard and it is very easy to find HD tuners for PC’s. Unfortunately these have only been available as PCI cards traditionally. PCI cards require you to open your computer and install the card on the motherboard - this is not an option for laptops.
Take advantage of USB 2.0 to watch HD programming Now you can use your USB 2.0 port, which comes standard on virtually every laptop manufactured today, to watch HD programming. Note that USB 1.1 is much to slow to stream video without a lot of choppiness. This technology comes from Korea and has been available in Korea for about two years - now various manufacturers are embracing the technology and products are starting to appear on the American market which will allow you to stream HDTV to your laptop.
DVR-like attributes will be coming Along with the ability to stream HDTV to your laptop comes the ability to record programming to be viewed at a later date. This technology, commonly referred to as digital video recording or simply Tivo-ing, offers you the ability to record HD programming for playback. The USB HDTV adapters available in the US right now do feature time-shift technology, but the ability to download the programming information will require you to find a third-party service. Fortunately these are popping up all over the place to fill the pending demand.
Preston Wily is the marketing director for Sewell Direct, an online retailer of hard-to-find computer cables and accessories. Sewell Direct offers a USB HDTV Adapter from OnAir and offers a variety of other HDTV cables and accessories.
Tags: adapter, hd, hdtv, high definition, laptop, notebook, onair, sasem, sewell, usbTopics: HDTV | No Comments »
Entertainment Technology What to Consider Before Buying HDTV
By admin | December 11, 2008
HDTV - or, High Definition Television - is the new
generation of TV, and is capable of displaying analog
signals as well as those that are digital in nature. While
this offers a viewing experience that’s unmatched, it also
requires external hardware in order to receive the HDTV
signals in addition to the monitor. In other words, plan
on spending a lot of money. If money isn’t the issue, then
HDTV is for you. Before you run out and make a purchase,
however, there are some things that you’ll need to
consider.
Even if your TV is “HDTV-ready,” that doesn’t necessarily
mean that it will be capable of displaying the HDTV signal.
It has to be compatible, and you’ll need to make sure
that it is before you make a purchasing commitment. It
will need to be able to display the actual HDTV signal, or
it isn’t really HDTV at all. Another consideration is
whether or not the HDTV receiver is compatible with the
monitor that you’ll be using. Finally, if you’re using
cable, the whole configuration will need to be compatible
with your cable box. You may need to call your local cable
company if you’re unsure of whether or not it meets the
compatibility requirements.
While monitors are available in a wide range of sizes, the
wide screen is the most adaptable to HDTV displays. If
you’re planning on doing most of your viewing using HDTV,
then you’re going to have to make sure that the screen can
accommodate your wide screen needs. Audio needs tend to be
rather specific, as well. In fact, in order to enjoy true
HDTV surround sound, it’s recommended that you use the
Dolby H-3 Surround Sound Audio.
While most TV sets and monitors today offer a number of
ports, you’re going to need several, so opt for the set
that’s equipped with the highest number of them. Whether
they’re front or back ports doesn’t really matter, as long
as there are several that are available on the set.
Before you invest in an HDTV, there are some things that
you’ll need to research. Among these are whether or not
you’ll need to buy a special dish for your satellite
service; if special cables are needed in order to make the
necessary connections; whether or not the cabling that you
currently own is compatible with the units that you’ll be
using; what type of surge protector is recommended; and
whether or not delivery and set-up is included. In the
case of particularly large sets, such as the wide-screen
models, this is important, since you’re dealing with a unit
that will weigh hundreds of pounds. The actual set-up can
also be quite confusing, as well, so set-up would be a
real perk, if you can work that into the purchase
commitment.
If the price, bulky components and many considerations that
need to be made before making a purchase don’t intimidate
you, then HDTV is well worth the time, effort and money that
you’ll need to put into it, from the time you begin the
research until the unit is finally set up in your home.
Once all is said and done, you’ll be treated to a visual
experience that’s unbeatable, by home viewing standards.
(c) 2005 Simon Canfield - All Rights Reserved
Simon Canfield is a hi-tech enthusiast and freelance author.
AllAboutHeadPhones.com
BigScreenTVsecrets.com
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Topics: HDTV | No Comments »
How to Buy a LCD TV with HDTV
By admin | December 5, 2008
If this doesn’t get you excited, then nothing will. LCD TVs have become all the rage and there is nothing better than a big screen TV. And when you couple LCD TV with HD TV, look out. An amazing physical display combined with a fantastic output. This is what is happening in LCD TV technology today.
If you are like most people looking to replace your TV, you’ve probably been paying close attention to High Definition Television sets (HD-TV). Unlike the previous generation of TV, which used analog signals to transmit information, HD-TVs use digital signals to transmit a signal and receive and display information directly on the television set. The HD-TVs also use a High-Resolution digital television set and Dolby Digital surround sound. The combination of the two creates incredible pictures and sounds - the best available on the market to date. HD-TV television offers viewers a level of detail they haven’t seen before: including a resolution about five times higher than that of analog TV.
The main thing to remember when you are shopping for HD-TV set is that just because a television is “digital” it does not mean it is necessarily “HD-TV compatible”. There are two levels below the HD level (standard definition TV and enhanced definition TV), both of which are vastly better than analog televisions but still of considerably lower quality than an LCD TV- HD-TV set. Since the FCC has mandated that all television sets eventually switch from analog to digital, you should know the differences between the different types of digital TVs.
Here are some tips. When looking to purchase an HD-TV, remember to compare the difference in picture resolution, audio features, and pixels. HD-TV requires a minimum of 720 horizontal scanning lines (enhanced definition TV, while considerably higher than standard definition TV, only features a minimum of 480 scanning lines) and the resolution on an HD-TV is 1920 x 1080 compared to enhanced definition TV, which only has a resolution of 1280 x 780.
When you experience a HD-TV image and then compare it to other TVs’ technology on the market, the difference will be clear. With “HD” everything looks and sounds far more realistic than on any other type of system. We think that once you see a big screen LCD TV with HD-TV, the choice will be clear.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when looking for a HD LCD TV. In fact, many of the most important tips haven’t been mentioned here. Learn about LCD TVs before making a purchase.
Lind Harrison is author of “Buy A LCD TV.” Read your copy at http://www.welcdtv.com.
Tags: hd tv, high definition, lcd television sets, lcd televisions, lcd tv, lcd tvs, sharp lcd tvsTopics: HDTV | No Comments »