Blu-ray: A Primer
Blu-ray is an optical disc format which is set to rival http://www.the-hdtv-tuner.com/high-definition-dvd.html">HD-DVD in the race to be the de-facto standard storage medium for HDTV. The HD-DVD vs Blu-ray battle resembles that between Betamax and VHS and DVD+RW and DVD-RW.Currently, the major Hollywood film studios are split evenly in their support fro Blu-ray and HD-DVD, but most of the electronics industry is currently in the Blu-ray camp. The key difference between Blu-ray disc players and recorders and current optical disc technology is that Blu-ray, as its name suggests, uses a blue-violet laser to read and write data rather than a red one. Blue light has a shorter wavelength than red light, and according to the http://www.blu-ray.com">Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), which is made up of, amongst others, Sony, Philips, Panasonic, and Pioneer, this means that the laser spot can be focussed with greater precision.Blu-ray discs have a maximum capacity of 25GB and dual-layer discs can hold up to 50GB - enough for four hours of HDTV. Like HD-DVD, Blue laser discs don't require a caddy and the players and recorders will be able to play current DVD discs.
Codecs supported by Blu-ray include the H.264 MPEG-4 codec which will form part of Apple's QuickTime 7, and the Windows Media 9 based VC-1.The BDA says that although blue laser discs and players are already shipping in Japan, they won't ship in the US until the end of 2005 at the very earliest. It is likely that players will be very expensive initially, compared to DVD players. In Japan, they cost the equivalent of $2000. However, as with all new technology, prices will quickly fall - particularly as Blu-ray will be competing with HD-DVD for that space under your TV..
Kenny Hemphill is the editor and publisher ofThe HDTV Tuner - a guide to the kit, the technology and the programming on HDTV.HDTV Antennas
HDTV televisions need special antennas to be able to catch the frequency. These televisions cannot receive the transmission from normal antennas used by any other brand of color television. Selecting the right HDTV antenna system is critical, and one should make use of a highly directional antenna designed for "Fringe Area" reception.? One objective that should be kept in mind while installing the antenna is that it should accept signals directly from the transmitting tower.
Some of the other considerations that one should keep in mind before buying the antenna is that one should check with the local homeowner's association, seeking permission to put up an antenna on the roof or any other exterior location.
One would also need to determine whether local channels are VHF, UHF, or both.
This would determine the type of antenna to buy.
The owner would also need to determine whether there is a clear line of sight to the station antenna.
Hdtv > HDTV Antennas
Blu-ray: A Primer
Blu-ray is an optical disc format which is set to rival http://www.the-hdtv-tuner.com/high-definition-dvd.html">HD-DVD in the race to be the de-facto standard storage medium for HDTV. The HD-DVD vs Blu-ray battle resembles that between Betamax and VHS and DVD+RW and DVD-RW.Currently, the major Hollywood film studios are split evenly in their support fro Blu-ray and HD-DVD, but most of the electronics industry is currently in the Blu-ray camp. The key difference between Blu-ray disc players and recorders and current optical disc technology is that Blu-ray, as its name suggests, uses a blue-violet laser to read and write data rather than a red one. Blue light has a shorter wavelength than red light, and according to the http://www.blu-ray.com">Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), which is made up of, amongst others, Sony, Philips, Panasonic, and Pioneer, this means...
Blu-ray: A Primer
Hdtv > Blu-ray: A Primer