The Future Of Home Theater

Writen by Dave Westin

Professional home theaters can look very fancy, but most of the audio and video equipment is available to anyone. What makes the professional set up stand out is whats controlling the audio equipment. Almost all professional home theater setup have one important thing in common. They all have a similar touch screen remote that they come with. This remote can be set up to control just about anything that you desire or are willing to pay for. Many of us end up using 3 or more remotes just to get a movie playing. Imagine being able to press play and nothing more. You'd be surprised at how many things go into automation just by pressing one button.

Many automation remotes for home theaters are completely programable, so you can have a home screen that has buttons you actually want. A button that is meant for turning on the television can turn the television set on and make sure that it is set up for cable, turn on the cable box, and even turn on a separate audio system if you like to hear all of your audio through the home theater. There are a lot of steps that the remote takes care of for you. The best part about the automation is that it takes all the steps to make sure that it does what you want. For example, you can be watching cable television and push play for a DVD. The remote will change the television setting to DVD, turn on the DVD player and set up the audio equipment. It doesn't matter what you are doing, the remote sets all the settings correctly. This is some of the most basic functions that it is capable of.

Advanced features include being able to dim the lights and close the blinds to set the mood. You can even have a fireplace light up if you would like. There are ways to to almost anything to create the atmostphere that you want. The remote is just programmed to walk through the steps that you set it to. This automation concept has spread further than just home theater too. You can have out side lights controlled or you can even have your spa heat up with the touch of a button. That is why you usually have this sort of thing set up by professionals. The set up gets very complicated and you could easily mess it up on your own. Just use your imagination and do a little research to see what other people are automating via remote control in their homes. The sky is the limit.

Find more great Home Theater information at http://www.hometheater101.info/.

Digital Tv For Beginners

Writen by Ian Tham

Good news digital TV is here!

What is so great about digital TV, you wonder?

Well, for one thing resolution is much improved. Currently, analog television provides up to 500 lines of resolution. The resolution of an analog TV is 720 x 486 for a total of 349,920 pixels. Digital TV especially high definition television provide resolution of up to 1920 x 1080 pixels. which gives total of 2,073,600 pixels. That means the resolution of high definition TV is 6 times greater than analog television. Also, the pixel in analog television resembles that of a tall building that is it is tall and rectangular. HDTV pixels are 4 times smaller which means you get 4 times more pixels in a given area and giving four times more resolution. That means you get sharper and clearer pictures.

High definition TV has a aspect ratio of 16:9 while analog TV has an aspect ratio of 4: 3. Our field of vision is more attuned to a wider view . We have a rectangular field of vision rather than a square one . That means our eyes see more of the left and right rather than the top and bottom. A wide screen image fills more of our field of vision and provide a better picture. Films and movies are also made closer to 16:9 ratio aspect so when these movies are shown on TV you wouldn't get your picture cut off or the annoying black strips on your TV set.

High definition television enables you to enjoy Dolby digital surround sound. That means you can have 5.1 channels of sound for your left ,center and right front speakers and two rear surround speakers and finally a sub-woofer. Isn't that great?

Conventional analog TV uses interlaced display which show images with 60 fields or 30 frames in a second. Each frame is broken into two fields consisting only of even or odd rows of 240 lines. The odd rows are shown first and the scanning process starts from left to right , then top to bottom . The whole process is now repeated for the even rows. The process creates artifacts such as visible scan lines and becomes more apparent as the size of the TV screen increases. The flickering which occurs also makes our eyes tired. Digital TVs support progressive scanning which draws 60 full frames in a second instead of only 60 half frames in a second. You get a smoother image with less flicker and scan lines are hardly noticeable.

Going digital means you have greater choices of programmes than before. Broadcasters can choose to broadcast standard definition television which permit multiple programming. Broadcasters are limited bandwidth to broadcast their channels. They make use of compression technologies called MPEG2 to remove unnecessary parts of a picture . Take an example of a beach scene where someone saunters across the beach. The only object that moves is the person. So data is being transmitted only for the movement of the person from left to right while the old data is used for the sky, the sea and the beach.

Remember your disappointment on seeing a NSTC TV screen with snowy images /ghostly images? This is because of broadcast signal is being blocked or the broadcasting station is too far. Well, you won't have this problem if you have a digital TV. Images are either picture perfect and you don't receive it at all. This is the nature of digital technology which is either 1 or 0.

In time to come, digital television would encompass the use of interactive television. Instead of just sitting in front of your television being a couch potato, it offers you opportunity to shop online, play games and enjoy other activities.

The writer is the webmaster of digiteevee.com which covers the use of technology in your daily life.

Hdtv Youve Got It But Can You Really See It

Writen by Douglas Hanna

You paid a lot of money for an HDTV. But you may not actually be seeing high definition programs. How can this be?

You see, it's not enough to just buy an HDTV receiver. You must be able to receive programs that are broadcast in HDTV.

For example, many local stations are broadcasting some programs in HDTV. But to see these programs, you must either live very close to their broadcasting towers or have a special, HDTV antenna on your roof.

If you subscribe to "analog" cable, you won't be able to see HDTV even if it says the program your watching is being broadcast in High definition. To see HDTV programming, you must first upgrade to digital cable. Once you have digital cable, you can then sign up for HDTV. For example, here in the Denver area, if you subscribe to Comcast's Basic Digital package, you can get the HDTV channels basically for free. The only cost is $5.00 per month or the set-top box you will need to attach to your "HDTV Ready" or "HDTV Capable" TV.

The satellite TV provider Echostar (DISH Network) also offers packages of HDTV channels ranging in price from $49.99 (DishHD Bronze) to $99.99 DishHD Platinum. All packages include some number of standard definition (non-HDTV) channels, plus anywhere from 23 to 25 channels of HDTV programming. However, to get the HDTV programming, you will need to lease or buy a special HDTV receiver (set-top box).

There is also the issue of local channels. As you know, most local stations broadcast both network programs and their own local programming. If the network program is broadcast in high definition – and not all network programs are -- you will see it as an HDTV program. However, many local programs are notbroadcast in HDTV. For example, here in Denver, only one of our three network stations broadcasts its news in HDTV.

So, if you're HDTV picture doesn't seem a lot better than the picture on your old, standard TV, stop, drop and make sure you can really receive HDTV programming.

Here's anothere good idea.Take a good look at Denver for your next vacation. Denver offers the best of both worlds -- the fun things to do and see do you find only in a big, sophisticated city -- plus the incredible vistas and breathtaking scenary of the nearby Rocky Mountains.

You can learn everything you need to know for a great Denver vacation at my site: http://www.best-denver-vacation.com. And whilte you're there, if you didn't make $1,057.50 last week from the comfort of your home -- (Find out Why!)Be sure to click on the University of Internet Marketing banner.

Douglas Hanna has lived in the Denver metro area for more than 30 years. He has written more than 100 articles on Internet marketing and on Denver and Colorado

Home Theater Room Lighting Control And Ambiance

Writen by Phil Taylor

Room lighting control is an important aspect for home theaters - especially if you have a front-projector and screen set-up. Video projectors often demand a controlled lighting situation due to the lower brightness of their displays. Room ambiance is another important function of lighting during a viewing as you most likely not want your guests to sit in darkness (unless it is a really creepy horror flick). Reflected room lighting is a consideration as well as you do not want a glare on the screen - whether it be ambient light from a window or merely reflections of a lamp within your room. Ambient window lighting is major when determining your living room layout or designing a dedicated viewing room. A dedicated room would of course be best without windows altogether - if you have the luxury of designing a room from scratch.

Glare Control and Picture Enhancement
Room lighting control is relatively easy with a little planning. If you want to incorporate your home theater within your living or family room you will want to postion your video display so that any ambient light upon the screen is diminished or eliminated altogether. Each time we have moved to a new home one of my first considerations (much to the chagrin of my wife) is where we will place the TV in our living room. Since video is my profession I plan our living room layout around the TV and entertainment center (again to the chagrin of my wife). The TV is always placed at an angle away from the main window in the room in order to eliminate window reflections on the screen. Our living room lamps have shades that direct lighting downward and are not very translucent in order to minimize their reflections. Since I have a front projector and screen display in the living room - in addition to the 32" Mitsubishi we use for normal viewing -- we have vertical blinds which do a nice job of darkening the room. We also have velour drapes which can pull to either side of the screen and do a great job of providing a controlled lighting environment for our projector. You will want to do much the same -- have your video display directed away from any windows and use blinds with drapes to control daytime lighting from windows.

Setting the Mood
Wall sconce lamps located along the sides of your room for ambiance during viewing in a dedicated theater room is a nice touch and lends to the theater-esque atmosphere. Depending upon the overall decor and theme of your dedicated room sconces can be either plain or elaborately gaudy much like the movie houses of yore. Basic sconces can be found at a local Home Depot or lighting store. More elaborate theater-looking sconces are available at specialty stores. A dedicated room will benefit from remote controlled lighting - or at least it will add a touch of class to your theater. There are many varieties of remote controlled lighting which can be controlled either by their standard controller or be included within a macro-programmed command on one of the many all-in-one macro-type remote controls such as the Harmony H659 which I am quite pleased to own.

Regardless of whether you are incorporating a system into your living room or planning a dedicated room, the principles of home theater room lighting are the same. No glare or reflection on your video display and sufficient ambient room lighting for your guests during viewing. If you have any further questions about home theater room lighting feel free to use the contact form at http://www.Home-Theater-Systems-Advice.com/contact.html and I will be pleased to answer any of your inquiries to the best of my ability. You may also find more resources for home theater lighting and components at www.Home-Theater-Systems-Advice.com -- from beginner's component selection tips to room design and acoustical considerations.

Phil Taylor is a 27 year veteran in the Audio Video field and hosts Home Theater Systems Advice which offers sound advice on selecting home theater system components and also includes room design and installation information.

Lcd Repair

Writen by Eric Morris

It is usually thought better to repair LCD parts than to replace them. The reasons are manifold. Monitors and terminals last over ten years. In the case of LCD screens, the lifetime is even longer. The malfunctioning of a tiny part can make a monitor redundant. If the main transformer or the tube fails, then replacing the entire TV is logical. If not, then repair is the cost-effective alternative. Terminals and monitors hold heavy metals that are potentially dangerous, so repairing is also a more environmental friendly thing to do. And, most importantly, repairing costs a lot less than the purchase of a new electronic component.

The most common failing of an LCD monitor is dimming of the backlight after substantial use. However, for about $20.00, the backlight can be replaced and the monitor restored to its former self.

Nowadays, there are highly competent, anti-reflection polarizer films available in the market. This polarizer film when applied to the LCD screen increases display contrast as well as readability. Images become sharper and clearer; the screen provides deeper colors; it allows for a wider viewing angle in bright settings; and protects LCD panels from scratches and fingerprints.

The flat panel in the LCD television makeup is the most exorbitant item to replace. In fact in some cases, it could exceed the cost of the total unit. Split or broken LCD panels obviously need replacement. Another sigh of a flawed panel are lines running the length of the panel. Still, three quarters of such panels can be repaired.

LCD provides detailed information on LCD, LCD Projectors, LCD Monitors, LCD Tvs and more. LCD is affiliated with LED Displays.

Home Theater For Everyone

Writen by John Rollins

Designing and building a home theater system is one of the most enjoyable home improvement projects. Adding home theater elements to your living room, media room, or game room or building a formal home theater room in your house will undoubtedly increase your enjoyment of movies in the home. As technology for home theater use increases, your options for a home theater system do as well. The wide range of home theater options can make the task a bit daunting, but with a little research and a consideration of your needs, finding the right home theater equipment is a snap.

Home theater technology is always improving so you can find well-functioning home theater equipment at relatively low prices. Gone are the days of shelling out thousands of dollars for good home theater equipment, although it definitely is possible to spend that much. You can get a very good home theater set up for under $1,000, and even less if you bargain shop for your equipment. The basics of any home theater system are the television or viewing screen, the DVD player, and the sound system.

Many people choose to use a standard television for their home theater system. While there is nothing wrong with this, if you are going to create a movie-like home theater experience, you can get no closer than using a DVD projector and home theater projection screen. These screens come in various sizes, and allow you to see your favorite movies in grand scale. Most DVD projectors are relatively easy to set up and work just like a standard DVD player. The sound system for a home theater is also an important consideration. Even if you are just setting up a home theater area in your living room, you'll want to re-create movie quality sound. Current technology has made home theater sound systems easy to use, and you can often find all of the speakers you'll need in one easy home theater speaker system kit.

© Cookgroup Marketing LLC – All Rights Reserved. This article brought to you by http://Home-Theater-Info.com/hometheater/. You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice, author name, and URL remain intact.

High Definition Tvs

Writen by John Dulaney

Until now, the working of a TV involved some analog signal and a CRT init. The incoming signals were translated into a picture and sound with the help of the cathode ray tube. This conventional CRT set has a display of about 480 lines of pixels and all the signals worked well for years until the idea of higher resolution evolved. A higher resolution signal for better quality and more clarity could not have worked on this old model of CRT. The conversion of the signals lowered the quality leading to more degradation in the class of the display and sound in the traditional model with CRT.

The new HDTV is almost incomparable to the standard definition TV (SDTV) in many terms, like, that it has twice the resolution in comparison to that of the SDTV, which allows for finer picture quality.

Further, the range of broadcasting signal for HDTV can also handle higher aspect ratio pictures of higher resolution, without the use of letter boxing, thus further increasing the over all resolution for such signals. Letter boxing is the technique of compressing the widescreen images to video formats. Aspect ratio is the measurement of the image displayed, where the width of the image is divided by the height. A traditional SDTV uses an aspect ratio of 4:3, while a HDTV has a much higher aspect ratio of 16:9 which helps the HDTV to handle bigger pictures and there is no need for compression. HDTV also avoids the use of letter boxing; therefore, one can view the images in their original wide form.

The highest resolution of a SDTV is the lowest resolution of HDTV. For the reader's information, the highest resolution for SDTV is just 704 x 480 pixels, while the highest resolution for HDTV is 1920 x 1080 pixels. Therefore, a High Definition TV can display 10 times more pixels than an analog SDTV set. The frame rate, which is best described as the frames per second, or the time taken for a complete picture formation on the screen every second, is around 60 frames per second for a high definition TV. To express the advantages of HDTV purely in non-technical terms for a common man to understrand, here are some of the points listed below:

1. Since High definition TV is a digital technology, it receives only transmitted digital signals. Therefore, what we have here is the presence of a signal or none at all.. There are no blurred signals or weak signals, or signs of signal interferences. An HDTV will either deliver an excellent picture, a still picture or no picture at all. You would never get a snowy or washed out image from a weak signal, which are the effects from signal interference, viz., the herringbone patterns, or vertical rolling.

2. Most HD programming TVs are presented in the 16:9 proportioned aspect ratios, with wide screens. These screens have some amount of empty space left out at its margins which can be used up easily in case of wide images. This displays the full width of the image.

3. There is also an option of enlarging the screen if a user wants to. In addition to this facility, the images can also be enlarged to fill up the whole screen; however this option will display a distorted, stretched-out picture.

4. A larger bandwidth is used for transmitting signals to HDTV, and therefore, a very realistic image is formed with true colours. The reason behind this is that, the different colours lie in different ranges of the bandwidth and with a larger bandwidth, a better picture quality is achieved.

5. Since the numbers of scanning lines are much more in a HDTV, providing a higher resolution, the visual information is about 2-5 times more detailed overall, in comparison to the normal SDTV. The spaces between scanning lines are smaller or invisible, producing a better picture quality . 6. For the user. the increased clarity and detail make larger screen sizes more comfortable and pleasing to watch.

7. Dolby Digital 5.1 sounds are broadcasted along with standard HDTV video signals, thus allowing full surround sound capabilities. While the standard television SDTV signals broadcast basic stereo audio signals.

If in case one is not interested in buying a new HDTV but still wants to enjoy these advantages, these is still an option. You can use your computer to view HDTV, with the aid of ATi HDTV Wonder, which an antenna is picking up the airborne HDTV signals. This antenna born device also has inputs for cable/satellite signals which can be also used. If you have a decent and quality monitor, it might make sense and will save you lots of money to get an HDTV card for your computer.

This new invention of High Definition TVs is surely a noticeable leap in the history, thus giving higher standards to visual as well as sound quality. The true high-definition standard, in contrast, has brought in significantly greater resolutions for everybody to enjoy. The new models of HDTV- 720p and 1080i, 1080p formats, which are very common in today's HD television sets, bring images several times clearer than the standard definition TV model. For the time being, 1080p, the most highly developed and sophisticated HD standard model, has a much better image quality, than anything else out there in the market. All of the HD set-ups are designed for 16x9 widescreen televisions, just like today's movies. So just get out there and enjoy! These TVs are also available in multisystem models such as PAL, SECAM, NTSC, PAL-M, PAL-N.

110-220 Volt Electronics - A multisystem TV is a TV capable of receiving and displaying different video systems like PAL, SECAM and NTSC. You'll be able to operate a multisystem TV in 99% of the world. Their dual voltage design allows them to be plugged into either a 110 voltage source or a 220 voltage source. In some cases, the plug on the television will not fit your country's outlet, so an inexpensive plug-adapter will be needed. They can generally be picked up at an electronics store such as www.planetomni.com for $1.95. With a multisystem TV, such as a plasma, CRT tube type, LCD or DLP, you'll likely need a codefree (sometimes called region free) DVD player. These exist in many forms. When used with a PAL-NTSC TV you'll be able to see the full 625 lines of resolution available in the PAL system and the full 525 lines used in the USA NTSC system. There exists a converting type of DVD player which is codefree in that it can read all of the world's 6 regions and both standards, PAL and NTSC. 140,000 other products are available here: www.planetomni.com Tel. # 800-514-2984

Finding A Home Theater System Right For You

Writen by Chris Vazquez

Most people think that in order to have a home theater system you have to have a lot of money or know someone who installs them. This simply isn't true. Home theater systems are becoming more popular in this day an age. However, being super rich or having a friend (who may or may not be an expert on electronics) tell you where to find the best deals is an unecessary risk. All you need is the basic knowledge of where to go.

Ok, first you need to establish if you want a theater system with a projector, screen, and speakers; or if you're just looking for a theater system to go with your television set. If you are wanting a system to go with your television you can go to www.audiospeakersale.com and find pretty much everything you need to get the job done. They have home theater speakers, dvd players, home theater systems with dvd players, etc. I have found that they are an excellent source for all of your home theater speaker needs.

Now that you know where to find home theater systems for your television lets move on to find the other theater components, for those of you who wish to have a projector based home theater system. We will start with the projector. It is crucial that you purchase a projector that can offer you the quality that you will be satifactory to you with out breaking your wallet. The the best place to purchase your projectors from is www.theprojectorpros.com. There are different kinds of projectors available. Be sure to pick the one that will meet a pixel size (resolution) to your liking. They offer several different video services (incase you want an alternate display other than projection). You will also want to get your screen from here as well.

These two websites provide great customer service and quality products. They make sure the customer has a complete understanding of how every product works and how to get the maximum usage out of their system. Hopefully these resources will be helpful to you. Remember you don't have to spend a fortune to enjoy your own home theater system.

Chris Vazquez

Plasma Televisions

Writen by Jason Gluckman

Now a status symbol among the rich and wealthy, a plasma TV is a high-definition (HDTV) alternative to the standard cathode-ray televisions sold today. It gives viewers sharp images and vibrant colors, particularly when used in conjunction with high-definition broadcasts. A quality plasma TV, however, does not come cheap. Its price ranges from $4,000 to $15,000 plus.

One of the main attractions of a plasma TV is a flat screen, which can be mounted directly on a wall. Manufacturers often employ surround-sound theater speakers and high-end receivers to complete the feeling of luxury. No wonder plasma TVs are such a craze these days.

In terms of science, 'plasma' refers to inert gases like neon and xenon that glow when in contact with an electrical field. Televisions usually rely on thousands of small 'picture elements', abbreviated as pixels. A bundle of three distinct colors, usually red, green and yellow, constitute one pixel in a color TV. Properly controlling the level of each color, all of the other colors of the spectrum can be produced in each pixel. The distance between the viewer and the screen is usually such that the individual pixels blur into each other and the illusion of motion is created as they change color. Plasma or not, this holds true for any television system.

The individual pixels in a plasma TV are made from three tiny containers of an inert gas like neon or xenon. There are thousands of these tiny tubes on an average plasma TV screen. All of them are sandwiched between two electrically charged plates. And plasma glows when exposed to an electrical current. A cable or broadcast antenna dispatches signals to a computer-processing unit. The antenna instructs the unit how to reassemble the entire picture hundreds of times per second.

A plasma TV screen contains more pixels than a standard television, so the image is noticeably sharper. If light conditions are ambient, a plasma TV will perform at its best. As flat screens have a viewing angle of 160 degrees, one can watch TV from almost any position in a room.

Plasma Televisions provides detailed information on Plasma Televisions, Discount Plasma Televisions, Wholesale Plasma Televisions, Plasma Vs Lcd Televisions and more. Plasma Televisions is affiliated with LCD Televisions.

High Definition Dvd Players In Greece

Writen by John Dulaney

High definition DVD players are available throughout Greece. One can find the leading brands being sold in Greece. Samsung, Philips, Sony, Aiwa, you name it and you can find the brand having a significant presence in the Greek market. The Greeks have been traditionally known to love entertainment, from time immemorial. If it were not for the ancient Greeks, we would not have known things like the Olympics. The ancient Greek passion for works of art and entertainment has carried on to the present generation and the Greek continue to love their movies and art. The Greek movie industry is decades old with movies being a popular form of entertainment in Greece since the early 1900s.

With an embedded movie culture, it is not surprising that the Greece love to watch movies on DVDs. Most of the latest DVD releases are available in Greece. There is also a large collection of Greek DVDs available.

As in the case with other European markets, the Greek market is flooded with Chinese high definition DVD players. These players have caught the imagination of people, who are looking for relatively cheap options, when it comes to home theater systems. The important thing to be mentioned is that the quality of the high definition DVD players is pretty good.

Leading retailers in Greek stock up latest models of high definition DVD players from leading brands like Philips, Sony, Samsung, Thompson, Aiwa, to mention only a few. As statistics show, these major brands sell most of the high definition DVD players. The reasons are easy to understand, for cheaper brands do not offer the kind of guarantee or after sales service support, which these bigger brands offer. It is to be noted that even the smaller players, the ones which are popularly termed 'no-name' DVD players, also perform well and are considered value for money proposition in Greece. With the increasing penetration of the Internet, many Greeks prefer to purchase their high definition DVD players from leading online merchants also. This also allows them to find out the latest from other parts of the world too, apart from exposing them to increased choice.

The standard electrical standard is 230 volts. Clearly, most of the high definition DVD players available in the Greek market follow this specification. It is always better that you check your DVD players specification, if you want to play it in Greece, after having bought it from somewhere else.

A walk down the streets of Athens would reveal that there are several stores which stack up the latest high definition DVD players in Greece. There are supermarkets, hypermarkets, and departmental stores which deal with DVD players. The variety available is huge. One can get a DVD player in a wide price range. You can for instance get a standard high definition DVD player for around 100 Euros or look out for the really higher end models which would cost you upwards of 300 Euros. DVDs that record are increasingly the popular option of consumers in Greece.

There are virtually hundreds of shops selling Greek DVDs in Athens. From old classics to the latest flicks, one can find them all over the city. You can even get the latest Hollywood flicks in Greece quite easily. The release date is usually along with the rest of Europe or sometimes simultaneous with the worldwide release of the DVD titles. Greece follows the PAL format, just like most other European countries. One can also find NTSC standard discs being sold widely in Greece. One can also come across DVD audios carrying traditional Greek music. Tourists to Greece almost always purchase some DVD or the other related to the history of this ancient country. If you are one, check out for the format. Though with region free DVD players in vogue, you need not worry about the aspect of video signal formats, for they can play any DVD.

Although the high definition DVD market is on the rise in Greece, on the flip side is the rampant video piracy in the country. Figures show that around 50% of discs are pirated. The time period during the 2004 Athens Olympics saw the police adopt tough measures to end the menace. The problem is attributed to the lax laws of the Greek government regarding copyright offences. Around 90% of music discs are burned using CD-Rs. The piracy rate is well above that of the average rate prevailing in Europe. Pirated games which could be played on high definition DVD players have flooded the market. Most of them are imported from Asia. CD-R burning is also on the rise. This is also one of the main problems confronting the Motion Picture Association of Greece. Illegal duplication of DVDs in large numbers has affected the industry as a whole.

The Greeks are usually passionate about their movies and this explains the increase in the home theater systems sales. Home theater systems made their debut in Greece, along with other European countries. Since then, they are perhaps the most popular source of entertainment. People love to watch the latest flicks on their slick high definition DVD players. Gaming consoles and play stations are also very popular, especially among the younger lot in Greece.

The Greek tradition in Cinema dates back a long time. Greeks started making movies almost simultaneously along with Hollywood. The First World War saw a lull in filmmaking in Greece, which gradually picked up, later on. The onslaught of Hollywood blockbusters and ironically the introduction of high definition DVD players and the easy availability of latest DVD titles, have now contributed to the declining rate of film production in Greece. Greek production houses like Finos Films, in fact no longer exist.

Where to get REGION FREE DVD players/recorders and High Definition, HD DVD players, Blu-ray,Advanced Optical players/recorders in Blu-Ray DVD players/recorders. A multi region (aka codefree) DVD player or recorders is capable of playing DVD discs from anywhere in the world, that is all 8 regions and both PAL and NTSC standards. That's every DVD movie on earth! Many can not only play them but convert from one standard to the other for showing movies on any TV on earth. There are also PAL-NTSC 110-220 volts DVD/VCR Combos for use worldwide. CODEFREE DVD / PAL-NTSC VCR combos and MULTISTANDARD VCRs will play 100% all known DVD discs including FRENCH DVDs. You can buy region free and region free converting DVD players and region free DVD recorders from http://www.mindlogic.com in California. They give you a LIFETIME Warranty and ship worldwide. They also carry PAL-SECAM-NTSC TVs, PAL plasma, PAL LCD and PAL DLP multisystem TVs and multisystem converting and non-converting VCRs, voltage transformers, video standards converters and more than 140,000 products. Tel.800-514-2984 or tel. 925-686-9945

Home Theater Dvi Cable Information And Help

Writen by Dustin Twiggs

So What is DVI? DVI Stands for Digital Visual Interface. DVI is the digital interface standard created by the DDWG (Digital Display Working Group). Led by Compaq, Fujitsu, Silicon Image, Hewlette Packard, NEC, Intel and IBM, the DDWG's main objective is to "address the industry's requirements for a digital connectivity specification for high-performance PCs and digital displays."

With the need to accommodate both digital and analog monitors, this new digital interface standard was created to convert analog signals into digital signals. DVI's High bandwidth capabilities make it ideal for HDTV connections. Also available in dual link, DVI can reach higher resolutions still.

Using the pictures on the right, you can determine the type of connection you need, be it DVI-D, or DVI-I. To determine the actual signal being used you will have to consult your manual for the device being connected. For more information concerning DVI:

DVI-D Digital. Connectors on DVI-D do not have the 4 additional pins, these are meant for carrying Digital signals only. Digital must be connected to Digital and Analog to Analog. While you can plug a DVI-D cable into a DVI-I socket, both devices you are connecting must support Digital signal format. Analog to Digital will not work.

DVI-I Analog or Digital. Connectors are basically the same as DVI-D with the exception of 4 added pins. You'll notice both have 3 rows of pins to the left, and one horizontal pin to the right. The DVI-I connection has 4 additional pins, 2 on top and 2 on bottom. These pins are used to carry the needed signals for RGBHV analog video. (Red, Green, Blue and Horizontal). You can use DVI-I on both DVI-D and Analog connections, but remember, an analog device will not be compatible with a Digital device. For more pictures of these items visit:

http://www.tca-inc.net/dvi_info.html

Adapters HD15 to DVI-I (VGA to analog) adapters exist to connect your analog device to a analog display through DVI connection.

Remember that while DVI-I is usable for Digital display, the extra 4 pins make it usable for Analog as well. The needed adapters is available in our store. Remember, this article can be read with pictures at:

Dustin Twiggs Submits articles for the sake of extending human knowledge and benifiting all those who it may. Contact him directly for more info.

A Revolution In Home Entertainment Systems Touchscreens Amp Media Servers

Writen by Steve Faber

Home entertainment systems have come a long way since you ooh' ed and ahh'ed because your neighbor had a few pairs of speakers that actually fit flush into his walls. That's old news now. Even homes in comparatively modest new developments are being outfitted with a full complement of audio, network, TV and telephone wiring. In many developments the builder offers a standard wiring package and various upgrades for additional wiring, speakers, wiring enclosures and even full control systems.

Systems have evolved to include sleek, wall-mounted touch screens that allow simple access to your music and other house functions such as security, lighting, HVAC, and motorized window treatments. A talented programmer can make these systems function with true "one touch" simplicity. It's almost as if they're reading your mind.

The touch screen's advantage is that it can change the control interface to only show what you need at any one time. This affords tremendous flexibility while retaining the simplicity people desire. The touch screen interface is extremely powerful when combined with another technology that has come into prominence recently; the hard disc based media server. Your CDs are downloaded, or ripped, onto a hard drive. This combination allows your entire music catalog to be displayed on the touch screen for easy searching. You can typically search by artist, song title, genre, or album. Once the desired selection is located, you just touch it on the screen and it begins to play.

These hard drive servers use computer hard drives and modern compression techniques to store phenomenal amounts of music in a simple audio component less than half the size of a 200 disc CD changer. They function just like a typical CD player, not your computer, so they are reliable and easy to use.

Media servers have exploded in popularity recently because of the enormous popularity of compressed music formats such as MP3 and the fantastic array of functionality a disc based system allows. For those who have, or do, own CD mega changers, a hard drive music server will be like a breath of fresh air.

Access to any song is typically less than a second away. Contrast that to selecting disc 94 in your 300-disc CD changer when you are playing disc 201. With a multi-room audio system, you may be on the other side of your house trying to do this with a keypad or remote control. The wait for your changer to return the disc it was playing then trundle the carousel around to your desired disc can seem like an eternity.

Another advantage is easy cataloging. Most hard drive systems will recognize any CD you insert for ripping and if they don't, they are connected to the internet for access to a giant database. This they access automatically to gather artist, album and track information. Gone are the days of using a keyboard or remote to tediously enter the information about your CDs into a CD changer. You can also stop worrying about which slot your discs are in. "Let's see, was Led Zeppelin IV in slot 90 or 190?" Using a hard drive server frees up your CDs for use elsewhere such as your car, boat or vacation home.

In addition, since your CDs are not locked up in a changer, your collection is able to be enjoyed by many members of the family at once. With a changer, if someone is listening to it, all of the discs inside it are basically off limits. With a changer, not only are your CDs free for use in other locations but many hard drive servers provide multiple audio outputs.

Multiple outputs enable you to listen to different discs in different areas of the house if your system is so configured. For example, one person could be listening to Korn in the rec room while Bach's Requiem is being played in the kitchen and Dire Straights in the bedroom. With a conventional CD changer, this is impossible.

You can also buy and store music from many online music services and store those on your hard drive server. Hard drive servers offer advantages over music files stored on a computer as well. Because they function like a traditional audio component, they are easier to use for many people. It is also easier to integrate them with touch screen based home control systems. This will begin to change as the popularity of multimedia PCs such as those running Microsoft XP Media Center Edition 2005 increases.

These units are many steps closer to delivering the long promised "convergence" between consumer electronics and computers. Multimedia PCs, also known as HTPCs [Home Theater PC] function as DVD players, personal video recorders (similar to a TiVO), and hard drive media storage.

They allow storage of digital photos for easy display on your TV or monitor. HTPCs can, of course, browse the net on your TV via your broadband connection. As hard drive storage becomes more economical and compression techniques become better, the storage of HD movies and HDTV programming will become commonplace.

Soon these types of servers and interfaces will become the norm rather than the exception. You'll think nothing of the amazing array of features offered and the ability to easily access your media collection throughout your home. Once a rarity, media servers, in one form or another, will be found in almost every home.

Steve Faber has almost 15 years in the custom installation industry. He is a CEDIA certified designer and Installer 2 with certifications from both the ISF and THX. His experience spans many facets of the industry, from the trenches as an installer and control systems programmer, and system designer, to a business unit director for a specialty importer of high end audio video equipment, a sales rep for a large, regional consumer electronics distributor, and principal of a $1.5M+ custom installation firm. Steve is currently is senior sales engineer for Digital Cinema Design, a CEDIA member firm in Redmond, WA. HYou can find out much more anout home media servers, touch screens and everything else about home theater and automation here: Home Entertainment Media Servers

What To Look For When You Buy A Mini Dv Camcorder

Writen by Thad Pickering

If you want to capture those special moments and events of your life quickly and easily and know that they will always be as vibrant and clear as the day that you recorded them, a digital camcorder is what you need. And today the most popular format of digital camcorder is the Mini DV. Because all of the recording of both audio and video is done in digital instead of analog, the resulting images and sound are clear, crisp and vibrant. And thanks to digital technology they will not degrade over time or due to being copied over and over again. So here are some important things you should look for when you decide to buy a Mini DV camcorder:

* Get as good a LCD screen as you can. These small camcorders are so tiny that using an eyepiece for any extended period of time is wearing, but having a large clear LCD screen that swivels and tilts will let you get shots that you couldn't get if the camcorder was glued to your eye. It will also let you walk around and record while still keeping an eye out for where you are going, so make the LCD screen an important consideration.

* The mini DV camcorder that you select should also have a still picture capability. Most do these days, but just make sure that the one you choose does as well. This can be an extremely handy feature as it lets you take both moving video and still shots so you don't need to carry a camcorder and a digital camera at the same. They are both right there with you in the Mini DV recorder.

* Be sure that you get image stabilization in the digital camcorder that you select as this will go a long way toward helping you create smooth videos that others will enjoy watching, instead of feeling seasick after just a few minutes because of all of the camera shake introduced as you filmed.

* Try to get a Mini DV camcorder that conserves power as much as possible too. You will find a wide range of power consumption when it comes to camcorders. Some sip power and others drink it down fast. If you plan on using your digital camcorder a lot, it will be good to look for one that can go around 1-2 hours on a set of batteries before needing to be recharged. If the camcorder you choose does not have that kind of power consumption savings, be sure to stock up on extra betteries and have them ready and charged when filming.

* Autofocus can be extremely important if you tend to record fast action video scenes or need to film while moving. Focusing is just one more thing that you have to worry about in these cases, and removing that burden can be a big relief, allowing you to focus on the action itself.

If you are planning to buy a Mini DV camcorder plan on spending at least mid $300s for one, and of course more for those with advanced features.

Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including audio and video. You can find out more about mini dv camcorder reviews and cannon camcorders by visiting our Home Theater website.

Vcrs With Video Converters

Writen by John Dulaney

The solution

For quite some times the inventors on the line were pondering how to overcome this problem of conflict of standards of video tapes. Video tapes from one zone did not play in other using a different standard. Ultimately they came up with the idea of Video converting VCR as the solution to the problem. A video converting VCR could play any tape using any standard and thus it was possible to view a PAL standard tape on an NTSC TV or vice versa.

Multi-system VCR and Converting Multi-system VCR

A Converting Multi-system VCR is an improved version of the traditional Multi-system VCR. An ordinary multi-system VCR can play video tapes from anywhere in the world. But there is one big constraint. The video tape played on it must conform to the standard the VCR uses. This is the point where a converting multi-system VCR scores over the conventional VCR in a way that it does not require the video tapes to be played which conform to its standards. It just converts in the incoming incompatible signals to friendly signals and makes the viewing of the tape possible. The same result can be obtained by using an external converter or such other device attached to a traditional multi-system VCR, but the quality will be poorer compared to a convertible multi-system VCR.

How to make the choice of brands

Experience reveals that branded products normally works well compared to those cheaper editions of the video converting VCR available in the market. Not only that the reliability is far better than the other ones. A number of branded products are however, available in the market. They include companies like the Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba, Sharp, and Hitachi etc. All of them manufacture regular multi- system VCR but not the video converting VCR. The only company that produced video converting VCR was Samsung, the SV-5000W, but they have discontinued the productions. A potential customer often makes the choice basing on the clarity of picture, quality of audio systems and the life span of the products. So today for video converting VCR, you will require a converter. Some standard converters are the TENLABs or a PAL-SECAM-NTSC compatible television set.

Why the video tapes require a video converting VCR to play

The three most widely followed standards of video tapes are NTSC, PAL and SECAM. All variations of these standards followed anywhere in the world is a combination of two or all of these standards. When the first colour TV was discovered, the NTSC system was introduced in United States and Canada way back in the year 1953. Among the eastern countries, Japan with the obvious influence of United States and its nearness to North America also uses the NTSC standard that uses 525 lines frame to play the video tapes. PAL, the short form for Phase Alternating Line, was introduced in the European Countries in 1960 and immediately gained popularity. The bandwidth of PAL and SECAM standard, that is used in France, are the same and their line frames match too. But SECAM standard transmits colour signals sequentially. NTSC standard is not popular outside the North American countries and SECAM is used only in France and its earlier colonies. Rest of the world uses PAL and even the South American countries use some variations of it.

Issues relating to choice of video converting VCR

Compatibility is the main issue involved in the choice of a video converting VCR. Viewers in North America will opt for a video converting VCR that will enable them to play video tapes with PAL or SECAM standards to be watched on their NTSC TV. Similarly and European or Asian viewer will like to play NTSC video tapes on their PAL compatible TV and these can be achieved with video converting VCRs. In case of the multi-system VCRs, the companies will require the buyer to purchase some PAL/NTSC video converter that would replace a multi-system TV, which becomes otherwise a necessity. There are also systems with the feature of a direct converter that converters all incompatible signals into device friendly signals making viewing possible.

About DVD and video converting VCR

Video tapes are quickly loosing grounds in favour of the new and much more compact DVDs. In fact, DVDs have become the new version for home entertainment. But the problems of incompatibility of standards are also present here and thus some video conversion is also required here. In this case the video converting DVD player is region-free. Sometimes a region-free DVD player is also named as a code-free DVD player, that can play DVDs using any standard from any zone. Incidentally, the standard for a DVD is the same as that of a video tape, namely, the PAL, SECAM, and NTSC. Like Video converting VCR and multi-system VCR, there are several types, models and brands of a code-free DVD player. However, the leading companies are the same as in case of multi-system VCRs like Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, Hitachi, Toshiba, and Phillips etc. The code-free DVD players can play any CD or DVD using any standard procured from any zone on a non-convertible device. With a region free or code-free DVD player you can play a SECAM DVD from France or a PAL DVD from Europe on your NTSC TV. However while buying you have to choose between multifarious models with different price tags depending on your requirement and budget. The prices will also be different basing on the brands and specifications.

About the prices for video converting VCR

Now that a direct video converting VCR is out of market, the possible alternative will be a separate video converter converting your multi-system VCR into a video converting VCR. The cost of branded products is on the higher side. For example if you opt for a product from companies like Hitachi, Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba, Sharp, or Phillips, it may cost you on average $350 that would be higher than the non-branded cheaper qualities available. But the warranty and service provided in case of branded items, compensates in the long run. However, fierce competitions in the commercial world have forced companies to come up with cheaper versions, around $100 per item and in multiples of that amount. For example, Samsung provides a Hi-Fi multi-system, with tape conversion facilities and a world-based TV tuner at approximately $400. However branded models ordinarily will cost in the range of $500 to $1,200 depending on product in respect of multi-system VCR converters and also SVHS playback systems.

The affect of visuals

It is a well established fact that a visual is worth hundreds of words. It is quite easy to apprehend the message with a visual rather than words or any other type of interaction. Even the cavemen used to express their messages by means of pictures drawn on the walls of caves, where a single picture could depict a thousand messages. That is why visual expression is always popular. In earlier days it was movies and then gradually with the coming up of home theater and televisions, video took over. But initially, with the difference of standards such videos were confined to a particular zone. To solve this shortfall, the video converting VCR and later with the advent of DVD the region-free DVD player came into existence. Now the restrictions of standards and difference of geographical zones are no more a hindrance to free viewing of video tapes, CDs and DVDs by the viewers with video converting VCR systems and region-free DVD players available.

110-220 Volt Electronics - A multisystem TV is a TV capable of receiving and displaying different video systems like PAL, SECAM and NTSC. You'll be able to operate a multisystem TV in 99% of the world. Their dual voltage design allows them to be plugged into either a 110 voltage source or a 220 voltage source. In some cases, the plug on the television will not fit your country's outlet, so an inexpensive plug-adapter will be needed. They can generally be picked up at an electronics store such as http://www.planetomni.com for $1.95. With a multisystem TV, such as a plasma, CRT tube type, LCD or DLP, you'll likely need a codefree (sometimes called region free) DVD player. These exist in many forms. When used with a PAL-NTSC TV you'll be able to see the full 625 lines of resolution available in the PAL system and the full 525 lines used in the USA NTSC system. There exists a converting type of DVD player which is codefree in that it can read all of the world's 6 regions and both standards, PAL and NTSC. 140,000 other products are available here: http://www.planetomni.com Tel. # 800-514-2984

Home Theaters Give You An Escape From Reality

Writen by Heather Peters

There's nothing quite so satisfying as being able to immerse yourself in total darkness before seeing a crystal clear studio logo pop onto the big screen while a blast of 5.1 digital surround sound overtakes your senses and rumbles beneath you. You are experiencing the rush of watching a movie in a theater. But not just any theater, it's your home theater.

That's right. No one kicking the seat behind you, throwing candy at your head or talking on the phone during the best scenes; if they do you can kick them out yourself!

In many ways the home theater experience far surpasses the big screens of movie theater chains. Not only the annoyances listed previously, but there's also the factors of cost and convenience.

With the price of a movie ticket running somewhere around $10, plus the cost of snacks, you could easily afford your own home theater just by skipping those evenings out for a year or two. Depending on how expensive your tastes are possibly even sooner than that. And there's no need to wait for the 7 o'clock showing or stand in line; you can start, stop and schedule your movie showings whenever it's convenient for you.

As true home theater enthusiasts we'd been designing our perfect escape since before we bought our house. We were just looking for the perfect house to fit our dreams. We found it a few years ago and proceeded to design our dream theater with gusto. We had most of our cinema equipment (just needing a few finishing touches like the 5.1 digital surround and more monster cables) so we dug into planning everything from seating arrangement and style, to carpet color and decor, to the large hinged wall with secret escape route (doesn't every kid want one?)

By doing most of it ourselves we saved thousands of dollars but it also took about a year to "finish." Well, it's finished enough for us to enjoy, we are always working on the little touches here and there. Many people hire professionals to design and build their theater's, which saves a lot of time (but not always money.)

After a long hard day at work, or an evening of frustrating parenting, the need to escape reality can become overwhelming. Being able to drop ourselves into complete darkness and seclusion and then immerse ourselves in a full senses banquet of sights and sounds from Hollywood we can quickly forget our own headaches and get wrapped up in the big screen. Those two hours are sanity savers without ever needing to leave the house (or get candy thrown at our heads).

Learn more about the world of home theaters from DIY Home Remodeling, including home theater seating, equipment, and design.

Understanding Native Resolution For Your Home Theater Projector

Writen by Semore Bernstein

What is Native Resolution for your Home Theater Projector?

To understand what is native resolution, lets start with an understanding of the concept of 'resolution'. Resolution is concerned with the mapping of the information within a picture or image by the dot area.

The smaller the dots, and the more densely packed it is, the greater the resolution, since the mapping of dots as measured in pixels constitutes the data for reproducing the images in video outputs of home theater and other viewing systems. This data processing capability of the projector, as measured in pixels, is what constitutes native resolution.

For high definition home theater projector pictures with good resolution, both the native resolution of the projector should match the resolution of the video signal or video input, failing which, distortion of the images is likely. Native resolution of home theater projectors is measured in two dimension figures with current capabilities ranging from (640×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1600×1200) for 4:3 image aspect ratios and the occasional odd resolutions like 1280×1024.

Thus, if projectors of 1280X 1024 native resolution were to map a video signal of resolution 1024 X 768, there would errors and likely distortion in the image. To effectively combat or otherwise provide for different standards, most home theater video projectors come with capabilities of multiple resolution standards, though it is most likely to be multiples of the lower resolution values.

Advice on Home Theater Projectors Advice on Home Theater Projector Displays Advice on Home Theater Projector Mounts

Hdtv And Bluray Hd Player Should I Wait Or Should I Buy

Writen by Mike Singh

If you have purchased a newer HDTV, Blu-Ray HD player models previewed, may be just what you are looking for. The HDTV-Blu-Ray HD player models previewed will include looks at Panasonic, Samsung and Pioneer brands. These three companies are planning on using the new Blu-Ray technology to make DVD watching on HDTV a lot better. Initially these models may be a bit pricey, but the competition and demand will lower the prices pretty quickly.

The first thing to look at in HDTV-Blu-Ray HD player models previewed is a closer look at the technology and how it works. A lot of the newer HDTV's use 1080p resolution, while some use 1080i. The 'i' and 'p' stand for interlaced and progressive. Interlaced uses two passes to get the picture, while progressive uses only one pass. Generally progressive gives better picture quality. This is where Blu-Ray comes in.

When looking at HDTV-Blu-Ray HD player models previewed, a closer look at Blu-Ray technology is in order as well. The way it works is with a blue light laser. This laser reads or illuminates what are called pits on the disc. The wavelength in this technology is shorter, which means that the pits can be spaced closer together. This then means that the pits can be spaced closer together. This then means that more information can fit in a smaller amount of space. When it comes to HDTV-Blu-Ray HD player models previewed, you will also want to know that they are able to output a 1080p signal. This is done with what is known as High Definition Multimedia Interface or HDMI, via a jack. This resolution in HDTV's is becoming more and more common and with Blu-Ray you can correspond this to get excellent quality.

Taking an even closer look at HDTV and Blu-Ray HD player models, a better look at each brand is warranted. One of the three that are planning to release with Blu-Ray technology is Samsung. Some of the features of Samsung's Blu-Ray will include 9-in-2 Multi Memory Card Slot. This will enable viewing of digital photos on your television screen. This brand will also have the ability to set an alarm. Besides these features it will cost around a thousand dollars initially, but the price will probably drop fast. This brand is slim and very full of quality and rated fairly high.

The next model that will be releasing with Blu-Ray technology is Pioneer. This brand has what is called Home Media Gallery software that will let you view pictures, listen to music or watch movies that may be stored on a computer. This can all be done at 1080p resolution if you have the right HDTV to do so. This brand is highly reliable and rated consistently. This one will cost around $1,800 but may also drop as well.

The last brand that will be using Blu-Ray technology is Panasonic. This will also be in conjunction with Panasonic's HDTV that is plasma like with 1080p resolution. This one will cost around $1,500 but may also come down with time as well. This one will have what is called EZ-Sync HDAV1 technology. This let's the user use multiple HDMI units with just one remote. HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface.

With all these options to choose from and the great new technology, it should be fairly easy to find one that will suit your needs and budget. With the full amount of information you should be ready to go out and take a closer look at each model. This then will allow you to get the best deal in the end.

Check out http://www.hdtvland.org/ for articles on lcd vs plasma and hdtv review.

Plasma Tv The Price Goes Down

Writen by Tom Ace

Plasma TV has become an important part of television technology. Over the past few years, there have been several major advances in the industry, including the plasma TV. As with any major technology advances, the plasma TV is quickly becoming more affordable - good news for the consumer.

There are several reasons the price of the plasma TV is becoming more affordable. The first is the same reason that most technologies come down in price - the fact that the technology becomes more widely understood and available. As more manufacturers go into business to make the product, the competition naturally gets more intense and prices go down.

Remember that the manufacturers of those first units are trying to recoup the cost of research and development. That makes the product - in this case the plasma TV - more expensive for the consumer. After the technology is slightly older, the companies who manufacture are no longer trying to recover those costs so they can sell the products cheaper. As long as a person holds a patent and other companies are not able to reproduce the technology, the price is more likely to remain high.

Another point that affects the cost of new technologies such as the plasma TV is simple supply and demand. As more consumers demand the product, more manufacturers will go to the expense of making the product available. At first, there won't likely be sufficient supply to meet the consumer demand but that typically changes after an initial introduction period. When there are plenty of plasma TV sets available to meet current demand, prices will drop.

For the consumer, this means that great technology - the plasma TV, for example - becomes more affordable in a relatively short period of time. Finding a great deal on a plasma TV should be as near as your online or local retailers.

Tom Ace is the founder of Plasma tv Resources a website providing information on plasma televisions.

Some Things Your Projector Dealer Might Not Tell You

Writen by Clifford Tan

A salesman is a salesman. He does not make a living if he does not sell something. So it may sometimes happen that a salesman or a dealer will not tell the buyer all of the relevant facts about a given product. We have tried to list enough of them here to give you a general idea of what to look for and what to ask.

Bulbs or the Headlamp
This is probably the one thing that gets overlooked more than anything else. The bulbs are an expensive part of the home theater system and need to be checked out carefully before purchasing a projection unit. What is the projected bulb life? How many lumens does it generate? These are specific questions that should generate specific answers that the projector dealer may not otherwise mention.

Contrast Ratios
Contrast ratios are something else that needs to be considered. The projector dealer may or may not know the statistics regarding a specific projector unit, but what about the ambient lighting in the room where the projector will be used. Is the light source constant or is it varied? Properly factoring in the light source in the room where the theater projector will be set up is not something that many dealers or salesmen will volunteer to do for the buyer.

Screen
The screen is also an important part of the whole home theater experience. Which screens work best with which types of projectors is likely something the salesman or dealer is not going to know and will not tell you without prodding. Having the information beforehand can save a lot of time and grief when shopping for a home theater projector.

Mounting
What types of mounts are included with the projector is something they may or may not refer to at the projector dealer, but what else is there to consider with mounts? Is the projection unit prone to overheating when mounted on a shelf mount? Is it compatible and able to be mounted in the proper place for the distances in the room where it will be used? Another factor in regards to the mounting of the multimedia projector is the hazard of creating a keystone effect by mounting the projector incorrectly or off center. What kind of variance do the optic lenses on the projector provide to prevent this? Is there only a vertical adjustment or does it have both horizontal and vertical optic controls? Does it only have the keystone adjustments or does it provide digital adjustment as well? Mounting the multimedia projector properly is a key factor in being able to properly enjoy a high quality picture with the home theater projection unit.

Is this the right projector for me?
Is the projector really compatible for the uses that are needed or is the salesman or dealer just trying to push a product off on the consumer? Knowing which projectors are better for what types of displays is something that the dealer may not even know about. Different home theater projectors have different uses. Some work better with movies, videos and video games, and some work better for still-multimedia presentations. Being knowledgeable about which projector does what can save a lot of hassling with the uninformed salesman or the dealer who just wants to move projectors out of his store.

To be forewarned is to be forearmed. No matter how well prepared the salesman is or how honest the projector dealer is, they have many different products that they have to know a lot about. Even the salesman with the best intentions will not know everything about all of the home theater projectors available. There are many things the projector dealer will not tell you.

Note: This article may be republish for use in websites as long as the author bio and active hyperlinks are kept intact.

Clifford Tan, a Home Theater enthusiast and owner of the website Home Projector Advisor offering projector reviews, advice and many useful tips and hints to business and home consumers looking to purchase a home projectors. To find out alot more information about home projection system, visit the site http://www.home-projector-advisor.com

Plasma Tv Care 101

Writen by Christine Peppler

Many thousands of people purchase their first plasma screen TV each year. They invest a significant amount of money to obtain a plasma screen which offers top of the line color accuracy, vibrancy, and clarity to enhance their family's viewing experience. Once the television is delivered however, it's important for plasma buyers to take the time to become familiar with the proper care of the screen to assure many years of trouble free viewing enjoyment. Plasma screens aren't really "high maintenance" but observing a few tips offered here can extend the life of the screen.

• Provide a solid foundation: Be sure the plasma screen is placed (or mounted) in an area where it will not be "knocked around" or will accidentally fall.

• Let it breathe: Plasma screens generate a lot of heat which can speed the demise of the electrical components of the unit. Be sure the TV has enough open space around it. The manufacturer will provide venting guidelines.

• Stay dry: Exposure to excessive humidity, spills, or condensation due to rapid changes in temperature can destroy electrical components and cause corrosion.

• Tone it down: Rooms with lower ambient light require less brightness. Brightness levels that are set too high will prematurely age the phosphor lining of the plasma screen.

• Keep it cool: As alluded to above, plasma screens require a cool environment, due primarily to the heat they generate. Outdoor placement of a plasma screen is a no-no due to the exposure to heat, humidity, other moisture, and dirt.

• Use a little "elbow grease"- but not too much: Keep the screen clean with the proper tools. Manufacturers seldom recommend strong cleaners. Most often a micro fiber cloth is recommended which is effective in ridding the screen of dust and finger prints. When more aggressive cleaning is necessary cleaners specifically made for plasma or PC screens (anti-static cleaners) are used but should never be sprayed directly on the screen. The cleaner should be applied to the cloth. Use of paper towels, Kleenex, or any other abrasive type cloths should be avoided as they can damage the anti-glare coating.

• Don't get burnt: Although anti-burn in technology has advanced greatly over the years, it is best to avoid leaving static images on the screen. This means that images should not be paused on the screen for extended periods of time and stations which present a static block/image on the screen should be viewed on a limited basis as well. Hooking your PC up to a plasma screen is also inadvisable as they are often used to display static images.

• Help your plasma TV weather the storm: This is just common sense; use a surge protector.

• Prevent pre-mature aging: The final word of caution; turn plasma screens off when not in use. This can help avoid accidental burn in, reduce heat, and help to avoid decreased brightness/pre-mature aging.

Christine Peppler shares information on home entertainment and home electronics products, including plasma televisions, on her website at: http://www.homemedias.info.

Hdtv Buying Guide Part Two

Writen by James Ambras

In my last article I wrote how there's never been a better time to buy a high definition (HD) television, and I had just preordered the Samsung HLS-5087W 50 inch rear projection DLP unit. The Samsung was delivered last Thursday and here's a summary of my initial reaction.

First let me give some background on preparing for the new HD television. I'm a satellite TV subscriber and needed to upgrade my DirecTV hardware to be HD-compatible. So last month I logged on to www.directv.com and ordered the HD upgrade package. For $200 DirecTV came out and replaced my old satellite dish with a new 5-LNB oval HD dish. The HD package included the lease of DirecTV's new H20 HD receiver, and also included installing a new UHF antenna on my roof to receive other-the-air (OTA) HD local broadcasts. The new dish and receiver were required for HD reception since DirecTV is transmitting local HD broadcasts in the new MPEG-4 compression format instead of the older MPEG-2 standard. Since HD material requires much more bandwidth than standard definition video, satellite and cable providers will be migrating to the new MPEG-4 standard over time and DirecTV is leading the way for now.

I was now all set to receive HD programming as soon as Samsung HLS-5087W arrived with one exception - an HDMI cable to output the digital video/audio signal from the H20 to the Samsung. I'm a big believer in investing in high quality cables for analog connections between audio/video components. But HDMI is a digital interface that transmits a stream of 0's and 1's. So either it works or it doesn't. I therefore bought a $20 HDMI cable on the Web instead of investing $90 or more for a Monster cable that I thought would yield exactly the same audio and video quality. One great thing about HDMI is that it carries both video and audio signals (in uncompressed, digital form) so you can easily reduce the cable clutter behind your home theater system.

Now everything was all set - I just needed the new Samsung to be delivered. I ordered the television from Crutchfield, which has a great reputation for customer service, is an authorized Samsung online retailer, and offered the television with no tax or shipping charges. The delivery guys brought the television into my living room, took it out of the box and placed it on my home theater stand. I connected the power cable, connected the HDMI cable form the H20 to the Samsung, turned on the power, modified the TV display type on the H20 from 4:3 to 16:9 and amazingly the new television just worked, right out of the box!

I was quickly in HD nirvana - watching local broadcasts in full 1080i and Dolby Digital 5.1, as well as premium services such as HBOHD and the various HD channels that are part of DirecTV's HD package. But how would the 150 DVDs I own (most of which I trade via Peerflix) look on the new HD Samsung? I first had to bring up the menu on my Panasonic DVD recorder/player and activate 480p output over the component cables that I connected to the Samsung. Most DVD players sold in the last three years can output a progressive signal (the "p" in 480p) over component cables instead of the normal interlaced picture transmitted on composite and S-video connections. 480p is a big visible improvement over 480i and you'll want to make sure you are watching all of you DVDs on a HD television using 480p.

I chose Shrek as the first DVD to showcase on the Samsung. Dreamworks did an amazing job with the animation quality of Shrek and thought the DVD would be a good test of the picture quality of a standard definition DVD on a HD television. So how did it look? One word sums it up - amazing! I don't expect I'll be going out to the movies much any more - I'll just wait for the DVD to come out.

On Saturday night I watched a broadcast of Steve Winwood in HD and Dolby Digital 5.1 on KQED, the local PBS affiliate. Being a huge Steve Winwood fan, and having seen Winwood on this tour at a local venue in 2005, I was eager to see what kind of audio/video experience the new HD unit could deliver via a local, OTA HD broadcast. Once again, I was just stunned by the picture quality and quickly went to KQED's web site to see what future Soundstage broadcasts are scheduled. I'm now eagerly awaiting Garbage's performance premiering next month.

There was one more thing left to do though before I could experience the maximum picture quality from the new Samsung - I needed to calibrate the picture for maximum video quality. Virtually all televisions sold today ship from the factory with video settings that are far from optimal. Colors are typically oversaturated, with too warm a tone, and sharpness, brightness and contrast controls that are far from optimal as well. So I dug out my copy of "Video Essentials: Optimizing Your Audio/Video System" DVD and spent a half hour adjusting the color, brightness, contrast and sharpness controls. The HLS-5087W has numeric display of each of these settings, which is a nice touch for those of us who go through the trouble of tweaking every setting possible for maximum picture quality. It was hard to believe that I could improve upon the quality of the Samsung's picture out of the box, but fine-tuning the picture settings resulted in a much more "film-like" appearance of movies from both my DVD player and H20 receiver.

I'm looking forward to watching the season premiere of HBO's Entourage series in full HD glory tonight. It's also going to be difficult holding off purchasing a HD DVD source with HD-DVD and Blu-ray players and titles now starting to appear. But we'll talk about that in our next posting on Tech Talk.

James Ambras is a consumer technology enthusiast of the highest degree, and his 'Tech Talk' series appears each month at http://blog.peerflix.com. Jim's day job is as the VP of Engineering for Peerflix, the leading online destination to trade DVDs. For more information, visit http://www.peerflix.com.

A Buyers Guide To Lcd Tvs

Writen by John Dulaney

As one would expect, the prices of LCD televisions will vary quite a bit depending on the size of the display, the quality of the display, the resolution of the screen, the brand name of the television and a number of other factors. The prices of LCD TVs has come down quite a bit, and the smaller models are generally available for a couple hundred dollars at many discount retailers and electronics stores.

When it comes to the high end of the market, however, the sky is still the limit, and it is possible to purchase a room filling LCD or plasma display that can run to $10,000 or even more.

Most LCD TV shoppers, of course, will fall somewhere in the middle, and most consumer sized TVs, those in the 23" to 40" inch range, will have retail prices set from just under $1,000 to just under $3,000. The world of LCD technology is populated by the biggest names in the world of electronics manufacturers, including such names as Samsung, Sony, Sharp, Phillips, Panasonic and Toshiba. Computer maker Dell also makes a line of LCD television displays that have been generating a great deal of excitement with all kinds of technology buffs.

While the prices of these LCD televisions are still quite a bit higher than traditional CRT (cathode ray tube) models, consumers do get a number of important advantages for this extra outlay of cash. Some of the most significant benefits of the new LCD TV technology include:

Perfectly Flat Screens

The curvature built into the display of a traditional CRT television can introduce edge distortion and shadows on the screen. The true flat nature of the LCD screen eliminates this edge distortion and provides a steady and more reliable display.

True Widescreen Performance

Unlike traditional televisions, the LCD television display uses a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9. This aspect ratio is the relationship of the width and height of the screen, and the LCD display will appear much longer than it is high. The 16:9 aspect ratio is used to send HDTV signals, and it is also used in the production of widescreen DVDs and VHS videos. The LCD aspect ratio allows owners of these TVs to watch movies as they were intended to be seen in the theater.

Superior Viewing Angle

Compared to rear projection TVs, LCD television displays provide a 160 degree viewing angle, and they can be viewed at virtually any angle, horizontally or vertically.

Exceptional Color Accuracy

The best LCD displays are capable of producing more than 16 million unique colors, and this incredible depth of color provides for exceptional color quality and superior color accuracy.

Flexibility and Versatility

Many LCD televisions are designed to accept input from a variety of different devices, including computers, DVD players, VCRs, Laser Disc players and of course satellite and cable TV systems. In addition, multisystem LCD displays are designed to work with a variety of different television signals, including PAL, NTSC and SECAM. This allows the same television to be used in a variety of different countries, as the television broadcast standards vary from location to location.

Better Expected Reliability

Tests of LCD and plasma TVs have found that the average life expectancy for such devices are approximately 35,000 hours. That means that if the display was used for four hours a day it should last about 20 years.

In order to better understand these important advantages it is a good idea to understand just how this technology works. The LCD display is made up of a large number of picture elements, known in the industry as pixels. The number of pixels is one of the elements that will determine the overall quality of the picture. The number of pixels used in an LCD display will vary from hundreds of thousands to many millions, and the higher the number of pixels the better and sharper the display of the unit should be.

The aspect ratio of the LCD display is also different from that of the traditional CRT television. While the traditional CRT display uses a 4:3 aspect ratio, the LCD display uses a 16:9 aspect ratio. Simply put the aspect ratio is the relationship between the length and height of the TV, and the 16:9 aspect ratio is used to broadcast HDTV signals, as well as being used by manufacturers of widescreen DVDs and VHS tapes. This widescreen aspect ratio allows watchers of LCD displays to experience movies in true movie theatre format.

There are a number of considerations when looking shopping for an LCD display, including the tuner used by the set. The LCD TV should be able to accept inputs from a variety of different tuning sources, including satellite TV boxes, cable TV boxes, DVD players, VCRs and the like. For those living around the world, it is also important to make sure that the LCD TV you choose be capable of accepting not only NTSC video signals, which are the standard in North America and Japan, but also the PAL and SECAM standards used around the world.

Of course it is important to shop for the highest quality LCD TV you can afford, just as it is important to shop for the best price on the highest quality TVs. It is often possible to shave hundreds of dollars off of the retail price of an LCD display simply by shopping around at a wide variety of retailers, both on and off the internet.

In addition, it is important that the accessories and cables you purchase are of the highest quality. The right cables will enhance the value and versatility of the television itself, and it is important to spend a little more and get the highest quality cables to connect your DVD player, VCR, game console, computer or other device to that great looking LCD display. For information on LCD TVs and PAL LCD TVs see: http://www.planetomni.com

110-220 Volt Electronics - A multisystem TV is a TV capable of receiving and displaying different video systems like PAL, SECAM and NTSC. You'll be able to operate a multisystem TV in 99% of the world. Their dual voltage design allows them to be plugged into either a 110 voltage source or a 220 voltage source. In some cases, the plug on the television will not fit your country's outlet, so an inexpensive plug-adapter will be needed. They can generally be picked up at an electronics store such as http://www.planetomni.com for $1.95. With a multisystem TV, such as a plasma, CRT tube type, LCD or DLP, you'll likely need a codefree (sometimes called region free) DVD player. These exist in many forms. When used with a PAL-NTSC TV you'll be able to see the full 625 lines of resolution available in the PAL system and the full 525 lines used in the USA NTSC system. There exists a converting type of DVD player which is codefree in that it can read all of the world's 6 regions and both standards, PAL and NTSC. 140,000 other products are available here: http://www.planetomni.com Tel. # 800-514-2984

Home Theater Furniture Do You Know What You Need

Writen by Lee Dobbins

When you are buying home theater furniture there are a lot of criteria that you will need to consider. Luckily, if you are in this situation you should not have any problems finding what you need because this industry has taken off over the past five years. More people than ever before are interested in a top notch home theater. In turn, this means that more companies are manufacturing furniture options for every possible setup imaginable.

The first piece of home theater furniture that you may need to buy is an entertainment stand that can house all of your equipment. With an entertainment stand you will be able to set up your television, DVD player, and stereo in the same place. This is an essential piece of furniture to have if you are dealing with space constraints. An entertainment stand will afford you the ability to put all of your equipment in one place without cluttering up the rest of your room.

Next, you will want to buy comfortable furniture to lounge in. After all, who wants to watch a movie or two on furniture that is uncomfortable? When it comes to picking out couches and chairs, you will have thousands of options available. Your buying decision will come down to personal preference, as well as what fits and looks best in your room. By shopping around at one of the many department or furniture stores, you should not have any problems finding something that nicely compliments your room.

When looking at home theater furniture you want to consider the room your home theater is in. Do you have a separate room just for media entertainment? Then you might want to get movie theater style seats or something very plush and cushy that you might not want in your living room. If your home theater is also your living room, then consider the other uses you might put the room to such as entertaining guests for conversation and parties. You won't want the furniture to take over the room or be too big and bulky if you need to move around it for special occasions.

Of course, you can buy special furniture made especially for home theater needs such as home theater loungers that have individual arm rests with cup holders and foot rests that can slide in or out. These are a more comfy version of your standard movie theater seats and also look great as living room set too.

The home theater furniture business is booming right now. All over the world people are looking for a way to take their home theater setup to the next level. With the amount of home theater furniture that is available, you should not have to look too hard to find what you have been dreaming of!

Lee Dobbins writes for http://home-theater.home-webzone.com where you can learn more about setting up your home theater and how to pick out home theater furniture.

Portable Dvd Player Cases

Writen by Thomas Morva

A portable DVD player is great for alleviating the boredom of long rides on the road. Usually, all portable DVD players are manufactured sturdily for traveling purposes. However, since it is still an electronic device, there is always the probability of it getting spoiled due to the various bumps found on roads. This is where the use of a portable DVD player case comes in handy.

There are many portable DVD player cases available on the market. However, when choosing a case, make sure to choose a good and solid portable case for the delicate portable player. The portable DVD player case has to be large enough to have room to keep the portable player and the extra cables that may be needed to use the portable DVD player—and, of course, a few favorite DVDs. The portable DVD player case is usually made of ballistic nylon, as it is a sturdy material that is both lightweight and water resistant—two requirements for a traveling accessory. They come with an adjustable in-car suspension system that allows for easy attachment to most seat backs, or between two bucket seats. This mounting system can also be detached to convert into a portable carrying case.

In addition to all this, there are also storage pockets for the remote control and discs and sometimes extra space for additional boxed DVDs. For the convenience of listening to the movie while the player is in the case, some portable DVD player cases come with a built-in, double headphone jack. There usually also is a built-in power port that streamlines an AV power cord from the vehicle's power source. Moreover, there is also a warranty for portable DVD player cases that is usually for twenty-five years or so. So go ahead and buy a portable DVD player case before the wear and tear of use on the road takes its toll on the portable DVD player.

DVD Cases provides detailed information on DVD Cases, Portable DVD Cases, Portable DVD Player Cases, DVD Storage Cases and more. DVD Cases is affiliated with In Wall Speaker Wire.

Psp Airtunes Coverbuddy Dance Party Hifi Wiring

Writen by Kyle Kolbe

Now that I have my Mac Mini set up to deliver my whole iTunes library to my listening room through Airtunes with Sony PSP remote control, I needed to rewire my hi-fi components. The goal: deliver the digital Airtunes signal through the best DAC in the path and passing the analog signal cleanly through to my loudspeakers. I have no budget, so I must only use components I already own.

I also wanted to test how much I could combat the compressed audio feed's nasties in the analog realm. My weapons: Taddeo Digital Antidote II and Rogue Audio Magnum 99 Preamp. One of these components won the battle and the other almost lost the whole war.

Airport Express DAC: Stereophile has taught us that the Airport Express's internal DAC is to be avoided in a hi-fi set up. To successfully use an Airport Express in your signal path you must use its digital optical output feeding an external DAC. The Airport Express outputs a digital signal through the same mini jack port as analog. I just needed this mini-jack to optical adapter from Parts Express.

Digital Optical cable: My optical cable collection is the most neglected cable category in my home theater set up. I've read many articles and books (like Audio/Video Cable Installer's Pocket Guide) lauding the optical cable. Digital coax is universally considered a superior connection—jitter reduction (or least amount of addition), and more stable connectors. So the best optical cable I have is not from a !33t boutique manufacturer but from Best Buy's favorite: Monster Cable. I'm sure its price surpassed its quality.

With the mini jack adapter clicked in place I insert it into the Airport Express and then snake it across to my Onkyo's Digital Optical Input 3 (formerly home to Dish HD STB audio output, soon to be sent back to Dish/AT&T for personal budget cuts).

Onkyo DAC and analog passthrough/output: It took me a couple tries to figure out the analog output from my Onkyo AV receiver the Airport Express feeds. My initial attempts pass the digital signal out through an analog out failed. I had to reference the manual to find out that you could not pass a digital only signal to either the analog record out or to Zone 2. I split the Onkyo's preamp out to deliver the Onkyo DAC signal to my Rogue preamp. One pair of interconnects plugged into the Tape Input while the other remained in the AUX input (with the Rogue's home theater bypass the AUX input is wired to bypass (duh) the Rogue's tube gain and output stages). (I hope the Monster Turbine Y Adapters I use to split the preamp out are as transparent as advertised, a small bit of metal and teflon shouldn't make too much difference, right?)

Problems with Taddeo Digital Antidote 2: I love my TDA 2 for CD playback. I thought for sure they could make compressed digital audio just as sweet as CD. I was wrong. Airtunes through the TDA 2 sounded compressed, congested, boomy, splashy, muted and just super awful. Since this was the way I first wired the rig I was quick to blame the Airport Express and compressed audio delivery. I almost gave up. Always suspicious that I'm doing something idiotic that I think is genius I took the TDA 2 out of the path. Someone just removed the thick veil covering the music.

Gain and Volume Control: When you attenuate digital signals you lose bits along with decibels. I wanted the cleanest signal out of the Onkyo while using the Rogue's normal volume range. To achieve this I raised the Onkyo's volume to its reference, 0 db. I kept the Rogue's gain at the middle setting. This combo gave me manageable volume control on the Rogue with a minimal loss of bit resolution.

With all my wiring (and non-wiring) in place I was finally ready to sit in my listening chair and enjoy any song in my iTunes catalog.

Next: Listening tests and family dance parties.

Father, Husband and Geek. My geeky interests have not changed since I was a kid. I still love comic books, anime, role-playing games, console video games, indie rock, imported toys and mecha models, bad American and great British sitcoms, and all the tech that let's me experience these hobbies to their fullest. Now that I'm married with children, I've had to strike a balance between supporting and pleasing my family and feeding my geekery hunger. Lucky for me, my wife is very accomodating and even geeks out with me on occasion (the ladies love Joss Whedon's "Firefly"). My two year old likes anything that moves on the front projection screen and makes noise, so far she is easy to please. Geekwithfamily.com exists to enrich the lives of fellow geeks and the friends and family who put up with them.

Home Theater Seating Its All About Your Bottom

Writen by Semore Bernstein

Bring home the actual movie theater experience with good home theater seating. Get a combination of comfort, utility and style for you and your family.

Spending more time changing positions or fidgeting in your seat??? Time then for new home theater seating furniture. You can have the best surround sound, and an excellent screen, but to really enjoy yourself, you must be comfortable. "Of course, to do it right, you're going to need the right equipment, and that's where the choice of a great chair can make all the difference".

Seating Features:

There are literally hundreds of home theater seating options to choose from, including loungers; recliners; sofas; bucket chairs; single seats; curved loveseats; high or low back chairs; straight or curved rows of two or more …and kid chairs for the juniors too. Other options include tight back or tufted back, tight seat, tight base, rolled arm or straight-arm chairs. Built-in conveniences like cup holders and trays add that extra dose of luxury.

Pick from a range of upholstery, leather or faux leather. Frames are available in plastics, laminates or wood. You will typically end up spending a lot of time in your home theater chairs, so pay special attention to ergonomic design. Some companies have interactive websites that let you build your own theater chair!!

Seating Placement:

If you have more than one row of seating furniture, about 40" - 42" distance between rows is recommended. Two things will impact the placement of your seating. First is your screen size. Designers suggest placing front seats at a distance of one and half to two times the diagonal screen dimension.
Second is the placement of your back row relative to a rear wall. It is advisable to set your back row a few feet from the rear wall, so that you can soak up your surround sound. This provides for an aisle behind your back row and allows the full range of rocking motion for rockers.

It is ultimately a question of individual preference and its best to decide the placement based on your specific requirements.

Buying Options:

Home theater seating is available online for all types of home theater enthusiasts and not just the rich and famous. Berkline Home Theater Seating, Preferred Seating, Booth Seating, Elite Home Theater Seating are some of the major brands. The price of seating varies with the brand and the product features. Check for individual warranties on frames, springs, reclining mechanism and cushions as these may vary.

So take your pick and enjoy a cozy home theater viewing experience in the lap of luxury.

Author: Seymore Bernstein is publisher for: Home Theater Life Advice on Leather Home Theater Seating Advice on Home Theater Projectors