The Advantages Of Owning A Big Tv

Writen by Morgan Hamilton

Why do people go to the cinema, when they can buy or rent all the movies they want and watch them in their own homes? It is mainly because of those lovely large screens that the cinema has to offer. The giant screen is what makes movies really exciting, every cinema lover will tell you that. That's why going to the cinema cannot be underestimated, especially if you want to taste how it feels to be IN THE MOVIE, to feel like you are participating in the whole thing, which gradually evolves in front of your amazed eyes.

Nowadays, thanks to the overwhelming development of modern high tech, we are experiencing the luxury to have those big TV screens in our homes. Take for example the entertainment systems that some firms offer on sale. These entertainment packages include a big TV set and a surround system: which can be installed in your home. With their help you get the finest taste of reality, when watching your favourite movies. Watching some movies on a big TV in your home is a really breath taking experience. You actually dip into the electronic reality and feel as you are part of the action. There is nothing more interesting than putting the surround system on. Every sound you hear reverberates in your brain, making the whole thing seem so damn real, that you even catch yourself taking deep breath when bullets seem to whizz past your head!

Together with the big TV, the surround system provides you with amazing feeling of real things happening. Big TV is the greatest invention specially made for movie fans to enjoy. You can get the incomparable feeling of being in the movie, which is something you cannot resist. The big TV screen is better than the smaller one, because they don't seem hold the whole scale of the movie frames. To adapt the film for the television, cinematographers need to cut off some space from the four sides of the frames, thus making it smaller. Then you get these black lines surrounding your TV screen, which really make it compatible with the requirements of a TV broadcast, but cannot be compared with the glorious feeling of watching the whole frames uncut. This is avoided with the big screen TV, or at least it's minimized to a great extent. You can relish at the full sight, as big as that offered in the cinemas.

If you really want to try it, feel free to browse through the numerous offers of selling big TVs plus other entertainment tools, both online and in the ordinary TV set stores. Big TV has really changed the way we perceive movies: it is by no means a substitute for the cinema, but what it offers is the opportunity to watch all the movies from the cozy sofa in your house, saving the magic of it in addition.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning electronics. Learn more at Owning a Big TV

Dvr Software

Writen by Max Bellamy

DVR software refers to the set of computer programs and applications which allow a computer to recognize a DVR card installed in a computer. Depending on the utility, there is much DVR related software available in the market. DVR software has evolved in the last few years and is now supporting surveillance work in many organizations and homes around the world.

DVR software works together with installed DVR cards. The software provides functions such as conversion of video images to files, video compression, controlling the movement of the camera, display and playback. In a stand alone DVR, the integrated circuits present inside the DVR card itself has the DVR software embedded within it. The hardware and software in this case are configured to ensure optimal performance and the scope of conflict is reduced.

DVR operates in association with a computer, and the software is often present inside the computer. In this case, upgrades are easy, as newer versions of DVR software can be installed on the computer. However, conflicts may arise when newer versions of software are installed and upgrading software may not necessarily translate into improved performance.

DVR software is constantly evolving to meet the ever- increasing demands of users. With DVR finding use across many sectors, DVR software is also in demand.

DVR software usually also allows for CDR software, which is software made for reading and sometimes modifying CDs. If you want to be able to both manipulate DVDs and CDs, ask the respresntative of the store where you are shopping whether the software also works for CDs.

DVR provides detailed information on DVR, DVR reviews, DVR cards, DVR software and more. DVR is affiliated with Dvd R Discs.

Digital Camcorders

Writen by Max Bellamy

With digital technology becoming increasingly available, camcorders—both low- and high-range—are finding digital reformation. A few years back, camcorders back looked bulkier, were heavy weight, were difficult to carry, and lacked features that are available now. The digital camcorder avatar answers many of the questions asked by both professionals as well as amateurs.

Cameras that used big clunky tapes are now being replaced by chips that are small and with much larger memory sizes. DV tapes that were used until a few years back needed tape adapters for connecting to a VHS VCR or intertwined cables that make out a movie-maker's muddle.

Now that the digital camcorders are available, people just love them. Camcorders with three-chip facility have many things to offer, like better image quality, more options to manage, and larger memory size that allows you to continue shooting for a longer time.

Digital camcorders available in the market today make viewing easier with the LCD screen that is provided on the side. LCD screens help see all that has been recorded and additional information like battery charge and camera and recording mode. However, the latest models also offer a touch-screen facility that helps in controlling the adjustments while it is still viewed on the LCD.

Today's digital camcorders come in two basic sizes, horizontal and upright. Horizontal camcorders have a longer base area with the lens at the front and a hand strap on the side. As a general rule, high-end professional camcorders have the best video quality, making them the most sought after. Upright models, however, have a vertical orientation, a sleek body, and a lens at the top. These are lighter than their counterparts and are a must buy for travelers and professionals who find it too painstaking to carry a camera over their shoulders all day long.

Camcorders provides detailed information on Camcorders, Digital Camcorders, Camcorder Batteries, DVD Camcorders and more. Camcorders is affiliated with DVD Digital Camcorders.

The Top Two Choices From Online Stereo Receiver Reviews

Writen by Thad Pickering

When considering any electronics purchase there is usually more than enough brands and models to choose from and it can even start to get confusing for the average person who is not an electronics equipment whiz. Fortunately, the internet is a vast storehouse of independent consumer ratings and if you do some homework you can usually spot the top products very quickly.

When looking for stereo receivers these days there are a few features that come to mind that should be included on the latest models to really give you the most for your money as the digital entertainment age comes into it's own. One is that unlike receivers of the past, today's stereo receivers need to incorporate video into the mix as well as audio capability. For years a home receiver was used mainly for the home audio system, but now a typical home entertainment setup requires a receiver to process video signals as well.

A modern receiver would also be able to decode and process both Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround sound and support the 5 speakers and subwoofer that is required for creating a true surround sound experience. The receiver should have plenty of inputs for the audio/video devices that will be used with it and a variety of connections for those devices to insure the best audio and video quality.

With all of that in mind, we have found that two digital receivers have the features and positive reviews that we like to see to be able to meet the needs of most people. And here they are:

1. The Yamaha RX-V650 is a great receiver that produces clean, crisp sound and can actually function well with either 4 ohm or 8 ohm speakers, which can be important if you aren't sure what your speaker setups's ohm rating is. It also develops plenty of power, being rated at close to 100 watts per channel. That amount of power will fill even the largest rooms with sound. The rear video inputs are: Composite: 4, Component: 2, S-Video: 4, and the video outputs are Component: 1, Composite: 2, S-Video: 2. There are 4 rear audio inputs and two outputs. This receiver will also support on up to Dolby 7.1 surround sound. It costs just under $400 online and is a great piece of equipment for most home theater needs.

2. The Panasonic SA-XR50 - This is a less expensive digital receiver that still delivers great value and performance by all accounts. It supports up to 6.1 surround sound and puts out 100 watts per channel of power making it an easy choice to power speakers effectively even in large rooms. The audio inputs are: 4 A/V, 1 coaxial, 1 optical; and the video inputs are 3 composite, 3 S-video, 2 component. This receiver often sells for under $300 online making it a great bargain.

Either receiver mentioned above would no doubt make a fine purchase for either your home stereo or home theater needs as both are highly rated in most online stereo receiver reviews. There are also other fine receivers available though, and it's always good to make a thorough search to find the one that fits you best.

Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including audio and video. You can find free stereo receiver reviews and the best stereo receivers by visiting our Home Theater website.

Video Tape Conversion To Ntsc Or Pal Or Secam

Writen by John Dulaney

The process used to copy VHS to DVD is quite easy and simple if you know how to. There are providers for these types of conversions and they are professionals who do this for you. All that you need to do is to make a list of titles for each DVD and send the tapes with the list to the provider. The provider converts the tapes following the list, putting them on different DVDs and returns them to the owner. The time most providers take for the purpose are two days plus the shipping time if any.

The process of copying VHS is quite simple. The first step is to capture the on a large hard disk in MPEG-2 format. The video on the tapes are compressed and taken to the MPEG-2 format. After this, an automated process builds up the menus and provides titling for the stored files. The files are burned on the DVD using some tools like 'Nero Smart' or such DVD burners. In this way, data, earlier stored on your ordinary video tapes, are now converted into digital data having a much longer life span. Most providers convert approximately two hours of video contents into a digital form and then burn the same on a standard DVD. Chapter markers, for specific segments of the DVD, are also created through this process, by electronically scanning the video tapes. Since DVDs can not be manipulated, the data may also be stored on a hard disk allowing the viewer to edit and manage the data.

Conversion of DVD to tape might be a challenging and difficult task technically. Ordinarily a system of capturing the video tape contents in MPEG version at first and then converting the same into digital format is followed. Such converted DVDs can be easily played on a standard player or deck. To keep the safe copies of the content, a second copy is done on a computer hard disc, giving you the safety of the copy that you make. For preserving the favourite movies or programs, the most popular standard in the past was the VHS video tapes. But DVD has pushed them back from the scene. While video tapes wear out with time and may be disfigured in the process, such contingencies in case of a DVD are much less. Add to this the qualitative superiority of DVD to VHS video tapes and conversion becomes a necessity. It is easier said than done. Tape conversions, whether it is data, video or audio requires extreme quality control. The quality of the copy does not only depend upon how you do the conversion, but the software and the hardware, that you use, are the two very important aspects that has major contribution to the quality that you produce. You love your music tapes and you like those favourite video tapes that you have, and you would like to convert it on a DVD for safe keeping. It is a great way to preserve.

The best way to achieve this conversion is through analogue to digital video converter, so that you can get this in your computer for eventual transformation into a DVD. If you do not own a digital video Camcorder, this is the best way to achieve the desired conversion. A camcorder allows you to save your edited material from your video tape in a high quality digital format, which becomes your master copy. Some of these camcorders will cost you slightly more than a converter. If you possess a lot of old Hi8 or 8mm tapes, you may get hold of such a camcorder which has a "analog pass through" feature, which will allow you to view the tapes. This would mean that the analog tapes would not have to be converted first into digital video, and in any case you have the option of converting your tape too.

A word about Data Tapes

Way back in the 1970's, you might have seen those large tape units, hooked up with the main frame huge computers. With the emergence of VDUs in the 1980's the scenario changed altogether and open reel tapes became almost a distant past. Today, we don't see any such units with the computers that we know Open reel data tapes have now become dying specie. But the data stored in it will not be dying and would be required for multifarious purposes in many cases unless the data also have outgrown its use. Thus there was a great deal of necessity to convert 9-track tapes into some modern media having much higher capacity. The tape conversion problem is not unique to 9-track tapes only, but such problems also persists in case of conversion of a 3480 model into a 3590 or a DC600 to Super DLT. Such tape conversion is required since it continues to be the premier computer storage medium.

The storage capacity of the tapes has been growing constantly with passage of time. An open reel tape that has been recorded at 1600 bpi can store data amounting to 35 MB whereas a DDS-4 DAT can store more than 1000MB of data. Still better are the LTO and Super DLT those can store 5 DATs. The capability of the tapes is growing day by day. Information stored on a tape drive or a cartridge are much more than other media and they are required to be preserved as they tend to worn out with the passage of time. In certain cases a straight and outright conversion is possible while maintaining the amount of data that was stored on the original tape that is being converted. It is also possible to stack the tapes by putting multiple tapes on a single LTO and it would be a good precautionary measure to have the LTO duplicated before the tapes are destroyed. By such step you overcome the risk of losing data due to a faulty LTO.

Side by side with the tapes, the standard of the computers have also gone through a series of evolutionary processes. Linux and Windows operating systems have become the favourite standards of the day. Hence the issue of tape conversion is now, for example, a case of converting IBM 3480 tapes to Super DLT under the Linux Operating systems. Catering to the needs of the user a number of service providers have arrived on the scene providing a tape conversion service.

Even though it has now become possible to electronically transfer data over the internet, the most convenient storage media for large amount data, say around 100 GB or more, is the magnetic tape. There are various types of tape drives like the DAT, DLT, IBM, and LTO. To change data on tape from one to another it requires a drive that is compatible and can read the particular type of tape. For example, one can convert a set of ICL open reel tapes to ICL 3480. Format conversion is required when the operating system used by two computers differ from each other. Storing of files on tapes may vary widely with the operating systems since each tape writing method is different and each one is not compatible to another system. An appropriate example would be reading an NT tape on a Linux platform.

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

High Definition Dvd

Writen by Hyun Kim

Definition of high definition DVD

High definition DVD is like an evolution in DVD format rather then just an outright revolution. If we compare the audio and video quality the difference just like what was in DVD and VHS Tapes. Now day's television sets are compatible to display high definition pictures quality. If talk more precisely high definition DVD offers about 1080 lines of video resolution then compare to 576 or 480 lines offered by other DVD.

Need of High Definition DVD

The answer is very similar to the reason for choosing DVD rather then VHS Tapes. Not only high quality audio and video, the increased capacity of High definition DVD is the major advantage over DVD. You can store one full movie in one single disc rather than using multiple disks as earlier.

However using High definition DVD no where means that your existing DVD media gone obsolete. Almost all the latest high definition DVD is fully compatible to the older DVD media. In fact most of latest High Definition DVD formats also capable of increasing the resolution of old DVD to upwards which means you can still enjoys your old collection in latest High definition DVD format. This feature will sooner or later be found in almost all-High definition DVD players. This up scaling not equals to real high definition movies but this can provide you high resolution without loss of quality.

Various format of High Definition DVD

Two major competing formats are HD DVD and other is Blu ray disk or simply BD. Other formats are also there but all these are based in Asia these includes EVD, FVD etc.

Playing High Definition DVD on Computer

As of now there is no fully compatible system is available to play real high definition DVD. To display highest audio/video resolutions there is requirement of high-speed processor and dedicated audio decoding hardware. Cyberlink the maker of PowerDVD has taken some initiatives by demonstrating playing some HD DVD with PowerDVD on Intel Pentium D processor in September 2005.

Cyberlink is also demonstrated paying of Blu Ray disks with PowerDVD. The latest versions of PowerDVD deluxe support various High definition DVD formats including H264 etc. Other players in market are makers of winDVD, another High definition DVD player software.

Blu-ray Vs HD DVD format of High Definition DVD

Blu ray is one of two most popular high definition DVD format. It uses blue-violet laser for reading and writing data that is why is called Blu ray or BD. On the other hand HD DVD is another most popular High definition DVD format. HD DVD is not synonymous to High Definition DVD but it's just a format of High definition DVD.

HD DVD and Blu Ray both comes in three different formats one is readable only called ROM second is Writable and third is Rewritable.

Hyun Kim is a freelance writeer who writes about loudspeakers, home audio and home theater related topics. He loves to visit Stereo|411 to discuss Home Audio topics and he loves to talk about Turntables.

How To Find The Best Lcd Tvs Cheap

Writen by Brian Stevens

LCD TVs are one of the hottest electronic products on the market today. But, boy, are they expensive, with prices starting at around $900 for a good quality LCD TV. And some LCD have been know to poop out after just a couple of months use.

So how do you find a good quality LCD TV at the best possible price? Here's the secret ...

LCD TVs

LCD (light crystal display) TVs are constructed of a thin layer of liquid crystals sandwiched between two plates made of glass. When electricity passes through the colored crystals they light up to produce a picture.

LCD screens are now the most popular screens for computers and are quickly gaining in popularity as television screens.

LCD TV Features

The best LCD TVs have the following features:

* Super sharp picture - LCD TVs have almost twice the clarity of tube TVs and are now comparable in clarity to plasma TVs. Watching an HD (high definition) program on an LCD TV is like looking at a scene through a window.

* Light weight - Even large LCD TVs weigh less than 40 pounds so you can easily move them anywhere in your home. And LCD TVs are thin so you can place them almost anywhere, even mount them on a wall.

* Long life - LCD TVs have an average screen life of 60,000 hours, almost twice that of some plasma TVs, and they aren't prone to screen "burn in" as are tube and plasma TVs, so they're better for playing video games.

* Cheap to operate - LCD TVs use much less electricity than either tube TVs or plasma TVs.

How to Get the Best Price on an LCD TV

The first thing you need to do is figure out which size and model LCD TV you want.

The best way to do that is to visit the largest electronics store or discount store in your area and take a look at the various LCD TV models. Check out the screen for color and clarity. Grab the remote, check out all the functions, and find out if it's easy to use. Then find a knowledgeable salesperson and ask him or her any questions you may have.

When you feel you have enough information to make an informed decision as to which make and model of LCD TV you want, head back to your home, fire up your computer, and begin searching for LCD TVs on the Internet.

There are various product comparison sites on the Internet that allow you to compare prices and even give you reviews that show you which products are best. The website I use not only compares product prices and gives you expert reviews, it also provides consumer reviews by people who own the product.

If you're leery about buying an LCD TV from and unknown store, this website gives you consumer reviews of the store so you can find out if they're reputable and if they'll give good service.

Note: Click on the links below for more information on the site I use.

I used to go to discount warehouses to shop for big ticket items like LCD TVs. But now, because I've saved hundreds of dollars shopping online and have gotten the best products thanks to the consumer reviews, I do my shopping online.

Try it. I know you'll like it.

Visit http://www.thesatellitetvguide.com/lcd-tv.htm for more information on LCD TVs and to check out LCD TV models and prices. Click on this link for information on free satellite TV systems and service. The author, Brian Stevens, is the senior editor for TheSatelliteTVGuide.com and has written a number of articles on how to buy the best LCD TVs cheap.

Plastic Cd Cases

Writen by Max Bellamy

When you buy compact disks, you will find that they usually come in plastic cases that serve to protect the disks. These cases are very useful and may prove to be easier to organize and store. These plastic compact disk cases protect the disks from elements that can damage the lens of the disks by dust or mishandling.

The original casing of compact disks is referred to as the "jewel case," which is made of mold-injected polystyrene, a type of plastic that is not as durable as other types of plastics. The original plastic CD cases are well known but not well liked. A jewel case's main weakness lies in the hinges -- two brittle plastic arms that often break upon the slightest shock or stress. Also, the teeth of the center circle that hold the disks are prone to breaking. Although jewel cases hold the compact disks as well as album covers, another persistent problem is the tabs that hold the liners in place. Thick covers are actually gripped too tight by these tabs that may cause tearing.

More and more people rely on other plastic compact disk cases that are available on the market. Although there are some compact disk collectors who still value plastic compact disk cases to store and display their disks, there is no doubt that it is no longer the product of choice when storing compact disks.

The plastic compact disk cases, alternatives to the jewel cases that come with compact disks, are more durable and space saving. They are slimmer, plastic cases that are very convenient for the user. There are also plastic envelopes and plastic compact disk folders that have cover pockets. They come in a variety of sizes, colors and capacities that all contribute to their popularity among consumers.

CD Cases provides detailed information on CD Cases, Jewel CD Cases, CD Carrying Cases, Blank CD Cases and more. CD Cases is affiliated with CD Label Makers.

Regionfree Dvd Players In France

Writen by John Dulaney

DVD Region Lock System

For curbing piracy and misuse of movies, from the U.S. in DVDs, the Region Lock System was established. The whole world has been divided into six area codes, with Region 1 being U.S., Canada, and US Territories, Region 2 having Japan, Europe, South Africa, and the Middle East. France is also part of this region. The Region 3 comprises Southeast Asia and East Asia, while Region 4 has Australia, Central America, South America and Mexico. Region 5 encompasses Eastern Europe, Indian subcontinent, Africa, and North Korea, while Region 6 has China. As per this system, DVDs produced in certain regions are coded with their respective number and are able to play only on the DVD players sold in that region. This Region Lock System ensured that movies from countries belonging to other region codes were incompatible on the local DVD players.

DVD Standards in France

France has the SECAM standard for DVDs and televisions. The SECAM (Sequential Couleur Avec Memoire or Sequential Color with Memory) standard was introduced and took affect in France in the early 1960s. SECAM runs with 625 lines/frame, same as PAL, but PAL transmits the color information sequentially. The other standard is the NTSC, which is used by many countries in America and some Asian countries, even Japan. Most of the European countries have the PAL standard, which is very similar to the SECAM standard. The televisions and DVDs having the PAL and SECAM standards are compatible with one another. However, they are incompatible with the NTSC standard. Thus, implying that any DVD purchased from the U.S. would be incompatible with a DVD player in France, and vice versa.

Similarly, the voltage inputs of the two regions also vary, since France uses 220 volts and the U.S. uses 110 volts. This would also be a hindrance for playing DVD players from these two countries interchangeably.

Regionfree for France and around the World

The newer versions of DVD players were then designed to override the region codes and to be able to play DVDs from any part of the world, whether in France or another country. These are called region free DVD players. The region free DVD players have a provision for interchanging the NTSC to PAL, and PAL to NTSC standards built into them for greater reach to customers. They are also provided with a dual voltage facility that permits a customer to use the DVD player anywhere in the world without fear of equipment damage. It is permissible by law to own and use a regionfree DVD player if it is not being misused for piracy or illegal activities.

A Wide Range of Features

The DVD players have been greatly improved since their inception and come with a wide range of features. They can be used for playing a wide range of devices like the CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-A, DVD-R, DVD-RW, WMA, MP3, JPEG, MPEG 4, and SACD. The other feature available is language choice for audio tracks, subtitles and menus. They provide for special effects like freeze, slow, fast, step, and scan. One can avail random play and repeat play, ease of programmability and a digital audio output. The DVD players are also available in portable and wall mounted forms.

The price range can vary tremendously from $85 to $750, depending on the brands, types of features provided and utility factor. The major brands of region free DVD players available in France are Toshiba, Samsung, Denon, LG, Sony and many others.

Where to get REGION FREE DVD players/recorders. To prevent the latest movies from reaching countries where a film has not reached theaters yet, Hollywood studios imposed a block. This regional coding is a digital flag on the disc that tells the DVD player where a particular DVD comes from. This is supposed to prevent the disc from being used by an incompatible player in another country. A normal DVD player can only play discs designated for the player's own particular region. However, a codefree DVD player is a capable of playing DVD discs from anywhere around the world. A codefree DVD player can play DVD discs from all 6 regions and both standards, PAL and NTSC. That's every DVD movie on earth! 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. Tel.800-514-2984 or tel. 925-686-9945

What You Need To Know About Stereo Receivers

Writen by Thad Pickering

There has been a revolution taking place in the home entertainment and electronics field in the past decade that will change how we view and listen to entertainment forever. Not long ago, you watched TV and listened to stereo music separately. But increasingly audio and video sources have become combined and now we have a multitude of audio/video devices that we can choose to enjoy including dvd players, camcorders, video games, HDTV, and more. And with this audio/video consolidation the home stereo receiver has had to keep up with the times.

Today we have a wide selection of receivers to choose from. Of course, you can still get the most basic stereo receiver that accepts sound inputs and powers only two speakers at a time. In fact, you can get some very high quality equipment in this area very inexpensively now. In fact, you can build a very cheap and basic home theater setup by using the stereo receiver to process sound from a DVD player, VCR, and your TV.

If you get a receiver that has support for Dolby Pro Logic, Pro Logic II, and Pro Logic IIx, you can even get simulated surround sound from your home theater system if you have four or more speakers. Of course, the pro Logic formats are not digital, they are for analog sound inputs but it can help improve your sound quite a bit if you still use analog components.

For most modern uses though, you will need a receiver that can handle both digital audio and video inputs and then routes the signals to the correct component like your TV and speaker setup. On the video side look for receivers that have enough video inputs to support all the video devices that you plan to use, and also be sure that the connection types match up between the video devices you have and the receiver inputs. On the audio side, if you plan on using the digital surround sound capability that much of today's entertainment is going to, your receiver should be able to decode both Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround sound and then support at least 5 speakers and a subwoofer to distribute each channel's sound to the appropriate speaker.

You will want to have plenty of power to accomplish all of this and so for a typical home theater setup you will need about 50 watts of power for an average room, 75 watts per channel for a larger room, and for very large rooms 100 watts per channel or more will be needed to truly get the sound you want.

The top stereo receiver manufacturers are Sony, Panasonic, JVC, Onkyo, Denon, Pioneer, and Yamaha. If you browse their current offerings you will find that most of these companies make high quality products that will work well. The biggest question is what your needs are instead. Once you understand what your needs will be, you can then choose the best stereo receiver from any of those brands to fill those needs very well.

Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including audio and video. You can find free stereo receiver reviews and the best stereo receivers by visiting our Home Theater website.

How To Select A Video Display For Your Home Theater

Writen by Steve Faber

First of all, don't assume you need a huge video screen in your media room. If your screen is too large, visual fatigue will detract from your theater experience. A good, but general rule for screen size is to select a screen width that is half to one third the distance from the screen to the primary viewing location. You should keep the viewing cone, formed by a line going from your eyes to each side of the screen, to about thirty degrees.

You can use any display device and there advantages and disadvantages to each type. DLP units tend to have better black levels than LCD units. LCOS units and variations have the tightest pixel structure.

Front Projection:

Advantages

• A front projection set will produce the largest, most dynamic image. With a good projector and screen combination the image will be quite stunning, especially when watching native HDTV content. If you have never seen the picture produced by a good, front projection set up, you really should see one before you make any decisions.

Disadvantages:

• Needs ambient light control. You need to control ambient light to get a really good picture because a front projection system cannot produce black. It must rely on the absence of light being reflected from the screen to show black or dark colors.

• You have to have a physical projector mounted somewhere. This problem has improved tremendously in the last few years as CRT projectors have basically gone away and digital projectors have improved and shrunk to miniscule proportions.

• Video projectors are noisy. They require cooling fans and these are loud. Some recent units however, are much quieter.

• The larger picture and better detail reproduction will allow you to really see problems so you need to have quality video sources or the picture will suffer.

• Many of the projectors on the market are either business presentation units or adapted from them. Business presentation projectors have much different requirements than home theater projectors. The most important requirement for business units is brightness. They sacrifice other performance parameters to achieve this. Home theater projectors need extremely accurate color rendition, accurate grey scale tracking, deep blacks, and freedom from motion artifacts.

Plasma:

Advantages

• They're thin! Only 3 to 4 inches thick.

• They look great when displaying HDTV. (most of them)

Disadvantages

• They can suffer image burn-in when displaying static images. Many retailers and manufactures downplay the dangers, but the phenomenon occurs with many different units. Do not leave the cable or DSS menu screen up for an hour or two. Be careful when displaying HTPC or computer game video with static images.

• Many of them look really bad when displaying non HD TV. This problem has lessened with improved internal video processing and scaling technology. Some plasmas actually look pretty good with a better quality DVD feed.

• Many plasmas suffer from rather severe image artifacts although this is also improving greatly due to the better internal processing.

• Some plasma displays have high power consumption. (Can be three times that of a standard tube TV)

LCD flat panel:

Advantages

• They're thin! Some are only three inches thick.

• They have no image burn problems like plasmas do.

• Good picture on most newer sets.

• Long life (50,000 – 60,000 hours)

• You can get a true, 1080P native resolution display.

Disadvantages

• Sizes over 30 inches are priced above equivalent sized plasma displays.

• The older units don't have picture quality as good as plasma displays.

• Black and dark reproduction is not as good as plasma yet.

Rear Projection TV can be either digital or CRT based. The CRT units are going away fast as consumers move to thinner, lighter digital rear projection TVs. At this point, the better CRT rear projection sets offer fantastic performance for the money. You can get a 50+" HDTV ready CRT set from good companies such as Panasonic and Sony for under $1,500. These bargains will be gone soon as production of CRT rear projection sets stops. Panasonic has indicated the 2005 model year will be their last for CRT RPTVs.

The disadvantage to CRT rear projection TVs is size and weight. They too will suffer image burn problems if left with a static image for too long. They require accurate convergence to look their best. Most newer units offer multi-point convergence adjustments to facilitate this.

There are some new types of flat panel displays that will be released for consumer use soon including Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) and SED. These promise even better image quality than either LCD or plasma when fully developed, in addition to lower cost, thinner profiles and much lower power consumption.

In a nutshell:

Front Projection – Large image, can have spectacular picture quality even on a huge screen – More difficult to set up, need to place the projector in the center of the room somewhere, noisy(some), must use better quality sources to get the most benefit.

Plasma – cool factor, thin, look good for HDTV – Image burn problems, can sometimes have a mediocre picture for all but HDTV sources

LCD - cool factor, thin, look good for HDTV, no Image burn problems, - Expensive for larger sizes, can sometimes have a mediocre picture for all but HDTV sources.

There are many display technologies available today. No one display is best for all situations. Select the one that best fits your select your specific requirements.

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. See more great information about choosing the video display for your home theater and more at: Home Theater Video

Cddvd Duplication

Writen by Kristy Annely

Is there a marked difference between discs used to manufacture duplicate orders and those discs that are used to manufacture replicate orders?

Any company that need to produce CDs and DVDs need to understand fully the nature of the available products, their existing and future duplication requirements, and their budge prior to buying a CD DVD duplicator. There is no other cost-effective method for the mass production of discs than a CD duplicator. This equipment should be cheap and easy to use. It should not require a personal computer to operate and is unparalleled in terms of output per hour. A seven drive CD DVD duplicator tower configuration is a cost effective solution for any company that would like to produce low to mid level volumes on a day to day basis.

An automated CD DVD duplicator printer is like having a full-time employee that copies discs at no cost to you. A CDR can only be written with information once. Once you have recorded the information on the CDR, you cannot delete it. The CDRW disc differs from the CDR disc since it can be written to and erased a number of times. The general rule of thumb is that CDRW disc can be rewritten up to a thousand times.

Unlike compact disc recordable drives, the CDRW of compact disk rewriter drives can use both CDR or compact disc recordable and CDRW or compact disk rewritable discs. Information that can be recorded with a CDR or CDRW disc can be data, digital audio, and digital video. Maximum storage capacity of a CDR or CDRW is from 650-700 megabytes of data and 74-80 minutes of digital audio or video.

To answer our question posed in the introduction, there is no marked difference between DVD duplication from DVD replication in terms of reliability and quality.

DVD Duplication provides detailed information on DVD Duplication, DVD Duplication Services, DVD R Duplication, CD DVD Duplication and more. DVD Duplication is affiliated with DVD Duplicator Printers.

Video Production Equipment The Directors Cut

Writen by Paolo Basauri

The Video Craze – Affordable Video Production Equipment

New technologies in video production equipment combined with the emergence of video—particularly digital video—as an acceptable medium for film has made it possible for almost anyone to become a film director virtually overnight. While the cost of film and film equipment is financially prohibitive, video production equipment is relatively inexpensive and can be mastered quite quickly. While there is a great deal more to the art of film that just having the right equipment, the accessibility of video production equipment has encouraged many amateur filmmakers to give it their best shot. Understanding the basics of video production equipment is the first step to becoming the next Steven Spielberg.

Filming Video Production Equipment

As you prepare to make a video film, it's a good idea to take stock of your video production equipment required for filming to make sure you have everything that you need. Some common video production equipment products needed for creating a professional looking film include:

* Professional video cameras – From ENG cameras that are slightly larger than your average camcorder to Studio cameras that are connected via cable to dock recorders that do that actual taping, there are many levels of professional grade digital video cameras.

* Stabilization Equipment – Including simple tripods, shoulder mounts, camera dollies and high tech camera cranes, stabilization equipment ensures that the video production is smooth and not shaky. Additionally, stabilization video production equipment can help determine the type of camera shot that is available for a production.

* Film Quality Lighting – Beyond just lights, film quality lighting banks include grip lighting, reflectors, crate grids for lighting effects and scrims to control different aspects of light diffusion.

* Microphone/Audio System – While many video cameras contain a microphone to capture sounds, creating a professional quality video requires separate audio equipment including shotgun mics, audio mixers and pole audio devices.

Editing Video Production Equipment

Once you have your film on video, additional video production equipment is required for editing and finalizing a video into a complete entity. Using professional quality editing equipment can give your video the polished quality that separates it from home video or amateur productions. Typical video editing tools include:

* Video Editing Software – Unlike film, which much be edited manually, video can be edited right on your computer. Using professional video editing software, you can add transitions, trim scenes and put the whole project together seamlessly. Selecting the right video production equipment for editing is critical to the final quality of your video.

* Sound Mixing Equipment – A professional video will use sound mixing equipment to balance volume levels, add ambient noise and include a soundtrack to the video. Additionally, sound mixing can transform the standard video mono-audio into a heightened stereo experience.

* Video Duplication Equipment – Once you film is complete, video duplication equipment will be required for copying and distributing your film. Professional video production equipment will enable copies that maintain the sound and video quality of your master video.

About The Author
Paolo Parodi is an expert author who writes for http://www.video-production-equipment.com.

High Definition Tv

Writen by John Dulaney

The thought of a HDTV came from wide-screen movies. As soon as the wide-screen was introduced, It was seen, that individuals who were seated in the first few rows enjoyed the effect much more, having a level of participation in the action. This was not seen in case of the conventional movies. A greater feeling of 'being there' is felt with the wide-screen occupying a greater field of view, especially peripherally.

High-Definition Television (HDTV) was launched in the market in the year 1998. If stating the reference of HDTV to a common man, it is all about a superior resolution and digital surround sound quality in the new state-of-art television95 – HDTV. It refers to the broadcasting of signals with much higher resolution than before. Today around 80 other devices are sold in the market as HD but in actual they are not HD ready products. They may be good quality TVs, but they lack one necessary condition of being High Definition This is a High Definition Multimedia Interface adaptor which automatically lets the TV set handle the high resolution images all by itself.

Until now, the working of a TV involved some analog signal and a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) unit. The incoming signals were electronically processed into a picture and sound, displaying the picture on the TV screen. This conventional CRT set has a display of about 480 lines of pixels and all the signals worked well for years till 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. Also, the conversion of the signals lowered the quality leading to more degradation in the class of the display and sound, in the traditional model of CRT. The new HDTV is almost incomparable to the Standard Definition Television (SDTV) in many terms, like, HDTV has twice the resolution in comparison to that of the SDTV, providing higher picture clarity.

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. An aspect ratio is the measurement of the image displayed. It is the width of the image 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 to compress them as well. HDTV also avoids the use of letter boxing; therefore, one can view the images in their original for wide form. Letter boxing is the technique of compressing the widescreen images to video formats.

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. Thus a High Definition TV can display 10 times more pixels than an analog SDTV set. The frame rate in seconds, which is best described as the frames per second, or the number of frames required to form a complete picture per second. The technology in a HDTV has a frame rate of 60 per second.

To express the advantages of HDTV purely in non-technical terms here are some of the points listed below:

1. Since High definition TV is digital in nature, it receives the transmitted digital signals. Either there is a signal or none signal at all. There will 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, effects from signal interference, such as 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 the 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 transferring signals for HDTV, so a very realistic image is formed with true colors. The reason behind this is that, the different colours lie in different ranges of the bandwidth. Therefore, if the bandwidth is increased, so will be the definition of the colours, and naturally better picture quality will be achieved.

5. Since the number of scanning lines are much more in a HDTV, providing a higher resolution, overall visual information is about 2-5 times more detailed in comparison to the normal SDTV. The spaces between scanning lines are smaller or invisible so a better quality is obtained.

6. The increased clarity and detail make larger screen sizes more comfortable and pleasing to watch for the user.

7. Dolby Digital 5.1 sounds are broadcasted along with standard HDTV video signals thus allowing full surround sound capabilities, where-as the broadcasted signals for SDTV are just the basic audio signals.

This new invention of HDTV is surely a noticeable leap in the technology, giving a higher standard to visual as well as sound quality. The true high-definition standard, in contrast, has brought in significantly greater resolution for everybody to enjoy. The up coming new models of HDTV- 720p and 1080i formats, which are very common in today's HD television sets, brings in image clarity several times higher than the standard definition TV model. For the time being, 1080p, the most highly developed and sophisticated HD standard model, is claiming to have images of higher clarity details 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!

In short, HDTV has been termed as the technology of the future. In comparison to a standard analog TV, it features a much higher resolution, clarity and over twice the resolution of DVDs.

Fifty percent of the consumers in U.S. intend to buy a HDTV for their next television. Among the HDTV owners, more than 66% indicate HDTV as their next TV purchase. it is interesting to note that, by law, as from 17 February, 2009, U.S. TV stations will stop analog broadcasting. People continuing with their standard analog TV, will have to procure digital-to-analog converters.

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

Digital Cameras What To Look For When You Buy

Writen by Thad Pickering

There is so much that you can do with compact digital cameras that you just couldn't do with film cameras, and the switchover from film to all digital photography is well underway. When you think of how easy it is these days to just snap a photo, save it on a reusable media card, transfer the file to your computer later that day, alter the photo as you like in your favorite photo editor, and then either print it out on photo paper or send it to your friends around the world, it's no wonder that digital cameras are all the rage. But before you buy a compact digital camera, here are some things to look for:

Probably the most important consideration these days regarding compact digital cameras is how many megapixels they have. Actually this is how most digital cameras are grouped these days, so you need to understand what this designation means. Basically, a megapixel is capable of storing a million bits of information about a photo. So the more megapixels you have the more information you are storing about every photo you shoot. So before buying any compact digital camera you need to decide how you intend to use it.

Will it mainly be used for just 4x6 snapshots? Will you be enlarging some up to 8x10 or even higher? Do you like to crop out a portion of the images in your photo editor and enlarge them? The answer to these questions will help determine what megapixel camera will suit you best. This is because most 3 megapixel cameras can produce enough information about a photo to print a sharp picture on up to 8x10 or so. So if all you do is take snapshots you really don't need to pay for any more megapixels. However, if you like to make enlargements beyond 8x10 or you like to enlarge just a portion of each photo, you will need more megapixels, perhaps 5 or 6. And for those who are dedicated hobbyists who may want to produce super enlargements, you might want to consider even larger megapixel cameras.

Another important consideration especially for compact digital cameras is their size. Just as the name suggests, they are very compact. There is even an ultra-compact digital camera category too. Initially it all sounds good to make cameras smaller and more lightweight, but sometimes it seems that the camera manufacturers have gone a bit too far with some models and the dials and controls are so tiny that they are hard to manipulate for some folks whose hands may be larger. So before you buy any compact digital camera be sure that you actually hold one in your hand and work with it for a while so you know that it will fit you personally.

Once you have hand tested the models that interest you most, you can then look for them online and often will save a lot of money that way. There are several good online electronics retailers that offer significant compact camera discounts. So shop around and look for those online retailers that have a good reputation and have been in business for a while to get your best compact digital camera deal.

Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including audio and video. You can find out more about digital camera best buys and cannon digital cameras by visiting our Home Theater website.

Setting Up Home Multimedia Systems

Writen by James Hunter

Integrated home systems may include all or any of the following:-

• Video sources to various rooms using display equipment from TFT, Plasma, Projection and PC connectivity.
• Audio distribution of CD based music, digital radio, digital TV broadcasts from terrestrial and satellite broadcasters, cable and increasingly over the internet.
• Data connections for the use of home networked computers access to the internet through broadband, ISDN and satellite Security control of cameras, recording devices and access control.
• Control of lighting, heating and other domestic services (cookers, washing machines and more)

The central core of any system is not the nature of the equipment used but how that equipment is connected to a central command and control centre. The cabling systems employed will determine whether future advances in technology are going to be available to the house owner without recourse to expensive re-wiring or installation of new control systems.

The first principle is to use a central hub and send a set of cables to each of the destinations – sending to a single destination and then looping or splicing to the next one brings into play a multitude of future problems of connectivity and reliability ; a single fault at any given point will affect everything further down that chain. A central hub ensures there is one point of reference for fault location and that each distribution point is not reliant on another's operation.

Video connectivity at a single point is often via scart, RF, DVi or similar connection. Using a central video source; be this DVD, satellite box or other video player, transmission via any of the above cables causes problems of bulk, cost and loss of signal over a long run. Video connectivity, when distributed throughout a single dwelling, is best served using high quality co-ax cable such as RG59/u runs as a composite signal. For the ultimate video connectivity, signals should be sent component (YUV) but this requires 3 cables to each point of use.

Data transmission for computer connectivity to the internet is best achieved using a Cat5e cable system back to a central router/hub. This enables all computers to share internet access for web, email and outside communications.

Telephone systems should also be connected using another Cat5e cable network which ensures systems are again routed back to a central point and then to the outside world.

Audio distribution from a central CD server to each room using digital cable running line level signals to local amplifier speakers will enable any one of 4 million channels to be selected: classical music for the parents, heavy rock to Kevin the Teenager and Steps to the Little Princess with good old Terry Wogan to the kitchen. Additionally it may be preferable to run the amplification centrally using a zone amplifier: this can then send the audio direct to the speakers at the desired destination.

Should you wish to distribute computer video signals this can be done using VGA cable which is bulky and expensive. However, connectivity may be better achieved using a Cat5e network which enables data and audio to be encoded and sent down a much thinner and cheaper cable to each destination point.

Fibre optics may be used but have serious cost implications and physically for multiple channels the cables have minimum bend radii which often are difficult to achieve in a domestic environment. The advantage is that future connectivity is assured, but will require third party trained personnel for set-up and maintenance thus adding to potential costs.

Wireless networks are feasible though despite claims to the contrary are not 100% secure so putting your security system or sensitive computer connection on a wireless connection may provide flexibility but does expose a weak link in the system which the determined could break into.

To provide maximum flexibility it is a good idea to run a cable from the central command point to each room where control is required for each of the following elements:-

• 1 x RG59/u for video - transmit
• 1 x RG59/u or 1 x Cat5e for video receive from security CCTV
• 1 x Cat5e for computer network
• 1 x cat5e for telephone (four lines possible per cable)
• 1 x cat5E as a control wire (increasingly this will become a common control protocol for lighting, heating and new equipment – fridges, cookers, washing machines will doubtless have PC chips within a few years, some already do)
• 1 x Cat5e for future expansion
• All cables to be bunched and sleeved enabling a single pull through at first fix
• Cables terminate in a recessed wall panel with the appropriate cable sockets.
• Cable runs to be pipe encased for future access.
• 1 x fish wire per run – separate to initial first fix bundle (enables future cables to be pulled through)
• In a two storey house cables are best run from ground floor to first floor and run through void between ground and first floor and then run up/ down walls to required points.
• Central command point should be located within the main fabric of the building this can be in a utility room, basement, a garage can be used but security may be an issue. With this infrastructure in place the system may then be added to and configured without limit to the number or type of devices used, providing the room in question does have a patch panel.

  James Hunter works for Status AV, one of the premier suppliers of audio visual equipment in the UK.

Top Rated Camcorders

Writen by Max Bellamy

Among the different models and formats of camcorders in the market, some models and formats are better than others. This is because as new technology is developed, camcorders are equipped with a number of features that allow for better recording, better resolution and easier editing. Among the current crop of camcorders, digital camcorders rate the best. However, there are many digital camcorders available and some are better than others. Among digital cameras, the mini digital video camcorders (Mini DV) are at the top of the list.

Mini DV camcorders have a number of advantages over some digital camcorders. One of the most obvious is these camcorders are very compact, making them more convenient to carry around. In addition, they have features that make the editing process easier and faster. Mini DV camcorders can be purchased from electronics stores, catalogs and online. Usually, they are sold by brand and according to r features that make it easier to search for one that fits your need and budget.

Among the different manufacturers of digital camcorders are Canon, Panasonic, and Sony. They offer some of the better mini DV camcorders, with Sony leading the market. Sony offers the best features at very affordable prices. Panasonic has great features, as well including three CCDs. Canon is also a popular brand offer similar features as those of Sony and Panasonic. Purchasing a camcorder from one of these companies will cost around $600 or more, depending on the features you select. The warranties on these brands is also quite comprehensive.

Camcorders provides detailed information on Camcorders, Digital Camcorders, Camcorder Batteries, DVD Camcorders and more. Camcorders is affiliated with DVD Digital Camcorders.

Flat Screen Televisions How Do You Decide

Writen by Dave Poon

Flat screen televisions are somewhat like religious symbols to what that is right with life in America. If you really think about it, it actually makes sense. Well, maybe that's a fairly strong statement. In any case, whenever I find myself near a flat screen television, I almost get an overwhelming sense to kneel down and pray. Those TV are truly awe inspiring devices. How do they ever make them that thin? It truly is amazing.

As you know, flat screens TV's are advertised for having a far better picture than conventional CRT TV's or tube TV's. It definitely is true. The resolution of flat screens is quite remarkable, and of course, they are all high definition ready. The technology behind plasma flat screen is nothing new, but in recent time, it has been perfected to a point where it makes sense to produce these wonders and have them in our homes.

The great thing about flat screens is not limited to a superior picture, but also the convenience of such a lightweight and almost portable television. One of the most annoying thing about the older CRT sets is that it takes an army to move one. No way will my back be able to lift one. However, flat screens makes for not only an awesome picture but easy to move around you home as well. Of course, they don't take up a lot of room either. You don't have to devote a whole chuck of your living room to your television anymore, you can simply position it upon some wall space and you're good to go.

While we're on the topic of wall mounting; there is something very beautiful about a wall mounted flat screen. Some friends of mine recently got one and I must admit it was an awesome sight indeed. I find myself just staring at it even when the set is turned off. Not only is it a cool device, but it can also function as an attractive piece of modern furniture. When it is powered up, it is as if you are watching an animated painting.

The two main technologies currently available in flat screens are LCD and plasma. They both have their advantages and disadvantages. LCD has the better picture overall but cost more and is only available up to a certain size. While plasma tends to be cheaper and can get pretty big pretty fast. Which technology is right for you is something you need to research and decide for yourself.

Yes, I can surely see a flat screen, whether it is LCD or plasma, in my near future. I've already grown very fond of my own flat screen monitor for my computer and it is just natural to extend that to my television viewing. It is simply a matter of time before I take that plunge into that world as well. There really is no use fighting it, I have become a product of life in America in the 21st century. I might as well have the tech marvels to prove it.

Dave Poon is an accomplished writer who specializes in the latest in technology. For more information regarding flat screen televisions, please drop by at http://www.allguytoys.com

International Region Free Dvd Player

Writen by John Dulaney

But DVDs are also becoming major factors in the profitability of movie releases. If the DVD of a movie reaches a country before the movie has been released in the theaters, it is going to seriously affect its profitability for Hollywood studios, who release the same movie in different countries at different times. To prevent a DVD making it before the movie hits the theater in a particular country, the studios have devised a coding technique; there is a digital flag on the DVD that conveys to the hard-coded DVD player about where the DVD originates from.

When the disc is loaded, the software in the player compares the codes on the disc with the one set in the player's register. If the codes do not match, the disc won't play. For instance, a Code 4 DVD cannot be played in a Code 1 DVD player. In this way the DVD of a movie from a country where the movie is released cannot be played in a country where it is yet to be released. This not only enables studios to release the same movie in different countries at different times, but also enables them to practice price differentiation between countries for movie tickets as well as DVDs, thus adding potential revenue to the studio coffers.

The codes are decided according to the six regions into which the world has been divided for the purpose: the first region is USA and Canada, the second has Europe, South Africa, Middle-east and Japan, all of Asian Pacific is the third, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and Latin America combine to form the fourth, the fifth is Africa, Russia, India and Eastern Europe grouped together and last but not the least, the sixth is formed by China and Hong Kong. A DVD from one region is coded not to function in another: the player and the disc should belong to the same region in order to work with each other.

But this code system can be surpassed through modifications, and players can be designed with modifications to run DVDs from all the six regions. Such specialized players are known as codefree or region-free DVD players, as compared to normal DVD players which are able to play DVDs only from their own region. These specially modified players play DVDs from all parts of the world, thus thwarting restrictions imposed by the studios on audiences the world over.

Though this does bite into the profits of Hollywood studios, it is certainly not against the law. In fact countries like Australia make it mandatory to remove code locks from the DVD players. In other cases, regional coding may prevent the legitimate enjoyment of a product that a consumer has legally bought in a different territory, especially in the case of people who emigrate and then find that their entire collections, which they legally own, cannot be played in their new country of residence. A codefree DVD player is the only option for such people, whose consumer rights have been infringed upon.

DVD players bought across the counter from malls are not usually code-free, as this a modification done especially through the use of technology. The region code is usually mentioned on the back of each individual DVD package, either with a regional coding logo of a globe with the region code superimposed over it, or actually spelled out. Check this code in order to run a disc from a different region on your DVD player. If the player does not run it, it is not codefree.

Any attempts you make by yourself to modify a normal DVD player may not always succeed because of insufficient technical know-how, and by tinkering with a player you run the risk of rendering it inoperable or making the warranty on that particular piece void. Moreover, most of these modifications may be easily detectable, especially with the movie companies spending millions on detection mechanisms.

Some modifications may also require specialized and expensive extra hardware like special remote controls, for instance. Once detected, the player will not allow you to play DVDs from incompatible regions. On the other hand, a specialized manufactured device like the Coby International Region-free DVD Player is an actual codefree DVD player, which is able to play DVDs from all the regions equally well, without any loss in image or audio quality.

We manufacture all our codefree DVD players to our individual high standards, and each set comes with a lifetime warranty that the player will work with every DVD from anywhere on earth irrespective of country, region or video standard , as long as you own the player. It can function on any voltage wall outlet from 100-240 volts worldwide, even in the absence of a transformer. All this comes with a standard USA Factory Warranty from Coby for 60 days, which you can extend up to three years with the payment of a nominal additional charge.

The Coby International Region-free DVD player packs in an inbuilt video converter which makes it possible to play DVD discs from any region whatsoever on a standard American television regardless of its video standard (PAL or NTSC). As the inbuilt video converter can convert PAL format to NTSC as well as NTSC to PAL, it is not mandatory to possess a multi-system television set to watch movies in either format. This is an added advantage, because you can watch both PAL and NTSC formats on a TV that is either PAL or NTSC, without buying an additional converter, because the inbuilt converter in the player does the video format conversion for you.

When no such conversion is required, because either your disc and TV are the same format or you have a multi-system TV, the converter can be turned off. The device then becomes only a codefree DVD player minus the quality loss that sometimes results from conversion. In other words, this codefree DVD player has the ability to convert a PAL disc to NTSC and an NTSC disc to PAL, or, if you have a PAL-NTSC TV, you can turn off the conversion and you will see all movies in their original image and sound quality.

The Motion Picture Association of American (MPAA) has recently developed the Regional Coding Enhancement (RCE) which will be included on almost all new Code 1 DVD releases, which has become a concern for all movie buffs. This new technology has been especially created to prevent some codefree DVD players from playing DVD discs purchased in North America, and is targeted at those who attempt to modify their players into becoming region-free by using the remote control. But the Coby International Region-free DVD Player has been manufactured in such a way as to be unaffected by RCE, and so you will be able to freely view RCE-coded DVDs on your Coby player.

This player includes all the usual features like Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround sound through coaxial or optical digital-audio output, for use with compatible receiver/speakers, and it plays DVD/MP3/CD/CD-R/CD-RW discs. It is also capable of the normal multiple subtitles/viewing angles and includes all regular features like slow/fast motion play, zoom operation, parental lock control, and convenient on-screen display. Its compact nature and easily adjustable voltage settings make it very handy to travel with on trips across the world.

To put it briefly, the Coby International Region-free DVD Player is worth the purchase because of its code-free and video conversion warranty, as well as its compact body and easily adaptable voltage settings. It also includes all the regular features a DVD consumer has come to expect, and should be a must-have in your entertainment plans either at home or on travel.

For more information see http://www.mindlogic.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

Plasma Television Pixel Problems What Are Black Dots Sunburst And Shadows

Writen by Louis Zhang

Plasma Televisions are delicate and pixel problems are not uncommon. Here's a possible scenario:

You spent months anticipating your plasma television purchase, weeks working out the details of instillation and connections and will spend years paying for it. When you finally collapse down on the couch, you see little black dots on your screen. What is happening? Have you finally lost your mind?

A plasma television, like your digital watch from the 1980's, is made up of lots of pixels, tiny dots of color.

Sometimes millions of them make up a large screen television. Everyone is aware of the phenomenon of pixilation when they increase the size of a low-resolution image. But what you probably are not aware of is that most screens that you look at these days are made up of pixels. These pixels are so small that they make curved lines look natural.

Broken Pixels Do Happen

Sometimes, though, in manufacturing a screen of pixels, the manufacturer makes a mistake and one of the pixels gets broken. If this happens, you will see it as a tiny dot on your screen. If your screen has a rainbow colored dot; that is dust. You should dust your screen on a regular basis.

If you do see little dots on your screen, call the maker of your plasma television. They will probably have to replace your plasma television. There is nothing that you could have done to make the pixels go bad. Quality control is supposed to catch these things before they leave the factory, but mistakes do happen. (Lower end plasma television manufacturers sometimes have lower standards.)

No matter what the factor standards, if it is noticeable, complain until it is fixed. You paid a lot of money for your plasma television, and deserve a superior picture for that money.

Sunburst Pattern is A Common Problem

Another display problem with plasma television that is less often discussed is a sunburst pattern or a ring on your display. This is a common problem with laptop displays. Plasma televisions are much less durable than ordinary televisions.

Never Touch Your Screen

If the installer grabbed your plasma television wrong when installing it, he may have damaged the screen. Or if someone fell against the screen, it may damage your picture. Or your toddler pressing against the screen can damage the picture. Never, ever touch your plasma television. That is what a remote is for. If you are wise, you will encase it in glass. No, I am not joking. These things are delicate.

Phantom Shadows and Flickering

Other display problems like phantom shadows and flickering can also interfere with your picture. Phantom shadows and flickering you can probably fix using accessories. Your plasma television manufacturer will help you trouble shoot these issues. If nothing works, insist that it is not your fault. They will fix it if you are persistent enough.

Conclusion

Standard televisions have had over half a century to get all the bugs worked out of them. Even still, they are not always perfect. Plasma televisions offer many benefits over traditional televisions, but they are still new technology. If you have persistent problems with your set, call your television's manufacturer.

Ready for plasma? Louis Zhang provides jargon-free, relevant information on plasma televison technology, selection and installation as well as a guide to consumer reviews. For more on plasma television technology tips, go to Plasma TV Pixel Problems

Sim Cards Cell Phones Satellite Phones And A Region Free Dvd Player Take Them With You

Writen by John Dulaney

While you are on the run, moments will come when you will feel real lonely and you will like to play your memorable moments on your DVD. In that case your true solution would be a region free DVD player.

These devices are required for all who travel frequently

It is not only a sportsman that continues to be on the run over the days. There are many professionals around the world who are involved in professions that require constant travel and a nomadic life. Such professions may be that of businessman having a global customer base, an adventurer on constant search of exciting avenues, a travel guide, or a representative of a big organisation, a political leader, and even a Government Officer. What is pertinent in case of a sportsman on the run is also pertinent for these people. Every one of them require to communicate with his own people sometime or other and every one needs some relaxation in peaceful solitude going down the memory lane.

Communication and entertainment for groups

There may be occasions when in traveling you are not alone but a part of a group with heterogeneous background, with homogeneous object. It may be a team of sportsman, a group of businessmen, a caravan of pilgrims, or a party of tourists on the move. In such case though you might be in constant touch with your mates, the requirements of a cell phone, SIM card or Satellite phone will be even greater because each member will have his or her own circles to communicate or keep in touch with. And a region free DVD player can just cater to the exact requirement of divergent members liking to view divergent CDs and DVDs procured from different zones with different standards of PAL, NSTC, or SECAM, because every member to the team or group will be able to make use of it, such that any DVD procured from anywhere in the world, and using any standard can be playable on a region free DVD player.

Cell phones, satellite phones, SIM cards, and a region free DVD player for other uses

It is not that you require a cell phone, SIM card, satellite phone or a region free DVD player only to keep in touch with your own people or relive your memories of fond moments. There are several other reasons for which you will like to have these gadgets. Cell phone for example has reduced the global distance by bringing the world to your fingertips. You can access anyone anywhere in the world from a cell phone provided, that the region where the contact lives has a network or even dial-up ordinary phone system. Such requirements may be communication of commercial messages, interaction, and deliberation, intimating important issues or even a courtesy call. A SIM card, as already pointed out is the accessory to activate a cell phone. However, every SIM card may not be usable everywhere and even when usable, may cost too much in terms of roaming cell phones. It is therefore better to have a cell phone which is factory unlocked GSM mobile phone. It allows you the facilities of changing your SIM card at will and using them.

Utility of the devices in emergencies

Satellite phones may come up handy in emergent situations like when you are stranded during a travel for some reasons and want to send important SOS messages to your contacts, and where mobile networks are not available. It is also very useful where direct satellite phone communication is available, and though a little bit costlier compared to normal phone systems, the clarity of communication and the speed of access far out weigh the little disadvantage in terms of the cost factor.

Play any DVD from any part of the world with a region free DVD player

A region free DVD player is immune of the affects of standard syndrome. Normally all DVDs cannot be played on all players. Different regions in the world use different standards for a DVD like PAL, NSTC, and SECAM, used in Europe, North America and France respectively. A region free DVD player will play all types of DVD irrespective of whatever standard they might follow and the standard specification problem gets affectively addressed with a region free DVD player.

Get a real provider

So cell phone, SIM card, satellite phone, and a region free DVD player, all can come handy in different situations and on different occasions. It may be required for communication, for messaging, for business pursuits, for enlivening memorable moments, for emergencies and for virtually anything. With these devices you will not feel that you are out of touch with your near and dear ones and you are still a part of your known environment. But the million dollar question remains as to where you get the devices. Who is going to provide you all these devices and ensure quality of the products? The simple answer is that you need a good and reliable provider who can give you all your choicest gadgets at a competitive price and also provides real after sales service. Once you select a real reliable provider, 80% of your problem is solved. The remaining 20% will also be solved as soon as you get acquainted with the handling of the devices.

Beware of unscrupulous traders

Urge for procuring all the devices that makes an otherwise secluded life on constant move really enjoyable, has driven many decent citizens in the past to grab such articles wherever available. In doing so, many of these innocent and unsuspecting citizens have walked into the booby trap laid by unscrupulous merchants who are prowling in the wings. These dishonest merchants make the innocent and unsuspecting customer believe that they are providing them with a real factory unlocked cell phone, or a real low-charge SIM card, or a real region free DVD player, and the customer gladly parts with a lot of his hard earned money to have these devices. But at real time, to their dismay, such customers find that all these devices are not what they claim to be. Instead, they find that these are really career endorsed mobile and support only the network of the provider and not others. SIMilarly, the SIM card provided may not support other areas and even if the SIM card can be used, it may be used as a roaming cell phone only charging the poor customer almost five times of what they would have paid towards call charges under ordinary circumstances. The region free DVD player provided by such fraudulent traders may turn out to be one which provides only limited region free services like playing PAL standard DVD on an NSTC TV but not the vice versa and when it comes to playing SECAM Standards, the DVD player does not support it at all. There are millions of such incidents that have happened with decent people all around. Visit us at www.planetomni.com

The reasons why you may like to choose to have products from us

We welcome all who are on the search for a region free DVD player, a factory unlocked cell phone, a real time satellite phone or a SIM card that will provide real economic services to avail our services. We, at www.planetomni.com are experts in the market and provide real items that a customer will find to his choice and liking. Our region free DVD player is a real one where you can play DVDs and CDs from any part of the world whether it supports PAL, SECAM, or NSTC standards. Our cell phone is real factory unlocked cell phone that will allow you change of SIM cards at will and it will support any network available at any place in the world. As a result you will be able to use a local SIM card and your calling expenses will be considerably less. We also provide SIM cards supporting a number of networks all over and you can have it. The conditions that are mentioned there really apply and there is no hidden administrative expenses putting you to a loss. And for emergency calls on an expedition just try our satellite phone and you will be real happy to taste its range, clarity and ease of use.

And reasons why you will like to choose us as your provider

We have in the business long and have been able to satisfy our customers not only with the wide variety of products that we deal with, but with our dedicated services too. When you choose to obtain our services online or in any of our brick and mortar show room in your city, you will have a wide variety of articles in top brands to choose from. Our people online and in the stores, make available all information for you relating to the prices, specifications and every thing you need to use these devices. We provide all user manuals, guide books and in addition we have a team of experts constantly on their toes to provide any support to the customers. We value our customers and consider their satisfaction our prime objective. You can get your doubts cleared and questions answered online without having to take the trouble of running to an engineer or expert to sort out the problems you face in using our devices since our services are available 24/7 for you.

What you can get:

Before you set up your mind about a provider, kindly look into what we have as offer for you –

A wide range of models catering to the need of different types required by our customers, to choose from.

On line services 24/7 and in store services where available.

Special offers, discounts and bonus offers for customers on specified articles.

No low grade or below standard articles.

All top brands in the market to choose from.

After sales services and the best warranty periods.

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Are you a traveling agent, commercial traveler, detail man, door-to-door salesman, knight of the road, road warrior, traveling salesperson?

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Do you prefer to indulge in adventures such as risk, chance, contingency, emprise, endangerment, enterprise, experience, exploit, feat, happening, hazard, incident, jeopardy, occurrence, peril, real trip, scene, speculation, trip, undertaking, and venture?

Do you like: achievement, accomplishment, act, action, adventure, ball game, big idea, bit, byplay, cause, commission, crusade, do, doing, enterprise, exploit, fact, feat, follow through, game, happenin', mitzvah, performance, plan, quest, reality, securing, stunt, thing, truth, winning?

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Do you like foreign languages, learning new dialects or foreign phrases, terms or idiomatic expressions? Do you like to travel overseas and eat up the culture, landscape, history, art and wine?

You need SIM CARDS and CELL PHONES, or satellite phones. You sure can think about a region free DVD player too. More info. is 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

Features To Look For When You Buy A Digital Camcorder

Writen by Thad Pickering

A camcorder is a great way to document the important events and experiences of your life just as they happened. Still pictures are great for some things, but nothing beats a high quality recording of audio and video from a special event. Because digital camcorders record information that does not degrade over time you can actually watch it years later and it will seem like just yesterday. So if you are in the market for a compact digital camcorder here are some features to look for before you buy:

1. Make sure that you get a digital camcorder that uses a LCD screen for a viewfinder. Once you get used to using a camcorder this way you will never go back to peering through an eyepiece again. Video is often shot while a person is moving or has to walk, and watching a viewfinder allows you to still see where you are going much better than is possible when using the eyepiece. You can also shoot from angles high above your head or low down to the ground and still keep an eye on the action as you film if the LCD screen can be tilted.

2. Look for a digital camcorder that uses at least a 10x optical zoom, although 15x or 20x is even better. There are two types of zooms used on digital camcorders, optical and digital. The optical zoom is the lens itself zooming in, and it produces a nice sharp image throughout it's focal range usually. The digital zoom simply takes the image already gathered by the lens and magnifies it with no increase of video detail, so video that is shot using a lot of digital zoom can be grainy looking and not very pleasing to the eye. So try to get a digital camcorder that has at least a 10x optical zoom and try not to rely very often on the digital zoom capabilities for the best quality videos.

3. Keep any eye on the power usage of the camcorder that you want to buy. Some sip power and others drink it at a gulp, so look for a camcorder that will let you record continuously for at least 1-2 hours before recharging. Otherwise, you will need to buy an extra battery to carry with you instead.

4. Image stabilization is a very useful feature found in many digital camcorders these days as it will help eliminate some of the shakes that many folks introduce unknowingly into their videos while filming. They may not notice it while they are recording, but once you sit down and try to watch video that constantly bounces around you will really appreciate the image stabilization feature. Of course, image stabilization still cannot make up for wild swings of the camera lens, but it can help control normal camera shake.

There are other features to look out for when you decide to buy a digital camcorder, but the ones mentioned above will help narrow your choice down to those that will most likely do the best job for you and your video needs.

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

Digital Video Camera Rental Putting You In The Picture

Writen by Maureen Cook

Digital video cameras continue to be as popular as ever. As they become more technologically sophisticated they're offering better quality and more functions in ever smaller packages. Top-of-the-range, high definition videocams can cost in excess of $3000 to buy. This figure would be even higher if existing mechanisms, which allow HD videos to be recorded on a conventional DV tape, couldn not be used.

It's hardly surprising, then, that digital video camera rental is fast becoming the preferred option for digital videocam users who only need to use the equipment for special occasions. With improvements in the technology moving fast, so fast that chances are a new model will already have been superseded by something better within six months, the trend to rent and not to buy seems set to continue.

As an irregular user, looking to take pictures at weddings or on holiday, constantly upgrading your digital videocam is neither a practical, nor cost-effective solution. Why not, then, get the best of both worlds – the latest models and the lowest prices – by choosing the rental option? Your biggest worry will be to pre-book well in advance at busy times of the year, like Christmas and New Year or Thanksgiving, to avoid disappointment. Look in the Yellow Pages or login to the internet, and you'll find there are some great deals to be had out there.

Great offers are available if you shop around. At Christmas and New Year, especially, extended and weekend rental bargains are to be had provided, as we've said, you book early. Throughout the year, even, many digital video camera rental outlets will offer an extra free rental day, and, at short notice, many shops will pull together a video camera package at very competitive prices.

The basic rental package, usually comprises spare batteries, charger, camcorder case, manufacturer's manual and a "quick-start" guide. Ease of use varies with the model, but the "Get Started" guide you should receive as part of the package will outline use of the main controls of On/Off, record and zoom buttons. A manual should also be supplied should you feel like exploring more options in detail.

Alternatively, as an infrequent user of digital camcorders, you will find that many rental outlets offer a photo printing or video transfer service, copying your film on to CD or DVD. Again, shop around for the best deals if you're interested in a complete service. Even with this service charge added to the hire cost, on any cost-benefit analysis you'll be getting a great deal.

Besides the basic package, optional extras are available. Accessories, such as tripods, external microphones and camcorder lights, though, are not seen as optional extras for many users who want to shoot that perfect picture for the perfect occasion. You will pay an extra hire charge for these items, as you will for video tapes and mini-DVD-Rs. The software to download your photos on to your PC will usually be included in the hire package, though. This software is very popular now and has largely replaced still photos on memory cards. Rent and you'll get the best for less.

Having decided that digital video camera rental is for you, the most important question to ask yourself before you proceed any further is: what do I want from a digital camcorder? Do I want a cheaper, standard format videocam, or would I prefer a high definition video?

Standard models use compact, 60-minute tapes, and can be plugged into the camcorder/playstation inputs on the front of many TVs and video recorders. The playback quality is very good. As a rule of thumb with standard models, the smaller the camera the fewer features it has. You want a larger optical zoom? Then you'll need to hire one of the slightly larger cameras. Even so, none is that big and all are easy to use for the novice.

But are you more technically-minded? If so, then an HD videocam, offering superb playback quality with four times the number of pixels as standard definition, would allow you to shoot a video of a wedding and edit the video on HDV. Be aware, though, that a very powerful PC is required to use video editing packages. The HDV footage can then be recorded on to a high definition DVD player with marvellous results.

Europe lags behind the U.S. where we have been able to enjoy high definition TV, and watch content from most of the major networks, for a number of years. Familiarity with the superb picture quality afforded by HD breeds contempt among aficionados for standard models. Renting a videocam allows the technically-minded to practise more demanding techniques and to produce top-class pictures without the substantial outlay involved in buying a top-notch videocam. And remember: as a perfectionist, you'll need accessories, too, which makes renting an even more attractive option.

So, novice or enthusiast, renting the equipment makes the best sense. The videocam's obsolescence, driven by continual improvements in technology, requires constant and expensive upgrading. The very high cost of buying top-of-the-range videocams, together with the easy availability of great-deal packages, including accessories, all make compelling reasons for renting and not buying.

"A picture is worth a thousand words", so they say. Well, not quite, but it will have been worth reading a few hundred if you're now sold on the benefits of digital video camera rental.

© 2006 Maureen P Cook

Maureen Cook shows you how webcam rentals give you the latest models for low prices. Find out more about Digital Video, Click Here.