|
Why You Don't Need 1080p HD Just Yet |
|
|
|
|
Friday, 10 November 2006 |
|
There’s finally some content out using the latest and greatest HD standard, but I certainly won’t be running to the store to replace my 1080i HDTV anytime soon. If you’re a video “geek” like myself or have just been following the evolution of HDTV, you know that the PS3, Blu-ray, and 2nd generation HD-DVD will support 1080p. If you haven’t been following this evolution, after reading this (and the CNET article linked below) you’ll be able to tell the sales guy at your local electronics store to go annoy someone else while you browse for your next HDTV.
Picture quality is determined by a multitude of factors, and believe it or not resolution isn’t necessarily the most important factor when we talk about 720p, 1080i or 1080p capable HDTVs. Sure, it ranks right up there, but contrast ratio, color saturation, and color accuracy do as well. For more detailed information on the HDTV standards and resolution, check out this excellent CNET article from David Katzmaier. The fact of the matter is that difference in picture quality between 1080i and 1080p will not be noticeable to the average viewer.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Finally, A Remote That Is Actually Universal |
|
|
|
|
Monday, 02 October 2006 |
|
I gave up my dream of one day owning a single remote control that could replace my basket of “universal” remotes several years ago. As you can imagine I lived in extreme sadness for quite some time, constantly criticizing myself for being so naive to believe such a device existed. As time passed however, I forgave myself for setting such an unrealistic goal and eventually moved on. Then yesterday the delivery man arrived, unknowingly carrying the answer to this long forgotten dream.
Okay, to be honest, I haven’t actually gone out and bought any universal remotes until just the other day. With that said, each time I’ve replaced a component in my entertainment system I end up with another “universal” remote that just doesn’t cut it. Either it won’t even work with one or more components or, as is more often the case, you loose a ton of functionality and have to keep the original remote close by anyway. While advanced universal remotes are nothing new, in my opinion finding one within a reasonable price range (below $100) is. If you’re willing to invest $80-$100 in a universal remote that will actually replace all of your other remotes, so far I am very pleased with my Logitech Harmony Advanced Universal Remote for Xbox 360. |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Saturday, 26 August 2006 |
|
Improper cabling is the most common mistake made when setting up home theatre systems. Periodically I’ll get a call or email from a friend or family member who just brought home thier new HDTV, and the picture just doesn’t seem right. More often than not, the obvious difference in picture quality from when you watched it in the store to when you set it up at home is the direct result of improper cabling. So here’s the skinny, short and sweet.
ALWAYS USE COMPONENT VIDEO CONNECTIONS
Component video provides the best quality image, as it seperates the video signal into three channels (red, green, blue), subsequently providing more bandwidth per channel. Audio is carried seperately, usually via stereo RCA connections. For true HDTV you’ll need to use the component connection, and it’s obviously ideal for other video sources as well (such as DVD players/recorders).
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Have a question about the site?