HDTV – The High Resolution Television

The expansion of hdtv is High-definition television. The hdtv means television signals broadcast with a higher resolution than traditional formats like NTSC, SÉCAM, PAL. The hdtv is broadcasted digitally, except for early analog formats in Europe and Japan.

Historically, the term high-definition television was also used to refer to television standards developed in the 1930s to replace the early experimental systems, although, not so long afterwards, Philo T. Farnsworth, John Logie Baird and Vladimir Zworkin had each developed competing TV systems but resolution was not the issue that separated their substantially different technologies. It was patent interference lawsuits and deployment issues given the tumultuous financial climate of the late 20's and 30's. Most patents were expiring by the end of WW2 leaving the market wide open and no worldwide standard for television agreed upon. The world used analog PAL, NTSC, SECAM and other standards for over half a century.

The terms HD ready and HD compatible are being used around the industrial world for marketing purposes. They indicate that a TV or display is able to accept video over an HDMI connection, using a new connector design, the main purpose of which seems to be to ensure that digital video is only passed over an interface which, by agreement, incorporates copyright protection. Even HD-ready sets do not necessarily have enough pixels to display video to the 1080-line (1920x1080) or 720-line (1280x720) HD standards in full resolution without interpolation, and HD-compatible sets are often just standard-definition sets with an HDMI input. This is a confusing use of the terms HD and hdtv.

MPEG-2 is most commonly used as the compression codec for digital hdtv broadcasts. The hdtv is capable of "theater quality" audio because it uses the Dolby Digital (AC-3) format to support "5.1" surround sound.

Japan has the earliest working hdtv system still in use, with design efforts going back to 1979. Japan began broadcasting analog hdtv signals in the early 1990s using an interlaced resolution of 1035 lines (1035i). The Japanese MUSE (Multiple sub-nyquist sampling Encoding) system, developed by NHK Science and Technical Research Laboratories (STRL) in the 1980s, employed filtering tricks to reduce the original source signal to decrease bandwidth utilization.

Japan is forerunner of hdtv in the world. Japan terrestrial broadcast of HD via ISDB-T started in December 2003.

The hdtv transmission in Europe started in 2004. Euro1080 is the pioneer in hdtv transmission in Europe. Australia started HD broadcasting in January 2001.

CHUM Limited's Citytv in Toronto was the first hdtv broadcaster in Canada and CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) officially launched hdtv programming on March 5, 2005.

Mexican Television company Televisa experimented hdtv broadcasts in the early 1990s, in collaboration with Japan's NHK.

The hdtv specifications are defined by the ATSC in the United States. An hdtv-compatible TV usually uses a 16:9 aspect ratio display with an integrated ATSC tuner. Lower resolution sources like regular DVDs may be upscaled to the native resolution of the TV.

The hdtv services were made available in the Republic of Korea in 2005 and Brazil is expected to go for it in 2006.

There are numerous online sources carrying volumes of info on plasma hdtv, lcd hdtv, hdtv antenna, hdtv receiver, dlp hdtv, hdtv cables, hdtv tuner etc. Scores of sites are offering hdtv reviews, hdtv articles and hdtv news that are very helpful for the potential customers to buy hdtv.

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All Along the Watch Tower - Interactive TV

What's so cool about interactive TV? It puts you in (almost) total control of your viewing experience. You can the change camera angles on sports events, games and order food. In its broadest sense - promoted by the interactive industry - interactive TV is anything that allows consumers to have more control over their televisions such as video on demand to watch your favorite movies whenever you want.

Lean Back & Relax - Interactive TV

You sit at your computer all day that gives you a stiff neck. Interactive TV is a "lean back" or should we say "lay back" and relax viewing experience. Ever wonder what makes Interactive television work? Software, what else? The interactive elements are controlled by the set-top box on your TV set for Interactive capabilities like T-commerce, tickers, overlays, games, email, news, etc.

Clouds in my coffee - Interactive TV

While Interactive TV has the potential as a staple in the offerings of cable TV operators, there are some hurdles to overcome on the way to Interactive TV heaven. For example, interoperability is major issue related the set-top boxes on your television. They control which Interactive TV programs you watch and shut out other cable TV operators. The advantage of complete interoperability is to own one set-top box that let's you see all the Interactive TV shows.

Consumer Viewing Habits - Interactive TV

In its broadest sense - the one promoted by the interactive industry - Interactive TV includes anything that allows consumers to have more control over their televisions. Video on demand, for example, lets users order up movies whenever they want, rather than wait for set start times. In the general sense, Interactive TV can mean any kind of interaction with the TV,
whether through program guides, video on demand and more.

Changing Viewing Habits - Interactive TV

Interactive TV has changed viewer habits by giving them more control over their television set. viewing day and night. These can include games, shopping applications, tickets, weather reports and the like. Digital video recorders are also considered interactive TV. They digitally record shows and may be programmed to select programs you might like to watch…. Imagine that! Your TV set now chooses shows for you to watch based on your viewing habits. What will they think of next?

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The Samsung 42 Plasma -- Samsung HP-P4271 42in HDTV Ready Plasma Television

The new fourth-generation Samsung 42 plasma is out, offering state-of-the-art high performance high-definition display and resolution.

As opposed to the liquid crystal type display technology, plasmas create their stunningly life-like pictures through a complicated gas-based system. The plasma display idea has been around since 1964, but is only now coming into its own for practicality.

At a slim and trim 3.4 inches in depth, the flat-screened plasma takes up virtually no space in your room, making it the screen of choice for both home and office. This plasma's high-end display resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels gives a picture quality and depth of color that are outstanding.

The Samsung plasma television screen under discussion is 42 inches, measured diagonally. Plasmas range in sizes from 32" up to the gigantic 63" screen. A 42" plasma screen is best viewed from ten to fourteen feet away, and has a high-end 160 degree viewing angle that is completely uniform, due to its perfectly flat screen.

The "Virtual Surround" audio system for this Samsung plasma TV simulates multiple-channel surround sound using fewer speakers. It has SAP/MTS stereo which enables three-channel audio encoding, an audio leveler which evens out sudden volume changes such as commercials, and Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) which allows reception of more than one soundtrack simultaneously.

Samsung plasma televisions are built from scratch in the factory. The HP-P4271 has almost twice as many pixels as EDTV plasmas, resulting in a clearer, sharper image. A great investment in your home entertainment center.

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The History of the Television to Today’s Plasma TV

For the average person, even a regular television set is something of a technological marvel that becomes almost unbelievable when considering today’s latest and greatest advances, including the plasma TV. Take a brief look at the history of the technology that we now take for granted.

As early as the 1950s, people were beginning to have television sets in their homes, though the practice of a home television set wouldn’t become widespread until the 1960s. Suddenly, the average person could be a bystander for historic events, catch the latest news and spend hours being entertained.

In those early days of television, an analog signal transmitted the audio and video that would become a picture on the home television set. The early home sets used a tube technology – it took ages to warm up sufficiently to produce a picture. The analog signal was prone to fuzzy pictures that could fade out completely with various conditions. A home typically had an antenna, either on top of the television set itself or standing outside the house. Adjusting that antenna could help the reception of the picture.

Many things have changed since those early days of television. Analog signals are still used, though high definition digital signals are becoming more common.

Remarkably, there have always been experiments and advances in the works, many appearing on the drawing boards long before they’re introduced to the public. In the case of plasma TVs, the idea has been around almost as long as the video technology. The first plasma screen was actually constructed by a college professor and his student as early as 1964. The idea was sound, but the high-end television set simply wasn’t practical for the signal technology of the day. After all, there was little need for a screen that could produce a better picture than the television stations could send!

The reason for that early development wasn’t aimed at the television industry, but was to be used for displaying information in an educational setting. When the television industry started looking at newer, better technology for the tube-type television sets commonly being used in the 1960s, plasma was actually considered, though only briefly. In the end, the more practical idea became the liquid display screen television screens and it would be many more years before the plasma TV option was again considered.

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Get That Plasma Television At A Cheap Price

Plasma Television is certainly the latest craze in television technology. Its patrons have grown into a great number that manufacturers have been receiving many orders from them. Since the demand for the unit has turned into an enormous number it is very likely that prices will be go down.

Plasma TVs are the new type of display that uses technology that is different from other television models. Although it is an innovation that was formulated decades ago, it was only in recent times that the technology has been manufactured in cheap price.

Plasma Television has been on the market for quite sometime now and it had enthralled many home viewer aficionados because of their size and weight, but the first ones were very pricey and lacked picture quality unlike the ones that are manufactured today.

However, with the help of technological advancements, manufacturers were able to generate the same type of display but definitely far way superior than the first releases.

Cheap plasma televisions are now out in the market with a variety of sizes as well as with larger displays. There has also been a remarkable enhancement on the part of picture quality like the sharpness, black, levels, and brightness.

Aside form these developments, it should also be noted that prices have come down enormously that many shoppers consider it cheaper to buy than other displays that are out in the market.

However, we must not be overwhelmed with this fact. Oftentimes, cheaper prices get the attention of the buyers that they tend to forget the quality of the product that they are planning to buy.

To help you look for one that is of high quality but it is definitely economical, here are some tips that you should always take note of:

• Online retailers are just a click away. With these, you will be offered with many alternatives in buying lone. You can seek for their help in looking for cheap plasma televisions but with great quality. You may also the reviews about the items that you are viewing to guide you in choosing where to venture our penny.

• Some prices may be too good to be true so better make some inquiries about the product through its retailer before you close a deal.

• Almost all Plasma TV manufacturers sell through their authorized dealers, so make it sure that your unit is from a certified one. These retailers may have better prices than what others may have, but there customer support system is not good enough, and it is not very likely for manufacturers to accept or honor warranties of units which are bought through an illegitimate traders.

• You can also check out great prices on auction sites, but be very cautious because although auction traders may appear to be good, there are still some out there who pretends to be real sellers but are actually swindlers.

Purchasing a television before used to be so easy since there are only small considerations to think about like the screen size and other stuff.

However, as time progressed and technology constantly advances it turned out to be a bit intricate. Because of the sophistications brought by these changes, it had already changed the concept of home entertainment specifically television presentation.

To think, looking for an item that is definitely cheap yet guaranteed good is not really that complicated. The above-mentioned tips may guide you in looking for one. Try it to so that your can prove it by yourself.

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All About Plasma Televisions

Plasma televisions have flooded the market, but there are some important facts you should know first. They are a premium price but they offer one of the best combinations of features for a High Definition television today. Plasma screens offer a flat screen of 4” thick that have one of the best pictures available. The newest televisions have resolution capabilities of up to 1080p. This is a huge leap in resolution compared to DVD which only has capabilities of 480i. This means that HD capable plasma televisions can produce more than twice the resolution of a DVD.

The reason that a plasma television can produce such images in a thin layer is the technology that was actually created about 35 years ago. Plasma technology starts with two thin pieces of glass that are filled with xenon and neon gas. The chamber contains all of the pixels which can reach into the millions. This chamber is filled with electric current and it illuminates the pixels that also fill the chamber. This process creates a brilliant picture that is almost unmatched by any other screen. Plasma screens offer very high resolution that is bright and has a wide viewable range. You can view the screen within a 160 degree range with no loss in quality.

To incorporate most of the advantages of a plasma television, you must make sure that it has the features that are most up to date. The most up to date features of plasma televisions is that they have 1080p resolution. You also need multiple HDMI connections because you will be connecting more than just one HD component. DVD players, cable boxes and game consoles all have HDMI capability that makes the best use of your television. Make certain that your plasma television can handle at least two HDMI connections, or it is out of date. Component video is still a great second option, but it will not create as good results. Remember that your plasma television is a center piece for your technology and it should be capable of everything that you own.

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Movies Delivered To Your Door

In today's society, convenience is clearly a driving force for consumers. And now more than ever before, Americans are using the Internet to get what they want, when they want it.

In fact, in 2004 American consumers racked up $117 billion in online spending, with a fair share of that amount spent on entertainment and entertainment news.

One of the latest entertainment options - Blockbuster Online - is a new, easy-to-use online DVD rental service that can bring the movie store right to your door with just a few clicks of a computer mouse. With more than 30,000 titles to choose from, movie lovers can rent all the movies they want, from the hottest new releases to independent, special interest and hard-to-find films.

For less than $15 a month, Blockbuster Online users can rent up to three movies at a time and return them at their convenience with the provided pre-paid postage envelope. After a DVD is returned, the next title from the subscriber's online movie queue is mailed, and will usually arrive within one to two days.

"By combining the power of the Internet, the magic of the movies and the trusted Blockbuster name, we're offering the ultimate in home entertainment convenience at an incredible value," said Shane Evangelist, senior vice president of Blockbuster Inc. and general manager of Blockbuster Online. "And for those times when you can't wait for a movie to arrive in your mailbox, we offer the flexibility to rent movies and games at our stores."

The new online DVD rental service is especially convenient for people who live in rural areas, since online access means there's no need to drive long distances to the rental store. Busy parents and on-the-go professionals - or anyone starved for time - also have easy access to the latest and greatest releases, plus many of the classics.

"We've designed a service that really delivers for our subscribers," said Evangelist. "There are no due dates, no late fees, unlimited DVDs at your disposal, and we're the only online DVD rental service that gives each subscriber two free in-store rentals each month, good for movies or games."

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What Is High Definition Television

If you love visual entertainment on the cutting edge, HDTV – or High Definition Television gives you a preview of the future; images and sound that is so real it takes you into the experience. High-definition television takes digital television or DTV to the next level. Or least that is what we have been promised. When the first HDTV announcement was made in 1998, high-tech fans along with movie buffs anxiously awaited its release. But several years have passed since the introduction of this technology for many people it has failed to live up to their expectations.

Part of the problem is that HDTV, analog and digital terms have a lot of people confused. As the United States broadcasters move closer to the date where their signals must be converted from analog to digital in 2009, consumers should be aware that purchasing an analog television should include DTV or digital television signal capability so that they can continue to receive television programming.

As United States broadcasters work through the conversion period from analog to digital television, the signal transmits the information for the video and sound in binary code instead of a wave; using the UHF portion of the radio spectrum with a 6 MHz bandwidth, the same as analog TV signals. Digital television or DTV provides the viewer with several advantages:

• Smaller sized televisions receive pictures and sound with better quality
• Larger television screens benefit from digital signals ability to deliver higher resolution
• Television stations can broadcast several signals using the same bandwidth
• Interactive content or additional information can be broadcast along with the DTV signa
• Digital TV supports high-definition television broadcasting

When the conversion from analog to digital broadcasting is completed, without a DTV decoder in your analog television set you will need cable or satellite service to be able to watch television programming. HDTV is just one part of the digital conversion from analog broadcasting.


But to fully experience HDTV you will need more than just your television; the broadcaster must use a high-definition signal and beside the HDTV set, you will need a receiver and an antenna to receive the signal. DTV uses MPEG-2 encoding, the industry standard for DVDs. As you begin to shop for a high-definition television set you will have several options

An HDTV ready set which is also called an HDTV Monitor. This type of set will not have an HDTV tuner instead they use an NTSC tuner so that you can continue receiving analog television programming.

An integrated HDTV which includes a digital tuner (also known as an ATS tuner) built in to the set itself. You will be able to watch high-definition television broadcasting by attaching an antenna to the set.

HDTV sets have either one or two native resolutions in order to scale the signal to match its resolution capability. It is good idea to consider what type of programming you watch most to select the best native resolution; movie fans should look for television sets with the highest resolution display while sports action fans should choose the highest progression frame rate.

High Definition Television is simply the highest level of digital television available; as more broadcasters convert from analog to digital television, having the right equipment is what will make the difference in your television viewing experience.

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Buying The Best Plasma Television

The Internet the best place to buy the right plasma TV. There one can shop with confidence at the world's leading plasma television dealers. Whether it's needed for home or business, the Internet carries all the major brand names, the best pictures, and at the best prices with the fastest delivery.

But rushing out to buy a brand-new plasma television there are many questions that must be answered first. Here are just a few of the things that need to be considered.

What makes plasma TVs so much better?

Plasma TV offers an enormous, flat, bright, sharp, flicker-free display that projects rich, life-like color. Most plasma screens are only a few inches deep, so they require far less space than a CRT television of the same screen size. In fact, most plasma TVs can even be wall-mounted. Many people use them to display their digital photos as art!

Unlike many other methods of producing large, thin screens, plasma TVs have a wide viewing angle and suffer little glare. The whole family or the entire boardroom will have a great view from wherever they are sitting. There is no need to worry about whether each seat is centered in front of the television.

A plasma TV is also not prone to electromagnetic interference. This means that electronics that produce powerful electromagnetic fields, such as large speaker, will not mar the picture quality in the slightest by being placed nearby to the screen. Plasma televisions even have lower power consumption compared to a conventional CRT television.

What features should a plasma TV have?

Some plasma TVs require a built-in electric fan for cooling purposes, much the same way as a desktop or laptop computer does. If the model of television being considered is like this, make certain the fan is not noisy enough to detract from the viewing experience. An increasing number of modern plasma TVs are being designed without the need for a fan.

Consider whether or not the television has a TV tuner built-in. Some plasma TVs function solely as monitors, and do not a TV tuner. Such a unit would require an external video signal be supplied, such as from an entertainment system.

The ideal plasma TV has a built-in TV tuner or comes with a separate multimedia box that contains the TV tuner. A plasma TV will need to have an analog TV tuner in order for it to receive and display an analog TV signal like the local broadcast networks. Having a digital tuner allows it to receive digital signals such as digital cable or freeview. The plasma TV would not need to have a digital TV tuner included if a converter box is already owned.

New plasma televisions should have a set of speakers attached on both sides of the screen. A good set of quality speakers is required for listening in stereo without poor sound quality making it hard to enjoy the show.

Generally, it will not be important for the plasma TV to have a built in amplifier for sound. If external speakers, such as a surround sound audio system, are to be used with the television an external multi-speaker home cinema system will yield the best results.

How should a plasma TV's picture quality be evaluated?

There are two easy criteria to determine which plasma TV screen quality is the best. First, simply compare the peak panel brightness with other plasma screens. The higher the peak brightness, the better. Then examine the contrast ratio. Having a 1000:1 ratio is highly respectable and again, larger ratios are better than smaller ones.

How long does a plasma TV screen last?

Average plasma TV screen have a life expectancy of approximately ten years. This should provide more than enough years to justify the outlay of money a plasma TV requires.

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Four Easy Steps to Buy a Plasma Flat Screen Television

If you’re looking to purchase your first plasma flat screen television, there are 4 simple steps to insure a pleasant shopping experience.

First, you must decide how much money you want to spend. Take an inventory of your financial situation, and think about what you really want. If you’re on a budget and can’t afford to spend $2,000, you should begin your search with the lower priced models in the 37”- 42” range. Conversely, if you can afford more than $2,000 your screen choice is unlimited.

Second, decide the screen size and manufacturer you like. Plasma monitors are measured diagonally across the screen, as are other television sets and monitors. Plasma screens start at 32" and increase in size up to 103". The most typical sizes are: 37", 42", 43", 50", 61", and 63". The best selling plasma televisions are made by Panasonic, Pioneer, Sony, and Samsung.

Third, you should consider buying a plasma television from an online e-tailer. Here are some reasons to buy online:

• Convenience. No need to stand on line, or spend time talking to a sales person.

• Price savings. You save money by not having to pay sales taxes and we’re priced below big box retailers.

• Exclusives. They have a wider selection of plasma models to choose from all the major manufacturers.


Fourth, decide where to mount the plasma television. One of the major benefits of plasma TV is the flexibility they afford in mounting and installation options. Here are a few you might consider:

Flat Wall Mounts are the most common mounting option for Plasma TVs for home or business use. This option is the least expensive and allows the plasma monitor to remain closest to the wall, adding less than 2 inches to the depth.

Tilt Wall Mount is used when placing the plasma TV higher than the desired eye level. A tilt wall mount typically allows 15 to 20 of tilt, depending upon the brand.

Conclusion, buying a plasma television can be an exciting experience that will bring thousand of hours of entertainment if you follow these four simple steps.

William Coit is an expert on plasma televisions and he makes it easy to find the perfect solution for your home or business at http://www.williamcoit.com

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