Gadgets and Trends

Beyond just radio...Satellite Radio.

2007-02-21T20:15:00.000-08:00

A satellite radio is a digital radio signal that is broadcast by a communications satellite, which covers a much wider geographical range than terrestrial radio signals.

SR functions any place there is line of sight between the antenna and the satellite, as long as there are no major obstructions, such as tunnels or buildings. SR audiences can follow a single channel regardless of location within a given range.

Because the technology requires access to a commercial satellite for signal propagation, SR services are commercial business entities (not private parties), which offer a package of channels as part of their service—requiring a subscription from end users to access its channels. Currently, the main SR providers are WorldSpace in Europe, Asia and Africa, and a new company being created by the buyout of XM Radio by its rival, Sirius Satellite Radio in North America. All are proprietary and non-compatible signals, requiring proprietary hardware for decoding and playback. These and other services have news, weather, sports, and several music channels.

Satellite radio is currently at the forefront of the evolution of radio services in some countries, notably the United States, but is less prominent in countries with relatively high population densities, where it is easier to reach the bulk of the population with terrestrial broadcasts, such as the United Kingdom. In the UK and some other countries the contemporary evolution of radio services is focused on Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) services rather than on satellite radio.

Here's the latest news about Satellite Radio:

US lawmakers to hold XM-Sirius merger hearing
Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:16pm ET26

WASHINGTON, Feb 21 (Reuters) - A new Congressional antitrust task force will hold a hearing next week on the proposed merger of radio subscription companies, XM Satellite (XMSR.O: Quote, Profile , Research) and Sirius Satellite (SIRI.O: Quote, Profile , Research), House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers said on Wednesday.

For the rest of the story, click here.

Check out this cool video, it's says all about how cool satellite radio is!

The age of HDTV's

2007-02-20T20:51:00.000-08:00

Visual entertainment at it’s best

High-definition television (HDTV) is a television broadcasting system with a significantly higher resolution than traditional formats (NTSC, SECAM, PAL). While some early analog HDTV formats were broadcast in Europe and Japan, HDTV is usually broadcast digitally, because digital television (DTV) broadcasting requires much less bandwidth. HDTV technology was first introduced in the US during the 1990s by a group of electronics companies called the Digital HDTV Grand Alliance.

In the 2000s, a number of high-definition television standards are competing for the still-developing niche markets. Current HDTV standards are defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-R BT.709) as 1080 active interlace or progressive scan lines, or 720 progressive scan lines, using a 16:9 aspect ratio. HDTV is also capable of "theater-quality" audio because it uses the Dolby Digital (AC-3) format to support "5.1" surround sound.

The term "high-definition" can refer to the resolution specifications themselves, or more loosely to media capable of similar sharpness, such as photographic film. Currently, approximately 48 million households have HDTVs

Here are our picks for the best HDTV’s available in the market:

32" LCD HDTV Under $460.00 - PRICE SLASHED $75.00!

Pioneer PRO-FHD

Although its price puts it out of reach for most buyers, the Pioneer PRO-FHD1 delivers the best picture quality we've tested this year.
Pros: Accurate colors; excellent detail with 1080 resolution material; can reproduce deep blacks; extensive picture controls including color temperature and primary color adjustments; comprehensive connectivity including two HDMI and one DVI input; smooth styling with tinted-edge frame.
Cons: Very costly; lacks speakers, stand, and tuner; subpar 480p picture quality.

Pioneer PDP-5070HD

Pioneer's PDP-5070HD 50-inch plasma sets a benchmark for flat-panel performance and is well worth the premium price for people who take video quality seriously.
Pros: Accurate color decoding; can reproduce deep blacks; solid video processing; comprehensive connectivity, including two HDMI, three component-video, and one PC input; excellent feature package with picture-in-picture, CableCard, and TV Guide onscreen program guide.
Cons: Costly; inaccurate green color.

Sony KDL-40XBR

Sure the high-end Sony KDL-40XBR2 offers a commendable picture with more tweaks than you'll ever use, but let's face it: style is this LCD's main weapon.
Pros: Reproduces deep blacks with excellent shadow detail; picture stays true from off-angle compared to other LCDs'; myriad picture controls; resolves every detail of 1080p-resolution sources; superb connectivity with three HDMI inputs and a PC input; unique, eye-catching styling; optional designer-colored bezels.
Cons: Costly; subpar picture via standard-def inputs; wider than many LCDs; no picture-in-picture.

Vizio P50HDTV

With commendable image quality and plenty of connections, the relatively affordable Vizio P50HDTV 50-inch plasma is the best value in its class.
Pros: Relatively affordable; impressive black-level performance; video processing includes 2:3 pull-down decoding; accurate color decoding; two HDMI inputs.
Cons: False-contouring artifacts; noisy fan; lacks a CableCard.

Westinghouse W4207

The Westinghouse W4207 might not include a tuner, but for cable and satellite users who want high-def for less, it's a tremendous bargain.
Pros: Affordable for a 42-inch LCD; relatively accurate color; solid connectivity including one HDMI, one DVI, and one PC input; picture-in-picture function.
Cons: Subpar processing via standard-def inputs; below-average off-angle and uniformity performance; no tuner included; inadequate aspect-ratio control for wide-screen standard-def sources.

Mitsubishi WD-65831

The Mitsubishi WD-65831 may be costly, but its standout picture quality, sleek design, and superb feature set make it worth the price to high-end buyers.
Pros: Produces deep blacks with excellent shadow detail; greatly reduced "rainbow effect" compared to other DLPs; resolves every line of 1080-resolution sources; plenty of picture control including fine-tuning for color and tint; excellent connectivity with two 1080p-compatible HDMI inputs and a 1080p DVI input; very compact design for a 65-inch HDTV.
Cons: Costly; inaccurate primary colors and initial color decoding and grayscale; no grayscale controls in user menu.

JVC HD-56G887

The JVC HD-56G887 is a value-priced 720p big-screen that delivers impressive performance for the money.
Pros: Relatively affordable; accurate color decoding and grayscale tracking; generous connectivity, including dual HDMI inputs and one PC input.
Cons: Some visible artifacts in dark material; relatively light color of black; no independent input memories; average looks.

Check out this cool video depicting the clarity of an HDTV:

Apple iPod digital player

2007-02-19T18:16:00.000-08:00

We've witnessed the metamorphosis of Apple's ipod from a simple music player, to a picture viewer, to a podcast player. Now, Apple has unveiled the Ipod digital player, which plays high quality videos.

Product details:

General

Product Type Digital player

Digital Player Type Hard drive based

Width 2.4 in

Depth 0.4 in

Height 4.1 in

Weight 4.8 oz

Enclosure Color Black

PC Interface Supported Hi-Speed USB

Audio System

Capacity 30 GB

Digital Storage Media Hard disk drive - built-in

Sound Output Mode Stereo

Equalizer Yes

Digital Photo Playback Yes

Supported Digital Photo Standards BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, PSD (Mac only), TIFF Built-in Clock Digital clock, timer Timer Sleep, wake

Additional Features Battery level indication, hold button, rechargeable capability, playback speed control, date display, phone book, calendar, upgradeable firmware, built-in games, notes, photo wallet, JPEG photo playback, USB 2.0 compatibility, MPEG-4 playback, H.264 playback

Built-in Display

Built-in Display LCD - color

Display Illumination Yes

Display Illumination Color White

Color Depth 65,536 color

Resolution 320 x 240

Diagonal Size 2.5"

Display Menu Language Danish, Hungarian, Czech , Chinese (traditional), Chinese (simplified), English, German, French, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Polish, Finnish, Swedish, Russian, Spanish, Dutch, Greek, Turkish, Japanese, Korean

Features Transflective

Equalizer

Equalizer Factory Preset Qty 20

Digital Player (Recorder)

Supported Digital Audio Standards WAV, AAC, AIFF, Audible, MP3, Apple Lossless

ID3 Tags Support Yes

Playback Modes Playlist, random play, all tracks repeat, one track repeat

Supported Bit Rate 16 - 320Kbps

Response Bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz

External Hard Drive Function Yes

Features Variable bit-rate compatible

Headphones

Headphones Type Headphones - binaural - ear-bud

Connectivity Technology Wired

Sound Output Mode Stereo Response

Bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz

Impedance 32 Ohm

Connections

Connector Type 1 x docking station
1 x headphones / remote control / composite video ( mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm )

Miscellaneous

Included Accessories Soft case, docking station adapter

Cables Included 1 x USB cable

Software Apple iTunes for Mac, Apple iTunes for Windows

Battery

Battery Player battery - rechargeable - lithium ion

Battery Enclosure Type Integrated

Run Time (Up To) 14 hour(s)

Recharge Time 4 hour(s)

Battery Life Details Digital playback - 14 hour(s)
Video playback - 2 hour(s)
Slideshows with music - 3 hour(s)

System Requirements

OS Required Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4 or later, Apple MacOS X 10.3.9 or later, Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2 or later, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2 or later

Peripheral / Interface Devices USB port

Watch this cool ipod and itunes commercial with the "Greenskeepers"