With the expanded use of 3G and 4G wireless technologies over the past several years, the popularity of Internet radio has continued to increase. Not only can one listen to their favorite radio station(s) at home or work on the computer, but now they can also be accessed through Internet-enabled smart phones. Internet radio differs from on-demand video or music casts in that the programming is streamed live but does not have the ability to be paused like on-demand services. Internet radio also d
[ read more ]
"Low Tech" is the best way to describe a basic television antenna. Television antennas feature a series of elements cut to exact lengths which are designed to receive a compatible frequency from a transmitted television signal. Each element has a pair of metal rods (primarily aluminum based) extending from a boom. The key difference between various brands of television antenna is based on the quality of construction and how well anodized the metal is. As the metal oxidizes and the rive
[ read more ]
For audio and video lovers the good news is that there are many types of digital audio and video (A/V) cables to choose from. Usually these cables are made from either copper wire that is shielded and housed in strong casing or fiber optic usually made from clear plastic which uses pulses of light to send data.
Types of Digital A/V Cables
Two types of digital cables are either coaxial or optical in material. Here is some basic information.
Coaxial Cables
Coaxial cables use a copper center th
[ read more ]
Apple TV is one of the available options for streaming and Internet based entertainment for the television. It has an extensive library of content when paired with Apple iTunes. Although Apple TV can be an affordable option, the device has many limitations that really reduces it to a basic streaming device. This device is not the only one of its kind to provide streaming and entertainment capabilities.
There are many options to choose from with varying degrees of quality and selection. The fo
[ read more ]
The best way to understand DVD recorders is to compare them with VCRs. They are similar both in shape, function and features. You can say about a DVD recorder that it's an optical disk recorder that uses a laser beam to write media on a blank DVD. Usually the term of DVD recorder is applied to standalone units that are used in home theater systems, in studios, etc, but there are other types of DVD recorders and DVD recorder combos out there. For example DVD recorders mounted in a computer are re
[ read more ]
The Content Scrambling System, or CSS, is a Digital Rights Management, or DRM, encryption system that encrypts data on commercially-available DVDs and prevents users from copying the disc’s data to a computer file or another disc. The Content Scrambling System is also used to require all media player manufacturers to produce devices that are compatible with the Content Scrambling System because the encrypted discs will not stream to a non-compatible device.
How A Content Scramblin
[ read more ]
One of the things that makes TV picture quality more attractive is its contrast ratio. The contrast ratio is a simple concept, but it can significantly improve a TV set's picture quality. Contrast ratio is defined as the difference between the brightest color (white) and the darkest color (black).
Today's TV sets can come with a wide variety of contrast ratios. Most TVs perform this feature differently and there are a number of ways to measure contrast ratios which can affect results. Most TV
[ read more ]
Apple TV is a streaming digital media receiver that Apple Inc. markets. The first mention of the design was in 2006 at a press conference held as the iTV project in San Francisco. It was debuted as Apple TV in March of 2007 and was shipped to users who had pre-ordered the device. In September of 2010, the 2ng generation of the Apple TV device was announced. Both Apple TV generations were designed to work with the Apple iTunes store and for the user to share content from his/her computer via iTun
[ read more ]
A set top box is an electronic device that is used to convert an externally received signal or transmission into a viewable format that can be displayed on a television/display device. Set top boxes have been used in some form since the 1950s. Its capabilities have significantly advanced over the past several decades.
How Do Set Top Boxes Work?
Set top boxes process digital information and are no longer simple signal converters. Currently, they can function as video game consoles, Digital Medi
[ read more ]
720p is a shorthand name used to describe one of the HDTV formats. In other words, 720p is a 1280x720 resolution. The p stands for progressive which is better than i which stands for interlaced. 720p and the other HDTV formats becomes important when trying to determine what kind of a television to get and, more importantly, how big to get the television.
What is 720p?
The 720 describes the number of lines that go across the screen horizontally to create the image. Therefore, if there are 720 l
[ read more ]
