What's This Digital Television Thing All About?

What is digital television?

Digital television is the next generation of television technology. The current system, called analog television, was created in the 1950s. DTV was created for the 21st Century by a working group of programmers, broadcasters and engineers so that consumers will get the best product. The same way computers scan photos into data files (literally turning your vacation pictures into a series of 1s and 0s); DTV changes the film and video into digital images (those same 1s and 0s) and transmits them.

Analog still works, so why switch?

They used to say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," but 8-track tapes were replaced by cassette tapes, which were replaced by CDs and so on. New technology does the same thing, but does it better. By changing the way TV signals are broadcast, the signals use less bandwidth, meaning more programming can be sent out over the airwaves. According to the FCC website, "That means better quality, more choices, and more control over your television."

Using less bandwidth also means parts of the broadcast spectrum will no longer be needed by the TV industry. This spectrum is limited, like a series of pipes; there are many, but only so many. DTV means television needs fewer pipes. The others can be reassigned to public safety--police, fire and paramedic services--or wireless phone service providers or other uses.

When and how will the switch happen?

It has already begun. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) set the preparatory work in motion in 1996. Starting March 1, 2007, all televisions built in or imported to the US must have a digital tuner as well as an analog tuner. Many stations have already launched digital broadcasting in addition to their analog broadcasts. On February 17, 2009, all major TV stations will stop sending out analog signals.

Consumers who purchased TVs built March 2007 or after won't need to do anything; they are ready for the switchover. In fact, the switchover has gone so smoothly, most people probably didn't even notice it was happening. For those with older sets, they can buy a new TV or buy a converter than translates digital back to analog signals.

Analog-only TV sets built before March 2007 may still be available for sale; if so, retailers must to post a notice clearly stating which sets are analog-only.

What about consumers who can't afford a digital-to-analog converter?

Starting January 1, 2008, and continuing through March 31, 2009, consumers can request two coupons for two digital-to-analog converter boxes. Each coupon is worth $40.00 toward the purchase of one converter.

Will consumers need a special antenna to get digital television programs?

Consumers who currently use an antenna, either on-the-set 'rabbit ears' or a roof-mounted antenna, should receive digital signals as well as they received analog signals.

Is this related to high-definition television?

No, HDTV is a separate issue. HDTV audio and video signals are digital, but the new regular TV (sometimes called 'enhanced' television or ETV) will also be going digital. Consumers do not have to buy an HDTV to see digital-TV programming. Broadcasting programs in enhanced and high-def formats is called 'multi-casting,' which will be one of the big advantages of the digital switch.

Other useful facts:

Consumers who decide to buy a new television don't have to send their old set to a landfill; many communities have recycling programs.

Cable systems are not required to switch to digital, although many cable companies are offering digital and high-definition program packages as well as analog. Some may eventually choose to switch to all-digital programming. The FCC's DTV rules apply only to broadcasters--those who use the public airwaves to deliver programming to consumers.

Parental controls (like the V-chip) will work as well with digital signals as they have worked with analog.

Like all consumer electronics, televisions have changed a lot over the past fifty years. With few exceptions, these have been changes for the better. Digital television is simply the newest member of that list.

For more information:

The FCC has set up a website (http://www.dtv.gov) to answer consumer questions.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration or NTIA, (http://www.dtv2009.gov) can assist with the converter coupon program.

Consumers wishing to recycle an old television can get help from the Consumer Electronics Association (http://www.mygreenelectronics.com)

Phoenix Roberts has been a journalist, freelance writer and desktop publisher for over 10 years. Presently, he is an SEO Content Writer for Internet discount retailer Overstock.
(http://www.overstock.com) He is also an FCC-certified Digital Television educator.

(C) 2008 Overstock.com--All Rights Reserved

Samsung Wep410
Samsung Loose Particles
Samsung Divx Player

HDTV Hype - 7 Marketing Terms and What They Really Mean

HDTV merchants have two important jobs: to bring you the best technology available, and to help you understand exactly what it is. One way to help you understand new technology is to come up with a simple, descriptive name for it. But sometimes the names are a little too simple, sometimes they arent
descriptive enough, and sometimes they are downright misleading.

Here are seven common HDTV terms that can be misleading or unclear:

HD-Ready

Ready for what? "HD-ready" means the same thing as "HD monitor". It is an HDTV without a built-in tuner, so an external ATSC tuner, or a cable box, will be needed to receive broadcasts. If you only intend to use your HDTV for gaming or DVD watching, it might be better to save a few hundred dollars with an HD-ready TV.

Native 720p/1080i Display

Most HDTV displays have either 768 or 1080 rows of pixels, and a few have 900. And all HDTVs have an
inherently progressive display, so the most common native resolutions are 768p, 900p, and 1080p. So, when a manufacturer or merchant claims that an HDTV is native 720p/1080i, it usually means that those are the highest resolutions it can handle, and the input is scaled and de-interlaced to fit a 768p display. Some DLP HDTVs, however, do have a native 720p display.

HDTV Antenna

Theres no such thing as a dedicated HDTV antenna. Over-the-air HDTV broadcasts use the UHF spectrum, just like public access TV. So, any UHF antenna will work.

Full HD

This refers to a 1080p display with a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and the ability to display 24, 30 or 60 full frames per second. The term is not wrong, but it implies that 720p or 1080i content is somehow incomplete. Since neary all HD content these days is still 720p or 1080i, that would be pretty
depressing for HDTV owners.

HD1080

Sets labeled "HD1080" have 1080 rows of pixels and a progressive display, so they can properly be called 1080p. But they only have 1024 or 1280 pixels in each row, so they don't display the maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080. A 1080i or 1080p signal would be downscaled in the horizontal direction, changing a picture with a lot of square pixels into one with a smaller amount of rectangular ones. This doesn't alter the basic appearance of video content, but does cause problems when using the HDTV as a computer monitor.

Motionflow, Auto Motion Plus, ClearFrame, Clear Motion Drive

These are all trade names for the new 120Hz high frame rate display technology. HDTV sets with this feature will generally display motion smoother because they can show 120 distinct images per second instead of the typical 60.

1080p Upconverting DVD Player

Many DVD players claim to upconvert content to 1080p, as opposed to 1080i. This is unnecessary, since all HDTVs have progressive displays, and theres no visible difference between content upconverted to 1080i and content upconverted to 1080p. The transfer from i to p is called de-interlacing, and this task is performed by the TV anyway. The only benefit would come if its a low quality HDTV (with a poor de-interlacer) and a high quality DVD player with a good de-interlacer.

About the Author

Tom Webster writes for FlatHDTV.net, an online guide to the HDTV revolution.

Samsung Stylish Design
Samsung blu Ray
Samsung Eddie Bauer

Audio Book Advantages

The times are changing and Audio Books are the way of the future. The days of having to lug heavy hardbacks around and bookmark pages are fast being left behind and with the new age popularity of MP3 players, more books are being released in audio every day. You just need to visit any online publisher to be amazed at the broad range available.

If you have ever found it difficult to concentrate when reading, an Audio Book is your answer. Instead of having to worry about background noises and interruptions, you can close yours eyes and concentrate on what you are listening to. You dont have to worry about keeping your place and getting in a comfortable position to be able to turn the page is also a thing of the past. It doesnt matter if your sitting in your favorite chair, catching some sun or lying in bed, its all easy with audio books. You can choose to play it through your MP3 player headphones so you can really get in the zone and stay focused.

Until you could download audio books, it was never possible and highly dangerous to read while driving. For some commuters, this is considered a serious waste of good time. People who travel to work have been known to choose public transport for the simple fact that they can use the time to read or study instead of being stuck in traffic. With audio books, you can get your reading done while driving. Whether you have an MP3 compatible car stereo or need to copy the files to CD or tape, you can listen to books in the car. Imagine using the ten or more hours a week you are driving to refresh and expand your knowledge?

Students are finding they can use their audio books anytime to study or access information. Any student would prefer to carry a small and almost weightless MP3 player rather than heavy hard copies of literature. Having their novels on audio file means they can listen to them multiple times with ease, learning more and achieving higher grades as a result. Many people learn best when listening rather than reading, so discovering audio books can be ground-breaking. If they are worried they dont have enough study material for an exam or assignment, they can download audio books online in minutes instead of having to wait for the book store to open.

Audio books are great for the imagination. Spending some time relaxing while listening to a story being told can stimulate your mind and reactivate your creativity. Many people are spending way too much time watching television and their ability to create their own ideas and visualizations seems lost. Devoting half your TV time to audio books instead can give you a new lease on life, as your ability to learn and imagine spreads through all areas of your life.

Storing books can be a pain in the neck! They are constant dust collectors and take up a fair amount of space. Anyone who loves to read knows how difficult it can be to keep your books in any sort of organized order and often you end up giving some away to save the trouble. Collecting audio books is so much easier! Storing them on CD means they are protected in a case, take less room and last for a long time to come. If you have the space for the files on a drive, the audio books take up no physical room at all and are easy to file and find within windows.

In the years to come books as we know them today could become obsolete. With so many benefits to the audio book alternative there will be less and less demand from consumers for normal books. You can visit publishers and bookstores online to buy and download your choices instantly, so you dont even have to leave your home. Instead of trying to remember the name of that good book you were told about, you can look it up and purchase it straight away, ensuring you dont forget. No more dusty, mildew and moth collecting paperbacks filling your shelves or weighing your bag down!

Next time you are thinking about visiting the bookstore near your home, try to download the audio book online first. You will be surprised when you see the range of classics to modern day literature that is available in an audio format. They are much more convenient and quite often lower in cost as well!

Bruce Walls is an author and webmaster. More of his useful articles and posts can be found at AudioBookGoBlog

Samsung Home Theater Systems Waste of Money
Samsung Play DVD
Samsung Home Theater Systems Low Budget