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Video Technology: for consumers DVD Recorders: So, before you throw out your VCR, let's take a minute to get familiarized with the different DVD Recorder formats available. There is DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R and DVD+RW. All these choices can make shopping for a DVD Recorder somewhat confusing. So, to make selecting your DVD Recorder easier, we outline below what each format means, and what are its advantages and disadvantages. Most DVD Recorders can utilize more than one format. DVD-R This common format is very similar to the recordable CD format, CD-R. It is a write-once format, so once you record something to a DVD, it cannot be recorded on again. This feature actually makes it extremely useful when you are archiving video and pictures that you want to preserve. There's no way to accidentally record over your wedding videos. As far as compatibility goes, you can play DVD-R formatted discs in almost any DVD player. The exception to this rule is that it may not work on some older, first-generation model DVD players. But then again, since the technology has improved so much and prices have fallen so far, it's probably time for most people to get a new DVD player anyway. In general, DVD recorders capable of DVD-R are also capable of DVD-RW. DVD-RW This is a re-recordable version of DVD-R, so you can record over and over on a single disc. In the world of CD recording, this format is similar to CD-RW. The ability to re-record on this format is the good side, the bad side is that it suffers from more compatibility issues that DVD-R does. It will work in many DVD players, but for the most part the DVD player has to be a relatively newer model, or one that clearly states it is compatible with DVD-RW. And unlike VHS tapes, which progressively degrade over time, each time you record on these discs, the quality remains the same. Just keep in mind that re-recordable discs are slightly more expensive that record once discs. In general, DVD recorders capable of DVD-RW are also capable of DVD-R. DVD+R This format is very similar to DVD-R. It is a record once format, that should work in almost any DVD player. However, it can be slightly easier to use because it does not require discs to be formatted before recording begins, or finalized once the recording is finish. This allows you to make recordings faster than ever before. In general, DVD recorders capable of DVD+R are also capable of DVD+RW. DVD+RW If you're noticing a pattern here, you're not alone. DVD+RW is the re-writeable version of DVD+R. This format shares many of the same characteristics of DVD-RW, but should be easier to use just like DVD+R. As an added bonus, DVD+RW is said to be compatible on more DVD players than DVD-RW is. And unlike VHS tapes, which progressively degrade over time, each time you record on these discs, the quality remains the same. Just keep in mind that re-recordable discs are slightly more expensive that record once discs. In general, DVD recorders capable of DVD+RW are also capable of DVD+R. DVD-RAM Out of all the DVD recorder formats, this one is perhaps the most interesting. This format can handle some advanced features, but has its limitations as well. Firstly, it is a re-writeable format, so you can record to the same disc many times. This comes in handy, because DVD-RAM works in a fundamentally different way from all the other formats. Even though it is a DVD, data (including video) on a DVD-RAM disc is treated in a similar fashion to the way a computer treats data on its hard drive. This allows you to use your DVD-RAM recorder in much the same way you use a Personal Video Recorder like TiVO. You can watch one program on the disc while you're recording another. Or, you can start watching a program, before the program has even finished recording. This is called "time slipping". But along with its advantages, DVD-RAM has its drawbacks. Out of all the DVD recorder formats, DVD-RAM is easily the most incompatible. A DVD-RAM formatted disc will most likely not play in any other type of DVD player. It may not even work in a DVD-RAM recorder from a different manufacturer. Luckily though, most DVD-RAM recorders allow you the option of using a different, more compatible type of disc if you choose. This way you get the best of both worlds, great features and compatibility in other players. When you are shopping for a DVD recorder, your best bet is to purchase a model that is compatible with as many types of recording formats as possible. If for example, your DVD recorder can record in DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM you can make discs that will play in most other DVD player, you can re-record on a single disc and you can take advantage of the features DVD-RAM offers. And bear in mind that no matter what format DVD recorder you choose, it will always be capable of playing discs it made itself. The only time you need to think about compatibility is when you try to play your homemade DVD on another DVD player. Finally, to help you keep them straight, here's a quick chart summing up the formats:
Don't Miss A Thing With a PVR you can actually pause live TV. If the phone rings right at the end of the best Super Bowl ever, you can just hit the pause button, answer the phone and then watch the rest of the game when you're through. You can also rewind live TV if you miss a crucial bit of dialogue without skipping part of the program. Catch Every Episode You'll never miss an episode of your favorite shows again. All you have to do is tell the PVR what you like to watch, and it will record your programs for you whenever they're on. PVRs even make adjustments if the show moves to another time or day. This means you never have to worry about rushing home to catch "C.S.I.". Your PVR records it and stores the episode so you can watch it when you want to. Now you no longer have to schedule your day around the TV. Buy It Once The key to a PVR's versatility is in its software, not it's hardware. Every night when the PVR makes a phone call to update its program listings, it also checks for software upgrades. If necessary, it downloads the update and installs it automatically. This way, you don't have to buy a new unit to get the latest features. What To Look For Integrated DIRECTV Receiver If you have DIRECTV service already, you should consider a PVR with a DIRECTV receiver built-in. If you don't have DIRECTV, you should get it. Who wouldn't want hundreds of channels with digital sound and video? By combining the two units, you not only save space on your A/V rack, you maximize the capabilities of your PVR. A combination unit is capable of recording two shows at once. No more deciding which show you like more. Just record them both. Get Suggestions On What To Watch Some PVRs keep track of what you like. They know what you record, but you are also able to rate shows with a thumbs up/down feature. These PVRs build a database of your tastes and will suggest other shows you may like. For example, if you tell it you enjoyed watching "The Great Escape" and "The Towering Inferno" it may record "Bullitt" for you, because it knows Steve McQueen stars in all three movies. The more shows you rate, the better your PVR gets to know your tastes. Wishlists Say you're a lifelong fan of The Who. Pete Townsend was a guest on Leno last night, but since you didn't know about it, you missed it. Some PVRs fix this problem with Wishlists. You can have it search the TV listings for actors, directors or even keywords of your choice. When it finds a match, it records it for you. Now when the Behind The Music episode about The Who airs, you won't miss it. Record Time Just like a computer, a PVR contains a hard drive, and the size of the hard drive determines the amount of programming a PVR can hold at one time. In order to maximize the recording time, PVRs allow you to choose from multiple recording qualities just like a VCR. The higher the quality of recording, the more space is required on the hard drive. The opposite is also true. If you record at a lower quality, you use less hard drive space. To afford you the most options in how you would like to record and view programs, it is a good idea to make sure you purchase a PVR with as much recording time as possible. Internet Access Besides the magic a PVR works with television, some of them allow you to access the Internet as well. Not only can you navigate the 'Net freely, but you also benefit from "interactive TV". Interactive TV combines TV and the Internet for a more enriching experience. When a symbol appears on your television screen, you simply push a button to be brought to a corresponding web page that may contain background information, opinion polls or whatever. Now if you are watching a documentary on Babe Ruth and want to know what his batting average was, you are one button away from the answer. Quick PVR Recap Of all the features that make a PVR great, perhaps the most important one is freedom. Now because you no longer have to plan your day around the TV, you are free to do what is more important to you. Whether you want to finish up that presentation before you go home or head over to catch your daughter's little league game, your PVR will record everything for you. And with the ability to fast forward through all the commercials, you just may find yourself spending less time watching TV altogether. What is HDTV? Simply put, Digital TV is a revolution. High Definition Television (HDTV) may be the best part of this revolution, but there are other exciting aspects as well. All forms of Digital TV are changing everything we know about what TV looks and sounds like. And all the changes are for the better. Digital TV is an entirely new form of television. Digital TV improves upon traditional TV is these major ways:
Knowing that Digital TV exists, and understanding what it is, are two separate things though. Hopefully, after reading this, you'll be a Digital TV expert too. Better Pictures The first major advancement is in picture quality. Every TV screen is made up of tiny dots of color called pixels. If you look closely at your analog TV screen, you can see them. Pixels are important because they are the building blocks your TV uses to create a picture. All a pixel does is light up. And a given pixel will light either red, green or blue (the three basic colors that make up a TV picture). But when you put enough of them together when they flash on and off, you start to see a picture. These pixels are arranged in lines from the top to the bottom of the screen. Since the number of lines is important to how a TV works, a standard had to be chosen. 480 lines was chosen as the standard for analog TV. Each line of pixels is also commonly known as a line of resolution. Seems simple enough right? Wrong. You see, the reason a pixel lights up is because a beam of electricity hits it. This electricity comes from an electron gun at the back of the picture tube. Since technology was a lot simpler back then, it was too hard to build an electron gun that could light up all 480 lines of pixels fast enough to create smooth looking motion. So a compromise was made. It was decided that instead of lighting up all 480 lines at once, a TV would only light up the odd numbered lines first, and then go back and fill in the even numbered ones. This process is called interlaced scanning, and it works pretty well. The average person doesn't even notice. (Until they see something better.) In techno-lingo, this showing of 480 lines of resolution in interlaced scan is called 480i ("i" for interlaced). All this was decided over 60 years ago, and a lot has changed since then. Except TV. Analog TVs haven't changed much since Elvis was on The Ed Sullivan Show. Until now. Until Digital TV. Digital Equals Better Digital TV is actually a term used to describe a bunch of different TV formats. These formats all have two things in common. They're all broadcast digitally and they all improve on regular TV's picture quality in at least one way. The most basic form of Digital TV is sometimes called Standard Definition TV (SDTV). The important thing to remember is that this format still uses 480 lines of resolution. But technology is a lot more advanced now than it was 60 years ago. We now have the ability to light up more pixels on every one of the 480 scan lines. So while SDTV and old-fashioned analog both use 480 Interlaced lines, SDTV will look sharper. (What your cable company probably calls "Digital Cable" is actually a low-resolution equivalent of an SDTV broadcast). A close comparison is to consider how much better a DVD player looks than your local TV shows. This almost exactly the improvement SDTV offers. But that's only the beginning... Sure, interlaced scanning works, but there is a better way to do it. If you show the entire image all at once, (instead of showing first half, the then other half) you get an image that's even smoother and more film like. This process of showing the entire image all at once is called Progressive scan. That's exactly what Enhanced Definition TV (EDTV) does. EDTV can show images that are 480p (480 lines of resolution, shown in Progressive scan). Compared to what we're used to, these new 480p pictures look a lot smoother and more detailed.. And better yet, because there are more lines of pixels lit at once (double 480i), we can sit close enough to a big screen television to fill our entire field of vision without it looking grainy. Just like at the movie theatre. The Cream Of The Digital Crop The best Digital TV formats available are called High Definition (HDTV). These formats are the kings of the Digital TV world. It simply doesn't get any better. It does, however, get slightly more complicated. Remember that regular TV has a set number of lines of pixels (480 to be exact). And remember that each pixel lights up a color. Since there is a limit to the number of pixels, and each pixel lights up a solid picture, this means that any detail in the image, smaller than the size of a pixel can't be shown. So, in order to increase the amount of detail, you have to increase the number of pixels. HDTV does just that. HDTV is made up of two formats, called 720p and 1080i. So, an HDTV signal is either made up of 720 lines of resolution shown in progressive scan, or 1080 lines of resolution shown in interlaced scan. Both formats are great, and it really is simply a matter of taste as far as which one is better. Some people prefer 720p, some people prefer 1080i, and most people can't tell the difference. Both HDTV formats are a huge improvement over regular TV. There is so much added detail in an HDTV image; you'll believe you're looking through a window instead of watching a TV screen. You can practically count the blades of grass on the football field. The truth is, many TV personalities do not like HDTV. The pictures are so life-like that no amount of makeup can keep them from looking just like average people. Wider Is Better Besides increased detail, and a smoother, more film-like feel there is still one more advantage Digital TV images have over regular TV images. A widescreen 16:9 format. HDTV broadcasts are always widescreen, while SDTV and EDTV broadcasts have the option of being shown in a widescreen format. If you are familiar with DVD, then you recognize how much better widescreen is. Traditional TV images are shaped more like a square (4:3). A more rectangular widescreen image shows more of what's going on. So, if you are watching a football game on a 4:3 screen, you probably can't see where the wide receivers are lined up. Since widescreen images can show more of the field, you can see every player, without the camera having to move. With widescreen Digital TV, you not only get better images, the images are bigger too. The Easy Part Now that you understand the difference between regular TV, Digital TV and HDTV. You've earned a break. If you purchase an HDTV, you don't have to worry about what format the program you're watching is broadcast in. Every HDTV is capable of showing images that are 480i and 480p. Plus an HDTV will show at least one of the HDTV formats, 720p or 1080i. If the signal you are watching is broadcast in a format your HDTV isn't capable of showing, the TV will automatically convert it to a format it can show. It really doesn't get any simpler than that. You just turn the TV on and enjoy. However, keep this in mind. A TV that is simply Digital, can not display HDTV information. A Digital TV can only display 480i or 480p images (SDTV and EDTV). These TVs are perfect for watching DVDs, or Digital broadcasts, but you won't be able to take advantage of the higher quality HDTV has to offer (unless you have a true HDTV). Better Sound Not only does Digital TV offer stunning pictures, it offers great sound as well. Currently, some programs are broadcast over regular TV in Dolby® Digital Surround Sound. This type of surround sound is an incredibly realistic experience, because sound seems to be all around you. You can even hear sound move around the room to emphasize what you see on the screen. With surround sound, you go from watching something, to experiencing it. The sound for HDTV broadcasts are always in surround sound and even lots of SD and ED programs will take advantage of surround sound too. But even the SDTV and EDTV programs that are not in true surround will still be broadcast in digital sound, which is a lot clearer than the sound on traditional TV. So, whether it's selected shows in full-blown surround sound or talk shows in Dolby Digital Stereo, everything you watch will be in this higher audio standard. More Shows To Watch (sometimes) When a station broadcasts a TV show (or sends it through a cable) the data that makes up the show takes up a certain amount of space. The term used for the space taken up is bandwidth. The more data, the more bandwidth. Since Digital TV (and especially HDTV) broadcasts contain so much more data than a regular TV broadcast, they use up more bandwidth. When you first think about it, this may seem like a bad thing. Since bandwidth is limited, and HDTV channels take up more bandwidth, won't there be fewer channels to choose from? Actually no, it means we'll actually have more channels to choose from. Think about it this way. Say the FCC allows each TV station to use a certain amount of "space" (bandwidth) to broadcast their channel.. HDTV channels use up 5 times the bandwidth a regular TV channel does. So, in order to broadcast in HDTV, the FCC simply allocates 5 times the bandwidth to each channel. Here's where it gets interesting. Each individual station doesn't always have to broadcast in full HDTV. This means every station can sometimes broadcast up to 5 channels worth of shows at once in SDTV or EDTV. While the quality of these 5 channels won't be up to HDTV standards, there are a few circumstances where this could come in handy. For example, during the day on Sunday, a station can broadcast 5 football games at once. This lets you flip around and catch 5 times the action. Then on Sunday night, (when there is only one game on) they switch formats and broadcast the game in dazzling HDTV quality. As a matter of fact, most networks are leaning towards this strategy. During the day, they will show some combination of multiple, SDTV and EDTV channels, and then switch to HDTV during primetime. You get to enjoy the picture quality of HDTV for the really good shows, and at other times you get to choose from multiple shows to watch. It's the best of both worlds. So now, you should know exactly what people are talking about when they bring up Digital TV and HDTV. All you need to do now is experience it for yourself.
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