HDMI: Guide to HDTV Connection of the Future

Background:

As the HDTV market continues to heat up, consumers are in need of being educated on the latest technology. One of the terms that you, the consumer, will surely run into while selecting a HDTV set is: HDMI. For most this is an unfamiliar term and we will explain the details of HDMI in this article so you, the consumer, is armed with the proper knowledge to make intelligent purchasing decisions.

What is HDMI: HDMI is an acronym for High Definition Multi-Media Interface. The HDMI specification (now at 1.2) was created by some of the largest consumer electronics manufacturers in the world: Hitachi, Matsushita, Philips, Silicon Image, Sony, Thomson, and Toshiba. HDMI is the latest digital HDTV interconnection standard. The notable differences between HDMI and the earlier HDTV interconnects standards (component video, and DVI) are:

-HDMI is all digital unlike analog component video cables

-HDMI supports multi-channel audio in addition to digital video. (DVI only supports digital video)

- HDMI is more compact in size and carries both audio and video signals therefore eliminate cable clutter.

-HDMI incorporates content protection called HDCP ( high definition content protection)

What does a HDMI connector look like: HDMI looks similar to a USB cable. The compact size and high integration (carries both audio and video) makes the HDTV installation experience truly "plug and play."

Why should I use HDMI:

-HDMI is all digital, so picture quality is "perfect" from source to display

-HDMI is both a digital audio and video connection. This will minimize cabling in your system

-HDMI is rapidly becoming the de facto standard for HDTV connections.

How does HDMI transport the digital video: The video portion of HDMI is carried by 3 separate differential pairs. Each pair transports 1 of 3 uncompressed native digital R,G, B signals from source ( dvd player, set top box) to the sink ( HDTV display). A unique protocol, T.M.D.S.( transmission minimized differential signaling), is used to transport the digital data. Each pixel is represented by 24 bits ( 8 bits each for each of the primary colors). The T.M.D.S. protocol then "calculates" and stuffs 2 extra bits to the video data stream in order to create a digital stream with minimum transitions ( lower EMI, lower interference) and also minimize long strings of '1' and '0' which can cause detection errors.

A fourth differential pair, called the TMDS clock provides the pixel clock for timing the data stream. The maximum TMDS single link pixel clock rate is 165 MHz.

What is the data rate of a single link HDMI connection: The maximum pixel clock rate is 165MHz and each of the 3 TMDS video streams carries 10 bits. Therefore the aggregate data rate is 3 x 10 x 165MHz = 4.96Gbps.

How many pins are included in the HDMI connector: There are 19 individual pins in the HDMI connector. There are 3 pairs of TMDS signals which carry all the digital audio and video signals.

How is the digital Audio signal transported: The multi-channel audio is time multiplexed into the TMDS data streams. Audio is much lower data rate (192kbps) and the extra time is used to demux the audio signals.

What is HDCP: HDCP is an acronym for High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection. HDCP is an encryption method developed by Intel in order to control unauthorized copying of digital media. The encryption is carried out in the HDMI transmitter found in the "source" ( dvd player, set top box) and decryption is carried out by the HDMI receiver ( the HDTV display). The secret keys for encryption are exchanged between the source and display over an I2C bus ( pins 15 and 16).

Is HDMI compatible with DVI: DVI is the predecessor to HDMI. HDMI and DVI are identical as far as video is concerned. Therefore, video backward compatibility exists. However, DVI will not support digital audio. For example, if you have an older DVI connection on your source and a HDMI connector on your display, a HDMI to DVI cable is all that is needed in order to view the video. A separate audio cable ( TOSLINK or SPDIF) will be needed to carry the digital audio.

What formats will HDMI support: HDMI is high speed digital connection and will support resolutions of 480i, 480P, 720i, 720 P, 1080i and in the future,1080P.

Conclusion:

HDTV technology is changing rapidly. HD connections such as HDMI will become the de facto standard in HDTV connections. We have outlined the important features of HDMI, so the consumer is well informed and ready to make intelligent purchasing decisions.

Jeff Su is product development manager at www.octavainc.com. Jeff is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology (BSEE, MSEE) and has over 10 years of experience in CATV systems, RF, and microwave designs. He may be reached at info@octavainc.com

Choosing A Digital Camera Printer

There are so many types of digital camera printer on offer that finding the right one for your personal and business needs can be a very daunting task. However, there are a few main points to consider when choosing a digital camera printer that will help make the process a little easier.

It isn’t necessary to have a high-resolution digital camera printer to make great pictures. The higher the printer resolution you use, the more pixels you'll need in your original image file to produce a decent size print with your digital camera printer. The actual file size (in pixels) of the image from your camera, divided by the printer resolution (in dots per inch), determines the final print size. So, if the image file size is 1,478 x 1,280 pixels, and you print the file at 163 dpi with your digital camera printer, the final print size will be 9 x 7.8 inches.

If your digital camera printer resolution is 300 dpi, then you will have a higher resolution with more dots per inch laid down on the paper but a smaller print size. It is therefore important to ensure that you have the image file size to support the resolution of your digital camera printer.

The price of a digital camera printer is lowering whilst the quality is increasing. If you choose the right digital camera printer you can have your own photo lab, greeting card designing and sign making department with just your digital camera, some software and a printer.

The aim of having a digital camera printer is to produce photographic prints that look as close to real photographic prints as possible. This type of digital camera printer was once very expensive to buy and run, but technological advancements and competitive pricing have made them much more accessible to the average buyer. Ink-jet printers are now available that can produce excellent prints and a near photo-quality printer is much easier to find for people with a small budget. You will probably want to have a digital camera printer with a scanning feature built-in. If you want to produce same-size scans of photos you don’t need scan resolutions higher than 300 samples per inch for the scanner.

Your digital camera printer should also have the same interface that you already have on your computer. So if you have USB, then get a digital camera printer with USB, a Firewire printer if you have Firewire or a SCSI printer if you have SCSI. There should be no need to buy a digital camera printer that requires a different interface to the one you already have on your computer or it will cost you more to upgrade if necessary.

About The Author

Steve Gargin is the administrator of http://digital-camera-reviews.helper-guru.com/camera-digital-photography-wedding/index.html which is a great website dedicated to giving free advice on Digital Cameras.

Features Of Your MP4 Player

When MP3s came into the market, they were a huge hit. They were small and portable, and owners could listen to all their favorite music while on the move. Now you have the MP4 player, such as iPod, with even more advanced, attractive features!

With the MP4 player (iPod), you can not only listen to your favorite songs, you can also watch your favorite movies, music videos, and TV shows, along with all your MP3 songs. It can do other things as well - you can listen to FM radio stations, you can record voice notes, and on some devices, you can even read your favorite ebooks.

Since 1993, when the MP3 technology was first introduced in to the market, it had been the most important music format. The recent introduction of the MP4 with its more compressed audio format has again changed the way digital sound is perceived. Most people might not be aware of how the MP4 differs from the MP3 and think that MP4s are more compressed and hence smaller than the audio files in the MP3 format; others assume that these two represent different technologies.

There are both common features as well as distinctions between MP3 and MP4 players. The most important point that comes to the mind when you compare the two, is that the MP4 format has properties that make up for all the shortfalls of the MP3, and the quality of perception of the files in the MP4 format is much better when compared to the MP3.

Basically, MP4 is a container. So it has the capability to carry video as well as audio files. So the basic difference is that the MP4 contains the audio and video at the same time while the MP3 format can support only the audio files. The MP4 player (iPod) allows you to realize something bigger and better than anything you can imagine. It is a new concept known as Structured Audio, and it is a mode of describing sound in the most ultra-modern way.

The MP4 technology supports a quality of sound that represents the future standard for a variety of multimedia application , including computer music and gaming audio; hence one can think of the MP4 as the next step in the evolution of the file format that started with the MP3.

There are many types of MP4 players in the market. They are very light and have small screens of 1.2 inch, however some of them may have screens of up to 2 inches. The speakers are built inside the players and there are earphone sockets as well. It is not unusual to find OLED display characteristics. OLED produces brighter and sharper images as compared to LCD images.

A great characteristic of MP4 players (iPod) is that there are not innumerable buttons for the various commands. Only a few buttons are sufficient for the purpose. The memory is quite large at 8 GB for flash based and 100 GB in case of micro based hard drive .

The latest MP4 players (iPod) even support third party, flash memory cards, which are external... they even have USB support. Earphones and other accessories are also available with the MP4, but at times the quality may not be up to the mark.

Because of it capability of delivering both video and audio at the same time, MP4 devices (iPod) can offer an even greater range of features such as email, web browsing, instant messaging , music and video download, digital camera, bluetooth wireless technology and many more. Multiple language options and gaming capability add to its versatility. Features such as voice recording enable MP4 devices to be used not only for entertainment but also for professional purposes.

This article is under GNU FDL license and can be distributed without any previous authorization from the author. However the author's name and all the URLs (links) mentioned in the article and biography must be kept.

This article can be accessed in portuguese language from the Article section of page http://www.polomercantil.com.br/ipod.php , http://www.polomercantil.com.br/mp4-player.php

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for Polomercantil

Your Guide To A Notebook

A notebook or laptop is nothing but a small portable computer that weighs 2.2 to 18 pounds (1 to 8 kg), that depends on its brand, style, size, material it is made of, and many other factors. Notebooks generally operate on a single main battery or through an external adapter that can both charge the battery and also supply power to the notebook.

Notebooks are adept at performing the same jobs like a personal desktop; the only difference is that they are generally less powerful for the same cost. They consist of similar components like desktop computers and execute the same functions, except that they are miniature in size and suitable for transportable use and effective power consumption. Notebooks usually have LCD and different memory modules. They have a built-in keyboard; input is done through a touchpad or a pointing stick, though an external mouse can also be attached.

There are different categories of notebooks. UMPCs are Ultra-Mobile PCs and are very portable. Since they are of a small size they can fit in a small touch screen while some other models have a minute physical keyboard along with a mouse interface. The other type is Ultraportables which are notebooks and have screens less than eleven inches and have less than 3.7 pounds (1.7 kg) of weight. They are generally used by business travelers, as they are small and light though very expensive. They have an extended battery life and integrated graphics. The other type of notebook is the Sony VAIO FJ76, and Dell XPS M1330 and XPS M1210. Then we have the mainstream notebooks that are more of budget desktops. And if you want desktop power, then you can opt for desktop replacement which can accommodate many performance components.

As far as the processors are concerned you should go for the fastest that your budget will allow. You can opt for Intel's Centrino that has great speed and also good battery life. Or else you can also go for the economic AMD's mobile processors whose performance still lags behind Intel. If you intend to watch DVDs on your notebook then go for wide screen ones that offer sharper, larger and great images. The only consideration is that they are not meant for carrying around a lot.

For great system performance it is vital to have enough memory (RAM) that will allow you to run many applications together. Adequate RAM is also essential for image and video editing, graphics work, and 3D gaming. Generally notebooks have a terrible sound quality so it is recommended to use speakers or headphones. These are some of the factors that you need to consider before buying a notebook.

Also keep in mind that like any electronic device, your notebook is vulnerable to accidents as well as system failures. It is recommended to get at least a three year warranty and also some additional insurance.

Health hazards related to using a laptop has been a controversial topic for quite some time. Researches have proved that heat generated from notebooks can raise temperature of scrotum, leading to reduced sperm count. A solution can be using it on a table or keeping it apart from the lap that will enable better cooling of the notebook and also prevent your lap from excessive electromagnetic radiation and heat.

Some of the famous brands that have notebook are Acer that have TravelMate, Ferrari and Aspire models; BenQ; Compaq with its Armada, LTE, EVO and Presario models. Other famous brands are Gateway, HCL, Lenovo, LG, Micro-Star International, Panasonic, Samsung, Toshiba and others.

This article can also be accessed from page Notebook_Guide

SAMSUNG announced 8GB microSD card for Mobile phone

Samsung announced that they have developed 8GB microSD memory card, a size optimal for today’s multimedia mobile phones. This microSD card Featuring the highest capacity announced so far. The new fingernail-sized card is capable of storing 2,000 MP3 music files, 4,000 digital photos, or approximately 5 DVD-quality movies.

SD cards, to date, have been largely used for data storage in digital still cameras and increasingly in televisions. MicroSD cards, which are a quarter the size of an SD card, are backward compatible with SD cards using an extender, to allow multimedia files downloaded by mobile phones to be easily displayed on other media.

I am eagerly waiting for a mobile phone which also I can use to carry my whole database and all my necessery files .

Samsung SGH-i400 : A smartphone

The Samsung SGH-i400 is idle choice who looking for a mobile phone with all advance features . This mobile phone is slim and and stylish design.

• The new smartphone i400 is based on Symbian OS and S60 which offer extensive language supports, enhanced download applications and multitasking features.
• With Symbian S60, the Samsung i400 allows its users to install programs on their mobile phones just like PCs.
• The stylish slider phone supports full web browsing and Bluetooth connectivity for active business users.
• To enhance its multimedia features, the Samsung i400 also includes 2 Megapixel camera, music key and stereo dual speaker.
• Wide display, the i400 has a 2.3” wide display for the convenient use of business and multimedia functions.

The i400 will be first launched in Russia from July 2007 .

PRO-HG Duo memory stick to increase your data transfer rate

Sony introduced its new Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo™ media, which offers data transfer up to three times faster than other Memory Stick Duo products. PRO-HG media can help with faster recording times between hardware. These memory sticks using 8-bit parallel interface and the flash memory device. While other traditional memory sticks using 4-bit parallel interface, with the addition of four connector pins you can have experince of data transfer of up to 30MB/s (240 Mbps) megabytes per second.
The new Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo media can also be used with conventional 4-bit parallel interface hardware, ensuring the format’s minimum write speed of 15 megabits per second.

Sony PRO-HG Duo Memory Stick are vailable in 1GB, 2GB and 4GB capacities. The 1GB capacity, MS-EX1G Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo™ media will be priced around $60; the 2GB capacity, MS-EX2G will be offered for about $90; and the 4GB capacity, MS-EX4G will retail for around $150.

Important feature of Nokia 6120 classic mobile phone

• Now a days more and more using their mobile set for downloading music, streaming video, browsing the Internet or receiving emails with attachments, Nokia 6120 phone can help you to perform those tasks faster and easier by utilizing HSDPA.
  

• The new phone have two cameras first, a 2-megapixel camera with 4-times digital zoom, flash and panorama mode for taking high-quality photographs and the second camera is in the front which can take your picture while you are gong to use the video call feature.
  
• Consumers can transfer their email, messages and other personal files from their old Nokia mobile phone to Nokia 6120 very easily. The Data Transfer application allows consumers to transfer contacts, calendars, photos, videos and files from their previous Nokia to their new Nokia 6120 classic, even when the SIM card is removed.
  
• Also you don't have to sit infront of your office computer to check your calendar. You can easily synchronize your calendar from your office computer with the calendar featured in the Nokia 6120 classic phone.
  
• With Nokia 6120 and 3G technology you can experience with faster browsing, streaming, music downloads and email and Internet access. The new Nokia HSDPA technology makes these applications, and many others, more accessible.
• The Nokia 6210 classic is based on S60 software that lets users download and use additional applications in addition to the ones already found on the device. Users can personalize the phone with a wide variety of add-on applications, enhancements, content and service. S60 also allows users to run several applications at the same time enabling them to browse the Web while listening to their favourite music.

Important feature of H250 and H20: New SD Video Cameras from panasonic

30GB HDD
The built-in 30GB HDD of the SDR-H250 or SDR-H20 has a storage capacity that is 22 times as large as that of a single DVD. Unlike tape or DVD recording media, the HDD in LP mode enables continuous video recording for up to 27 hours without additional recording media. The HDD is equipped with Anti-Shock Shields that protects important video recording data from external shock. Furthermore, the video recording data can be copied to PCs or DVD writers over the USB cable. The 30GB HDD ensures both reliability and user-friendliness.

EAnti-Shock Shield
1: Drop Detect Function
Incorporates a 3D sensor that detects falls from a height of approximately 20 cm or over and automatically keeps the head away from the hard disc drive, thus preventing disc data damage resulting from the collision of the head.

2: Floating Structure
The four corners of the hard disc drive are filled up with thick vibration-proof gel, which suppresses external vibration and shock transmitted to the drive.

3: Buffer Memory
When the drop detect function is activated while recording and the head is kept away from the drive, the recording data in progress will be automatically backed up* in the built-in buffer memory. When the hard disc drive returns to normal, the data will be automatically transferred to the drive. Therefore, even if the user should drop the video camera while shooting images, the video recording of the video camera will not break off.
*As long as there is battery power.

3CCD Camera System (H250)
The SDR-H250 is provided with a 3CCD camera system that has been used by most professional broadcast equipment. Panasonic's professional 3CCD video cameras, which have brought breathtaking images to viewers around the world since 1992, when they were first selected as the broadcast equipment for the Olympic Games. Panasonic has downsized its professional 3CCD camera system for use in consumer models. In a 3CCD camera system, the light received through the lens is split into its three primary colour components (red, green and blue), and the signal from each is processed by one of the three CCDs. Compared with conventional 1CCD camera systems, Panasonic's 3CCD system provides more vivid, true-to-life colours, greater detail and richer gradation.

O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer)
The shaking and blurring that can occur when shooting with unsteady hands may be often annoying when the images are viewed on TV screens that have been rapidly increasing in size in recent years. Moreover, the development of telescopic functions has involved an adverse influence of the shaking and blurring on the recording screen more remarkably than ever before. The SDR-H250 and SDR-H20 are equipped with Panasonic's O.I.S., which makes it possible to minimize the influence of the shaking and blurring without loss of image quality. Furthermore, the MEGA O.I.S. will start automatically at the time of still-picture shooting, thus performing further image stabilization that is twice as effective. Therefore, digital video cameras incorporating the O.I.S. and MEGA O.I.S. make it possible to record beautiful still images as well as animated images. The O.I.S. and MEGA O.I.S. are truly necessary in an age of large-screen, high-resolution TVs, when every image imperfection is easily visible.

Leica Dicomar Lens (H250)
Photographers around the world know Leica Camera AG as a maker of superb cameras and lenses. This company's advanced optical technology has been fused with Panasonic's leading-edge digital technology to create the Leica Dicomar lens. The Leica Dicomar lens provided in the SDR-H250 features 12 lens elements in eight groups and uses low-dispersion optical glass to reduce the blurring of colour. A special multi-coating process is applied to the 14 lens element surfaces to minimize chromatic aberration, so images are crisp, clear, and free of flare and ghosting.
*Leica is a registered trademark of Leica Microsystems IR GmbH, and Dicomar is a registered trademark of Leica Camera AG.

32x Optical Zoom (H20)
Enjoy remarkable 32x zoom magnification in a camera that fits comfortably and securely in one hand. Since the zoom is optical, it captures both moving and still pictures with exquisite beauty.

Crystal Engine & Pure Colour Engine
The Crystal Engine is a special image processing circuit for 3CCD camera systems that process the R, G, and B signals from three CCDs individually to remove the noise and improve colour processing accuracy. Pure Colour Engine is the same one for high-zooming cameras. Each engine achieves truly superb colour reproduction for high-quality pictures.

Source : http://www.panasonic-europe.com

Important features of TH-42PZ700 and TH-50PZ700, Full HD Plasma TV released by Panasonic

V-real Pro II Technology : Panasonic came out with improved version of V-real collection of technologies into V-real Pro II systems exclusively and incorporated in both TH-42PZ700 and TH-50PZ700.

1080p Digital Processing Chip-Set : The 1080p signal format used by Blu-ray Discs offers the highest image quality among high-definition video sources. The VIERA processor which are used in TH-42PZ700 and TH-50PZ700 receives 1080p video signals in their original format and displaying the same image quality without any down-convertion .

1080p Digital Re-mastering Processor: The processor is used to convert signals of present TV broadcasts and DVD software to high-definition video quality. This up-converts of video quality without causing any loss of image detail. More over it applies progressive conversion to upgrade 1080i high-definition video signals to 1080p signals. This makes VIERA to render pictures that are more beautiful and sharp than the original.

Digital Optimizer : Digital Optimizer used to detect noise in digital video signals and remove them.

Motion Pattern Noise Reduction : This mechanism first detects the false contour noise that sometimes occurs in motion images on a plasma display panel to reproduce smooth, noiseless motion images then makes the necessary adjustments to maximize image quality. This results in sharp, clear reproduction of even high-speed motion images by maximizing the superb gradation capability of the plasma display panel.

Gradation: 4,096 Equivalent Steps of Gradation : To take maximum advantage of the full-HD panel's high resolution, VIERA uses up to 16-bit signal processing. This increases gradation to the equivalent of 4,096 steps, which minimizes noise and blackout. Both light and dark parts of an image are expressed clearly and beautifully.

HD Signal Quality Directly Reflected in Picture Quality : Full-HD Panel. With its 1920 x 1080 resolution, VIERA's full-HD panel displays beautiful images without needing to perform pixel conversion for the 1080p video signals processed by the video circuitry. Because the super-high resolution of the full-HD panel is best appreciated on a large screen, Panasonic offers the full-HD panel in 50-inch and larger models. You can enjoy images with stunning detail and beauty not only from HD broadcasts, but from Blu-ray sources as well.

Beautiful Images from Any Angle:When you view an LCD from an angle, you'll notice that the skin tones appear whitish. But with VIERA plasma display panel, colours look virtually just as good from a sharp angle as they do from directly in front.

Superb Motion Image Display:Each pixel in a plasma display panel emits light. Compared to an LCD, which displays images by adjusting the backlighting, the plasma display panel maintains higher resolution in scenes with fast motion. You'll love the clear, super-sharp images you get from VIERA when viewing action movies or watching football or baseball games, tennis matches, and other sports events.

Faithful Colour Reproduction: VIERA reproduces 100% of the colour range specified in HDTV standard. This standard are based on a set of specifications which measures image quality it produces. VIERA reproduces images from digital HD broadcasts in their true original colour, with minimal colour shift.

Advanced 3D Colour Management :This feature controls multiple colours at the same time . It brings out the best quality of image by independently adjusting the colour hue, density and brightness.

Sub-Pixel Controller : This system helps to improve image quality by adjusting each R, G and B dot, so it delivers smooth contour lines even at diagonal sections.