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Americans Score with new HDTV Sets, but May Fumble When it Comes to Getting Connected

Jennifer — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 21:07:48 +0000

While millions of Americans are gathering to watch a picture-perfect football bowl season on their new high-definition (HD) television sets, experts predict that many may fumble when it comes to hooking up the HD programming service that makes it work. According to research conducted by the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM) in December 2006, only 52 percent of HDTV owners subscribe to the HD service needed for true high-def viewing. So for many fans, a fancy new HDTV set is just — a new TV.

Putting the HD into TV
The CTAM study further reveals that most HDTV owners simply donâ€™t know theyâ€™re not getting the crystal-clear images, vibrant sound and special programming that would come with an HD service. Thirty-four percent of owners who arenâ€™t HD subscribers werenâ€™t aware they needed to subscribe to a programming service when they purchased their HDTV sets. And, 61 percent of those non-subscribers believe that HD picture quality is the same as a DVD.

â€œItâ€™s surprising the number of Americans who are investing in high-end HDTV sets who arenâ€™t getting true high-definition channels,â€ said Char Beales president and CEO of CTAM. â€œPeople are not only missing out on a stunning experience, but a world of HD-only shows, including movies, sports, childrenâ€™s and educational programming and On Demand — all available with cableâ€™s HD service. Plus, cable companies help customers manage the set-up process and demonstrate how to take full advantage of the bells and whistles.â€

The HD Experience
This is the season for great sports and the cable HD line-up puts viewers right in the center of the action. Fans will catch every move and hear every cheer — plus with a cable HD DVR, viewers can create their own instant replays and make the right call.

Donâ€™t miss out on the ultimate HD viewing experience during the yearâ€™s greatest sporting events, including:
* Professional football playoffs and championship game
* College basketballâ€™s March tournament
* Golfâ€™s biggest event: The Masters
* Wimbledon tennis championship

Sports nuts simply need to connect their HDTVs set to cable HD service before they can complete the pass. Otherwise, theyâ€™re only getting half the thrill, and the neighbors gathering around that new TV set are fouling out too.

Consumers should visit www.ThisIsCable.com for the facts on HDTV service, DVRs and other products and to see offers from their local cable providers.

Courtesy of ARA Content

High Definition: The New Frontier in Home Recording

Jennifer — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 22:58:34 +0000

(ARA) – This holiday season, high definition (HD) video is taking center stage. With HDTV sets now available for less than $1000 and HD programming widely offered by cable and satellite providers, many consumers are ready to take the plunge. Whether or not an HDTV set is on this year’s wish list for your family, there’s no denying that HD is here to stay.

What many people may not realize is that the transition to HD isn’t limited to HDTV sets and broadcast programming. In fact, new technology is making it possible to capture and record your own home movies in HD. To get started, you’ll need a high definition camcorder, sometimes referred to as an HDV camcorder. With HDV camcorders commanding around $1,500, they’re not exactly inexpensive, but as with all new technologies, prices quickly fall.

Imagine capturing the holiday festivities in stunning HD quality to later enjoy on your HDTV set. Soon you will. By connecting your HDV camcorder to your computer, you’ll be able to create professional quality edits, titles, fades, special effects and much more with a click of a mouse. Once your home movie is ready for sharing with family and friends, you’ll need to save your footage and somehow offload it from your PC.

That’s where Blu-ray comes into the picture. Launched earlier this, Blu-ray Discs offer up to a whopping 50 gigabytes of capacity. That’s over 10 times more capacity than today’s 4.7 gigabyte recordable DVDs. As wonderful as they are, DVDs don’t have enough storage capacity to handle HD video, but Blu-ray Discs do. In fact, you could store up to four hours worth of HD quality home videos on a 50 gigabyte recordable Blu-ray Disc.

“Many computers purchased in the next few years will come with a Blu-ray recording drive pre-installed, much like most of today’s computers are equipped with a DVD burner,” commented Bruce Youmans, vice president of product research and development at TDK, the first company to introduce recordable Blu-ray Discs. “That will encourage a large number of consumers to experiment with making their own HD videos.”

Of course, you’ll need a way to play your home burned Blu-ray Discs on your HDTV. The final piece of the puzzle is a Blu-ray player. Several Blu-ray players are already on the market and numerous others are slated for launch. Every week, Hollywood studios are releasing more and more titles on pre-recorded Blu-ray Discs, so it’s easy to see how this new format could become the hub of your entertainment universe.

From capturing and editing your home movies, to saving and viewing your creations in remarkable quality, the HD revolution is in full swing. If you haven’t already, it’s time to go HD with your holiday wish list.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Gifts Under $900: High Definition that fits in the palm of your hand

Jennifer — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 22:49:59 +0000

For that person on your gift list that adores leading-edge technology, the world’s smallest and lightest high-definition video/still camera is now even better.Following the immense popularity of its predecessor, the SANYO Xacti HD1A is a hybrid digital camera that shoots high-definition digital video and high-resolution 5 megapixel stills, housed in a compact body designed for convenient, one-handed operation and one-thumb control of most key functions.

It is incredibly compact, measuring 3.1 W x 4.7 H x 1.4 D inches (7.9W x 11.9H x 3.5D cm) so it easily fits into a shirt pocket. And it’s very light, weighing 8.3 ounces/235.3 grams (including battery and a standard SD memory card), so the technophile on your gift list will never suffer arm fatigue common with using larger camcorders.

This CameraCorder has been upgraded to include a 30 frames-per-second 320 x 240 pixel video recording mode, which is optimal for viewing MPEG-4 video clips on a video iPodï¿½ or other portable video players, as well as improved in-camera video editing capabilities. The 2.2-inch LCD display flips out from the camera and rotates up to 285 degrees on axis for taking video or still images even in difficult locations.

Another new feature of the 720p high-definition video, 5.1 megapixel, 10X optical zoom (10X digital zoom) HD1A is a 16:9 shooting mode that allows users to capture 3.8 megapixel stills in the same widescreen format as the high-definition videos for eye-catching viewing on a 16:9 television screen. Other features include a pop-up flash and docking station that enables easy connectivity to PCs and TVs and provides fast recharging.

The HD1A can record up to 21 minutes of 720p HD video per gigabyte (GB) on a standard SD or SDHC memory card or up 84 minutes on the soon-to-be released 4GB SDHC card (cards sold separately). Alternatively, HD1 users can record in Standard Definition mode (640 x 480 pixels at 30fps progressive) for up to one hour per GB of recording capacity. Users can quickly switch between high-definition and standard-definition recording modes by simply pressing the “HD/Norm” button located beneath the LCD display. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $899.99. More information is available at www.sanyo.ca.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

On-the-Go Technology in Demand for the Holiday Season

Jennifer — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 17:20:02 +0000

(ARA) – ‘Tis the season for high-tech gifts, but what do you get for the person who already has the latest and greatest gadgets? If an iPod, MP3 player or new cell phone wonâ€™t do, how about a device that allows them to enjoy high definition television on-the-go?

â€œWhat a lot of people donâ€™t realize is that PC laptops sold in this country have had the ability to display in high definition for the last three to five years. All they were lacking was the technology to receive a signal. Now they can have it with a device we call the OnAir GT,â€ says Patrick Castellani, President and Chief Operating Officer of AutumnWave.

The OnAir GT is a PDA-sized device that receives high definition, digital and analog over-the-air signals via a small antenna. The device is also able to receive unencrypted analog and digital cable. It plugs into the computerâ€™s USB port and does not need an external power source.

â€œThe OnAir GT is compact so consumers who travel frequently or live in tight quarters, like dorm rooms or studio apartments, can experience high definition television wherever a receivable broadcast signal exists for a fraction of the usual cost,â€ says Castellani. Even the smallest high definition televisions are still retailing for more than $1,000.

In addition to offering mobile high definition television, the OnAir GT is a high definition personal video recorder â€“ offering unparalleled viewing quality and convenience to those who would otherwise miss their favorite high definition programming. The product also provides console gamers the option to play their favorite video games on-the-go.

The package includes the OnAir GT tuner, indoor antenna, antenna adaptor, USB cable, remote control with two AAA batteries, an A/V input cable, a manual with instructions for getting started, an installation CD and a carrying case. AutumnWave is currently in the process of expanding the OnAir GTâ€™s retail distribution to big-box, regional and online retailers. Right now, itâ€™s available through walmart.com, buy.com and direct from AutumnWaveâ€™s Web site, www.autumnwave.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content