Technology Blog

Can't find a good enough reason to opt for PS3? There's one now...

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) will be gifting Blu-ray discs of the latest James Bond flick, Casino Royale, starring Daniel Craig and Eva Green, to the first 500,000 buyers of PS3 - who manage to register it on the PlayStation Network.

The movie will come gift wrapped in a 50GB dual-layer Blu-ray disc, encoded in MPEG-4 AVC with 1080p true HD resolution and uncompressed audio.

Speaking about the offer, Darren Carter, VP Brand and Consumer Marketing, SCEE, said that the PlayStation Network lets loose the broad range of interactive entertainment features of PS3. It is easy to set up, presents free online gaming, has vast tools for staying in touch with friends and family, and comprises a wide variety of content for download through the PlayStation Store.

Carter said that all this and more would enable users experience a whole new world of interactive entertainment, and that is why the company is offering Casino Royale on Blu-ray disc to PS3 owners who register on the PlayStation Network.

Carter added that not only does Casino Royale make the most of the features and capabilities of the Blu-ray format but that it is also one of the most exciting and entertaining movies to debut on Blu-ray this year.

Of course, now that Carter has put it in so many words, one of the scenes in the movie actually features a Blu-ray player...

Labels: Bluray disc, Casino Royale, dvd, HD, mpeg, vcd

Posted by Aadi at 10:59 PM | Permalink | Comments

Netflix Chief Executive Reed Hastings is set to demonstrate the “instant viewing” feature on Tuesday at the National Retail Federation convention in New York, where the company will receive an award for retail innovator of the year.

Hastings told Reuters in an interview on Friday here that the feature was aimed at under-30 Internet users who made video-sharing sites like YouTube.com popular.

“For consumers under 30, they are doing so much with online video this is a natural extension of their usage paradigm on a laptop,” Hastings said.

“Eventually we want to be on every Internet-connected screen from cell phones to computers to big screen plasma TVs but the starting place is the PC.”

Although Netflix has been working on virtual delivery for years, its debut comes about two months after rival Blockbuster Inc. beefed up its own online DVD rental program by allowing subscribers to swap movies in its stores, which carry an average of 5,000 titles.

The Blockbuster plan, called Total Access, has been seen by rental industry analysts as a threat to Netflix’s dominance of the fast-growing, $1-billion-plus online movie rental market.

Rental and retail sales revenues of DVDs and home videos reached $24.5 billion in 2006. About 100 million U.S. households have DVD players, and an estimated 41 million U.S. households had access in 2006 to broadband Internet services needed to download or stream video content.

Netflix’s goal is to sign up 20 million of them as subscribers by 2012.

The instant viewing feature also puts Netflix squarely in competition with several players already offering movies for rent online, including Starz Entertainment’s Vongo and the studio-owned MovieBeam, MovieLink and CinemaNow services.

Netflix’s limited slate of electronically available titles mirrors its new rivals’ but its subscriber base of about 6 million dwarfs those of the other online rental services.

Its instant viewing feature, available only on computers that run the Windows XP and Vista operating systems, plays back DVD-quality digital files almost instantly after subscribers install special software from the Netflix site, a process that takes about 20 seconds.

It does not download large movie files to consumers’ computer hard drives, but “streams” them directly from the Internet, meaning that users must stay connected to the Web, either through a cable or wireless connection, while viewing a movie.

The feature, which cost Netflix about $40 million to develop, is designed to adjust the picture’s resolution based on a user’s cable bandwidth so that the movie doesn’t freeze during play.

Online movie viewing time is awarded to Netflix subscribers based on their rental plans, with entry-level subscribers getting six hours per month and those with the most popular plans–three DVDS at a time– getting 18 hours per month.

Hastings said that although the free viewing time will not affect how frequently subscribers receive DVDs, he expects growing online usage to cut demand for DVDs by mail, and the company’s costs associated with buying and mailing them.

“Online is, of course, more cost effective so what we’re learning is, how close to our current gross margin model can we operate as consumers watch more movies online?” Hastings said.

Netflix plans to roll out the offering across the United States over the next six months to ensure that its servers can handle demand.

Netflix has inked deals to stream online content from NBC Universal, Sony Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc, 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, New Line Cinema and a number of television studios on the new service.

Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.. NBC Universal is a unit of General Electric Co.. News Corp. owns 20th Century Fox.

Warner Bros. and New Line are owned by Time Warner Inc.. MGM is owned by a consortium of private investors, including Sony Corp., which owns Sony Pictures.

Labels: blockbuster inc, dvd, lionsgate, netflix, online movie, paramount pictures, reuters, sony pictures, youtube

Posted by Aadi at 9:41 PM | Permalink | Comments

What is so great about DVDs?

DVD technology is the latest addition to the world of technological innovations. Since the surge in popularity of the turntable discs in the 1950s, technology has reinvented itself almost every decade with the release of the Betamax tapes, VHS tapes, audio cds, laser discs, video cds, mini discs and various types of data storing accessories. The DVD is the latest of these data-storing accessories. Employing Dolby Stereo sound and high-end picture image, viewers and listeners can be assured of the best quality possible in audio and visual technology.

The Features of the Apple iPod

The iPod has always been an unrivaled favorite, not only in design but also in its features. Below are some of the features users love most about their iPod:

1. The iPod users can enjoy a longer period of music and videos thanks to the long battery life of the iPod. The battery life of an iPod can be expected to last about 12 hours.

2. Users can also experience an easier time tuning to music because the iPod features an easy set up for music playlists.

3. The click wheel allows users to easily maneuver through the iPod's controls.

4. The shuffle function provides users with a random feel to their playlists.

5. The iPod can store and record about five thousand songs.

6. The iPod can also store data on the forty-gigabyte hard drive. The storage of up to five thousand songs is not the end of it.

With these basic features, the iPod has increased its sales and is now the uncontested number one product among the MP3-playing devices. Apple, however, did not stop with having the highest sales in the industry. Apple also began introducing more accessories and more add-ons that eventually gave the iPod an edge over other multimedia players. A feature, however, that Apple missed is the DVD-to-iPod software.

iPod Hacks

For some time, iPod geeks and fanatics have introduced many modifications to the iPod. These modifications aim to help the iPod users personalize their iPods. These iPods have been modified by geeks by using iPod hacks. Hackers are determined to give more power to the user in terms of customization and personalization of their iPods.

What are iPod hacks?

IPod hacks are either software or hardware that enhances the appearance, capabilities or features of an iPod. In short, iPod hacks are anything that makes modifications to the iPod. One such available iPod hack is a software that provides DVD-to-iPod capability to the standard iPod. Numerous firmware on the Internet offer free software of DVD-to-iPod technology.

DVD-to-iPod Software

DVD to iPod is a feature that almost every iPod user wishes to have. Unfortunately, the iPod did not provide it as a standard feature. The iPod Media Studio software provides DVD-to-iPod capabilities to the iPod. It is the fastest software available for DVD-to-iPod transfers or to move DVDs directly onto your video iPod. By using this DVD-to-iPod software, you can enjoy DVD movies on the stunning 2.5 inches LCD iPod screen. It is currently 400 percent faster than any other DVD-to-iPod software on the market.

Imagine that anyone can convert any movie from DVD (DVD to iPod) and any other recorded material from television, or even movies that you recorded yourself using a DV-camcorder. Even a movie record from a digital still camera is imaginable for conversion.

With just two mouse clicks using the DVD-to-iPod software, you can convert the movies into a file that is optimized for playback. It does require optimization from the iPod's built-in video player.

Now anyone can enjoy movies with a surprisingly sharp and clear picture with additional quality stereo CD sound. In addition, new Cyberspeed technology will allow users up to 400 percent faster conversion from DVD to iPod. In fact, in a span of less than 45 minutes, users can upload a complete movie on DVD onto their iPods.

This DVD-to-iPod software can also automatically zoom or widescreen movies with the ratio 16:9 able to fit on the 4:3 iPod screen. The user also has a manual option to turn off this feature.

Labels: apple ipod, dvd, hacks, iPod, iPod Video, software

Posted by Aadi at 10:19 PM | Permalink | Comments

Portable DVD Players

Undoubtedly, DVD players are one of the most popular electronic gadgets. PDAs, plasma televisions, laptops, personal computers and cell phones are some of the other popular electronic gadgets. With the DVD players you can enjoy watching movie without conceding home comfort.

Viewing a popular entertaining movie during journey relieves you of the boredom. Portable DVD player offers you an opportunity to view your favorite movie even during plane, bus or cruise ship journey. A headphone is the common feature of portable DVD players. This helps you avoiding distractions caused by the chatters of co-passengers.

You must check for the following whenever you are buying a portable DVD player.

• Select the portable DVD player with your desired screen size

• Consider the weight and dimensions of portable DVD player

• Confirm about the disc formats (CD-RW, CD-R, DVD-R etc) supported by portable DVD player you intend to buy.

• Check for the output offered by the DVD player based on requirement (either for audio or video)

• Check that portable DVD player has built-in screen. Many portable DVD players come with this feature. Larger screen are considered as best option.

• Portable DVD players with virtual surround sound offers you clear sound and enhance the enjoyment of viewing movie.

Usually, LCD screen with 16:9 wide screen ratio active matrix is used in most of the portable DVD players.

Portable DVD Player Reviews: Many reviewers agree that picture quality, screen size, quality of batteries (life, size and connectivity) used in the portable DVD player, sound quality are the main features of portable DVD players. You will find number of portable DVD player reviews on web sites. Not necessarily all the reviews will be in agreement with the consumers as a particular portable DVD player review may be posted on the site with an aim of product promotion.

Dual Screen Portable DVD Player: As indicated from the nomenclature, these dual screen DVD players have two separate LCD screen. This type of DVD players is manufactured primarily for use of car travelers. Both screens are connected to the common DVDE playback unit via video/audio cables. Usually, screens are mounted on the back side of front seat. These dual screen portable DVD players have two sets of wireless headphones. If the batteries of DVD player exhaust, you can power it with the help of cars electric port. Two screens can be used independently as per your requirement. For example, you can enjoy the viewing of movie on one screen and your kids can play video games on other.

Dual screen portable DVD players are more popular amongst kids and teenagers. The reason behind this popularity is that children can play video games or view movie during journey and they can take it to outdoor weekends.

Best portable DVD Players: Portable DVD players with following features are regarded as best portable DVD players.

• Built-in stereo speaker system with cordless headphones for optional quiet and personal listening

• DVD players that provide movie viewing option in progressive scan on LCD through s-video or AV output connection. Some portable DVD players have feature of Dolby Digital sound decoding system with digital coaxial audio output connection

• Portable DVD players that have anti-skip protection to ensure the optimum viewing quality

• Portable DVD players with weatherproof bags. These weatherproof bags protect the DVD player from damaging effects caused by dust, moisture and water.

Portable car DVD players: Dual screen portable DVD players are considered most suitable for travelers who undertake frequent car journeys with their families. In fact, apart from necessity, it has become a symbol of status. To attract more customers, some car manufacturers offer built-in portable DVD players in their new models. Portable car DVD players are nice way to lessen your boredom during journey. You can spend some pleasant time while viewing your favorite movie and children can enjoy their video games (if you have dual screen portable car DVD player. Some of the DVD players are quipped with digital picture zoom interactive feature. 3D virtual surround, Slow motion (1/8, 1/4 1/2) and parental locks are the common features of most of portable DVD players.

Labels: car, dvd, dvd players, portable dvd players

Posted by Aadi at 11:11 PM | Permalink | Comments