Weekly Site Roundup (07/19/04)
ARTICLE SPOTLIGHT
60-Inch and Larger Projection Televisions
The Olympics in Athens, the NFL and NCAA college football seasons, the Baseball World Series, and the new Fall television season are some of the big television events in store for avid sports fans and television viewers in the second half of 2004. As a bonus, much of it will be broadcast in HDTV. So, with that in mind, what better to way to enjoy big television events than with a REALLY BIG television. For an idea of what is available in 60-inch and larger rear projection televisions, check out some of my favorites. In addition, also be sure to check out my companion articles: Rear Projection Television - What You Need To Know and Buying A Television.
HOME ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY NEWS HEADLINES
HDTV Viewers Rank Movies As Most Important (TV Predictions)
Tech, Studio Giants Team On New DVD Locks (CNET)
Music Gets Surrounded by Award (Home Theater Magazine)
Cable Companies Push High-Definition Television (the Louisville Channel)
Denon Intros 19 Products, Delays A/V Server (TWICE)
Cheaper DVD recorders On The Way (CNET)
MAXX Products Introduces High Performance TruVision Video Processor for Home Theater Market (MAXX Products)
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
V Inc. - Bravo D2 HD Compatible DVD Player
DVD players enter a new era as V Inc.'s new Bravo D2 adds MPEG4 playback and a DVI output providing 480p, 720p, and 1080i output options for connection to HDTVs. However, even if you don't have an HDTV, the D2 has all the output options of a standard DVD player and is priced about the same as many "budget" units. This is definitely a unit to consider.
FEATURED LINKS THIS WEEK
Meridian
Move up to the high end with Meridian's line of distinctive loudspeakers and AV components.
Featured in the AV Receivers/Separates Manufacturers L - Q Category Page.
Revel
Check out the latest innovative speakers from Revel.
Featured in the Loudspeaker Manfucturers P - T Category Page.
FROM THE HOME THEATER FORUM
DVD Burner vs Recorder
From CHARLESPO:
I favor the use of the DVD recorder. I initially tried the PC burner route. The reason for the change was not related to quality -- it was a matter of simplicity. First of all, you get excellent quality with the recorders. I have converted 50 hours of VHS tape to DVD and it worked wonderfully. The transfer to DVD can't improve the quality over analog VHS but it can get that old footage onto a digital medium. I have already purchased my second DVD recorder. My new SONY is great because I can record to ALL of the DVD formats. There is a built-in "chaptering" feature so that your DVD can be split into chapters that can be titled. You can also establish a "skip-foward" interval, with the default being 6 minutes (or set it to 0). The only downside from using a DVD recorder is that a PC burner will provide you with powerful software to "edit" the footage, add "effects", "cut & paste" footage, etc. Whereas, the DVD recorder is strictly for "as is" copying (if you are converting VHS to DVD). So, if you want to get fancy and have the time to invest with a PC, that would be the way to go. But if you are interested in strictly getting the footage onto DVD, the quickest/easiest way to get high quality DVDs is a recorder.
Join in on the discussion.
ELSEWHERE ON ABOUT.COM
About Cameras - Storing your Images While Traveling
You take your digital camera on vacation, and end up shooting lots of pictures, however, what do you do when your memory card fills up? About Digital Cameras Guide, Michael Carr, has useful tips for the Summer digital camera-owning traveler.
FROM THE MAILBOX
From S:
I am trying to find a way to put an 8mm tape on VHS or DVD. Looking for my answer, I came across your article. My problem though is that my 8mm video camera is completely broken (which is why I want to transfer the videos I have on some 8mm tapes to an other format). Your guide made me realize that there are no 8mm to VHS adapter, and that if I am to transfer my videos, I would need to go through the VCR using the working video camera... and that is where my problem occurs (since my video camera is broken). Do you know of any other way to help me transfer those videos from an 8mm format to another format other than buying the 8mm/Hi8/miniDV VCRs made by SONY?
From Your Guide:
You have three options:
Have your 8mm tapes transfered to VHS or DVD professionally, at local video duplicator.
Borrow a friend, neighbors, or relatives 8mm or HI8 camcorder to do the job.
Buy an inexpensive HI8 camcorder (Hi8 camcorders will also play backstandard 8mm) specically for this purpose. The are very inexpensive now, some as little as $200.
FINAL WORDS
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If you need more great info on home theater and audio, with an emphasis on the higher end, be sure to check out About.com's related partner sites:
Audio Video Interiors (The Connected Guide To The Digital Home).
Home Theater Magazine.
Stereophile Ultimate AV.
Stereophile Magazine.
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