Weekly Site Roundup (11/11/02)
ARTICLE SPOTLIGHT
Guide Picks: DVD/VCR Combos
The rise of DVD and the continuing popularity of the traditional VCR has given birth to a new home entertainment product, the DVD/VCR combo. Check out some of my picks in this new alternative to the home theater mix. Specially updated for the Winter 2002 Holiday Shopping Season.
HOME ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY NEWS HEADLINES
DVD Burners Get Hot (Stereophile Guide To Home Theater)
Forum Sets Course For Blue-Laser DVD Standard (EE Times)
Ultra-High Resolution DVDs Are Unprotected (New Scientist)
Women Prefer HDTV Over Diamonds, Says New CEA Survey (Widescreen Review)
Classé Debuts New $2,000 CD Player (Audio Revolution)
Blockbuster Revamping (Stereophile Guide To Home Theater)
Circuit City Takes Hit On Slow Sales (CBS Marketwatch)
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Panasonic PT-51HX42 Projection TV
The PT-51HX42 continues Panasonic's commitment to HDTV at a budget price with a 51-inch HD-Ready set with a host of features, including: progressive scan line-doubler, 3:2 pulldown function, all the needed analog AV inputs, two HD component video inputs, and very easy to use onscreen menu system. Add a great picture and wide viewig angle, this unit is definitely worth the money.
Innovations In Home Entertainment
From the Board Room to your Home Theater, Innovations In Home Entertainment offers the design and installation expertise to fullfill your needs.
Featured in the Home Theater Subject Page.
Cary Audio
Manufacturers of Tube-based audio amplifiers and preamps.
Featured in the Vacuum Tube Audio Subject Page.
FROM THE HOME THEATER FORUM
Progressive Scan DVD Players
From ADINOW:
I have a progressive scan DVD player and a Mitsubishi HD upgradeable TV. I have the DVD player hooked up to the TV with component cables. Playing around the other day, I flicked the switch between "progressive" and "interlaced" and was hard pressed to tell any difference. I am told that the difference should be, in fact, very noticeable. Do I need to purchase the HD upgrade for my TV in order to get the benefit of the progressive scan DVD player? Is there something I should look out for that I may have messed up in setting upthe DVD and TV?
Join in on the discussion.
ELSEWHERE ON ABOUT.COM
Spiderman DVD Easter Eggs
One of the fun things about DVD movies is that many of them contain "secret" features called Easter Eggs. The new Spiderman DVD has some great ones as revealed by Ivana Redwine, About Guide, Home Video/DVD.
FROM THE MAILBOX
From Martin:
...I picked up your site from Google and wondered if you could help me. I have just visited New York and bought a DVD disc. When I got back to England I discovered I could not play it. I have now discovered the existance of Region 1 and 2. Anyway, the question is someone told me that you can key in a series of numbers on your dvd and it will then play the Region 1 disc. Is this an urban myth or do you know of a site where you can find out these codes???
From Your Guide:
There are two factors to contend with:
1. Region Coding -- many DVD players have the ability to read various region codes -- however, it may be able to do so only for a limited amount of times -- depending on your model of DVD player the codes may be published, for a resource on this, check the following link:
http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/info/multiregion
2. All DVDs sold in the U.S. are in the NTSC format and the UK is based on the PAL format -- in order to play an NTSC disc on your DVD player -- your player must also be able to read an NTSC format disc -- in addition, your TV must able to display an NTSC format image.
For more details on both these issues, check out the following articles I have written on these topics:
Region Codes: DVD's Dirty Secret http://hometheater.about.com/library/weekly/aa071601a.htm
Who's Your PAL?
http://hometheater.about.com/library/weekly/aa060600a.htm
FINAL WORDS
Holiday News! It's that time of year once again. First, check out my annual Holiday Shopping Survival Guide, then, check in every week for a new holiday shopping article or top product picks. If you have any suggestions, just send me a line.
Although I update this site regularly, sometimes I miss broken links, this is especially a concern as old product listings expire and new ones have different link addresses. If you encounter any broken links in my articles or listings, just bring it to my attention so I can correct the address or delete it from the site if it has expired and can no longer be accessed.
Lastly, I would like your feedback on this Weekly Site Update Page. If you have any comments, either positve or negative, just let me know.
For a look at earlier Home Theater Nooz and Vewz Weekly Updates, CLICK HERE
Feel free to email me at hometheater.guide@about.com
with your questions and/or comments.
