Weekly Site Roundup (03/22/04)
ARTICLE SPOTLIGHT
Where Is The 8mm/VHS Adapter?
With Spring in full swing and Summer approaching quickly, many are now breaking out their old camcorders or purchasing new ones to get ready for all the upcoming family events. As a result, many have emailed me recently with the single most-asked question I receive during this time of year: "Where can I get an adapter to play my 8mm/HI8 or miniDV tapes in a VCR?" The answer is....
HOME ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY NEWS HEADLINES
Matsushita/Toshiba CRT Plant Goes Wide (TWICE)
Sony Launches High-End Entertainment Systems For Home Builders (Building Online)
Full-court Press For HDTV Begins (CNET)
CABLEVISION VOOM: Fee For Dish Service To Begin (TWICE)
FOX To Air HDTV Sports In Q3 (TWICE)
Thomson Ends U.S. Picture Tube Production (TWICE)
Kenwood Launches Brand Campaign (TWICE)
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Hitachi DVRX5000WXU DVD Recorder
DVD recorders continue to make their mark with consumers. Hitachi's DVD recorder entry, the DVRX5000WXU, is based on the Panasonic platform, which employs the DVD-R and DVD-RAM recordable formats. When recording with DVD-RAM discs, the user has the ability to watch the beginning of the recording while the end of the recording is still in progress. This unit also features three composite and S-video inputs as well as stereo analog audio inputs. On the output side, the DVRX5000WXU not only has composite and S-Video outputs, but also has component video outputs that are switchable from interlaced to progressive scan. If you are considering a DVD recorder purchase in 2004, be sure to check this one out.
Manufacturer's Site
FEATURED LINKS THIS WEEK
River Cable
Check out the home theater cable and interconnects from River Cable.
Featured in the Home Theater Cables and Interconnects Subject Page.
FROM THE HOME THEATER FORUM
VHS VCRs -- Is The End Near?
From SADISYN:
No,not if I can help it! I use S-VHS in multi camera and recorder sync rolled methods to record live performances. I'm not seeing anything in dv or mini dv worth having. Compression sucks; I will only use it for distribution of finished product. W-VHS is in my future, for the same concert recording duties my S-VHS machines now serve. DVD hasn't shown me audio level meters,or SMPTE time code capability.I need audio meters just for home recording.
As for VCRs, There is no reason to manufacture a machine without S-VHS-ET, hi-fi audio with level metering, flying erase heads, and Dolby noise reduction on the linear audio tracks. Older tapes made before hi-fi took over ought to be playable on today's machines,without that brittle screech of undecoded playback.
With VHS's long EP recording times providing a much more affordable alternative to my 10.5" reel to reel audio recorders, I've phased home VHS hi-fi in as my primary audio recorders in my component stereos. The total run time is unbeatably convenient for long winded unattended recording. Long live VHS.
Join in on the discussion.
ELSEWHERE ON ABOUT.COM
Primetime TV
Having trouble keep track of what's on TV? If so, check out About's Primetime TV site, hosted by Elizabeth Larkin
FROM THE MAILBOX
From DB:
I am led to believe that one can get a code to deregionalise DVD's. Can you direct me to a site where i might get it?
From Your Guide:
You cannot change the region of a DVD itself. However, some DVD players will allow a code to be typed in on the remote control that will change the region of the DVD player. However, on most DVD players were this can be done, the change can only be done a limited amount of times - after which, the DVD player may lock into a specific region.
In addition, if you change the region code of a North American DVD player in order to play European DVDs -- you have the added issue of having to convert the European PAL Video system to the North American NTSC video system in order to watch the DVD on a North American television.
My suggestion would be, if you need to watch a lot of DVDs from other regions, is to purchase a Region Code Free DVD player with a built-in PAL to NTSC video converter.
For additional resources on Region Codes and the NTSC/PAL issue, check out my articles:
Region Codes - DVD's Dirty Secret
http://hometheater.about.com/library/weekly/aa071601a.htm
Who's Your Pal?
http://hometheater.about.com/cs/consumerresources/a/aawhosyourpala.htm
In addition, if you want check out whether your own DVD player can change its Region Codes -- check out the followng site and follow the instructions:
http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdhacks
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 Guide To Home Theater.
Stereophile Magazine.
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.
A Special Reminder: 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.
For a look at earlier Home Theater Nooz and Vewz Weekly Updates, CLICK HERE
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with your questions and/or comments.
