HDTV Lounge

BSkyB unveiled details for its high-definition TV (HDTV) service on Thursday ahead of the World Cup, which the broadcasting industry hopes will showcase the next-generation service to consumers.

Sky subscribers will be able to see World Cup matches broadcast by the BBC in high definition, which offers a drastically sharper and more vivid picture. For the full benefit of the new format, an HDTV-ready television set is required.

However, Sky has yet to cut a deal to show HDTV programming from ITV, which will broadcast roughly half of World Cup matches.

Analysts at market research firm Screen Digest have warned that the roll-out of HDTV may be too late to reach large numbers of European consumers in time for the this summer’s football championship in Germany.

BSkyB’s HDTV set-top box, manufactured by Thomson, will cost 299 pounds plus 10 pounds per month on top of a normal Sky subscription. The box, which will include a hard drive capable of recording 30 hours of HDTV programming, will go on sale next week, with installations due to begin in May, although the broadcaster has been taking pre-orders for nearly a year.

ITV, the BBC and Channel 4, and RTL’s Channel 5 are meanwhile launching a limited HDTV trial that will reach about 500 households in London this summer. The service will be broadcast from digital terrestrial antennas similar to those used by the Freeview service.

Because of bandwidth constraints, Freeview is not expected to offer significant HDTV service until at least 2012, when the analogue terrestrial TV signal is swtiched off.

It’s an unfortunate fact that new TVs are factory-adjusted to produce imagery that stands out on a store shelf rather than to provide accurate and faithful video reproduction. If you want to watch movies with the color and detail envisioned by the director, your TV needs some TLC. The Monster/ISF HDTV Calibration Wizard DVD ($29.95 list) demystifies the process of improving a TV’s picture quality by providing an easy-to-follow plan. Having an attractive host guide you through the process will be considered a bonus by some.

To be fair, the Monster/ISF HDTV Calibration Wizard can’t replace a professionally trained video calibrator who can optimize the video quality of all sources and inputs, not just the path from the DVD player to the screen. But hiring a video calibrator is pretty expensive. The ISF (Imaging Science Foundation) recommends a $250 to $275 price for calibrating a single input/resolution on most HDTVs. Calibrating additional resolutions/inputs can bring the total cost into the $400 to $500 range. The Monster/ISF HDTV Calibration Wizard is simpler and a lot cheaper.

The Monster/ISF DVD immediately impressed me with a main menu that makes it easy to access any of the disc’s ten chapters or play the entire disc start to finish. The classic A/V calibration disc “Digital Video Essentials” provides a more comprehensive set of tools, but it buries them behind the most bewildering maze of menus I’ve ever encountered on a DVD. Monster/ISF’s cleverly worded chapter titles—for example, “Am I too fat?” (aspect ratio) and “How bright are your whites?” (contrast)—make its calibration DVD much more inviting. Narrating the video is entertainer Jenna Drey, and she begins by describing how to find a TV’s menu system and what settings to look for once there. Video beginners need not fear.

At the core of the Monster/ISF HDTV Calibration Wizard DVD are five chapters devoted to optimizing a TV’s brightness, contrast, color, sharpness, and aspect ratio. The clips are identical to the configuration videos included with Microsoft’s Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, basically a set of staged scenes containing obvious visual clues and narrated guidance to assist you when adjusting a particular picture control. In addition to the DVD version of the wizard, the disc contains the same content encoded in Windows Media Video HD (WMV HD) format, at 720p resolution and a 12-Mbps bit rate—very high-quality video that requires a moderately powerful PC for smooth playback.

I compared the Monster/ISF HDTV Calibration Wizard DVD with the Lucasfilm THX Optimizer, which is included with many DVD movies. Both tools assist in performing a similar task, but there are some notable differences. To assess the THX Optimizer, I used the traditional version that was included with a Raiders of the Lost Ark DVD I had in the library. Some recent DVD movies provide an updated version of the Optimizer that includes a more advanced video setup tool. Also, the Optimizer is customized for the signal levels of the movie with which it is bundled. Therefore, a THX Optimizer from one movie can result in adjustments that differ slightly from the version included with another movie.— Continue Reading
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A high-definition television, like most beauties, doesn’t just roll out of the box and look great.

It has to work it, baby. A little color touch-up, not too red or green; the right contrast; a little brightness; and then it’s looking sharp. Really sharp.

No television will look its best when left at the factory settings. Manufacturers pump up the brightness, contrast and sharpness so their sets attract attention on the showroom floor. Once the HDTV is in your home, you’re on your own.

So here’s a beauty secret for the HDTV in your life: the new HDTV Calibration Wizard ($30), an easy-to-use test disc produced by Joel Silver of the Imaging Science Foundation and distributed by Monster Cable (www.monstercable.com).

The HDTV Calibration Wizard is different from other test discs that set accurate levels for brightness, contrast, color and sharpness. It’s not as thorough as the Avia Guide to Home Theater (about $30) and Digital Video Essentials (about $25), but it is by far the simplest and quickest way to high-def clarity.

Instead of extensive test patterns, which often baffle the average user, the Wizard displays humans and everyday objects. A white shirt helps set the contrast — if it’s too high, the shirt’s buttons disappear. A black shirt against a darker black jacket tests brightness.

Three women in various stages of makeup — too green, just right and too red — help set the color. A pool cue is the key to accurate sharpness levels. If pool balls look average and well-rounded, then the TV’s aspect ratio — the ratio of width to depth — is correct.

Silver’s foundation trains professional calibrators who tinker with high-end video installations. A calibrator spends four hours with about $10,000 in electronics equipment to coax the best picture out of a big-screen HDTV or projector. That type of calibration costs about $300. Think of the $30 Wizard as a greatest-hits version of a professional calibration. It gets the basics right.
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Qosmio G30 notebook with HD DVD-ROM drive : InterVideo, Inc. announced today that InterVideo WinDVD HD is being bundled with Toshiba Corporation’s new Dynabook Qosmio G30/697HS Series Notebook PCs the world’s first notebook PC with an integrated HD DVD-ROM drive. The new Qosmio G30 will be available throughout Japan in mid-May. “We’re very proud that WinDVD HD meets Toshiba’s high qualification standards and are honored that it will be delivering high-definition video playback for the industry’s first HD DVD laptop computer.” “The work we did in refining WinDVD HD’s high-speed decoding process and next-generation content navigation capabilities will provide Qosmi G30 notebook users with a whole new level of audio/video enjoyment.”

InterVideo’s WinDVD HD
Offering all of the benefits of the high-definition experience without the complexity, InterVideo’s WinDVD HD can be used to navigate and play back the crystal-clear, interactive content on HD DVD discs. The universal player also supports all DVD/video/audio in any format, eliminating media compatibility issues. With WinDVD HD, the viewing experience is further enhanced with a mixture of unprecedented audio effects, including Dolby surround sound and DTS-HD audio support for the highest-quality audio performance available.

Qosmi G30 notebook - Power & Performance
Designed to let users move easily between computing tasks and multimedia applications, Toshiba’s Qosmi G30 notebook PCs provide the power and performance users need in a high-end audio-video computer that can also be used as a home entertainment center. In addition to providing playback of HD DVD content on a single-sided 15GB or double-sided 30GB disc at a maximum bit rate of 36.55 Mbps, the new Qosmio can read and write to current DVD and CD discs, including DVD+/-R DL (dual-layer) media.

Qosmi G30 17-inch widescreen - Full-HD liquid crystal display
The new Qosmio is equipped with a 17-inch diagonal widescreen, full-HD liquid crystal display which supports 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution and the ability to playback HD DVD content (1920 x 1080 pixel). An HDMI output is also included that allows the PC to be hooked up to an HDTV and to act as the video source for a large-sized TVs or home theater projectors. InterVideo’s WinDVD playback engine is incorporated in over 125 million installations worldwide for both personal computer and consumer electronics devices. InterVideo’s DVD playback engine is available for licensing to OEMs, system integrators and platform builders in PC, CE set-top boxes, handheld mobile devices, and video game consoles.

No single technology has created more excitement in the home entertainment industry in recent years than High Definition Television (HDTV). These televisions dazzle with their crystal-clear pictures and amazing digital features; however, questions and confusion over HDTV linger. In this article, we review the most common questions and concerns about HDTV.

What exactly is HDTV?
HDTV is a format of Digital Television (DTV). DTV is the umbrella term under which HDTV (High Definition TV) and SDTV (Standard Definition TV) exist. HDTV sets are digital televisions that feature high-resolution display capabilities to create the highest quality visual entertainment available. HDTV sets present 720 to 1080 lines of resolution compared with just 525 lines presented on a regular television set. The higher resolution allows for a level of image clarity that is not possible on standard (analog) television sets.

All HDTVs are widescreen in format; the same shape as film. When movies are displayed on an HDTV, they fit the entire surface area of the screen and do not need to be stretched or put into letterbox format, as is common on standard televisions.

What do I view on an HDTV?
You can watch any incoming signal on your HDTV, but the only way to get the true HDTV experience is to watch HDTV broadcasts. These broadcasts are delivered on a different bandwidth from regular television transmissions (your local cable or satellite company can provide you with an up-to-date local schedule.) It’s important to note that, as of right now, HDTV programming is somewhat limited. Generally, the four major networks (ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX) restrict their HDTV programming to primetime (evening) programs. However, more programs are being broadcast in HDTV every day.

So I’ve got an HDTV…
Does that mean I’m automatically getting HDTV broadcasts? In short, no. You need both an HDTV monitor (your TV) and an HDTV tuner to properly decode and display the broadcasts. Many HDTVs come with built-in tuners. Still, it usually requires the help of a professional like your local HTSA member to properly install the television and make sure it is working with your cable or satellite system.

If your HDTV does not have a built-in tuner, you can purchase an out-board tuner. Or, you can get a tuner through your cable or satellite company as part of their HDTV packages. A standard cable box or satellite tuner does not receive HDTV broadcasts — you have to order an HD-ready cable box or HDTV satellite receiver. Still another option is to receive free over-the-air broadcasts from local networks by hooking up an antenna to your system.

Get the most from your HDTV experience. Visit your local HTSA member, the experts on selecting and installing HDTV.
source:http://www.livearticles.org

Now that Toshiba’s HD-A1 HD DVD player is finally available in stores — and there are even some discs out to play on it — reviews are starting to trickle in, mainly from dedicated early adopters, who’ve braved confused sales clerks, cumbersome boxes, and a remote with more options than Windows Vista, to try the player themselves. We saw one of the first such reviews, from The Man Room, yesterday. Now, we’ve had a chance to check out a few more (props to PC World’s Martyn Williams, who not only got one of Toshiba’s Japanese HD-XA1 players to review, but even checked out the bundled Japanese films “Biohazard” and “Moonlight Jellyfish”). If there’s a consensus opinion, it’s that HD DVD may be great for early adopters and HD connoisseurs, but less discerning viewers may not see what the big deal is. As Ben Drawbaugh puts it on HDBeat: “Bottom line is that HD-DVD is great, but will you notice? If you can’t tell the difference between DVD’s and HBO HD than you might be just as well off with a upconverting DVD player. If you never noticed HBO-HD’s cropped movies, non-dynamic sound and compression artifacts you may be better off sticking with HBO-HD. If you do notice these annoyances you won’t be disappointed with HD-DVD or Blu-Ray.”
Source: http://gadgets.engadget.com

ENCO Systems DADtv is now providing native surround sound for live HDTV productions.

Eugene Novacek, P.E., President of ENCO Systems said, “Surround sound is here in the television space and it’s not only for movies. We’re proud to be the first digital audio automation and playout system to support multi-channel 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound. During the 31st season debut of Saturday Night Live on NBC, DADtv was used in both scoring playback and surround sound effects playback assisting in the first HDTV broadcast of SNL. Now our DADtv clients are using surround in their live productions, and we also believe our radio clients will be asking for it soon.”

DADtv is a scalable, networkable digital audio storage and playback system designed to provide broadcasters with high quality, reliable digital audio recording and playback. Support for multi-channel sound within DADtv enables audio engineers to rapidly incorporate surround sound in live studio programs as well as field produced programs.

The 5.1 and 7.1 audio files appear to the user the same way as stereo or mono files appear and are just as easy to play and manipulate. Files are stored as single linear uncompressed files using industry standard interleaved .WAV streams.

Dave Turner, Executive Vice President of Engineering at ENCO Systems said, “ENCO has systems operating at NBC for the Today Show and Saturday Night Live as well as Paramount, CNN, MTV, ESPN and other cutting edge television broadcasters, so we knew that surround was a highly desired tool. With the increased attention to high quality audio that HDTV has brought to the forefront, it’s not a surprise that our surround playout solution has been so quickly adopted.”

Today Sharp loosed their new Internet AQUOS TV / PC combo systems. At the top end is the LD-37SP1 LCD and PC-AX50M mini-PC kit capable of pumping out (and recording) those Hi-Vision (Japanese high def) broadcast pixels onto a 37-inch LCD with 1200:1 contrast ratio, 6ms response, 176-degree viewing angle, and HDMI and HDCP DVI ports. A wireless (RF) keyboard and remote are perfect for getting all potato-like up on the couch. The PC manages to eke out 500GB of SATA disk for hi-def recordings and such, up to 1GB DDR2 RAM, a DVD combo drive, and SD and xD picture card slots with direct-to-card MPEG-4 recordings — all powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo T2300 CPU and XP Home. The kit is also available with a 32-inch LCD (LD-32SP1) and PC sporting a terrestrial analog tuner and a 250GB disk (PC-AX50M) all of which you can mix-n-match to your heart’s desire. No doubt, we like the design, but these systems are kept out of the high-end game with their Intel graphics cards, LCD resolutions of just 1366 x 768, and lack of a Windows Media Center Edition install option. Expect these to hit shelves in Japan sometime in May for an undisclosed price.

The replacement lamps in rear-projection TVs are definitely expensive, but they still offer a cost advantage.
Reader Al Mercer wants to know more about bulbs for television sets based on digital light processor [DLP] technology:

I enjoyed your recent article on HDTV in the Mar. 6 issue of BusinessWeek. I would like to learn more about the lamp life of large DLP projection TVs. I want to buy a 62-in. projection TV, but I have heard that you have to replace a very expensive bulb every two years. I have a friend whose bulb had to be replaced after one year.

our friend either had very bad luck or watches an extraordinary amount of TV. The lamps in rear-projection TVs are typically rated at 6,000 to 8,000 hours and cost between $200 and $500. The reason? The systems are designed in such a way that the bulb has to be positioned correctly to within a fraction of a millimeter.

A secondary problem: You’ll damage the bulb if you touch it with your bare hands. For these reasons, you have to change an entire lamp module rather than just a bulb.

SIMPLER DESIGNS?

Since this module includes a significant chunk of the optical system, replacement lamps can add up to a significant cost over the life of a projection TV. But they still have an advantage in price. The difference between, say, a 60-in. plasma screen and a 60-in. DLP projection set is so great that you can buy all the bulbs you need to make the projection set last as long as the 60,000 hour-rated life of the plasma — and still have money left.

Still, there’s general agreement that projection bulbs are too expensive. Part of the reason for the high cost is the fragmentation of the consumer-electronics industry. Bulbs are assembled according to dozens of different designs, all produced in relatively low volumes, keeping costs high. Texas Instruments (TXN), which makes the DLP chips used in many sets, is leading an effort to encourage the use of simpler, common lamp designs across brands and reduce the cost of replacements. But given the go-it-alone attitude of many manufacturers, success is far from assured.

Shopping for an HDTV can feel like learning a new language.

A recent review on Cnet.com, for example, featured horrible phrases like black levels, native resolution, color temperatures, full calibration, red push, grayscale variation, overscan, DC restoration and defeatable-edge enhancement.

Nobody should have to learn what these words mean. Is it necessary when shopping for a high-definition television?

Two leading experts say no.

And they offer the following practical and sometimes surprising advice for when you decide it’s time to buy a high-definition television.

David Katzmaier, senior editor at San Francisco-based Cnet.com, explained it this way: “There are a lot of complex factors. But one thing to keep in mind is a lot of these TVs are very similar. The general difference in picture quality between them all are relatively subtle.”

So what affects a television’s picture quality most?

“The source,” Katzmaier said, meaning whether the television channel is broadcasting in high definition. “The fact that it’s a high-definition source is the main thing that will make the picture look good.”

What’s the best way to pick out a high-definition TV?

“Just look at the picture,” said Mike Abt said, president of Glenview, Ill.,-based Abt Electronics. “It is going to go in your house, and you’re the one who has to enjoy the TV.”

But Abt added to make sure that you’re comparing moving pictures when you’re checking out televisions.

“The news, for example, doesn’t have much action, and it’s hard to judge a TV that way. So you want to watch baseball players throwing a ball, or racecars going around. You want to see movement.”

If having a high-definition source most determines picture quality, what happens to the picture quality when displaying non-HD programming?

“If you’re watching a non-HD source on an HDTV, you’ll be disappointed,”

Katzmaier said. “Mainly because it’s a lot bigger than you’re used to. If you blow up a lower-quality source to a large size, it’ll be disappointing.”
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