Whether buying for yourself or a gift for a loved one, finding just the right DVD player isn't as easy as it seems. There are so many formats, sizes and added features for DVD players today that you might sift through hundreds of players before finding the right one at the right price. Use this quick guide to compare the types of DVD players available on the electronics market.
DVD Player Sizes
Determine what size player you will need. If you're adding a DVD player to your home entertainment system, determine where you will put it and how much space is available. Normal-sized DVD players can be rather wide so you'll want to be sure of your available space before shopping. DVD players are also very thin in height and most have a slot on the front that slides in and out for inserting the DVD. This is great if you have a wide space that is limited in height.
For odd-shaped spaces or very tight spots, there are different sizes and shapes of DVD players. These are usually available at electronics stores online so you'll have plenty of styles to choose from. The vertical DVD player, for example, sits upright similar to a vertical computer drive. It comes with a stand to hold it in a sturdy position. If you still have your old VHS collection, there are DVD/VHS combo machines that play both formats. This saves space as well. Also available are super slim DVD players and "space saver" DVD players to fit your personal needs.
Types of DVD Players
Once you determine the size you'll need, you're ready to compare name brands and features at the electronics store or website of your choice. You can often find many different brands and styles of players at one single electronics mall online. This will allow you to compare without spending hours searching through many websites.
Some of the features you'll see include progressive scan, time-slip recording, EZ editing, zoom, slow motion, HD (high definition) DVD, front audio/video input jacks, CD-R/-RW playback, MP3-CD playback, D/A converter, favorite scene selection, TV Guardian, and many others. You may not find one particular DVD player that carries every feature, so it's wise to determine which features are important to you before selecting a player. Which features will you likely use the most? Which will you probably never use?
You'll also notice there are many brand names for DVD players. Some of the well-known brands include Philips, Coby, Emerson, Toshiba, Magnavox, Sanyo, and Panasonic. Pricing for DVD players can range from around $50 to $500 depending on the features you choose.
If buying a DVD player for your child, there are also players with children's themes. The player will actually look like the child's favorite cartoon character!
To find the DVD player that's right for you, search online by brand name, features, or price to compare. Or, you can visit an online mall to compare all in one location. Besides electronics, you can also find other great items at an online mall such as computers, laptops, lingerie, pets, automotive products, telephones, jewelry, household products, toys, and more. Take your time to find the DVD player that will meet your needs. You'll enjoy years of quality entertainment!
http://www.articleshelf.com/Article/Electronics-Guide--How-to-Choose-a-DVD-Player/23941
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
The History of the Television to Today’s Plasma TV
For the average person, even a regular television set is something of a technological marvel that becomes almost unbelievable when considering today’s latest and greatest advances, including the plasma TV. Take a brief look at the history of the technology that we now take for granted.
As early as the 1950s, people were beginning to have television sets in their homes, though the practice of a home television set wouldn’t become widespread until the 1960s. Suddenly, the average person could be a bystander for historic events, catch the latest news and spend hours being entertained.
In those early days of television, an analog signal transmitted the audio and video that would become a picture on the home television set. The early home sets used a tube technology – it took ages to warm up sufficiently to produce a picture. The analog signal was prone to fuzzy pictures that could fade out completely with various conditions. A home typically had an antenna, either on top of the television set itself or standing outside the house. Adjusting that antenna could help the reception of the picture.
Many things have changed since those early days of television. Analog signals are still used, though high definition digital signals are becoming more common.
Remarkably, there have always been experiments and advances in the works, many appearing on the drawing boards long before they’re introduced to the public. In the case of plasma TVs, the idea has been around almost as long as the video technology. The first plasma screen was actually constructed by a college professor and his student as early as 1964. The idea was sound, but the high-end television set simply wasn’t practical for the signal technology of the day. After all, there was little need for a screen that could produce a better picture than the television stations could send!
The reason for that early development wasn’t aimed at the television industry, but was to be used for displaying information in an educational setting. When the television industry started looking at newer, better technology for the tube-type television sets commonly being used in the 1960s, plasma was actually considered, though only briefly. In the end, the more practical idea became the liquid display screen television screens and it would be many more years before the plasma TV option was again considered.
http://www.articlesearchnet.com/Article/The-History-of-the-Television-to-Today-s-Plasma-TV/1018
As early as the 1950s, people were beginning to have television sets in their homes, though the practice of a home television set wouldn’t become widespread until the 1960s. Suddenly, the average person could be a bystander for historic events, catch the latest news and spend hours being entertained.
In those early days of television, an analog signal transmitted the audio and video that would become a picture on the home television set. The early home sets used a tube technology – it took ages to warm up sufficiently to produce a picture. The analog signal was prone to fuzzy pictures that could fade out completely with various conditions. A home typically had an antenna, either on top of the television set itself or standing outside the house. Adjusting that antenna could help the reception of the picture.
Many things have changed since those early days of television. Analog signals are still used, though high definition digital signals are becoming more common.
Remarkably, there have always been experiments and advances in the works, many appearing on the drawing boards long before they’re introduced to the public. In the case of plasma TVs, the idea has been around almost as long as the video technology. The first plasma screen was actually constructed by a college professor and his student as early as 1964. The idea was sound, but the high-end television set simply wasn’t practical for the signal technology of the day. After all, there was little need for a screen that could produce a better picture than the television stations could send!
The reason for that early development wasn’t aimed at the television industry, but was to be used for displaying information in an educational setting. When the television industry started looking at newer, better technology for the tube-type television sets commonly being used in the 1960s, plasma was actually considered, though only briefly. In the end, the more practical idea became the liquid display screen television screens and it would be many more years before the plasma TV option was again considered.
http://www.articlesearchnet.com/Article/The-History-of-the-Television-to-Today-s-Plasma-TV/1018
Plasma TV as Part of the Home Theater
There’s just something about spending a couple of hours at a theater, and many people are trying to recreate that feeling with home theaters. There’s no doubt that both electronic and furnishing industries are meeting the demand, and you’ll find a great array of equipment, furniture and “extras” to make your home theater feel as much like a commercial theater as possible.
The plasma TV is no doubt one big step toward creating the ultimate viewing experience. The sharp picture added with the potential for a large, flat screen are important steps, but the benefits of a plasma TV don’t stop there. Plasma TVs have an important feature – the ability to sit directly in front of the screen or to either side without losing a good view of the movie. Many of the television options have a very limited viewing range before the picture becomes much less sharp and clear.
Another important aspect of the plasma TV is that the screen can be mounted on a wall, meaning there doesn’t need to be an entertainment center or even a shelf where the screen sits. It’s all aimed at offering the viewers an experience similar to that of a movie theater.
Remember that setting up the home theater may start with the electronics, but it certainly doesn’t end there. You’ll find authentic theater furnishing to further your home theater experience. Choose reclining seats, seats with armrests or comfortable recliners.
You’ll also find companies that provide everything else you need to make your home theater more like the commercial experience. Want popcorn? Don’t just pop a bag of the buttery treat – pop a whole batch in your popcorn popper that looks just like the popper at the theater. Drinks can be distributed the same way!
If you’re looking for more practical items, you’ll be relieved to know you can even find inexpensive and easy-to-install sound proofing material for walls, floors and ceilings. When you’ve finished this project, you can cover the floors with carpet and welcome mats just like those in your favorite theater, and hide the sound-proofed walls with authentic theater curtains, made to fit your home theater walls.
Your home theater may very well start with a plasma TV – after all, that’s arguably the latest and greatest technology available for your viewing pleasure. But don’t think that creating the ultimate home theater experience has to stop there.
http://www.articlesearchnet.com/Article/Plasma-TV-as-Part-of-the-Home-Theater/1287
The plasma TV is no doubt one big step toward creating the ultimate viewing experience. The sharp picture added with the potential for a large, flat screen are important steps, but the benefits of a plasma TV don’t stop there. Plasma TVs have an important feature – the ability to sit directly in front of the screen or to either side without losing a good view of the movie. Many of the television options have a very limited viewing range before the picture becomes much less sharp and clear.
Another important aspect of the plasma TV is that the screen can be mounted on a wall, meaning there doesn’t need to be an entertainment center or even a shelf where the screen sits. It’s all aimed at offering the viewers an experience similar to that of a movie theater.
Remember that setting up the home theater may start with the electronics, but it certainly doesn’t end there. You’ll find authentic theater furnishing to further your home theater experience. Choose reclining seats, seats with armrests or comfortable recliners.
You’ll also find companies that provide everything else you need to make your home theater more like the commercial experience. Want popcorn? Don’t just pop a bag of the buttery treat – pop a whole batch in your popcorn popper that looks just like the popper at the theater. Drinks can be distributed the same way!
If you’re looking for more practical items, you’ll be relieved to know you can even find inexpensive and easy-to-install sound proofing material for walls, floors and ceilings. When you’ve finished this project, you can cover the floors with carpet and welcome mats just like those in your favorite theater, and hide the sound-proofed walls with authentic theater curtains, made to fit your home theater walls.
Your home theater may very well start with a plasma TV – after all, that’s arguably the latest and greatest technology available for your viewing pleasure. But don’t think that creating the ultimate home theater experience has to stop there.
http://www.articlesearchnet.com/Article/Plasma-TV-as-Part-of-the-Home-Theater/1287
Digital Scales; Everything you need to know when purchasing a postal scales
Postal costs are simply one of the costs of doing business. You pay to ship merchandise, to mail notices and invitations and catalogs and to otherwise communicate with your customers. Did you know that companies that use postal scales save an average of 10%-15% off their annual postage costs?
Types of Postal Scales
There are 2 basic types of postal scales: manual and electronic. A good mechanical scale may be the best option for your business if mailing and shipping costs are a relatively minor part of your expenses. In most cases, if the post from your office is more than 90% letters that weigh less than 13 ounces – the weight for first class postage – with only the occasional package requiring more postage, a simple mechanical scale that is accurate to within half an ounce is most likely sufficient for your needs. Weighing heavier envelopes to calculate the correct postage can save you both time and money, but there’s no need for a fancy digital postal scale with all the bells and whistles.
Special Considerations for Digital Postal Scales
When comparing digital postal scales, especially those that are designed to interface with a postage meter, there are a few significant things to look for.
- Compatibility
If you already have a postal meter, then your choice of postal scales may be limited to those that are compatible with your postal meter. Most manufacturers sell postal scales that are designed to be compatible with their various models of postage meters. If you’re planning to interface your new scale with your postage meter, then compatibility will have to be a major consideration in your decision.
- Ease of Updating Postal Rates
Since postal scales translate the weight of a package into the postage amount, they need to store the postal rates. If the rates change, then they need to be updated in the machine. In most electronic postal scales, the rate information is stored on a microchip in the machine. Before you make a decision, be sure to find out how the manufacturer handles postal rate changes. In many cases, you’ll have to buy a new microchip (or microchips in the case of scales that use several) and install it, and in some cases, you’ll be expected to return the scale to the factory for upgrade and update. Choose the option that makes the most sense and is least disrupting for your company. It may well be worth some extra up front expense for a postal scale that includes free upgrades if the postal rates change.
Handling Oversize Packages
Another consideration is how well the scale can accommodate the types of packages your company is likely to send. Check the dimensions of the weighing platform and the capacity of the scale to be sure that it will be adequate for your company’s usual needs.
Special Postal Scales Features
Some postal scales have ‘nice to have’ features that can become indispensable to your company once you start using them. Among those features that you might like to have are:
- Locking weight will lock in the weight of a package when it’s weighed. This can come in very handy when packages are large enough to block your view of the scale.
- Password protection will help prevent unauthorized use of the postal meter and scale
- Accounting interfaces on some scales allow you to assign costs across departments and clients for accurate billing and then retrieve the information when it’s time to bill
- Manual entry is a handy little feature that allows you to manually enter the weight of a package that exceeds the scale’s capacity in order to have postage rate calculated.
http://www.articlesearchnet.com/Article/Digital-Scales--Everything-you-need-to-know-when-purchasing-a-postal-scales/2991
Types of Postal Scales
There are 2 basic types of postal scales: manual and electronic. A good mechanical scale may be the best option for your business if mailing and shipping costs are a relatively minor part of your expenses. In most cases, if the post from your office is more than 90% letters that weigh less than 13 ounces – the weight for first class postage – with only the occasional package requiring more postage, a simple mechanical scale that is accurate to within half an ounce is most likely sufficient for your needs. Weighing heavier envelopes to calculate the correct postage can save you both time and money, but there’s no need for a fancy digital postal scale with all the bells and whistles.
Special Considerations for Digital Postal Scales
When comparing digital postal scales, especially those that are designed to interface with a postage meter, there are a few significant things to look for.
- Compatibility
If you already have a postal meter, then your choice of postal scales may be limited to those that are compatible with your postal meter. Most manufacturers sell postal scales that are designed to be compatible with their various models of postage meters. If you’re planning to interface your new scale with your postage meter, then compatibility will have to be a major consideration in your decision.
- Ease of Updating Postal Rates
Since postal scales translate the weight of a package into the postage amount, they need to store the postal rates. If the rates change, then they need to be updated in the machine. In most electronic postal scales, the rate information is stored on a microchip in the machine. Before you make a decision, be sure to find out how the manufacturer handles postal rate changes. In many cases, you’ll have to buy a new microchip (or microchips in the case of scales that use several) and install it, and in some cases, you’ll be expected to return the scale to the factory for upgrade and update. Choose the option that makes the most sense and is least disrupting for your company. It may well be worth some extra up front expense for a postal scale that includes free upgrades if the postal rates change.
Handling Oversize Packages
Another consideration is how well the scale can accommodate the types of packages your company is likely to send. Check the dimensions of the weighing platform and the capacity of the scale to be sure that it will be adequate for your company’s usual needs.
Special Postal Scales Features
Some postal scales have ‘nice to have’ features that can become indispensable to your company once you start using them. Among those features that you might like to have are:
- Locking weight will lock in the weight of a package when it’s weighed. This can come in very handy when packages are large enough to block your view of the scale.
- Password protection will help prevent unauthorized use of the postal meter and scale
- Accounting interfaces on some scales allow you to assign costs across departments and clients for accurate billing and then retrieve the information when it’s time to bill
- Manual entry is a handy little feature that allows you to manually enter the weight of a package that exceeds the scale’s capacity in order to have postage rate calculated.
http://www.articlesearchnet.com/Article/Digital-Scales--Everything-you-need-to-know-when-purchasing-a-postal-scales/2991
How To Use a Custom Ring Tone On Your Phone
Having a custom ring tone on the phone you own has moved from something special to a fashion kind of development. Everybody has his phone singing the song that he heard this morning or an 80s hit or just some song that is special to the mobile phone owner.
How can I change my ring tone?
Every company has a system of it's own so it depends a lot on what phone you have. With Ericsson, for example, you can use a web based ring tone composer and design the ring tones that you can then manually input in your phone. You can also find already designed ring tones on the web that you can download or input into the phone.
Only a few Nokia phones have a ring tone composer, if your phone doesn't have a ring tone composer but supports customizable ring tones then the only way to use them on your phone is to connect the phone to your computer through a data cable or a "Smart Message" can be sent, containing the ring tone.
With new phones, ring tones can also be sent from phone to phone or from computer to phone through other data connections such as bluetooth or infrared, making the ring tone transfer and other transfers a lot easier.
How can ring tones be uploaded directly to the phone?
Most phones will not allow a direct input of the ring tone on the phone so if you don't want to use one of the services that are available online, sending the ring tones through Smart Messages, you can transfer them from the computer.
The first step is the connection environment that you'll use to connect the phone and the computer. One possibility is the infrared connection, or Irda, if your computer has and Irda device and your phone has it too. If no such connection is available then a connection through a data cable is your other option, a data cable can be purchased at specialized stores.
Once the connection between the devices is established you will need a specialized software. Such software can be bought but you can also find shareware software that you can download.
Now you know how you can change the ring tone your phone uses. Remember that if your phone has bluetooth or Irda you can just connect to friends that have phones with the same connection possibilities for an easier transfer.
http://www.articlesearchnet.com/Article/How-To-Use-a-Custom-Ring-Tone-On-Your-Phone/3002
How can I change my ring tone?
Every company has a system of it's own so it depends a lot on what phone you have. With Ericsson, for example, you can use a web based ring tone composer and design the ring tones that you can then manually input in your phone. You can also find already designed ring tones on the web that you can download or input into the phone.
Only a few Nokia phones have a ring tone composer, if your phone doesn't have a ring tone composer but supports customizable ring tones then the only way to use them on your phone is to connect the phone to your computer through a data cable or a "Smart Message" can be sent, containing the ring tone.
With new phones, ring tones can also be sent from phone to phone or from computer to phone through other data connections such as bluetooth or infrared, making the ring tone transfer and other transfers a lot easier.
How can ring tones be uploaded directly to the phone?
Most phones will not allow a direct input of the ring tone on the phone so if you don't want to use one of the services that are available online, sending the ring tones through Smart Messages, you can transfer them from the computer.
The first step is the connection environment that you'll use to connect the phone and the computer. One possibility is the infrared connection, or Irda, if your computer has and Irda device and your phone has it too. If no such connection is available then a connection through a data cable is your other option, a data cable can be purchased at specialized stores.
Once the connection between the devices is established you will need a specialized software. Such software can be bought but you can also find shareware software that you can download.
Now you know how you can change the ring tone your phone uses. Remember that if your phone has bluetooth or Irda you can just connect to friends that have phones with the same connection possibilities for an easier transfer.
http://www.articlesearchnet.com/Article/How-To-Use-a-Custom-Ring-Tone-On-Your-Phone/3002
Music for Mobile phones – A good business idea!
The craziness started in 1998 when the Finish mobile telephony operator called Radiolinia launched the first ringtones. This business was obvious designed for Nokia phones.
From that moment, ringtones became a profitable developed market including mobile phones music downloads and a market of multimedia content extremely dynamical which offers any type of polyphonic sounds.
Envious on the registered success of music players machines, the mobile telephones producers started to address the Ipod users represented market, through the embedment of a high players into the mobile phones.
Sony Ericsson launched phones under it’s Walkman brand, based on the catalogue of kindred companionship Sony BMG, number 2 in the world in music business.
Nokia Corp., the mobile leader sales, notified an alliance with The Microsoft Corp. in order to permit the subscribers, to load music from computer on the mobile phones, similarly the mode of which acknowledged digitally players operates.
Unlike the owners of MP3 players, the Nokia users can download different tracks on the mobile phones through wireless, and subsequent may transfer them on computer for his storage or duplication on CD.
In this context, the increased popularity of music downloads and ring tones shall impel the business digit of the sector named global mobile music to reach more then 9.3 billions dollars within 2009, as a report of Junipers Research says
While ring tones and real tones downloads will still be on top with a business digit of 4.8 billions dollars, is waited as the full-track downloads market to breed from 20 millions dollars to 1.8 billions dollars in 2009, while ring tones, which already generates substantial profits in Asia, to sweep out 2.7 billions dollars to world level, up to the end of decade.
http://www.articlesearchnet.com/Article/Music-for-Mobile-phones---A-good-business-idea-/3084
From that moment, ringtones became a profitable developed market including mobile phones music downloads and a market of multimedia content extremely dynamical which offers any type of polyphonic sounds.
Envious on the registered success of music players machines, the mobile telephones producers started to address the Ipod users represented market, through the embedment of a high players into the mobile phones.
Sony Ericsson launched phones under it’s Walkman brand, based on the catalogue of kindred companionship Sony BMG, number 2 in the world in music business.
Nokia Corp., the mobile leader sales, notified an alliance with The Microsoft Corp. in order to permit the subscribers, to load music from computer on the mobile phones, similarly the mode of which acknowledged digitally players operates.
Unlike the owners of MP3 players, the Nokia users can download different tracks on the mobile phones through wireless, and subsequent may transfer them on computer for his storage or duplication on CD.
In this context, the increased popularity of music downloads and ring tones shall impel the business digit of the sector named global mobile music to reach more then 9.3 billions dollars within 2009, as a report of Junipers Research says
While ring tones and real tones downloads will still be on top with a business digit of 4.8 billions dollars, is waited as the full-track downloads market to breed from 20 millions dollars to 1.8 billions dollars in 2009, while ring tones, which already generates substantial profits in Asia, to sweep out 2.7 billions dollars to world level, up to the end of decade.
http://www.articlesearchnet.com/Article/Music-for-Mobile-phones---A-good-business-idea-/3084
Monday, July 9, 2007
Making Printed Circuit Boards in Minutes
Photocopy or Laser Print circuit image onto the dull side of Press-n-Peel Blue or glossy side of Press-n-Peel Wet (Blue is blue, Wet is white).
Prepare: Clothes Iron, Steel Wool #00 and a touch of liquid soap (or SOS , Brillo), Packaging Tape, Photocopy or Laser Printed Circuit Image, & Directions
Cut Press-n-Peel, leaving a 1/4" border around the circuit image. Cut board to size.
Clean copper board with steel wool, SOS or Brillo pads. Rinse cleaned board with soap and water. Be sure to remove all soap residues. Dry thoroughly with lint-free cloth. Be sure to scrape any burrs that appear on the edge of the board that may have resulted from the cutting/shearing process. Burrs tend to keep the iron from making solid contact with the Press-n-Peel Film.
Place Press-n-Peel with image face down onto clean copper board. Iron the Press-n-Peel Film to the board. Some users prefer placing a piece of plain paper between the iron and the film to reduce friction. Temperature setting on the iron is critical, and dependent upon your laser printer or photocopier. Suggested starting temperature is 275-325 degrees F. Iron settings generally are between the "acrylic" and "polyester" settings. Iron temperatures vary. Iron until board has completely and fully reached the temperature of the iron. Time varies with the size and thickness of the board. Generally this is 1.5 to 4 minutes. DO NOT USE STEAM!
Quench the board/film combination under cold running water. Peel the film off.
(Applies to PnP Blue Only!) To remove, if necessary, small "fills" in between traces and "filled donuts", cover the imaged copper board with clear packing tape, and then remove. This will pull all unwanted filled areas off the board.
After removing "fills", trim the board (if necessary) to the final size. Wash the board in soap & water before etching to remove surface oxidation. Etch with any standard copper board etching solution -- Ammonium Persulfate, Ferric Chloride, etc. (Note: Techniks does not sell PCB etching supplies -- available through local electronic supply stores)
Using steel wool, scrub the Press-n-Peel image off as to reveal copper traces. This is best done under running water.
Suggestion: Do not do this until your ready to drill and populate the board. The Press-n-Peel transfer resist protects the board from oxidation.
Press-n-Peel Film is available online at http://www.techniks.com
Prepare: Clothes Iron, Steel Wool #00 and a touch of liquid soap (or SOS , Brillo), Packaging Tape, Photocopy or Laser Printed Circuit Image, & Directions
Cut Press-n-Peel, leaving a 1/4" border around the circuit image. Cut board to size.
Clean copper board with steel wool, SOS or Brillo pads. Rinse cleaned board with soap and water. Be sure to remove all soap residues. Dry thoroughly with lint-free cloth. Be sure to scrape any burrs that appear on the edge of the board that may have resulted from the cutting/shearing process. Burrs tend to keep the iron from making solid contact with the Press-n-Peel Film.
Place Press-n-Peel with image face down onto clean copper board. Iron the Press-n-Peel Film to the board. Some users prefer placing a piece of plain paper between the iron and the film to reduce friction. Temperature setting on the iron is critical, and dependent upon your laser printer or photocopier. Suggested starting temperature is 275-325 degrees F. Iron settings generally are between the "acrylic" and "polyester" settings. Iron temperatures vary. Iron until board has completely and fully reached the temperature of the iron. Time varies with the size and thickness of the board. Generally this is 1.5 to 4 minutes. DO NOT USE STEAM!
Quench the board/film combination under cold running water. Peel the film off.
(Applies to PnP Blue Only!) To remove, if necessary, small "fills" in between traces and "filled donuts", cover the imaged copper board with clear packing tape, and then remove. This will pull all unwanted filled areas off the board.
After removing "fills", trim the board (if necessary) to the final size. Wash the board in soap & water before etching to remove surface oxidation. Etch with any standard copper board etching solution -- Ammonium Persulfate, Ferric Chloride, etc. (Note: Techniks does not sell PCB etching supplies -- available through local electronic supply stores)
Using steel wool, scrub the Press-n-Peel image off as to reveal copper traces. This is best done under running water.
Suggestion: Do not do this until your ready to drill and populate the board. The Press-n-Peel transfer resist protects the board from oxidation.
Press-n-Peel Film is available online at http://www.techniks.com
About the Author
A long time electronic hobbyist who experiments with electronics, builds microcontroller projects, and develops related software
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