AMD Launches New ATI Theater HDTV Tuner - X-bit labs
The new ATI Theater 750 PC TV chip is compatible with both PCI Express and USB buses, hence, will be available both as add-on card as well as USB stick. With appropriate software, consumers can also schedule recordings and watch, pause and rewind live TV programs. Skynner. What we need are TV Tuners that are cable-card compatible made available to the retail market.
Currently you can only purchase either a machine with one installed or used OEM parts on Ebay. Posted by: mamisano Date: 06 05 09 05:21:29 AM You must log in to reply 1-1 You must log in to add comments. Forgot password? Globalfoundries Tests 32nm, 28nm Process Technologies 3:20 pm Maingear Unveils the "World"s Greenest" Gaming PC. Maingear Releases "Pulse" - Eco-Friendly PC Aimed at Gamers 12:56 pm JEDEC and SFF to Jointly Develop Standards for Solid-State Drives.
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Keywords:tv, tv programs, tv chip, tv tuners, pc tv, live tv, skynner tv
One Inch Eco Plasma War Looming - Smarthouse
It is just 29mm thick and houses a HDTV tuner. The TV has 1080p resolution and has DLNA support. Along with the necessary software and USB 2.0 ports, this allows users to watch DivX videos, view photos or play MP3 audio files from external drives, flash memory sticks or over a home network.
Last week, Panasinic introduced their first 1-inch ultra-thin and 2-inch super thin Plasma TVs, as well as Panasonic's first Wireless 1080p HD Plasma in its premium Full HD range. Panasonic's V10 and Z1 Series premium Full HD Plasma models are also the first to meet the strict standards for THX certification.
The new Samsung plasma features are expected to carry over to a 58-inch plasma model they are also readying, though no specifics have been revealed other than the fact that it is 50 percent slimmer than the previous-generation TV and weighs about 80lbs.
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Keywords:plasma, hd plasma, plasma models, plasma premium, plasma tvs, plasma features, plasma model, inch plasma, samsung plasma, super plasma
HDTV Receiver OPENSAT XT-9500 HD
This classy black receiver from distributors " ABC BIZNIZ " of Slovakia boasts " HD reception " and good connection options at an attractive price, could we have both style and substance in a single package?
A crisp text display shows the name and number of the channel being received, or the clock in standby.In standby mode, the button lights are still on, joined by the matching red glow of the on standby button. Under the flap on the front panel we find two CI slots for "pay TV" modules and even a Smart card reader. Also under the flap is a USB socket,used to upgrade the "receivers firmware" from a USB stick. Initial setup There"s plenty of options to choose from when it comes to hook-up time.
Two Scart sockets are available for TV and VCR. Helpfully for recording purposes, the VCR Scart always outputs in standard definition,so even " HD channels " can be easily recorded to DVD or " video tape " if required.
The TV Scart can be set to use component video, so if your TV can handle such signals and only has a Scart connection available, you can still get "HD resolution". HDMI, the standard connection for " HD " is also present along with component video RCA jacks. A composite video output is also available, but there"s no place in the modern world for our old friend the UHF antenna loop.
I am somewhat unusual in having an old-tech CRT TV which can handle HD signals via a component input. After just a few minutes of head-scratching,I was viewing "BBC HD" from ASTRA 2. Whilst the type of connection in use can be switched between RGB, Composite, or Component in the menus, a dedicated button on the remote sets the screen resolution.
Available resolutions range from 480p up to 1080i. This gives an extra use for the permanently standard definition VCR Scart,and this cured my initial confusion. You can use this as a backup when finding the correct resolution for your TV. If you end up with a scrambled picture in a resolution your TV does not support as I did, you can switch over to the VCR Scart and still see the menu. Once I"d got it up to 1080i, I had a perfect HD picture and could say goodbye to the temporary VCR Scart route.
The picture quality of HD is, as you"d expect, superb. So much for RGB then! Sadly,we"re still in the early days of HD so there are few "FTA channels" to choose from.
We can still get the benefits though,as standard definition broadcasts are up scaled when viewing through component video or HDMI.This results in a notice able increase in picture quality and sharpness over the standard Scart, but of course it"s not close to the clarity of a true HD broadcast. Choice of language is very good, with 18 languages available.
Most major European languages are covered plus Arabic and Persian, and those in Eastern Europe will be pleased to see Czech, Slovak, Slovenian and Hungarian included along side the more usual choices. The installation menu is the first port of call when setting up for the first time.A comprehensive list of 51 satellites is pre-programmed into the receiver,and these can be edited,deleted or added to as required.
The corresponding transponder lists appear to be equally comprehensive and up-to-date. DiSEqC 1.2 and USALS are included to give easy control of a DiSEqC motor for multi-satellite users. DiSEqC switches are also supported and all necessary LNB parameters are editable,so most setups will be easily catered for. Channel scanning is well-thought out. All transponders can be scanned,or just a single one.Network scanning is also available which is very useful on large satellites like ASTRA and HOTBIRD.
Searching an entire satellite is quite fast an entire network scan of ASTRA 2 takes 16 minutes to scan 83 transponders. With the channels safely in memory, we get to the further editing of the list to suit our individual preferences. All the editing, sorting and filtering functions we need are available, and are easy and intuitive to use. Eight favourites lists can be set up, and adding to these is easy too.
A second window appears next to the channel list ready for channels to be copied into it. This can then be switched to, allowing arranging and editing in the same way as the main list. Everyday use Once we have our lists set up, finally we can sit back and watch some TV, and everyday viewing is helped by some good design here too.
The main channel list can be sorted or filtered alphabetically,or by FTA encryption status and even filtered by just one encryption system if more than one is in use perhaps useful if using more than one CAM. The best feature relating to channel lists though is perhaps the most obvious, yet so often forgotten when receivers are designed. This alone makes the receiver so much nicer to use on a regular basis than so many others I"ve used in the past.
One possible criticism however is that the channels keep their original numbers even when a favourites list or filter is being used. There are advantages in this, as long as you can remember the numbers. I personally might have found it easier to have the channels numbered 1,2,3 based on whatever list I"d chosen, rather than their original numbers - especially after I"d manually moved them around.
But it"s still easier to navigate than many other receivers. I was initially a little disappointed there was no "view the last channel" button,which is always good for those of us who try to keep up with two channels at once. But " OPENSAT " have included a little surprise along these lines, one that"s not even mentioned in the manual. The "back" button is usually used to exit a menu to the previous level.
But pressing it when no menu is displayed produces a list of the last eight channels viewed to select from. Not quite the one-touch zapping solution we"ve seen before, but it is still a nice feature to include. It"s good to also see teletext fully supported. Here in the UK, it"s rapidly losing out as its inferior digital counterpart takes over. When our analogue transmissions end, so will traditional analogue text. Summary Whilst there are no gimmicks or extras added such as games that get forgotten quickly, this receiver does what it needs to easily and well.
The menus are logical, the on-screen displays are clear and helpful. The remote is well laid-out and matches the receiver"s beautiful black and silver looks. There are few downsides to the receiver. Perhaps a dimmer function, or one to turn off the front panel lights altogether could be good for viewers who like to view in the dark without distractions.
One thing I did quickly notice is how hot the case becomes, even in standby mode. I suppose that"s the price we have to pay for the extra horsepower needed to get pictures in " HD quality " onto our screen. A new software should help to solve this problem. It"s just a pity that there is not so much " FTA HD " material out there to watch at the moment.
That will no doubt change in the near future, and when it does I"d certainly be very happy to have the XT-9500 as a permanent fixture in my living room. Share it!
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Keywords:hd, connection hd, hd picture, hd material, hd broadcast, hd astra, hd quality, hd channels, hd reception, hd signals