Although this HDTV isn’t very affordable and hasn’t got any cool or new features, the visual quality is very good. Other may seem more reasonable for this price, but if you really want to amaze your friends with all the visual details and great sceneries, you have to buy this product.

When speaking about visuals, this is the best there is. It has amazing high definition view, with great details and superb picture quality. You will be impressed by the way people’s skin and hair looks. This 42 inch plasma got a bigger score than any of the other products in its category. It is the highest resolution plasma you can find on the market right now.

The standard definition broadcast test didn’t give this product an excellent score. The colors aren’t as bright and shiny as people expect them to be. For example, the Vizio VP42 managed to get a bigger score in this category as its colors were more lively and real. However the Panasonic TH-42PZ700U does a pretty good job with the standard def DVD.

The black colors are amazing and deep; they bring out the excellent quality of this product. Most of us pay more attention to the color, graphics and options that a TV comes with but the black and white of the images should also take closer notice.

The most important thing to get a good visual quality is to know how to set the TV at its best performance. Unfortunately, the menu isn’t very helpful, everything is very hard to handle. It takes a big amount of time to set the language. In the menu where it shows English language, when you click”ok” you might notice that nothing happens.

Usually, these menus are intuitive but this one isn’t at all. It actually has a little button; you will probably notice it after a long time of searching. Using that button will approve your selection, otherwise it will change it and you won’t even know why. Like the manual options this is more annoying that anything else, as it should save automatically or give you an easier way to make your changes permanent.

When you reach the menu where you can label input devices, fortunately you can skip some of them and move on. However, if this was done automatically things would have been better and faster. It’s not a major problem, but most of these options are automatic now, so it’s very strange that Panasonic only added the manual options.

The good thing about this product is that you can set everything up very easily. Physically speaking, this product isn’t like the ones that take 3 hours to install after moving away all your furniture. It has a single coaxial connector; you will find it facing down. Also, other features include extra component video and S-Video inputs. A great aspect is the great card reader which can be used to see the photos right out of the camera.

Speakers are on the side, and you can almost miss them because they are hidden in the HDTV’s design. The placements of the speakers are sleeker than you would normally see as they were built in and designed to blend perfectly with the frame. Speaking of design, this TV has a great elegant design, like any well respected brand, Panasonic chooses the classic glossy black for the TH-42PZ700U.

The remote control is big and heavy, it almost suggests this product’s high quality. However, it has a particular design as one half is full of buttons. But you shouldn’t worry about control, everything will run smooth because it is designed for you comfort.

Overall this product is amazing; it brings out the smallest details and has a highly improved visual quality when compared to other HDTVs. It doesn’t have many features, but why would you need them if it shows perfect pictures at the best quality you can buy. Although it’s a little bit pricey, you should buy it if you are looking for video quality.

 

If you thought that the only way to rent DVDs was to head down to the local Blockbuster or Hollywood Video, you’ll be in for a nice surprise. Thanks to the ease and comfort of the Internet, you can now rent DVDs online from companies such as Netflix, Intelliflix and even Blockbuster Online.

One of the features of renting DVDs online is the pricing structure. If you rent a DVD from a popular brick-and-mortar store, you can expect to pay about $6 per movie, including taxes. One of the most popular plans offered by these online DVDs rental services is a $17.99 plan which lets you rent out 3 DVD’s at a time with no limits on how many you rent per month.

Consider the fact that if you rent just 3 DVDs per month, then you already get your full money’s worth, but the reality is that you can rent as many movies as you want for the same flat rate. Plus, with no extra fees such as shipping, and the time and gas you save, it’s almost a no-brainer to set up an account with one of these online DVD rental services. As an added bonus, all of these services offer a free trial where you can give it a try. If you don’t like it, then simply cancel your account within the trial period, and it won’t cost you a cent.

Renting DVDs online is very easy to do. Just use your home computer and Internet connection: log onto your account and browse through all the available movies. All of the online DVD rental services make the navigation simple to use and understand. Most of the movies are grouped into categories such as Drama, Comedy, Action, Foreign and New Releases so you can browse through hundreds of titles within minutes. There’s usually a review of each film also so you can get a preview of what the plot is about. Then all you do is simply place every movie you want to watch into your “to view” list. Within a couple business days, they will ship the DVDs at the top of the list to your home.

Another convenience is that there are no late fees associated with these online DVD rental services. You keep each DVD for as long as you want, until . Once you return the DVD back in the return envelope, simply wait a day or two for it to clear your queue and the next movie on your list will be delivered.

I have tried both Netflix and Blockbuster Online and I can honestly testify that these online DVD rental services are a great deal (though I give Blockbuster a slight edge). I have caught up on hundreds of movies in the past couple of years. Also, they rent TV show DVD’s so I’ve been able to catch up on many TV shows as well. The $14.99 I currently pay per month for my service is simply an outstanding value.

Give it a chance and I bet you’ll also find it superior to the old way of renting DVDs. Remember, if you’re not feeling sure about online DVD rentals, there’s usually a free trial where you can check it out risk free.

One of the most common problems with a new home theater is the sound. The sound seems to be something that is very important to most people in regards to their home theater system. Most people would agree that the sound quality in a home theater is almost as important if not just as important as the video quality. If your home theater has the right sound, it could bring a movie right into your living room. If the sound quality is poor, it will remind you of watching black and white movies on your grandparents old console TV.

There are many problems that can arise with the sound quality of your home theater. The following is not a troubleshooting guide, but more of a collection of tips on how to handle some sound quality problems. Some can be fixed with just minor adjustments of wiring or placement of speakers, but others may require a full replacement of certain components.

Your first thought when your sound seems bad is that your speakers are bad. But before you rush out to the nearest electronics store and deplete your checking account, check these possible faults. The problem may not be in the speakers, but in the amp or the speaker wiring or connections. The first step would be to confirm that the speakers are properly connected at both ends.

If the connections are correct, the next step is to determine if the problem lies in the speaker or the amplifier. Some of the less expensive home theater systems come with low end amps that tend to have more problems. People that have these systems in larger rooms tend to notice the problems faster because they are trying to push too much sound through the little amp and it causes more problems. To determine if it is the amplifier, hook up your speakers to your stereo. Stereos tend to have a more powerful amplifier and the speaker quality will likely improve. If the speaker quality does not improve, then it is likely your speakers at fault.

Bad or old speaker wire or poor cabling could be a culprit to bad sound quality. Cheap quality cables are often included in home theater packages and can greatly reduce the sound quality in your system. This can be corrected by going to any electronics store and purchasing a higher quality speaker wire and ensuring that the corrections are made correctly.

When you first experience sound quality problems with your home theater system, it is best to first check all of your connections. The connections and wiring are generally easier to check and cheaper to replace than a component itself. By ensuring that everything is connected properly and your amp has sufficient power, along with using high quality speaker wiring, you should have no problems getting the sound quality that you desire. Taking these simple precautions could result in much less headache in the end. Before you rush out and buy a new system, use these suggestions to make sure that your problem is really a problem and not just a misunderstanding.

 

Pioneer’s PDP-4280HD looks like a very nice product when it comes to high quality HDTVs. It came out fourth during the tests on image quality. Although this is just a 720p model, it proved to be one of the best in its category by showing a great image with amazing details. Unfortunately, the price for this product is about $2700 dollars so it might turn out to be too pricey for a HDTV that hasn’t got 1080p resolution.

The features that come with this product are amazing: it has USB port that you can use to see photos or listen to your favorite Mp3 music, four HDMI ports, Cable Card slot which help your TV receive broadcasts that are scrambled without using a set-top box. Also, you can use your headphone if you like because it comes with a headphone jack, especially if you don’t want to scare your neighbors at night with your horror movies.

The picture-in-picture video option might prove to be a bit hard to use if you don’t read the manual first. Unfortunately, the PDP-4280HD doesn’t allow watching two programs at once but you can watch, for example, a movie on a DVD and a TV show.

Another wonderful aspect when talking about this device is the fact that it supports HDMI CEC; this option lets you control each of the components that are connected through the HDMI. Actually CEC means Costumer Electronics Control and can be easily accessed with your remote. Also, this amazing HDTV also has an option for TV Guide, so you can be sure that you don’t miss your next favorite show.

The TV guide has an on-screen option that will help you find whatever you wish to see. This guide has many options that you can use to plan and record your favorite television shows and movies. Other useful options include the Power Save which is very important if you care about your carbon footprint; this option will turn off your TV after 15 minutes without signal have passed.

When it comes to sound, Pioneer has it all: connections for an amplifier and external speakers. So if you really want to scare those neighbors, you can upgrade your audio system and make some noise without using an external receiver. Although you won’t obtain great sound quality because the terminals are only for speakers and a subwoofer, the noise you make can be pretty satisfactory.

The whole design complicates the setup because the coaxial and HDMI are facing down making things really hard to install. Also, you will find them at the back of the model, so you might need more time with the physical setup. When setting up things in the menu, you might find that they are a bit too complicated and it tends to keep your progress slow.

The text is tiny and the instructions will definitely make you ask for a second opinion because they are very confusing. It also comes with a manual, but it will rather make you tired than teach you anything because they made it too complicated. If you wish, you might like to get a copy of the online manual. At least there you can use the search option in the PDF. Keep in mind that you need to register on the site if you want to take a peak in that online manual.

Now on to the remotes: the Pioneer remote is one of the most comfortable you can get your hands on. It can be programmed and has large buttons that glow in the dark. With its great design, older buyers and those with problem eye sights can easily use this remote with a minimum of trouble.

The Pioneer PDP is a good option for people who can afford a $2700 HDTV with only 720p. Although, at first, it may seem a bit average, this HDTV is top quality, at least when it comes to the image.

 

Prices of HDTV sets are falling rapidly and the experts anticipate that they continue to drop over the next years. Because of this there is a lot of interest in all of the types of TV technologies available right now.

If you are shopping around for a TV right now, you can choose among a large variety of flat screen technologies including Plasma screens and LCD screens. Each technology has its own advantages over the other.

Why choose Plasma?

Plasma screen TV’s technology is based on exotic gases that can glow in different colors when different amounts of electric current are passed through them. For every pixel you seed in the Plasma screen there is a small pocket of gas that can be excited individually to glow at different wavelengths.

The result is an incredible range of colors that quickly reacts to changes of the images. Plasma screens re often easier to make in larger sizes than LCD screens and they are better at displaying fast action without blurring. However the do have a number of disadvantages. First of all the Plasma screens consume more than twice the amount of electricity that LCD screens do. Secondly Plasma screens aren’t bright enough to function well in higher light levels and their brightness fades with time and use and third they also tend to produce and annoying buzzing sound if they are operating at altitudes in excess of six thousand feet.

Why choose LCD?

Differently than the Plasma screens the LCD screens are based on a special type of crystals that react to electrical current by changing shape (not changing color like the gasses in a Plasma screen). In a normal LCD TV screen, the crystals are arranged in a grid pattern and they are supported by a transparent film transistor. A transparent film transistor applies the current to each individual crystal in the screen and, depending on the voltage that is applied to the individual crystal it will change its shape in various ways to block out light coming from a fluorescent lamp behind it.

The crystals will not only block out light completely to make black, but they will also block out different wavelengths of light to let through different colors. Every crystal represents one pixel on the screen. Compared to Plasma screens the LCD screens have the advantages of being extremely energy efficient and they render a great “crystal clear” picture in a variety of light levels, and lend themselves well to displaying output from computers.

The disadvantages of the LCD displays are that they are slightly blurring when displaying fast movement due to the time that the crystals need to change shape. Secondly the LCD screens are not that good at showing very deep shades of black due to the amount of energy that the crystals need to block out the light completely. Luckily both of these problems are almost unnoticeable as the technology has advanced.

In conclusion

There is not right or wrong choice when it comes to picking either a LCD or a Plasma screen. It all depends on the size your want, the contrast of colors you need and the things (watching movies or using as a computer screen) that you are planning using the new screen for. Always be sure to test the screens before you buy them. You might even be lucky to be able to borrow a screen for a test in your own living room to make sure that it is the right choice.

 

The LG 50PY3DF Plasma TV receives a big score in aesthetics compared to other brands in the same category of high quality television. Its tag price is attractive too, although it can’t compete head-on in terms of performance against its competitors. This model targets consumers who give lot of consideration to affordability with a few good features.

Designed meticulously, the LG 50PY3DF looks really enticing and one reason is that it is more affordable than other brands of plasma television. Tested against other TVs in its size category, this 50-inch plasma HDTV garnered an average performance rating that is equivalent to Good. However, for the low price, its features run a bit short compared to more expensive brands belonging to the same TV lineup.

Tests show that the LG 50PY3DF gives strong, satisfactory color quality on standard- and high-definition images but it projects brightness and contrast that can only be considered okay or average. In TV programs like the George Lopez Show, the skin tones revealed are fairly believable while some hints of pixels are present. Game broadcasts like that of the San Francisco Giants showed a good balance of orange and green colors. Details were good too, during the dark scenes in the movie like the Lord of the Rings.

In terms of connectivity, the LG 50PY3DF features three HDMI inputs compared to other brands, which have four. User can also utilize a USB port for data stored in card readers or thumb drives. This USB port allows the LG 50PY3DF to display photos in a slideshow with the packaged remote control to manage the settings and pan the photos when browsing.

With some adjustments at the back, this TV model can swivel like the Samsung FP-T5084 but not as smooth. For a more organized setup, cables can be tied together using a loop that is installed at the back where the swivel bolt can be found. To adjust the display settings manually, user should look for a mini touchpad at the lower right portion that will launch the menu for the TV settings.

Display settings include menus for color temperature adjustments with the colors red, green, and blue as indicators. The menu also allows the adjustment of contrast, brightness, and vividness of the display through color presets for Dynamic, Standard, and Mild. Dynamic is the most enticing preset although there is a bit of concern with how unreal the saturation is – images appear un-natural. With the Standard and Mild settings, images are more realistic.

There are two ways to set the display: through the remote control or through the mini touchpad on the lower right portion of the TV. The keys on the remote control are not backlit and a bit cramped but it serves its function well with the control of the on-screen display.

Stacked against other similar plasma screens the LG 50PY3DF would not receive an A plus score because it lacks some features that experienced electronic users may need. However, studies have found that most home users do not need, want or know how to use all of the extra features that are bundled on their gadgets. Considering its great price, this LG is perfect for those who wants a good plasma screen without a load of useless features that they will not use.

The LG 50PY3DF TV’s size is quite deceiving. It appears bigger than its counterparts because of the panel extensions on both sides where the built-in speakers have been incorporated. These speakers deliver good quality sound from tests ran on shows like the Phantom of the Opera. Each LG TV comes with a 2-year warranty on parts and labor – which is quite an edge for the brand since others offer only 1-year warranties.

Though the LG 50PY3DF may be a bit behind in performance and features, there are still users who put emphasis on the price. These price-conscious buyers may find themselves purchasing this model especially with its demonstrated features and good sound quality, which give value for the money.

 

This television can pass when talking about TV qualities but its very high price is not that reasonable. Mitsubishi LT-46244 holds a number of average qualities that deserve a discounted price. It’s not an awful appliance so the price $2500 is truly expensive.

For our judges’ verdict this television’s image quality deserves a good review since it ranked fourth place from among 46-47 inch HDTV sets which have been tested, and it got a 3.6 points difference from the outstanding score of Samsung LN46A550. The price of this TV is really a big deal though since it can already buy two Samsung television sets.

But the flaws are visible when it comes to color, it produces low quality images but it is still better than LG 47LBX Opus though. The wavy or unstable pattern as seen in Vatican Wall of the movie Mission Impossible 3 appeared too bluish. This was described by the judges as excess brightness and blurriness.

It gathers a good review when it comes to the appearance of the menu as shown on the screen with added icons. But it is still flawed. For instance when you adjust video setting the menu disappears instantly so it takes a long time to change something about the menu again.

LT-46244 can be spin which is a convenient feature since you can see the rear parts of the TV without too much effort. This is handy in the part of the user especially when you are accessing inputs of the television which are difficult to run and use. Another nice feature it has is: the USB port for picture slide presentation and a power-saving option.

Also, the LT-46244 integrated speakers are dreadful. A simple sound coming from it was unclear. For very expensive price, it should perform better than that.

But it also has a good quality: the set’s documentation. It provides a fast set-up manual where you can start learning from the simple things to complicated ones which are all explained in plain and clear English.

Some excellent features in the Mitsubishi LT-46244 is XVColor, a recent technology that allows your new TV to show a lot more color than an old analog could ever hope to present. This feature will make the most of your high definition.

The Tru1080p is another great feature that works to make sure that your signal is showing the highest and best definition that it can at all times. As you are watching TV, the signal from the broadcasting network will flow through your lines without the need of conversions that can slow and freeze your image.

The one unique product of the Mitsubishi LT-46244 are the color schemes and options. There is a wide variety and selection of ways that you can adjust the images on screen to make sure that every object is colored to your own unique perfection.

A color 4D video option reduces noise to prevent fuzzy pictures and lines. An advanced filter will leave the screen crystal clear, while the perfect color option will allow you to adjust multiple colors individually. The full colors can each be adjusted to create unique image and color blends that are perfect for each consumer.

This LT-46244 would be sold reasonably at $1600 but with its original $2500, it’s just too much for a gadget that is less than perfect.

 

In the past it used to be a cumbersome problem when you wanted to shoot with video equipment, the equipment was big and bulky and very expensive, there was no digital edited it was all done by analog edited, which when done you would loose the quality after each generation of copying the film. Digital revolution paved the way for film editing, it is highly flexible, the technology allows digital editing to create wondrous special effects, there is no loss of quality or the damaging effect of the original footage.

When the film is shot the footage which is called the initial footage is transferred to broadcast quality tape, it is then edited and give to the customer as a draft copy.

Videos are produced for fun and other videos are produced for commercial purposes, like advertisements, movies and music vids. When we are talking about a music video we are talking about a video clip which has music and give a visual interpretation of the song. Though music videos made specifically for television first appeared in the 1950s, the strong association between music and the video presentation of it started in the 1980s, with the launch of cable channels like MTV. A good producer will be able to choose the right music for your production.

With the advances in technologies in video equipment and the production sets it has given rise to many new film makers and has made it possible for many more people to get into this field and become a directory overnight and help their career move in a positive direction. The process of video production differs from one company to the next, there are certain procedures and stages that video production takes on. The actual place where filming takes place is the production stage, the pre-production stage can have a huge effect with the entire process of the video and film production.

Video production companies are firms that are engaged in the commercial production of video. In the post-production stage, video production companies are engaged in editing and duplication. Trade show videos suit companies that have complicated products where people need to see to see how it works and in what situations.

Before a production company films the must take into account and calculate how long or how many days the filming will require, the reason for this is because they need to calculate the cost to create a budget. Many time people are looking for companies that can do everything from A-Z, but many companies cannot offer this, there are only a handful of companies that have this capability.

It may be possible to schedule some quick media training or suggest other ways to enhance their performance. Schools offer programs that introduce students to the world of digital video or media productions and the commercial technology on how to do this, the school helps the students create their vision for filming, animation, interactive tools or audio. When attending a video or media school they have the ability to provide environments for recording, creating and producing music.

 

The LG 47LBX Opus LCD HDTV comes equipped with a stand, which allows it to swivel and its use of music coming from the USB along with its photo capabilities are not really enough to offset the 47LBX HDTV’s inferior image quality capabilities. The overall casing of the Opus is beautiful but when it comes to actually using this gadget, you will be disappointed as it has little to offer the average buyer.

This 47LBX LCD HDTV model from LG should rightfully be skipped if you’re intending to get really good images. And, really, who isn’t after getting really good images from one’s HDTV set. With the nine High Definition TV sets that we had reviewed last April 2008, the 47LBX Opus had gotten into eighth place when it came to displaying overall image quality.

When it came to the picture’s details and the quality for brightness and contrasts, the HDTV set could only be considered fair. It was quite clear that it was able to display color quite expertly enough. However, a bad aspect was that it also made the flesh tones for Caucasians display a rather reddish tint. Depending on what you happen to be watching at the time, the color fluctuates and will eventually distract you from your television shows.

However, the sound capabilities for the 47LBX Opus were quite remarkable when you consider that sound is necessary for a TV audio system. To make movie soundtracks as good as they should be, you would still need to use a distinct amplifier as well as employ some speakers.

The subtle sound effects as well as the spoken words for the beginning scene of Phantom of the Opera were heard quite distinctly enough. The high volume organ blast, though, had a hard time passing through the speaker quite well. You have to find a perfect volume setting, and if you turn it up to much the sound will come out muffled.

Some good accompaniments to the 47LBX coming from LG include a port using USB capabilities that allows you to look at your own photos as well as play your own music. The LG 47LBX HDTV also has the ability to rotate on its stand. This allows you to view the screen from a variety of angles.

This feature of the HDTV set also allows you to readily gain access to the HDTV set’s back. The input ports that can be found on the back of the set are oriented outwards; this allows for more convenient use. Most of the HDTV’s are not extremely heavy but it can be daunting to pull out and turn the entire TV when you want to plug in audio and video wires or to connect portable electronics.

The LG 47LBX’s accompanying remote control is also quite acceptable. This remote control, however, comes without any backlighting features. The grip for the remote control is something that is also comfortable enough for the user. The main buttons are also placed where they should be and are considered to be quite easy to find.

Some specialized buttons for the control of the backlight of the LCD also exist; these are the ‘Bright+’ and the ‘Bright’ buttons. Due to SimpLink which is the LG version of the HDMI Consumer Electronics or CEC channel, the remote control can be used for other gadgets that make use of the SimpLink system. This comes all without need for any specialized programming.

Menus of the LG 47LBX HDTV are displayed quite attractively. These are clear and have high readability and the menus function exactly as how they are expected to function. The manual that comes along with the TV is quite thin and is in thirty-two pages. It is a sort of Reader’s Digest simplification of the whole manual. The whole manual is something that is inside the CD that comes along with the TV and this manual is read in the PDF format.

Taken as a whole, the LG 47LBX HDTV set’s high price as well as the not too impressive visual capabilities of the TV set make buying the product not quite an attractive choice.

 

Once again, there is a technology format war looming on the horizon. Many people don’t remember the VHS – Betamax battle that broke out when video players were first introduced, making it possible for people to watch movies at home. This was a case of two non-compatible technologies, each of which was a format for taping full length feature films. Ultimately VHS won out, and the movie companies put out their products in that format – thus dooming Betamax and the product manufacturers that had adopted their technology, not to mention the thousands of consumers that had invested in Betamax players. We now find ourselves on the verge of creating a new set of sore losers.

Skirmishes over LCD versus plasma screen HD TV technology are ongoing, but that type of technology contest isn’t as acute because you can watch TV or a movie on either type of screen. Currently, you can also play every DVD available on any DVD player that is in production and on the market. The next generation of DVD players, however, is coming over the horizon in the form of two distinct and incompatible technologies.

Toshiba versus Sony

Toshiba has developed a proprietary technology dubbed high definition DVD (HDDVD) and to support their format has developed alliances with Microsoft and Universal Films, among others. The HDDVD disks will be available in 15GB and two sided, 30GB versions.

By way of comparison, the current DVDs have enough storage for two hours of standard definition (SD) images, while the one-sided 15 gigabyte HDDVD disk can store up to eight hours of high definition (HD) images. The difference between SD and HD is simply twice the number of pixel lines displayed on the screen in the HD format, thus providing a crisper picture. The increased capacity of these disks will also allow for interactive features such as screen-in-screen director’s discussion of movie scenes playing behind him that today’s standard DVDs cannot support.

In the other corner is the Blu-Ray technology developed by Sony, who has lined up support from Apple, Disney and 20th Century Fox. Both formats use blue laser technology, which has a shorter wavelength than red, allowing it to read the smaller digital data “spots” packed a lot more densely onto a standard-size disc. Blu-Ray disks are designed to carry up to 50GB of digital material, which may mean that Sony wins the compression competition.

The Early Rounds

Sony Pictures released the first six films on Blu-Ray disks in June of this year, and have released a few more since. Samsung has a Blu-Ray DVD player in the stores, while Sony’s hardware division has released a Blu-Ray compatible PC. Toshiba has its initial HDDVD player on the market and there are a limited number of titles available in the format, mostly re-releases of previous first-run features.

Sony clearly jumped out to an early lead, with support from Dell, HP, Mitsubishi and a number of other hardware manufacturers. In addition, Sony Pictures also owns Columbia and MGM, giving them an enormous library to work with. Sony will also fold its technology into the PlayStation 3 gaming machine, their proprietary product whose 2nd version rules the roost in the videogame market.

On the Toshiba side of the battlefield, proponents argue that the HDDVD disks will be cheaper to produce and that it will be comparatively easy for disk replicators to retrofit their equipment for production purposes. The HDDVD format also makes production of recordable DVDs much simpler than with the Blu-Ray design.

Further, an alliance with Microsoft will be a formidable edge in this battle, should it turn into a protracted conflict. Microsoft’s operating systems are going to be important cogs in the development of future home viewing systems, as the technology moves closer to merging the functions of computers and televisions. If movie downloads become a commercial success, PC compatibility will be critical for these disks.

The Consumer Issues

One of the reasons that Microsoft aligned with Toshiba’s technology is that HDDVD provides for “mandatory managed copy.” What that means is that unlike with today’s conventional DVDs, managed copy allows consumers to make legitimate copies of their HD movies and enjoy this content around the home or across their personal networks. Making this feature mandatory will ensure a consistent consumer experience across all next-generation DVD content.

Then there is the element of iHD, which is the concept of maximizing high definition video for transport across the internet. This is a specific set of video specs which the iHD.org, a group of tech and media companies, is pushing as a cross-platform standard.

The theory is that next-generation HD movies will provide a level of interactive experience well beyond that of today’s conventional DVDs. iHD technology is meant to provide a broad foundation to enable new interactivity with standards-based development tools and technologies.

The pitch for this standard is that it will provide consumers with enhanced content, navigation and functionality for HD films. The business reality is that Microsoft plans to implement iHD support in its Windows Vista operating system, which will not only be a significant step towards integrated video and computer systems but will make help drive adoption of the new Microsoft platform.

Duel to the Death Unlikely

There is some indication that all of these conflicting issues may ultimately force a compromise – some sort of merger or unification of the two technologies. Hardware manufacturers are hedging their bets, with the latest wrinkle being that Blu-Ray-aligned Hewlett Packard has requested that mandatory managed copy and the iHD standard be included in Blu-Ray’s feature set. Sony has agreed to include the managed copy feature, but said no to iHD.

The Betamax – VHS battle was a tussle over hardware with the movie companies playing a predominant role, one Sony lost. This time around, there is much more uncertainty about how the next generation of home video will roll out. How will the Web and the PC fit in? Will the movies be delivered via disk or via download? How will the film industry protect its content rights and how can the hardware companies maximize their role?

PCs have become a commodity. If a scenario arises where every household needs a new computer to match up with new video technology, the Dells and HPs of this world stand to win big. If competing technology keeps people from investing in either, every involved business will suffer. If the film and DVD houses have to produce two sets of content and two disks for every film, their margins will grow considerably thinner as well. The tech bloggers seem to be increasingly inclined to believe that unification of some sort is inevitable. The corporations with the most to lose are too smart not to insist on it.