Technology

Check out this section for information on how to make the most of your entertainment experience at home. Whether you’re deciding to buy LCD or Plasma, thinking about converting to a Media Centre PC or would like to find out more about “True HD” and Blu-ray, we have answered some questions frequently asked by our members.

  • DVD

    Expand
    • How do I clean a dirty DVD?
      Using a soft cloth (microfiber is good), start from the centre of the disc and clean straight out towards the edge. Never clean by rubbing in a circle around the DVD – this can cause scratches.

      If you still have fingerprints or oily residue on the disc, use a soft cloth and commercial DVD cleaner fluid. If you don't have this, try using a small amount of rubbing alcohol and water (mixed to a 1:1 ratio).
      How do I remove scratches from a DVD?
      You can buy DVD fluid that helps remove scratches from DVDs, but if you don't have this, use a dab of toothpaste (not too abrasive) with a little water added to buff out minor scratches. Make sure you rub from the centre toward the edge instead of in a circular motion. Use a soft cloth and make sure you remove any residue.

      DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PLAY A CRACKED DISC AS THIS COULD DAMAGE THE PLAYER.

      If you are still having problems with your DVD rental from Video Ezy, most Video Ezy stores have a DVD polishing machine available. These machines can return the DVD to pristine condition.
      When watching a widescreen version of a DVD on my widescreen TV, why do the black bars still appear on my screen? Shouldn’t the two screens match-up?
      A film can be made in various sizes for the screen, known as "aspect ratios". Some are made in 1.77:1 (meaning the picture is 1.77 times wider than it is high). 1.77:1 is very close to "16:9" which is a standard widescreen size so you would barely see the black bars playing this version. Others are made 2.35:1 (meaning the picture is 2.35 times wider than it is high), and you would therefore see the black bars displayed more prominently. There are plenty more variations as well.

      When a picture doesn't match the aspect ratio of your TV screen, it places black bars at the top and bottom of the screen to fill the gaps. This certainly isn't a new thing - cinemas have been doing this for years and years. So why isn't the picture just blown-up to full-screen? Well if the picture didn't match the screen ratio and was stretched to fit exactly to the screen size, it would look distorted because it would be stretched in height. If it was stretched in the same width-height ratio until the picture reached the same height as the screen, this would chop-off the sides of the picture. So black bars are actually a blessing in disguise.
      I bought a DVD overseas and it doesn't play in my DVD player - why is this?
      It is most likely due to two factors: you have bought a DVD that has a different region code to DVDs made in Australia, and you don't have a multi-region DVD player. If you don't have a multi-region player, the main geographical region designations to look out for are:
      REGION 1 - USA, Canada
      REGION 2 - Japan, Europe, South Africa, Middle East, Greenland
      REGION 3 – South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Parts of South East Asia
      REGION 4 - Australia, New Zealand, Latin America (including Mexico)
      REGION 5 - Eastern Europe, Russia, India, Africa
      REGION 6 - China

      There are other region codes reserved for unspecified special use (Region 7), while airlines and cruise ships use Region 8.

      Region 0 and Region-All are un-coded and can generally be played worldwide (however there are even exceptions to this rule: PAL-discs must be played in a PAL-compatible player, NTSC-discs played in NTSC-compatible players).

      When it comes down to it, there is always a risk when buying a DVD from overseas, no matter what care you take to check region codes and player compatibility.
      How do I find "Easter Eggs" and other hidden features?
      Some DVD movies contain hidden features, often called "Easter Eggs". These are extra scenes or video clips hidden in the disc by the developers. This month we look at popular titles that have some great hidden features:

      WALL*E: Special Edition
      On Disc 1 go to the 'Set Up' option, press the 'Right' arrow key on your remote control and then press the 'Up' arrow key. This will highlight the circle in the top centre. Press the 'Enter' key and will get to see an early title animation test from back when the movie was still called W.A.L.*E.

      TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY: Ultimate Edition (1991)
      On Disc 1 go to the main menu and enter the numbers 82997 [the date (in US format) of Judgment Day]. This should reveal the message 'The Future Is Not Set' and you'll be presented with two deleted scenes, one is the T-1000 searching John's room and the other is the alternate 'Future Coda' ending.

      TITANIC (1997) 3-DISC SET, Collector's Edition/Widescreen DVD
      On Disc 3 go to the 'Marketing Page'. Then in the lower right hand corner there is an image of a newspaper. Click on the newspaper and you get a funny video of Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn trying to pitch sequel ideas to James Cameron.

      Check out this section next month, when we look at hidden features present in some popular TV series box sets.

  • LCD vs Plasma Televisions

    Expand
    • I'm looking to buy a new television. Should I consider an LCD or Plasma?
      A few years ago, the difference between Plasma and LCD was easy to spot. Nowadays, it's a lot harder to determine which is the better technology and like all competing technologies, both have their strengths and weaknesses. So if you're unsure of whether to buy a plasma or LCD TV, consider the following:

      Colour and Contrast
      The picture quality of both LCD and plasma is improving every year, but most entertainment specialists will tell you that in terms of picture quality, plasma screens still have a slight edge over LCDs. This is because plasma screens can display colours more brightly, and blacks more accurately than LCDs can, which means better contrast and greater detail in dark scenes.

      However, there are some new LCD models coming out that have caught-up to the plasma technology with a new form of backlighting – this means there is less light leakage between pixels, resulting in brighter colours and blacker blacks than LCD predecessors.

      Viewing Angles
      Plasma screens tend to have better viewing angles than LCD. Viewing angles are how far you can sit on either side of a screen before the picture's quality is affected. You tend to see some brightness and colour shift when you're on too far of an angle with LCDs, while a plasma's picture remains fairly solid. Newer LCDs entering the market have viewing angles equal to some plasmas.

      Response Time/Motion Blur
      Historically, plasmas have a better pixel response time, and this is good when watching fast-paced action scenes or sports. However, with LCD technology improving, the difference is now almost negligible.

      Screen Burn-in
      Plasmas can suffer from screen burn-in, an affliction not commonly associated with LCDs. Screen burn in occurs when an image is left too long on a screen, resulting in a ghost of that image "burned in". Newer plasmas are less susceptible to this thanks to improved technology and features such as screensavers, but burn-in can still be a problem. However, after a few days most burnt-in images will fade — they are no longer permanent. If you want to use your TV screen like a computer monitor, or play games that have static menus, this might be an important issue.

      Pixel Burn-out
      Although LCD televisions do not suffer from burn-in susceptibility, it is possible that individual pixels on an LCD can burn out, causing small, visible, black or white dots to appear on the screen. Individual pixels cannot be repaired and the whole screen would need to be replaced if the issue gets out of hand. Newer models have technology that has reduced this issue, but make sure you read the fine print just in case.

      Viewing HDTV
      Most plasmas and LCDs can display a high-definition signal. However, you'll need a model with a resolution of at least 1280 x 720-pixel to enjoy the full effects of HD. Most 50-inch plasmas and nearly all 32-inch and larger LCDs offer this resolution. Several new 42-inch plasmas now do, but when you're watching HD feeds on a lower-resolution television of that size or smaller, you'll have to sit much closer to notice much of a difference between HD and what you're seeing.

      Energy Usage
      LCDs consume less power than plasma screens and in turn, give-off less heat. "Eco" LCDs are now available to buy and these use half the power of equivalent plasmas, but less energy results in a picture lower in brightness.

      Weight
      Plasmas tend to use glass, while LCDs use plastic in their screens, therefore making LCDs lighter to carry around or wall-mount.

      Lifespan
      Historically, LCDs have had a longer lifespan than plasma screens. Nowadays they are on par with each other. Whatever LCD or plasma you buy, it should have a lifespan of about 60,000 hours – that's nearly seven years if you were to leave your TV on 24 hours a day.

      Surroundings
      The level of light in the room you put your TV can be a factor when deciding on plasma or LCD. Plasmas looks their best in darker surroundings where there is less reflection of light, while LCDs are naturally brighter and therefore, compared to plasmas, work better in rooms with more light.

      Price
      The general rule of thumb is that LCDs tend to be better value for screens of less than 42 inches, while plasmas tend to be better value for screen sizes greater than 42 inches. Prices for larger LCDs are already beginning to reduce and 42 inch LCDs are almost on par with 42 inch plasmas.
      I'm still confused whether LCD or Plasma is the best choice for me. How else can I decide?
      We suggest the best thing to do is visit your local electrical retailer and compare the picture and audio quality of both options for yourself. You will probably then be able to decide which option you would be happier to live with every day. Good luck!

  • Blu-ray

    Expand
    • What is Blu-ray?
      Blu-ray, officially Blu-ray Disc™ (BD) is the latest generation optical disc format. It has almost six times the capacity of a DVD and was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD) and uncompressed multi-channel audio.
      Where does the name "Blu-ray" come from?
      The name Blu-ray refers to the laser used to read the disc. A BD uses a shorter wavelength blue laser as opposed to the red laser used for SD DVDs and CDs.
      How much data can you fit on a Blu-ray disc?
      A single-layer disc can hold 25GB (DVD = 4.7GB), while a dual-layer disc can hold 50GB (DVD = 8.5GB).
      Will Blu-ray replace DVDs?
      Yes. The Blu-ray format has received broad support from the major movie studios as a successor to today's DVD format. Most major new feature films are released both on Blu-ray Disc and DVD, and older titles are now being released to Blu-ray. It will soon become the only format to view major new release films.
      What are some of the features of Blu-ray?
      Features include:
      • Increased disc capacity allowing for HD video.
      • 6 x the resolution of DVD with 7.1 channels of uncompressed audio.
      • New menu integration with increased interactivity and menu navigation over top of playing video.
      • Network/internet connectivity
      • Improved disc coating with increased resistance to scratches and smudges.
      What features does Blu-ray have that DVD does not?
      Blu-ray plays back HD video with over five times the visual quality of DVD. It can hold longer films and has 6.1 and 7.1 audio. In addition it can run Java applications and BD-Live Internet connectivity.
      Will my DVDs play on a Blu-ray player?
      Yes - Blu-ray players (including PS-3) are backwards compatible.This means that they can also play CD's and DVD's - however the resultant video will not be high-definition from a DVD.
      Will my BD play on my DVD player?
      No - you will need a dedicated Blu-ray player or a PS-3 (PlayStation 3) to play Blu-ray discs.
      Can I plug a Blu-ray player into my standard definition TV?
      Yes - you will see a picture but it will not be in high definition. You will need an HDTV with an HDMI connection from the Blu-ray player to see the high definition video.
      What is BD-Live?
      The next evolution of Blu-ray, BD-Live connects you to the internet via your Blu-ray disc player. You can access BD-Live powered features right from the Blu-ray disc menus, giving you access to exciting new features and exclusive content, as well as the ability to engage with other BD-Live enthusiasts - around the world.
      What do I need to access BD-Live?
      You'll need:
      • A Blu-ray disc that supports BD-Live
      • A Blu-ray player that is BD-Live enabled
      • A Broadband internet connection
      I bought a Blu-ray disc overseas and it doesn’t work in my Blu-ray player. Why is this?
      You may have bought a BD that has a different region code to BDs made in Australia. The main geographical region designations for BD to look out for are:

      A - Americas, East and Southeast Asia
      B - Africa, Europe, Oceania (including Australia and New Zealand), Middle East, French Territories and Greenland
      C - Central and South Asia, Mongolia, Russia and China
      What are some of the best recent or upcoming releases on BD?
      We recommend you look out for the following! Click on the title for more information, or visit our Must Watch List for other great recommendations.

      Up
      Push
      The Battle of Red Cliff
      The Taking of Pelham 123
      Supernatural – Season Four
      Funny People
      Orphan
      The Simpsons - Season Twenty
      G-Force

  • True HD vs HD 'Ready' or 'Compatible' TVs

    Expand
    • What's the difference between a TV labelled 'High Definition', and one labelled 'High Definition Ready' or 'High Definition Compatible'?
      The two additional words, 'Ready' and 'Compatible' tell the story. They mean that something more is needed for true high definition performance.
      What is the missing from 'Compatible' or 'Ready' TVs?
      The HD Ready logo on a plasma or LCD TV means that the display supports high resolution, however you need to add a separate HD set-top box in order to receive high definition broadcasts.
      How does a true High Definition TV differ?
      For a TV to be labelled 'High Definition' it has to have two features: a high resolution display (1024 x 768 pixels or greater), and a built-in high definition digital TV tuner. Even if it has a standard definition digital tuner, it still doesn't qualify.
      How can I tell the difference?
      If you are looking for a true High Definition TV, look out for the HD Certified logo. This means the TV is true high definition.

  • Media Centre PCs

    Expand
    • What are Media Centres?
      Many of us own hundreds of DVDs, CDs, VCR tapes, collections of pictures from our digital cameras, and downloaded movies and music. It's extremely convenient to have them all stored digitally, accessible instantly from any room in the house.

      This is the promise of media centre PCs and media servers - a consolidation of media and appliances. A media centre PC allows you to record television shows to a hard disk, play your favourite movies and shows on your large screen TV, have your entire MP3 collection play through your stereo, access news from Internet on your TV and generally act as an all-purpose media jukebox.

      A media server, on the other hand, acts as a central repository for you media files, dishing them out as needed to appliances around the home.
      What types of Media Centres are available?
      There are two distinct media centre set-ups: the fully-fledged media centre PCs (such as those using Windows Media Centre Edition), also known as "lounge room PCs" or "home theatre PCs"; and media server/terminal combinations, where a server holding all your media content resides in one room of the house and various set-top devices (now known as "media streamers"), connected to TVs in various rooms draw media from that server.

      In the first set-up, the media centre PC is effectively an all-in-one device for your lounge room or entertainment room. It's a video recorder and player, media jukebox, game console, digital picture viewer, TV Web browser and stereo system - in short, it replaces a huge chunk of your home theatre set-up with a single PC. Typically, it will plug into your large-screen TV set.

      The second set-up is the media server model, in which a file server with all your digital media streams that media out to terminal devices located around the house. The server, hidden away in a study or back room, acts as the central repository for the media, while the media streamers act as the client machines, playing that media on TV sets or audio systems in the lounge room, the kitchen, the bedroom, bathroom or wherever it's wanted.

      The two set-ups are not mutually exclusive. You can have a media centre PC that also acts as a media server. Say you build or buy a media centre PC for the lounge room, which also acts as a central repository for media files. Media streamers located in the bedrooms could draw video, audio and picture files from that media centre/media server and display them on TV sets in the bedrooms.
      What do I need to build a Media Centre?
      Building your own media centre PC can be a hassle, full of trial and error, and it's often best to leave it to the experts. There are a number of ready-made media centre PCs available, such as the HP Media Centre PCs. Typically, these packaged media centre PCs will run Windows Media Centre Edition.

      If you're planning to buy or build your own PC designed to go into a lounge room or entertainment room environment, there are a few key factors that you need to consider, above and beyond the regular PC considerations. You need to look at how the PC handles output to a TV set (unless you plan to plug it into a large LCD monitor or digital projector), how it looks with the rest of your entertainment gear, what kind of video and TV capture capabilities it has, how you will control it and what kind of software it will be running.

      It's worth noting that handling digital media can be quite processor intensive, and you can never have too much hard disk space, so plan your PC specs accordingly.
      I'd like to find out more about Media Centre PCs – who should I contact?
      We suggest the best thing to do is visit your local electrical retailer and compare the options for yourself. You will probably then be able to decide which option you would be happier to live with every day. Good luck!