Electronic Decor - Blog

2004-11-06T23:01:00.000-05:00

Please visit us at Electronic Decor - Stylish Electronics

2004-03-29T20:27:00.000-05:00

HD-DVD expected This Year

Toshiba and NEC have mutually announced the endorsement of their HD-DVD format (formally known as AOD) by the DVD Forum, a association of manufacturers, software suppliers, and parts suppliers. (The ten founding member companies are Hitachi Sony Matsushita Panasonic, Mitsubishi, Pioneer, Philips, Thomson, Time-Warner, Toshiba, and JVC.)

The format was approved as a high-definition DVD platform, but, to date, only as a playback medium. Toshiba and NEC are trying to persuade the DVD Forum to approve the format for rewritable HD-DVD discs as well, but this decision will not be voted on until 2004. A Forum spokesperson had previously stated that only one blue-laser format would he approved for the next generation of high-definition discs.

Other advantages touted by Toshiba and NEC are the use of a simple pickup head in the player (as in current DVD machines) and the fact that, unlike earlier Blu-Ray designs, AOD HD-DVD does not require cartridge-disc-loading, allowing for slimmer drive designs. the latest generation of Blu-Ray machines may not require the use of disc-carriers either.

AOD 1-ID-DVDs have a lower storage capacity than Blu-Ray discs. AOD rewriteable (RW) discs can store 20 gigabytes (single-layer) as opposed to a maximum of 27GB with Blu-Ray. This translates into a maximum record time of about two hours with a 20GB single-layer disc. Toshiba says it is working on a dual-layer disc that will have.

around 35–40GB storage capacity. The read-only HD DVD format will use the 1-1.264 codec—a more robust compression scheme that allows a 50% lower data rate than MPEG2 HD compression. Toshiba claims that H.264 will extend the maximum time of a single-layer read-only (RO) disc to 132 minutes of HD content.a source at Toshiba said that the first HD-DVD recorders might be introduced in 2004, but that pre recorded HD content will not appear till the end of 2005, at the earliest.

2004-03-11T20:18:00.000-05:00

Dish Network

Needless to say anyone that knows me is aware I rarely recommend Dish Network
I’m just not a fan of the service never have been, I wouldn’t 100% rule out any
chance of using it in the future but I dare say I could never see Direc TV refusing
to air Viacom programming, I guess dish came around though, Below is a press
release from earlier this week, I suppose folks really wanted their MTV!

“Your CBS and MTV Networks Are Back! Message from Charlie Ergen, CEO of
DISH Network Dear Loyal DISH Network Customers,

I am very pleased to announce that we’ve successfully reached a long-term
agreement with Viacom to provide you with CBS and MTV Network channels including
MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon. I am happy to say that this agreement will
allow us to continue to provide you the lowest all-digital price everyday. I understand
that it has been a difficult 36 hours to be without these popular channels

We appreciate your patience, your support for DISH Network and your continued
business. As promised, you will receive a $1 credit on your next billing statement.
In addition, we would like to thank you for all of your support by sending you a
free DISH On Demand Pay-Per-View coupon that will allow you to view upcoming
hits like “Cat in the Hat” and “School of Rock.” The coupon will arrive in your April
billing statement. Enjoy a movie on us. Everyone at DISH Network will continue to
fight to provide the best possible programming and services at the lowest possible
price, every day. Thank you for your loyalty and thank you for being a DISH Network
customer.

Charlie Ergen
CEO
DISH Network”

2004-02-29T14:29:00.000-05:00

Akimbo Video over IP

Akimbo, a start up video on demand via IP service based in California, said it will launch next quarter a new personalized programming service and hardware which will deliver movies and specialized video content to subscribers' TV sets over broadband connections.

The goal of the company is to be "the first to deliver high-quality video — including eventually HDTV quality — over the Internet to TV sets," said Steve Shannon, Akimbo sales and marketing executive VP, who was one of the founders of the ReplayTV DVR.

"There is a fair amount of audio and video content going over the Internet now, but very little of it actually gets into the living room. We are trying to create what we believe is the right structural design so the consumers can use the Internet to get a really good quality, living-room style entertainment experience."

Akimbo will offer a hard-drive-equipped set-top box that will plug into a user's cable, DSL or broadband satellite service to find and download hundreds of videos including movies, specialized television programs and eventually homemade videos from its user community. Akimbo expects next-generation equipment to be equipped to upload video for general distribution over its servers. Copy-righted content, however, will be protected with Windows Digital Rights Management software to prevent the 'Napsterization' of protected films.

Users will bring their own broadband Internet connection, or arrange to subscribe to one through Akimbo. Eventually, Akimbo said, it expects broadband providers to add on Akimbo service as a value-added selling proposition. The set-top box initially will be distributed through retail partners at an expected $199 street price.

Shannon said Akimbo is talking with potential retail partners now, and could employ a number of business models for retailers, ranging from the profit on the sale of hardware to revenue sharing on the service.

2004-02-23T22:16:00.000-05:00

HDTV TiVo’s and DVR’s

Shopped for a HDTV capable recorder of late and decided DVHS or Dish Network
isn’t your cup of tea?, you’ve no doubt given up and decided to wait for the
vaporware DirecTV Recorder (now promised march 2004) , Fear not options
are at hand, specifically some new products from LG Electronics

2004-02-16T04:12:00.000-05:00

Site update: New additions to lighting and design pages, look for more soon