Who will win the race for the replacement of the current successful DVD format?

High definition television and bigger PC storage requirements have bought forward the need for a new format to be released.

The current contenders proposing these new formats have some heavyweight electronic giants in their corners. Companies like Sony, Panasonic and Dell support Blu-Ray Disc
Format whilst Toshiba, NEC, Microsoft and Intel support the newly named HD DVD.
(Previously called AOD – Advanced Optical Disc)

Both camps put forward their systems in the same year -2002
Since the existence of the two formats has become a race a DVD forum has been formed to try to sort out the best format to take to the market place.

Despite the request for both parties to submit their technology to the forum, Blu- Ray Disc was not put forward for consideration telling the chair it was a new technology and nothing to do with the existing DVD format.

Obviously with sales expected to exceed 5 billion discs worldwide in 2006 and not wanting a repeat of the Beta and VHS format war of the eighties, there is much at stake.

So what’s the difference between the two? In a nutshell – very little, to get understanding let’s see how the system works.

Fortunately both formats operate in the same way as CD – meaning that a laser scans the reflective surface of the disc, reading or writing data which is stored in the form of microscopic pits that are moulded into the substrate layer of the disc.

Both formats use a blue violet laser to scan, operating at 450nm.
The old red laser operating a 650nm is put at a disadvantage. It is out of date because the new laser technology can focus the laser spot with much greater precision. This allows more microscopic pits and therefore more data on the disc, giving greater capacity.

It’s from here on in that the two formats differ.
HD DVD physical format is close to the existing DVD format but with a blue/violet laser and new data processing techniques the capacity is increased.

Blu-Ray use an aperture lens on its laser which produces a cone like beam which will allow for even smaller microscopic pits and more data to be squeezed onto a disc.

When it comes to capacity there is a vast difference with HD DVD. Their  -R disc (Rom) will hold 60GB on a double-sided dual layer disc and an RW disc holding 45GB.

Blu-Ray can have multiple layers in all formats. Its is said that TDK have already produced a 4 layer 100GB disc.
Therein lies the fundamental difference between the two camps with Sony and the Blu-Ray system believing it’s all about capacity.

In terms of Video quality there is little difference as both support MPEG 4 and MPEG 2 and Microsoft’s VC1

The issue that has driven the bigger players like Microsoft into the HD DVD camp is the software. It allows you to use the interactive content on the disc and the mandatory manage copy feature. It’s this feature that some in Hollywood are keen to have closed after losing out to the pirate DVD market that cost them millions.

Microsoft and Disney joined forces to have the IHT software written so that it dovetails with the new Windows Vista program that will replace the current XP series.

Blu-Ray have their own alternative software called BD-J which is similar, but comes with a catch, manufacturers producing Blu-Ray product will need to pay Java licensing fees. It does seem also at this time that Blu-Ray will make the software optional, something bound to cause confusion amongst consumers.

The HD DVD camp believes also that the Blu-Ray conical cone innovation could be prone to manufacturing difficulties, thus leaving the HD DVD product a far more reliable technology.

Unspoken at this point, is the pricing which may raise many issues. No doubt the Chinese manufacturing influence needs to factored in as we all remember the influx of cheap Chinese DVD players certainly made the product reach saturation point very quickly.

HD DVD have already on board the Chinese manufacturers and companies like Toshiba have suggested a $499 starting price which is roughly half that of its Blu-Ray counterpart.

Finally I guess the last word comes from Bill Gates who believes that this will be the last physical format ever as once everything is streamlined direct to hard disc via the much trumped digital distribution where there will be no further need for either of the formats.
Once digital distribution goes mainstream then everything you watch or listen to will be streamed to hard disc.   

Greg Taylor

Greg Taylor is the Managing Director of Lamelec Australia.Greg has been the Chief Engineer for the Four Seasons, Daikyo and Radisson group of hotels for 14 years previous to taking over Lamelec.

by Ethan K. Roberts

In todays world, most people have invested in one form of an air conditioner or another. We have either window air conditioners in our homes or central air conditioners. They keep us cool in the extreme summer heat without fail; however, have you ever set back and looked at the costs of running an air conditioner?

When compared to the common household fan the amount of electricity required to run an air conditioner is phenomenal.

When using an air conditioner there are many different factors that can directly affect the cost of running it. These factors include the geographical location of your home, where you live and the amount of work the air conditioner has to do greatly influence the cost.

If you live in an area that has mild summers and extremely cold winters, obviously your air conditioner will not have to work as hard. However, if you live in an area, that has warm winters and boiling summers the air conditioner will have to work double time to maintain comfort.

The difference in weather conditions from year to year will affect the costs as well. This is basically geared towards the difference in costs per year. One summer might be cooler than the next, which will lead to a greater bill.

The efficiency rating of your air conditioner plays an important role in the amount of electricity used. Most all appliances in todays world are rated, when you purchase an air conditioner it will have a tag telling you the amount of electricity that appliance uses. Look for air conditioners that use minimal electricity, which will save you money each year. If you have a model that is 10 years or older, it is definitely time to consider a new one.

Another important factor is the size of the air conditioner versus the house-cooling load. All air conditioners come in different sizes, and each will state the amount of space it is designed to cool. For example, an apartment could do with just one or two window air conditioners, while a three-bedroom house could not. Closely consider the amount of space you need to cool when considering an air conditioner. While larger air conditioners will cost more money, it will typically save you money in the long run on usage.
The setting on your thermostat greatly effects the cost. A higher setting will result in the air conditioner running less, while lowering the setting will cause it to run more often. One electric company suggests keeping the thermostat above 25c degrees. This can save you 10 to 20% on cooling costs.

Finally, the local cost of electricity influences the general cost of running your air conditioner. This is something you have no control over, however, you can control your own cost by saving energy.

Here is a general look at the difference of running an air conditioner vs. running a Ceiling or oscillating fan, at medium speed.

Running a central air conditioner that is three ton (and of average efficiency) for 8 hours per day for 15 days per month, with the average rate per kWh (kilowatt per hour) being 0.17, the average cost per month for the air conditioner alone will be $97.92. Amazing isnt it? This does not even include washer, dryer, lights, refrigerator, or stove, only the air conditioner.

On the other hand, running a ceiling fan or oscillating fan at medium speed, for 8 hours per day, for a full 30 days, at an average rate per kWh of 0.035 is only $1.43. With this comparison you could run 68 ½ fans for a full month before you would reach the cost of the central air conditioning unit.

There are many other things you can do to lower you electric bill. Things such as, inspect, clean, or replace your air conditioner filters monthly. When you are not in your home, raise the temperature on your thermostat, keeping in mind pets when you do.

Lower the temperature of your water heater to 50 degrees celsius, wash only full loads in your dishwasher or clothes washer, and use the energy saving cycle on the dryer.

Other steps you can take include, replacing incandescent bulbs with fluorescent lamps, this could save up to 75% on lighting costs. You should also caulk all windows, doors, and pipes to prevent air leaks in or out, use weather stripping around windows, doors and pipes as well. Have your ducts tested for air leaks; leaking ducts can reduce the efficiency of your air conditioner by up to 20%.

Ethan K. Roberts writes on a variety of topics not limited to air conditioners. Also available are more articles on room air conditioners and air conditioner rental.

by Ross MacIver

Looking for a new home entertainment system? Here are five tips for choosing the best model for your home environment.

1. Choose a system that can be expanded. Most of your music collection may be on CDs, but with the growing popularity of DVD audio you don’t want to be left behind. Even if you are only interested in stereo sound make sure you buy a system that can be adapted to new technologies. This includes video as well as audio mediums. Buy a stereo system for now, but make sure it has surround sound capabilities.
Also consider whether you want your home entertainment system accessible in different parts of the house. An expandable system allows you to place speaker systems and playback modules in different rooms so that you can enjoy home entertainment throughout the house.

2. Buy a system with enough power. This goes hand-in-hand with the previous tip. Don’t buy a unit which has just enough power for your current needs, but rather, think about how you will be expand it in the future. Surround sound speaker systems require more power than stereo, and satellite speakers systems installed in other rooms also require extra power.
Dedicated power amps for different parts of your home entertainment system can make a vast difference in the quality of sound. For example, a subwoofer amp can take the load off the rest of your system will providing massively deep bass sounds.

3. Choose a system that matches your entertainment preferences. If you are mainly interested in DVD video a surround sound speaker system can add amazing authenticity to your viewing experience. On the other hand, if you mostly listen to classical music, divide your budget so that you can get a good set of stereo speakers. If you like rap or hip-hop you should choose speakers designed for bass heavy music — a subwoofer is a necessity.

4. Make it backwards compatible. Many people still have a sizable collection of VHS tapes and vinyl records. Rather than throwing out these valuable sources of entertainment, make sure your new entertainment system can handle them.

5. Buy the best you can afford. It’s a waste of money to buy inferior components for your home entertainment system. You will quickly become dissatisfied with them and end up ditching them. If you have a limited budget, divide it up wisely. Rather than starting with a full-featured audio and video home entertainment system, concentrate on a few components. As long as your system is expandable, you can continue adding new features as your budget allows.

Ross MacIver is an audio enthusiast and author of the Audio How To Section of the http://www.selected-audio-reviews.com/