To get top performance from your audio and video gear, it's critical to use the highest-quality connections between components for optimal signal transfer. Upgrading your system's connectivity is one of the best ways to ensure you're getting all the performance you paid for.
Use this handy guide to get familiar with the many available connection options and learn the performance advantages of each type. Then, go to the CEA's interactive Connections Guide for help finding the best cables for your particular system.
DVI Connection
DVI (Digital Visual Interface) offers a high-bandwidth, digital-to-digital video connection that bypasses the digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversions necessary between components with only component video connections. Eliminating the undesirable artifacts of such conversions results in a more faithful reproduction of the original signal. DVI connections may optionally incorporate the High Definition Content Protection (HDCP) protocol, enabling them to pass copy-protected digital broadcast content (if this capability is present, it's usually indicated by the designations "DVI-HDCP" or "DVI with HDCP")
Good Choices:
HDMI Connection
Essentially a more evolved version of DVI, HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) adds digital audio transmission to provide a convenient, one-cable solution to digital A/V connectivity. It offers significantly greater bandwidth than DVI, enabling it to transmit higher-definition uncompressed digital video signals, and establishes a platform for the transfer of future as well as current display formats. And it does all this using a single cable, with a smaller, sleeker connector than DVI. Unlike DVI, all HDMI connections are equipped with the High Definition Content Protection (HDCP) protocol, enabling them to pass copy-protected digital broadcast content.HDMI is backward-compatible with DVI, meaning that if your source component is equipped with a DVI connection and your display has HDMI (or vice-versa), you'll be able to convert the video portion of the signal via an adapter, while maintaining the integrity of all-digital signal transfer. However, since DVI makes no provision for audio signals, you'll need to establish separate audio connections when converting from either connection to the other.
Good Choices:
IEEE-1394 Connection (aka FireWire, iLink)
IEEE-1394 is a standard (approved by the Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers) designed for the high-speed exchange of information between PCs and consumer electronics devices that transfer large amounts of data. To date, IEEE-1394 connectivity has been primarily used to connect digital camcorders to PCs for video editing, but certain high-end TV manufacturers (such as Mitsubishi) have begun incorporating it as an all-purpose digital A/V connection. The connection also carries control information, enabling the seamless coordination of multiple A/V devices — especially when optionally piggybacked with the complementary HAVi (Home Audio Video interoperability) specification. In theory, up to 63 compatible devices may be daisy-chained to a central control device (and operated using a single remote!) using IEEE-1394.
Good Choices:
RGB Connection
Familiar to PC users, this connection can carry video image data in a variety of formats and resolutions, and is often labeled according to these formats (VGA, SVGA and XGA are the most common 4:3 formats; WVGA, WSVGA and WXGA are their widescreen counterparts). RGB connectivity is becoming increasingly common on high-end TVs as well, facilitating what's commonly referred to as "digital convergence": the integration of formerly separate systems (such as your PC and your home entertainment system) via a single common display device. In other words, you can now compute using your TV as a monitor (and your home theater audio system instead of computer speakers) — particularly exciting news for avid computer gamers.
Good Choices:
Component Video Connection
Though inferior to the digital connections listed above, component video is superior to both S-video and composite video because it provides improved color purity, superior color detail, and a reduction in color noise and NTSC artifacts. The 3-plug video output of a DVD player sends/receives the luminance (Y) and 2 color signals, each on a separate colored RCA cable.
Good Choices:
S-Video Connection
An S-video connection is much better than a composite video connection, but it is not as good as component video. This higher quality video input/output segregates chrominance (color) and luminance (light) signals for excellent reproduction from high-quality video sources such as S-VHS, Hi8 and DVD players.
Good Choices:
Composite Video Connection
A composite video connection is a direct video connection using an RCA-type plug and jack; it's superior to the RF type of connection but inferior to S-video and component video. In most cases, composite video cables are sold bundled with a pair of stereo audio cables for convenience. These bundled cables are often referred to as "A/V" (audio/video) cables.
Good Choices:
Coaxial Digital Audio Connection
Making a digital connection (optical or coaxial) between your receiver and DVD player or CD player is a great option. A digital stream sends unprocessed sound information to your receiver (which, as a general rule, has a better digital-to-analog signal processor than a DVD or CD player) to be decoded and amplified. (In the case of SACD or DVD-Audio players, a 5.1-channel analog connection is necessary.) A coaxial digital connection sends signals electrically, as opposed to optically. This is not to be confused with an RF cable, which is sometimes called coaxial.
Good Choices:
Optical Digital Audio Connection
Making a digital connection (optical or coaxial) between your receiver and DVD player or CD player is a great option. A digital stream sends unprocessed sound information to your receiver (which, as a general rule, has a better digital-to-analog signal processor than a DVD or CD player) to be decoded and amplified. (In the case of SACD or DVD-Audio players, a 5.1-channel analog connection is necessary.) An optical digital connection sends signals in the form of light, as opposed to electrically. Optical cables have the advantage of being immune to EM and RF interference.
Good Choices:
Stereo or 5.1-Channel Audio Connection (Analog)
Stereo audio cables provide basic 2-channel analog audio connectivity between your VCR, CD player or DVD player and your home theater receiver (or the audio inputs on your stereo TV, in the case of your DVD player or VCR, if you don't have a receiver). They provide a better signal transfer than coaxial RF A/V connections, but a digital connection is vastly superior.Note: 3 pairs of high-quality stereo audio cables can also be used to connect high-resolution multichannel audio players (SACD or DVD-Audio) to 5.1-channel inputs provided for this purpose on certain receivers.
Good Choices:
Coaxial A/V Connection
Coaxial A/V cable (also know as RF cable) connects your cable box or digital satellite box to your TV. It can also be used to connect a VCR to your TV (but composite or better A/V cables are preferable). If your TV only has coaxial RF inputs, you can use a video switcher and RF modulator to hook up advanced sources like DVD players or home gaming systems (but picture and sound quality is not nearly as good as with composite, S-video or component video connections).
Good Choices:
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Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Cable Guide
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
PREPARATION OF TIMBER FOR COMMERCIAL USE - 1
STAGE ONE:
The ‘felling’ of a tree, is the first stage of preparing the timber for commercial use. This is normally carried out in winter, when the tree has less moisture content. In the summer months, trees can have more then fifty percent water content. This increased weight adds to the cost of transport, handling and initial preparation for the sawmill. Even in winter, trees have a high water content.
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| Mature trees are selected by a forestry worker. Only older trees are chosen, allowing the younger trees to grow to maturity. Felled trees are replaced with saplings. Consequently, the forest is sustainable (it should not run out of trees). If small numbers of trees are harvested each day, a skilled forestry worker will use a chainsaw. When high numbers of trees are to be harvested, a team of forestry workers will work together felling trees. Alternative, in large forests, such as in Norway, specially designed ‘tractors’ with cutters and grabbers, will be used to fell hundreds of trees in one day. | |
| STAGE TWO: The tree trunks (logs) are stored / stacked in a clearing. Sometimes logs are stored in the forest until they are needed at the sawmill. This also allows some of the ‘free’ water content to evaporate, reducing the weight of the tree / log. | |
| STAGE THREE: The logs are transported to the sawmill, using vehicles equipped with lifting gear. In the Tropics, large numbers of logs are transported by floating them in rivers and allowing them to be carried down stream by the current, to sawmills. | |
| STAGE FOUR: At the sawmill, the logs are cut into ‘boards’ using equipment such as circular saws and bandsaws. This is called ‘conversion’. The first stage of conversion is a process called ‘breaking down’, which means rough sawing. The second stage is called ‘resawing’ and refers to more accurate / precise cutting and finishing, such as planing and further machining. Two types of rough sawing for the breaking down process, are shown below. | |
| Large circular saws are then used to further process the boards, removing the curved edges. Each processed piece of wood now looks like a board. | |
| STAGE FIVE: WHAT IS SEASONING AND WHY IS IT NECESSARY? | |
| When a tree is felled, it contains a large proportion of water / moisture. Many felled trees have forty to fifty percent water content. Seasoning of natural wood, is the process through which excess water / moisture is removed, leaving typically fifteen to twenty percent water content. Wood that has not been seasoned and still has a high water content is called ‘green wood’. Wood that has had its water content reduced is called ‘seasoned wood’. Water is held inside a tree in two ways. ‘Free Water’ is water that is held in the vessels and cells and its purpose is to distribute nutrients inside the tree. ‘Cell’ water (also known as ‘bound’ water), is an intrinsic part of the tree’s cell walls. During the seasoning process a tree loses its ‘free’ water and a high proportion of its ‘cell’ / ‘bound’ water. Seasoned wood is used to make furniture and most other wood based products, because it is less likely to ‘deform’ and ‘warp’. It can be shaped accurately with tools such as planes, saws, routers and hand tools. Adhesives can also be used with seasoned woods. On the other hand ‘green wood’ (unseasoned wood), has a tendency to warp and change shape, making it difficult to make precise products. Working with green wood is a skilled craft in its on right, requiring years of training and dedication. | |
Monday, October 22, 2012
BASIC DRAWING / OFFICE EQUIPMENT
When drawing, sketching or attempting basic graphics work the equipment shown below is very useful and sometimes essential.
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Drawing Pencils are a basic requirement of any graphics course. You need a number ranging from 2B to 2H. These letters refer to the hardness of the pencil lead. When sketching a soft lead such as 2B is can be used to produce quick drawings and shading. On the other hand , when drawing precisely a 2H or even a harder pencil such as a 4H is ideal. This type of pencil keeps its sharp edge for longer and produces very fine lines.
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A refillable pencil is very useful especially if you are constructing a drawing that needs a constant thickness of line. The refills are available in a range of thicknesses and either hard or soft leads.
Disadvantages are that the refillable pencils are relatively expensive and so are the refills. Also, the leads tend to break more easily. |
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Ink fountain pens can be used for producing ‘fancy’ styles of writing. Often the pens can be bought with a variety of ‘nibs’ as a set. These can be used to draw / write in a vast range of styles. This type of writing is called ‘Calligraphy’. Ink pens are rarely used now as word processing software can be used to produce accurate styles of writing in a range of fonts.
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A protractor is used to measure angles. A typical protractor is a semi-circular piece of plastic with 180 degrees printed around its curve. This piece of equipment is not only used in graphics for constructing accurate drawings but is also used in subjects like Mathematics.
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A compass is an absolute essential piece of equipment. It is well worth buying a good set which includes at least two compasses allowing the drawing of small and large circles. The drawing opposite is a ‘bow’ compass, this is used for drawing small circles very accurately. Cheap compasses tend to slip on the paper and break quite easily. A good, quality compass set will last a life time.
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Sunday, October 21, 2012
PLASTICS, FUELS AND CHEMICALS FROM CRUDE OIL
| Oil refineries ‘refine’ oil in massive quantities, to produce the fuels we need. These include diesel, petrol and heating oil. However, some of the raw materials we need to manufacture plastics, are also extracted from oil at the refinery. When crude oil is refined, four percent ends up as raw materials for the production of plastics. | |
| Oil is used widely for the production of plastics as it is composed of carbon and hydrogen. This is why oil is called a hydrocarbon. Oil and natural gas are the most important raw materials for plastics manufacture. To the plastics industry, Naphtha is the most important fraction distilled from crude oil. It is used in the production of a range of plastics. | |
Saturday, October 13, 2012
மாற்றான் - சினிமா விமர்சனம்
நடிப்பு: சூர்யா, காஜல் அகர்வால், சச்சின் கடேகர், தாரா
இசை: ஹாரிஸ் ஜெயராஜ்
ஒளிப்பதிவு: சௌந்தர்
பிஆர்ஓ: ஜான்சன்
தயாரிப்பு: ஏஜிஎஸ் இன்டர்நேஷனல்
இயக்கம்: கேவி ஆனந்த்
ஆபரேஷன் சக்ஸஸ்... பேஷன்ட் அவுட் என்பார்களே... அந்த வழக்குச் சொல்லுக்கு சரியான உதாரணம் மாற்றான்.
இந்தப் படத்தின் கதையை எங்கு தொடங்கி, எங்கு முடிப்படி என்பதில் ஏக சிக்கல் இருப்பதால், அந்த கஷ்டத்தை நீங்கள் தியேட்டருக்குப் போய் அனுபவித்துக் கொள்ளுங்கள். இருந்தாலும் விமர்சன சடங்குக்காக ஒரு அவுட்லைன்!
ஒட்டிப் பிறந்த பணக்கார பையன்கள் சூர்யா... அவர்களின் விஞ்ஞானத் தந்தை சச்சின் கடேகர். மகா கொடிய விஞ்ஞானி. தன் கண்டுபிடிப்புக்கு அங்கீகாரம் கிடைக்காத கோபத்தில், ஏதோ அரைகுறை பால்பவுடர் கண்டுபிடிக்கிறாராம். அது ஏக வெற்றி பெறுகிறது. ஆனால் அதில் தலைமுறைகளை அழிக்கும் கொடிய ஸ்டீராய்டு கலக்கப்படுவது மகன்களுக்குத் தெரிய, அப்பாவுக்கு எதிராக, இரட்டையரில் ஒருவர் களமிறங்கி உயிரைவிட, அடுத்து இரட்டையர்கள் பிரிக்கப்டுகிறார்கள். அடுத்து ஒற்றை சூர்யா அவரது அப்பாவை எதிர்த்து எப்படி அந்த பால்பவுடர் உற்பத்தியை தடுக்கிறார் என்பது க்ளைமாக்ஸ் (ஒரளவு அவுட்லைன் வந்துடுச்சா!).
இல்லாத கதைக்கு ஏன் இத்தனை பில்டப் கொடுக்கிறார்கள், கேவி ஆனந்த் - சுபா போன்றவர்கள்? என்ற கேள்விதான் படத்தின் ஒவ்வொரு காட்சியிலும் மனதுக்குள் வந்துபோனது.
முதல் பாதியில் அந்தப் பாடலுடன், ஒட்டிப் பிறந்த இரட்டையர்களைப் பார்ப்பதில் ஆர்வம் குறைந்து, கொஞ்சம் சங்கடம் வர ஆரம்பிக்கிறது. போகப்போக அது ஒருவித ஒவ்வாமை மாதிரியான உணர்வை தோற்றுவித்துவிடுகிறது.
அதிலும் அந்த தீம் பார்க் சண்டை... கிட்டத்தட்ட 20 நிமிடங்கள். முடிந்தபிறகு, யாராவது ஒரு சாரிடான் வாங்கிக் கொடுத்து உதவுங்களேன் என்று கத்த வைத்துவிடுகிறது.
ஹீரோயினை அழகாகக் காட்டிய வரை ஓகே. ஆனால் அம்மணிக்கு ஒரு துபாஷி வேலைதான் படத்தில். தமிழ் - ஆங்கிலம் - ரஷ்யன் என பேசிக் கொண்டே இருக்கிறார். சூர்யாவுடனான அவரது காதலும் ரொம்பவே மெக்கானிக்கலாகத் தெரிகிறது.
கதையில் லாஜிக் ஓட்டைகள் ஒன்றிரண்டல்ல... அத்தனை கொடிய பால்பவுடரை தயாரிப்பதன் நோக்கம் என்ன... தீவணத்தின் மூலம் கலந்து கொடுக்கப்படும் ஸ்டீராய்ட் அதிக பாலை பசுக்களிடமிருந்து கறக்க வேண்டுமானால் உதவலாம். ஆனால் மார்க்கெட்டில் பால்பவுடர் பிரபலமடைய... அத்தனைபேர் வாங்கி நுகர வேறு ஏதாவது காரணம் வேண்டும் அல்லவா?
யுக்ரைனை நேரடியாக குறிப்பிட முடியாமல், உக்வேனியா உக்வேனியா என படம் முழுக்க படுத்துகிறார்கள். படம் முடிந்து வெளியில் வந்ததும், உக்வேனியா எங்கிருக்கிறது என ஜனங்கள் ஒருவரையொருவர் கேட்டுக் கொண்டே போகிறார்கள்.
படத்தின் மிகப்பெரிய ப்ளஸ் ஒளிப்பதிவுதான். ஒருவேளை ஏகப்ட்ட மைனஸ்களுக்கு மத்தியில் இந்த ப்ளஸ் இருந்ததால் பெரிதாகத் தெரிகிறது போலிருக்கிறது. குறிப்பாக அந்த நார்வே லொகேஷன்களை காமிராவுக்குள் சிறைப்டுத்திய விதம்.. வாவ்!
ஹாரிஸ் ஜெயராஜ் மீண்டும் ஒரு முறை ட்ரினிட்டியில் இசை படிக்கப் போகலாம். அல்லது ரஹ்மான் மாதிரி ஓரிரு ஆண்டுகள் இசை விடுமுறை அறிவித்துவிடலாம். சரக்கு மகா மட்டம்... அதைவிட பின்னணி இசை... ஆக்ஷன் காட்சியில், நான்கைந்து ட்ரம்ஸ் செட்டுகளை உருட்டிவிடுவது மாதிரி ஒரு சவுண்ட்... கொடுமை!
ஒன்று முழுமையாக காப்பியடித்து, அதை வெளிப்படையாக ஒப்புக் கொண்டு படத்தை வெளியிடலாம். அல்லது முழுசாக சொந்த சரக்கை கடைவிரிக்கலாம். இப்படி அங்கே கொஞ்சம் இங்கே கொஞ்சம் என எடுத்தாண்டால் இப்படித்தான் இருக்கும் கேவி ஆனந்த்.
அதிலும் அந்த க்ளாமாக்ஸில் சூர்யாவைப் பார்த்து, கடேகர் பேசும் வசனங்கள், மகா மட்டம். சூர்யா எதற்காக அல்லது எப்படி இந்த மாதிரி கேவலமான காட்சியமைப்புக்கு ஒப்புக் கொண்டார் என்பது ஆச்சர்யம்தான்!
ஆங்... இந்தப் படத்தில் குறை சொல்ல முடியாத ஒருவர்... ஹீரோ சூர்யா. ஆள் பார்க்க செம ஸ்மார்ட். அசல் இரட்டையர்களாக தோன்ற ஒவ்வொரு காட்சியிலும் அவர் காட்டியிருக்கும் மெனக்கெடல் அசாத்தியமானது. இந்த உழைப்பும் மெனக்கெடலும் வீணாய்ப் போனதில் வருத்தம்தான்!
ஒரு படத்தின் வெற்றிக்கு நான்தான் காரணம் என எந்த ஹீரோவாவது சொன்னால் தலையில் தட்ட வேண்டும் என்று சொன்ன கேவி ஆனந்துக்குதான் நியாயமாக குட்டு வைக்க வேண்டும். இந்தப் படத்தைப் பொறுத்தவரை, தாங்கிப் பிடிக்கும் ஒற்றை விஷயம் சூர்யா...
சூர்யாவுக்காக மட்டும் பார்க்கலாம்!
Readers' Choice Awards 2012: Smartphones and Mobile Carriers
MOBILE OPERATING SYSTEMS
In the ongoing battle for mobile OS supremacy, the two major players remain Google's Android and Apple's iOS, but Microsoft Windows Phone is doing its best to crash the party. (Pardon the mixed metaphors.) Android may be winning the popularity contest— as previously mentioned, it has significantly more smartphone market share—but Apple wins when it comes to customer satisfaction and by a wide margin. However, Microsoft's Windows Phone platform is neck and neck with Apple in our survey results. Android's popularity doesn't translate directly into being as well liked, thus Microsoft and Apple share the 2012 Readers' Choice Award for smartphone platforms, or mobile OSes.
When we asked our readers how satisfied they were with their smartphones overall, Apple and Microsoft customers both rated their phones an impressive 8.7 on our 0 (extremely dissatisfied) to 10 (extremely satisfied) scale. Android, on the other hand, only received a 7.9, the same rating it received in 2011. Apple's score improved from 8.4 last year; Windows Phone, which earned an Honorable Mention in 2011, improved 0.6 points. That's up from an 8.1, which is a big jump in satisfaction.
While Apple and Microsoft rated the same for overall satisfaction, Windows Phone actually received slightly higher satisfaction ratings than iOS in several key areas, including reliability, text messaging, Web browsing, and gaming. Apple's iOS, however, rates substantially better than Windows Phone for satisfaction with the quality and availability of apps and its music player.
Android's satisfaction ratings in several drill-down areas were higher than its overall satisfaction rating. The platform received its best marks for availability of apps (8.7) though that still trailed Apple iOS's score of 9.1. Android's lowest marks came for satisfaction as a music player (7.9 compared to a 9.0 for iOS and an 8.5 for Windows Phone) and as a gaming device (7.4 compared to an 8.3 for iOS and an 8.4 for Windows Phone). Substantially more Android users also reported needing technical support with their phones (32 percent) compared to Windows Phone (20 percent) and iOS (25 percent) users.
Despite Windows Phone's success at delivering a very satisfying smartphone experience to its customers, it seems that these users aren't committed to the Microsoft platform in the same way that Android and Apple users are. When we asked how likely you were to recommend your phone to someone looking to purchase a smartphone, Apple received a rating of 9.2, which was half a point better than its overall satisfaction rating. Android's 8.2 was 0.3 points better than its overall satisfaction rating. Windows Phone's likelihood to recommend rating was only 0.1 points higher, which may indicate that users still question whether the platform can gain traction.
One platform that has no traction among PCMag readers is RIM's BlackBerry. Overall satisfaction was down to 6.8 this year, slightly below 2011's 6.9. BlackBerry's likelihood to recommend rating dropped 1.1 points from 7.2 in 2011 to 6.1. It continued to garner respectable ratings in its traditional areas of strength, specifically email (8.5) and text messaging (8.2), but these were far from the highest satisfaction ratings among all the platforms in these areas. BlackBerry had the lowest reliability score (7.5, which was tied with Microsoft) and abysmal satisfaction ratings for gaming (4.6), availability of apps (5.4), and Web browsing (5.5). These are all key areas where a smartphone platform needs to do well in order to succeed.
CATEGORY: MOBILE OPERATING SYSTEMS
Apple continues to define what an all-around excellent smartphone experience should be like, with excellent satisfaction ratings for its wide selection of top-notch apps and for its effectiveness as both a productivity tool and an entertainment device.
You may not see many people using Windows Phone handsets yet, but those who chose this route are very happy. Clearly, Microsoft needs to get more app developers on board to gain traction, but in every other aspect we measured, it's providing a winning experience.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
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