Cause Windows Media Player contains something called Media Library that holds audio and video media. This feature enables you to add music and video clips that you want to keep and view in the library so that they are available anytime you want to hear or see them. You can copy CD music and video clips to your computer's hard drive and then place them in the Media Library. Then, you simply click on the item in Windows Media Player to play it, instead of having to have the actual CD handy.
In order to add music or video to the library, that music must be stored on your hard drive. In other words, you cannot play a CD and add it to your library without first copying the CD to your hard drive. Then, you can add it, as explained in the following Pain Killer.
The Pain Killer To add a CD to Media Library, follow these steps:
1. Use the Rip feature to copy the CD to your hard drive.
2. In Media Library, expand the All Music category and select Album. Then, click the Add to Library button, which looks like a plus sign (+), located at the bottom of the Media Player window. From the pop-up menu that appears, select Add File or Playlist. In the Shared Music folder that appears, select the desired album or browse to the location of the copied CD. When you find the file you are looking for, select it and click Open. The new album now appears in the Media Library.
http://tech.yahoo.com/gd/windows-xp-media-player-headaches-i-can-t-add-cd-music-to-media-library-/3191;_ylt=Ap4I3lEBQsgALCx6gP852c0SLpA5
Thursday, May 17, 2007
How to Buy an MP3 Player
Introduction
Whether you want to get your groove on while working out or would like to amuse yourself as you commute on public transit, a portable MP3 music player could suit your needs. MP3 players--available in a wide variety of styles and sizes and capable of storing thousands of songs--capitalize on digital technology to supplant traditional Walkman-style cassette-tape players and portable CD players.
The Big Picture Today's players pack loads of songs, and the devices are easy to manage, too. We'll help you figure out which one is best for you. more
The Specs Explained The storage capacity and battery life of an MP3 player can have a big impact on how much you enjoy it. We'll explain what's behind these and other specifications. more
MP3 Player Shopping Tips Our advice will help you find the right MP3 player for your lifestyle without paying too much. more
The Big Picture
A portable digital audio player sets your music free so you can easily mix and match songs in any order and take the tunes with you. MP3 players use one of two storage mediums: hard drive or flash memory. Hard-drive players offer the greatest amount of storage space but tend to be larger and more susceptible to damage due to the fragile nature of hard disks. Flash-memory models hold a more limited number of songs, but their lack of moving parts makes them more durable than hard-drive players.
An alternative technology beckons as well: Portable media centers, made by companies such as Archos, Creative Labs, and IRiver, play both music and video (on LCD screens about the size of a playing card). Exclusively hard-drive devices, these handheld entertainment consoles tie in closely with desktop PCs and let you watch hours of recorded television shows or movies.
Getting Started
Nearly all MP3 players require that you have a reasonably modern PC with a free USB 1.1 or 2.0 port. Your songs will load much more quickly with the latter. As you begin creating your music collection on the computer, you may want to upgrade your hard drive to be able to store more files.
Specialized MP3 players are not the only devices you can buy to listen to your music: You can now get mobile telephones, thumb drives, digital cameras, personal digital assistants, and car stereos that can store and play back MP3 music files. Many pocket-size voice memo recorders can now also record and play back MP3 files. But a word to the wise: Dedicated MP3 players usually sound better and have more user-friendly controls than hybrid devices.
Key Features
Storage: The greater the storage capacity, the more songs you can take with you. Hard-drive-based players hold the most--currently, the highest capacity is 80GB (which can accommodate about 20,000 MP3 songs ripped at 128 kilobits per second). The latest (and most expensive) flash-based players can hold up to 8GB of music (about 2000 MP3 songs ripped at 128 kbps); more-affordable options tend to max out at around 2GB.
File management: MP3 files include ID3 tags, meta information embedded within each song file that provides artist, song title, and album name information to the player. Working with this data, a player can organize the files for you, though each does so in its own way. Most players have a built-in LCD screen, so look for one that shows the information you use most.
Transfer speed/port type: Downloading 5GB of songs all at once from your PC using a USB 1.1 interface can take all night. Almost all new players employ the much faster USB 2.0; but if speed is important, ensure that your player of choice supports the faster standard before you buy.
Software: All players come with software and drivers that allow you to download songs to them from a PC. Some units work well only with their included software, while others work with a variety of music programs. Before buying, always be sure your favorite jukebox software will work with your player of choice.
File type support: All digital audio players can play MP3 files, but your music may not be recorded in that file format. If you use media files encoded in the proprietary Windows Media file format (.wma) or the open-source Ogg Vorbis format (.ogg), your media player will be able to play those files only if it has appropriate support built in. Check the player's specs, either on the box or on the manufacturer's Web site, if file format support is important to you. And even if your player doesn't support your preferred format out of the box, many manufacturers provide downloadable updates to the player's firmware, some of which can add support for other formats.
Music service compatibility: Online music stores offer users with a broadband connection a fast, easy, and legal way to build their digital audio collections. However, not all players work with all stores. For example, Apple's ubiquitous iPod line works well only with the iTunes Music Store. Similarly, online music subscription services (such as Rhapsody) that let you "rent" music for your portable audio player work well only with specific players that carry Microsoft's Plays For Sure logo. If you have a favorite online music source, make sure that it works with your player of choice.
The Specs Explained
Initially only a few MP3 players dominated the market. Now you can choose from dozens of players, each sporting a wide variety of features. (Compare prices now.)
No matter which player you pick, be sure to test it in a retail store before you buy--even if you don't buy it from that store. When you test a player, pay close attention to the interface you use to choose the song you want to play: Large LCD screens will let you find and organize stored music more easily than tiny ones. Also look for a player that holds the most songs in the smallest package you can afford.
MP3 Player Specs
Size and weight: important considerations. People who plan to bring the player with them on trips or while exercising will want a smaller, lighter player. The constant evolution of the technology means that smaller and lighter players are always around the corner. Flash memory-based players run from about $90 to $250. These players can range from about the size of a pack of gum to a bit smaller than a deck of cards. A good flash-based player should weigh less than 2 ounces. Hard-drive-based players run from $175 to $400, and range in weight from about 0.3 ounce to just over 6 ounces.
Storage capacity (at 128 kbps): an important consideration. CD-quality MP3 music occupies about 1MB of storage space per minute, so storage capacity determines the maximum number of songs you can upload from your PC. Some flash memory devices let you put songs on removable storage cards, which can hold additional gigabytes of music. The capacity of flash-based players runs from 512KB to 8GB. Hard-drive-based players can hold from 6GB to 80GB of music.
Battery life: somewhat important to consider. Hard-drive-based devices--especially ones that play video, too--chew through batteries. Flash-based players with no moving parts are relatively energy-efficient. Most devices of both types run on rechargeable batteries. Flash-based devices can support a battery life of 20 to 60 hours. Hard-drive players average about 14 hours of battery life when running audio alone; but playing video will drain the battery much faster. For instance, the video iPod averages 21 hours of battery life playing music but only 5.5 hours playing video. Flash players generally get from 20 to 100 hours of battery life playing music; hard drive players generally get from 12 to 25 playing audio only.
Upload interface: somewhat important to consider. The faster the player's interface is, the faster you can load music onto the device. Some players let you transfer songs via removable storage cards. Speed is less important on players with smaller storage capacity, which is why larger hard-drive devices support faster interfaces (USB 2.0 or FireWire). If you want to view video on your player, make sure that you have the fastest interface you can afford.
File format support: a minor consideration (but make sure that the player you like can deal with the file formats you adopt). Among the most common types of audio file formats are AAC, AIFF, Apple Lossless, ASF, Audible, FLAC, MP3, MPEG4, OGG, WAV, WMA, and WMA Lossless. If your player has video capability, you'll need to work with files saved in another array of formats. Some of the most common video file formats are DivX4, DivX5, H.264, Motion JPEG, MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, WMV, and XviD. And if your device can display photographs, check to confirm that it can handle the format your photos are in; the most common of these are BMP, GIF, JPG, and PNG.
MP3 Player Shopping Tips
Choosing the right MP3 player isn't that difficult, but one player does not fit all. People will want different things from their players.
Think about how you'll use the player. Joggers will almost certainly want a lightweight, flash-memory-based device, since hard drives don't react well to the shock of bouncing around all the time; audio aficionados who want lots of music at their fingertips should keep their eyes on the highest-capacity hard-drive models. And if you want to view video or photos on the device, the quality of the screen is an even more critical consideration.
Try your favorite before taking it home. We can't stress this enough. Make sure you can use the on-screen display to navigate to a specific song, and ask a clerk to show you how to transfer music to the device, if possible. Always bring your own set of headphones to listen to the sound quality of each unit you're interested in.
Get the largest-capacity device you can afford. Whether you buy a flash- or hard drive-based MP3 player, make sure to choose a model with the largest storage capacity possible. Even if you don't think you'll need it now, you will probably be happy to have it later.
Pay close attention to the user interface. Does the player's menu system make sense to you, and is the interface easy to use? If you can't find the songs, artists, or albums you want to play quickly and easily, keep looking.
Mind your power options. While some flash-based portable players use replaceable alkaline batteries, most hard drive-based units feature a built-in rechargeable battery that cannot be easily removed. While these devices can keep going for tens of hours, if you're not going to be somewhere near a power outlet or a computer with a USB port, you might find yourself out of juice with no way to charge the player.
Look for wide file format support. All players should support the MP3 format; but if you prefer WMA, AAC, or Ogg Vorbis, make sure your player of choice can handle the files.
Consider a player with an FM tuner. Usually found on flash-based players, this feature isn't essential, but it's nice to be able to listen to the radio--especially if you grow tired of your recorded music.
Do you need a carrying case? Some players come with a small carrying case, others don't. The more expensive and more fragile the player (hard-drive devices are the most delicate), the more likely you'll want a custom-fitted case to protect it. Even if the drive mechanism isn't delicate, you should take into account how upset you would be if your new possession were to get scratched.
Shop around, online and offline. MP3 players are widely available in almost every consumer electronics outlet, and their prices fluctuate. You can check prices from a variety of sources before you buy.
http://tech.yahoo.com/gd/how-to-buy-an-mp3-player/200132;_ylt=AiRHiF2FosQJh8gB4cEfIwoSLpA5
Whether you want to get your groove on while working out or would like to amuse yourself as you commute on public transit, a portable MP3 music player could suit your needs. MP3 players--available in a wide variety of styles and sizes and capable of storing thousands of songs--capitalize on digital technology to supplant traditional Walkman-style cassette-tape players and portable CD players.
The Big Picture Today's players pack loads of songs, and the devices are easy to manage, too. We'll help you figure out which one is best for you. more
The Specs Explained The storage capacity and battery life of an MP3 player can have a big impact on how much you enjoy it. We'll explain what's behind these and other specifications. more
MP3 Player Shopping Tips Our advice will help you find the right MP3 player for your lifestyle without paying too much. more
The Big Picture
A portable digital audio player sets your music free so you can easily mix and match songs in any order and take the tunes with you. MP3 players use one of two storage mediums: hard drive or flash memory. Hard-drive players offer the greatest amount of storage space but tend to be larger and more susceptible to damage due to the fragile nature of hard disks. Flash-memory models hold a more limited number of songs, but their lack of moving parts makes them more durable than hard-drive players.
An alternative technology beckons as well: Portable media centers, made by companies such as Archos, Creative Labs, and IRiver, play both music and video (on LCD screens about the size of a playing card). Exclusively hard-drive devices, these handheld entertainment consoles tie in closely with desktop PCs and let you watch hours of recorded television shows or movies.
Getting Started
Nearly all MP3 players require that you have a reasonably modern PC with a free USB 1.1 or 2.0 port. Your songs will load much more quickly with the latter. As you begin creating your music collection on the computer, you may want to upgrade your hard drive to be able to store more files.
Specialized MP3 players are not the only devices you can buy to listen to your music: You can now get mobile telephones, thumb drives, digital cameras, personal digital assistants, and car stereos that can store and play back MP3 music files. Many pocket-size voice memo recorders can now also record and play back MP3 files. But a word to the wise: Dedicated MP3 players usually sound better and have more user-friendly controls than hybrid devices.
Key Features
Storage: The greater the storage capacity, the more songs you can take with you. Hard-drive-based players hold the most--currently, the highest capacity is 80GB (which can accommodate about 20,000 MP3 songs ripped at 128 kilobits per second). The latest (and most expensive) flash-based players can hold up to 8GB of music (about 2000 MP3 songs ripped at 128 kbps); more-affordable options tend to max out at around 2GB.
File management: MP3 files include ID3 tags, meta information embedded within each song file that provides artist, song title, and album name information to the player. Working with this data, a player can organize the files for you, though each does so in its own way. Most players have a built-in LCD screen, so look for one that shows the information you use most.
Transfer speed/port type: Downloading 5GB of songs all at once from your PC using a USB 1.1 interface can take all night. Almost all new players employ the much faster USB 2.0; but if speed is important, ensure that your player of choice supports the faster standard before you buy.
Software: All players come with software and drivers that allow you to download songs to them from a PC. Some units work well only with their included software, while others work with a variety of music programs. Before buying, always be sure your favorite jukebox software will work with your player of choice.
File type support: All digital audio players can play MP3 files, but your music may not be recorded in that file format. If you use media files encoded in the proprietary Windows Media file format (.wma) or the open-source Ogg Vorbis format (.ogg), your media player will be able to play those files only if it has appropriate support built in. Check the player's specs, either on the box or on the manufacturer's Web site, if file format support is important to you. And even if your player doesn't support your preferred format out of the box, many manufacturers provide downloadable updates to the player's firmware, some of which can add support for other formats.
Music service compatibility: Online music stores offer users with a broadband connection a fast, easy, and legal way to build their digital audio collections. However, not all players work with all stores. For example, Apple's ubiquitous iPod line works well only with the iTunes Music Store. Similarly, online music subscription services (such as Rhapsody) that let you "rent" music for your portable audio player work well only with specific players that carry Microsoft's Plays For Sure logo. If you have a favorite online music source, make sure that it works with your player of choice.
The Specs Explained
Initially only a few MP3 players dominated the market. Now you can choose from dozens of players, each sporting a wide variety of features. (Compare prices now.)
No matter which player you pick, be sure to test it in a retail store before you buy--even if you don't buy it from that store. When you test a player, pay close attention to the interface you use to choose the song you want to play: Large LCD screens will let you find and organize stored music more easily than tiny ones. Also look for a player that holds the most songs in the smallest package you can afford.
MP3 Player Specs
Size and weight: important considerations. People who plan to bring the player with them on trips or while exercising will want a smaller, lighter player. The constant evolution of the technology means that smaller and lighter players are always around the corner. Flash memory-based players run from about $90 to $250. These players can range from about the size of a pack of gum to a bit smaller than a deck of cards. A good flash-based player should weigh less than 2 ounces. Hard-drive-based players run from $175 to $400, and range in weight from about 0.3 ounce to just over 6 ounces.
Storage capacity (at 128 kbps): an important consideration. CD-quality MP3 music occupies about 1MB of storage space per minute, so storage capacity determines the maximum number of songs you can upload from your PC. Some flash memory devices let you put songs on removable storage cards, which can hold additional gigabytes of music. The capacity of flash-based players runs from 512KB to 8GB. Hard-drive-based players can hold from 6GB to 80GB of music.
Battery life: somewhat important to consider. Hard-drive-based devices--especially ones that play video, too--chew through batteries. Flash-based players with no moving parts are relatively energy-efficient. Most devices of both types run on rechargeable batteries. Flash-based devices can support a battery life of 20 to 60 hours. Hard-drive players average about 14 hours of battery life when running audio alone; but playing video will drain the battery much faster. For instance, the video iPod averages 21 hours of battery life playing music but only 5.5 hours playing video. Flash players generally get from 20 to 100 hours of battery life playing music; hard drive players generally get from 12 to 25 playing audio only.
Upload interface: somewhat important to consider. The faster the player's interface is, the faster you can load music onto the device. Some players let you transfer songs via removable storage cards. Speed is less important on players with smaller storage capacity, which is why larger hard-drive devices support faster interfaces (USB 2.0 or FireWire). If you want to view video on your player, make sure that you have the fastest interface you can afford.
File format support: a minor consideration (but make sure that the player you like can deal with the file formats you adopt). Among the most common types of audio file formats are AAC, AIFF, Apple Lossless, ASF, Audible, FLAC, MP3, MPEG4, OGG, WAV, WMA, and WMA Lossless. If your player has video capability, you'll need to work with files saved in another array of formats. Some of the most common video file formats are DivX4, DivX5, H.264, Motion JPEG, MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, WMV, and XviD. And if your device can display photographs, check to confirm that it can handle the format your photos are in; the most common of these are BMP, GIF, JPG, and PNG.
MP3 Player Shopping Tips
Choosing the right MP3 player isn't that difficult, but one player does not fit all. People will want different things from their players.
Think about how you'll use the player. Joggers will almost certainly want a lightweight, flash-memory-based device, since hard drives don't react well to the shock of bouncing around all the time; audio aficionados who want lots of music at their fingertips should keep their eyes on the highest-capacity hard-drive models. And if you want to view video or photos on the device, the quality of the screen is an even more critical consideration.
Try your favorite before taking it home. We can't stress this enough. Make sure you can use the on-screen display to navigate to a specific song, and ask a clerk to show you how to transfer music to the device, if possible. Always bring your own set of headphones to listen to the sound quality of each unit you're interested in.
Get the largest-capacity device you can afford. Whether you buy a flash- or hard drive-based MP3 player, make sure to choose a model with the largest storage capacity possible. Even if you don't think you'll need it now, you will probably be happy to have it later.
Pay close attention to the user interface. Does the player's menu system make sense to you, and is the interface easy to use? If you can't find the songs, artists, or albums you want to play quickly and easily, keep looking.
Mind your power options. While some flash-based portable players use replaceable alkaline batteries, most hard drive-based units feature a built-in rechargeable battery that cannot be easily removed. While these devices can keep going for tens of hours, if you're not going to be somewhere near a power outlet or a computer with a USB port, you might find yourself out of juice with no way to charge the player.
Look for wide file format support. All players should support the MP3 format; but if you prefer WMA, AAC, or Ogg Vorbis, make sure your player of choice can handle the files.
Consider a player with an FM tuner. Usually found on flash-based players, this feature isn't essential, but it's nice to be able to listen to the radio--especially if you grow tired of your recorded music.
Do you need a carrying case? Some players come with a small carrying case, others don't. The more expensive and more fragile the player (hard-drive devices are the most delicate), the more likely you'll want a custom-fitted case to protect it. Even if the drive mechanism isn't delicate, you should take into account how upset you would be if your new possession were to get scratched.
Shop around, online and offline. MP3 players are widely available in almost every consumer electronics outlet, and their prices fluctuate. You can check prices from a variety of sources before you buy.
http://tech.yahoo.com/gd/how-to-buy-an-mp3-player/200132;_ylt=AiRHiF2FosQJh8gB4cEfIwoSLpA5
Choosing a DVD Player
DVD technology has advanced incredibly in the few years that DVD players have been on the market, and the price drops have been stupendous. Like every single piece of A/V gear, you can spend a fortune on a DVD player if you want to. And you may want to if you're building a really fancy, no-holds-barred, high-end home theater. Although you can get a great picture from a $129 model, if you have a high-end video projector and a top-of-the-line surround sound audio system, you may want to buy a fancier model. Such a system yearns for higher-quality electronic components and more powerful chips to convert the digital data on the DVD disc into video and sound.
So what features should you look for? The following items are the key things to put on your mental checklist as you start shopping:
* Connections on the back: For video, the best connection for DVD players is the component video connection, and not all DVD players have these connections (nor do all TVs). If you have a TV that can accept these connections, make sure that you get a DVD player that can also use them. On the audio side of things, you'll find two kinds of digital connectors (for Dolby Digital and DTS digital surround sound) - the coaxial and optical (or Toslink) connections. The key thing here is to make sure that the connectors on your DVD player match up with those on your A/V receiver.
* Single or multidisc capability: DVD players come in single and multiple disc models. For just watching movies, a single disc player is fine, but if you plan to use your DVD player as your only CD player, you may want to pay a bit more for a multidisc player that lets you provide hours of background music during, for example, a party.
* Progressive or interlaced: Progressive scan is becoming a really big deal because the video industry is gradually moving from interlaced video toward a progressive video future. Bottom line: If you have an HDTV or other progressive scan monitor, you want a DVD player that offers progressive scan capabilities. Although most progressive scan TVs have a built-in deinterlacer for playing interlaced material (DVDs are still interlaced), the deinterlacers in most progressive scan DVD players (not all, but most) are better. Even if you don't have a progressive scan TV but may someday, consider a progressive scan DVD player as well, especially because prices on these DVD players have dropped so much that they're hardly more expensive than a regular DVD player.
* Adjustability: To get the best out of a home theater, you need to do more than just plug everything in properly. You also need to spend some time tweaking the audio and video settings to get the best picture in your room. Most of these adjustments are done on the TV or projector itself, not on the DVD player. But some DVD players allow you to adjust things such as brightness (or black level) in the DVD player.
* Surround sound decoder: If you're starting your home theater from scratch, buy a home theater receiver (or separate components decoder) that is capable of decoding (at a minimum) Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS Digital surround sound signals. If, however, you're adding a DVD player into an existing home theater with an older receiver that doesn't support digital surround sound, you can buy a DVD player with a built-in surround sound decoder. The downside of this type of player is that you need to use six analog audio cables to connect the DVD player to your receiver, instead of a single digital interconnect. Some of the older receivers were marketed as "Digital ready" with six preamp jacks on the back for just this purpose; if your receiver doesn't have these six inputs (or its own Dolby Digital decoder), you can't play back digital 5.1 channel surround sound with it!
* Audio disc support: All DVD players can play back store-bought, prerecorded CDs. Not all, however, can play back homemade CD-R or CD-RW discs, nor can many DVD players play back CDs containing MP3 music files. If these features are important to you (and you don't have a CD player that can handle this task for you), make sure that your DVD player can handle all these formats before you buy.
* Recording capability: Just as the CD has moved from a factory produced, read-only CD to a "make your own" medium (such as CD-Rs and CD-RWs), so has DVD recording started to become a truly consumer-friendly technology.
* Remote control: Most people have too many remote controls when they get into home theater. To avoid remote overload, look at how other systems in your home theater can control your DVD player. For example, many A/V equipment vendors have special "system link" cables that let the receiver control the DVD player and other components. The downside of such systems is that you must buy all your equipment from the same vendor to take advantage of them. The alternative is to use a universal remote control to control everything. If you're going down this route, ask your dealer whether there are any special codes or other things you need to consider before buying a specific DVD player.
* DVD extras: Many DVDs include extra features that you'd never get on a VHS tape, laserdisc, or other (older) video source. You can also find DVD players that have special features, such as a digital zoom that lets you enlarge part of the picture on your screen, or a frame-by-frame fast forward, so that you can watch that starship explode in excruciating detail. You can even buy DVD players that display pictures on your TV from Kodak's PictureCDs or your own homemade CD-R with standard PC or Mac JPEG picture files.
* All-in-one functionality: The DVD players with built-in surround sound decoding are a first step in this direction, but if space is limited in your home theater, you may want to take the full leap - DVD players and A/V receivers all in one slim chassis. Lots of these models are part of lower-priced "home theater in a box" systems, but you can also find very high-quality (and expensive) all-in-ones.
If you're buying an inexpensive DVD player, it's probably okay to choose one based on features and reviews. But if you plan to spend $1,000 or more on a DVD player and are lucky enough to have a good home theater shop or dealer nearby, take the time to get a good audition of the DVD player.
http://tech.yahoo.com/gd/choosing-a-dvd-player/153112;_ylt=ArqO6alzi2BfyTw3tI39U34SLpA5
So what features should you look for? The following items are the key things to put on your mental checklist as you start shopping:
* Connections on the back: For video, the best connection for DVD players is the component video connection, and not all DVD players have these connections (nor do all TVs). If you have a TV that can accept these connections, make sure that you get a DVD player that can also use them. On the audio side of things, you'll find two kinds of digital connectors (for Dolby Digital and DTS digital surround sound) - the coaxial and optical (or Toslink) connections. The key thing here is to make sure that the connectors on your DVD player match up with those on your A/V receiver.
* Single or multidisc capability: DVD players come in single and multiple disc models. For just watching movies, a single disc player is fine, but if you plan to use your DVD player as your only CD player, you may want to pay a bit more for a multidisc player that lets you provide hours of background music during, for example, a party.
* Progressive or interlaced: Progressive scan is becoming a really big deal because the video industry is gradually moving from interlaced video toward a progressive video future. Bottom line: If you have an HDTV or other progressive scan monitor, you want a DVD player that offers progressive scan capabilities. Although most progressive scan TVs have a built-in deinterlacer for playing interlaced material (DVDs are still interlaced), the deinterlacers in most progressive scan DVD players (not all, but most) are better. Even if you don't have a progressive scan TV but may someday, consider a progressive scan DVD player as well, especially because prices on these DVD players have dropped so much that they're hardly more expensive than a regular DVD player.
* Adjustability: To get the best out of a home theater, you need to do more than just plug everything in properly. You also need to spend some time tweaking the audio and video settings to get the best picture in your room. Most of these adjustments are done on the TV or projector itself, not on the DVD player. But some DVD players allow you to adjust things such as brightness (or black level) in the DVD player.
* Surround sound decoder: If you're starting your home theater from scratch, buy a home theater receiver (or separate components decoder) that is capable of decoding (at a minimum) Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS Digital surround sound signals. If, however, you're adding a DVD player into an existing home theater with an older receiver that doesn't support digital surround sound, you can buy a DVD player with a built-in surround sound decoder. The downside of this type of player is that you need to use six analog audio cables to connect the DVD player to your receiver, instead of a single digital interconnect. Some of the older receivers were marketed as "Digital ready" with six preamp jacks on the back for just this purpose; if your receiver doesn't have these six inputs (or its own Dolby Digital decoder), you can't play back digital 5.1 channel surround sound with it!
* Audio disc support: All DVD players can play back store-bought, prerecorded CDs. Not all, however, can play back homemade CD-R or CD-RW discs, nor can many DVD players play back CDs containing MP3 music files. If these features are important to you (and you don't have a CD player that can handle this task for you), make sure that your DVD player can handle all these formats before you buy.
* Recording capability: Just as the CD has moved from a factory produced, read-only CD to a "make your own" medium (such as CD-Rs and CD-RWs), so has DVD recording started to become a truly consumer-friendly technology.
* Remote control: Most people have too many remote controls when they get into home theater. To avoid remote overload, look at how other systems in your home theater can control your DVD player. For example, many A/V equipment vendors have special "system link" cables that let the receiver control the DVD player and other components. The downside of such systems is that you must buy all your equipment from the same vendor to take advantage of them. The alternative is to use a universal remote control to control everything. If you're going down this route, ask your dealer whether there are any special codes or other things you need to consider before buying a specific DVD player.
* DVD extras: Many DVDs include extra features that you'd never get on a VHS tape, laserdisc, or other (older) video source. You can also find DVD players that have special features, such as a digital zoom that lets you enlarge part of the picture on your screen, or a frame-by-frame fast forward, so that you can watch that starship explode in excruciating detail. You can even buy DVD players that display pictures on your TV from Kodak's PictureCDs or your own homemade CD-R with standard PC or Mac JPEG picture files.
* All-in-one functionality: The DVD players with built-in surround sound decoding are a first step in this direction, but if space is limited in your home theater, you may want to take the full leap - DVD players and A/V receivers all in one slim chassis. Lots of these models are part of lower-priced "home theater in a box" systems, but you can also find very high-quality (and expensive) all-in-ones.
If you're buying an inexpensive DVD player, it's probably okay to choose one based on features and reviews. But if you plan to spend $1,000 or more on a DVD player and are lucky enough to have a good home theater shop or dealer nearby, take the time to get a good audition of the DVD player.
http://tech.yahoo.com/gd/choosing-a-dvd-player/153112;_ylt=ArqO6alzi2BfyTw3tI39U34SLpA5
Cool New Gear--for Macs and PCs
The scoop on Apple's Mac Mini and iPod Hi-Fi Dock, plus other goodies like a $3000 CD Player.
Steve Bass writes PC World's monthly "Hassle-Free PC" column and is the author of PC Annoyances, 2nd Edition: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things About Your Personal Computer,available from O'Reilly. He also writes PC World's daily Tips & Tweaks blog. Sign up to have Steve's newsletter e-mailed to you each week. Comments or questions? Send Steve e-mail.
A while back, I talked about a couple of Apple announcements on my blog. Apple had just announced its Mac Minis with Intel inside, plus an iPod Hi-Fi Dock. I sent readers to Senior Associate Editor Narasu Rebbapragada's write-up on the demos she attended. I also pointed readers to tuaw.com (The Unofficial Apple Weblog).
Oh, did I get into a fine mess.
I didn't even think about mentioning Macworld. So I get a note from the magazine's editorial director, Jason Snell: "Links to tuaw.com? Hey, Steve, where's the love for PC World sister publication Macworld??"
Oh, geez, I thought, I never know who's reading my blog.
"Well, umm, yeah, uh, I, uh..." I started to reply. I don't do well with Editorial Directors. The best I could do was promise I'd pop a link up right away.
"BTW," I said, figuring I already stepped into a bucket of the stuff, "tell me the truth--do you really use a Mac?"
Jason shot right back: "Basically every day of my life since 1990. I do have a PC, though--it's a P100 I keep in my garage so that I can upgrade my TiVo's hard drive. You tell me--do you really use a PC? It's hard to believe anyone gets any work done with those things. ;-)"
Ouch. I should never tangle with anyone in editorial.
So this week I try to set things right, with some links to useful Macworld stories and podcasts and a couple of other Mac-related items. And while scouting around the Web for Mac stuff, I've collected an impressive wish list. I'll share that with you, too.
Take a Bite of Macworld
Start with the March 2006 cover story, cleverly titled " Chip Story: The Intel Mac FAQ, 2006 Edition." Then move on to the podcast that covers the Intel Mac Minis and iPod Hi-Fi Dock.
A few Mac-related items on our site caught my eye. Mac Skeptic Rebecca Freed has lots to say in " Straight Talk on Mac Security Risks." Be sure to read her update to that column, " More on Mac Security."
There's also a news piece that explains how a " Mac OS X Worm Wiggles Into the Wild."
Dig This: Is your overclocked PC running a little hot? You can dump the fans and use, uh, cooking oil.
Non-Apple Mac Products
Check out the ZVOX Mini, which does basically the same thing as Apple's Hi-Fi Dock, but at $200, it's about $150 less.
You might also be interested in Belkin's Flip for Mac Mini, an $85 KVM-switch gadget that lets a Mac Mini and another Apple computer (or a PC) use just one monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
Dig This: Dilbert is so often so, so on target. Here are two strips that made me LOL: " Fix My Computer" and " E-mail Not Working." BTW, did you know that Scott Adams, Dilbert's creator (who doesn't answer my missives any longer--oh Scott, yoo hoo, you still reading your e-mail?), has his own blog?
Gotta-Have Gear
A $3000 CD Player: The specs on the Olive Opus are nifty. Its 400GB drive can store up to the equivalent of 1100 CDs (using lossless compression) or over 7200 MP3s encoded at 128 kilobits per second. It has a Panasonic CD-R/RW drive and a pair of USB ports built in, and it networks with your computer wirelessly using 802.11g or wired with a four-port switch. Check it out at the Olive site and decide for yourself whether it's worth $3K.
A Mouse for Lefties: Here's something I don't think about often: How do left-handed folks use a mouse? And I probably wouldn't have thought about it today had Logitech not announced its new MX610 Left-Hand Laser Cordless Mouse. It retails for $60, but I've seen the right-handed MX610 selling in the $40 to $50 range on our Product Finder.
Inexpensive All-In-One: I've been trying out Brother's MFC-640CW. It's a multifunction device--a fax and answering machine, a scanner, a copier, and a color ink jet printer all in one. It also has a built-in reader for printing directly from memory cards including CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Memory Sticks, and others. It connects with your PC wirelessly (802.11 b/g) or using a USB or parallel port. It runs about $200.
Add Legs to Your Flashlight: The Flashlight Friend from Nite Ize is a clear plastic case with four legs. I've just tried it for the first time, using my Maglite flashlight. Just put your flashlight in the case and arrange the feet so the light is pointing at whatever it is you want to point at. The gadget costs about $6.
http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/howto/125063
Steve Bass writes PC World's monthly "Hassle-Free PC" column and is the author of PC Annoyances, 2nd Edition: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things About Your Personal Computer,available from O'Reilly. He also writes PC World's daily Tips & Tweaks blog. Sign up to have Steve's newsletter e-mailed to you each week. Comments or questions? Send Steve e-mail.
A while back, I talked about a couple of Apple announcements on my blog. Apple had just announced its Mac Minis with Intel inside, plus an iPod Hi-Fi Dock. I sent readers to Senior Associate Editor Narasu Rebbapragada's write-up on the demos she attended. I also pointed readers to tuaw.com (The Unofficial Apple Weblog).
Oh, did I get into a fine mess.
I didn't even think about mentioning Macworld. So I get a note from the magazine's editorial director, Jason Snell: "Links to tuaw.com? Hey, Steve, where's the love for PC World sister publication Macworld??"
Oh, geez, I thought, I never know who's reading my blog.
"Well, umm, yeah, uh, I, uh..." I started to reply. I don't do well with Editorial Directors. The best I could do was promise I'd pop a link up right away.
"BTW," I said, figuring I already stepped into a bucket of the stuff, "tell me the truth--do you really use a Mac?"
Jason shot right back: "Basically every day of my life since 1990. I do have a PC, though--it's a P100 I keep in my garage so that I can upgrade my TiVo's hard drive. You tell me--do you really use a PC? It's hard to believe anyone gets any work done with those things. ;-)"
Ouch. I should never tangle with anyone in editorial.
So this week I try to set things right, with some links to useful Macworld stories and podcasts and a couple of other Mac-related items. And while scouting around the Web for Mac stuff, I've collected an impressive wish list. I'll share that with you, too.
Take a Bite of Macworld
Start with the March 2006 cover story, cleverly titled " Chip Story: The Intel Mac FAQ, 2006 Edition." Then move on to the podcast that covers the Intel Mac Minis and iPod Hi-Fi Dock.
A few Mac-related items on our site caught my eye. Mac Skeptic Rebecca Freed has lots to say in " Straight Talk on Mac Security Risks." Be sure to read her update to that column, " More on Mac Security."
There's also a news piece that explains how a " Mac OS X Worm Wiggles Into the Wild."
Dig This: Is your overclocked PC running a little hot? You can dump the fans and use, uh, cooking oil.
Non-Apple Mac Products
Check out the ZVOX Mini, which does basically the same thing as Apple's Hi-Fi Dock, but at $200, it's about $150 less.
You might also be interested in Belkin's Flip for Mac Mini, an $85 KVM-switch gadget that lets a Mac Mini and another Apple computer (or a PC) use just one monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
Dig This: Dilbert is so often so, so on target. Here are two strips that made me LOL: " Fix My Computer" and " E-mail Not Working." BTW, did you know that Scott Adams, Dilbert's creator (who doesn't answer my missives any longer--oh Scott, yoo hoo, you still reading your e-mail?), has his own blog?
Gotta-Have Gear
A $3000 CD Player: The specs on the Olive Opus are nifty. Its 400GB drive can store up to the equivalent of 1100 CDs (using lossless compression) or over 7200 MP3s encoded at 128 kilobits per second. It has a Panasonic CD-R/RW drive and a pair of USB ports built in, and it networks with your computer wirelessly using 802.11g or wired with a four-port switch. Check it out at the Olive site and decide for yourself whether it's worth $3K.
A Mouse for Lefties: Here's something I don't think about often: How do left-handed folks use a mouse? And I probably wouldn't have thought about it today had Logitech not announced its new MX610 Left-Hand Laser Cordless Mouse. It retails for $60, but I've seen the right-handed MX610 selling in the $40 to $50 range on our Product Finder.
Inexpensive All-In-One: I've been trying out Brother's MFC-640CW. It's a multifunction device--a fax and answering machine, a scanner, a copier, and a color ink jet printer all in one. It also has a built-in reader for printing directly from memory cards including CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Memory Sticks, and others. It connects with your PC wirelessly (802.11 b/g) or using a USB or parallel port. It runs about $200.
Add Legs to Your Flashlight: The Flashlight Friend from Nite Ize is a clear plastic case with four legs. I've just tried it for the first time, using my Maglite flashlight. Just put your flashlight in the case and arrange the feet so the light is pointing at whatever it is you want to point at. The gadget costs about $6.
http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/howto/125063
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