Movies in 3D on DVD Coming to a Blu-Ray 3D DVD Player in Your Home

With the advent of the latest 3D technology leading to a customer demand for movies in 3D on DVD the Blu-ray industry, led from the front by the Blu-ray Disc Association, have been working flat out to finalize a standard for delivering stereoscopic (3D) video in high definition on a Blu-ray disc to be played on a Blu-ray 3D DVD player. This is now in place and in the hands of Blu-ray player manufacturers and DVD disc producers so everything is set for the next stage of the 3D revolution to start.

January 2010 will see DVD releases that are able to deliver a full 1080p high definition, at home, 3D experience. The technology is able to run two 1080p frames to the screen which are then transformed into a 3D image with the use of the latest LCD shutter glasses, passive filter glasses or active filter switching glasses. Another positive with the standard is the ability of a 3D disc to be played on a non-compatible player which will result in a normal 2D play back.

To take full advantage of the imminent influx of 3D enabled TV, consumers will need to invest in the compatible hardware such as 3D enabled TV systems, the new generation of Blu-ray players and a few pairs of the latest LCD shutter 3D glasses. All the components are in place with major consumer electronics manufacturers like Panasonic, LG, Philips and Sony ready to launch their latest TV ranges utilizing the HDMI 1.4 standard. Samsung have already pushed their 240HZ LCD 3D TV systems into mass production in what seems like an attempt to get a jump on the competition.

The Samsung Blu-ray 3D DVD player BD-C6900 became the first of the new breed of Blu-ray DVD player to make it onto the shelves and can in fact be purchased right now on Amazon, or perhaps the few that surfaced have already gone, in what I see as a price testing exercise on Samsung's part. By the way the launch price was $399. Amazon have also been selling movies in 3D on DVD format for a couple of weeks or so now along with the latest 3D glasses which all points to the start of the new 3D TV revolution.

Noel Swinton is an online consumer electronics reporter. With LCD 3D TV at present a certainty, his 3D TV and Movies in 3D DVD Review web-site might let you make a decision on which of the latest 3D DVD Releases maybe suitable for your families home entertainment needs.

MP3 Player Shopping Guide

Clueless about MP3 players? If you are itching to buy one and join the bandwagon, then here are some tips to help give you a better idea of what players are all about and how you can choose which model of player is perfect for your needs and lifestyle.

Tip#1Basic MP3 player aesthetics

Players are generally designed for portability and easy handling. This is why when it comes to shopping for an player, especially if it's your first time, size does matter. There are a lot of players out there that are of the same size as your usual USB flash disk but what is more considered as hip nowadays is the Apple iPod shuffle and the Creative Zen stone, which are both just about the size of one's thumb.

Tip#2 Basic MP3 player features

Expect entry-level MP3 players to have a memory space of about 1 gig up to 8 gig. If you are being offered a cheap player with a memory of anything less than 1 gig, like 128MB or 512MB, then you are more or less being duped into buying a low-quality MP3 player. Since watching videos - even full-length movies have become the norm with players, electronics distributors have now started selling MP4 players as well. Some Creative Lab as well as most Apple iPod players have already gotten this upgrade.

Tip#3 MP3 player add-ons

Another thing that is worth considering when buying an player is if it will have lots of available accessories that you can use as add-ons. Both Apple and Creative Lab have come up various types of accessories for their line of players, from silicone cases, crystal cases to unique portable speakers. Showing that they have a wide variety of accessories for players, there is also a whole line of Creative Lab iPod speaker docks available in the market today.

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Paul Collins is a very successful businessman and diverse into many things throughout his career, As Business Development and Marketing Manager, Paul managed all aspects of controlling over 100 retail units in the U.K. Very much involved with Franchising and Business opportunities, always willing to help and advise, Paul has helped many people on the road to starting there own businesses. Paul has owned and run successful retail units, franchises and printing Companies, the most recent project was overseeing and advising on a expansion of a local magazine.

Paul is also an internet marketing expert and has many successes at making money on the internet.

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Blu Ray Error in PlayStation 3 - It Is Fixable

It happens with the people that they specially buy a very interesting movie for themselves to watch and when they insert it in the PS3 then error occurs which is stated as "Disc cannot be played". Mostly the error which pops up on the screen is 'Blue ray error 80029940'. When something like this happens it is very heart breaking as you have already made up your mind for watching the movie. This Blu ray error occurs a lot in PlayStation 3, some people also experience Disc not Play error. First of all you should check the Blu ray disc because the surface of this disc is even more sensitive than a DVD. If you see any scratches then that should be causing the Blu ray error.

If you had any errors like this before then better compare them with each other and see if there is any difference between them. That might also work in solving Disc not Play error. Check another disc on the PS3 and if it is showing the same error then you can say without a doubt that the disc player has encountered a problem. It is easy to take your PS3 to a service center and get the Blu ray error fixed and also the Disc not Play but remember it will cost you hundreds of dollars. If you think that you have the ability to fix the error then get a proper guide which explains the solution perfectly.

Some of the basic things you need to remember before fixing your PlayStation 3 are that you should have enough time. It will take you an hour or so to fix the console. Keep a container or box with you in which you should put all the screws which you took out. You should always have a lot of light at the working area and remember that the working area should also be clean. When you will take the parts apart clean them and then put them back with a vacuum cleaner but don't let any screw get in the vacuum cleaner. If you will follow these steps then you can fix the Blu ray error easily.

Why to give so many dollars and waste a lot of time by giving your PS3 away for Blu ray error or Disc not Play problem when you can solve it yourself within few hours.

The Functioning of a CD Player

CD players are a very common item in every household nowadays. But, not every one of us is aware about how they work. If we have a closer look at the electronic market, we will find various types of players manufactured by a wide range of companies, such as Sony, Akai, and Toshiba etc. Above all, these are quite different from one another in terms of style, quality as well as design.

From the portable to the large ones, there are various types of CD players which are available in the market. In terms of cost too, the price varies from company to company. However, whatever may be the size or quality, every CD player has the basic components like a tracking device, a drive motor, and a laser and lens system. Also, all of them have the capacity to interpret data which have been stored as electric bumps.

No how do these things work? It is the drive motor which plays a major role in the functioning of the player. It makes the disc spin at a particular pace and also it gradually adjusts the speed. However, the correct pace depends upon which part the player is actually interpreting. Another important part is the tracking mechanism which helps the laser and the lens system to focus on the miniscule bumps.

The CD player works in a very interesting manner. After this the data interpreted by the laser and the lens system is stored on the surface of the CD. This data is stored in the form of elongated bumps which is only 0.5 microns big.

Also, the CD or compact disc where data is stored is a very sensitive element. It is made up of different layers of polycarbonate and aluminum. So, while trying to play a song in the CD player, firstly the laser beam tries to penetrate layer after layer. The aluminum layer is a good reflector of light, since this layer is a good reflector the changes in the reflections can be easily detected by the player.

Jayson Pablo, a dedicated writer of Rupizcompare.co.uk which provide information on Consumer Electronics like digital camera.

LG BD 390 Network Blu-Ray Disc Player Review

Design: The LG BD 390 has gone for a conventional and refined look complete with a glossy, reflective faceplate accented by silver trimmings. The player offers an LCD screen near the center along with four playback controls. A removable plastic cover hides a USB port on the front. While the footprint remains more or less standard the player looks thinner and sleeker, allowing it to fit well in both home and office. The remote control was very good with simple to use and large sized controls.

Specifications: The LG BD 390 is Profile 2.0 compatible and with its 1GB of on-board storage you won't need a USB flash drive to access BD-Live features and content. As the player is equipped with both an Ethernet port as well as IEEE 802.11n WiFi this isn't a problem. Thankfully the player also supports 802.11b/g networks as well. Through its USB port the player can also handle MP3, JPEG, PNG, AVI, WMA, DivX-HD, XVID and even MKV file formats. With a fast connection the player can stream media to PCs on your network. The player also offers onboard decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio along with support for bit stream output. It can also play DVDs in legacy DTS formats, like DTS 96/24, ES, ES Matrix, and Neo:6. Connection wise, the player offers a HDMI output, a component video output, a legacy composite video output, 7.1 analog outputs, optical and coaxial digital audio outputs as well as analog stereo output.

Features & Performance: With support for Netflix streaming and built-in Wired and wireless connectivity the LG BD 390 offers plenty of new features. The player also offers support for YouTube and CinemaNow. The interface is simple but surprisingly responsive with super fast loading times. Performance for video quality was also top notch with almost no jagged edges. DVD performance was also excellent. Overall, with so many extra features, the LG BD 390 still delivers great quality as a Blu-ray Disc player. The extra features like the Netflix support and wireless connectivity make the player perfect for the HD viewer who likes to stay connected.

For more product info and customer reviews, visit LG BD 390. For reviews on other DVD and Blu-ray players, visit http://dvd-planets.blogspot.com

IRiver MP3 Player Review

Since 2004, when the IRiver H320 was born with its nicely colored screen and good photo support, several IRiver products have come out on the MP3 players' market with slightly different design and improved features.

Those who have tried the IRiver H10 model with a slim case, colour screen and touch stroller must have noticed it is quite a pleasure to operate. Besides, the FM receiver and the high quality audio recording make it competitive. This model includes SRS surround effects as well. The FM is easy to program and operate both in cities and rural areas.

There are three quality levels to choose from for voice recording and they are very good, especially the medium and high level. One thing that owners have complained about is the fact that the colour screen becomes unreadable as soon as the backlight goes off, although the brightness and contrast are all right. Another flaw may be the too low resolution for viewing photos. Lastly, you cannot download directly from a digital camera but you can transfer text files to it and read them with the browser.

The IRiver T10 running on a single AA battery (which is said to deliver up to 45 hours of playback) offers up to 1 GB of storage. It looks quite attractive and offers good sound quality as well as some extra features such as a voice recorder and an FM tuner. It is a durable player and with a splash-proofing included it would have been gorgeous. However, it is considered rather expensive for what it offers.

The IRiver Clix gen 2 offers a lot of features in a great design. It uses flash memory and comes in different capacities (2, 4 and 8 GB). It is also a bit slimmer than previous models and the resolution is very sharp. The AMOLED screen draws less power from the battery which is a plus.
They say the ear buds are really crappy, some of the worst ever seen but the rest looks OK and you can replace those if you really want to. The FM tuner and the games included will probably make you forget about such flaws. All in all, it looks good, the extra features are enough and the player is very easy to handle.

The IRiver E100 looks sweet and offers good audio file support and extras (such as line-in recording and a micro SD slot) but it is not very easy to use from the moment you get hands on it. You may spend quite a while fiddling with its options which is not a very good thing in a player. Those who have tested the IRiver clix say that one is far easier to use and more fun as well.

The IRiver L Player looks like the IRiver clix but smaller. You can navigate by pressing down on the sides and corners of the screen. It is a truly diminutive player, weighing only 1.45 oz. and measuring 2.36x1.69x0.51 inch (HWD). The screen occupies almost the entire front surface, which makes you wonder how to hold it so as not to block the screen. It is easy to navigate the interface if you get used to its options. Again, the bundles ear buds are rather poor but the player sounds great.k

Find the best deals on iRiver MP3 players online now. All iRiver models can be found plus many more big brand names.

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The Advantages of the Latest DJ Equipment Capable of Playing MP3s

Disc Jockey plays a glamorous role in a parties, events or functions. However, DJing is not all about playing records and catering to audience's requests. It's also about owning the right kind of DJ equipment and of course having an ear for music. To play the right kind of music and to be an instant hit with your audience, you need to have all the proper gear for playing music. Having the right gadgets will always put the DJ at an advantage, especially if he or she is a beginner in the field. While it's true that it's not just the music player that keeps the show going, a whole lot of importance should be attributed to DJ equipment.

To create music that flows seamlessly, the DJ should be aware of the latest trends in DJ equipment. There are traditional vinyl decks such as Technics 1200, which DJs use, but newer and better software is coming into the market, which can help DJs to create an entirely remarkable sound. ION is a company that has come up with a special product that enables your vinyl DJ equipment to play MP3s too. There are still DJs who prefer to play with the vinyl, because they can "scratch" it whenever they want and create something new.

DJ equipment from Pioneer will help in spinning live performances that exude reliability, excellent sound quality and operability. Pioneer has recognised the need for new generation players and has come up with a new digital multi-media player that enhances the professionalism of DJs. CDJ850 is the newest DJ equipment released by Pioneer. It integrates a large jog dial to help juggle tasks and create free flowing music without any hindrance. This one not only incorporates a USB port, but also allows DJs to mix in a variety of music formats like MP3, wav, aac and aiff. The major advantage that players like CDJ850 have over all other traditional players is that they have a horde of functions that help create better music.

Apart from enabling the DJ to create and edit play lists, the latest music accessories in the market can register tracks while playing music and queue it up to the play list. It also has a user-friendly interface and the DJ will have all the information of any particular song readily available. Some of the latest players allow DJs to control the tempo of music through a variety of settings.

Denon has also come out with some remarkable DJ equipment lately. They have released something called a DN-S700 Tabletop CD/MP3 Disc Player. Compared to Denon's flagship DJ equipment, this one really gets the crown, as it features four pitch ranges, fader start, pitch bend auto or manual BPM, one hot start, three onboard FX and, CD text display. DN-S700 allows MP3 playback, contains a new and powerful DSP and memory that excels the limit of all other music players currently in the market. In addition, it allows for file search quite easily by doing the job automatically and storing music for extended playback. This premium-grade player allows professional entertainers to provide unprecedented creativity and ultimate showmanship. Whatever DJ equipment one has, it is mandatory to look after them carefully because of the susceptibility to wear and tear resulting from constant usage.

The DJ equipment that most DJs use is composed of ordinary CD players, turntables and pitch-controlled computer equipment. DJs also have a mixer that allows music to playback through one channel while the DJ can listen in on the second channel with headphones. Apart from the music player and headphones, audio players should also consist of the PA system, an effects unit, microphones, speakers, a drum machine and other instruments that help to create good music. The DJ should also possess a sound system that magnifies the music and creates waves in the hall. Such tools are indispensable parts of a DJ's setup.

Dominic Munroe.

How to Buy the Best MP3 Player For Your Needs

Almost everyone these days who does not already own an MP3 player of some kind is probably thinking of buying one. Many will want just an mp3 player but many others will be more interested in a full-on digital media player which will show images and play video rather than just mp3 music tracks.

The type of mp3 player required will depend on what it is to be used for. If you are trying to get or stay fit and regularly visit the gym or go running in the park then the ability to replay music in a very small portable unit, such as the iPod Shuffle, is probably all you need.

If you prefer to watch music videos instead of just listening to music tracks or if you are a film buff and want to watch movies on your mp3 player then you will need video replay functionality. This is now found on most mp3 players, including most of Apple's iPod range, such as the iPod Classic, iPod Touch and more recently the iPod Nano.

An mp3 player, which can also display images and photographs, will be of great use to any level of photographer whether professional or amateur. When on location or later back home it is now very easy to transfer digital photos from a digital camera to a mp3 player that has the required functionality for photographic storage. This is a great way to back up photos as secure copies.

Whatever you want to do with your new mp3 player you will need to ensure that you can do what you want with the model you buy and that it is easy to transfer digital media from the sources you want to use. For instance all iPod users will want to connect to the iTunes store to buy and download music, movies and podcasts. It will be the same for other mp3 players, so check this out before buying.

You can also use some mp3 players as backup media for your personal computer, but the player you choose will have to have a high storage capacity to enable you to do this. A model like the Apple iPod Classic 80gb would be ideal for this. Make sure that the relevant software is available to help you undertake transfers of documents and files from your computer hard drive.

As with everything you get what you pay for, so if you need more functionality from your mp3 player it is going to cost you more to get it. There are many different manufacturers and models of mp3 players available and you should go online to do your research and to find the best deal. There you will find the biggest choice and detailed information on the most recent models.

To find the best discount mp3 players checkout large online stores like eBay and Amazon as they always have a massive choice and some of the best prices on cheap iPods and other digital media players.

Toshiba 15LV505 15.6-Inch Widescreen LCD TV (with Built-in DVD Player)

To this day, I am still very surprised at fact that there is so little all-in-one television sets in the market. In recent years, majority of the households in the US have a TV set and a DVD player. Despite that fact, there is only a handful of TVs with a built-in DVD player in the market. Here is a quick review of one of the best models, the Toshiba 15LV505 15.6-Inch widescreen LCD TV.

Specifications: The Toshiba 15LV505 15.6-Inch widescreen LCD TV can play videos at up to 1366 x 768 in resolution (720p). It also has an 800:1 contrast ratio. Besides playing DVD movies, this model also supports WMA files, MP3, JPEG and DIVX playback. It has a 5ms response time and built-in stereo speakers. It ships with an attached stand, a remote control and a power cable.

Design: This model has a high gloss front panel and stand. The speakers are located below the screen and the DVD player is located on the back of the LCD screen. To load a DVD, you simply slide in the disc from the side. One of the biggest flaws of this model is that it can't be mounted on the wall. It also does not have any connection ports on the front. All the connection ports are located on the back of the TV. It measures at 5.5 inches thick.

Summary: the Toshiba 15LV505 15.6-Inch widescreen LCD TV produces very clear images, especially for a 15" screen. The back-lights, picture format and audio are highly customizable. The surface of the screen is matte, which greatly reduces the amount of glare in a brightly lighted room. On the downside, the stand is not adjustable and cannot be rotated from side to side. I also wish that it came with bigger screens as the 15" display really limits its use. Nevertheless, it is a great little LCD TV to have in small and tight spaces (like your kid's room, kitchen, office or boat).

For more reviews and product info, visit Toshiba 15LV505 LCD For reviews on other electronic gadgets, visit http://lcd-plasma-hdtv-reviews.blogspot.com

DVD Recorder

Before the advent of the DVD recorder all manner of recording was done only by professional audio engineers. Today recording can be done very simply at home by any lay person. While DVD players can only play the disc, the DVD recorders as the name indicates can, not only play audio and video discs, it can also record movies and songs. One can therefore put it to greater use.

DVD Recorders have been specially designed to make the procedure of recording easy and also of exceptional quality. DVD recorders can record both DVDs and VHS tapes. The reason for the outstanding quality in the images is due to the progressive scan feature. The different audio formats found in these recorders are MP3, WMA and JPEG.

Most of these devices measure about 43 x 28 x 8cm in width, depth and height and weigh only about 3 kilograms. The early DVD reorders were designed to be rather big but nowadays they are getting to be smaller and sleeker. Some recorders can also be upgraded. This is good news because there is no fear that the features will become outdated. It is called the upgradeable firmware. For the careful customer who is anxious to protect his gadget there is even a password to lock it against prying fingers.

The stereo audio technology enhances the sound system. It is the pictbridge compatibility which makes it rather special. Most of these devices offer a 500GB HDD storage capacity. The essential connectors embedded into the system include coaxial digital output, digital DVB-T tuner and tray. The PAL and SECAM are the two reception systems found in most recorders. What makes DVD recorders especially handy for home use is that it has some features including the digital clock, thirty two events timer, progressive line, playback cum recording and high speed USB interface.

The hard disk drive can store memory up to 160GB with an ability to store both audio and video files. There is a facility to reduce the noise while recording and to have up scaling. About 1420 hours of recording is possible. The synchro start and high speed dubbing are other useful features for effective recording. A 50/60 Hz frequency and AC 230V is found in most devices. Some of these gadgets offer both the Dolby digital output as well as the DTS digital output.

You can read expert reviews on Panasonic DVD Recorders, Alba, Bush, Pioneer and Sony DVD Recorder reviews at DVD recorders reviews site.

Panasonic DMP-BD60 - The Cheapest Blu-ray Player

Blu-ray has capacity to store large amount of visual data, so it is starting to replace the DVD drive on laptops and computers. In the recent years, Panasonic has produced high quality Blu-ray disc players that generate a lot of excitement to people with the help of its cutting edge of Blu-ray technology. Panasonic Blue-ray disc players also offer far-reaching capacity for video games computer storage.

Recently, Panasonic has launched a new Blu-ray player -- DMP-BD60, the follow-up to the DMP-BD35 that offers nearly the same feature set and also offers access to VieraCast -- Panasonic's proprietary video content portal. This device offers great upconversion and a vast array of codecs. In this player, there is a flap on the right side that conceals an SD/SDHC card slot, which allows users to play various formatted files.

This gadget offers a small cluster of connections that constitutes HDMI 1.3, component, composite and stereo audio outputs, an Ethernet port for all important web functionality and an optical digital audio output. These Blu-ray players further make use of 16-level motion detection in order to divide the image motion of each pixel into one of 16 levels. This Panasonic DMP-BD60 Blu-ray player also includes a high precision 4:4:4 signal technology, which delivers the ultimate picture quality.

Moreover, DMP-BD60 utilizes Auto Power Stand-By function, which automatically turns off the player once the users return to TV operation using the VIERA Link menu. In short, The Panasonic DMP-BD60 is a reliable Blu-ray player that delivers out the excellent image quality through its Blu-ray cutting edge technology.

Author: Kyle McCarthy
Email: Kyle.mccarthy@rocketmail.com
Site: Home cinema Products

Samsung BD-C6500 Blu-ray Player Review

The BD-C6500 Blu-ray player is one of Samsung's new players for 2010. Samsung has loaded many features and functions into the BD-C6500. Including making it one of the fastest Blu-ray Players with disc loading and boot up speeds of 15 seconds. Other features include online streaming, built-in Wi-Fi and DLNA compliant.

Keeping in line with most new Blu-ray Players, the BD-C650 has a sleek, modern look with a slim design and black glossy finish. Samsung has applied a new Graphical User Interface (GUI) with this years batch of Blu-ray players. Using a more image based menu, Samsung hopes this will make it easier for the user to make selections. The user even has a choice between four skins to customize the GUI's appearance. Also, like all Samsung's Blu-ray Players this year, the BD-C6500 player meets all Energy Star 4.0 guidelines.

Video Quailty: The BD-C6500 has a HDMI Output, Component Video outputs and Composite Video Outputs. It can support video resolution of 1080p/24 fps when playing Blu-ray Discs without any requirements for conversion. Providing you with the picture quality possible. DVDs can be up-scaled to 1080p, so you can still enjoy your DVD collection at near High Definition quality.

Audio Quality: Audio connections for the BD-C6500 include HDMI, Optical Digital Audio Outputs an analog Audio Outputs (Stereo & 7.1 Ch). Having 7.1 analog outputs would be great for those who have Audio/Video receivers, so they can listen to Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio at full resolution. The BD-C6500 player does have internal audio decoding for Built-in Audio Decoders: Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital, DTS-HD decoder and Dolby Digital Plus.

The Samsung BD-C6500 Blu-ray Player also offers Internet-TV. Here you can access online material and view it directly on your TV. This service is provided by downloading widgets and apps such as Samsung Apps. Samsung Apps gives us access to online streaming services like Netflix, BLOCKBUSTER, Vudu, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Flickr, Pandora and many more. You can even go shopping online, share digital pictures with others or connect to a wide variety of online material all at your finger tips. Samsung promises more apps will become available in the future.

Of course an internet connection is needed to access these features. You can connect through the provided Ethernet Port or connect using the wireless LAN built-in the player. An internet connection is required for BD-Live content as well. BD-Live content is online material you can access with a Blu-ray Disc. Content such as extra movie scenes, movie trailers, online chat, and live commentary. Storage memory is needed for BD-Live content. Fortunately, the BD-C6500 has 1GB of internal memory so accessing BD-Live content is made more convenient.

The Ethernet Port and wireless LAN can be use to connect to a home network. By doing this you can take advantage of Samsung's AllShare feature. This allows content to be streamed between DLNA devices. For example, you can stream files stored on your computer to the Blu-ray Player and watch them on your TV.

THE PROS: Samsung is claiming the BD-C6500 to be the world's fastest Blu-ray Player. Having a 15 second disc load and 15 second boot up makes for a strong argument. It has low power consumption and meets Energy Star 4.0 guidelines. Wi-fi is built-in and has 1GB of internal memory. Also supports online media services: Internet-TV/Samsung Apps(provides content from Netflix, Pandora, Vudu, Blockbuster, Picasa and Twitter)

THE CONS: Internet-TV and Samsung Apps are new and not much is known how they will interact will other devices such as TV's, laptops, etc.

THE FINAL WORD: Overall, Samsung's BD-C6500 Blu-ray Player provides great video and audio quality. Energy efficient, with extremely fast operational speed. With the Internet/TV feature you are given an ever growing access to digital content. These great features and promises of more to come, the BD-C6500 may be the perfect Blu-ray Player to meet all your needs Now and In The Future. -- Price you should look for when purchasing -- Under $250.00

For more information on Blu-ray and Blu-ray Players try this handy comparison guide: bluray players Or view our Videos and blu-ray player reviews here: Blu-ray Player Reviews Copyright 2010. This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

Choosing a Blu-Ray Player

If you feel you are ready to buy a Blu-ray player then it is well worth spending a little time getting to understand the basic Blu-ray features and terms. There are subtle differences between players and it's best to know what you're looking for.

Blu-ray is the standard high definition (HD) format now adopted by the whole domestic movie market. High definition means that the picture you see is at a far higher resolution than the older DVD standard.

DVD (NTSC) standard resolution is 720 pixels across by 480 pixels down the screen.

DVD (PAL) standard resolution is 720 pixels across by 576 pixels down the screen.

Blu-ray 1080i and 1080p refers to the best vertical resolution that Blu-ray provides which is 1080 pixels down and 1920 pixels across.

Most current LCD and plasma TVs will display the full Blu-ray resolution but it is best the make sure that your TV can achieve this. Firstly your TV must have an HDMI socket on the back and secondly check the user manual for reference to 1080i or 1080p. If either is missing you probably won't be able to achieve full Blu-ray resolution. HDMI is the connection down which the HD video and audio is transmitted.

That's the basics of HD explained, now for the more subtle differences between Blu-ray players.

Upscaling to 1080p via HDMI means that you are playing a lower resolution media like DVD on a Blu-ray player which is then scaled up to the 1080 resolution. The picture is slightly better than the original DVD if it were played through a DVD player but doesn't reach full Blu-ray clarity.

As with DVD players, there are regions that players will cover. DVD uses regions 1 to 8 and 0 is region free.

Blu-ray uses regions A, B and C.

Region A: North and South America, South and South East Asia, including Japan, Korea and Malaysia.

Region B: Europe, Australiia, New Zealand, Africa, Middle East and Greenland.

Region C: Central and South of Asia including China; Russica and Mongolia.

Virtually all Blu-ray players have online functionality. This is provided either through a LAN or Wi-Fi interface to your internet router. Internet connectivity is completely optional as it is not always convenient to connect. If you do decide to get connected then there are several services available to you depending on the make and model of player you decide to purchase.

Sony's BD-Live lets you download additional movie content.

Samsung and LG players provide access to YouTube movies and MKV files.

Panasonic has Viera Cast, it's on demand TV service and, more services are appearing all the time as manufacturers bring constantly evolving services via the internet.

Now for me, online functionality is of very little advantage as I live out in the country and my bandwidth is quite poor but, for those of you who have access to good bandwidth then the online services available to you through your Blu-ray player are well worth it.

The features available are very extensive but I hope the ones I have shown you above are helpful and give you a good starting point from which to choose your Blue-ray player.

Now if you're looking for a player that gives you great value for money then the Panasonic DMP-BD60 Blu-ray Disc Player is a great choice so why not take a look by clicking HERE.

How to Clean a DVD Player Laser in 8 Steps

Whether your DVD player is malfunctioning or you get a no-disk error you may need to clean out the player. Inside your player is a laser pickup which reads your DVDs and allows you to access or view the content. To make your DVD player functioning again you simply need to properly wipe the laser pickup clean following these simple steps.

Before following these steps let us just look at what we are basically need to do. We need to basically remove the DVD head and electronics out of the player case to have easy access to the actual laser pickup enabling us to clean it properly. Once cleaned it is just a matter of putting everything together again.

Before following the steps, make sure the laser pickup lens is the actual problem. Inserts a few DVD is into the DVD player to confirm the problem is actually the lens. If some DVDs work and others do not, the problem is clearly not the player. If none work, there can be a wide variety of reasons why a DVD player is not functioning properly anymore. But, it is highly likely that the laser pickup lens has simply become dirty.

What You Need to Clean the DVD Player

lens cleaner disc
screwdriver
cotton swab
isopropyl alcohol
flashlight (optional)


How to Clean DVD Player Laser

Step #1 - Lens Cleaner Disc - The first thing you need to do is to get or borrow a lens cleaner disc to try and clean the laser pickup. These lens cleaner discs usually do a terrific job cleaning the laser pickup. Next, try out a few more DVDs to see if the problem is resolved or not and if you have to take further steps to clean out to the pickup up manually or not. If the player still does not work follow step 2.

Step #2 - Removing the Outer Casting - Unplug the player from the power supply and remove the screws of the outer casting. You will now see the plastic head of the DVD player which can be actual electronics attached to it.

Step #3 - Opening the DVD - The next thing we need to do is get the plastic head with electronics out of the DVD player case. In some cases the tray of a plastic head has a tiny other casting attached to it. To remove it, simply plug in the power supply, power on the DVD player, open up the player, power off the DVD player and unplug the power supply. Now, simply detach the tiny outer casting from the tray.

Step #4 - Detaching the DVD Head - Next, we are going to unscrew the DVD head with electronics from the main board. Thanks to step 3 we can easily remove the head by unscrewing it from the main board and unplugging any and all cables going from the head to the main board.

Step #5 - Detaching Electronics from Head - Now you will have the DVD head in your hands, being the plastic mechanism, a clamp and the actual electronics. Remove the clamp. Look for the actual laser pickup which has a blue tint to it. If you have trouble finding the laser pickup, you go to shine a light to detect any reflections. If you can now see and easily access the actual laser pickup for cleaning already, there is no need to detach the electronics from the head. If not, you need to first simply detach the electronics from the head and then follow step 6 on how to properly clean the laser pickup.

Step #6 - Cleaning the Laser Pickup - Now that you have easy access to the laser pickup, use a cotton swab and some isopropyl alcohol and gently wipe the lens. Use the other end of the cotton swab to dry it. Now wait a few minutes and let it dry.

Step #7 - Putting Everything Together Again - Now that the laser pickup lens is clean again we can partially put everything together again and test the efficiency of the lens. Attached the electronics to the head again, attached the clamp, attached the head to the board again, attach all the previously detached cables onto the main board again, and plug in the power supply to test a few DVDs. Power on the DVD player, insert a DVD and test the disc reader's efficiency. If the DVD works you have effectively cleaned your DVD player. If not, follow the steps again and try to clean the laser pickup a bit more thoroughly.

Step #8 - Attach the Outer Casting - Put the power off again, unplug the power supply in screw all the outer casting parts back onto the DVD player.

You DVD player is now cleaned and ready to be used again!

Yves Juliaan has been writing articles for several years on various topics. Visit his latest website on DVD storage cabinets and how to find great deals for DVD storage cases & DVD supplies.

Buying A New DVD Player

Whether you are buying your first DVD Player or replacing an old one it's important to know what's available on the market at the moment. It's also useful to know what some of the terminology means - many of us think terms like HD and Progressive Scan sound impressive but don't actually know what it does!

The fact is these days there is so much more to DVD Players than just watching movies. The newer models offer high quality audio and video connections providing crisp clear images and impressive surround sound. As well as playing recordable and rewritable CD's they can handle your MP3 mix discs, some can also play WMA (Windows Media Audio) files. Some Players have SACD (Super Audio CD's) or DVD audio decoding for high resolution multichannel music.

Obviously the perfect DVD Player for you is the one that best meets your needs - it should have the features that matter most to you. For instance, if you still have (and watch!) a lot of VHS tapes then a DVD/VCR Combo Player is a good choice. These are extremely affordable and provide the familiarity of a VCR Player with the enhanced music and movie quality of DVD. You can use it to record your favourite TV shows on VHS, watch movies on DVD and listen to your audio CD's. If you want to archive your VHS tapes consider a DVD Recorder which offer convenient tape-free recording with the functionality of a DVD Player. You can also back up home movies onto DVD. There are a variety of writeable and rewriteable formats available to enable you to use the right disc for the right job.

If you travel a lot a Portable DVD Player could be the answer. These are compact and lightweight and some also offer dual headphone jacks enabling more than one person to listen at the same time. Many of these portable players are car-friendly - as well as having rechargeable batteries some also come with features like cigarette lighter power adapters and car mounting kits.

If you have a High Definition TV HD DVD is a high definition disc format designed to maximise your viewing experience when using HDTV. Another option is a DVD Player with Video Upconversion which will convert DVD video to a resolution that more closely matches that of your High Definition Television. The signal remains digital as it travels through the connections to your television for the cleanest possible transfer.

If your TV is Enhanced Definition (EDTV), High Definition or HDTV-ready a Progressive Scan DVD Player is an option. In fact, even if your existing TV is not progressive capable your next one almost certainly will be which means you would get a great picture now and an even better one when you upgrade your television. So what is Progressive Scan? Progressive Scan displays the entire frame in one sweep (unlike Interlaced Scan which splits each video frame into two fields) and since the whole picture is displayed together it has less flickering and clearer details. To view the progressive scan signals you need a progressive capable TV so if you don't have one at the moment choose a DVD Player that allows you to select either 480i interlaced scan for use with a conventional TV or 480p progressive-scan output for compatible TV's.

A big part of choosing the right player is ensuring it has all the necessary connections to perform with your other audio visual equipment. Nearly all current DVD Players have at least three video jacks - composite, S-video and component. Component inputs are typically only found on mid-priced to high end TV's made in the last few years. The component connection provides the best picture quality. If your TV only has an antenna style RF input you will need to install an RF modulator between the TV and DVD Player. Also a DVD/VCR Combo might be worth considering as some can pass DVD signals through their RF output.

Current players have a digital audio output - coaxial, optical or both. This enables them to send Dolby Digital or DTS signals to your receiver for multichannel surround sound. All DVD Players include standard stereo audio jacks for connecting to stereo receivers and stereo TV's. Some players also have built in decoding with 5.1 channel analog outputs to connect directly to 5.1 ready receivers. These models usually also play multichannel DVD Audio or SACD discs. Some high end players have IEEE1394 jacks (known as FireWire or i.LINK); these single cord connections carry 5.1 channel music to a compatible receiver.

This article was written by Lorraine Simpson, Director of Fifth Ace Ltd. who sell DVD/VCR Combos, Progressive Scan, In Dash DVD and HDTV on their website [http://www.amplechoice.com] Fifth Ace Ltd is based in Scotland and operate a number of websites on various topics including home business, special interest and consumer goods.