Tuesday, January 4, 2011
What’s the Difference Between HDMI and DVI? Which is Better?
Images Credit Wikimedia (link and link)
Are you confused by the barrage of video cables available today? Let’s take a look at the most important video cables today, HDMI and DVI, and see what’s the differences between the two.
A decade ago, it was much easier to figure out how to get your TV connected to your devices, especially since most people only had a VCR. Our screens were smaller, the quality was worse, but the world was simpler. Today you can hardly walk in an electronics store without getting pressured to buy a several hundred dollar HDMI cable just to connect your devices to your TV. If there’s ever been a confusing time to choose cables and connectors, it’s now. We’ll try to help you wade through this mess and see what’s really important about the two most common digital video cables of today: HDMI and DVI.
Why Cables Anyhow?
Wires and cables from jACK TWO on Flickr
We’d all love it if you could just zip your video and audio over the air from your devices to your screens. While there’s been some progress in this area, frankly it’s not a viable solution for most today. For now, we’re stuck streaming our media through wires. In general, they all work the same: the connector contains pins that go into ports on your video output device which transmit video, audio, and more over the wires in the middle. If you want to get the entertainment off your files and disks and onto your screen, cables are a necessary evil for the time being.
Why not VGA or Composite Video Cable?
DIY Component to VGA Adapter via Balazs H on Flickr
The traditional video cables, including VGA and Composite video, transmit analog video signals only. While this works great for CRT screens, it isn’t preferable for newer LCD screens. While many current LCD TVs and computer monitors still accept VGA input, they generally work best with DVI or HDMI.
Some video cards and video playback devices, including the new Apple TV, don’t even include VGA or composite outputs, and this will be an increasing trend looking forward. Even if your current computer and monitor work fine with VGA cables, you’ll still want to know which digital cable is best for future video equipment purchases.
What’s the Difference Between Digital Cables?
The two main digital connectors used on computers and entertainment systems today are HDMI and DVI. DisplayPort is another newer connector that’s being included on some newer computers, and there are also several mini and micro variants of all three. Confused yet? Here’s how to know which is which:
DVI
Image via Wikimedia
DVI is one of the most common digital video cables you’ll see on desktops and LCD monitors today. It’s the most similar to VGA connectors, with up to 24 pins and support for analog as well as digital video. DVI can stream up to 1920×1200 HD video, or with dual-link DVI connectors you can support up to 2560×1600 pixels. Some DVI cables or ports may include fewer pins if they are designed for lower resolution devices, so you’ll need to watch for this. If your port contains all the pins, however, it can support the max resolution with no problem. The biggest problem with DVI is that it doesn’t support HDCP encryption by default, so if your hardware only includes DVI ports, you may not be able to playback full HD Blu-rays and other HD content.
DVI to HDMI convertor image via Wikipedia
You can connect DVI to an HDMI port on a newer monitor with a small digital convertor. However, since DVI doesn’t support audio, you’ll need to use a separate cable for audio when connecting to an HDMI port.This makes DVI one of the more versatile newer connectors. It’s both backwards and forward compatible, though at the loss of some convenience. You can also connect an older monitor that only includes a VGA port with a DVI port easily via a similar DVI to VGA converter if your video output supports analog video.
HDMI
Image via Wikimedia
HDMI is the default cable on newer HDTVs, Blu-ray players, Apple TV, many new computers and video cards, and a multitude of other video devices. HDMI cables and ports are very easy to use, and are almost as easy to connect as USB devices. No more bent pins; just push and play. HDMI cables can stream digital video and audio simultaneously over the same cable. HDMI cables support up to 1920×1200 HD video and 8 channel audio. They also support HDCP encryption for the newest HD content. For almost all purposes, a single HDMI cable is all you’ll need to connect your computer or video device to your monitor or TV, and it’s almost the absolute standard digital cable.
DisplayPort
Image via Wikipedia
DisplayPort is another new video connector that’s being included on newer equipment, especially laptops. It was designed as the successor to DVI and VGA on computers, but hasn’t seen as much adoption as either DVI or HDMI. However, it is being included on all newer Macs and many Dell, HP, and Lenovo computers. It is actually very similar to HDMI, so it streams both HD video and audio on the same cable, and can output up to 1920×1080 resolution and 8 channels of audio on a single cable.
On the good side, DisplayPort does support HDCP, so you can use it to playback protected HD content from Blu-rays and more. You can also connect it to an HDMI or DVI port with a convertor, since the digital signal is compatible. The problem is, few monitors and TVs include DisplayPort ports, so you’ll almost have to have a convertor if you want to connect your laptop to a larger screen.
Do I Need Expensive Cables?
HDMI Infographic from Mint.com
Cables are often one of the biggest ripoffs in electronics stores today. You’ve likely noticed HDMI cables in stores that were higher than the TVs they were hanging beside. So do you need to get a fancy cable for the best HD experience?
No. Back in the days of VHS tapes and analog TV, a higher quality cable could definitely mean the difference between a clear and a fuzzy picture. But with digital video and audio, a cable is a cable. Your cable will just be transferring bits like your Ethernet or other computer cables, and a cheap HDMI cable from Amazon will serve you as well as a Monster cable. Standard HDMI cables today can be up to 49’ long without any signal loss, so just look for the cheapest cable, plug in your equipment, and enjoy.
So Which Digital Cable is Best?
In our opinion, HDMI is the cable and connector to stick with. It’s the default connector on most devices and screens, compatible with HD content including HDCP protected Blu-ray, and can carry video, audio, and more all on one cable. One cable and you’re done. For now, it’s the cable and connector we recommend you standardize on.
Now, if you already have equipment using DVI, VGA, or other cables, and it works fine for you, don’t feel like you need to rush out and change it, because you don’t. You might get better quality from using digital cables if your devices support it, but unless you have a very large monitor or TV it can be hard to tell the difference. Technology companies thrive on making people feel like they constantly have to upgrade, but often if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it is a good policy to follow.
The good thing is, now if you buy a new TV, computer monitor, video card, or other video device, you’ll know what you’re looking for. Make sure your new devices support HDMI, and you should be able to use them with a wide range of video equipment for years to come. And don’t fall prey to the high-pressure sales tactics trying to get you to buy a $2,200 HDMI cable; a cheap one from Amazon will usually be all you need, so you can save your cash for more HD content to pump through that shiny cable.
Questions? Comments? Shout-out in the comments below!
How To Enable “Stereo Mix” in Windows 7 (to Record Audio)
Ever need to record something on your computer exactly as it comes out of your speakers? Enabling “Stereo Mix” will let you do exactly that, and here’s how to do it.
Nowadays, most sound cards have the ability to record whatever is being output. The only hang-up is accessing that recording channel, which can be done rather easily.
Enable Stereo Mix
Go down to the audio icon in your system tray, right-click it, and go to “Recording Devices” to open up the proper settings pane.
In the pane, right-click on a blank area, and make sure both “View Disabled Devices” and “View Disconnected Devices” options are checked. You should see a “Stereo Mix” option appear.
Right-click on “Stereo Mix” and click “Enable” to be able to use it.
I Still Don’t See It…
In some cases, your audio chipset drivers aren’t helping your cause. Most likely, this is because they’re outdated. In other instances, however, it’s because the newest Windows 7 drivers don’t support this feature. This was the case on my Asus Eee PC (a 1000HE), but I got around the issue by downloading and installing the older Windows XP/Vista drivers for my audio chipset. As always, before changing your drivers, make sure create a system restore point in case things don’t go as planned.
How Do I Use This?
With “Stereo Mix” enabled, you can open up your favorite recording program and select that instead of your microphone before you record. If you don’t see the option, or your program doesn’t give you the ability to change the recording device, you can disable or unplug your microphone and make “Stereo Mix” the default recording device.
This works well for when you want to capture audio for a screen-sharing session, or record audio from streaming sources – such as live web-casts – that don’t necessarily allow you to download content immediately. In order to do that, you’d open up your audio-recording application of choice (like Audacity), be sure other recording devices are muted or disabled, and click record
Monday, December 20, 2010
2010 Holiday Tech Buyers Guide
By Mark Tiongco - December 19, 2010 | |
 Happy Holidays everyone! It’s that time of the year again, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Tech Tuesday, Digital Wednesday and USB Thursday (Kidding!) In thistech tip, we’ll be covering a broad range of next-generation toys and categories, so keep an eye out for what products might be interesting to that favorite geek in your life!
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While notebook sales have continued to outsell their bulkier counterparts, desktop computers remain a vital staple in our technology-driven society. One trend that has sprung from notebook design is to consolidate parts all into a complete all-in-one package. An example of this is 
When it comes to cell phones, we can’t deny the iPhone 4 a top mention. Regardless of all the speculation issues about reception and its antenna, it’s still a solid phone that provides great interaction and great communication. In the Sprint corner, they have the evolutionary HTC® Evo 4G. It’s the first phone to support Sprint’s next-generation 
And let’s not forget good ‘ol Microsoft® who just rolled out their much-hyped Windows 7 mobile phone. Coming in several flavors (HTC® Surround, HTC HD7™, Samsung™ Focus, LG Quantum) for AT&T™, the HTC HD7™ features a powerful 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU, 576MB RAM, a 4.3” LCD screen and intuitive interfaces for organizing music, videos, pictures and even has Office Mobile and Outlook Mobile so you can keep your busy life in order.
Originally thought to be canceled during the iPAD’s debut, HP® has confirmed its finalized production of its long-rumored Slate tablet PC. Aimed at business professionals, it starts at $799 and features similar iPAD functions such as multi-touch support, dual cameras for picture-taking and video conferencing and weighs 1.5 pounds. It includes Windows 7 Professional (32-bit), an Intel Atom Z540 (supports HyperThreading for better multitasking) CPU, an 8.9” WSVGA (1024 x 600 resolution), 1 USB port, 1 secure digital card reader and 5+ hours of battery life.
Let’s start this section off with the most influential e-reader, Apple™’s much-talked about iPAD. Part media player, part e-reader, all tablet PC, this $499 media machine can keep you busy reading e-books, listening to music, watching videos, playing video games and even web browsing. However, let’s not forget the solid players like the 
As the battle rages on about media content delivery, many people are still divided between how they want to get their video entertainment. Some still enjoy shelling out $12 for a movie ticket ($14-15 for 3-D) while others prefer Netflix and some even fancy on-demand videos from their local television service provider.Panasonic™ has stepped up to the plate by releasing their new 103-inch plasma HDTV called the TH-P103MT2. In addition, their 58-inch 3D television, the TC-P58VT25 increases contrast ratio by stabilizing and lowering the electrical predischarge of cells that causes gray image saturation. Samsung™ also has their PNC-7000 series that offers 3D performance at a reasonable price.
Flip Camcorders
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
How to Reduce Phantom Power
By Dave Donovan, eHow Contributor
We all want to conserve energy, but because so much of our lives depend on electronic equipment, we can often feel as though conservation is like losing weight-really hard to do!
But, what if you could reduce your electric bill by 10 percent a year just by eliminating "phantom power?" What is phantom power you ask? Phantom power is the current that electrical items continue to draw even when they are not in use. Cell phone chargers, computers, TVs and other electric items all suck electricity even when we're not using them. If you're like most people, you have a schedule that you try to keep to, for instance, how much time you watch TV at night. Here are some easy ways to reduce phantom power from your TV and other items in your home.
Read more: How to Reduce Phantom Power | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4781905_reduce-phantom-power.html#ixzz17TJ2QWIm
How to Reduce Phantom Power From MP3 Players, Cell Phones and Other Small Electronics
1
Take an area of your home or office and make it the centralized charging station.
2
Plug in a multi-outlet surge protector power strip, the type with the on/off switch.
3
Plug all of your small electronics charging cords into this power strip.
4
When your equipment is charged or not in use, simply turn the switch on the power strip off. Not only will this help reduce your phantom power, but all of your devices will be located in one spot, so you won't have to hear "Where's my iPod?" quite as often.
How to Reduce Phantom Power From TVs, DVD Players and Home Entertainment Systems
1
Plug all of your devices into a multi-outlet surge protector power strip.
2
Plug the power strip into a timer that gets plugged into the wall outlet.
3
Set the timer to turn the power off around the time of night you usually go to bed. If you don't watch TV in the morning before you go to work, set the timer to turn the power back on right before you get home. This way, all night and all day your equipment won't be drawing unnecessary power.
4
Learn how much phantom power a piece of equipment uses before you decide to purchase it. In Resources below there is a link to the Federal Energy Management Program's (FEMP) standby power data search utility, which enables you to do this.
Read more: How to Reduce Phantom Power | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4781905_reduce-phantom-power.html#ixzz17TIxoroJ
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Working wirelessly: What you need to know
Many companies are making the leap to wireless networks in the office for both financial savings in overall equipment and sheer convenience for their employees. They also often provide mobile PCs with wireless capabilities to their employees so that they can be productive anytime anywhere, hence enhancing the company's bottom-line.In this article, I will explain what WiFi is and how it works. I will also discuss what you need to start working wirelessly as well as what you can expect to gain from doing so. Finally, I'll discuss the precautions you should take when working on the go.
What is WiFi? Learn the lingo
Wireless, or WiFi, technology is another way of connecting your computer to the network using radio frequency and no network cables.
Wireless works similarly to cordless phones; they transmit data from one point to another through radio signals. But wireless technology also requires that you be within the wireless network range area to be able to connect your computer. There are three different types of wireless networks:
- Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN): WLAN are wireless networks that use radio waves. The backbone network usually uses cables, with one or more wireless access points connecting the wireless users to the wired network. The range of a WLAN can be anywhere from a single room to an entire campus.
- Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN): WPANs are short-range networks that use Bluetooth technology. They are commonly used to interconnect compatible devices near a central location, such as a desk. A WPAN has a typical range of about 30 feet.
- Wireless Wide Area Networks (WWAN): WWANs are created through the use of mobile phone signals typically provided and maintained by specific mobile phone (cellular) service providers. WWANs can provide a way to stay connected even when away from other forms of network access. Also, be aware that additional charges are often associated with the usage of WWANs in some locations.
How do I get started?
The only thing you really need to go wireless (in addition to a mobile PC) is a wireless PC Card. Depending on the age of your mobile PC, the card is either built-in or needs to be inserted in the PC Card slot and includes an antenna. In addition, you can also use wireless keyboards and mice, which can provide more freedom and flexibility when you're working in your office.
It's always good to research the available hotspots in the area you're planning on visiting (whether a neighborhood in your city you're not familiar with or a city on the other coast). You can use Bing to find hotspots when you travel.
As you head out in this brave new world of wirelessly connectivity, you can connect to a wireless network (whether at home, at work, or on the go).
Connect to a wireless network
Working wirelessly: What's in it for me
Working wirelessly can offer you the following benefits.
- Flexibility: The lack of cables that comes with wireless networking enables you to roam with your mobile PC. You can roam from your office to a nearby conference room for a meeting, or from the couch in the living room to a kitchen for a snack. For example, if you're working wirelessly in a meeting you can printout a report for a co-worker without having to leave the meeting.
- Time-saving: If you're waiting for an important response you can use your mobile PC to monitor your email even when you're in meetings or at lunch. As soon as you get the data needed, you can promptly forward it to your customer rather than wondering whether the information has come in while you were away and having to run back to your office between meetings and other commitments.
- Increased productivity: Working wirelessly enables you to turn down times between meetings or while in transit into productive time. For example, you may be attending a conference and just found out that one of the sessions you were planning on attending has been cancelled. Rather than waste the next hour, you can check email, start compiling your trip report, or order your son's birthday present.
- Easier collaboration: Using wireless mobile PCs, you can easily share files and information with others. For example, you can collaborate on a presentation with colleagues during a flight delay in an airport lounge, or you can share the syllabus of a course while attendees so that they can take more digitally during the class.
What should I worry about when working wirelessly?
When working wirelessly from hotspots and public places, you are responsible for ensuring the security of your files and your mobile PC.
To make network access easier for their users, public hotspots typically leave all security turned off. This means that any information you send from a hotspot is most likely unencrypted, and anyone within range of the wireless LAN, whether at a next table or in the parking lot, can access and use your Internet connection, and look at your unprotected information.
For more information, see tips for working securely from hotspots.
WiFi gives you the freedom to go anywhere and still be connected to your office, your family, and other important aspects of your life. Your virtual office can now be an ice cream parlor in a seaside resort. Embrace and enjoy the flexibility that WiFi affords you.
This article was written by Armelle O'Neal.
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