Best Cable TV, Internet, and Phone Promotions

Blu-Ray and Hi-Def TV: A Matchless Mix

When high definition TV sets first started appearing on the market about 10 years ago consumers were dazzled at the sharpness hi-def delivered over standard television sets. Since that point millions of men and women have upgraded their TVs to take advantage of wide screen pictures with DVDs and high definition cable and satellite broadcasts. While many folks still haven't made the jump, a recent technology discovery has made even HDTV aficionados take notice. Developed by Sony, Blu-Ray has pushed television quality to a higher level. Just a few years ago, no one knew what format would become the inheritor to DVD, but now Blu-Ray has won the battle and I'll tell you why you should think about adding Blu-Ray to your home entertainment system.

Though research began almost a decade ago, Sony and its partners didn't manufacture a final commercial product till mid 2006. The name Blu-Ray derives from the blue laser that is used to read info from a Blu-Ray formatted disc. This contrasts with the red laser used to scan standard DVD discs. Yet why is Blu-Ray an improvement over current DVD formats? Even though Blu-Ray discs and players don't appear any different than regular DVDs, they can store much more information meaning clearer picture, better audio, and more special features. DVDs can hold up to 8 gigs of data while Blu-Ray discs can hold 50 gbs.. Big difference. The max resolution of a DVD is 720x480 lines while Blu-Ray has a maximum of 1920x1080 (also referred to as full HD). If you have spent $1000 or more on a 1080p TV, you are really not exploiting everything the television can deliver when watching regular DVDs.

In the beginning costs for Blu-Ray players were well above what an average consumer wanted to pay. Price tags between $700 and $1000 were not unusual for first generation Blu-Ray players. Plus, there was another competing standard on the market that created plenty of confusion. Toshiba and NEC produced their own DVD follow-up device with the announcement of the HD DVD format. HD DVD, with enough space for 15 gbs., was an improvement over regular DVDs but couldn't equal the specifications of Blu-Ray. However HD DVD did have some market advantages. First, they made it to the market a quarter before Blu-Ray. Second, HD DVD devices where a little less expensive to produce and had a lower price tag as a result. Lastly, HD DVD had more Hollywood studios on signed up at launch than Sony did which meant more pictures were at first available while Blu-Ray stayed rare.

Sony had a huge trick up their sleeve that quite potentially saved Blu-Ray from a Betamax fate. Sony included a Blu-Ray player into their highly anticipated PlayStation three and sold the whole device for a little less than most stand alone players were being sold for at the time. Soon after, Blu-Ray commenced making strides until shortly it outsold HD DVD 2-to-1 by late 2007. More Hollywood studios started to sign on to the Blu-Ray format solely, starting with Warner Brothers in early 2008. Shortly after Toshiba stopped making HD DVD players and recorders. By the end of 2008 rental companies Netflix and Blockbuster, as well as major retail outlets, said they would no longer carry HD DVD flicks. Now all major studios release their pictures on Blu-Ray. A few still produce HD DVD and Blu-Ray releases concurrently.

Prices have fallen dramatically over the past few years too. Many big brand Blu-Ray players from firms like Panasonic and LG can easily be found between $150 and $250. Blu-Ray disc recorders are in the $200 - $400 range and falling. For anyone who likes watching films from home and has invested in a high definition television, now is a fabulous time to look into adding a Blu-Ray player to your home entertainment system. Even those that could be doubtful about Blu-Ray's improvements over DVD owe it themselves to go down to their local electronics store and ask for a Blu-Ray demonstration. The picture clearness and audio fidelity from Blu-Ray is really superb.

Best Comcast Cable TV, Internet, and Phone Promotions

comcastcable deals, comcast cable tv offers, comcastcable deals, comcast internet, comcast phone, high speed internet, broadband internet, cable tv, hd, movies,on-demand, cable tv, broadband internet, phone, comcast, comcastcable, comcast cable tv, comcast bundle, comcast triple play, comcast bundles, cable tv, internet, phone, television, movies, hbo, cinemax