Time Keeping and Weather Predictions

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2008 Andy Lipps


These days, when we want to know what the weather is going to be like, most of us listen to the radio or turn on the TV - in most cases, we don't even need to wait for the weather report on the news; we simply turn to a network that focuses only on providing weather predictions.

Of course, some of us have been left feeling jaded - those sunny days that we've been promised don't end up looking quite as bright or on those days when we're told to bring along an umbrella the clouds burn off and blue skies are all that we see. Despite the fact that weather predictions are made, it is important to consider that there are a number of factors that can affect the way that pressure systems interact and weather events occur. Unfortunately, even though weather predictions are far more based on science than they once were, predictions can go awry.

In the mid 1700s, Ben Franklin published weather predictions in Poor Richard's Almanac (1732-1757), expressly for the purpose of helping farmers anticipate the way that their crops would be affected by the weather. Prior to Ben Franklin, weather was predicted, based solely upon adages such as, "Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in morning, sailor's warning." While the adage is generally correct, it was not the all-inclusive kind of weather predictions we get today.

Ben Franklin was actually the first person to actually put together that weather conditions traveled along predictable paths. Ben kept a weather observation diary, and when he started comparing letters received from friends and family at distant locations, along with their local weather observations, Ben was able to put together that most storms in North America traveled from west-to-east. He also put together that cold snaps also followed the same west-to-east patterns.

Weather prediction today relies on many of the same lessons Franklin learned in the mid 1700s. One of the lessons learned is that successful weather prediction relies on successful weather observations. Today, modern weather observation relies heavily on accurate time keeping and communication, and measuring the progression and speed of the movement of storms.

While Ben Franklin started to track the direction of a storm from southwest to northeast by following a whirlwind on horseback, ultimately his observations about the ways in which weather can be predicted are paralleled in the ways in which other systems form and move, the most notable of these cases being the prediction of El Nino in the waters of the Pacific. By tracking these patterns in weather journals and noting observations about the wind, the air pressure and the humidity, it's possible to more accurately make weather predictions.

However, in order to ensure that weather predictions that are made are fairly accurate, there are additional resources that must be called on. The most basic of these is a clock that can be used to track the amount of time that it takes for a storm or weather front to travel from one area to another. A more advanced tool for weather prediction involves radar - and analyzing the information obtained using radio waves. Rain, snow and even wind all affect the ways in which radio waves are reflected within the atmosphere, and even modern weather radar relies heavily upon accurate timekeeping.

By studying these weather systems and learning to read radar charts, meteorologists are able to predict the weather, forecast storms and identify the ways in which different areas will be affected. Even today, in order to provide accurate weather forecasts those who are studying weather need to be able to have a strong sense of place, a sense of the winds, humidity and atmospheric pressure and they need to have accurate clocks to keep track of the time it takes for a system to move from one area to another.

Fortunately, in order to have a sense of the weather and to be able to predict whether or not a storm is coming in the future, there are a variety of weather clocks available. Many atomic clocks are able to read the temperature from an outdoor sensor and to show it on the face of the clock, along with the time. Traditional weather clocks are also available for those who want to have a sense of not only what time it is, but also the inside temperature and level of humidity in the home.

With weather clocks, what you will find is that even before you get out of bed in the morning, you'll be able to determine the best way to dress for the day. More sophisticated weather clocks can be used to monitor the temperature as well as the humidity in areas that need to be regulated - for example, home wine cellars as well as floral greenhouses.

When you need to be able to predict the weather and don't want to have to watch the meteorologist on the local news, or you want to be able to create a controlled indoor environment for one purpose for another, accurate weather clocks can help you to know what's going on and what you can do to be prepared for the day.


About the Author:
Andy Lipps is the owner of Its About Clocks, a website dedicated to offering a comprehensive selection of clocks, including: grandfather clocks, cuckoo clocks, employer time clocks, atomic clocks, weather station clocks, nautical clocks, designer clocks, desktop clocks, musical clocks, and more. Please visit Andy's website to find a clock that meets your needs: http://www.itsaboutclocks.com

The Future Of Inkjet Cartridges - Could it be Without Cartridges?

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2007-2008 Rich Martin


I do not know about you, but I do remember the days of the first Polaroid camera that would develop a black and white or color picture in just one minute. Wow, at that time, it was great. You did not have to wait days to receive your pictures. I know I am dating myself, but there is a reason why I am telling you this story. There could be a similar story brewing for the future of inkjet cartridges.

Have you heard of "Zink"? No not Zune, Zink. Well, you may hear of this a lot in the not so distant future. ZINK Imaging's patented technology, being shown for the first time at the DEMO 07 conference, shifts the printing paradigm from an ink cartridge or ink ribbon, to a totally ink- less system. Images magically appear on the ZINK paper without a drop of ink. "DEMO has made its reputation by introducing disruptive technology to the marketplace and ZINK is definitely one of the most exciting new technologies we have ever had at DEMO."

Zero Imaging, or as it is referred to as zero ink (ZINK), is a new technology that is literally inkless. It is creating the future of digital printing. You will be able to produce high quality prints and photos without a ribbon or ink cartridge. So how do they do it? What is their secret?

The secret is their patented paper. This technology houses dye crystals inside the paper with a polymer layer outside. Before printing, the embedded dye crystals are colorless, so Zink paper looks like regular white photo paper. The Zink printer uses heat to activate and colorize these dye crystals. The printing process is now radically simple. Just add paper and press "print". The result is high quality, long-lasting, durable, and affordable images.

What is so unique about this company is that it is going mobile. Mobile you say? Yes. Zink plans to make it possible for you to be able to take pictures using your cell phone and printing the result instantaneously, at that moment, not when you get home in front of your inkjet printer. This is a market that could potentially be huge! I will be writing more about this technology, what products are in the pipeline to deliver this technology and also will try to measure the impact on the ink cartridge industry and the companies that might be affected, like a Lexmark or a Hewlett Packard. So, if you would like to add your feelings about this technology or comments, either email me through my web site or my blog.


About the Author:
Richard J. Martin is the owner of the http://www.tonerr.com/ web-site. His newsletter monitors current trends and analyzes future trends in the ink cartridge industry. Through his newsletter, Richard also offers tips and tricks to get the most use from your cartridges and to share advice on how to get the best prices for replacement ink toner cartridges. Richard may be contacted through his website at http://www.tonerr.com/ or at his blog http://tonerr.blogspot.com/

ChangeWave Surveys Show Deteriorating Computer Purchasing Trends

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2008 Paul Carton and Jim Woods


U.S. consumers and businesses aren't buying PCs like they used to.

The economic downturn has taken a big bite out of personal computer demand, according to two recent ChangeWave surveys on PC buying among consumers and corporations. The results clearly show deteriorating computer spending going forward.

Next 90 Days: PC's Head South

Consumer Spending Trends: Only 8% of the 4,427 consumers surveyed by ChangeWave in late February say they'll be buying a laptop in the next 90 days - down 3-percentage points since November 2007. Most importantly, that's a record low for consumer purchasing in the past 12 months.

The same trend was found for desktop computer purchases, with just 6% saying they'll be buying a one - also a low for the year.

Business Spending Trends. In a double whammy, corporate PC buying has also slowed precipitously. In February, only 73% of 2,204 corporate respondents said their company plans on buying laptops in the next quarter - down 4-pts from a year ago. It's the same pattern for desktops, with corporate purchases down 5-pts.

But what impact, if any, is the PC slowdown having on major manufacturers? Let's look at three of the heavyweights:

Apple Mac Sales Remain Relatively Strong

Planned purchases of Apple (AAPL) computers remain relatively strong even in the slower PC buying environment.

Looking at the next 90 days, Apple remains the leader among consumers who plan to buy a laptop (31%) - down just 2-pts from the all-time high recorded in our previous survey. Apple planned desktop purchases (28%; down 1-pt) are also near record levels.

Importantly, Apple's planned buying numbers are up more than 50% from a year ago.

In the corporate market, planned Mac purchases for next quarter are also at near record highs, with laptops (7%) unchanged from previously and desktops (6%) down just 1-pt.

Most positively for Apple, the company continues to set the standard for customer satisfaction among PC users. More than half (53%) of corporate respondents using the Leopard operating system report they are Very Satisfied.

This compares to a 40% Very Satisfied rating for Windows XP Pro users, and a miniscule 8% Very Satisfied rating for Microsoft Vista Business (8%).

Another Ebb for Dell

In contrast to Apple, we find a far different story with Dell (DELL).

After experiencing a tiny uptick in planned consumer purchases of Dell PCs in our previous survey, they are once again losing traction going forward. Planned purchases of Dell laptops (28%; down 2-pts) and especially desktops (32%; down 4-pts) are considerably weaker than in our previous survey.

Dell is also plagued by a downturn in planned corporate PC buying for next quarter, with desktop (32%; down 3-pts) and laptop (32%; down 1-pt) purchases falling to new lows.

"It's like déjà vu, all over again," Yogi Berra famously said, and that's what it looks like as Dell once again resumes its market share slide.

Weakening Hewlett-Packard Computer Sales

Another major player, Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), also exhibits weaker PC sales going forward - led by a big drop in consumer planned buying of desktops (18%; down 5-pts) and laptops (19%; down 2-pts).

In terms of corporate planned purchases, H-P also looks weaker going forward, both for desktops (17%; down 1-pt) and laptops (14%; down 2-pts).

Hewlett-Packard recently announced strong computer sales trends. But almost 70% of its sales come from outside the U.S. - where the current slowdown is likely having less of an impact - while our ChangeWave surveys focus mainly on the U.S. market.

Indeed, outside the U.S., H-P registers higher market share numbers for consumer desktops (22%), corporate desktops (20%) and corporate laptops (17%).

Nonetheless, weaker U.S. visibility clearly looks to be an issue for Hewlett-Packard going forward.


About the Author:
The ChangeWave expert research network is composed of 15,000 highly qualified professionals. Members are surveyed weekly on a range of topics, and ChangeWave converts the findings into proprietary reports. Visit us to see more ChangeWave Electronics findings and to receive ChangeWave Technology Alerts.

Garmin Dominates US Market for GPS Devices - But Stock Still Takes a Big Hit

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2008 Jim Woods and Paul Carton


When you're in need of directions, there's no better device than a GPS.

But when it comes to mapping out winners and losers in the GPS devices marketplace, we turn to the guidance of our 15,000-member ChangeWave research network. And what they've told us is that Garmin (GRMN) - the top GPS manufacturer in the world - has achieved near total domination of the U.S. marketplace.

During February we conducted two ChangeWave surveys on global positioning systems - one on consumer GPS trends (n = 3,773) and the other on corporate purchasing trends (n = 2,013). Here's what we found:

Consumer GPS Trends

Our February 18-25 survey of consumers who own a GPS navigation device, shows Garmin with a 56% market share - an increase of 4 percentage points since the previous survey in January 2008. Garmin's percentage towers over its closest rival Magellan, which captured only 12%.

Looking at the next 90 days, Garmin (54%; up 5-pts) remains first on the map in terms of planned consumer purchases of GPS navigation devices. TomTom is second with 8% (down 1-pt), and Magellan has fallen to third place with just 4% (down 2-pts).

Corporate GPS Trends

In our February 11-15 corporate buying survey, Garmin is also the dominant leader with a hefty 58% share of the corporate GPS market. That's a full 11-pts higher than the previous corporate buying survey in November 2007.

Magellan also gained some corporate ground since the previous survey (12%; up 4-pts), even as TomTom's numbers have fallen to 9%, down 3-pts since November.

Going forward it's more of the same, as Garmin is dominating planned corporate GPS purchases for the 2nd Quarter with a 56% market share That's a huge 10-pt jump since November.

Magellan takes second with 10% (up 2-pts), while TomTom limps in at 5% (down 7-pts).

Best Quarter in History? Now Wait a Minute.

Garmin's February 20th quarterly earnings call has confirmed our ChangeWave survey findings, with the company stating flat out that it was the "best quarter in our history."

Garmin reported earnings per share of $1.39, on sales of more than $1.2 billion - a 99% increase from a year earlier, with profits up an impressive 70%. Analysts had projected earnings of just $1.12 per share. To top it off, the company stated that its outlook for the rest of 2008 remained strong.

So with all that good news, you might wonder why Garmin's share price took a big 20% hit in the weeks immediately following their quarterly earnings announcement. Or why Garmin's stock price is now down nearly 60% from its 52-week high.

According to Wall Street analysts, the combination of significantly lower profit margins for Garmin (down more than 15%) and a retrenchment in U.S. consumer spending has undermined Garmin's stock price. In addition, Garmin's average unit selling price dropped precipitously last quarter, and their CFO recently predicted it will drop another 20% in 2008.

Another factor is the continued slowdown in U.S. consumer spending. Our February survey found an astonishing two-in-five U.S. respondents (39%) saying they'll spend less over the next 90 days than they did a year ago - 5-pts worse than our January 2008 survey.

The decline in spending is occurring across all income levels. But most ominously - not only for Garmin but for the entire GPS devices industry - the survey showed consumer electronics spending in the midst of a major slowdown.

To put this in perspective, it's the weakest outlook for electronics spending ever recorded in a ChangeWave survey.

Given such a slowdown, it's understandable why Garmin and so many other high flying electronics stocks have had an extremely rough go of it lately. But despite shrinking profit margins and an extremely tough consumer spending environment, our latest ChangeWave surveys show Garmin is gobbling up share in the high growth GPS market.

The verdict is out on whether Garmin can return to its previously lofty heights - but it's a company investors should be watching closely.


About the Author:
The ChangeWave expert research network is composed of 15,000 highly qualified professionals. Members are surveyed weekly on a range of topics, and ChangeWave converts the findings into proprietary reports. Visit us to see more ChangeWave GPS findings and to receive ChangeWave Technology Alerts.

Greenwich Mean Time: What Is It and Why It Matters

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2008 Andy Lipps


For some people, time is simply the standard by which we hope to get to where we are supposed to be. We set an alarm to get us up in the morning; we rush out the door to be to work on time and then watch as the hours pass before we get to go home and spend time with our families and friends. We think about time when we need to be somewhere; we think about time when we would rather be somewhere else.

We also tend to think about time when we're reminded that we need to set our clocks forward an hour in the spring and back as winter approaches. For those who have atomic clocks, even this isn't an issue as, in many cases, the clocks automatically reset themselves.

Of course, there's always going to be a little bit of contemplation of how atomic clocks work. While we can read explanations of the cesium atom, the hydrogen and rubidium atoms and the ways in which they interact to determine time - while we can read the instruction manuals that come with atomic clocks and see reference to the ways in which some commercial atomic clocks are periodically corrected by GPS in order to ensure accuracy - there's little that fully helps many people to understand why such accuracy is really necessary.

Ultimately, the concept of why accurate time keeping is important can be traced back hundreds of years. Long before the development of the atomic clock - as well as the development of nautical clocks and other ship clocks - it was determined that there needed to be some sort of international standard for time keeping.

It was because of this need to set standards in time keeping that Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) were established. Prior to the 19th century, time was something that was determined merely by the sun. China, for example has one system of time that was independent from time in France, which was independent of time in Australia, which was independent of time within the United States.

Before Greenwich Mean Time was accepted as an international standard, time keeping posed real challenges for growing industries. When shipments were to be made, ship captains had difficulties telling time because as they traveled east to west, the sun would shift in the sky; for them, telling time was a matter of determining location and, only being able to use the stars as a navigation tool, posed a number of additional challenges. Similarly, as railway transportation because increasingly common combined with the fact that most towns set their local time according to when the sun was at its apex, it became essential to determine a way to express time consistently.

Ultimately, the standard for Greenwich Mean Time came about when in the 1880s representatives of nearly 30 nations came together to establish a means by which time could be measured accurately. During that convention, it was determined the Greenwich Meridian on which the Royal Observatory had determined the beginning and end of a 24 hours day and it was decided that maritime sea charts would be established based on the international time keeping standard.

In order for those who captained ships to determine their location, longitudinal meridians were used. By consulting sea charts and having accurate nautical clocks on board, captains were better able to identify their location, chart their course and make progress toward reaching their destination when scheduled.

Ultimately, being able to accurately tell time and location with the aid of nautical clocks and the Greenwich Meridian have had a dramatic impact on time keeping today. In addition to maintaining a schedule for shipments, Greenwich Mean Time allows international business and transportation to succeed and to continue to advance efficiencies.

With Greenwich Mean Time - along with the developments that have been made for atomic clocks with greater accuracy - it is possible for business to be conducted between countries across the world; likewise, it is possible to consistently keep track of international flights as well as cargo shipments.

In business and in transportation, time and timing are essential. It's for this reason that clocks have undergone a tremendous amount of change over time in order to ensure greater levels of accuracy. Understanding Greenwich Mean Time - even on a basic level - is something that can give a greater appreciation for the ways in which we are all connected. Even if international time is something that you only think about when you're picking someone up at the airport, or flying off for a vacation, standard international time does impact us all.


About the Author:
Andy Lipps is the owner of Its About Clocks, a website dedicated to offering a comprehensive selection of clocks, including: grandfather clocks, cuckoo clocks, employer time clocks, atomic clocks, weather station clocks, nautical clocks, designer clocks, desktop clocks, musical clocks, and more. Please visit Andy's website to find a clock that meets your needs: http://www.itsaboutclocks.com

It's All About the Clocks

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2008 Andy Lipps


Clocks these days - well, they sure aren't what they once were; and that might not be such a bad thing.

The first clocks, going way back to the 1300s, were a big step up from sun dials as a means of telling time, but it's hard to say that they were very accurate. Large springs and heavy weights: these were the things that powered the first mechanical clocks. It's hard to believe, given today's clocks, that the coil springs, which allow clocks to keep more accurate time, were not invented until the late 1400s.

Of course, "more accurate" at that time, was a relative term. It was the quest for clocks that were far more reliable that led to additional advances within the field of clock making. A current standard for watches and dial clocks, the minute hand, was not a feature of clocks until after 1577, when a clock maker was asked to invent something that would enable an astronomer to keep better track of the time while stargazing and making observations.

Another seventy-five years passed before the pendulum was invented for use within clocks - a way of keeping time even more accurately that was based on the designs of Galileo. However, once this step in the history of clocks was taken, changes started to come a bit more consistently. Cuckoo clocks were created and made advancements over time. Electric clocks were designed, and time could be kept more accurately.

By the early 1900s, quartz was discovered to create accurate vibrations that could track time, and began to be used in clocks on a more regular basis. Self winding watches were developed at roughly the same time and, as the years passed, what changed more was the way in which clocks were designed - drawing on the atomic clock and the convenience of digital displays.

Still, for those who are passionate about clocks and recognize that time is more than just something that we can use to determine when to leave home to get to work, clocks are pieces of art, conversation pieces and a vital part of home décor. Some of the most common modern clocks - those that are the most popular - include:

Grandfather clocks. Grandfather clocks get their name, in part, because these large, majestic clocks are often passed through families as heirlooms. Whether in the office or the home, grandfather clocks in a variety of materials, styles and designs become a focal point in any room.

Cuckoo clocks. Cuckoo clocks serve two purposes: there's the obvious time-keeping function, but there's also the whimsy of dancing girls and full scenes that are depicted.

Mantel clocks. Both key wound and quartz mantel clocks can create a look that completes any fireplace mantel and that can help to create a look that simply makes your house feel a bit more like a home.

Still, there are a wide variety of clocks that can best be described as decorative clocks. Decorative clocks allow you to choose a timepiece that fits into the overall look of your modern dining room or to choose a fanciful way of teaching kids to tell time - clocks that are focused on sports or animals. Similarly, some decorative clocks that are shaped like guitars, may contain a neon element of are made with a background of beveled glass, are ideal for keeping track of time and fitting into "recreational" rooms and other more "fun" areas within the home.

When you are looking for the ideal clock for your home, chances are good that you won't be thinking about the history of time or the ways in which clocks have evolved and become more accurate. Ultimately, on those days when you're quite sure that you're running late, you might wish that there were less accurate clocks out there that could take the blame.

Still, whether you are looking for grandfather clocks that remind you of a family heirloom from the past, or you are looking to find the ideal clock to someday pass onto your own children, or perhaps you're looking for practical clocks or something that's a bit more fun, it's important to know that there is a clock out there that will be ideally meet your specific desires. You just have to make an effort to find it.




About the Author:
Andy Lipps is the owner of Its About Clocks, a website dedicated to offering a comprehensive selection of clocks, including: grandfather clocks, cuckoo clocks, employer time clocks, atomic clocks, weather station clocks, nautical clocks, designer clocks, desktop clocks, musical clocks, and more. Please visit Andy's website to find a clock that meets your needs: http://www.itsaboutclocks.com

The Coming Age Of HDTV - What Does It Mean To Me?

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2008 Lloyd Howard


HDTV - high-definition television: it is something that has been discussed for some time now, however not everyone has a strong sense of what it is and why he or she would want to have it.

Because all television stations will be required to broadcast a digital signal after February 17, 2009, many viewers are beginning to ask a lot more questions about how the new digital age of television will affect their personal viewing experience. They want to know whether or not their television set will be compatible, whether or not they will have to replace it, and what steps they will have to take in order to keep watching their favorite shows.

How To Identify If Your Television Is An Analog TV

Analog television has been with us since the inception of television broadcasting. Analog is the old way of processing a television signal.

Television technology took a big leap in the 1960's with the transition from television tubes to circuit boards, but that conversion failed to bring with it any major strides in the quality of the television picture.

If your current television does not have a logo on its front that indicates DTV (Digital TV), EDTV (Enhanced Definition TV), or HDTV, then your television set is an analog TV.

Understanding The Transition From An Analog Signal To The New Digital Signal

Digital image processing is a technology that began in earnest during the 1970's, when Japanese technology companies began to explore the concepts of HDTV. The Japanese TV manufacturers were exploring ways to improve the picture quality of the television image, as a way to find more customers for their television products.

While Americans were busy playing with building the computer industry, the Japanese were hard at work trying to build a better television set. The first HDTV systems developed by the Japanese still relied on the old analog system of sending a broadcast signal to their televisions, but they were still able to produce a better television viewing experience.

When initially introduced to the U.S. Government, the new HDTV system produced a myriad of concerns, which included the issue of an analog HDTV-system needing more bandwidth than what was currently allotted to the television broadcasters.

In 1993, a consortium of American researchers and manufacturers (known as The Grand Alliance) joined forces to find a way to bring HDTV-quality to the American public, while keeping the bandwidth requirements of broadcasters within the existing limits.

Researchers soon understood that they would need to push at least part of the television signal in a digital format to make sure that HDTV could be transmitted within the limits currently allotted to the television broadcasters. By the time they had finished their work, the Grand Alliance had created a system that was 100% Digital.

In 1995, after considerable opposition from the television broadcast industry, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission officially set the standard for completely digital HDTV broadcasting system. This put into motion the events that are just now coming to fruition, with the rollout of the new Digital Television broadcasting system.

Although most television stations have been broadcasting a Digital Television Signal now for a few years, analog television owners have been none the wiser. But that will all change on February 17, 2009.

Will My Analog Television Stop Working In 2009?

The simple answer is "yes", but that does not mean that you will have to buy a new television in order to get the new digital broadcasts. While you may not need to replace your television set, you may have to make changes in how you get your television signal.

There are in fact three ways that the average consumer can continue to get a television signal using their old television set:

1. Subscribe to a cable television service (and use their digital television converter);

2. Subscribe to a satellite television service (and use their digital television converter); or

3. Buy a DTV converter (Digital TV Converter) to receive signals from your analog antenna and to convert that signal back to analog, so that you can continue to use your analog television. (If you receive your television signal over-the-air, the Federal Government has implemented a Coupon Program to help consumers offset the cost of the DTV converter boxes: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/index.html )

Understanding The Three Facets Of The New Digital Technology

1. Lines Of Resolution

The newer digital technology is all about Lines Of Resolution. With more lines of resolution, the viewer will receive more image information, therefore bringing the viewer much more picture clarity and detail.

When the Japanese rolled out HDTV on the Japanese mainland, the lines of resolution numbered 1080. To put this into perspective, the standard analog TV signal exhibits 330 lines of resolution. This makes it more than clear that the original analog HDTV format really was a real issue for television broadcasters in the United States. To produce a resolution of 1080 lines on a system designed for 330 lines would have literally required three times the bandwidth of the current analog system.

Here are the standard television resolutions:

Analog Television - 330 Lines of Resolution

VCR's - 240 Lines of Resolution

DVD's - 480 Lines of Resolution

EDTV - 720 Lines of Resolution

HDTV - 1080 Lines of Resolution

There is a caveat to this chart though. The minimum requirement of the FCC is that broadcasters must produce a minimum of 720 Lines of Resolution. As a result, some broadcasters like ABC chose the 720-resolution, and yet they can still legally call their programming standard, HDTV.

Other broadcasters like PBS opted for the higher 1080 format. Good for them.

In 1998, when the first HDTV's became available to the buying public, the Headline News newscasters were joking that with the rollout of HDTV, we the audience would be able to see every blackhead and blemish on their faces. Of course, they were probably correct in that assumption. The detail of the HDTV-signal is absolutely amazing.

2. Aspect Ratio

Another factor connected to the new HDTV-format is the Aspect Ratio.

In a standard analog television, the Aspect Ratio is a 4-by-3, which nearly looks square. The 4-by-3 ratio means that it can be measured 4-parts wide to 3-parts high.

With the new HDTV format, the Aspect Ratio has been changed to the same format seen in the movie theatre - a 16-by-9 Aspect Ratio, or 16-parts wide to 9-parts high.

3. Sound Quality

The third factor connected to the new HDTV-format is Sound Quality. In fact, most HDTV programming will carry with it Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, as frequently heard on DVD's. So long as you have a surround sound unit attached to your television set, the surround sound will enable to the television viewer to be immersed in the sound, so much so as it often feels as if you are in the middle of the action happening on your television set.

In Conclusion...

While it is true that you do not need to upgrade your television from the analog format to the new digital format, you might seriously consider doing so anyway.

Now that we are quickly approaching the end of the analog-television era, the cost of HDTV television sets has fallen considerably. Whereas five years ago, the average HDTV cost in the range of $3-4,000, the cost of most HDTV's has fallen to under $1200 today. After February 17, 2009, the cost of HDTV should drop again, making it much more affordable to the general public.

Although it will be possible to convert the digital television signal to analog, you will lose the extra picture detail on the conversion. So, if you stick with your analog television, you will be restricting yourself to the quality of picture you are currently receiving, even after the change in television broadcasting formats is complete.

Although color-technology was first introduced to audiences with the release of The Wizard Of Oz in 1939, color television did not become mainstream until the late-1960's. And although the technology of color was mainstream, black-and-white televisions were still being manufactured and sold well into the 1980's.

Fortunately, this transition will be a bit quicker than the conversion from black-and-white to color. Under the FCC rules for the transition to digital television, television manufacturers were required to include a digital tuner in all television sets manufactured after March 1, 2006.

This conversion is much like the transition from AM to FM as the standard listening medium in the radio industry. Radio listeners could not listen to FM stations until which time they had upgraded their radio from AM to the AM/FM format. The same thing will happen here as well. If you want to receive the beautiful, high-quality HDTV images, you will need to upgrade to a television set capable of displaying the HDTV images.

If you have any lingering doubts about the better HDTV standard, all you need to do is to visit your local television store and see for yourself just how awesome of a picture HDTV actually produces. Just as Dolby Digital Surround Sound enables the listener to feel as if they are in the middle of the action on the television, HDTV permits the viewer to feel as if they are standing in the same room as the actors, on the sidelines at the football game, or on the same beach as the models - it really is that good of a picture.


About the Author:
Lloyd Howard writes about technology and business. Satellite TV providers continue to outpace the performance of cable companies in the conversion to digital television programming. For example, DirectTV will have more than 100 channels and 231 NFL Football Games available in HDTV this year. To compare Satellite Television services, visit http://www.placeingit.com/satellite The growth of the Internet has spurred some of the greatest opportunities for small business entrepreneurs to grow their businesses. Visit the following website to learn more: http://www.gibline.com/lloyd559/revenue_sharing.html