Thursday, October 19, 2006
HD high Definition TV/Film
What is HDTV?
The easiest way to explain HDTV is the amount of pixels the television or monitor is capable of displaying on screen. Regular PAL signals are capable of 640 lines of resolution and NTSC signals have 525 lines. The increase in lines and pixels on screen is what makes the HDTV picture appear not only brighter but also sharper and more detailed than a standard television.
Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to make the transition to HDTV and we all face the challenge of understanding the jargon and navigating the vast choices available and not to mention finally, making it all work. To help you get started, here is a helpful Digital Dictionary of basic terms and detials of what you will need to know you need to know.
HDTV Digital Directory :
HDTV: Hi-Definition Television means broadcast of television signals such as those produced by the Xbox 360 with a higher resolution than traditional formats (NTSC, SÉCAM, PAL) allow. Except for early analog formats in Europe and Japan, HDTV is broadcast digitally, and therefore its introduction sometimes coincides with the introduction of digital television (DTV).
HDMI (High Definition MultiMedia Interface): HDMI assures that the best video signal is always sent from the source (e.g., HDTV signal) to the display (e.g., plasma or LCD television). It does this by allowing uncompressed video and multi-channel audio data to be input to the display device through one single cable. The need for multiple analog connections for high-resolution audio and video are eliminated. Without an HDMI connection, one would need three video connections for high-definition video and six audio connections for high-resolution audio.
HDTV compatible: Describes a television that cannot show HDTV resolution, but can receive and show HDTV at a lesser quality.
HD ready: Describes a television that is capable of displaying one or both of the prescribed hi-definition television formats (720p, 1080i) but is not equipped with the requisite tuner/converter to receive digital signals.
DVI (Digital Visual Interface): DVI is a standard that provides a high-bandwidth, low-cost digital interface between a video source and a display device. It is capable of carrying uncompressed highresolution video transfers of HDTV signals, and supports real-time complex graphics displays and user interfaces found in program guides and other interactive features for high definition television.
SDTV: Standard-definition television or SDTV refers to television systems that have a lower resolution than HDTV systems (704x480 or 640x480). The term is usually used in reference to digital television, in particular when broadcasting at the same (or similar) resolution as analog systems.
Analog: An analog TV does not display progressive-scan DVD or HDTV. It displays only standard-definition programs found on regular TV, cable or satellite.
Digital Television (DTV): A digital television displays progressive-scan DVD and can usually display HDTV signals.
Enhanced-Definition TV (EDTV): Enhanced-definition television displays a minimum of 480p lines and is the next step up from SDTV. An EDTV can show an HDTV image but doesn't provide as much detail as higher-resolution displays.
XGA: The Extended Graphics Array, is an IBM display standard introduced in 1990. Today, it is best known as a synonym for the 1024 × 768 pixels display resolution.
VGA: Video Graphics Array (VGA) is an analog computer display standard first marketed in 1987 by IBM. VGA is referred to as an "array" instead of an "adapter" because it was implemented from the start as a single chip, replacing the dozens of discrete logic chips covering a full-length ISA board.
p: Progressive or non-interlaced scanning is any method for displaying, storing or transmitting moving http://www.msxbox-world.com/images in which the lines of each frame are drawn in sequence. This is in contrast to the interlacing used in traditional television systems.
Progressive scan is used in most CRTs (tube) or computer monitors. It is also becoming increasingly common in high-end television equipment, which is often capable of performing deinterlacing so that interlaced video can still be viewed.
Advantages of progressive scan include:
· Subjectively increased vertical resolution. The perceived vertical resolution of an interlaced image is usually equivalent to multiplying the active lines by about 0.6. This explains, for example, why HDTV standards such as 1080i (1920x1080, interlaced) in most cases deliver a quality equal to or slightly poorer than that of 720p (1280x720, progressive), despite containing far more lines of resolution.
· No flickering of narrow horizontal patterns
· Simpler video processing equipment
· Easier compression
i: Interlace is a method of improving the quality of http://www.msxbox-world.com/images displayed on a video imaging device (usually CRT tube) without increasing analog bandwidth. It was invented by RCA engineer Randall Ballard in the late 1920s, and was ubiquitous in television until the 1970s, when video from home computers and videogames reintroduced progressive scan http://www.msxbox-world.com/images. Today interlace remains in heavy use for video, being used for all standard definition TV, as well as the popular 1080i HDTV standard.
Aspect ratio: Standard television has a 4:3 aspect ratio - it is four units wide by three units high. HDTV has a 16:9 aspect ratio, more like a movie screen.
Resolution: The lowest standard resolution (SDTV) will be about the same as analog TV and will go up to 704 x 480 pixels. The highest HDTV resolution is 1920 x 1080 pixels. HDTV can display about ten times as many pixels as an analog TV set.
Frame rate: A set's frame rate describes how many times it creates a complete picture on the screen every second. DTV frame rates usually end in "i" or "p" to denote whether they are interlaced or progressive. DTV frame rates range from 24p (24 frames per second, progressive) to 60p (60 frames per second, progressive).
Currently, most manufacturers of CRT-type (tube) TVs are choosing 1080-line interlaced (1080i) as their high-definition native-display rate. These TVs usually also have 480p as a native rate, for compatibility with progressive-scan DVD, and with digital SDTV signals. The most popular display rate for HD-capable flat-panel plasma and LCD TVs is 768-line progressive (768p). This is very close to the 720p HDTV standard which is one of the 3 HDTV (480p, 720p 1080i) standards the Xbox 360 supports..
The easiest way to explain HDTV is the amount of pixels the television or monitor is capable of displaying on screen. Regular PAL signals are capable of 640 lines of resolution and NTSC signals have 525 lines. The increase in lines and pixels on screen is what makes the HDTV picture appear not only brighter but also sharper and more detailed than a standard television.
Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to make the transition to HDTV and we all face the challenge of understanding the jargon and navigating the vast choices available and not to mention finally, making it all work. To help you get started, here is a helpful Digital Dictionary of basic terms and detials of what you will need to know you need to know.
HDTV Digital Directory :
HDTV: Hi-Definition Television means broadcast of television signals such as those produced by the Xbox 360 with a higher resolution than traditional formats (NTSC, SÉCAM, PAL) allow. Except for early analog formats in Europe and Japan, HDTV is broadcast digitally, and therefore its introduction sometimes coincides with the introduction of digital television (DTV).
HDMI (High Definition MultiMedia Interface): HDMI assures that the best video signal is always sent from the source (e.g., HDTV signal) to the display (e.g., plasma or LCD television). It does this by allowing uncompressed video and multi-channel audio data to be input to the display device through one single cable. The need for multiple analog connections for high-resolution audio and video are eliminated. Without an HDMI connection, one would need three video connections for high-definition video and six audio connections for high-resolution audio.
HDTV compatible: Describes a television that cannot show HDTV resolution, but can receive and show HDTV at a lesser quality.
HD ready: Describes a television that is capable of displaying one or both of the prescribed hi-definition television formats (720p, 1080i) but is not equipped with the requisite tuner/converter to receive digital signals.
DVI (Digital Visual Interface): DVI is a standard that provides a high-bandwidth, low-cost digital interface between a video source and a display device. It is capable of carrying uncompressed highresolution video transfers of HDTV signals, and supports real-time complex graphics displays and user interfaces found in program guides and other interactive features for high definition television.
SDTV: Standard-definition television or SDTV refers to television systems that have a lower resolution than HDTV systems (704x480 or 640x480). The term is usually used in reference to digital television, in particular when broadcasting at the same (or similar) resolution as analog systems.
Analog: An analog TV does not display progressive-scan DVD or HDTV. It displays only standard-definition programs found on regular TV, cable or satellite.
Digital Television (DTV): A digital television displays progressive-scan DVD and can usually display HDTV signals.
Enhanced-Definition TV (EDTV): Enhanced-definition television displays a minimum of 480p lines and is the next step up from SDTV. An EDTV can show an HDTV image but doesn't provide as much detail as higher-resolution displays.
XGA: The Extended Graphics Array, is an IBM display standard introduced in 1990. Today, it is best known as a synonym for the 1024 × 768 pixels display resolution.
VGA: Video Graphics Array (VGA) is an analog computer display standard first marketed in 1987 by IBM. VGA is referred to as an "array" instead of an "adapter" because it was implemented from the start as a single chip, replacing the dozens of discrete logic chips covering a full-length ISA board.
p: Progressive or non-interlaced scanning is any method for displaying, storing or transmitting moving http://www.msxbox-world.com/images in which the lines of each frame are drawn in sequence. This is in contrast to the interlacing used in traditional television systems.
Progressive scan is used in most CRTs (tube) or computer monitors. It is also becoming increasingly common in high-end television equipment, which is often capable of performing deinterlacing so that interlaced video can still be viewed.
Advantages of progressive scan include:
· Subjectively increased vertical resolution. The perceived vertical resolution of an interlaced image is usually equivalent to multiplying the active lines by about 0.6. This explains, for example, why HDTV standards such as 1080i (1920x1080, interlaced) in most cases deliver a quality equal to or slightly poorer than that of 720p (1280x720, progressive), despite containing far more lines of resolution.
· No flickering of narrow horizontal patterns
· Simpler video processing equipment
· Easier compression
i: Interlace is a method of improving the quality of http://www.msxbox-world.com/images displayed on a video imaging device (usually CRT tube) without increasing analog bandwidth. It was invented by RCA engineer Randall Ballard in the late 1920s, and was ubiquitous in television until the 1970s, when video from home computers and videogames reintroduced progressive scan http://www.msxbox-world.com/images. Today interlace remains in heavy use for video, being used for all standard definition TV, as well as the popular 1080i HDTV standard.
Aspect ratio: Standard television has a 4:3 aspect ratio - it is four units wide by three units high. HDTV has a 16:9 aspect ratio, more like a movie screen.
Resolution: The lowest standard resolution (SDTV) will be about the same as analog TV and will go up to 704 x 480 pixels. The highest HDTV resolution is 1920 x 1080 pixels. HDTV can display about ten times as many pixels as an analog TV set.
Frame rate: A set's frame rate describes how many times it creates a complete picture on the screen every second. DTV frame rates usually end in "i" or "p" to denote whether they are interlaced or progressive. DTV frame rates range from 24p (24 frames per second, progressive) to 60p (60 frames per second, progressive).
Currently, most manufacturers of CRT-type (tube) TVs are choosing 1080-line interlaced (1080i) as their high-definition native-display rate. These TVs usually also have 480p as a native rate, for compatibility with progressive-scan DVD, and with digital SDTV signals. The most popular display rate for HD-capable flat-panel plasma and LCD TVs is 768-line progressive (768p). This is very close to the 720p HDTV standard which is one of the 3 HDTV (480p, 720p 1080i) standards the Xbox 360 supports..
Blogged with Flock
