What You Need To Know About Plasmas and HDTV
High Definition Television is all the rage in the technology industry at the moment. There’s talk of the staggering picture quality it will result in, and how HDTV is sure to transform the way we watch TV.
what is HDTV?
As yet, HDTV isn’t broadly available in the UK, but the majority of new television sets being made today are HD ready. This means that they’ll be equipped to broadcast in high definition the moment it becomes more prevalent. Not only will live television gain, but also DVD formats are already available. Toshiba’s HD-DVD and Sony’s Blu-ray mean you’ll instantly be able to watch films in high definition. In addition, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 are HD compatible, and there are numerous manufacturers launching camcorders to record in HD.
The technology behind HDTV is quite straightforward. Where normal televisions use 576 visible lines, HDTV sets have an impressive 720 or 1028, which results in outstanding precision. The pixels in each line are also closer.
HDTV comes in two formats:
1. 720p - an image made up of 1280 lines along the horizontal by 720 vertical. It shows the whole image in one frame and is the smoothest type.
2. 1080i – an image made up of 1920 horizontal lines and 1080 vertical. It is displayed as two fields that are interconnect, and is more detailed than 720p.
If your screen has at least 720 horizontal lines you’ll be able to watch both formats but 1080i footage will be scaled and therefore lower quality than if you had a 1080 line screen.
When you’re choosing your television, ensure that it has on it the HD ready logo. Make certain that you have done your homework – discover if the model you want is compatible for not just one but the two formats, as several are merely 720p ready.
Once you’ve chosen your HD ready TV, it’s time to choose a screen. I would recommend a plasma screen. Otherwise known as a plasma display panel (PDP), this type of screen holds in it thousands of little cells. Each one of these cells holds blend of xenon and neon gas. Electricity transforms this gas into plasma which then reacts with phosphors to emit light. Plasma screens outdo LCD screens for HDTV because of their more refined brightness, more speedy response time, wider viewing angle, and more varied color spectrum it must be said though, LCD technology is catching up.
Of course, picture quality has a great deal to do with the broadcaster as well as the characteristics of the TV. The quality of Freeview, which broadcasts in 576 lines and therefore can be viewed on a Plasma or LCD screen won’t be as superior as Sky (Sky broadcasts in 1080 lines). Essentially, everything’s in place. Sit back with your new HD ready television in the knowledge that you are ready for the HDTV revolution.
