How not to start your speech: 10 Roads to Disaster

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Preparing a speech can be like sculpting. You keep removing the excess clay until you have your work of art. If you want to start your presentation with a bang instead of a bust avoid these ten mistakes. These tips will show you how not to start your speech.

1. You like me, you really like me
Sally Fields did this when she accepted her academy award. Her gushing outburst was mocked because it seemed unprofessional. We all want to be liked but Sally pushed our puke button with her act. If they are giving you the award don't insult them by pretending that you don't deserve it.

2. Tell a joke
If you have an ancient book on public speaking that tells you to start with a joke - burn it and purge anything you read from your memory. That is a terrible way to start your speech. It's difficult to tell a joke well in front of an audience. It usually fails - a bad way to start your speech. Don't tell jokes.

3. How is everybody today?
You have probably seen the "motivational speaker" wannabe start his presentation with this question. Then he repeats the question only louder as if that means your first response was too weak. It looks, sounds and feels phony and it ticks people off - a very bad way to start your presentation.

4. I don't know why I have been asked to speak
Imagine the thoughts that go through the minds of your audience when you start with this phrase. If you don't know - why are you speaking? This is going to be a dreadful presentation. Why did I attend? How do I escape?

5. I'm really nervous
It's okay to admit imperfection. But don't tell your audience that you are a lousy presenter, this is your first time or that you are very nervous. That conveys lack of confidence. Often they can't tell the state of your nerves so keep it to yourself. If you are a lousy presenter they will decide on their own soon enough. Don't foretell your own presentation disaster.

 

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Young firm turns shipping containers into homes

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It was a side trip through a destitute, ramshackle neighborhood in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, that detoured Brian McCarthy from building houses in Albuquerque to an idea to offer the very poor a chance to own a home.

His answer lies in a humble steel shipping container, 40 feet long, 8 feet wide, 8 1/2 feet tall.

McCarthy, 30, and three partners, Pablo Nava, 22; Kyle Annen, 23; and Mackenzie Bishop, 22, have made a prototype out of a standard shipping container that hauls goods worldwide - a 320-square-foot home with a kitchen, bath with toilet, sleeping areas, windows and a bright blue door. The exterior is painted with a white epoxy coating that has light-reflecting properties to prevent the sun's heat from penetrating.

Each small house includes hookups for air conditioning, ventilation, electrical and water systems - and the units ideally could be set up in small communities to make accessing utilities more efficient.

The idea began to take shape several years ago, when McCarthy went to the Mexican border city on a field trip as part of an executive MBA program. He found himself impressed by the sophistication and rapid growth of industry in Juarez, but shocked when the bus cut through a poor neighborhood on the way out of the city.

"We saw hundreds of homes that are made out of wood pallets and cardboard and scrap metal and scrap building material," McCarthy said. When he questioned the bus driver, "he said, Well, all the people who live here work in the places you just visited.'"

"It was amazing to me that in an area where there was such growth and economic prosperity, that these employees of Fortune 1000 companies were living in such poor conditions."

With Juarez growing by 50,000 to 60,000 people a year and wages low, it was evident traditional homebuilding couldn't respond, said McCarthy, who'd worked in various facets of building homes in Albuquerque.

An idea began taking shape about a year and a half later when he saw an article about a shipping container converted into guest quarters.

"They talked about the merits of the construction, how strong they are, how affordable they are, and how plentiful they are," McCarthy said.

He called Nava, his cousin, with the low-cost home idea. A year later, Nava, then a junior at Notre Dame University, suggested entering the university's business plan competition.

Their initial three-quarter page concept expanded as they advanced in the contest. Along the way, Nava invited his roommate, Annen, to join. As the group's acknowledged computer graphics whiz, Annen added drawings to give the presentation more life.

Eventually, they won the contest with a 55-page document, illustrated by renderings and floor plans.

In July 2007, the partners formed PFNC Global Communities - PFNC stands for "Por Fin, Nuestra Casa," which roughly translates as "Finally, our own home." They operate out of a back room in a Corrales realty firm but eventually expect offices in Juarez or adjacent El Paso, Texas, and a Juarez plant to manufacture shipping container homes.

The house faces two constraints: designing in only 320 square feet and keeping the price to around $8,000 to be affordable for the average worker at maquiladoras, manufacturing plants in Mexico along the U.S. border, McCarthy said.

The partners looked at clever designs for small condos and lofts, travel trailers and even private jet planes, adapting ideas they felt would work.

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What Should I Do to Be a Nutritionist?

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Making Sense of All Those Confusing Degrees and Credentials

Every month we get letters from members asking how to become a nutritionist. Many of our members want to learn more about Dr Price’s dietary laws in an academic setting while also gaining the credentials needed to be licensed and work professionally. We wish there were a simple answer.

First, let’s look at the term “nutritionist.”

A nutritionist can be anything from a PhD-trained professional to the friendly multi-level marketer down the street who is all too eager to testify to the healing powers of his or her brand’s (and only that brand’s) vitamins, shakes and energy bars. Assistants in the supplement sections at Whole Foods and other marketplaces probably call themselves nutritionists. So might your Uncle Harry if he both eats and has read a few diet books. “Nutritionists” may have advanced degrees or no degrees. They can be licensed professionals, gifted educators, idiot proseltyzers or opinionated people.

The term “nutritionist” is so vague, it is meaningless. To improve their credibility, some professionals have banded together to form organizations in which members are required to attain certain levels of expertise or competence, as determined by completing coursework, passing examinations, obtaining continuing education credits and otherwise proving their mettle. Indeed, nutritionists today can earn all sorts of certifications, some of which are respected, some less so or not at all. (We’ll discuss some of these later in this article.) Those who earn the right—or just pay the right fees—may be the only ones allowed to put certain trademarked initials after their name, but there’s nothing to stop people from calling themselves “nutritionists.”

The only thing that’s certain is that “nutritionists” cannot call themselves “dietitians.” The terms are not interchangeable.

DIETITIANS

The term “dietitian” (sometimes spelled dietician) can be used only by someone who has completed coursework approved by the American Dietetic Association (ADA). Registered Dietitians have jumped through additional ADA hoops, including completion of an approved internship and passing of the ADA’s CDR (Commission on Dietetic Registration) examination. Thereafter, they must keep up continuing education requirements and remain paid up members in good standing.

RDs can be licensed in any state that has licensing requirements, which is close to fifty at this writing. Because the ADA has a hammerlock on licensing in many of these states, it’s a valuable credential to have. Registered Dietitians can open a private practice or work for doctors, hospitals, schools, nursing homes and other institutions. Most such employers will only consider RDs for these positions.

The initials RD after the name confers credibility with mainstream publishers, and being an RD will also increase the likelihood of being quoted as an expert in the mainstream media. Subscribers to the ProfNet service—a networking service that matches reporters and producers with “experts” in many different fields—notice that many of the inquiries request a response only from RDs or MDs.

 

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Police Colleges: Schooling Requirements and Degree Program Options

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Becoming a police officer requires specialized training at a police academy, which may be offered through community colleges, vocational schools and law enforcement organizations. Police officer training may be a standalone certificate program or part of an associate's or bachelor's degree.

How to Select a Police College

Training at a police academy takes about three months without an additional degree program. An associate's degree with police academy training requires about two years of full-time study. Academy graduates are immediately qualified to start working as police officers, and may eligible for promotion after at least six months of employment.

Because police officers are government employees, individuals may wish to look for police institutes that are state-approved, to ensure the curriculum meets a police department's educational standards. Students can also look a police school's job placement rate to judge the types of agencies that hire a school's graduates and graduates' success in finding employment in law enforcement.

Police College Degree Program Options

Career goals often guide a student's choice of a police college toward institutes offering degree options that match a student's long-term goals. A police academy certificate qualifies an individual for general field work at the regional or state level. Working as a detective or for the FBI requires a bachelor's degree, so individuals who want to advance in local, state or federal law enforcement can look for police schools that offer training as part of a 4-year degree program.

Police College Requirements

Police academy schooling is available to U.S. citizens who are at least 21 years old and do not have a criminal history. Prospective students must also be in good physical shape and hold a high school diploma.

After admittance into police training school, individuals complete physical education and classroom courses in law, interrogation techniques and report writing. Practical application courses include firearms training, defensive tactics, CPR and first aid.

 

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Interior Designers

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Nature of the Work

Interior designers draw upon many disciplines to enhance the function, safety, and aesthetics of interior spaces. Their main concerns are with how different colors, textures, furniture, lighting, and space work together to meet the needs of a building’s occupants. Designers plan interior spaces of almost every type of building, including offices, airport terminals, theaters, shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals, and private residences. Good design can boost office productivity, increase sales, attract a more affluent clientele, provide a more relaxing hospital stay, or increase a building’s market value.

Traditionally, most interior designers focused on decorating—choosing a style and color palette and then selecting appropriate furniture, floor and window coverings, artwork, and lighting. However, an increasing number of designers are becoming involved in architectural detailing, such as crown molding and built-in bookshelves, and in planning layouts of buildings undergoing renovation, including helping to determine the location of windows, stairways, escalators, and walkways.

Interior designers must be able to read blueprints, understand building and fire codes, and know how to make space accessible to people who are disabled. Designers frequently collaborate with architects, electricians, and building contractors to ensure that designs are safe and meet construction requirements. Whatever space they are working on, almost all designers follow the same process. The first step, known as programming, is to determine the client’s needs and wishes. The designer usually meets face-to-face with the client to find out how the space will be used and to get an idea of the client’s preferences and budget. For example, the designer might inquire about a family’s cooking habits if the family is remodeling a kitchen or ask about a store or restaurant’s target customer in order to pick an appropriate motif. The designer also will visit the space to take inventory of existing furniture and equipment and identify positive attributes of the space and potential problems.

Then, the designer formulates a design plan and estimates costs. Today, designs often are created with the use of computer-aided design (CAD), which provides more detail and easier corrections than sketches made by hand. Once the designer completes the proposed design, he or she will present it to the client and make revisions based on the client’s input. When the design concept is decided upon, the designer will begin specifying the materials, finishes, and furnishings required, such as furniture, lighting, flooring, wall covering, and artwork. Depending on the complexity of the project, the designer also might submit drawings for approval by a construction inspector to ensure that the design meets building codes. If a project requires structural work, the designer works with an architect or engineer for that part of the project. Most designs also require the hiring of contractors to do technical work, such as lighting, plumbing, or electrical wiring. Often designers choose contractors and write work contracts.

Finally, the designer develops a timeline for the project, coordinates contractor work schedules, and makes sure work is completed on time. The designer oversees the installation of the design elements, and after the project is complete, the designer, together with the client, pay follow-up visits to the building site to ensure that the client is satisfied. If the client is not satisfied, the designer makes corrections.

 

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Forex-Simple Methods of Trading

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Like any other business activity the objective of Forex trading is also to generate profits. There are simple methods of trading. But before a trader embarks upon buying and selling it is very important that he is equipped with some basic information about the forex market. A trader should be well informed about the major currency pairs, which can bring profilts. Leading market players should be known. A forex trader should be aware f the market and the probable loopholes where he can go wrong and loose money.

We shall now discuss basic techniques of trading.

• Currencies are trade in pairs. When the base currency’s rate is low, we buy. The currency pair moves when the base currency rate increases. It is the time we must sell. Some common trading pairs IS GPB/USD, EUR/USD.

• In order to be successful in forex trading one must understand the political and economic environment .The currency rates are influenced by the political stability, the economic, fiscal policies of the state. Thorough information of the governmental set up must be acquired of the country whose currency we intend to buy or sell. Rate of currencies go down if there is no political stability. Some times the monetary policies are such that the rates of interest are very high. It causes inflation leading to lower rates. Hence the entire environment must be studied.

 

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Take A Reliable Phone Anywhere On The Globe With You When You Get A Satellite Phone Rental

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If you are planning on traveling and have concerns about being able to contact people by phone because of unavailable cell phone signals in remote areas, you might want to consider taking advantage of a satellite phone rental. If you only need a phone for a short period of time and don’t plan on being in remote areas on a regular basis, satellite phone rentals are the perfect option for you. Most satellite rentals can be made by the week or month and are reasonably priced. The average weekly phone rental is around $40.00 U.S. and each phone rental usually comes with a number of standard features. Some satellite phone features might include voice mail and text messaging.

Wherever you travel, as long as you can see a fair amount of sky you can use a satellite phone. Phones that use a satellite in order to be able to send and receive calls can be incredibly expensive compared to the costs of digital cellular phones. Before making such a huge investment in a satellite phone, it is a good idea to see what is available for rental equipment and contracts.

When using a satellite cell phone rental, you never have to worry about being able to receive a phone signal. Making calls from anywhere in the world is possible without having to rely on finding a phone signal for a cell phone or waiting until an landline is accessible. Safety, business transactions, immediate reporting and accessibility to loved loves are never concerns with a satellite phone and a rental is the best way to take one with you for occasional travel to remote locations.

A satellite rental isn’t just for well-paid business people or wealthy individuals. Many people are surprised to find out exactly who currently takes advantage of satellite phones. People involved in tourism, businessmen and women, people who hunt, fish or camp in remote locations, reporters, military personnel and more find that using a satellite phone comes in very handy. Not all of these people need to have a satellite phone with them at all times and a satellite rental tends to their short-term needs.

 

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DVD Recorders: The New VCR and More

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Out there in the great home video marketplace, clearly VHS is fading, and DVD video is on the rise. The big hold-up has been a way to record DVDs in the same way that we use our analog VCRs to record videotapes today.

Until very recently, the only way to make your own DVD videos was to use a computer-based authoring system to burn your content onto a blank DVD disc. The process was reasonably complicated and quite time consuming. Clearly consumers don't appreciate either of those attributes in any technology designed for casual use in their living rooms. Enter the stand-alone DVD recorder, the inevitable marriage of the VCR's convenience with DVD's benefits.

The promise of the new stand-alone DVD recorders is to simplify the DVD authoring process as much as possible and make it more like operating a VCR. Feed the box a video stream, push the Record button, and then hit STOP when you're done and voilà! You have a playable DVD! Just like it works with a VCR, right? Well, not quite. The problem is that for a DVD -- any DVD -- to work, it needs a way to signal the playback device about what to expect. This is because the DVD specification -- the rulebook that all DVD manufacturers and playback devices must adhere to -- is so very complex. Its complexity is due to the DVD's very flexible data storage system.

It's happy to hold our wedding video, or playback the latest rented Hollywood movie, but the specification designers also needed to accommodate higher-level functions like employee testing, database lookups -- or even linking to content via the Web.

 

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How to convert family movies to DVD format

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Most everyone has some home movies sitting in the attic, and they get broken out once a year when you are thinking about it and have the time to setup everything that is required to view them.  Wouldn’t it be so much more convenient to just throw a disc in the DVD player and be able to enjoy those family movies whenever you wanted?

DVD Recorder

First, you will need a DVD recorder and some blank DVDs.  There are many different options available in this arena.  One of the better options is the multi-format drives that are capable of writing to all the various recordable formats.  This allows you to benefit from the advantages that are held by each type of media, as well as to purchase whichever media happens to be the cheapest.  These formats include DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM.

Converters and Adapters

Depending on the format of your home movies, you will likely need some type of adapter or converter box to take the output of your home movie device and connect it into your DVD recorder.  Most DVD recorders accept composite inputs and S-video, with S-video providing the best picture quality.  As the definition is not incredibly high for most old home movies this should suffice.  There are a few recorders available that have component inputs, and this will provide a better option if your home movies are relatively new.

 

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Review: VCR-DVD recorders

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The convenience of entry-level VCR-DVD combo recorders comes at a price. Rod Easdown compares four.

No one loves a bargain quite as much as my mate Neil. He's just discovered there's something better than a VCR-DVD player combo for $99 - and that's a VCR-DVD player combo for nothing.

He rang me a few weeks ago complaining that his existing combo's DVD player was beginning to freeze at random points through a movie. The most common cause of this is a dirty disc (even new, factory-original DVD movies aren't always clean) and the second most common is a laser that's gone out to lunch. The same thing happens with ageing CD players.

He had cleaned the troublesome discs and when that didn't help I broke the bad news to him about the weakening laser. His combo was only 2 1/2 years old. Surely, he wailed, they should last longer than that.

Um, not always. I told him the bitter truth about bargain basement equipment. It's bargain basement because manufacturers have cut every corner they can. Lots of these, especially those with brands you've never heard of, won't last much longer than a couple of years. The more expensive models from big-name brands not only have more features, they are also better made. Usually a lot better.

 

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DVD Basics

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GLOSSARY
We often get asked "what is DVD-R?", "What is DVD-RW?" or "What is the difference between DVD-R and DVD-RW?" or "What is the difference between DVD_R and DVD+R?". So we thought we would put together this glossary to help people understand all the confusing terminology surrounding recordable DVDs.
DVD-R and DVD-RW
DVD stands for Digital Versatile/Video Disc, DVDR stands for DVD Recordable and DVDRW for DVD ReWriteable. If you're familiar with regular audio/music CDs or regular DVD-Video discs, then you will know what a recordable DVDR/W looks like. A recordable DVDR/W stores up to 2 hours of very good quality DVD-Video, including several audio tracks in formats like stereo, Dolby Digital or DTS and also advanced menu systems, subtitles and still pictures that can be played by many standalone DVD Players and most computer DVD-ROMs. If you choose to lower the video quality it is possible to store several hours video on a recordable DVDR/W using low bitrates and low resolution with video quality more like VHS, SVHS, SVCD, CVD or VCD. It is also possible to have up to 4.38* GB ordinary data or mix DVD-Video and data on a recordable DVD that can be played by most computer DVD-ROMs. Today there are three competing DVD Recording standards, DVD-R/W and DVD+R/W have pretty similiar features and are compatible with many standalone DVD Players and most DVD-ROMs while DVD-RAM has less DVD Player and DVD-ROM compatibility but better recording features. DVD-R/W was the first DVD recording format released that was compatible with standalone DVD Players. DVD-R is a non-rewriteable format and it is compatible with about 91% of all DVD Players and most DVD-ROMs. DVD-RW is a rewriteable format and it is compatible with about 74% of all DVD Players and most DVD-ROMs. DVD-R/W supports single side 4.7 GB* DVDs(called DVD-5) and double side 9.4 GB* DVDs(called DVD-10).

 

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Toshiba DR420

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Though expert reviewers like the image quality (especially at lower recording speeds) of some competing DVD recorders a little better, user reviews largely favor the Toshiba DR420 for its reliability, ease of use (relative to other DVD recorders) and overall value. The biggest negative is the lack of a built-in tuner. That makes the DR420 an iffy choice for those who get their programming over the air or from basic cable (without a cable TV box), but it's suitable for most others. You won't find lots of extras on the Toshiba DR420, but some well-appreciated features like chasing playback, time-slip recording and even a commercial skip are available. Experts do like the image quality of the Panasonic DMR-EA18K (*Est. $165) a little bit better, especially at slower recording speeds (which lets you fit more on a single disc), but usability and other issues leave a bad taste in a large percentage of users' mouths. If you need a DVD recorder with a built-in tuner, the Toshiba DR570 (*Est. $160) includes one and is also well regarded, especially by its owners.

The Toshiba DR420 doesn't get a whole lot of feedback from professional reviewers, but it is included in the lists of best DVD recorders at About.com and TopTenReviews.com. User reviews are plentiful, however. Amazon.com is the best destination for those, but additional feedback can be found at ABT.com and RateItAll.com.

 

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Why Buy a DVD Recorder

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One of the best parts of DVD technology is the ability to personalize your video library. A DVD recorder makes it possible to make copies of your favorite shows or movies. And unlike VHS cassettes, DVDs are durable. While the quality of a VHS cassette deteriorates with each viewing, a DVD retains its quality no matter how many times you watch it.

If you want to make a compilation of your favorite TV series, a DVD recorder is a perfect choice. You can record your shows in a durable DVD format, and some recorders have the ability to let you edit the video and take out commercials before you burn the show to a disc. You may never have to buy a season compilation again.

If longevity is important, DVD recorders are your best choice. Instead of leaving your favorite movies on VHS cassettes that slowly degrade, you can copy your taped movies to DVDs. Your movies will last longer and you won’t have to worry about repair and compatibility issues as VCRs become less and less prevalent. You’ll also save money using DVDs over VHS cassettes.

No  matter what you are using the DVD recorder for, it’s a great way to get reliable entertainment that you can view again and again.

In this site, you'll find articles on buying DVD recorders, news stories and comprehensive reviews on DVD recorders that will help you make an informed decision on which one is right for you.

 

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TiVo offers pay-per-view 3D content

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The one-third TVNZ owned Hybrid TV has eked out another point of difference for its TiVo recorder.

Through its Caspa service, which delivers content via a broadband connection, TiVo is now offering 3D content – because it turns out a TiVo set-top box can be used to decode 3D content.

That’s good news for the tiny number of New Zealanders who’ve brought a 3DTV so far (TiVo also argues, optimistically, that you can download content now and save it for the day when you buy a 3D telly).

Right now, content is limited to some short films and animations (the movie trailers available to Australian TiVo users are not available here).

The real 3D fun will start when broadcasters (TiVo takes a Freeview HD feed) start to transmit 3D programmes – or at least the odd sports event in 3D, as has happened a little in Australia, Europe and the UK.

While we wait – a few years – for that to happen, TiVo will offer a selection of 3D animations and short films from Yabazam Aussie TiVo users are also getting some 3D movie trailers from Disney).

TiVo says the Caspa 3D category “will grow to include a diverse range of 3D content from DDD’s Yabazam catalogue, featuring everything from animation and extreme sports, to documentaries, indie shorts, comedy and music videos.”

 

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Purchase perspective Repenting, regretting, whatever

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I’m not Jewish. I have, however, been mistaken for such on more than one occasion. In that spirit, I’ve decided to completely misinterpret one of Judaism’s holiest days, Yom Kippur (Sept. 18 this year), and atone for some misjudgments and mistakes in past writings. In other words, give you an update on things you forgot you ever read about here.

First, my DVD recorder. Way back in August 2005, I bought the cheapest DVD recorder on the market, a CyberHome DVR 1600, for a single Benjamin. It had no frills like an onscreen program guide, digital reception or anything, but it did its job: recorded television programming onto a DVD. Sure, it had its quirks — like recording for 59 minutes instead of an even hour in high quality mode, or its clock gaining a minute or two a day — but it was bleeding edge! And cheap!

It’s still tough to find a DVD recorder for under $100, but those that come close are brand names like Sony, Toshiba, Panasonic, etc. They also come with better features like HD upconversion and HDMI interfaces, and probably don’t need their clocks reset every morning. Besides, who records to DVD? Hard disk Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) are where it’s at, right? No popping discs in and out, no labeling with Sharpies and certainly no lending of recorded premium cable programming to friends.

 

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A Survey of DVD Recording Formats

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One of the interesting aspects of the IT industry is its never-ending list of jargons. Every day we are drowning in a sea of computer jargon. This happened to me recently when I was sourcing for a DVD writer to burn some OS images. What I originally imagined would be a simple process turned out to be a day of research and study. With so many variations of DVD formats, which one is the right one for me? Should I buy a writer that supports “-“ or “+”. And is 4X fast enough for me?

This article is the result of my quest for the right DVD writer to buy. I hope the article will give you a better idea of the various DVD recording formats to choose from.

DVD Recording Standards

I have listed the various DVD recordable formats in the following sections.

DVD-R

• DVD-Recordable.
• Most compatible with DVD players and drives.
• Capacity of 4.7GB.
• Pioneer released the 3.95GB DVD-R(A) 1.0 drives in October 1997. The first drive cost $17,000.
• Created and backed by the DVD Forum.

DVD-RW

• DVD-Re-Writeable.
• Similar to DVD-R, except that DVD-RW disks can be erased.
• Capacity of 4.7GB.
• Developed by Pioneer based on DVD-R.
• DVD-RW came out in Japan in December 1999, but was not available in the U.S. until spring 2001.
• Some DVD-RW drives only record on DVD-R and DVD-RW disks.
• Created and backed by the DVD Forum.

 

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CyberHome DVR1600

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The CyberHome DVR1600 is measures just over 13.7 by 9 by 1.7 inches. And at a mere $115, it won't take a chunk out of your wallet, either.

In view of its low price, we anticipated a DVD recorder with a minimum of features, but we got more than we expected. For example, the DVR1600 has composite, S-Video, and component outputs; composite inputs on both front and rear; and an S-Video input on the rear. It even has a FireWire input--standard issue on higher-priced competing models--so you can transfer video from a digital camcorder. The on-screen menu lets you control the camcorder with the DVR1600's remote, simplifying the task of transferring selected parts of a video.

The labels for the ports on the rear of the recorder are labeled with glow-in-the-dark paint, which makes finding the ports easier when you're scrabbling around behind the TV.

The unit records only to write-once DVD+R and rewritable +RW discs, though it can also read DVD-R discs. It can't read DVD-RAM discs at all.

The DVR1600's image quality was middling at best (nonetheless, a step up from VHS quality). Contrast seemed good and colors were accurate, but even recordings made at the highest quality setting imparted a shimmering pattern to sharp edges--a flaw that was especially noticeable in cartoons.

 

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A dvd player that lasts the years Compacks DVD 800

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I purchased this dvd player around 7 years ago back in the good old days when Woolworths existed it cost me around £15 in the sale which I thought was great and its hasn't let me down since. Unlike a certain other dvd player I own.

This dvd player is DVD / CD / MP3 / CD-R compatible which is great it comes with a remote but you can also operate it with buttons on the front panel - open/close, play, pause, stop, skip hurray for when I loose the remote as I often do the skip lets you skip the scenes however it won't let you select episodes from a dvd you still need the remote for (boooo). The remote has lots of optionssome of which I have never used and have no idea what they are for ( I lost the hand book along time ago) one button says 3D guessing it wouldn't bring my dvds to life of hooked up with the latest 3D-TV though lol.

The buttons I do have use for are the power so you don't have to get up and turn it off, the open and close, the play , stop, pause, skip, the arrow selectors for choosing what episode to watch. It also has subtitile selector too and volume changer don't tend to use though.

 

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DVD Playback Regions - DVD Regions Explained

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The commercial DVD video player specification dictates that DVD players must be coded to play discs that contain the region code for the country in which they were sold.

By law, all new DVD players shipped in the USA are set to Region 1. It is not legal for the manufacturer to provide any means of changing the region code to allow the use of other region's discs. All DVD players and PC's with DVD must implement Region Coding. It is however, quite legal for you to own a Region Free DVD player as it is legal for you modify your player to be Region Free.

Ultimately, Region Coding was developed at the behest of the major Hollywood movie companies in order to control the release of films around the world. In theory, the use of Region Coding would prevent a US DVD movie from playing on a European DVD player thus enabling titles to be distributed in different parts of the world at different times. The player will refuse to play discs that are not coded for the same region as player's region.

Regional codes are entirely optional for the disc manufacturer. Discs without codes - Region 0, Region Free or All Region, will play on any player in any country. The Region Code is not an encryption system, it is just one byte of information on the disc that the player checks.

 

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Sony Introduces New HD Camcorders, DVD Recorder

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The Sony HDR-DX500V and HDR-CX520V High Definition Handycam Camcorders get GPS, flash memory, and improved stabilization while the VRD-MC6 DVDirect DVD Recorder gets smaller and lighter.

Sony today updated its high-definition family of products by introducing two camcorders and a refresh to its DVDirect Recorder, a standalone station for transferring standard-definition and select high-definition video to DVD.

Sony's new HDR-DX500V and HDR-CX520V High Definition Handycam Camcorders will be identical, varying only in the amount of embedded flash memory they use to record video: 32GB and 64GB, respectively. The pair will replace the Sony HDR-CX12. Major updates to the camcorders include improvements to image stabilization and face detection/tracking; the addition of embedded GPS for geotagging pictures/video (though using as a traditional GPS is possible); and a revamped user interface.

The HDR-DX500V and HDR-CX520V High Definition Handycam Camcorders will be available in September 2009 for $1,099 and $1,299, respectively.

The new Sony VRD-MC6 DVDirect DVD Recorder is 47 percent lighter and 58 percent shorter than its predecessor, the PCMag Editors' Choice-winning VRD-MC5. Even though the overall size of the VRD-MC6 has been reduced, its functionality is virtually identical. The product can connect to almost any standard-definition camcorder and transfer video to a DVD, regardless of the camcorder brand. The digital inputs on the DVDirect include FireWire, USB, and memory card readers for camcorders that write to MemoryStick DUO/SD/SDHC/XD memory cards (the CF card was dropped from this model). Analog composite A/V inputs are also available for connecting older camcorders that don't offer digital connections (though S-Video was not included).

 

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Review of the JVC DR-M100S DVD Recorder/Player

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The Bottom Line

The JVC DR-M100S DVD Recorder/Player is an inexpensive and feature-laden DVD Recorder that fits in nicely to any home theater set-up.

Pros

• Inexpensive
• DV Input
• Front Analog inputs
• Watch TV while you record to DVD

Cons

• Supports only DVD-R/RW Recordable DVDs
• No Hard Drive, Records only to DVD

Description

• Record your video content in DVD-R, DVD-RW or DVD-RAM discs.
• VCR Plus Programming.
• Front Panel A/V, S-Video and Firewire DV Input.
• Simultaneous Recording and TV Viewing.
• Four recording quality settings XP, SP, EP, and LP.
• Progressive Scan Component Video Output.

Guide Review - Review of the JVC DR-M100S DVD Recorder/Player

The JVC DR-M100S DVD Recorder is a single-deck device that can record to either DVD-RAM, DVD-R or DVD-RW discs. The DR-M100S is also a player, it plays DVD-Video, VCD, Super VCD, CD-R and CD-RW. It also plays MP3 files and JPEG. In addition to the VCR Plus programming feature, the DR-M100S has other recording options such as manual and On-Disc Timer recording.

 

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Yamakawa DVD 238 – DVD player

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Product Description

The DVD-238 is the new compact model of the Yamakawa 200 series and a professional entry into the world of digital media. The DVD-238 has all the options you dream of, since it not only plays DVD-Video and Audio-CDs and the popular formats MP3, VCD and SVCD but it also supports the new media like DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW. Furthermore, the DVD-238 has a built in Dolby Digital Decoder, which offers 6 analog outputs for easy connection of Home Theater Systems.A high end Component Video output is the standard for all of Yamakawa players, but the DVD-238 has more since it also offers a Progressive Scan video signal for superior picture quality perfectly matching to modern LCD / PLASMA TVs or projections systems. A huge number of audio- and video settings (Digital Sound Processor, Contrast and Brightness settings a.m.m.) and the innovative dialog volume control are just a few of the Yamakawa’s special features.The support of CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW media and also the firmware update function through CD-R are further features of this extremely powerful Yamakawa DVD player.

 

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Toshiba Readies First HD DVD Recorder

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Toshiba will launch the first HD DVD recorder next month in Japan, it said Thursday.

Toshiba's announcement of an HD DVD recorder comes as the first player for the rival Blu-ray Disc format is launched, and is sure to raise competition a notch in an already competitive market. Toshiba put its first HD DVD player on sale in Japan in March.

The RD-A1 is much like existing digital video recorders but with high-definition support. There's 1TB of hard disk storage space for day-to-day recording and the HD DVD drive allows consumers to store TV shows they wish to keep.

The hard-disk storage space is enough for about 130 hours of digital HD terrestrial TV and a dual-layer HD DVD-R disc will be able to store about 230 minutes, or just under four hours of programming, Toshiba said. Blank discs will cost around $39 in Japan.

Prominent among the features of the RD-A1 is its support for 1080p video output, which was missing on Toshiba's first generation player, and had been seized upon by Blu-ray Disc backers as a reason to buy their machines.

The recorder won't come cheap, with a price tag of $3467.

 

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Pioneer Expands Line of Professional DVD Recorders

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Pioneer Electronics, Inc. has announced the availability of the PRV-9200 professional DVD recorder. Coming with a 160-gigabyte built-in hard disk drive and 48X high-speed copying to the HDD, the PRV-9200 allows for the creation of compliant DVD-Video discs without the need for a computer or authoring software.

DVD-R/RW discs recorded on the PRV-9200 are highly compatible and can be played back in most DVD players, including industrial players, consumer players, in-car systems, portable DVD players, and personal computers.

Additionally, the recorder allows high-speed copying of content from a DVD-RW disc recorded in Video mode to be directly recorded back onto the internal HDD. Users can then repurpose content or make edits before recording it to a new DVD-R/RW disc. Users also can re-encode original HDD recording while making a copy simultaneously to a DVD disc in real time.

Other product highlights include:

• Extended Recording Times
• Multiple Copy Modes
• Disc Backup and Bit-for-Bit Recording
• Chase Play
• Smart Variable Bit Rate Recording (VBR)
• Full Motion Thumbnails with Sound
• Built-in Tuner
• IEEE-1394/DV Input/Output (i.LINK)
• Three-pin AC Power
• Supports NTSC and PAL/SECAM TV Formats

 

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What is DVD-RAM?

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DVD-RAM is a high-capacity, high-performance optical disk that allows data to be read, written and erased. It is designed to work exactly like a floppy disk, allowing users to copy and delete files from it, and use it to run programs. DVD-RAM offers all of the benefits of DVD ­ including high capacity and compatibility with CD formats ­ combined with enhanced rewriteability.

With current capacities of 2.6GB to 5.2 GB per disk, DVD-RAM offers up to eight times the storage of a rewriteable CD. The growth path for DVD-RAM takes capacities even higher to 9.4GB per disk. In addition, DVD-RAM is much cheaper than conventional magneto-optical drives. At less than one penny per megabyte, it is the most economical rewriteable medium available today. Also, it can read all of the CD and DVD formats including CD-ROM, CD-Audio, CD-R , CD-RW, DVD-ROM and DVD-R, making it an ideal choice for high-density data storage and exchange.

Technology Overview
DVD-RAM drives use phase-change technology in which a laser heats the inner surface of the disk to magnetically charge it. This allows the data to be rewritten hundreds of thousands of times. A "wobble-land-groove" format provides clocking data, with marks written on both the grooves and the lands between grooves. The grooves and pre-embossed sector headers are molded into the disc during manufacturing. The DVD-RAM wobble-land-groove format or track structure makes DVD-RAM technology reliable, and the constant linear velocity format provides high access speed and capacity.

 

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Samsung DVD-R135

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The good: Relatively inexpensive; HDMI upscaling to 480p, 720p, and 1080i; flexible recording length; FireWire input; DivX support; solid disc compatibility; adjustable length commercial skip.

The bad: No support for recording on DVD-RAM or dual-layer discs; HDMI performance isn't as good as that of some stand-alone players.

The bottom line: The Samsung DVD-R135 is a relatively inexpensive and stylish DVD recorder with HDMI upscaling, but it's not quite as good as the competition.

Review:

Set-top DVD recorders have gone from being an exciting innovation to being one step less boring than VCRs, and even the addition of upscaling technology can't save them. But although it may not inspire rampant gear lust, Samsung's DVD-R135, with its ability to record to DVD coupled with the capacity to upscale DVDs to its HDMI output, promises to be a single do-it-all DVD unit. While the DVD-R135 mostly delivers on that goal, it's not quite up to the level we've seen from Panasonic recorders such as the DMR-ES25S, which offers better LP recording quality, DVD-RAM ... Expand full review

Set-top DVD recorders have gone from being an exciting innovation to being one step less boring than VCRs, and even the addition of upscaling technology can't save them. But although it may not inspire rampant gear lust, Samsung's DVD-R135, with its ability to record to DVD coupled with the capacity to upscale DVDs to its HDMI output, promises to be a single do-it-all DVD unit. While the DVD-R135 mostly delivers on that goal, it's not quite up to the level we've seen from Panasonic recorders such as the DMR-ES25S, which offers better LP recording quality, DVD-RAM and dual-layer recording support, and a media card slot. That said, the stylish DVD-R135 will definitely look better in your A/V rack, and its superior playback compatibility might come in handy if you already have a lot of home-brew DVDs.

 

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