Mini Glossary - some explanation behind some of the frases that are banded about.
04/02/08 16:02
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HDMI - (High Definition Multimedia Interface) A special plug and socket designed for high definition TV and video. Sometimes called the 'Digital Scart' it can carry both high definition quality audio and video signals.
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DVI - Digital Video Interface has been around for some time and could be seen as the forerunner of HDMI. It uses a larger plug to transfer its information and doesn't generally carry audio. A popular connection for computers where it can carry further information such as a mouse input makes it de-facto for that market. It can be adapted to plug into a HDMI socket, or vice versa - however, in most instances it does not have the necessary HDCP compliance (see below) and so may not always work.
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Component - This connection is made up of a Red, Blue and Green connector and is capable of carrying High Definition picture as well as HDMI. However in many instances, the output resolution is capped because movie companies don't like the fact that it's not able to copy protect its output. Still the connection of choice by many high end gurus.
•
SVideo - An analogue signal using a mini din plug with four connectors in the end. Although it cannot send HD signals, it does send non HD material very well by splitting the Chrominance and luminance (the colour information and the brightness information) into separate signals. This results in a much sharper signal than straightforward Composite.
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Composite - This single phono looking cable is usually Yellow and it carries non high definition material in a no separated format, this results in some colour smearing and loss of detail. However it is capable of travelling long long distances without degradation and so is handy for multi-room installations where the ultimate in quality is not required.
•
Scart - A 21 pin connector that carries both video and audio information. It also has pins for switching purposes. Can send signals as composite, SVideo and RGB (a bit like Component but without any form of High Definition or Progressive capability). Poor connection layout and cheap cables can make this form of connection give poor results.
•
Macrovision - An analogue and fairly basic method of anti copy protection used on Video cassettes which causes the colour and luminance to drop out at regular intervals making copies un-watchable.
•
HDCP - High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection is a digital encryption algorithm that protects the contents of Dvd discs, HD-DVD and Blu-Ray against digital copying. The machine performs a handshake type function with what ever it is being plugged into, if this item is not HDCP compliant then it will not display a picture.
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HD-Ready - a TV/Flatpanel/Projector that conforms to at least a minimum level of specifications for HDTV.
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DVB - Digital Video Broadcast, the European standards body responsible for digital TV broadcasts. DVB-T is concerned with digital terrestrial TV (DTT) systems like Freeview, which are received through a TV aerial.
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DVBT2 - is the new standard for digital terrestrial broadcasts. It uses a more powerful digital compression system than the older standard.
•
100Hz - A system which displays TV pictures at twice the normal rate in order to remove flicker. (See also Progressive under the facts and figures section).
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720p - A high definition standard which displays 720 picture lines in progressive scan mode.
•
1080i - TV's with this type of display can show high definition images with 1080 picture lines. However, each frame or picture is split into two halves before being displayed - a process known as interlacing.
•
1080P - A high definition standard which displays 1080 picture lines in progressive scan mode. Sets with 1080p can also show images with 1080 picture lines, but in this case, all the lines are displayed at once. This helps reduce some of the picture artefacts you can get with interlacing - see 1080i. Sets with 1080p are sometimes described as 'Full HD' of 'True HD', but many manufacturers try and avoid these terms in order to remove consumer confusion (is it working?).
•
24p - Films are generally shot at 24 frames per second and TV's with 24p compatibility are designed to give a more film-like experience when watching movies from a Blu-Ray or HD Disc.
•
LCD - Liquid Crystal Digital displays are becoming increasingly popular in the 32" and sub size screens. Bright images and high colour saturation offer a dazzling picture, but at some cost of contrast and motion blur.
•
Plasma - Plasma displays are still the high end choice for flat screens of 42" and over. Their more natural colours, stability under moving pictures and high contrast levels make them more the Cinema lovers choice.
•
OLED - A new type of display that uses Organic Light-Emmiting Diodes instead of Liquid crystal or energised Phosphorous Plasma gases. Maybe one of the display types to watch out for in the future.
•
HDMI - (High Definition Multimedia Interface) A special plug and socket designed for high definition TV and video. Sometimes called the 'Digital Scart' it can carry both high definition quality audio and video signals.
•
DVI - Digital Video Interface has been around for some time and could be seen as the forerunner of HDMI. It uses a larger plug to transfer its information and doesn't generally carry audio. A popular connection for computers where it can carry further information such as a mouse input makes it de-facto for that market. It can be adapted to plug into a HDMI socket, or vice versa - however, in most instances it does not have the necessary HDCP compliance (see below) and so may not always work.
•
Component - This connection is made up of a Red, Blue and Green connector and is capable of carrying High Definition picture as well as HDMI. However in many instances, the output resolution is capped because movie companies don't like the fact that it's not able to copy protect its output. Still the connection of choice by many high end gurus.
•
SVideo - An analogue signal using a mini din plug with four connectors in the end. Although it cannot send HD signals, it does send non HD material very well by splitting the Chrominance and luminance (the colour information and the brightness information) into separate signals. This results in a much sharper signal than straightforward Composite.
•
Composite - This single phono looking cable is usually Yellow and it carries non high definition material in a no separated format, this results in some colour smearing and loss of detail. However it is capable of travelling long long distances without degradation and so is handy for multi-room installations where the ultimate in quality is not required.
•
Scart - A 21 pin connector that carries both video and audio information. It also has pins for switching purposes. Can send signals as composite, SVideo and RGB (a bit like Component but without any form of High Definition or Progressive capability). Poor connection layout and cheap cables can make this form of connection give poor results.
•
Macrovision - An analogue and fairly basic method of anti copy protection used on Video cassettes which causes the colour and luminance to drop out at regular intervals making copies un-watchable.
•
HDCP - High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection is a digital encryption algorithm that protects the contents of Dvd discs, HD-DVD and Blu-Ray against digital copying. The machine performs a handshake type function with what ever it is being plugged into, if this item is not HDCP compliant then it will not display a picture.
•
HD-Ready - a TV/Flatpanel/Projector that conforms to at least a minimum level of specifications for HDTV.
•
DVB - Digital Video Broadcast, the European standards body responsible for digital TV broadcasts. DVB-T is concerned with digital terrestrial TV (DTT) systems like Freeview, which are received through a TV aerial.
•
DVBT2 - is the new standard for digital terrestrial broadcasts. It uses a more powerful digital compression system than the older standard.
•
100Hz - A system which displays TV pictures at twice the normal rate in order to remove flicker. (See also Progressive under the facts and figures section).
•
720p - A high definition standard which displays 720 picture lines in progressive scan mode.
•
1080i - TV's with this type of display can show high definition images with 1080 picture lines. However, each frame or picture is split into two halves before being displayed - a process known as interlacing.
•
1080P - A high definition standard which displays 1080 picture lines in progressive scan mode. Sets with 1080p can also show images with 1080 picture lines, but in this case, all the lines are displayed at once. This helps reduce some of the picture artefacts you can get with interlacing - see 1080i. Sets with 1080p are sometimes described as 'Full HD' of 'True HD', but many manufacturers try and avoid these terms in order to remove consumer confusion (is it working?).
•
24p - Films are generally shot at 24 frames per second and TV's with 24p compatibility are designed to give a more film-like experience when watching movies from a Blu-Ray or HD Disc.
•
LCD - Liquid Crystal Digital displays are becoming increasingly popular in the 32" and sub size screens. Bright images and high colour saturation offer a dazzling picture, but at some cost of contrast and motion blur.
•
Plasma - Plasma displays are still the high end choice for flat screens of 42" and over. Their more natural colours, stability under moving pictures and high contrast levels make them more the Cinema lovers choice.
•
OLED - A new type of display that uses Organic Light-Emmiting Diodes instead of Liquid crystal or energised Phosphorous Plasma gases. Maybe one of the display types to watch out for in the future.
•