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If format proliferation is the sign of growing pains in a market, camcorders are in adolescent hell. Prices are dropping, making HD camcorders an attractive buy relative to their SD competitors, but inexpensive doesn’t necessarily mean easy. Our most recent tally indicates there are no fewer than four possible media types to use, each of which can support multiple encoding formats; the encoding formats, in turn, support various combinations of standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD) video formats.Toss in HD’s three different available resolutions, and you have an ugly mess to sort through while you shop. And we haven’t even begun to see the inevitable models based on HD-DVD or Blu-ray discs.

Granted, some of the options currently apply only to the professional shooter. But with ever-improving displays and playback devices, expectations have risen as well, making today’s pro technologies tomorrow’s vacation must-haves.

HD recording formats: 720p or 1080i

	720p		1080i
Example products	Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1	JVC GY-HD110U JVC GY-HD100U JVC GR-HD1	Currently used by pro products costing upwards of $16,000.
Recording format	MPEG-4	JVC ProHD HDV variation limited to 720p capture	Sony XDCAM HD (a.k.a. MPEG HD)
Supported media types	Flash, hard disk	Tape, hard disk	Proprietary disc format
Format details	MPEG-2 with intraframe-only compression (MP@H-14) Max bit rate: 19.7Mbps Capture resolution: 1,280×760 Encoding resolution: 1,280×720 Color sampling: 4:2:0 Variable frame rate: yes	MPEG-2 with intraframe-only compression (MP@H-14) Max bit rate: 19.7Mbps Capture resolution: 1280×720 Encoding resolution: 1280×720 Color sampling: 4:2:0 Variable frame rate: yes	MPEG-2 MP@HL compression, a high-bit rate inter- and intraframe compressor Max bit rate: 35Mbps Capture resolution: 1,920×1,080 Encoding resolution: 1,440×1,080 Color sampling: 4:2:0 Variable frame rate: yes
Hardware issues	Quality may vary widely across different products because unlike most other formats, MPEG-4 doesn’t mandate predetermined bit rate levels; for instance, the Sanyo camcorder operates at 9Mbps, far below the 19.7Mbps maximum.	Tapes recorded in ProHD format can be played only by JVC camcorders and JVC professional decks.	Did we mention the proprietary disc format? Designed for closed-system work flows.
Video–editing issues	At low bit rates, the highly compressed originals won’t stand up well to subsequent editing and recompression.	None	Supported only by high-end video-editing software.

HD recording formats: 720p and 1080i

Example products	Sony Handycam HDR-FX1 Canon XL H1 Sony Handycam HDR-HC3 Canon XH G1	Sony Handycam HDR-UX1 Sony Handycam HDR-SR1	Panasonic AG-HVX200
Recording format	HDV Note: The HDV format specification supports both 720p and 1080i recording, but camcorders can generally record only one or the other–usually 1080i.	Sony/Panasonic AVCHD	Panasonic DVCPro HD (a.k.a. DVCPro 100)
Supported media types	Tape	Flash, DVD, hard disk	Tape, Flash (Panasonic P2), external hard drive
Format details	MPEG-2 inter- and intraframe compressed to fit on a standard MiniDV tape and use the same bit rate. Max bit rate: 25Mbps Capture resolution: 1,440×1,080/1,280×720 Encoding resolution: 1,920×1,080/1,280×720 Color sampling: 4:2:0 Variable frame rate: no	An HD version of the MPEG-4 Advanced Visual Codec–not to be confused with MPEG HD–which uses the H.264 compression scheme. Max bit rate: 24Mbps Capture resolution: 1,920×1,080/1,280×720 Encoding resolution: 1,920×1,080/1,280×720 Color sampling: 4:2:0 Variable frame rate: yes	MPEG-2 inter- and intraframe compressed to fit on a standard DVCPro tape and stream at the same bit rate. Max bit rate: 100Mbps Capture resolution: 1,920×1,080/1,280×720 Encoding resolution: 1,280×1,080/960×720 Color sampling: 4:2:2 Variable frame rate: yes
Hardware issues	Same limitations as all tape formats: must be converted to files for editing or connected directly to TV.	HD video of DVD-based models are incompatible with older players and will likely have some growing pains with respect to new ones. In theory, they should be compatible with Blu-ray and future players with explicit AVCHD support built in.	None
Video-editing issues	Can be slow and tedious to work with because of time required to download to computer.	Currently, there’s no software support for editing AVCHD video, the operating system requires a device driver to read the DVDs, and special player software is necessary.	As you might imagine, the video files produced can be huge and therefore cumbersome to capture and edit.

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The Bush administration wants North Korea’s attention, so like a scolding parent it’s trying to make it tougher for that country’s eccentric leader to buy iPods, plasma televisions and Segway electric scooters. The U.S. government’s first-ever effort to use trade sanctions to personally aggravate a foreign president expressly targets items believed to be favored by Kim Jong Il or presented by him as gifts to the roughly 600 loyalist families who run the communist government.

Kim, who engineered a secret nuclear weapons program, has other options for obtaining the high-end consumer electronics and other items he wants.

But the list of proposed luxury sanctions, obtained by The Associated Press, aims to make Kim’s swanky life harder: No more cognac, Rolex watches, cigarettes, artwork, expensive cars, Harley Davidson motorcycles or even personal watercraft, such as Jet Skis.

The new ban would extend even to musical instruments and sports equipment. The 5-foot-3 Kim is an enthusiastic basketball fan; then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright presented him with a ball signed by Michael Jordan during a rare diplomatic trip in 2000. Kim’s former secretary, widely believed to be his new wife, studied piano at the Pyongyang University of Music and Dance.

Experts said the sanctions effort — being coordinated under the United Nations — would be the first ever to curtail a specific category of goods not associated with military buildups or weapons designs, especially one so tailored to annoy a foreign leader. U.S. officials acknowledge that enforcing the ban on black-market trading would be difficult.

In Beijing on Wednesday, U.S. and North Korean envoys failed to reach an agreement on when to resume six-party disarmament negotiations on Kim’s atomic weapons program. Japan’s Kyodo News agency cited unidentified people at the talks as saying that Kim demanded the U.S. freeze sanctions on luxury goods and other items imposed after the North’s first nuclear test on Oct. 9.

The population in North Korea, one of the world’s most isolated economies, is impoverished and routinely suffers widescale food shortages. The new trade ban would forbid U.S. shipments there of Rolexes, French cognac, plasma TVs, yachts and more — all items favored by Kim but unattainable by most of the country.

"It’s a new concept; it’s kind of creative," said William Reinsch, a former senior Commerce Department official who oversaw trade restrictions with North Korea during Bill Clinton’s presidency. Reinsch predicted governments will comply with the new sanctions, but agreed that efforts to block all underground shipments will be frustrated.

"The problem is there has always been and will always be this group of people who work at getting these goods illegally," Reinsch said. Small electronics, such as iPods or laptops, are "untraceable and available all over the place," he said. U.S. exports to North Korea are paltry, amounting to only $5.8 million last year; nearly all those exports were food.

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, the trade group for the liquor industry, said it supports the administration’s policies toward North Korea. The Washington-based Personal Watercraft Industry Association said it also supports the U.S. sanctions — although it bristled at the notion a Jet Ski was a luxury.

"The thousands of Americans and Canadians who build, ship and sell personal watercraft are patriots first," said Maureen Healey, head of the trade group. She said it endorsed the ban "because of the narrow nature of this ban and the genuine dangers that responsible world governments are trying to stave off."

Defectors to South Korea have described Kim giving expensive gifts of cars, liquor and Japanese-made appliances to his most faithful bureaucrats.

"If you take away one of the tools of his control, perhaps you weaken the cohesion of his leadership," said Robert J. Einhorn, a former senior State Department official who visited North Korea with Albright and dined extravagantly there. "It can’t hurt, but whether it works, we don’t know."

Responding to North Korea’s nuclear test Oct. 9, the U.N. Security Council voted to ban military supplies and weapons shipments — sanctions already imposed by the United States. It also banned sales of luxury goods but so far has left each country to define such items. Japan included beef, caviar and fatty tuna, along with expensive cars, motorcycles, cameras and more. Many European nations are still working on their lists.

U.S. intelligence officials who helped produce the Bush administration’s list said Kim prefers Mercedes, BMW and Cadillac cars; Japanese and Harley Davidson motorcycles; Hennessy XO cognac from France and Johnny Walker Scotch whisky; Sony cameras and Japanese air conditioners.

Kim is reportedly under his physician’s orders to avoid hard liquor and prefers French wines. He also is said to own an extensive movie library of more than 10,000 titles and prefers films about James Bond and Godzilla, along with Clint Eastwood’s 1993 drama, "In the Line of Fire," and Whitney Houston’s 1992 love story, "The Bodyguard."

Much of the U.S. information about Kim’s preferences comes from defectors, including Kenji Fujimoto, the Japanese chef who fled in 2001 and wrote a book about his time with the North Korean leader.

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Following in the footsteps of the revolutionary MOTORAZR phone, the new ultra-sleek MOTOKRZR introduces a new standard of stunning style and innovation.  Sharp and sophisticated with a luxurious finish and detailed craftsmanship, the MOTOKRZR is the definitive mobile for individuals who have an appreciation for cutting edge designs.  Within the MOTOKRZR phone’s striking form lies remarkable functionality rich in first-class multimedia and entertainment capabilities, global connectivity* and more—all designed to give you an elite, unparalleled wireless experience.

Divine Design
Reflecting the design language of the super-slim MOTORAZR , the MOTOKRZR exudes pure luxury with clean lines, precision detailing and premium materials shrouded within a distinctive metallic gloss front finish.  The MOTOKRZR builds upon one of the most celebrated designs of the past decade by blending slender form with razor-thin design principles in a sleek clamshell form.  Measuring a mere 16mm thin X 42mm wide X 103mm long and weighing only 3.6 ounces, the MOTOKRZR slips easily into a pocket or purse.

Elite Entertainment
Fusing superior form with rich functionality, the MOTOKRZR houses a host of premium multimedia features.  The ultimate all-in one device for extraordinary imaging, the MOTOKRZR lets you capture your latest jaunt to Cape Town via a 2MP camera with 8x zoom or via video capture and playback capabilities.  Take your travel soundtracks with you while you jet across the globe with the convenient integrated MP3 player, airplane mode and Stereo Bluetooth® headset support (such as the Motorola Bluetooth DJ Headphones S805)*.  With removable MicroSD card slot, there’s always room for all your favorite music files.

International lcon
From L.A. to Lisbon, the MOTOKRZR connects you effortlessly with friends, family, and your favorite content.  Featuring worldwide quad-band functionality*, EDGE technology for hi-speed web browsing and downloads and Screen3 technology for zero-click access to the latest news and entertainment***, the MOTOKRZR puts premium power in the palm of your hand. 

Elegant and Effortless
Delivering connectivity convenience with compatible Bluetooth enabled devices at the touch of a button, the MOTOKRZR provides hands-free conversations via Bluetooth wireless technology**, enhanced predictive text for effortless texting and advanced voice functionality, including voice commands, voice recognition, and voice memo.  The MOTOKRZR achieves the elusive goal in mobile devices by perfectly balancing design, craftsmanship and functionality all in a breathtaking package.

SUMMARY OF FEATURES:
• Ultra-slim form factor
• Hi-quality imaging via 2MP digital camera with 8x digital zoom, and image editing
• Premium video capabilities: video capture and playback MPEG4 (15 fps CIF); audio/video streaming (3GPP)***;  video progressive download***; record up to 25 minutes of video on embedded memory
• Integrated Stereo Bluetooth wireless technology connectivity for hands-free convenience**
• Enhanced phonebook with new contact fields: URL, IM, Postal Address, Birthday, and other information
• MicroSD slot for optional upgradeable memory
• EDGE for high speed data access (class 12)
• Rich, pre-loaded J2ME games, screen savers
• Downloadable themes, ringer tones, images, animations***
• Midi, MP3, AAC, AAC+ enhanced music player for listening to your favorite music on-the-go
• PIM functionality with Picture Caller ID***
• Voice memo, enhanced predictive text and enhanced voice recognition for easy, hands-free connectivity
• MotoSync – sync your contacts and calendar at the touch of a button
• Push-To-Talk and Push-To-View capable***
• Screen3 technology for zero-click access to your favorite news, sports, and other premium content***

The MOTOKRZR is expected to be available in the second half of 2006.  For more information regarding pricing and product availability in your region, please check with your local Motorola representative.

Certain mobile phone features are dependent on the capabilities and settings of your service provider’s network.  Additionally, certain features may not be activated by your service provider, and/or their network settings may limit the feature’s functionality.  Always contact your service provider about feature availability and functionality.  All features, functionality and other product specifications are based upon the latest available information and are believed to be accurate; however such product specifications are subject to change without notice or obligation.  *Operates in many major cities and countries where GSM network coverage and roaming agreements are present.  **This device supports Bluetooth A2DP-Source, AVCTP, AVDTP, AVRCP-Target, BIP-ImagePush, BPP-SenderDev, DUN-GW, FT-Server, GAP, GAVDP, Headset-AG, HFP (1.5) AG, OPP-Client, OPP-Server profiles. In order for Bluetooth devices to communicate with one another, they must utilize the same Bluetooth profile. To determine the profiles supported by other Motorola devices, visit www.hellomoto.com/bluetooth. For other devices, contact their respective manufacturer.  Certain Bluetooth features including those listed may not be supported by all compatible Bluetooth-enabled devices, and/or the functionality of such features may be limited in certain devices, or by certain wireless carriers. Contact your wireless carrier about feature availability and functionality.  ***Network and/or SIM card dependent feature, not available in all areas. Airtime, data charges, and/or additional charges may apply. Push To connectivity requires Push To compatible phones.

]]> http://alantech.wordpress.com/2007/02/06/motorola-krzr/feed/ 0 alantech http://alantech.wordpress.com/2007/02/06/more-windows-vista-problems-for-korean-firms/ http://alantech.wordpress.com/2007/02/06/more-windows-vista-problems-for-korean-firms/#comments Tue, 06 Feb 2007 00:55:15 +0000 alantech http://alantech.wordpress.com/2007/02/06/more-windows-vista-problems-for-korean-firms/ ]]>  

Some MP3 players are experiencing glitches with computers on which Microsoft’s new operating system Windows Vista has been installed. MP3 players acquire music files by connecting to the computer, but the new operating system fails to recognize some players. Device makers are developing software to fix the hitch. Apple, the world’s largest MP3 player manufacturer, advised that users of its iPod devices stick with Windows XP instead of upgrading to Vista until the problem has been sorted out. Apple is updating its music program iTunes to make it compatible with the new OS.

Korean MP3 players were also found to be incompatible with Vista. A Samsung Electronics spokesman said that the company’s new music devices are compatible with Vista, but that older models like the YP-20S don’t function well. ReignCom said that its H10 and an MP3-playing electronic dictionary are incompatible with Vista. A ReignCom spokesman said that the firm is developing a program to resolve the problem and that it should be ready this month. Facing a similar problem, other MP3 player maker like COWON are also testing to find out if their products work with Vista.

Meanwhile, some financial institutions and Internet portals are working on their websites to make them compatible with the new OS, as Internet banking and electronic payment services were found to be unavailable on computers that operate Windows Vista.

Fresh download:

This download manager supports multi connection , schedueling , stopping and strating the download operation. Easy to use and intergrated with IE or Netscape. This software can provide the download directory automatically , innner scheduele and anti virus support . Free registration required should you want to keep it more than 30 days .

It is 100% free .

www.freshdevices.com

Astro gemini screensavers

Astrogemini has lots of cool screensavers in its collection. This inlcudes nature , fantasy and space screensavers .

The 3D screensavers is well designed together with enchanted music . If you log on now , you can see the preview of solar system screensaver in their website .

www.astrogemini.com

Of course, we all got caught up in the hoo-haa about iPhone and none of us can really wait to lay our hands on that screen to spread our fingerprints all over. Well, Apple is doing great in that field. iPod is doing fine, iPhone will do fine, and MacBook sales are soaring. But all this is only cool if you
actually can afford it, or if you even need it: How many of us actually need a new computer or a new cell phone right now?

What about the stuff that’s inside our boxes, The holy spirit? You guessed it: Software. Apple is yet to release any new software since MacWorld in January 2006. They haven’t rolled out Leopard yet, they have not shown us iWork or iLife 2007 yet, and seriously, if they don’t do that by the end of March, I see trouble. Because Apple cannot afford to neglect the installed base like this, not with the loyalty and fanboyism that Apple Geeks turn up. So if Apple is
interested in keeping people, instead of even allowing the slightest of notions among users to peek over the hedge and consider Vista, they better do something.
Or else, MS will catch up, and trust me – Vista is going to dominate the PC market seamlessly after XP, all new Dell’s ship with it today. Apple, beware.

As you know, apple Video iPod is announced on Oct. 2005. One week later, this company just announced their first iPod Video Converter and DVD to iPod Converter software. They are the first company that provide the iPod Video conversion solution. And now, they keep improving video iPod products.

iPod software by Cucusoft

Cucusoft iPod All in One Video Converter Suite (or also known as Cucusoft DVD+Video to iPod) is an all-in-one iPod video Conversion solution. This Suite includes 2 software — ” Cucusoft iPod Video Converter” and ” Cucusoft DVD to iPod Converter“. So with this iPod Video Converter Suite, you can convert both DVD media and video file media to iPod video/iPod movie.

You can enjoy your favorite DVD and video clip on your iPod as a portable DVD Player.

Support convert DVD to iPod directly. Some other software need two steps: 1. convert DVD to avi; 2. convert output avi to iPod. That solution wastes lots of your time. This software can convert DVD directly to iPod.

Click here for free download

Features of Cucusoft iPod Video Converter + DVD to iPod Suite

• Direct convert DVD to iPod. (Some other software will convert DVD to avi, then convert avi to iPod, that waste lots of time. This software can convert DVD directly to iPod in one step.)

• Support almost all kinds of DVD to iPod Movie / iPod Video format (MP4 format)

• Support almost all video file including DVD, vob, DivX, XviD, MOV, rm,rmvb,MPEG,WMV, AVI to iPod video (MP4 format)

• support various iPod video size including H.264 video: up to 768 Kbps, 320 x 240, 30 frames per sec.

• Baseline Profile up to Level 1.3 with AAC-LC up to 160 Kbps, 48 Khz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video: up to 2.5 mbps, 480 x 480, 30 frames per sec.,

• Simple Profile with AAC-LC up to 160 Kbps, 48 Khz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats

• Support “Drag and Drop”

• Support for Subtitle Selection through DVD menu, eg. English Subtitle, French Subtitle ….

• Support for Audio Track Selection through DVD menu, eg. English audio track, French audio track…..

• Various kinds of video crop mode. eg. 16:9, 4:3, full screen and so on.

• Support splitting output video by DVD chapters.

• Support customize output video file size and video quality.

• Support the output of latest new video iPod 30G and video iPod 80G MPEG-4 video, at 640 by 480 pixels video resolution.

• Support DVD to MP3 audio conversion.

• Support Dolby, DTS Surround audio track.

Minimum Requirements of Cucusoft iPod Video Converter + DVD to iPod Suite

Software requirements:
Windows 9x, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows XP, Windows 2003 Server.
DirectX 8.0 or later.

Hardware requirements:
MMX-enhanced CPU or more powerful
32 MB RAM or more
Any VGA card

Input Video specification of Cucusoft iPod Video Converter + DVD to iPod Suite
Support any video file that can be played under Windows Media Player properly.
Support any video DVD disc that can be played on your PC/DVD player properly.

More software from Cucusoft , log on to Cucusoft homepage

• Cucusoft DVD to PSP Converter
• Cucusoft DVD to Zune Converter
• Cucusoft DVD to iPod Converter
• Cucusoft MPEG/AVI to DVD/VCD/SVCD Converter Pro
• Cucusoft MPEG/AVI to VCD/DVD/SVCD Converter Lite
• Cucusoft PSP Movie Converter
• Cucusoft PSP Video Converter + DVD to PSP Suite
• Cucusoft Zune Video Converter
• Cucusoft Zune Video Converter + DVD to Zune Suite
• Cucusoft iPod Movie/Video Converter