articales 6,7,8,9
HIGH DEFINITION
When the first high-definition television (HDTV) sets hit the market in 1998, movie buffs, sports fans and tech aficionados got pretty excited, and for good reason. Ads for the sets hinted at a television paradise with superior resolution and digital surround sound. High-definition (HD) video refers to any video system of higher resolution than standard-definition. The most commonly used resolutions in HD are 720p (1280×720) and 1080p (1920×1080). It sounds like a trivial thing when you say hey its just high resolution, but high def is more than just the resolution, because all these videos either have a progressive scan or interlaced scan. Progressive or non interlaced scanning is any method for displaying, storing or transmitting moving images in which all the lines of each frame are drawn in sequence. This is in contrast to the interlacing used in traditional television systems where only the odd lines, then the even lines of each frame are drawn alternatively. Even the colors are more vibrant as HD has an extremely high bitrate.
These videos are usually stored in a Blu-Ray disc or a HD-DVD. As of now these are rival formats and its hard to say which one of them will win the format war. While the HD-DVD proposes a cheap and efficient solution to HD, the Blu-Ray disc has almost double the storage capacity of a HD-DVD. As of now the Microsoft Xbox360 promotes HD-DVD while sony's PS3 promotes Blu-Ray. Personally I prefer the HD-DVD for now because it has exactly the same video and audio quality of a Blu-Ray and is about one-third the price. Only time will tell if the extra space on a Blu-Ray is really necessary.
HDTV has twice the linear resolution of standard-definition television. Thus showing greater detail than either analog television or regular DVD. Therefore the method of broadcasting a high definition film differs from the regular method. A very high resolution source may require more bandwidth than what is available in order to be transmitted without loss of fidelity. It requires a special HD receiver. Unfortunately this technology has not yet come to
HDTV is capable of "theater-quality" audio because it uses the Dolby Digital (AC-3) format to support "5.1" surround sound. The pixel aspect ratio of native HD signals is a "square" 1.0, in which each pixel's height equals its width. The Blu-Ray and HD-DVD have a new audio format which is called Dolby True HD which is directly processed through the player and hence these players do not require a seperate decoder for the audio. It is by far the best sound we will ever hear in a movie.
As of now the highest HD resolution is 1080p. But experimental resolutions like 2160p (3840×2160) do exist. 2160p is also called "Quad HDTV" since it displays four times the number of pixels of the highest HDTV standard resolution, 1080p. Quad Full High Definition (QFHD) is the next step in high-resolution display technology. Who knows what the future holds for HDTV.
Before I conclude let me make one thing clear, HD really does look amazing. The difference between high definition and standard definition is like night and day. The detail, the depth of field and the vibrant colours all add up to a truly breathtaking experience. But the devil is in the detail, and the intricacies of HDTV can be confusing for even the most tech savvy consumer and the last thing anyone wants to do is spend a lot of money and end up being disappointed.
CONTRIBUTED BY: D.SANTOSH PAUL (IInd BCA)
DARE TO THINK OUT OF THE BOX
DO IT RIGHT
Imagine this:
You are driving along in your car on a wild, stormy night.
It is raining heavily, when suddenly you passed by a bus
and see three people waiting for a bus:
1)An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.
2) An old friend who once saved your life.
3) The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.
Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing very well that there could only be one passenger in your car?
THE OPTIONS ARE:
- Pick up the old lady, because she is going to die, and thus saving her.
- Take the old friend because he once saved your life and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back. However; you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.
- Take your perfect mate and live with the guilt of abandoning the sick old lady and letting your friend down
The candidate out of 200 participants for a job came up with his answer. He said,’ I would give the car keys to my friend and let him take the old lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams’.
What won him a job was his ability to think beyond the obvious. He displayed proficiency in what is generally called ‘THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX’
CONTRIBUTED BY: TSHEWANG CHOJAY (U50845) IIIrd BCA
SOURCE: NEWSPAPER
Computers
Having computers, can be a pain
all those problems, hurt my brain
not enough ram, not enough speed
someone tell me, just what I need
todays machines, full of power
give it a while, needs new tower
add new parts, add new bits
til its full up, and nothing fits
sometimes I feel, it runs my life
and if you doubt, just ask my wife!
CONTRIBUTED BY : G. SUHASINI M.SC.I.T.,M.PHIL.,
(LECTURER, COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT)
THE FIVE STAGES OF YAHOO'S GRIEF
Denial: The initial stage: “It can’t be happening.”
Yahoo is well past this. By rejecting Microsoft’s initial foray back in February 2007, Yahoo’s denial of Microsoft’s interest may have only whet Microsoft’s appetite, bought Yahoo only a limited amount of time, and lost them private bargaining leverage.
Anger: “Why me? It’s not fair.”
The stage Yahoo is in right now. They’ve retained premier takeover firm Skadden Arps to represent them on their legal defense. Sorry, Wachtell, no $20 million plus fee for you.
Yahoo now has a choice. How angry do they actually get?
The first choice is does Yahoo request an inadequacy opinion from their newly hired investment bankers Goldman Sachs and Lehman Brothers. An inadequacy opinion is the opposite of a fairness opinion. Some M&A practitioners recommend against obtaining an inadequacy opinion since by stating the price is inadequate, a board legally undermines a “Just Say No Defense.” By rejecting an offer based on price, a board implies that this was determinate in its decision and there is consequently a higher price at which it will agree to an acquisition.
I’m not sure about the concerns; the
The second choice is to begin taking defensive maneuvers. Here, as I wrote on Friday, Yahoo is vulnerable to a proxy contest to replace its board at its upcoming annual meeting.
Nonetheless, Skadden can come up with some creative ways to attempt to fend off Microsoft’s bid: alliances with Google, etc. involving the placement of sweetheart preferred (i.e., high voting stock in friendly hands); widespread change of control triggers in employment or other contracts a la Peoplesoft again; and crown jewel asset sales. Antitrust concerns may limit any partnerships or asset sales. Microsoft’s deep pockets will also likely rule out other traditional defenses such as a recapitalization.
But Skadden has been quite creative in the past for its clients — Scott Simpson of Skadden, counsel for Arcelor in its defense against Mittal Steel, placed Arcelor’s subsidiary Dofasco into a Netherlands Strategic Steel Stichting, a Netherlands trust formerly used to ensure Dutch assets were outside the control of the Nazis during WW II. The hope was to thwart a takeover by Mittal Steel by ensuring that Mittal could not divest Dofasco, a requirement Arcelor thought antitrust authorities would require of Mittal before it could take over Arcelor.
Two years on, Mittal has acquired Arcelor but still cannot reobtain control of or divest this subsidiary. Hopefully, Skadden won’t get this creative again.
Nonetheless, public shareholder pressure will likely keep Yahoo’s defensive steps to a minimum, and
If (or when) Microsoft goes hostile, expect them to sue in
Expect Yahoo to also focus on the soft public relations issues – pushing things in Congress, claiming the tie-up has regulatory problems. It is unlikely Congress will act to block this takeover and the antitrust process will likely take time but be largely resolved on its merits.
Bargaining: “Just let me live to see GeoCities Brought Back.”
If Microsoft goes hostile, Yahoo will be thrown into a proxy contest for the election of its board of directors. It will have to convince its shareholders that the money offered by Microsoft is, in the short term, not in their best interests. Rather, Yahoo’s shareholders should stick it out and reject the money because in the long term they will reap greater monetary rewards.
These defenses seldom win, but given the animosities against and fear of Microsoft, this may be the proxy defense that actually succeeds. Yahoo may even offer up a credible alternative plan towards this goal.
Depression: “I’m so sad, why bother even investing in Facebook?”
If it goes as far as a proxy contest, expect Yahoo to begin to count votes as the date for a vote approaches. If defeat appears likely, expect the company to begin the bargaining process to obtain those extra few dollars out of Microsoft. If Microsoft goes hostile it will likely launch an exchange offer paired with a proxy contest.
So, assuming there is no regulatory hold-up, an actual deal could get done fairly quickly.
Acceptance: “It’s going to be OK.”
Well, maybe not. I suggest that Mr. Ballmer, Microsoft’s chief executive, read the excellent book “Deals From Hell.” The key to making any strategic acquisition is not winning the prize, that is acquiring the company, but post-merger integration. The day that Microsoft actually acquires Yahoo is the day its hardest work begins. -Steven M. Davidoff
CONTRIBUTED BY -M.KRITHIKA B.E,
(LECTURER, COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPART MENT)
Comments