Month: September 2015

How Blu-Ray Technology Killed HD-DVD Technology

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Some of you might remember the battle between Blu-ray and HD-DVD technologies several years ago. Both were new technologies released in 2006 as a replacement to current DVD technologies. At that time, there was a division between major companies and what format was the best to use. On the HD-DVD side were companies like Microsoft, Toshiba, and Intel. On the Blu-ray side were companies like Sony, Disney, Apple, and Dell.

Initially, HD-DVD devices were the first to market, in April 2006, and were slow to be received by consumers. Blu-ray players were released in June 2006, but gained substantial momentum with the release of Sony’s PlayStation 3 video game console in November 2006. While Microsoft attempted to combat this by releasing a stand-alone HD-DVD player to use with its XBOX 360 gaming console, it was not well received.

Further hampering the battle between the two formats were the major Hollywood motion picture studios. Right from the start, both Sony and Disney opted for Blu-ray technologies, and it was not long before other studios, like Warner Brothers, made a decision to go with Blu-ray format over the HD-DVD format.

In the end, the battle between Microsoft and Sony and their gaming consoles is what ultimately killed HD-DVD technology. Consumers could get a gaming machine which also supported Blu-ray disc playback for less than it cost to purchase an XBOX 360 with the additional, external HD-DVD disc drive.

While HD-DVD technology and the companies that supported the format put up a good fight, lasting almost five years, in the end Blu-ray won out and has continued to grow in popularity. If you happen to own a HD-DVD player and need a new remote control, feel free to contact Replacement Remotes at 1-855-5-REMOTE (1-855-573-6683).

What Are Blu-rays and How Are They Better than DVDs?

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Blu-ray discs are a form of optical storage similar to DVDs. However, instead of using red lasers to burn data onto DVD discs, Blu-rays use a violet-blue laser, hence the name Blu-ray. Since Blu-ray discs use a different laser format to store data, it allows for the data to be placed closer together, thus increasing the storage capacity from 4.7 GB on a single layer DVD to 25 GB on a single layer Blu-ray disc.

Due to the larger storage capabilities, Blu-ray discs are able to store high definition (HD) video and picture content, which standard DVDs cannot. This feature has made Blu-rays more popular in recent years as more people have switched to the newer technology. As HD technologies continue to become more prevalent and used by more people, the expectation is DVDs will eventually stop being used, much like how DVDs displaced VHS tapes.

Blu-ray technologies are backwards compatible with both CDs and DVDs. As a result, Blu-ray players and optical drives are able to support these formats to playback music and movies, as well as access pictures and other data stored on CDs and DVDs. In addition, Blu-ray discs have a hard coating on them, which DVDs do not, that helps prevent against scratching and protects the contents of the disc.

Whether you currently have a Blu-ray player or are still using a DVD player, you can find universal remotes for your electronic devices at Replacement Remotes. For assistance in selecting the right remote controls for your devices, contact us at 1-855-5-REMOTE (1-855-573-6683) today.

New Features of Updated Apple TV

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The updated Apple TV is making use of some of the features that many Apple users already love, like having Siri help find information for them. One of the best parts of the upgraded version is that the TV remote isn’t the only device that can connect wirelessly to the box.

Bring on the Bluetooth

Bluetooth users will be happy to hear that the new Apple TV supports Bluetooth so that they can connect new devices to it. For instance, when parents get tired of hearing the video game blasting, those Bluetooth headphones are going to come in pretty handy. On the other hand, when the parents aren’t home, why not connect a wireless speaker and turn the room into a virtual reality zone?

Night Mode

Speaking of volume, Night Mode is a new feature that is going to put an end to late night frustrations. When the rest of the house is trying to sleep, but you want to watch a movie, Night Mode lets you turn down the background noise so you can still hear what’s being said, but you aren’t overwhelming the house with the background sounds.

Accessibility

Apple TV takes accessibility to a whole other level with the ability to reduce motion, and add audio descriptions and bold text, as well as being able to increase the contrast. All of these features come together to make viewing easier for those who struggle with it.

Siri

As convenient as a remote control may be, the potential benefits of Siri are what will really set Apple TV apart from the competition. For now, you can do basic things with Siri, but Apple is constantly looking at ways to upgrade the software technology, now that the updated Apple TV has completely revamped hardware.

New Amazon 4K Fire TV

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Amazon has made some major improvement to its Fire TV box, as well as the TV remote control that comes with it. With more storage space, less latency, better streaming, and Alexa, the new Amazon 4K Fire will turn your living room into a voice-controlled entertainment powerhouse.

Alexa

Amazon offered voice control with the original Fire TV, but Alexa wasn’t a part of the remote. Now, you can do interesting tasks like uploading music, but you can also expect much more in the future. Soon, Alexa will be able to reorder items from Amazon.com for you and perform things like simple searches for specific movies so that you literally don’t have to lift a finger to get the entertainment you want.

Better Technology

Naturally, a new system means better technology. That’s better technology to the tune of a 64-bit quad core processor that outputs 4K ultra HD video. You may have to upgrade your television and individual viewing items to 4K ultra HD, but that will be the standard in the future, and you’ll be one step ahead. You can also store more on your Fire TV with 8 gigabytes of internal storage and an option to add up to 120 more with an SD card.

You can expect faster playback, with a better viewing quality. Since the remote control has 20{8c8ae2a71b30a2d8c6f534038a85ab39be2a915945a2526b1de25039d71b9e11} less latency, you can also expect a more responsive controller. In short, everything is faster and clearer, and you can have more of it. Even Apple doesn’t offer some of the features found with the Fire, and you can upgrade your Fire Stick to get some of these new features as well.