Projector Bulbs Archives - Page 2 of 7

3 Products That Have Made Life Easier

October 18, 2016October 21, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

It’s easy to take technology for granted. We’re surrounded by it all the time, and many amazing tools that were once considered technological marvels are now just a part of our regular routine. When you stop and think about it, however, you realize just how much easier these gadgets make our daily lives. Gadgets like …

DVRs

If you traveled back in time just 20 years and told people they would soon be able to make digital recordings of TV shows to watch and keep whenever they wanted, they probably wouldn’t believe you. Yet, nowadays, we take it for granted that we can watch a show when we choose, not when broadcast schedulers decide it should air.

Smart Phones

At this point, it’s easier to list the things that smart phone can’t do than what they can. Need to check your email? Want to listen to your favorite song? Desperate to catch up on the news or find out the scores to the big game? Your smart phone can do all that, and so much more.

Remote Controls

There was a time when the most a remote control could do was turn on the TV, change the channel, or adjust the volume. How far we’ve come since then. Remotes can now control a whole range of devices, and the functions they are capable of have expanded to match the incredible increase in tasks that TVs are now capable of.

Need to update your TV remote? Contact ReplacementRemotes.com today at 855-5-REMOTE.

America and Reality Television – How Reality TV Has Changed the Pop Culture Landscape

September 1, 2016August 30, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

Even if you don’t watch shows like Big Brother, The Bachelor, or The Real Housewives, you have to admit that these shows are part of a wider cultural phenomenon: America’s obsession with reality TV. Since Survivor debuted in the late 1990s, a lot has been written about reality TV, from how “real” it actually is to whether or not it’s a sign of wider cultural narcissism.

Despite all the negative assessments, reality TV has dominated the airwaves for nearly two decades now. What’s behind its appeal?

The Drama

Let’s get the obvious appeal out of the way first – people love drama, and reality TV has loads of fighting, backstabbing, and every other form of drama any viewer could ask for. Fictional TV thrives on drama just as much as reality TV does, but reality TV has the added benefit of being about real people, making the drama that much more personal and juicy.

The Competition

People like reality TV for the same reason they like sports – the thrill of competition. Just because no one is passing a ball doesn’t mean that reality TV isn’t just as much about rooting for a team, reveling in victory or defeat, and armchair quarterbacking every decision the participants make.

The Community

A large part of the appeal of reality TV isn’t the shows themselves – it’s the interaction with other fans. Many reality shows have dedicated online fandoms that love to freak out about the show even when it’s not on the air, giving fans a chance to connect with people around the world.

Need a replacement TV remote? Contact ReplacementRemotes.com today for all the best remotes and TV accessories. Give us a call at 855-5-REMOTE.

Goodbye VHS – World’s Last VHS Manufacturer Shuts Its Doors

August 18, 2016August 29, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

To most people, the VHS is a product of a bygone era, which is why it surprised so many people to learn that in 2016 there was still a company manufacturing VHS players. Like all outdated machinery, the VHS’s time on Earth eventually had to end, and in July 2016 Japan’s Funai Electric, which claims to be the world’s last VHS manufacturer, announced that it was making its last machine.

The King Is Dead – How VHS Ruled the Home Video Market

VHS may be a relic in the 21^st century, but just a few decades ago it was the king of the home video market. Introduced in 1977, the VHS was in direct competition with the Betamax format, which had debuted two years earlier. By 1987, however, the fight was effectively over: VHS controlled 90{8c8ae2a71b30a2d8c6f534038a85ab39be2a915945a2526b1de25039d71b9e11} of the VCR market, and the Betamax was reduced to an also-ran.

The reason for VHS’s dominance? VHS embraced the porn industry, releasing many X-rated films to the home video market, whereas Betamax’s parent company, Sony, specifically forbid the adult entertainment industry from releasing anything on its video format. Rather than buying two different machines, many consumers elected to buy VHS machines that let them play all the movies they wanted, even the dirty ones.

For three decades, VHS was the undisputed leader of the home video market. All that began to change with the introduction of DVDs, which featured crisp digital quality video, chapter selection, and loads of extra features. As DVDs were followed by Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, and eventually streaming video, the VHS format inevitably faded into history, but not without hanging on well into the 21^st century.

Looking for remote controls and other TV accessories? Visit www.replacementremotes.com today, or give us a call at 855-5-REMOTE.

A Brief History of the Television

August 8, 2016August 8, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

Television has changed households all across the country since the 1940s when commercial television programs were first broadcasted. During this time, many people considered the concept of the TV a passing fad that would not last. Even with some people having reservations, CBS, NBC, and ABC all started to expand their broadcast range.

By 1947, the growth of TV and acceptance that it was no longer a fad started to take hold. In the 1950s, with over 7 million TVs in U.S. homes, it paved the way for the first news broadcasts. In addition, “quiz-type” game shows started to appear. Further, by 1951 both coasts of the U.S. were linked, allowing for simultaneous broadcasts and live broadcasts nationwide.

The 1960s saw further advances in television, from sports programming to the Kennedy assassination. TV had the power to bring images, news, and more right into people’s homes. Another development during this time was the color TV, which continued to grow in popularity throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

During this same time, the TV remote became an essential accessory everyone one wanted, especially with cable TV quickly taking over broadcast TV in the 1980s. By the 1990s, people wanted bigger screens and movie-like experiences in their homes.

In the 2000s wide screen TVs started to become commonplace, and the bigger the better. High definition TVs also started to be released, offering sharper images. The 2010s continued to see refinements in technologies, like smart-Internet connected sets, Ultra HD, 3D TVs, and curved screens.

Not to mention, the weight of today’s sets is a fraction of what is was 20, 30, or even 50 years ago! With all of the latest advances in TV, it can be hard keeping track of all your remotes. This problem is easy to remedy with universal remote controls from ReplacementRemotes.com. Call us at 1-855-5-REMOTE (1-855-573-6683) now for assistance in finding the one you need.

How to Keep Your Remotes Away from Your Pets

August 8, 2016August 8, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

You go to reach for the TV remote and discover it has somehow disappeared from its normal spot on the end table or sofa. You quickly notice small pieces of plastic leading away from the living room and follow the trail, only to discover the remains of the remote sitting next to your pet’s bedding. This is a common scenario if you have dogs.

For cat owners, on the other hand, it can require having to move furniture to get to a remote control the cat batted up under the sofa or under an end table. Either way, you need to protect your remotes from being lost or destroyed by your pets, using these tips:

Place remotes where pets cannot reach them when they are not being used and whenever you leave the room.
If you catch your pet with the remote, take it away from them, but do not punish them. Rather, give them a toy to play with, instead, and reinforce positive behaviors with treats and praises whenever they play with the toy. Positive reinforcement is easier to learn and retain than negative reinforcement.
For dogs, give them chew toys that are hard, like the plastic on the remote control. If all your dog has are soft toys, their teeth are not being stimulated as they should be, and they will reach for your remote control.

In the event your pet has destroyed, broken, or lost your remote, you can get a new one from ReplacementRemotes.com. Call 1-855-5-REMOTE (1-855-573-6683) or browse our website today!

Top Four Dystopian TV Shows

August 1, 2016August 1, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

It may be a reflection of the times we live in, but television shows portraying a dystopian future are increasingly popular. Unlike the happy, optimistic future portrayed by classic TV sci-fi like Star Trek, dystopian television shows portray a darker future, where technology hasn’t cured all of society’s ills, and, in fact, may have made them worse.

Some of the top dystopian television shows include:

The Walking Dead – More than half the population are zombies and the other half seem to be trying to kill our heroes. It doesn’t get much more dark or dystopian as this show, based on a popular series of comics by Robert Kirkland.
Doctor Who – While often branded as happy-go-lucky sci-fi fare, many episodes of Doctor Who see the Doctor and his companions struggling against greedy, all-powerful corporations in the future of fascistic governments.
Firefly – “Firefly” follows a band of misfits as they travel the edges of a space-faring society, hunted by representatives of an oppressive interplanetary government. The themes of personal freedom versus collectivism are explored, along with the cosmos, in this modern sci-fi classic.
Black Mirror – An anthology series, “Black Mirror” holds up a funhouse mirror to modern society, offering a darkly speculative look at the implications of our technological progress. The show has gotten rave reviews, and one episode has even been optioned for a movie by Robert Downey Jr.

ReplacementRemotes.com sells new and refurbished TV remote controls for a wide variety of televisions and other electronic devices. The company also provides TV stands, accessories, replacement product manuals, lights, and other accessories. The company also operates a repair service for remotes and other devices. To learn more, contact 1-877-671-7173.

Five Iconic 60s Television Shows

July 25, 2016July 27, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

The 1960s were truly the golden age of television, as the medium found its feet and established many conventions still observed today. It was the heyday of the sitcom, and also the era when broadcast journalism hit its peak and great dramas like MASH became popular fare.

Today, television viewers can enjoy some nostalgia or be introduced to some of the era’s iconic shows by using their television remotes to tune in to the many classic television channels on the tube. Here’s a list of some shows you’ll definitely want to check out:

60 Minutes – The venerable news magazine had its start in the 1960s. “60 Minutes” is one of the most influential examples of broadcast journalism, shaping the medium for decades.
Bewitched – “Bewitched” is one of the most beloved sitcoms of the 1960s, telling the story of an ad man whose wife is a witch – literally. Samantha Stevens only uses her powers for good, but her mother Endora is a different story. The mismatch of the supernatural Samantha and vanilla Darren made for great laughs and television.
Night Gallery – A little less well-known than “The Twilight Zone,” “Night Gallery” was a suspense/horror anthology that helped shape the genre. The influence of “Night Gallery” can be felt today in shows like “Stranger Things” and “American Horror Story.”
Perry Mason – This show practically invented the courtroom procedural. “Perry Mason” starred Raymond Burr as the eponymous title character, a committed defender of his clients, who were invariably innocent of the crimes they were accused of committing.
The Ed Sullivan Show – “The Ed Sullivan Show” helped establish the conventions observed by variety shows such as “The Tonight Show” and “The Late Show” today. The show also introduced America to Elvis and The Beatles.

Traditional TV & Streaming Service Converging

July 25, 2016July 27, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

Television is in the process of a great transition, with traditional TV networks jumping on the streaming bandwagon, offering new ways to consume their content instead of broadcasting them and then letting a streaming service pick them up later.

A growing number of television networks are creating their own streaming applications that allow consumers to watch their fare without a cable subscription. Viewers can either watch the shows for free, or pay a fee for the service. The end result is that viewers have more choices than ever, as they can access just about anything from their TV remotes.

Many of the hottest shows on traditional broadcast and cable networks are available online the same day they are shown on traditional TV. Streaming services are also upending the old system of TV seasons by making entire seasons of their original content available at one time.

In recent years, the growth of streaming services has outpaced that of traditional cable. In 2015, revenues for streaming services grew 29 percent, while cable TV revenues grew by just 3 percent. Cable revenues still greatly outweigh streaming service revenues, but, in time, the opposite will very likely be the case.

Five Tips to Avoid Losing Your Remote

July 18, 2016July 19, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

Losing your TV remote is a real pain. Today’s television remote controls do a lot more than just flip between channels and, without your television remote, you may not be able to operate your TV.

For folks who’d like to avoid losing their remotes, these tips can help:

Designate a spot for the remote – Keep up with your remote by always leaving it in the same place. By returning the remote to an end table or coffee table after each use, you can avoid losing it.
Make it more visible – Paint your remote or tie a brightly colored ribbon around it to make it easier to find if it gets lost.
Get the kids involved – Establish a rewards system that gives prizes to your kids if they remember to put the remote in the right place or help in finding it.
Get a sofa caddy – Sofa caddies store remotes and connect to your sofa. They allow easy and convenient storage of your remotes.
Get a tethered remote – Tethered remotes are used in hotels to avoid theft of remotes by guests. The remote is connected by a cable to a device bolted on to a table or the wall. At home, these remotes will keep your device from being lost.

Four Steps for Selecting the Right TV Stand

July 9, 2016July 11, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

Consumers spend hours researching what type of TV they want – poring through review sites to learn more about HDTVs, OLED TVs, and other types of television sets. They often neglect to put much thought into the TV stand they purchase, though.

That’s a shame, because a good television stand can help improve the presentation of their expensive new toy and protect it from damage. When choosing a new TV stand, keep the following in mind:

Aesthetics – Make sure that your TV stand fits the décor of your living room or home theater room. You’re going to spend a lot of time looking at your TV and the stand it rests on, so make sure the stand isn’t an eyesore.
Setting – Consider the shape of your room and the best place to put your TV stand. Also consider lighting in the room and how it will affect how your screen looks.
Size – This is one of the most important factors in choosing a stand. You’ll need to ensure that your stand can support the weight of your television. You also want some buffer between the TV and the surrounding area so you and guests can avoid bumping into it and knocking it over.
Storage space – It’s typically a good idea to buy a TV stand that offers storage room for other media devices, such as DVD players and gaming systems, as well as games, DVDs, and other gear.