Calibrating your HDTV picture

If you decide to play with your HDTV factory default settings and calibrate them to better suit your viewing environment, there are couple of options available out there. Depending on how much perfection you are seeking in picture quality and how much money and time you want to spend, these options range from using freely available calibration software, to buying a calibration disc, to using the services of a professional calibration technician. While individual viewing preferences may vary, the free/low cost calibration software would definitely help improve the picture quality. For even better results, you can go for a professional calibration.

In either case, knowing a bit about the picture related terminology helps you make a better decision. Picture quality can be improved by adjusting TV's Brightness, Contrast, Sharpness, Color, Backlight and Tint. Advanced options like Color Tone, Dynamic Contrast, Gamma, White Balance, Edge Enhancement and Flesh Tone can be used to further improve the quality. Note that different TV manufacturers may use different terminology to refer to these advanced options. Table below lists color settings for a typical HDTV:

Parameter	Value
Backlight	7
Contrast	95
Brightness	45
Sharpness	6
Color	50
Tint (G/R)	G50/R50

Below is a list of popular disc based calibration software tools:
* THX optimizer (available free on every THX certified DVD, Blu-ray disc)
* Digital Video Essentials
* Sound & Vision Home Theater Tune-up
* Imaging Science Foundation calibration wizard
* Avia Guide to Home Theater

Blu-ray Vs Broadcast HD

Like everybody else, I am starting to enjoy the amazing and crisp video quality of Blu-ray movies compared to Broadcast HD or DVD movies. But, while watching Broadcast HD shows or movies, there are occasions that make my eyes believe that Broadcast HD video quality is as good as Blu-ray, if not superior (especially with animated movies). It is not easy to compare these two video qualities without taking into consideration factors like Transmission mode, Compression, Bitrate, Load on Broadcast provider's network and type of the content and your TV settings.

Compression: Blu-ray discs use 1080p maximum and MPEG-4 compression which results in higher possible bandwidth. Broadcast HD transmissions are 1080i maximum and use MPEG-2 compression which results in lower possible bandwidth.

Bitrate: Blu-ray technology transmits the content at 40 Mbps (total 48 Mbps for video and audio). Broadcast HD transmits at around 20 Mbps. Lower bitrate for broadcast HD means squeezing the content resulting in loss of details.

Network Load: Broadcast HD quality is affected by network load which depends on number of subscribers availing the service at a particular time and other infrastructure related factors.

Content Type: CGI rich animated movies lose less details in broadcast transmission compared to a normal movie. This, sometimes, results in a Blu-ray quality comparable movie experience from broadcast HD.

TV Settings: TV Settings play a big role in viewing experience. Factory defaults are not always the ideal settings for a typical home viewing environment. By optimizing your HDTV settings, you can enjoy better picture quality for both Blu-ray movies and broadcast HD content.

All things considered, Blu-ray content has superior quality over broadcast HD content.

Netflix one step closer to conquer your living room

Over the weekend, Netflix announced that PS3 owners soon will be able to watch Netflix's streaming content. This is an interesting announcement from Netflix, considering the fact that their streaming service is already available on XBox and they are using Silverlight technology from Microsoft in their players. PS3 now joins the long list of devices that support Netflix's streaming: Roku player, Tivo player, XBox 360, LG/Samsung/Insignia Blu-ray players, LG/Sony/Vizio HDTVs, LG/Samsung Blu-ray Home Theatre Systems, Windows and Mac computers. This will help Netflix get more gaming customers subscribe to their service with the possibility of starting their own game rental service to PS3/XBox community (Beware, Gamefly!).

Next step for Netflix would be to provide the streaming service to Mobile users. An iPhone app that can start playing the show that is paused before. Also, the ability to edit 'instant queue' from the Mobile app or TV remote. I see three hurdles associated with this Netflix iPhone/Mobile app. i) iPhone compatible player technology [either Microsoft should make Silverlight iPhone/Mobile ready or Netflix should abandon her bedfellow for a while and go with different player technology for Mobiles ii) Bandwidth - While you may enjoy the streaming content on a 3G mobile, content streaming to 2.5G mobiles will not yield desired results. iii) Apple's reluctance to host such an app, as it would cut into it's iTunes service.

As the ever increasing customer base demands more quality, Netflix would have to improve it's streaming service by providing more 'new' movies to the "watch now" list and improving the stream quality. Improving stream quality is costly and time consuming. The quality of a typical streaming content falls between that of DVD and broadcast HD content (depending on your internet speed). Also, at present, streaming does not support multi-channel audio (just stereo) or closed captioning. The devices that come pre-installed with Netflix streaming service are capable of 1080p. So, Netflix's should aim at providing atleast broadcast HD quality content through the streaming service in order to keep the new customers coming to them.

Democracy in Andhra... Really?

The flood crisis has hardly subsided and YS Jagan shifted to Hyderabad and is openly disappointed about being denied the Chief Minister-ship. Some elected MLAs and MPs, openly state that they are incompetent and cannot govern with out Jagan as their leader. Other elites claim that since YSR has apparently done so much to the state, it is the duty of the people to do justice to his family and make Jagan the next CM. Following the news media, it sounds like there is sizable population in the state about the legitimacy of his claims for his father's throne.

Claiming the throne after his fathers death like in good old days of old world is the least of the problems. There are other reasons that makes this worse. For  one, YS Jagan is the head of one of the leading media empire with a news paper and 24/7 news network. And he is using both the platforms to forward his cause with out an inch of shame. Media, news media in particular is called the fourth estate that works as a watchdog to keep the government and other institutions from going out of control and preserve the democracy. Unfortunately, this doesn't apply to Andhra. And not a single soul seems to worry or care about this state of the affairs. 

Don't think for a minute that it is just Jagan that is ruining this supposedly great democracy. The alternative options in Media and politics are equally fraud.  

Current CM, Rosaiah, how ever experienced and qualified he might be, is not an elected MLA. He is nominated to the Legislative council. He is not even elected by the legislative body of the majority party, but is nominated to the post by the godly 'High Command' which is an anti thesis to 'Democracy'.  All democratically elected Congress leaders state their allegiance to Soniaji and not to their constituents. And it has become so ridiculously acceptable to every one in the media and the rest of the state do not raise or discuss it as an issue and actually doesn't even seem to notice this anti democratic modern version of royalty worship. 

And Jagan's competition in Media, Ramoji's Eenadu group, equally blatant in promoting its own interest and cannot claim to be neutral anymore. They promoted the unethical alliance of TDP and TRS as the savior of the people and given unparalleled coverage to an young movie star's melodramatic campaign for this alliance. The fact that this guy has zero political experience or work to show for and is just a campaigner is ignored and he was portrayed as a statesman whose words carry an unprecedented weight. An organization which claims to be the torch bearer for ethics in media, this is an absolute disgrace. 

The common man cannot be more stupid. He passionately takes sides supporting the partisan media that promote the political party they sympathize with. They cheer every strike and punch that their team delivers to the other side, not realizing that it is them taking the blows. They just seem to think they are watching a cricket match cheering for their home team.

We can just stop call ourselves a Democracy and get over with it.

The Teachable Moment - Obama's Olympic Lesson

It is admirable that Obama went all in to bring in 2016 Olympics to his home town. Not sure if he knew the risks and still went for the pitch OR if he thought US has the games in the kitty. It is honorable either way, the former scenario would bring in more points for his love for Chicago. The time and money would have been more than worth if he had come back with a win. It would bring in a few billions into the country and a lot more cheer to the nation now and in 2016. It would have provided the country a great opportunity for America to engage with world culturally. It is a no loss scenario, as opposed to what some Republicans say to score some political points. 

But, it is indeed a teachable moment for the Obama when dealing with international community. His team was highly confident about their pitch, their strategies and goodwill of US in a new changed world led by Obama.

“There won’t be a dry eye in the room,” said Valerie Jarrett, “I’m sure that it will touch the hearts of each of the IOC members,” before heading out to Copenhagen about the dramatic speech that Michelle Obama is going to give to the IOC. Michelle Obama her self was all in for the pitch. "It's a battle. We're going to win," she apparently boasted, with good humor. "Take no prisoners." Though Obama's speech was decent and professional compared to Mrs. Obama's self referencing political campaign style 'personal story' speech, (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/02/president-obama-michelle_n_307637.html) it doesn't matter. 

In fact, majority of the votes would have been decided much earlier. It is not enough to put a nice effort pitching a plan and putting a nice face. There are a number of geo political and economic factors that would decide the votes in an international body. If US managed to come last contesting for a sports event with not much at stake, even after taking a number of steps to please international community as a part of an image make over and even after the most powerful man on Earth making the pitch himself. Imagine what lies ahead when you need to win over the UN body in more serious and consequential situations. 

Obama's team seems to have similar confidence in their strategies and the goodwill Obama has created in the world when it comes to foreign policy. It is fine that Obama is trying a new inclusive politics to bring every country in the world together as equals (?). But the IOC has given him enough indications that the world doesn't work his way.