by: Cal Barton
High definition will inevitably become a widespread if not universal television broadcast format. However, it’s not yet clear when that will happen. So it’s also not yet clear when high definition camcorders will be routinely required for acquisition for non-fiction programmes. With that in mind, this E-zine aims to give some background to high definition technology and the Sony high definition camcorders currently available.
High Definition – Formats and Camcorders
Before venturing into the world of high definition, it should be said that our UK-based clients primarily use Digital Betacam and DV Cam camcorders and we find minimal demand for HD Cam. Our American clients are using HD Cam more frequently than our British clients but Beta-SP remains the format they most commonly request.
Two High Definition Formats
To begin with, the future of high definition broadcasting is unclear. There are two HD formats being considered for transmission. One is 720p (720 horizontal lines or rows of pixels in the image) and the other is 1080i (1080 horizontal lines or rows of pixels in the image). The “p” stands for progressive scan and the “i” stands for interlaced scan but more on this later. Panasonic manufactures the camcorders that generate 720 horizontal lines and Sony manufactures the camcorders that generate 1080 horizontal lines. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has suggested for discussion using 720p for public service broadcasters but say that does not mean they favour 720p as the standard HD format for transmission. Trade magazines say BSkyB plans to broadcast both 720p and 1080i in a service that will begin sometime in 2006 although I was recently told 1080i may be the only format they use for transmission.
The Sony 1080-line system has one clear advantage over Panasonic’s 720-line system. Each image contains more than two million pixels (1920 vertical lines x 1080 horizontal lines) compared to 900,000 pixels (1280 vertical lines x 720 horizontal lines) in an image from a Panasonic high definition camcorder. This gives a superior picture. The advantage of the 720-line system is it takes less transmission bandwidth to broadcast.
Now to the difference between “interlaced” and “progressive” scan. These terms refer to the way television images are processed for transmission.
Interlaced Scan
Standard definition television broadcast signals are processed by television sets in an “interlaced scan” format. This means the screen first scans the odd numbered horizontal image lines, or rows of pixels, sequentially from top to bottom (1, 3, 5, etc). It then returns to the top and scans the even numbered lines (2, 4, 6, etc). In summary, the full picture from top to bottom is first made with half the information there and half of it missing. Then the missing information is filled in. In the PAL standard, each of these two processes takes 1/50th of a second so the entire process takes 1/25th of a second.
Progressive Scan
“Progressive” scan differs from interlaced scan in that the image is displayed on a screen by scanning each line (or row of pixels) in a sequential order rather than an alternate order, as is done with interlaced scan. In other words, in progressive scan, the image lines are scanned in numerical order (1,2,3) down the screen from top to bottom, instead of in an alternate order (lines or rows 1,3,5, etc... followed by lines or rows 2,4,6). By progressively scanning the image onto a screen every 25th of a second rather than "interlacing" alternate lines every 50th of a second, a smoother, more detailed, image can be produced on the screen that is perfectly suited for viewing fine details and is also less susceptible to interlace flicker.
The Sony range of camcorders offer both interlaced and progressive scan functions in a range of settings.
Procam Television and High Definition Camcorders
As a facilities company, we are moving into the HD Cam market – but cautiously. We have Sony models but have not purchased any Panasonic products. This is only in response to what our clients have requested most. Below is a summary of each model and what it offers from the lowest to the highest priced model.
Sony HVR-Z1P
This is one high definition camcorder we can recommend using immediately without exception. We purchased 15 of them in February of this year. It is an upgrade of the DSR-PD170P compact camcorder. The main reason for the unqualified recommendation is that the camera has a 16:9 chip so it shoots true wide screen images. It also delivers superior pictures.
Sony HDW-730S High Definition camcorder
The 730S is geared towards mainstream television programming rather than film or high end television drama productions. It shoots using the interlaced function only and can be switched between 50i and 59.94i. Progressive scan is not possible with the 730S. But if you don’t need to use progressive scan and you’re shooting for television, this camcorder produces excellent images and it allows you to shoot HD Cam on close to a standard definition budget.
Sony HDW-750P High Definition Camcorder
The HDW-750P offers the choice of shooting 25 frames per second in progressive scan mode (25P) to give your pictures a film look or of shooting 50 fields per second interlaced (50i) to conform to the PAL broadcasting standard. The camcorder has a 2.2 million-pixel FIT CCD, which is a step up from the IT CCD in the 730S, and Advanced Digital Signal Processing (ADSP).
Sony HDW-F900 Multi-format Cine Alta High Definition camcorder
This is the top of Sony’s high definition (1080 lines x 1920 pixels) camcorder range. The F900 offers the ability to shoot in any setting you might want. In progressive scan, it can shoot 23.98, 24, 25, 29.94 or 30 frames per second. In interlaced, it can shoot 50, 59.94 or 60Hz. This means you can shoot for any standard anywhere in the world. If you are shooting for cinema release, the F900 is the only Sony camcorder that can shoot 24P (24 frames per second film standard).
Panasonic AJ-HDC27
The Panasonic range includes the AJ-HDC27 VariCam. This is a DVCPRO HD camcorder that offers variable frame rates which can be set from 4-fps to 60-fps in single frame increments at the touch of a button. The question we have about Panasonic high definition camcorders is does going from the 625 lines offered by current PAL standard definition cameras to the 720 lines offered by Panasonic’s high definition format really merit the investment required in acquisition and post production equipment? It’s something to consider.
Thank you for reading this and please visit our web site www.procamtv.com to find out how we can meet you production kit and crewing needs.
About The Author
Cal Barton began working in television for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in Vancouver in 1982. His background includes directing coverage of major international news stories, directing documentaries and directing and vision mixing for multi-camera shoots.
cal@procamtv.com
21.1.09
Prepaid Wireless: Is It Right For You?
by: Edwin Mazanke
Just about every leading mobile phone provider now offers some sort of prepaid calling plan in order to fit their customers' budgets. But is is right for you?
The first question you'll need to ask yourself is how often you'll use your wireless phone?
Since the biggest benefit of a prepaid wireless phone is there is no monthly contract, you'll pay a little more for the prepaid minutes you purchase. But if you plan on using your phone strictly on an as-needed basis for emergencies, etc., a prepaid wireless program could be just what you're looking for.
The biggest mistake most people make when choosing to go prepaid is not reading the "fine print" of the providers' terms and conditions.
In most cases, the prepaid minutes you purchase will expire after a certain period of time, usually two or three months down the road. What this means is, if you buy 300 minutes today and fail to purchase more minutes anytime during the next few months, the unused portion of those 300 minutes will be unuseable!
This is sort of a convenient way to force you to keep on purchasing minutes even if you don't actually need them.
Another thing to watch out for is a daily minimum. Many providers will charge you $1.00 for each day you use your wireless phone. So if you get a prepaid wireless phone with the intention of making one two-minute call every day of the month, in addition to using 60 minutes of airtime, some providers will also charge you an additional $30 for the month, since you used the phone all 30 days.
Not a very good deal.
Out of all the prepaid wireless deals out there, TracFone seems to have the most competitive prices and terms of service. Although TracFone minutes expire after three months unless you purchase additional minutes (just like all the other companies), they also have a one-year activation service which is perfect for people just needing a wireless phone for emergency purposes. The deal changes from month to month, but usually provides for one year of activation, without requiring you to purchase additional minutes for a whole year. Thus, your monthly cost should average about $8.00 and you'll have a wireless phone with a few hundred minutes that will be good for the whole year.
The choices seem endless, but it pays to educate yourself about prepaid wireless phone plans.
About The Author
Edwin Mazanke
For more information on prepaid wireless phones and service, visit www.PrepaidWirlelessHelp.com.
Just about every leading mobile phone provider now offers some sort of prepaid calling plan in order to fit their customers' budgets. But is is right for you?
The first question you'll need to ask yourself is how often you'll use your wireless phone?
Since the biggest benefit of a prepaid wireless phone is there is no monthly contract, you'll pay a little more for the prepaid minutes you purchase. But if you plan on using your phone strictly on an as-needed basis for emergencies, etc., a prepaid wireless program could be just what you're looking for.
The biggest mistake most people make when choosing to go prepaid is not reading the "fine print" of the providers' terms and conditions.
In most cases, the prepaid minutes you purchase will expire after a certain period of time, usually two or three months down the road. What this means is, if you buy 300 minutes today and fail to purchase more minutes anytime during the next few months, the unused portion of those 300 minutes will be unuseable!
This is sort of a convenient way to force you to keep on purchasing minutes even if you don't actually need them.
Another thing to watch out for is a daily minimum. Many providers will charge you $1.00 for each day you use your wireless phone. So if you get a prepaid wireless phone with the intention of making one two-minute call every day of the month, in addition to using 60 minutes of airtime, some providers will also charge you an additional $30 for the month, since you used the phone all 30 days.
Not a very good deal.
Out of all the prepaid wireless deals out there, TracFone seems to have the most competitive prices and terms of service. Although TracFone minutes expire after three months unless you purchase additional minutes (just like all the other companies), they also have a one-year activation service which is perfect for people just needing a wireless phone for emergency purposes. The deal changes from month to month, but usually provides for one year of activation, without requiring you to purchase additional minutes for a whole year. Thus, your monthly cost should average about $8.00 and you'll have a wireless phone with a few hundred minutes that will be good for the whole year.
The choices seem endless, but it pays to educate yourself about prepaid wireless phone plans.
About The Author
Edwin Mazanke
For more information on prepaid wireless phones and service, visit www.PrepaidWirlelessHelp.com.
Ringtone Market Hits The Jackpot With Teen Cell Phones
by: Samuel Miton
The ringtone industry is striking a popular cord with the teenage market. This group, mostly 13 to 24-year-olds, likes to purchase their favorite tune or sound without paying the high price for a CD. This segment isn't afraid to drop lots of discretionary income to download monophonic or polyphonic sounds, which makes the ringtone industry very happy.
According to RealityTVWorld.com, today’s teens are willing to substitute cell phone minutes for the latest ringtone. This behavior places this age group in the largest population of ringtone purchasers. Since over 40% of cell phone users fall into this group and have disposable income, the ringtone industry is making the most of this opportunity. The market is so large among this young population that, according to a study by Wireless World Forum, young people are spending eight times more on mobile phones than music. Currently, trends in the U.K. show that the ringtone market holds 10% of the total music market. This population's buying power is equally impressive in the United States where teenagers spend nearly as much on ringtones as on text messaging. The sale of ringtones worldwide adds up to $3.5 billion, according to IT Facts online (http://www.itfacts.biz).
Naturally, the music industry isn't highly thrilled about this shift in sales from the more expensive CD to much less expensive ringtones - even though the publisher or songwriter of the music or tone is entitles to royalties. Still, a ringtone royalty isn't quite as high of a percentage as a CD royalty. Some future analysts of this market are predicting that the mobile phone and ringtone industry are going to dip even farther into the music industry by giving mobile phones technology similar to iPods.
About The Author
Copyright 2005 Samuel Mitone. All rights reserved.
Samuel Mitone is the owner and operator of Fever Ringtones, a premier resource for all the latest ringtones on the web. Please go take at look at his archive of articles: http://www.feveringtones.com
The ringtone industry is striking a popular cord with the teenage market. This group, mostly 13 to 24-year-olds, likes to purchase their favorite tune or sound without paying the high price for a CD. This segment isn't afraid to drop lots of discretionary income to download monophonic or polyphonic sounds, which makes the ringtone industry very happy.
According to RealityTVWorld.com, today’s teens are willing to substitute cell phone minutes for the latest ringtone. This behavior places this age group in the largest population of ringtone purchasers. Since over 40% of cell phone users fall into this group and have disposable income, the ringtone industry is making the most of this opportunity. The market is so large among this young population that, according to a study by Wireless World Forum, young people are spending eight times more on mobile phones than music. Currently, trends in the U.K. show that the ringtone market holds 10% of the total music market. This population's buying power is equally impressive in the United States where teenagers spend nearly as much on ringtones as on text messaging. The sale of ringtones worldwide adds up to $3.5 billion, according to IT Facts online (http://www.itfacts.biz).
Naturally, the music industry isn't highly thrilled about this shift in sales from the more expensive CD to much less expensive ringtones - even though the publisher or songwriter of the music or tone is entitles to royalties. Still, a ringtone royalty isn't quite as high of a percentage as a CD royalty. Some future analysts of this market are predicting that the mobile phone and ringtone industry are going to dip even farther into the music industry by giving mobile phones technology similar to iPods.
About The Author
Copyright 2005 Samuel Mitone. All rights reserved.
Samuel Mitone is the owner and operator of Fever Ringtones, a premier resource for all the latest ringtones on the web. Please go take at look at his archive of articles: http://www.feveringtones.com
Would You Like To Recieve Hundreds Of New Channels For Free?
by: Alex Porter
Your probably thinking, free? nothing is free right?
Wrong! This brings us to the idea of Satellite TV which i'm sure you know about through the dishes you see at your neighbour's house or while your driving to the mall. Dishes have just about come up everywhere. Yesterday i was in a remote town where it's difficult to locate a store unless you drive 20 miles into the city. However, i was surprised to see a satellite dish. They are just everywhere.
So why do you need a satellite dish?
Often we get bored with the same programmes that are offered to us as viewers through TV. When your watching tv and you want to see something new, you find out that you've seen it already. The re-runs on all shows has gotten so boring that we want something new. This is where satellite tv comes into play.
What will satellite tv bring to me that i dont have already?
The question you want to ask really is what doesn't satellite tv have. TV gets boring after a while, we all know that. But often we like to relax and watch a good movie or something interesting. Thats why you need satellite TV. Having satellite TV installed in your home will mean that you can watch channels covering movies, sport, documentaries, adult and everything else you can name. Not only will you be able to watch channels in every language but you will be able to watch channels from every country in the world.
Find out more ... http://www.installyoursat.com
About The Author
Alex Porter - A well learned satellite expert in the field of Satellite TV and Home entertainment for 15 years.
Your probably thinking, free? nothing is free right?
Wrong! This brings us to the idea of Satellite TV which i'm sure you know about through the dishes you see at your neighbour's house or while your driving to the mall. Dishes have just about come up everywhere. Yesterday i was in a remote town where it's difficult to locate a store unless you drive 20 miles into the city. However, i was surprised to see a satellite dish. They are just everywhere.
So why do you need a satellite dish?
Often we get bored with the same programmes that are offered to us as viewers through TV. When your watching tv and you want to see something new, you find out that you've seen it already. The re-runs on all shows has gotten so boring that we want something new. This is where satellite tv comes into play.
What will satellite tv bring to me that i dont have already?
The question you want to ask really is what doesn't satellite tv have. TV gets boring after a while, we all know that. But often we like to relax and watch a good movie or something interesting. Thats why you need satellite TV. Having satellite TV installed in your home will mean that you can watch channels covering movies, sport, documentaries, adult and everything else you can name. Not only will you be able to watch channels in every language but you will be able to watch channels from every country in the world.
Find out more ... http://www.installyoursat.com
About The Author
Alex Porter - A well learned satellite expert in the field of Satellite TV and Home entertainment for 15 years.
Buying Spy Gear
by: Shawn Davis
There are many different people who make use of high quality spy gear. Private investigators, law enforcement personnel, bounty hunters, and the military all use spy gear to perform their jobs. But this equipment is not just for the professionals anymore. It is possible for regular citizens to purchase spy equipment from various dealers. This is making it more possible for regular people to become amateur spies (and then professionals who can work for hire), or even for them to perform their own surveillance, without having to pay someone else to do it.
Spy gear comes in many guises. Some of it is in the form of cameras that can be hidden from sight (either in commonplace objects or actually on the body) or cameras that are visible. Other types of spy equipment allows you to listen in on phone conversations that you might need to hear, and some of it allows you to observe others discreetly from a distance. But no matter how you use your equipment, it is more than possible to buy what you need relatively easily, and for less than you might think.
The Internet is full of Web sites that offer spy gear. Some of it is not terribly practical, nor is it effective. Some sites, however, like spyassociates.com, have been in business for quite some time and offer professional grade equipment at prices that most people can afford. But there is plenty of effective surveillance equipment out there, and most of it is accessible, no questions asked, if you have a computer with Internet access.
Some spy gear is expensive, and may be out of reach for those who do not use it professionally. But there is usually a less powerful version that costs less that works very well for the regular person who just needs to glean a little extra information from somewhere. In fact, most of the spy gear that regular folks need (nanny cams, cell phone trackers for their kids, vehicle tracking, outside surveillance) is affordable and can easily be bought online.
When you are serious about finding information to protect yourself, all you need to do is get on the Internet and invest in some spy gear.
(c) 2005 Copyright www.spyassociates.com. This article is about: Spy Gear.
About The Author
Shawn Davis
To learn more about Spy and Surveillance Products visit http://www.spyassociates.com . Read other related articles at http://spyassociates.blogspot.com/.
There are many different people who make use of high quality spy gear. Private investigators, law enforcement personnel, bounty hunters, and the military all use spy gear to perform their jobs. But this equipment is not just for the professionals anymore. It is possible for regular citizens to purchase spy equipment from various dealers. This is making it more possible for regular people to become amateur spies (and then professionals who can work for hire), or even for them to perform their own surveillance, without having to pay someone else to do it.
Spy gear comes in many guises. Some of it is in the form of cameras that can be hidden from sight (either in commonplace objects or actually on the body) or cameras that are visible. Other types of spy equipment allows you to listen in on phone conversations that you might need to hear, and some of it allows you to observe others discreetly from a distance. But no matter how you use your equipment, it is more than possible to buy what you need relatively easily, and for less than you might think.
The Internet is full of Web sites that offer spy gear. Some of it is not terribly practical, nor is it effective. Some sites, however, like spyassociates.com, have been in business for quite some time and offer professional grade equipment at prices that most people can afford. But there is plenty of effective surveillance equipment out there, and most of it is accessible, no questions asked, if you have a computer with Internet access.
Some spy gear is expensive, and may be out of reach for those who do not use it professionally. But there is usually a less powerful version that costs less that works very well for the regular person who just needs to glean a little extra information from somewhere. In fact, most of the spy gear that regular folks need (nanny cams, cell phone trackers for their kids, vehicle tracking, outside surveillance) is affordable and can easily be bought online.
When you are serious about finding information to protect yourself, all you need to do is get on the Internet and invest in some spy gear.
(c) 2005 Copyright www.spyassociates.com. This article is about: Spy Gear.
About The Author
Shawn Davis
To learn more about Spy and Surveillance Products visit http://www.spyassociates.com . Read other related articles at http://spyassociates.blogspot.com/.
The Technology behind the Coolest Flat Panel TVs Today
by: Dakota Caudilla
It’s hard to deny the fact that plasma TVs offer the best quality picture ever since the tube is introduced to mankind!! The crystal-clear quality of Plasma TVs makes it popular with consumers even when the price was really quite ludicrous. But now, with the skyrocketing demand for Plasma TVs, Plasma TVs has become more affordable. Encouraged by the receptiveness of consumers, TV manufacturers relies on amazing technology to come up with super-thin Plasma TV designs that can be mounted right on the wall! This will definitely satisfy the need of ANY couch potato.
As a consumer, you probably are not too interested in the in-depth information about how Plasma TVs are created, designed and manufactured. But we think you might want to know a little bit more about the technology of how manufacturers manage to make Plasma TV so thin and crystal clear. True enough, the picture on the Plasma TV is probably only thing that matters to the kids when they watch their favorite program on the brand new Plasma TV in the living room, but don’t you feel a tad curious about how come Plasma TVs can be so slender and yet provide such amazingly stunning visuals?
Within the thin casing of the Plasma TV, there are hundreds of thousands of tiny plasma-filled chambers. Depending on the quality of the Plasma TV, the number of plasma-filled chambers depends on the quality (and pricing of the Plasma TV). The higher the number of plasma-filled chambers there are, the better the quality, the higher the price. Makes sense?
And when you switch the Plasma TV on, electricity runs through and lights up the Plasma-filled chambers in the TV and the result is the picture that you see on your TV screen.
We all know that Plasma TVs give the most realistic pictures compared to the conventional TV. The picture from a Plasma TV is more focused. Plasma TV manufacturers and designers design Plasma TVs in such a way that it is so thin that you can literally place it anywhere! They are sometimes no more than 4” thick. And because Plasma TVs can display up to 68 BILLION colors, you can get nothing less than a realistic picture on the screen!! On top of that, some Plasma TVs can be mounted on the wall saving you space in your living room.
About The Author
Dakota Caudilla, journalist, and website builder Dakota Caudilla lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.high-tech-tv.com on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.
It’s hard to deny the fact that plasma TVs offer the best quality picture ever since the tube is introduced to mankind!! The crystal-clear quality of Plasma TVs makes it popular with consumers even when the price was really quite ludicrous. But now, with the skyrocketing demand for Plasma TVs, Plasma TVs has become more affordable. Encouraged by the receptiveness of consumers, TV manufacturers relies on amazing technology to come up with super-thin Plasma TV designs that can be mounted right on the wall! This will definitely satisfy the need of ANY couch potato.
As a consumer, you probably are not too interested in the in-depth information about how Plasma TVs are created, designed and manufactured. But we think you might want to know a little bit more about the technology of how manufacturers manage to make Plasma TV so thin and crystal clear. True enough, the picture on the Plasma TV is probably only thing that matters to the kids when they watch their favorite program on the brand new Plasma TV in the living room, but don’t you feel a tad curious about how come Plasma TVs can be so slender and yet provide such amazingly stunning visuals?
Within the thin casing of the Plasma TV, there are hundreds of thousands of tiny plasma-filled chambers. Depending on the quality of the Plasma TV, the number of plasma-filled chambers depends on the quality (and pricing of the Plasma TV). The higher the number of plasma-filled chambers there are, the better the quality, the higher the price. Makes sense?
And when you switch the Plasma TV on, electricity runs through and lights up the Plasma-filled chambers in the TV and the result is the picture that you see on your TV screen.
We all know that Plasma TVs give the most realistic pictures compared to the conventional TV. The picture from a Plasma TV is more focused. Plasma TV manufacturers and designers design Plasma TVs in such a way that it is so thin that you can literally place it anywhere! They are sometimes no more than 4” thick. And because Plasma TVs can display up to 68 BILLION colors, you can get nothing less than a realistic picture on the screen!! On top of that, some Plasma TVs can be mounted on the wall saving you space in your living room.
About The Author
Dakota Caudilla, journalist, and website builder Dakota Caudilla lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.high-tech-tv.com on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.
Smart Apple iPod accessories
by: Katherine Xie
Are you thinking of buying an Apple iPod? Or have you bought one?
Almost everyone and anyone that I know seems to have bought an iPod or at least is thinking of getting an ipod for themselves or their loved ones. The iPod is just so alluring! However, do you know what you should do after buying the iPod?
Most people don't. Yet, market analysts estimate that the average iPod owner spend as much as 30% of the original iPod price on additional accessories! That's a whopping US$60-US$90 on iPod accessories that each iPod owner will spend!
Many people are simply spending their money on the wrong accessories! In fact, many are going for fancy accessories such as car transceiver kit, wireless remote kit, speaker kit even without realizing what are the first accessories they should get.
Get the Basic iPod Accessory before getting the Fancy Stuff!
Do you, as a iPod user, faces these problems on a daily basis too?
* iPod Screen scratches
* Click wheel scratches
* Mirrored back scratches
* Messy iPod earphone cables
* iPod overheating when being charged while in a silicone or leather case
Despite the technical and cosmetic superiority of the Apple iPod, there remain some teething issues. Weak batteries is one. Being easily scratched is another. These problems immediately lower the resale or trade-in value of the iPod, if any? This may not seem important but if you are trading in your older iPod for a new one, this does matter. It also sucks to see scratches and marks on the beautiful iPod. In fact, microscopic scratches takes place everytime you take the iPod in and out of pocket!
Get a good-quality iPod case before ANYTHING ELSE!
There are numerous iPod accessories out there. Many accessories are fanciful, some are good but most do not fulfil the basic need of the iPod. You need to protect the iPod from getting scratches and accidental marks before anything else.
Before the iPod can serve you well, it must be able to take care of itself. So, before you even look further into getting your first iPod accessory or even if you have gotten numerous other accessories, make sure you first equip your iPod with either a good quality case or sleeve.
The most common iPod cases in use are:
Handphone sleeves converted to iPod sleeves
This is the most common as handphone sleeves are cheap and easily available. However, the mirrored back of the 3G and 4G ipod are easily scratched by theses sleeves as they run against the iPod. It is not recommended unless you have a budget problem.
iPod screen and wheel sticky protectors
There are transparent iPod screen and wheel sticky protector that are cut of the right size and stucked directly onto the iPod screen and wheel. However, there are various models in the market and some of the cheaper ones tend to curl and peel off after some use. If you are on a budget, a good quality screen and wheel protector is the minimum you should have.
iPod silicone skin
This is the most common iPod case around. It looks like a good casing choice but it is in fact one of the worst, especially if you have bought a cheap one.
These cheap silicone cases are being mass-produced in China with doubtful materials and design elements. Many of the cheap silicone skins in the market tear easily and pick up lint and dirt easily. They are also difficult to wash and maintain. I will not advise a silicone case unless they are made by some of the better and branded products from USA or Japan. A good model is found at: http://www.smart-ipod-ideas.com
iPod Leather case
The iPod leather case is one of the most popular case. However, do not get the Apple branded one if possible as it tears to scratched the mirror back and it does not have a covering flap. Get one of the leather cases from the many in the market. Check the stitching on the leather case before buying one as some of the mass-manufactured ones may have poor workmanship.
Water and shock resistant cases
There is an increasing demand for such cases as more and more people bring their iPod for hiking, cycling, trekking, fishing and beach trips. There are various good brands in the market. However, note that whatever the advertisement may say, at best, the case can only be water resistant and not water proof which is two different things all together. A water resistant case can only take splashes and short immersion in water and certainly not something you can bring for swimming or diving trips!
For recommeded iPod cases and more useful iPod advice, please visit tha author's website.
About The Author
Katherine Xie is an avid iPod user. She owns 4 iPods starting from the 2G model. She gives iPod advice and recommends quality iPod accessories on her site at: http://www.smart-ipod-ideas.com. Please feel free to distribute this article as long as mention is made of her website.
Are you thinking of buying an Apple iPod? Or have you bought one?
Almost everyone and anyone that I know seems to have bought an iPod or at least is thinking of getting an ipod for themselves or their loved ones. The iPod is just so alluring! However, do you know what you should do after buying the iPod?
Most people don't. Yet, market analysts estimate that the average iPod owner spend as much as 30% of the original iPod price on additional accessories! That's a whopping US$60-US$90 on iPod accessories that each iPod owner will spend!
Many people are simply spending their money on the wrong accessories! In fact, many are going for fancy accessories such as car transceiver kit, wireless remote kit, speaker kit even without realizing what are the first accessories they should get.
Get the Basic iPod Accessory before getting the Fancy Stuff!
Do you, as a iPod user, faces these problems on a daily basis too?
* iPod Screen scratches
* Click wheel scratches
* Mirrored back scratches
* Messy iPod earphone cables
* iPod overheating when being charged while in a silicone or leather case
Despite the technical and cosmetic superiority of the Apple iPod, there remain some teething issues. Weak batteries is one. Being easily scratched is another. These problems immediately lower the resale or trade-in value of the iPod, if any? This may not seem important but if you are trading in your older iPod for a new one, this does matter. It also sucks to see scratches and marks on the beautiful iPod. In fact, microscopic scratches takes place everytime you take the iPod in and out of pocket!
Get a good-quality iPod case before ANYTHING ELSE!
There are numerous iPod accessories out there. Many accessories are fanciful, some are good but most do not fulfil the basic need of the iPod. You need to protect the iPod from getting scratches and accidental marks before anything else.
Before the iPod can serve you well, it must be able to take care of itself. So, before you even look further into getting your first iPod accessory or even if you have gotten numerous other accessories, make sure you first equip your iPod with either a good quality case or sleeve.
The most common iPod cases in use are:
Handphone sleeves converted to iPod sleeves
This is the most common as handphone sleeves are cheap and easily available. However, the mirrored back of the 3G and 4G ipod are easily scratched by theses sleeves as they run against the iPod. It is not recommended unless you have a budget problem.
iPod screen and wheel sticky protectors
There are transparent iPod screen and wheel sticky protector that are cut of the right size and stucked directly onto the iPod screen and wheel. However, there are various models in the market and some of the cheaper ones tend to curl and peel off after some use. If you are on a budget, a good quality screen and wheel protector is the minimum you should have.
iPod silicone skin
This is the most common iPod case around. It looks like a good casing choice but it is in fact one of the worst, especially if you have bought a cheap one.
These cheap silicone cases are being mass-produced in China with doubtful materials and design elements. Many of the cheap silicone skins in the market tear easily and pick up lint and dirt easily. They are also difficult to wash and maintain. I will not advise a silicone case unless they are made by some of the better and branded products from USA or Japan. A good model is found at: http://www.smart-ipod-ideas.com
iPod Leather case
The iPod leather case is one of the most popular case. However, do not get the Apple branded one if possible as it tears to scratched the mirror back and it does not have a covering flap. Get one of the leather cases from the many in the market. Check the stitching on the leather case before buying one as some of the mass-manufactured ones may have poor workmanship.
Water and shock resistant cases
There is an increasing demand for such cases as more and more people bring their iPod for hiking, cycling, trekking, fishing and beach trips. There are various good brands in the market. However, note that whatever the advertisement may say, at best, the case can only be water resistant and not water proof which is two different things all together. A water resistant case can only take splashes and short immersion in water and certainly not something you can bring for swimming or diving trips!
For recommeded iPod cases and more useful iPod advice, please visit tha author's website.
About The Author
Katherine Xie is an avid iPod user. She owns 4 iPods starting from the 2G model. She gives iPod advice and recommends quality iPod accessories on her site at: http://www.smart-ipod-ideas.com. Please feel free to distribute this article as long as mention is made of her website.
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