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Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround Sound - Identifying the main differences between these multi-channel sound formats

This Dolby vs DTS surround sound is a rather hotly debated issue. Many audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts argue that DTS surround sound formats can deliver higher quality audio in comparison to their corresponding Dolby formats, with improved dynamic range, better representation of subtle detail in audio content, and improved signal-to-noise ratio.

Partly, this reasoning arises because DTS surround sound is usually encoded at a higher data rate than Dolby Digital and its lineup of associated formats.

This is more than understandable. We are dealing with lossy compression techniques. A higher bit-rate for the same format should normally implies superior sound during playback, as less compression in the encoding process should result in a better representation of the original sound source.

In this Dolby vs DTS debate, DTS people argue that they are after ’sonic perfection, not space consumption’ - hence the higher bit rate and lower compression.

Dolby would counteract that their codec is more efficient and therefore, it can run at a lower bit rate.

In other words, one cannot simply draw conclusion on sound quality based on raw bit rates and compression figures alone; it also depends on how well designed are the encoding and decoding algorithms. And this makes sense too, but then…

There are relatively big differences in raw bit rates and compression levels when comparing Dolby vs DTS sound formats, implying a too wide a difference in codec efficiency - about 3 times as much - in favor of Dolby. Is it possible that Dolby sound formats achieve this level of codec efficiency?

The truth is that when dealing with different sound formats, the whole equation starts to get extremely complicated; it is not that easy to define what makes better sound.

This Dolby vs DTS is a much debated issue, but in reality is it true that one is better than the other?

To understand why this Dolby vs DTS surround sound controversy, it is necessary to have an understanding of the main differences between these formats. In particular, there are significant differences in bit-rate and compression levels as applicable to Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround. There are also important differences in the way these formats are implemented in movie house applications and in home entertainment.

It is not the scope of this write-up to go into these details; for the relevant information on the differences between Dolby and DTS, please read the full article appearing on Practical Home Theater Guide at http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com/dolby-vs-dts.html.

At the same time, it is important to realize that these same differences between these two formats have actually given rise to this Dolby vs DTS controversy.

So where does this Dolby vs DTS debate leads?

Sound quality is an extremely subjective issue and therefore it is not easy to define what constitutes better sound. Opinions vary when comparing Dolby vs DTS and range from ‘DTS is better’ to ‘Dolby Digital and DTS Surround Sound are pretty much the same’.

..and what do we say about this Dolby vs DTS debate?

Both Dolby Digital and DTS Surround are capable of achieving similar results in delivering surround sound, even though the lower compression and higher bit-rate of DTS Digital Surround should theoretically yield apparent benefits in sound quality.

At the same time, one cannot ignore the fact that these two formats make use of different coding schemes and syntax to perceptually compress audio.

This means that efficiency in terms of data utilization between these two formats is different. Therefore, direct comparison of the respective Dolby and DTS sound formats based solely on their raw bit rates, cannot be taken as an objective measure of sound quality.

Thus, while it is objectively possible to compare the resultant sound quality for the same audio format encoded at different bit rates, say in a movie house application and in home entertainment, yet it is not so straightforward when dealing with different formats.

Rather, for identically sourced audio content, it would be much easier for the listener during Dolby vs DTS ‘blind’ listening tests to notice a change in sound quality when changing the playback equipment between different brands, than when changing from Dolby to DTS.

In other words, you need a thoroughly refined audio playback setup to bring out that subtle difference in sound quality between these two formats.

(c) 2004/2007 http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com. All rights reserved.

In just a single weekend, Apple Inc. managed to sell over 500,000 units of its new Apple iPhone. The anticipation was huge, and while there were a few minor glitches - mostly resolved now - the general consensus is that they were worth waiting for.

The advance of this micro-technology in the form of cell phones, mp3 players, PDA’s etc., is creating an amazing dependency on pocket-sized devices, and not just for the techies: stay-at- home-moms, children, even retired grandparents are jumping into the new trend with joyful - and addictive - abandon. We’ve come a long way, baby!

With all this advancement, however, there is still this minor niggle in the back of my brain that is forced to ask, “but is it really safe?” The verdict is still out on this one, with no one so far able to categorically say that this huge increase in brain and eye cancer is NOT related to cell-phone use; that this little hand-held device and the cell phone towers that power it are NOT causing an increase in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and that these are NOT the issue behind increased infertility, new learning disorders, mysterious illnesses, or even confused bees that can no longer find the hives they’ve just left.

This new technology behind the Apple iPhone will probably have little or no affect on the retired grandparents as the length of exposure is relatively short. However, young children who are growing up with this micro-technological dependency may well be exposing themselves to some very unpleasant risks. Professor Sir William Stewart, the chairman of the Radiation Protection Division of the Health Protection Agency, said: “I don’t think we can put our hands on our hearts and say mobile phones are safe. If there are risks - and we think there may be risks - the people who are going to be most affected are children, and the younger the child, the greater the danger.”

The cell-phone companies are assuring us that it’s all very safe, to the point where they are now gearing their marketing to younger and younger generations of children, yet they are still putting clauses in their contracts absolving them of any responsibility should there really be issues. And there is also the fact that over sixty people in the medical profession world-wide believe the link between cell-phone use (and other forms of electromagnetic smog) and “mysterious illness” is a big enough risk that they have created the “Freiburger Appeal” requesting that certain precautions be put in place to protect ourselves as much as possible from the effects of the “new pollution” of these EMF’s.

Personally, I love the convenience of these new gadgets and can’t wait for the day when I, too, can afford the latest model of the Apple iPhone to replace my much used and much loved iPod. However, I hope that by that time someone has come along with the courage and funds to get to the bottom of the question of safety so that the only concern I’ll have on that day is finding the time to listen to all the great stuff on my new device.

Darlene Hull is a speaker, workshop facilitator, and writer, For more information on electromagnetic smog, go to:

All of us folks who are lucky enough to already have an iPhone know how much fun they can be just to play around with. Playing with my iPhone a lot myself, I have discovered some cool tips and tricks that you may find useful.

1. If you tap once at the very top of the screen when you are on the internet, it will take you back to the top of the window rather than having to scroll all the way back up. A nice time saving feature.

2. If you set the font to the smallest size, you can read more in the internet window. An advantage of this is that when you want to click a link, you can pinch (expand) that area and the link will come up very large, making it much easier to click.

3. Rather than posting the full address of internet sites in bookmarks, you can post the equivalent RSS address instead into Apple’s RSS reader and save that as your bookmark. This way you can quickly see if there’s anything interesting on your favorite site rather than downloading the whole homepage.

4. If you are writing something and the iPhone flags a word as misspelled that you know is not misspelled, cancel the correction 3 times and the word will be put into the dictionary. If you write a lot, this feature is quite useful!

5. The magnifying glass is a nice iPhone tool when you are typing an email or any other text. If you tap once and hold, a magnifying glass will pop up showing you a zoomed in view of your words and cursor. You can now easily place the cursor wherever you want. This makes editing your writing very easy.

6. You can move icons around, but not on the home screen. You have to go to the ipod section. Go to iPod > More > Edit. Now you can drag your icons all around. This can also be done in the phone section.

7. To reset your iphone, hold down the right button and the “home” front button for about 6 seconds. To power it back on, push the top button. This is different than a regular shutdown, which can be done easily by holding the sleep/wake button for 6 seconds.

8. If you get a lot of spam e-mail or other unwanted e-mail, pay attention to this time saving feature. Add a link to Yahoo mail in Safari bookmarks. From there you can check ‘delete all’ to remove all unwanted e-mails. This is much easier than deleting hundreds of spam e-mails one at a time.

I hope you found these iphone tips helpful. If you have an iPhone and have been wondering how best to fill it up with music and movies, check out Top iPhone Downloads for the latest reviews of iPhone download sites.

CJ Prato

The iPhone goes on sale on June 29th, are you ready? Read the latest tips on snagging your own iPhone.

Do you have your heart set on an iPhone? You may want to get in line now. A May poll by research firm M:Metrics revealed that about 19 million U.S. cell phone users are ready to fork over as much as $599 for the new iPhone. That’s almost what Bernstein Research predicts Apple will sell through 2008.

The new iPhone will go on sale June 29 and all indications are the demand will be huge. AT&T is hiring 2000 temporary workers to help with the launch. Apple CEO Steve Jobs has forecast sales of 10 million iPhones in the first 18 months -a conservative estimate based on independent research.

AT&T nabbed the iPhone exclusive early on. M:Metrics analyst Mark Donovan said “Two-thirds of the people who said they have a strong interest in buying an iPhone currently subscribe to AT&T’s three biggest competitors.” He added “In this mature market, it’s all about stealing customers from competitors.”

Even the hefty price tag - as much a $599 with a two year contract - does not seem to discourage potential buyers. It is still unclear what plan AT&T will require with the iPhone but you can be sure the lure of technology will overpower the fear of the unknown. Donovan noted that once the initial group gets its iPhones contract pricing may be a barrier to some buyers.

Because of the youthful demographic, T-Mobile customers seem to have the most interest in changing. According to the M:Metrics survey, 12.5% of T-Mobile subscribers expressed a high interest in buying the iPhone, compared to 8.1% for Sprint Nextel customers and 6.7% for Verizon users.

Here are a few iPhone shopping tips.

? Get your www.CellForCash.com transaction started right away. You can have your box by the time you get your iPhone and some cash in your pocket to help you get past the sticker shock.

? AT&T spokesman John Kampfe says “The iPhone will be available…only in AT&T-owned retail stores, Apple retail stores and through Apple’s online store.” Check out Apple’s online store on June 29. According to Steve Jobs the iPhone is set to go on sale at 6 p.m. that day. But forget trying AT&T’s site; the company says it won’t be selling iPhones online, at least initially.

? Call a few local AT&T stores and see if you can get on their waiting lists or if your local sales representative has any tips about how that particular store is handling requests.

? Show up early at an Apple store or company-owned AT&T store before they open on June 29. The big question is how many phones each store will stock.

? Wait until the June 29 launch mania dies down and hope that AT&T and Apple decide to allow locally owned AT&T agents to sell the iPhone.

AT&T Inc. has spent $50 million on its network in anticipation of the heightened activity expected to follow the iPhone’s debut on the 29th, anyone willing to break their existing contract can expect to pat $175 on top of the cost of the new gadget.

Apple is hyping this product like no other and it’s far from over. Stay tuned for more info as we get it.

James Mosieur is CEO of RMS Communications Group, Inc. RMS operates several cell phone recycling websites like http://www.CellForCash.com. AN electronics recycler since 1985, James writes and speaks on cell phone recycling and related subjects particularly as they relate to the individual.

The iPhone goes on sale on June 29th, are you ready? Read the latest tips on snagging your own iPhone.

Do you have your heart set on an iPhone? You may want to get in line now. A May poll by research firm M:Metrics revealed that about 19 million U.S. cell phone users are ready to fork over as much as $599 for the new iPhone. That’s almost what Bernstein Research predicts Apple will sell through 2008.

The new iPhone will go on sale June 29 and all indications are the demand will be huge. AT&T is hiring 2000 temporary workers to help with the launch. Apple CEO Steve Jobs has forecast sales of 10 million iPhones in the first 18 months -a conservative estimate based on independent research.

AT&T nabbed the iPhone exclusive early on. M:Metrics analyst Mark Donovan said “Two-thirds of the people who said they have a strong interest in buying an iPhone currently subscribe to AT&T’s three biggest competitors.” He added “In this mature market, it’s all about stealing customers from competitors.”

Even the hefty price tag - as much a $599 with a two year contract - does not seem to discourage potential buyers. It is still unclear what plan AT&T will require with the iPhone but you can be sure the lure of technology will overpower the fear of the unknown. Donovan noted that once the initial group gets its iPhones contract pricing may be a barrier to some buyers.

Because of the youthful demographic, T-Mobile customers seem to have the most interest in changing. According to the M:Metrics survey, 12.5% of T-Mobile subscribers expressed a high interest in buying the iPhone, compared to 8.1% for Sprint Nextel customers and 6.7% for Verizon users.

Here are a few iPhone shopping tips.

? Get your www.CellForCash.com transaction started right away. You can have your box by the time you get your iPhone and some cash in your pocket to help you get past the sticker shock.

? AT&T spokesman John Kampfe says “The iPhone will be available…only in AT&T-owned retail stores, Apple retail stores and through Apple’s online store.” Check out Apple’s online store on June 29. According to Steve Jobs the iPhone is set to go on sale at 6 p.m. that day. But forget trying AT&T’s site; the company says it won’t be selling iPhones online, at least initially.

? Call a few local AT&T stores and see if you can get on their waiting lists or if your local sales representative has any tips about how that particular store is handling requests.

? Show up early at an Apple store or company-owned AT&T store before they open on June 29. The big question is how many phones each store will stock.

? Wait until the June 29 launch mania dies down and hope that AT&T and Apple decide to allow locally owned AT&T agents to sell the iPhone.

AT&T Inc. has spent $50 million on its network in anticipation of the heightened activity expected to follow the iPhone’s debut on the 29th, anyone willing to break their existing contract can expect to pat $175 on top of the cost of the new gadget.

Apple is hyping this product like no other and it’s far from over. Stay tuned for more info as we get it.

James Mosieur is CEO of RMS Communications Group, Inc. RMS operates several cell phone recycling websites like http://www.CellForCash.com. AN electronics recycler since 1985, James writes and speaks on cell phone recycling and related subjects particularly as they relate to the individual.

Dangnammit! That’s the third time this month that we’ve come up missing inventory.

Bob was clearly frustrated. His small electronics business couldn’t afford to keep losing money on missing inventory. He knew it had to be one of his employees that was stealing from him, but which one? John had been with him for 6 years, Carrie had been here three years, and Jessie had been here for 6 months without incident.

The answer seemed obvious; Bob had to get one of those Hidden Cameras that he read about on the Internet. His store already had two Security Cameras, but the thief was avoiding them and not showing up on any of the surveillance tapes.

That night, Bob went on line and ordered a hidden camera that was disguised as a wall clock. No one would ever know to avoid this little piece of surveillance equipment because it was an actual working clock with the hidden camera built right in.

A week later when the “clock” arrived, Bob set it to the correct time, put it on the wall, and waited. It only took two days for him to get his answer. It wasn’t an employee at all, it was his own teenage son stealing video recorders and CD players, and selling them to his friends for extra spending money. Bob thought to himself “I don’t know what that kid is doing with money I pay him for cleaning up around here, but he’s going to be working for free for the next six months”.

Hidden cameras have become very popular in recent years. Business owners often use surveillance equipment to keep an eye on employees or their store; they can help to protect the business from theft, vandalism, or just for keeping an eye on things. Parents can use nanny cams to make sure their children are being properly treated while they’re away.

Hidden cameras can come wireless or wired. Wireless hidden cameras use batteries for power, and transmit the images to a wireless receiver that can be set up to view what the hidden camera sees from up to

The work of these electric cooling fan switches is to sense the temperatures in the car engine environment and then turn on the cooling fan if cooling is needed. Different electric cooling fan switches have different temperature settings in order to enable the required operation when it reaches a desired temperature. You can set the different temperatures accordingly as per your vehicle needs.

The system of the electric fan turns on automatically when it detects any change in the temperature of the engine goes over a set point with the help of a thermostatic fan switch. It will stop when the temperature returns to normal. A thermostatic fan switch that is used by the electric cooling fan is no more than a sensor. At times, even a thematic fan switch is also used which is a mechanical switch placed inside the radiator hose to detect cooling system temperatures. A thermal switch and relay is a type of fan switch very similar to thermatic switches which allow operations thermally and when the air conditioner is in use.

An electronic thermal switch is a mechanical switch that will detect temperatures of the incoming air and is mounted on the front of the radiator core.

It is normal for your cooling fan not to run all the time. The electric cooling fan is only needed when the engine’s temperature rises above a set level or when running your air conditioner. Running the cooling fan would be waste of electrical energy when it is not needed.

Electric cooling fans can be found on most autos with transverse mounted engines, most front wheel drive vehicles, and on many late model rear-wheel drive vehicles. They are used on FWD vehicles because the fan won’t require a belt drive and can be mounted independently of the engine location. Best yet, electric fans require less power for operation, which provide for improved fuel economy and performance. They are quieter and provide more precise cooling.

Darren Dunner is an article writer currently writng for http://www.the-fan-man.com.

The Apple iPhone was introduced into the world, at least to the US, on June 29th 2007. Thousands of people clamored to be the first to get their hands on an iPhone and from most accounts, they are very proud of their new acquisitions. Though Apple provided the basic accessories required to use the iPhone, like most special things, it came into the world naked. So after investing $500 to $600 on an iPhone it only makes prudent sense to invest a few extra dollars in an iPhone case to protect it.

Initial product stress tests of the Apple iPhone have been quite impressive. Apple wisely switched to optical grade glass for the innovative touch screen of the iPhone and it is almost impossible to scratch it. Even with a key. This, however, doesn’t mean it should be left unprotected and the rest of the iPhone is still prone to dings and scratches.

The solution to protecting your new iPhone is actually quite simple, though all the talk about skins, cases, wallets, and screen protectors can be a little bewildering. Don’t worry, below are the options available for protecting your iPhone and the good news is that they typically cost much less than your monthly bill with AT&T.

Types of iPhone Cases:

*iPhone Skins — a skin is just a cover that completely wraps around your iPhone with cutouts to allow you access to the touch screen, main navigation button, as well as the side buttons, charger, and camera. iPhone skins are made from silicone, which is a flexible, yet rugged type of plastic. The benefit of a skin, is that it will protect the surfaces of your iPhone from nicks and scratches and even offer some protection if dropped. However, don’t rely on a silicone skin to offer you complete protection against drops.

IPhone skins come in clear silicone as well as several popular colors ranging from feminine pink to stealth black. Some iPhone skins also come with a screen protector and neck strap, but be sure to check the product details to make certain.

*Phone Cases and Wallets — a step up in style and convenience is an iPhone case or wallet. Many of these cases also include a belt clip so you can keep your iPhone at the ready. Unlike cell phone holsters, a case or wallet fully protects your iPhone when not in use. Cases and wallets typically come in both leather and canvas varieties and in a wide range of styles. Chose the type that best suits your usage and expresses your personal style. You may even want several cases to match different clothing and occasions!

*iPhone Screen Protectors — an iPhone screen protector typically is a piece of very thin silicone with an adhesive backing that covers the entire front of the iPhone. Like a skin, it also has a circular cutout to expose the main navigation button at the bottom of the iPhone. A skin can then be placed over the screen protector. Not all iPhone screen protectors are created equal though. The better ones have dust resistant and anti-glare properties. Many iPhone skins and cases already come with a screen protector so you typically don’t need to purchase one separately.

An Apple iPhone is a truly innovative technology product that is a joy to own. Their owners have every right to be proud and can be forgiven, at least for now, for showing them off every chance they get. And you can tell a truly proud and worthy Apple iPhone owner by how they have chosen to dress up and protect their “baby”.

Rich Rojas covers the cell phone and pda industry. You can find a large selection of iPhone Cases at http://www.pdaflicks.com/iphone-cases.html

Microsoft BizTalk 2006 is a very popular and reliable business process management server Microsoft BizTalk 2006 is a very popular and reliable business process management server (BPM) that allows companies to optimize and facilitate an extensive series of specific business processes. BizTalk Sever 2006 comprises a complete package of powerful and user-friendly tools for business process design, development, migration and management. Apart from providing users with support for Web services and including an improved business activity monitoring portal (BAM), Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 also contains 23 valuable migration and technology adapters for line-of-business applications (Oracle, PeopleSoft, Siebel, SAP, and JD Edwards) and for connecting to legacy systems (especially mainframe and mid-range).

Thanks to its efficiency and reliability, as well as the multitude of high-quality applications it contains, Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 is extensively used by businesses of all types and sizes, the product being regarded as an indispensable tool for companies that frequently use network systems in their activity.

The great popularity recently achieved by BizTalk Server 2006 has determined large numbers of companies to create more job openings for IT professionals who have proved great knowledge and skills in working with this particular Microsoft product. In order to attest the level of expertise required for business development and management, as well as implementing various networking applications using BizTalk Server 2006, Microsoft has recently introduced the BizTalk 2006 certification in the Technology series of Microsoft accreditations (Microsoft currently categorizes its specific certifications in three series: Technology, Professional and Architect).

The newly introduced Technology Specialist - BizTalk Server 2006 certification validates the complete set of knowledge and skills required for working with BizTalk Server 2006. IT professionals who posses the Technology Specialist - BizTalk Server 2006 certification have access to a wide range of career opportunities inside companies that constantly work with networking systems. IT professionals who wish to obtain the valuable Technology Specialist - BizTalk Server 2006 certification need to pass the following examination: 70-235 TS - Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions using BizTalk Server 2006.

Persons who wish to further familiarize with BizTalk Server 2006 or don’t possess any of the knowledge and skills needed for passing the certification exam should attend to a comprehensive and efficient BizTalk Server 2006 training program. In order to obtain the best results, BizTalk 2006 certification candidates should choose on location, instructor-led courses over self-study oriented forms of BizTalk 2006 training.

BizTalk 2006 official course attendants hold a considerable advantage from other BizTalk 2006 certification candidates, as they benefit from comprehensive, well structured Microsoft-approved courseware, have access to competitive study facilities and receive guidance from experienced, certified instructors. By attending to official BizTalk 2006 courses, existing and aspiring IT professionals can quickly assimilate the conceptual knowledge behind BizTalk products and polish their skills on developing and implementing integration solutions using BizTalk Server 2006. With the help of official BizTalk 2006 courses, candidates to the Technology Specialist - BizTalk Server 2006 certification are guaranteed to perform better at the certification exam and to enter in possession of their desired accreditation in less time and with less effort.

Shannon Margolis

The iPhone goes on sale on June 29th, are you ready? Read the latest tips on snagging your own iPhone.

Do you have your heart set on an iPhone? You may want to get in line now. A May poll by research firm M:Metrics revealed that about 19 million U.S. cell phone users are ready to fork over as much as $599 for the new iPhone. That’s almost what Bernstein Research predicts Apple will sell through 2008.

The new iPhone will go on sale June 29 and all indications are the demand will be huge. AT&T is hiring 2000 temporary workers to help with the launch. Apple CEO Steve Jobs has forecast sales of 10 million iPhones in the first 18 months -a conservative estimate based on independent research.

AT&T nabbed the iPhone exclusive early on. M:Metrics analyst Mark Donovan said “Two-thirds of the people who said they have a strong interest in buying an iPhone currently subscribe to AT&T’s three biggest competitors.” He added “In this mature market, it’s all about stealing customers from competitors.”

Even the hefty price tag - as much a $599 with a two year contract - does not seem to discourage potential buyers. It is still unclear what plan AT&T will require with the iPhone but you can be sure the lure of technology will overpower the fear of the unknown. Donovan noted that once the initial group gets its iPhones contract pricing may be a barrier to some buyers.

Because of the youthful demographic, T-Mobile customers seem to have the most interest in changing. According to the M:Metrics survey, 12.5% of T-Mobile subscribers expressed a high interest in buying the iPhone, compared to 8.1% for Sprint Nextel customers and 6.7% for Verizon users.

Here are a few iPhone shopping tips.

? Get your www.CellForCash.com transaction started right away. You can have your box by the time you get your iPhone and some cash in your pocket to help you get past the sticker shock.

? AT&T spokesman John Kampfe says “The iPhone will be available…only in AT&T-owned retail stores, Apple retail stores and through Apple’s online store.” Check out Apple’s online store on June 29. According to Steve Jobs the iPhone is set to go on sale at 6 p.m. that day. But forget trying AT&T’s site; the company says it won’t be selling iPhones online, at least initially.

? Call a few local AT&T stores and see if you can get on their waiting lists or if your local sales representative has any tips about how that particular store is handling requests.

? Show up early at an Apple store or company-owned AT&T store before they open on June 29. The big question is how many phones each store will stock.

? Wait until the June 29 launch mania dies down and hope that AT&T and Apple decide to allow locally owned AT&T agents to sell the iPhone.

AT&T Inc. has spent $50 million on its network in anticipation of the heightened activity expected to follow the iPhone’s debut on the 29th, anyone willing to break their existing contract can expect to pat $175 on top of the cost of the new gadget.

Apple is hyping this product like no other and it’s far from over. Stay tuned for more info as we get it.

James Mosieur is CEO of RMS Communications Group, Inc. RMS operates several cell phone recycling websites like http://www.CellForCash.com. AN electronics recycler since 1985, James writes and speaks on cell phone recycling and related subjects particularly as they relate to the individual.