Ever find yourself wanting to show a large group of people a photo you just took with your digital camera?  Gathering everyone around a small LCD screen can be quite a pain, and simply passing the camera around can spell disaster for it at a picnic or busy gathering.  Sure, you could save the photo on a memory card and hope that there’s a TV with a memory card reader nearby, but wouldn’t it be easier if your camera simply had a built-in projector?  Well, now it can!

Nikon’s Coolpix S1000pj is the world’s first digital camera with a built-in projector.  Not only does this 12.1-megapixel wonder project still images, but it also projects movies with sound!  It even features 5-way VR stabilization and Nikon’s exclusive Best Shot Selector (BSS) technology – a function that automatically scans up to 10 consecutive images and only saves the one with the highest level of detail to the camera’s memory card.

Want more information?  Want to see the S1000pj in action?  Then make sure to check out the following links:

Nikon Coolpix S1000pj - BestBuy.com

Nikon Coolpix S1000pj Demo - BestBuy.com

CES has come and gone and chances are if you’ve seen any of the convention’s media coverage you’ve heard that 3D technology is the hot new trend for 2010.  Nearly every TV manufacturer from Sony to Toshiba and from LG to Panasonic is making a 3D-capable TV, while many computer manufacturers are adapting the technology to their monitors and laptops.  But how does it work?  How do you turn an image in a two-dimensional medium into a three-dimensional experience?

3D pictures can be created a number of different ways, although many of these methods typically fall into one of four categories: anaglyph images, polarization, alternate-frame sequencing, and autostereoscopy. 

Anaglyph images

Anaglyph images are made up of two differently colored layers that have been superimposed on each other.  Slightly offset to give the illusion of depth, these layers are then filtered through “color coded” glasses – usually cyan and red – to reveal a three-dimensional picture.

Polarization

Polarized 3D images are typically created by using two synced projectors that display different perspectives of the same scene.  Each projector uses a slightly different polarizing lens and a special pair of glasses worn by the viewer then restricts which image is allowed into each eye.

Alternate-frame sequencing

This method of 3D imaging is achieved by filming with two cameras from slightly different perspectives, just like polarization.  Individual frames from each camera are pieced together in an alternating order (left camera, right camera, left camera, right camera, etc.) and the combined film is run at twice the normal frame rate.  The audience then wears special glasses with an active shutter system that opens and closes each lens in rapid succession.

Autostereoscopy

Unlike other traditional methods, autostereoscopy does not require the use of special glasses.  Instead, it relies upon the use of an array of magnifying lenses or a “grated” panel called a parallax barrier that is built into the display itself.  Depending on the observer’s viewing position, their eyes will each perceive a different picture, resulting in a 3D image.

Now, while no industry-wide standard for creating 3D TVs has been established yet, consumers can think of the models shown at this year’s CES as a sign of what may come.  Just make sure to keep checking back with us as more information and more models become available!

If you are looking to buy a new TV you might have a lot of questions. The technology used in TVs is changing all the time. This has created some new questions that people have started asking. I am going to do my best to help answer these.

What type should I buy: LCD, Plasma, or LED?

This question does not have a clear answer because there are many things to take into consideration. The TV that will work best for you will depend on where you are going to put the TV and the environmental factors in your room.

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) –TVs work great in rooms with a lot of light. These TVs also come in the greatest range of sizes from little 7” portable models to 65” home theater giants. LCD TVs are also more energy efficient than comparable plasma models. 

Plasma – Unlike LCD TVs, plasmas work best in dark or dimly lit rooms. They are also known to produce the darkest and deepest blacks and the most vibrant colors. Plasma TVs are great for sports, action movies and video games due to the high refresh rate. 

LED (Light-Emitting Diode) – Sometimes referred to as LED-LCD, LED TVs are LCD TVs that have LED set up as the backlight for the TV. These TVs work well in any lighting and also have blacks and colors that are comparable to plasma TVs. Due to the fact that LEDs are so small many of these TVs are thinner than regular LCD models.

What size TV do I need?

First I would like to address the difference between tube TVs and new HDTVs. Tube TVs use a 4:3 aspect ratio and HDTVs use a 16:9 aspect ratio. Aspect ratio is the number of units of width vs. height, so a 16:9 screen is 16 units wide and 9 units tall.  For example, older TV programs that are in “standard format” are in 4:3 ratio.  Shows currently being broadcast in “widescreen” format are 16:9.

If you are switching from a tube TV to a new HDTV then you are in for a big and exciting change. If you were to take the same size HDTV as the tube TV you had it will seem much smaller. Since HDTVs are widescreen they are not as tall as a comparable sized tube TV. The general rule is that if you are replacing a tube TV then you can get an HDTV that is about 25% larger, e.g. if you’re replacing a 27” tube TV, a 37” HDTV would be the most comparable. 

If you are not sure what size TV you need for your room you can measure the distance from where you will be sitting to where you will have the TV. You can then take this number and divide it by 2 or 3. This is the approximate size of the TV that will be best for viewing in the space allowed. 

1080p or 720p?

These numbers refer to the number of vertical lines in the TV display. So a 720p TV has 720 vertical lines of resolution and a 1080p TV has 1,080. When trying to pick which is best for you think of what you will be using the TV for. If you are planning on watching content that is in 1080p like Blu-Ray movies then you might want to purchase a 1080p TV. If you are planning on just watching TV and regular DVDs then a 720p TV might work for you.

Refresh Rate

This refers to the number of times per second that a TV screen image is rebuilt. So, a TV with 60Hz refresh rate means that the picture will be rebuilt 60 times per second. TVs with a higher refresh rate generally have a smoother picture. This is best for Sports, action movies, and video games. 

Connections… So many options…

There are many options when it comes to connecting other devices to your TV. These are some of the most common ones and what they are used for.

• HDMI - Highest-quality all-digital A/V connections currently available. HDMI connections deliver audio and video signals using a single cable for simple home theater setup, and all HDMI connections support HDCP to allow the transmission of copy-protected high-definition content.

• DVI - All-digital connections that carry high-resolution video signals from a source (such as a set-top box or a DVD player) to an HDTV or HD monitor. Some DVI connections support HDCP to allow the transmission of copy-protected high-definition content.

• Component Video - Connections that deliver video signals in 3 separate parts for enhanced color purity, detail and clarity. Component video connections deliver better picture quality than any other type of analog connection (RF, composite video and S-video) and are the only analog connections that support high-definition signals.

• Composite Video - Standard video connections that deliver brightness and color information together. Composite video connections provide better picture quality than RF connections but not as good as S-video, component video, DVI and HDMI connections.

• VGA - Inputs that allow you to connect the TV to your PC for use as a computer monitor.

• Optical Audio – Transmits a digital audio signal through a fiber optic cable. 

In summary…

When purchasing a new TV you have a lot to think about. Make sure that you get the correct size for your room and the proper type for what you will be watching. Get the features that best suit your viewing and gaming needs. Also make sure that the TV you purchase has all of the connectors options that you will need to get your components connected. Do your research and think of your needs and you should get a TV that you will love. If you need more information about HDTVs visit the Best Buy® Home Theater Resource Center or consult the specialists at your local store.

Having touchpad or wireless connectivity problems with your new Acer Aspire AS5532-5535?  Before assuming that there’s anything wrong with the computer, there’s one quick troubleshooting step you may want to try: make sure you didn’t accidentally turn the touchpad/networking card off!

As you can see from the picture below, the on/off switch for both this model’s touchpad (highlighted in red) and wireless card (highlighted in green) are located right next to the power button.  This close proximity means that it may be easy to disable one or both of these features without even knowing it.  To turn either feature on again, simply press the appropriate button.

Still having touchpad or connectivity issues?  Don’t worry, we’re here to help!  Remember that you can always bring your computer to the Geek Squad® counter at your local Best Buy® store for additional support under your factory warranty or service plan coverage.

Ever wonder how the facial recognition software on digital cameras functions?  If so, then you may want to check out Allan-BBY's explanation of the feature from our Cameras & Camcorders board:

Hi Everyone,

How often have you tried to capture an image of someone with your camera just to have your camera focus on something other than your subject? If you’re anything like me you probably feel like you have lost the opportunity to capture a special moment in your life, and you wish your camera had done a better job of focusing on your subject.

Before autofocus the decision of what to focus on was entirely up to the user, but this often meant the moment in time had passed before the image you saw could be captured. Thankfully autofocus systems were developed, and now almost always work much faster and more accurately that manually focusing on your subject.

There of course are exceptions to the above statement, and sometimes these autofocus systems focus on something other than your subject. This is often due to your subject not being in the center of the frame, or there is something closer to you than your subject.

Camera manufacturers have been working on overcoming this limitation, and now manufacturers have what is called Face Detection technology that in most cases overcomes this limitation. My wife’s Canon G9 has this technology, and I can attest to the fact that it focuses on faces in the frame the vast majority of the time.

When I first used this technology I couldn’t understand how it could possible detect faces in a scene, but after looking into how this technology works I was surprised how logical of an approach these manufacturers took.

Due to contrast differences caused by lighting three dimensional shapes the manufacturers developed advanced algorithms that search for common facial features of humans in the frame, and then shift focus to those points. Without the processing power of modern camera processors this technology would be impossible due to the time it would take for less advanced processors to run these algorithms.

This technology of course has to work within the limits of the camera, camcorder, or webcam using it. Because of these limits there are certain situations where it won’t be able to properly focus on all the faces in a particular frame. For example if have one person three feet from the camera, and your second subject is twenty feet away, this technology won’t be able to focus on both unless the lighting and camera lens make it possible to achieve the depth of field necessary to focus on both subjects.

It isn’t a perfect technology, and there are definitely situations that even this technology can’t overcome, but all-in-all I feel like it’s definitely worth having.

I hope this helps!

Blu-ray has been the de facto standard for High Definition video movies for quite some time now. There have been many questions though, such as what is Blu-ray? Why should I upgrade? Here are some answers.

What is Blu-ray? The short answer is that Blu-ray is an optical storage medium and is more advanced than DVD in many ways.  Regular DVDs use a red laser to read and write the data to the discs. Blu-ray, as the name implies, uses a blue-violet laser. This uses a shorter wavelength for focusing the laser thus allowing more information to fit into the same amount of space. In general Blu-ray discs can hold 25GB for single layer discs and 50GB for dual layer discs. This is about five times the storage space of regular DVDs. Blu-ray discs can also handle advanced video and audio formats providing a better viewing experience, thanks to the higher storage capacity. 

Something to remember, though, is that Blu-ray is a new media format and requires new hardware.  While your current DVD player won’t play Blu-ray disks, Blu-ray players are backwards compatible and will play your DVD collection.  

Why should I upgrade? Why or when to upgrade is generally quite subjective.  It’s all about you.  There is a simple question you can ask yourself to help answer this: do I have a High Definition TV (HDTV) or do I plan to purchase one? If you answer no, then you probably don’t need a Blu-ray player as many of the key benefits will not be noticeable. If you answer yes, a Blu-ray player might be a good choice for you. The main benefits of a Blu-ray player are video and audio quality. These will only really been seen on an HDTV. DVD really opened up the possibilities for high-quality in-home video presentation, but audio still had to be compressed in order to accommodate a DVD’s more limited storage. With the advent of Blu-ray and its significantly increased data storage capacity, the audio no longer has to be compressed allowing for a much richer in-home movie experience. Truly, if you like watching movies then Blu-ray can provide an experience that is second only to going to the movie theater. 

Another benefit to most Blu-ray players is that they will upconvert your regular DVD movies to near HD quality. DVDs are encoded at 480 lines of resolution. The up-conversion process creates an output picture that is 720 or 1080 lines of resolution, dramatically enhancing the picture’s appearance.  This means that you don’t need to replace your movie collection with Blu-ray disks, but you may want to upgrade your favorites and be wowed by them as if for the very first time! In addition to a dramatically changed audio and video experience, Blu-ray adds new features that are sure to impress.  The latest and greatest Blu-ray players feature internet connectivity, both wired and wireless.  This allows for features like BD-Live.  BD-Live content can included internet chats, games, and downloadable featurettes just to name a few.  This connectedness also allows your player to proactively install new firmware updates developed by manufacturers so that your Blu-ray player is always up-to-date for the latest content.

So, that’s it.  It’s really your decision to upgrade, but Blu-ray is the future of in-home video.   You may find what Blu-ray offers irresistible, so we invite you to check it out!