Monday, 30 April 2012
Difference Between DVD and BlueRay Disc?
They Are types of optical storage discs, commonly used for storing movies and other video. Although the discs look similar, there are significant differences. The difference between a DVD player and a Blu-ray player is the laser technology that's used to record and play back the data. A Blu-ray player can play most DVDs; however, a DVD player cannot play Blu-ray discs.
DVDs
Digital Video Discs (DVDs) were developed in the 1990s, and came to market in the second half of the decade. Information is written to a DVD with a 650 nanometer (nm) red laser, which creates microscopic bumps in a groove on the disc. A DVD player contains a laser which can read the bumps in the spiral track of data. The most common type of disc can hold 4.7 GB of data.
The quality of audio and video recorded on a DVD is very high; in most cases, video is encoded in MPEG-2 format, which offers high definition, 720 pixel resolution. Surround sound options are also often available. Many DVDs also include interactive menus, additional audio tracks, and other special features.
Blu-ray
The Blu-ray player was introduced in 2006. Information is written on a Blu-ray Disc™with a 405 nm blue laser — giving the technology its name. This laser produces a tightly focused beam, and is capable of burning more data than a red laser into the same size space; a standard Blu-ray Disc can hold 50 GB. Commercial audio and video is typically encoded in a proprietary format called Blu-ray Disc Movie (BDMV), although there are other formats.
Difference Between DVD's and Blu-Ray??
The quality of the video on Blu-ray is higher than that on a DVD; in most cases, the resolution is 1080p. In addition, the way the video is compressed on the disc is better, which contributes to a better image. The quality of the audio on Blu-ray™ is essentially studio-quality. Like DVDs, Blu-ray Discs™ usually include interactive menus, multiple audio tracks, and other special features. This features are often more advanced than DVDs can offer, and include things like pop-up menus and picture-in-picture commentary.
DVD vs. Blu-ray
In terms of quality, Blu-ray™ can produce higher resolution video and higher quality audio than DVD. It also offers more special and interactive features. If linked to the Internet, a Blu-ray™ player can also be upgraded, and allow the user to download extras and connect to online audio and video services.
To get the most out of Blu-ray™, a consumer really needs a high definition television (HDTV) capable of displaying 1080p video, an excellent speaker system, and an Internet connection. Although HDTV has become very popular, many people still own standard definition televisions that cannot display Blu-ray™ at its best. All of this technology is also relatively expensive, although prices are dropping.
DVDs became very popular very quickly, and as a result, players and discs are found in a majority of homes in the US and other nations. As a result, it's unlikely that DVDs will simply disappear in the same way that HD DVDs did. Most Blu-ray™ players can also play DVDs, so someone looking for a new machine will still be able to play his or her older discs. DVD players cannot play Blu-ray™ titles, making them a less attractive choice for many buyers.
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Saturday, 28 April 2012
What Is CRDI??
Modern diesels owe their resurgence in popularity to advances in fuel delivery and engine management systems that allow the engines to return power, performance and emissions equivalent to their gasoline counterparts, while simultaneously producing superior fuel economy.
It's the high pressure fuel rail and the computer controlled electronic injectors that make all the difference. In the common rail system, the fuel pump charges the fuel rail at a pressure of up to 25,000 psi--but unlike indirect injection pumps--it is not involved in fuel discharge. Under the control of the onboard computer, this fuel quantity and pressure accumulates in the rail independently of engine speed and load.
Each fuel injector is mounted directly above the piston within the cylinder head (there is no pre-chamber) and is connected to the fuel rail by rigid steel lines that can withstand the high pressure. This high pressure allows for a very fine injector orifice that completely atomizes the fuel and precludes the need for a pre-chamber. The actuation of the injectors comes via a stack of piezo electric crystal wafers that move the jet needle in tiny increments allowing for the spray of fuel. Piezo crystals function by expanding rapidly when an electric charge is applied to them. Like the fuel pump, the injectors are also controlled by the the engine computer and can be fired in rapid succession several times during the injection cycle. With this precise control over injector firings, smaller, staggered quantities of fuel delivery (5 or more) can be timed over the course of the power stroke to promote complete and accurate combustion. In addition to timing control, the short duration, high pressure injections allow a finer and more accurate spray pattern that also supports better and more complete atomization and combustion.
Through these developments and improvements, the modern common rail direct injection diesel engine is quieter, more fuel efficient, cleaner, and more powerful than the indirect mechanical injection units they have replaced.
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Can Fast Reactors Speedily Solve Plutonium Problems??
The U.K. has nearly 100 metric tons of plutonium—dubbed "the element from hell" by some—that it doesn't know what to do with. The island nation does not need the potent powder to construct more nuclear weapons, and spends billions of British pounds to ensure that others don't steal it for that purpose. The unstable element, which will remain radioactive for millennia, is the residue of ill-fated efforts to recycle used nuclear fuel.
One solution under consideration is to recycle the plutonium yet further—by using it as fuel in a pair of new, so-called "fast" reactors. Such nuclear reactors can actually "consume" plutonium via fission (transforming it into other forms of nuclear waste that are not as useful for weapons). The U.K. is considering a plan to build two of General Electric's PRISM fast reactors, the latest in a series of fast-reactor designs that for several decades have attempted with mixed success to handle plutonium and other radioactive waste from nuclear power. The idea remains that fast reactors, which get their name because the neutrons that initiate fission in the reactor are zipping about faster than those in a conventional reactor, could offer a speedy solution to cleaning some nasty nuclear waste, which fissions better with fast neutrons, while also providing electricity as a by-product.
"If they really want to get rid of plutonium, a fast spectrum reactor is safer and gets rid of more of it," than other options, argues nuclear engineer Eric Loewen, chief consulting engineer at GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy. "It just seems like humans are grappling with the question: 'How do we do it better?'"
The U.K. is hardly alone in struggling to cope with nuclear waste, whether plutonium or otherwise. The U.S. remains a nation in search of a solution for what to do with its nearly 70,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel, which has a small fraction of plutonium mixed in it. A recent blue ribbon commission impaneled by President Obama suggested looking for communities that would volunteer to take the waste, for a fee.
Nor is the U.K. alone in considering fast reactors as a solution for eliminating plutonium. Japan's has built a fast reactor known as Monju to recycle its used nuclear fuel. France had one for awhile, too, but it has since been shut down due to difficulty operating the plant as designed. In fact, most such fast reactors have proved difficult to run reliably. "At one time or another, [fast reactors] were a priority program in the U.S., Japan, France, Germany, Italy and Russia," notes physicist Thomas Cochran of the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group. "They were largely failures in all those places and in two nuclear navies, so one should think twice before trying it again."
Novel design
The trouble with fast reactors has largely been related to what's used to cool them—liquid sodium in the case of GE's PRISM and many others. The better half of table salt, this element cools a fast reactor nicely and also ensures there is no perpetual chain reaction. And, thanks to a more than 800-degree Celsius boiling point, it can operate at low pressures, unlike conventional reactors. But sodium also reacts explosively with either air or water, necessitating elaborate safety controls in places where it must get close to water in order to create steam to turn a turbine to make electricity, such as steam generators. As a result of numerous fires from leaking systems, operating sodium-cooled fast reactors to date have been shut down more than they have run. "You can't take the top off and look down in the reactor and correct any problems," Cochran notes. "You have heroic maintenance issues any time you need to go into the reactor."
Friday, 23 March 2012
Black Lamborghini Ankonian Concept
An original design for the concept-car Lamborghini Ankonian, inspired by designer Slavche Tanevsky. A report and a more aggressive look developed for the famous Italian car manufacturer. To discover in the following, a selection of images in context.
A couple of days back, we had a look at the Lamborghini Madura concept, and now there’s a more aggressive concept from designer Slavche Tanevsky in the form of the Lamborghini Ankonian concept. According to the designer, the Ankonian takes the design of the Reventon to the next level, even though the concept itself manages a unique expression. The supercar concept has a more aggressive design, and is downsized to account for a more environment-friendly status, though it does not include any hybrid or similar technologies.
The mid-engined supercar has a narrow and rather complex-looking body, with a garnishing of GT proportions. Thin OLEDs embedded between the surfaces function as headlights, and while all those lines may look weird, the Ankonian supposedly makes the best use of it all. The concept was named after a bull type famous for black hair, and since the designer had some help from professional designers at Lamborghini and Audi, the finished model has impressive looks.
Lamborghini Reventon The Most Exclusive Supercar In The World
s one of the most exclusive supercars in the world. The price for the exclusive Lamborghini Reventon is 1.1 Million Euro (without taxes).The Italian carmaker has been strengthened by an even more exclusive, seven figure ultra supercar, the Reventon.
As a Supercar, Exclusive Lamborghini Reventon powered by 6.5 liter V12 engine with six-speed sequential manual transmission. The V12 engine producing 640 horsepower. Exclusive Lamborghini Reventon has compression ratio of 11 : 1 and a displacement of 6496 cc (396.41 in3,) it generates 670 PS (493 kW) at 8,000 rpm. The maximum torque of 660 Nm (487 lb-ft) kicks in at 6,000 rpm.
The driver controls the gear shift of Exclusive Lamborghini Reventon, which is activated hydraulically via two steering wheel paddles.The driver controls the gear shift to select between Normal, Corsa and low adherence mode.
Two chains drive its four camshafts that, in turn, operate the 48 valves. Together with the three-phase adjustable intake manifold, the variable valve timing delivers a meaty torque build-up. Dry sump lubrication ensures that the hi-tech power unit has a constant supply of oil, even under heavy lateral acceleration. The absence of the oil sump means a low mounting position – benefitting the car’s outstanding handling characteristics.
The seats are rocked by a carbon shell, and are not designed for larger frames. Rated as a piece of waterfront property, the Lamborghini Reventon is definitely elite status of a manufacturer for the empire to maintain. The glossy carbon fiber, Alcantara / leather interior is tight but chic, and even if the Exclusive Reventon logo embroidered on the door is a bit ‘large, many other details make up the offending piece of surf . Including the limited-edition plaque on my machine to test pre-production, reading 0 / 20.
Monday, 19 March 2012
What Are Noise Canceling Headphones?
Noise canceling headphones reduce ambient noise so the wearer can either enjoy a greater degree of quiet for relaxation, or listen to music at lower volumes than would otherwise be necessary. By removing competing noises from the acoustic envelope, noise canceling headphones create a more pleasurable listening experience. There are two main types of noise canceling: passive and active.
High frequencies in the immediate environment can be blocked to a great degree by using dense materials in the construction of the ear cups. This is referred to as passive noise canceling (PNC) and is especially effective in models with larger ear cups. The drawback is that PNC does not lend itself to lightweight headphones or to in-ear earbuds that sit in the open end of the ear canal. In-canal earbuds, however, slide snugly into the ear and more effectively block high frequency noise.
To block lower frequencies, noise canceling headphones employ on-board electronics that continually sample ambient noise and generate inverse sound waves through the ear cup to exactly cancel the ambient fingerprint. To accomplish this, a small microphone built into the ear cup feeds surrounding noise to the electronics, which generates an opposite wave form, sending it through the ear cups. This is referred to as active noise canceling (ANC) and requires power via a rechargeable battery.
The most effective noise canceling headphones employ both ANC to cancel high frequencies and PNC to cancel low frequencies. Examples of the latter might be the hum of a refrigerator motor, A/C unit, subway, or airline's engines. In the latter case, it was on an airliner that Amar Bose, founder of Bose Corporation, first conceived of noise canceling headphones, as the plane's engines drowned out the airline headphones. His idea was soon followed by others, and today there is no shortage of models to choose from.
As with any other technology, ANC and PNC have their limitations. PNC works best on reducing background noises that are consistent, rather than the constantly changing noises of nearby chatter or the cacophony of general hustle and bustle. Also, people who find in-canal earbuds uncomfortable and prefer lightweight ear cups might find that effective noise canceling headphones are a bit pricey. Generally, it is cheaper and easier to build a bulkier, heavier cup.
All things considered, noise canceling headphones can be of great benefit to the user in the right situations. Whether a person wants to block the drone of the neighbor's gardening equipment to take a nap or listen to his or her favorite soft music on an extended coast-to-coast flight, noise canceling headphones could be a good solution to noise problems.
Monday, 12 March 2012
What is Atmospheric Pressure?
Atmospheric pressure is the amount of force being exerted on an area by all the air above that area. Natural variations, or currents, in the atmosphere mean the actual pressure at different points on the Earth’s surface can vary. When atmospheric pressure is lower than normal, it's an indication that there are fewer air molecules above an area. If an area has a higher than normal atmospheric pressure, then it indicates there are more air molecules in the atmosphere above. The pressure in the atmosphere can affect the weather, allowing storms to form and fluctuations in temperature to occur independent of the seasons.
The air that comprises the atmosphere of the Earth is made of several types of molecules. These molecules are like any other, except they are not visible to the human eye and are in a gaseous form. The gravity of the Earth still acts on the molecules and draws them toward the surface. This pulling of the air creates pressure on every surface on Earth.
The higher a person moves into the atmosphere, the lower the atmospheric pressure becomes. This is because, as an object moves upward, the amount of air molecules above it decreases because the distance between the object and the edge of the atmosphere is shorter. Similarly, if an object is taken below the surface of the Earth, below sea level, then the pressure that the object is experiencing will begin to increase, because more air will be on top of it.
Atmospheric pressure can be measured with a device known as a barometer. One common form of a barometer uses liquid mercury in a U-shaped tube. If there are changes in atmospheric pressure, then the mercury inside the glass will react and either move closer to or farther away from an opening in the glass. The result is that the mercury will either rise or fall to indicate a change. Another type of barometer uses a sealed glass capsule that expands or contracts as the pressure outside changes.
Weather patterns across the planet are affected by atmospheric pressure, and the weather itself also can affect the pressure. Tornadoes and other violent cyclonic disturbances are often centralized in an area of incredibly low pressure because of the large-scale movements of the air. High-pressure areas, which have more mass than normal, cause clear weather and calm conditions. The temperature in an area, as well as the humidity, also can affect the pressure by expanding or contracting air or saturating it with tiny water particles.
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