The current BD disks easily handle 1080p HD movie content, including some typical “bonus” features on a single disk, thanks to 25GB (single layer) and 50GB (double layer) capacity.

The BDXL format, with up to 128GB, could potentially enable the next generation of home video playback. The downside, of course, would be that a new generation of players (and monitors) would also be required. However, staying within the Blu-Ray family would be a boon for compatibility and licensing issues (sorry, Toshiba).

How would the math work? Would 128GB be sufficient for 4K? Fortunately the answer is a simple yes. Rather than studying bit rates and compression, if we simply look at pixels and scale up we can determine feasibility.

1080p = 1920 * 1080 = 2.07 Million Pixels

4K = 4096 * 2160 = 8.85 Million Pixels

8.85 / 2.07 = 4.28 times more pixels in 4K

You can see the difference visually below (image from Wikipedia)

Today’s BD movies average around 19-27 GB in size, for the “feature” movie:

 27GB * 4.28 = 115.43 GB required for 4K

As you can see, the math works out nicely. Now all we need to do is sit back for a couple years and listen for announcements.

I wonder if the iPhone has been the true motivator for a tablet. I don’t know about you, but if I’m sitting comfortably in a chair with an iPhone, it is pretty hard to get up to go to another room to get on the web. I spend a lot of time reading that tiny screen, because it is so convenient.

Laptops, meanwhile, have become these bulky, ponderous devices that hardly balance on a lap. Hardly anyone buys a big (and cheap these days!) desktop screen, but they tend to buy the largest laptop they can. So much for portable, or comfortable.

So there might be a niche, even if a small one, JUST for reading online with a tablet. What will be interesting, is to see what else is coming with this tablet device. Because I suspect handy reading and a nice size is only a fraction of what this device will be about…

DVD was a huge step forward. As the first digital format for film, it offered a stable image and a convenient viewing experience (aside from overcooked menu systems and previews). It looks good while viewing on a medium-sized screen. However, hit the “pause” button at any point and it is easy to see the muddy reality of the frames that comprise the moving image. Thumbnails, really.

Blu-Ray, then, as the winning v2.0 of digital home movies, is much better. Hit the pause button and there is virtually no loss in perceived quality. And teaming one of these newly affordable Blu-Ray players with any one of the crop of sub-$1,000 HDTV’s, and you have an affordable viewing experience hardly imagineable just ten years ago.

But meanwhile, something has gone wrong in the world of computer monitors. 24″ LCD monitors have quietly been getting WORSE resolution, trading 1920 x1200 resolution for a shorter 1920 x 1080 “FullHD” image. The unknowing computer monitor customer loses about a vertical inch of area for browsing, etc. And years have past since Apple introduced their 30″ Cinema Display, at 2400 x 1600.

Like it or not, computer monitors are now tied to the 16:9 aspect ratio of movie media. Great for a few things (wide spreadsheet), bad for most everything else. However, 4096 x 2160 is coming! This resolution is the Next Big Thing for movies, and will promise a great computer experience as well.

But it is sure long in coming. There were demos made four years ago, and no one seems eager to roll out the products, not even computer makers whose users would benefit from this resolution right away. I hope we aren’t going to reach some kind of complacency here. 1,080 is hardly impressive, consider it isn’t even twice the vertical resolution of ancient S-VGA at 800 x 600!

Let’s hope that we start seeing 4096 x 2160 in more places, soon.

I have tons of comments with my posts, and especially with the technical help ones, I am going to try to move everything over. But account information may get lost, so sorry for that.

This month I will be doing this move, so stay tuned.

Anyway, welcome to the newer, cheapskate version of the CrazyGadgetGuru!

The truth of the matter is that we aren’t yet sure what the speeds or costs will be. The most speculative rumor is that you can pay a fixed $30/month to AT&T for 24/7 access.  Obviously, this fee would refer to the EDGE cellular internet connection. But if you are within range of WiFi, you’d most likely want to take advantage of the superior speed of that.

According to an interview today with Steve Jobs, the great news is that the switch between EDGE and WiFi will be non-intrusive and seamless. To wit:

“Interesting thing, it automatically switches to WiFi automatically — I’m in this industry, we were the first to ship a laptop with WiFi, shipped the first G, first N routers… If you choose to join a network it remembers that. But if you’re in a place and you want to join a WiFi network you haven’t joined before it prompts you. But it’s EVERYWHERE. There’s like 10x more WiFi out there than I ever thought there was. WiFi is faster than any 3G, and EDGE is very fast too.”

To help understand how this might work, I created this graphic. I will update it as needed, or certainly if there are any errors in it.

iPhone Internet Access

The basic idea here is that we would prefer to be in a WiFi hotspot both for speed and possibly lower costs. Even with 24/7 EDGE service the better speed of WiFi would probably be noticeable.

As you begin to leave town, the EDGE service would take over for 100% of your surfing needs. Anywhere the phone could be a phone, it could also be an internet appliance.  We’ll have to see. But it is nice to hear Steve Jobs put an emphasis on the simplicity of service as you transition from one mode to another. I suspect this may be one area where Cingular (aka AT&T) had to step up to the plate in new areas for iPhone integration on their network.

So here’s an idea to extend the current phone. Apple should create a new breed of product in the next year. Think miniature NAS (Network Attached Storage). Call it the “iDrive” (BMW, meet Cisco, you guys can talk about trademark infringement) or “iNAS” or something. It would be a small box the size of an iPod, but with a 2.5″ drive inside. It would have Bluetooth but no screen or interface. Turn it on and forget about it. The iPhone (or future iPods with Bluetooth) would be able to use it as a file server.

Think about it! You could put an iNAS in your car, and it could serve up multiple content to different iPods. You could put the iNAS in your bag and have a lightweight Nano-sized iPod accessing 250GB worth of files. You could put the iNAS near your computer, have it link to your 802.11 household wireless connection and serve up music to your Squeezebox or Apple TV. (Actually it is a little like an Apple TV except for being portable and just a “dumb” file server)

There you have it, a solution to the iPhone storage issue and a new product line with loads of great flexibility. This is such an obvious solution that I’d almost be surprised if they weren’t working on it already.

Bluetooth

Really short-range communication protocol with a funny name, but at least easier to remember than all those 802.11_ names. This one is all about your devices talking to each other from just a few feet away, especially the Borg-like headsets that have become all the rage. (I’ll be getting one, but will disable any blinking lights using my trusty soldering iron)

There are some really cool applications coming out for Bluetooth, and I’ll be reviewing them as they come out. GPS receiver and car stereo applications are out, so we’ll have to see how they play with Apple (if they play, perhaps I should say).

Wi-Fi (“Wireless Fidelity”)

A nonsense but handy general term for limited-range wireless communications, generally referring to “Hotspots” for internet access within 100 meters or less. Protocols include, but are not limited to:

802.11b

Circa 1999. Protocol still common today.

802.11g

Circa 2003. About four times faster than 802.11b, and backwards compatible.

Wi-Fi can be free or it can be metered up by the minute. You can set it up in your own home for “free” internet access via your computer or router. Many small businesses wanting to attract your latté dollars are offering it for free (my local Baker’s Square restaurant calls it “Wi-Pie”); other places for needy business travelers offer it for a steep connection fee.

Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA)

Under the IS-95 (2G) standard, this was originally the defacto network technology in the U.S.  It is still widely used, but GSM has been gaining momentum.

Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)

This is the standard protocol in Europe and Asia (and more), and has been for about 15 years. It is also used by U.S. carriers such as AT&T.

Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE)

Nothing like an acronym within an acronym, right? This is an enhanced GSM that allows internet access (and more) to the iPhone. Sometimes referred to “2.75G.”

General Packet Radio Services (GPRS)

Packet-based communications protocol. Noted here because it had nothing to do with GPS navigation.

Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)

Also known as “2G” or 2^nd Generation cellular communication technology. You probably don’t need to know this term.

Quad-Band

Four bands (think AM and FM on your radio) that a phone can use. These frequencies ranges are 850 (U.S.), 900 (Europe), 1800 (Europe), and 1900 (U.S.). The quad-band phone is the “world phone” that can in theory be used anywhere. The reality is a bit more complicated, but quad is a good start. Dual and tri-band phones are the alternative.

Subscriber Identity Module (As in “SIM Card”)

This is a tiny, removable flash memory card in the back of your camera. It is really the heart of how your phone establishes an identify (yes, the phone number and your phone plan hours) on the network. If you switch providers, or change phones you can transfer the physical card or copy its files to the new phone. Most phones allow you to save all your phone address information on the SIM card as well. When my sister drowned her cell phone on a vacation, she was able to get up and running with a new phone simply by transferring the old (and apparently waterproof) SIM card. You can even purchase prepaid SIM cards and use them in an unlocked cell phone.

Locked/Unlocked

An unlocked phone is a powerful thing. You don’t really “own” a phone unless it is unlocked…which means it can switch providers and/or users without any contractual commitments.

 Part 1     Part2

One goal of this blog is to inform readers of all levels about the technical features of the phone in common language. I’m trying to avoid the trap of regurgitated content and paraphrased links to news articles and rumors. I’m technically savvy, but some of this network “stuff” is new to me and I’m learning about it too.

Well, I’m doing it. And I’ll be blogging it. The miracles, the myths, the failures (well, I hope not!). The possible misspellings as I attempt to journal on a 3.5″ inch screen. One thing is for sure: it won’t be boring.

Stay tuned and follow me, the CrazyGadgetGuru, as we experience the iPhone together.

- Charles Gordon