Indeed, you will still get Moire patterns. Any input device using a regular array of pixels will be susceptible to Moire. The human eye doesn't use a regular array, and it thus much less susceptible to Moire. The "pixels" in the eye are arranged mostly randomly (but still providing smooth coverage.) Your brain figures out where the pixels really "are" in space during development (after birth.) At least, that's what I learned in school!:)
I've often wondered how hard it would be to make a chip modeled on the human eye in this regard.
I think there are several reasons for lowering quality. I've been lamenting about the ever-decreasing quality in consumer goods for some time.
I think there are several reasons for the decline:
1. Products are getting more complex and competition more intense. Most consumer electronic products are very sophisticated compared to what was sold even 10 years ago. A DVD player is basically a miniature and specialized computer and it has a large software component. In my experience, most have some issues. There always seems to be some DVD that will hang a player. The increased competition forces manufacturers to get products out quickly. As soon as something new is introduced, everyone has to have it available. This leads to short cuts in testing, and they miss stuff.
2. Software quality is decreasing. This has been discussed before about PC software, but I believe it applies to embedded software as well. As everything is software controlled and there is so much more of it, there are more opportunities for bugs. I bought a top of the line Toshiba DVD player, as I wanted quality and features. I found that most DVD players were different just based on features (software features, at that, which makes it even cheaper for them with one set of hardware and multiple software downloads.) At least one DVD (Monster's Inc's bonus disc) could lock up the machine. It has usability issues, some common items like getting the time remaining takes 6 button clicks. However, it has tons of modes, options, zooms, navi-guides, virtual remote, etc. My new JVC TV, JVC VCR, new receivers, etc. all have large amounts of software behind the scenes. As an aside, I'd love it if there was a consumer electronics software standard where I could buy something, download their software and make changes and I'd be happy to customized and make it work better and share it with the world.
3. As mentioned, people look at price first. However, they aren't too smart. Some prices are increasing (e.g. grocery stores, department stores) because it's much harder to compare prices. But it's easy for electronics and other consumer goods (fans, lights, furniture, cookware, small appliances, etc.) Indeed, people by what's cheap. Everything is plastic and engineered with no room for error. Small manufacturing defects cause complete product failure. Now my new DVD play sometimes can't retract the tray in all the way on the first try. This is after less than one year. Getting it repaired, even under warranty, is such a pain. My two-year-old JVC SVHS VCR sometimes won't take a tape. They are all plastic, of course. I bought a window fan that was like 90% plastic that was dropped in the packaging, and broke due to insufficient supports on the motor. No room for error. At least one can still get high-quality furniture! Is there any furniture you get at Walmart, target or Ikea that you'd honestly want to "pass down" to your children? (As anything other than firewood?)
4. Marketing is another problem. People used to research big purchases on specifications (at least all my friends did, or they'd ask someone more knowledgeable.) People are now more apt to make an impulsive purchase. Plus, now they look at which TV is brighter, or which one "looks better" or has catching buzz phrases, "new technology", etc. In fact, read Sound and Vision magazine, most TVs come set to bright they will burn themselves out! They do this so they look better on the showroom floor. Newer isn't always better. I bought a new Seimens 2.4 GHz because it looked interesting and my brother loved them. I sent 5 back under warranty. I even got the technician to admit that 2.4 GHz technology is inferior to 900 MHz DSS as it is more susceptible to interference and can't go through objects as good (walls, trees, etc.) Of course, everyone is now convinced that the higher the MHz, the better! They even advertise longer range, but then compared to old 900 MHz analog phones. I can't even get outside my garage with my 2.4 GHz phone, but can get to my neighbors with my 900 MHz DSS. Now we have 5.8 GHz, good luck!
5. Incompatibilities are growing (many as a result of the RIAA, MPAA). So you want that new HTDV set? Well, the tuner won't work on cable. The digital out from your new cable box is incompatible with your set's input. Gee, you can't run digital audio from your DVD-Audio player to your receiver. How many multi-channel audio formats to we need? DVD-Audio, Super Audio, DTD, Dolby Digital, etc. Can't connect your DVD player to your VCR if you run out of inputs (Macrovision), can't do proper bass management for multi-channel audio, some DVD player can't play CD-Rs, some can't play DVD-RW, some can't play DVD-RAM, some play MP3, but not VBR MP3. How many of us have a computer that's only a few years old that won't even run the latest Windows?
6. Buying habits are another coupled with planned obsolescence. People like getting new stuff, so why make it last 10 years? Why get a DVD player that will last 10 years, when we'll have super DVD or HD-DVD to make it all obsolete. Why make a PC last 4 years, when it will be a doorstop in 2? Sure you could get a nice new TV today, but after everything moves to digital, you'll need a box or a new TV. It's easier to get a new TV.
So, I buy much less stuff than I used to. At least there is some measure of quality remaining in amateur radio!
As a manager (part-time, computer scientist the rest of the time) who hires, I can't be emphatic enough when I say get a degree. While my employer will hire non-degreed people for sysadmin work, you will be limited.
First, your salary will be much lower (about $15K/year where I work) and getting a job w/o a degree and w/o tons of very good experience is very hard. Secondly, your options for growth will be limited. Sure, you may have no desire to manage people now, but what about in 10 years? 15 years? Lastly, it's very true that people without degrees are laid off first. Since the economy has turned down, we get tons of resumes from people without degrees. They go in the recycle box as there are plenty of people with degrees out there looking also.
If you really hate college, an associate's degree is still better than nothing. I have a friend with an AA who's making $65-70K, but a BA/BS is really the way to go. Plus, you may find out you have more broad interests. Perhaps computer security, which is a related field, but really needs a degree to be considered for a respectable position.
What a timely story. Earlier today, I was just going out to purchase an HDTV monitor (Toshiba 36HFX71) because my old 20" Sony died. I figure I might as well get an HD model, since they are only like $800 more than a similar flat-screen standard-definition set.
However, before leaving I just happened to check/. and saw the initial story shortly after it was posted. I read the article and decided I don't want to get one now. I was going to get a dandy new DVD player to go with it, but I guess Hollywood will have to get by without me purchasing movies, now.
It seems I keep watching less and less TV, and fewer and fewer movies. I'm sure these new "standards" will only help me reclaim more time.
It's amazing that in their greedy quest for money, they actually deter me from giving them more!
Personally, I watch nothing live on TV. I record everything I watch no matter what. I hate being stuck in front of the TV afraid to do something else and miss something. Plus, I'm rarely around when stuff I want to watch is. I won't structure my life around some lame TV-exec's schedule of when I should watch stuff. So, if they don't allow recording of everything (with the possible exception of PPV), then I won't watch anything. Nothing is really worth watching live, anway. So, that leaves more time to develop code!
Think of all of the social benefits that would come if people just stopped watching TV!
It does require a four head graphics card. I saw the unit at Lawrence Livermore, and it is extremely impressive. Wide viewing angle, very bright and you cannot see pixels no matter how hard you try.
Slashdot Mirror
Didn't Steve say some time last year that Apple will never introduce new hardware at WWDC?
Of course, the way of Steve is complex and sometimes contradictory.
Indeed, you will still get Moire patterns. Any input device using a regular array of pixels will be susceptible to Moire. The human eye doesn't use a regular array, and it thus much less susceptible to Moire. The "pixels" in the eye are arranged mostly randomly (but still providing smooth coverage.) Your brain figures out where the pixels really "are" in space during development (after birth.) At least, that's what I learned in school! :)
I've often wondered how hard it would be to make a chip modeled on the human eye in this regard.
I think there are several reasons for lowering quality. I've been lamenting about the ever-decreasing quality in consumer goods for some time.
I think there are several reasons for the decline:
1. Products are getting more complex and competition more intense. Most consumer electronic products are very sophisticated compared to what was sold even 10 years ago. A DVD player is basically a miniature and specialized computer and it has a large software component. In my experience, most have some issues. There always seems to be some DVD that will hang a player. The increased competition forces manufacturers to get products out quickly. As soon as something new is introduced, everyone has to have it available. This leads to short cuts in testing, and they miss stuff.
2. Software quality is decreasing. This has been discussed before about PC software, but I believe it applies to embedded software as well. As everything is software controlled and there is so much more of it, there are more opportunities for bugs. I bought a top of the line Toshiba DVD player, as I wanted quality and features. I found that most DVD players were different just based on features (software features, at that, which makes it even cheaper for them with one set of hardware and multiple software downloads.) At least one DVD (Monster's Inc's bonus disc) could lock up the machine. It has usability issues, some common items like getting the time remaining takes 6 button clicks. However, it has tons of modes, options, zooms, navi-guides, virtual remote, etc. My new JVC TV, JVC VCR, new receivers, etc. all have large amounts of software behind the scenes. As an aside, I'd love it if there was a consumer electronics software standard where I could buy something, download their software and make changes and I'd be happy to customized and make it work better and share it with the world.
3. As mentioned, people look at price first. However, they aren't too smart. Some prices are increasing (e.g. grocery stores, department stores) because it's much harder to compare prices. But it's easy for electronics and other consumer goods (fans, lights, furniture, cookware, small appliances, etc.) Indeed, people by what's cheap. Everything is plastic and engineered with no room for error. Small manufacturing defects cause complete product failure. Now my new DVD play sometimes can't retract the tray in all the way on the first try. This is after less than one year. Getting it repaired, even under warranty, is such a pain. My two-year-old JVC SVHS VCR sometimes won't take a tape. They are all plastic, of course. I bought a window fan that was like 90% plastic that was dropped in the packaging, and broke due to insufficient supports on the motor. No room for error. At least one can still get high-quality furniture! Is there any furniture you get at Walmart, target or Ikea that you'd honestly want to "pass down" to your children? (As anything other than firewood?)
4. Marketing is another problem. People used to research big purchases on specifications (at least all my friends did, or they'd ask someone more knowledgeable.) People are now more apt to make an impulsive purchase. Plus, now they look at which TV is brighter, or which one "looks better" or has catching buzz phrases, "new technology", etc. In fact, read Sound and Vision magazine, most TVs come set to bright they will burn themselves out! They do this so they look better on the showroom floor. Newer isn't always better. I bought a new Seimens 2.4 GHz because it looked interesting and my brother loved them. I sent 5 back under warranty. I even got the technician to admit that 2.4 GHz technology is inferior to 900 MHz DSS as it is more susceptible to interference and can't go through objects as good (walls, trees, etc.) Of course, everyone is now convinced that the higher the MHz, the better! They even advertise longer range, but then compared to old 900 MHz analog phones. I can't even get outside my garage with my 2.4 GHz phone, but can get to my neighbors with my 900 MHz DSS. Now we have 5.8 GHz, good luck!
5. Incompatibilities are growing (many as a result of the RIAA, MPAA). So you want that new HTDV set? Well, the tuner won't work on cable. The digital out from your new cable box is incompatible with your set's input. Gee, you can't run digital audio from your DVD-Audio player to your receiver. How many multi-channel audio formats to we need? DVD-Audio, Super Audio, DTD, Dolby Digital, etc. Can't connect your DVD player to your VCR if you run out of inputs (Macrovision), can't do proper bass management for multi-channel audio, some DVD player can't play CD-Rs, some can't play DVD-RW, some can't play DVD-RAM, some play MP3, but not VBR MP3. How many of us have a computer that's only a few years old that won't even run the latest Windows?
6. Buying habits are another coupled with planned obsolescence. People like getting new stuff, so why make it last 10 years? Why get a DVD player that will last 10 years, when we'll have super DVD or HD-DVD to make it all obsolete. Why make a PC last 4 years, when it will be a doorstop in 2? Sure you could get a nice new TV today, but after everything moves to digital, you'll need a box or a new TV. It's easier to get a new TV.
So, I buy much less stuff than I used to. At least there is some measure of quality remaining in amateur radio!
As a manager (part-time, computer scientist the rest of the time) who hires, I can't be emphatic enough when I say get a degree. While my employer will hire non-degreed people for sysadmin work, you will be limited.
First, your salary will be much lower (about $15K/year where I work) and getting a job w/o a degree and w/o tons of very good experience is very hard. Secondly, your options for growth will be limited. Sure, you may have no desire to manage people now, but what about in 10 years? 15 years? Lastly, it's very true that people without degrees are laid off first. Since the economy has turned down, we get tons of resumes from people without degrees. They go in the recycle box as there are plenty of people with degrees out there looking also.
If you really hate college, an associate's degree is still better than nothing. I have a friend with an AA who's making $65-70K, but a BA/BS is really the way to go. Plus, you may find out you have more broad interests. Perhaps computer security, which is a related field, but really needs a degree to be considered for a respectable position.
-Norman
What a timely story. Earlier today, I was just going out to purchase an HDTV monitor (Toshiba 36HFX71) because my old 20" Sony died. I figure I might as well get an HD model, since they are only like $800 more than a similar flat-screen standard-definition set.
/. and saw the initial story shortly after it was posted. I read the article and decided I don't want to get one now. I was going to get a dandy new DVD player to go with it, but I guess Hollywood will have to get by without me purchasing movies, now.
However, before leaving I just happened to check
It seems I keep watching less and less TV, and fewer and fewer movies. I'm sure these new "standards" will only help me reclaim more time.
It's amazing that in their greedy quest for money, they actually deter me from giving them more!
Personally, I watch nothing live on TV. I record everything I watch no matter what. I hate being stuck in front of the TV afraid to do something else and miss something. Plus, I'm rarely around when stuff I want to watch is. I won't structure my life around some lame TV-exec's schedule of when I should watch stuff. So, if they don't allow recording of everything (with the possible exception of PPV), then I won't watch anything. Nothing is really worth watching live, anway. So, that leaves more time to develop code!
Think of all of the social benefits that would come if people just stopped watching TV!
It does require a four head graphics card. I saw the unit at Lawrence Livermore, and it is extremely impressive. Wide viewing angle, very bright and you cannot see pixels no matter how hard you try.