Blu-ray and DVD Covers: The Cover Says It All

Blu-ray and DVD Covers: The Cover Says It All
What can be more fun, challenging, and rewarding than being
able to create your own DVD and Blu-ray covers? Perhaps the
principles applied in making your own DVD and blu-ray
covers can be similar with making a book cover design. The
work allows you use and explore your imagination and to
express individuality. You can either create a personalized
cover design or make use of some current DVD media covers,
which you can further enhance or modify even depending on
preference. Either way, you would still end up feeling like
a fulfilled visual artist.

How it began:

Basically, the DVD and blu-ray cover concept evolved from
the creation of blu-ray disc. Developed by the Blur-ray
Disc Association, Bluray or Blu-ray Disc is defined as an
optical disc storage media format. The disc functions as a
standard CD or DVD but with high-definition video and
higher data storage features. Shorter wavelength means
greater data storage. And with the Blu-ray Disc having a
405 nm wavelength, it can significantly store more data
than any DVD format (with 650 nm wavelength).

Having been recently developed, the Blu-ray disc is among
the perceived potential replacements for DVD. This can be
true enough if it were to base on factors such as disc
capacity, reading mechanism, and usage. The Disc has 25 GB
capacity (single layer) and 50 GB capacity (dual layer). It
uses the blue-violet laser for reading mechanism, which
again is of shorter wavelength. Also, the disc can be used
mainly for input or recording of high-definition video,
PlayStation games, and data storage. Thus, the Blu-ray disc
may really be way ahead from other disc storage media
available.

Blu-ray Disc developer:

The Blu-ray Disc Association consists of companies that
represent computer hardware, consumer electronics, and
motion picture production. Apparently, the standard
Blue-ray Disc entails several patents from these
constituent companies. A joint licensing agreement has been
finalized just last March of 2007. And a more recent
development is release of more 450 Blu-ray Disc titles in
United States and Japan last 19 Feb 2008.

High quality covers matter:

Presentation does matter. This can be true for most people
particularly those who are deeply keen to collecting film
or game videos. Apparently, disc covers can say a lot to
the quality of the product (good film or game) or the disc
itself (e.g., special features, capabilities). It is not
surprising how poor presentation can instantly affect
consumer's buying preference and decision.

Specifically, Blu-ray and DVD covers are purposely created
or produced at the highest quality possible. Even the
biggest movie producing companies and studios (e.g., Warner
Brothers, Walt Disney, Buena Vista Home Entertainment,
Paramount, Sony etc.) have begun distributing movie copies
in Blu-ray format, and so it goes with the cover. Also,
there are even specific web sites that offer covering and
labels for Blu-ray and DVD cases. So either you make your
own or have others make it for you. Either way, you can
definitely be assured of a high-quality output.

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DVD Covers and Blu-ray covers really do say a lot about
your movie collection. Most of the time, studio covers just
don't convey the look and feel of the movie which is why
people create their own. To learn more about DVD Covers and
Blu-ray Covers please visit http://www.dvdcoversfuzion.com/
.

Are Computers Killing Photography?

Are Computers Killing Photography?
Digital photography has beginners all over the world
desperate to learn how to take better photos using their
digital cameras. Where can they learn the skills of good
photography?

A few years ago, I wrote an ebook to teach beginners the
basics of good photography. You know, aperture, shutter
speed, depth of field, lighting, composition; the sort of
things experienced photographers take for granted. In
recent times, I have been amazed at the increasing number
of people eager to get their hands on this type of
information.

With the internet seemingly taking over the world, and the
explosion in availability of books, ebooks and courses on
just about every subject, why is it so hard for a new
photographer to find out how to use their camera? It's a
mystery for the modern age, but I think I may have found
the answer.

If a person has a bad experience, especially if that
experience cost them hard-earned dollars, they will tell
others. And what they are telling me is that they are NOT
HAPPY with most of the photography courses and guides on
offer.

Many courses and workshops advertising 'digital
photography' have little or nothing to do with actual
photography. That's right, you can sign up to learn the
skills of better photography and not learn one thing about
taking better photos.

What you get instead is a workshop in photo-editing. How to
fix up your bad photos, how to superimpose rainbows and
birds into your landscapes and how to remove freckles and
pimples from your portraits. How to use software which, in
many cases, the customer doesn't have, doesn't want and
possibly can't afford.

Are these useful skills? Of course they are, but they are
not photography. At best, they are peripheral skills that
relate to photography, for people (and there are plenty of
them) who choose to go down that path.

The result could be a generation of 'photographers' who
know more about fixing up their mistakes on a computer than
about taking good photos in the first place.

If a customer pays you to teach them photography, they have
a right to expect that they will learn how to use a camera.
If they want to learn about computer software, they will
buy a different ebook, or sign up to a different course. If
you take their money, then sit them in front of a computer
for three days, you have not given them what they paid for.
If your customer asks for their money back - so they should.

I could take a pessimistic view, and think that some
photographers have become so lazy, so unskilled, that they
really believe digital manipulation is more important to
photography than skill with a camera. I prefer to think
that the customers I have spoken to have just been the
victims of misunderstandings and poorly worded advertising.

Whichever is the case, customers beware! Before you hand
over your money, find out exactly what you are signing up
for. If you want to learn how to take better photos, make
sure the course (or workshop, or ebook etc) is about the
camera, not just the computer. If software is a component
of the course, terrific - you are getting a well rounded
look at the world of photography. If it is the only
component, shop around; there are still people out there
who want to teach what you want to learn.

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Andrew Goodall is a professional nature photographer of
over 20 years experience, and has released two top selling
ebooks on the art and essential skills of photography.
Check them out at http://www.naturesimage.com.au
Andrew's simple belief is that with a small amount of
guidance, anybody can take better photos, no matter what
sort of camera they have.

Blu-Ray Technology Revolutionizes the Movie Industry

Blu-Ray Technology Revolutionizes the Movie Industry
The advancement of technology has truly come a long way and
has changed the way people watch movies for the better It
was not long ago that people watch movies at home through
their VCR's which accepts Betamax tapes and VHS tapes.
These bulky tapes were replaced first by VCDs or video
compact discs that have a storage capacity of 700 MB.
Because of the low storage capacity of these VCDs, one full
length movie requires two VCDs. LaserDiscs (LD) soon
replaced VCDs but was short-live as DVDs entered the scene.
DVDs are short for Digital Versatile Discs and have six
times the storage capacity of that of VCDs.

A single DVD with a storage capacity of 4.7 GB is capable
of storing one full-length movie as well as other
behind-the-scene footages and other extra features. Because
of this, DVDs have revolutionized the movie industry as
more and more people are buying DVDs and watching them at
home. The DVD may however be replaced by a new technology
that would further enhance the movie industry. This new
technology is known as Blu-Ray.

Blu-Ray technology is considered to be the next-generation
DVD. Blu-Ray Discs or BD can record, store and are able to
play back more video, digital audio, as well as computer
data. BDs can also store a full length high-definition
movie which usually takes a higher bandwidth and storage
space. Compared to DVDs. Blu-Ray Discs have the advantage
on the amount of information that it can store. A
single-layer BD has the capacity to store 27 GB of digital
information. This single-layer BD is enough to hold more
than two hours of high-definition videos or to hold more
than 13 hours of standard video. A double-layer BD on the
other hand can be able to store more than 4.5 hours of
high-definition video because of its 50 GB storage capacity.

Optical disc storage media such as DVDs and BDs uses laser
light to write and read information Blu-Ray technology uses
blue-violet rays instead of the red ray used for Digital
Versatile Discs (DVDs). The amount of information that can
be stored in discs is dependent on how large and precise
the laser light is. Blue laser has a shorter wavelength
than that of red laser and because of this, blue laser is
more precise and can write information in much smaller
spaces. This is the reason why a lot more information can
be stored in a Blu-Ray disc.

A huge storage capacity is not the only advantage of a
Blu-Ray technology. Blu-Ray Discs can also transfer
information at a higher rate. BDs have a data transfer rate
of 36 Mbps (megabits per second) which is higher than that
of DVDs which transfer only at 10 Mbps.

Blu-Ray technology is in competition with the High
Definition DVD (HD DVD) formats for becoming the official
storage medium for High Definition movies. Blu-Ray discs
were first utilized by Sony in their PlayStation 3 games
and because of this, BD is now becoming popular among giant
movie production studios such as Warner Brothers which have
stated that they will only release their High Definition
movies in BD formats starting May of 2008.

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Digital media such as Blu-ray and DVD have been an interest
of mine for a extended period now. As new media technology
emerges I feel that it is important to keep up to date and
in tune with the market. To learn more about DVD Covers and
Blu-ray Covers please visit http://www.dvdcoversfuzion.com/
.

Stringing The Pearls Of Poesy

Stringing The Pearls Of Poesy
In this new age of information, poetry has taken on a whole
new level of excellence. I started writing poetry when I
was twenty-four, which became a significant outlet for me
to express my spiritual side of my character. Even through
my pain and suffering and through the glorious times, it
seemed to help enrich others, as well as myself. By the
means of writing my experiences in short poetical form and
then sharing my poetry has become truly a remarkable
journey. The responses that I have had with people of all
ages has been deeply rewarding for me and how it is capable
of truly touching a person's heart as the poem speaks to
them or even yet helps them as well.

My goal is to write my poetry from the heart then to share
it with others. A special and close friend of mine said to
me "what we create must be shared because there is someone
out there that has wished to see or read that special
creation". How glorious it is when someone gets excited
when we had became brave enough to share our work with
them. I have found we have a need for the elevating beauty
of art to uplift and influence the soul.

I prefer to focus on the beauty of reality in my poetry and
not to be cynical and dwell on the gloomy aspects of life.
I have come to realize that darkness is the absence of
light; ignorance is the absence of knowledge. We have a
need to express the spiritual inner truths we have come to
learn and feel deep within. My inspiration comes from a
place of an enriching experience.

Follow Yourself

Open your heart
Show your art
Watch it become a part
Of its decoration
Of creation.
Watch it flow
Like the wind blows
Through the meadow
Be at peace with it
Watch it grow
Follow forward
To your inspiration
There is a destination.

By: Ryan Daniels

Poetry is a wonderful exercise for stimulating the brain.
Becoming open to new experiences, and a change in previous
ways of thinking about your experiences is the key. The
fruits that can come from revealing our inner expression
can help our spirit to soar and reach such great heights
that it can branch to other grand opportunities as we
expand our thoughts and become progressive with our writing
or any other wonderful form of art for that matter.

I wish for you many enriching experiences and grand
opportunities on your journey through life!

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Words of inspiration and rhymes, Ryan is the Author of
"Treasured Portraits Visual Poetry Of Infinite
Possibilities"
http://ryandaniels.net

14 Funny Quotes to Celebrate April Fool's Day

14 Funny Quotes to Celebrate April Fool's Day
April Fool's Day is almost upon us, and what better way to
warm up our laughter than with a few funny quotes? Chances
are, you're going to pull a few pranks (and be the center
of one or two) when April 1st rolls around. Let these funny
quotes get your humorous side ready for this day of great
fun.

1. "April 1. This is the day upon which we are reminded of
what we are on the other three hundred and sixty-four." ~
Mark Twain

2. "It is the ability to take a joke, not make one, that
proves you have a sense of humor." ~ Max Eastman

3. "Isn't it appropriate that the month of the tax begins
with April Fool's Day and ends with cries of "May Day!"?" ~
Author Unknown

4. "Here cometh April again, and as far as I can see the
world hath more fools in it than ever." ~ Charles Lamb

5. "I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a
single word of what I am saying." ~ Oscar Wilde

6. "Love is like a booger. You keep picking at it until you
get it, then wonder what to do with it." ~ Author Unknown

7. "You grow up the day you have your first real laugh --
at yourself." ~ Ethel Barrymore

8. "You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog
will give you this look that says, "My God, you're right! I
never would've thought of that!" ~ Dave Barry

9. "The full area of ignorance is not mapped. We are at
present only exploring the fringes." ~ JD Bernal

10. "Show me a sane man and I will cure him for you." ~
Carl Gustav Jung

11. "A word to the wise ain't necessary -- it's the stupid
ones that need the advice" ~ Bill Cosby

12. Everything is funny as long as it is happening to
somebody else. ~ Will Rogers

13. "I sometimes wonder if the manufacturers of foolproof
items keep a fool or two on their payroll to test things."
~ Alan Coren

14. "A sense of humor is the only divine quality of man." ~
Arthur Schopenhauer

While the phrase "April fool" started out as a way to
ridicule those who refused to change with the times (back
in the 1500's) it's now a way to share our humorous side
with family, friends and colleagues. This year, make a
promise to yourself to play at least one April Fool's joke
and to be a good sport when you're the butt of one. After
all, the ability to laugh at one's self is a sure sign that
you're not really a fool, regardless of what day or month
it is. Get yourself in the laughing mood with the above 14
funny quotes.

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For more funny quotes, check out the popular funny quotes
section of Famous-Quotes-And-Quotations.com, a website that
specializes in 'Top 10' lists of quotations in dozens of
categories.
http://www.famous-quotes-and-quotations.com/funny-quote.html