Blu-ray Disc (BD) and MKV File

What is Blu-ray Disc ?

Blu-ray Disc is a next-generation, optical disc format that enables the ultimate high-def entertainment experience. Blu-ray Disc provides these key features and advantages:

- Maximum picture resolution. Blu-ray Disc delivers full 1080p* video resolution to provide pristine picture quality.

- Largest capacity available anywhere (25 GB single layer/50 GB dual layer). Blu-ray Disc offers up to 5X the capacity of today’s DVDs.

- Best audio possible. Blu-ray Disc provides as many as 7.1 channels of native, uncompressed surround sound for crystal-clear audio entertainment.

- Enhanced interactivity. Enjoy such capabilities as seamless menu navigation, exciting, new bonus features, and network/Internet connectivity.

- Broadest industry support from brands you trust. More than 90% of major Hollywood studios, virtually all leading consumer electronics companies, four of the top computer brands, the world’s two largest music companies, PLAYSTATION® 3 and the leading gaming companies, all support Blu-ray Disc.

- The largest selection of high-def playback devices. Blu-ray Disc is supported by many of the leading consumer electronics and computing manufacturers. That means you can maximize the use of your HDTV and your home entertainment system with the widest selection of high-def playback devices—including players, recorders, computers, aftermarket drives and the PLAYSTATION® 3 game console.

- Backward compatibility**. Blu-ray Disc players enable you to continue to view and enjoy your existing DVD libraries.

- Disc robustness. Breakthroughs in hard-coating technologies enable Blu-ray Disc to offer the strongest resistance to scratches and fingerprints.

*HDTV required. As with other optical media devices, user factors and other circumstances may limit Blu-ray Disc playback. Some content may require HDMI compatible TV for high-definition playback.

**Product-dependent feature.

Why is the format called Blu-ray Disc?

The name Blu-ray came from the fact that the laser beam which reads the data from the new discs is blue instead of red which is used for current DVDs and CDs. This new blue laser is at the heart of Blu-ray Disc technology (i.e. blue ray of light).

What is the difference between Blu-ray Disc and DVD?

Just as DVD meant a five to 10 times increase in storage capacity compared to CD, Blu-ray Disc represents an increase over DVD capacity by five to 10 times. This is due, among other reasons, to the usage of a blue instead of a red laser and improved lens specifications, allowing for a much smaller focus laser beam which enables the recording of much smaller and higher density pits on the disc.

Due to the fact that the data layer on a Blu-ray Disc is placed much “closer” to the laser lens than in DVD, there is less distortion resulting in significantly improved tolerances. Hence, more precision and ultra-high storage densities are now possible.

(Quoted directly from the official web site of the Blu-ray Disc Association - www.blu-raydisc.com)

MKV File

The Matroska Multimedia Container is an open stardard, free container format, a file format that can hold an unlimited number of video, audio, picture or subtitle tracks inside a single file. It is intended to serve as a universal format for storing common multimedia content, like movies or TV shows. Matroska is similar in concept to other containers like AVI, MP4 or ASF, but is entirely open in specification, with implementations consisting mostly of open sourse software. Matroska file types are .MKV for video (with subtitles and audio), .MKA for audio-only files and .MKS for subtitles only.

Content in Matroska

Initially the uptake of the format was low. It was used almost exclusively for DVD rips of anime, as the container allowed the viewer to choose between the original language track and a dub with the option of subtitle. It also allowed for variable frame rates. In recent years, however, Matroska has seen wider use due to the warez scene adopting it as a format of choice for high definition content ripped from HDTV and next generation video discs (HD DVD and Blu-ray). The format usually carries H.264 video, one or more AC3/AAC/DTS/Vorbis audio tracks and sometimes one or more subtitle tracks (coupled with TrueType or OpenType fonts).

(Quoted from Wikipedia)

The purpose I wrote this article because a friend of mine asked me what they are few days ago. BD as you read from the above is a completely new kind of disc which gives you the best watching experience so far (as technology is becoming more advanced everyday). Its quality (together with the LCD TV or LED TV and 5.1 or 7.1 Home Theatre System) is very much better compared to a DVD. You yourself can make a comparison between them if you always “get” movies from the internet (the word download is prohibited here as it is illegal). Though, the movies you “got” are already compressed, not that original BD (yet still, you can spot the difference between a DVD and a BD). You will find out that the movie is really crystal clear (you can see this in the electrical appliance shop which is playing a BD movie).

However, a BD is sold at around RM 100-150 per disc (http://www.speedy.com.my/store) which is an exorbitant price for Malaysians. Besides, the blu-ray players also cost at least RM1000++ . Meanwhile, the blu-ray ROM and blu-ray RW for PC are sold at around RM300 and RM1000++ respectively. Therefore, price is the main obstacle that makes BD not yet commercialised in Malaysia. It is still left to the rich people to enjoy this high-definition (HD) experience. I hope that the price will drop as soon as possible so that I (should be my family, haha) can afford to buy them (BD player, BD RW and BD).

Meanwhile, a MKV file is a container that you can put in a BD-ripped movie (normally), several audio (different languages) and several subtitles (different languages as well). It gives you the flexibility to change in between the audios and subtitles. That is the main reason I always try to “get” those movies in MKV format.

In a nutshell, even though many of us currently still cannot afford to buy a full set of blu-ray system, we can still enjoy the HD experience of BD by connecting your PC to your HDTV and playing your “gotten” HD movies (in my case, the movies are in MKV format). Further information can always be obtained from the internet. I am just sharing a small part that I know. Hope they are correct.

Blog @ busy moment

It has been 4 months ago since my last blog. Writing blog needs time (especially a good one - hehe). Talking about last semester, it had been a busy semester (but not as busy as this semester). At the end of last semester, I experienced something new in my life – absent from final exams (due to chicken pox). Therefore, I was required to sit for another replacement exam named Peperiksaan Khas (Special Exam) in the beginning of next semester( which is the semester I am taking now). By the time I am writing this blog, the exams were done (I even have known the results though they are not officially out yet).

At here, I would like to give credits to my friends who had helped me. First, thanks to Soon Seng who gave me a ride (no, 2 rides actually) and also clues in answering Pemikiran Kreatif dan Kritis paper (though I didn’t score, don’t worry SS, not your fault, my fault). Thanks very much. I am really proud having a new friend like you. Sometimes, when something is fated to happen, it will surely happen. I didn’t join you guys go Vietnam, then I had chicken pox. Which event was arranged to happen first? I don’t know. Just know that I was given clue not to go or else might have chicken pox during trip. Almighty God (God here means the ones that you believe in your religion. I want to emphasize here so that people will not be confused as the word Allah do in the nation nowadays).

Secondly, thanks to Tai Koon who lent me (the correct word to use is lend (past tense lent), not borrow. Lend = to give something to someone for a short period of time, expecting it to be given back ; borrow = to get or receive something from someone with the intention of giving it back after a period of time. A lot of people do this mistake. Don’t think I am “correcting” people, but I am just sharing my (linguistic) knowledge. When something is incorrect, it is just incorrect, don’t always give excuse to yourself or else you (including myself) will not learn) your past year questions with your answers so that I am able to compare during my self-study in semester break at home. Thanks.

Thirdly, thank to my roommate – Tze Wei (Happy Birthday to you (yesterday), may your wish come true and always keep the laughing face in you) who brought me my notes and books which I needed in order for me to sit for my (part 2)final exam papers(as there was an one-week gap in my papers). There was my first time going your house after knowing you for 3 years (including this semester) and being your roommate for 2 years (including this semester as well). Talking about roommate, I found that we talk less compared to the time before we were roommate (which was first year). Haha. Maybe we see everyday thus become lackadaisical already. Don’t worry, no problem here. It is just a fact. Others please don’t try to sabotage our relationship. Hehe. Therefore sometimes I like distance as well. Just sometimes. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. This apply to all.

Finishing talking about last semester, now I like to talk about this semester. This semester is a hectic semester after all those year-end holidays. I celebrated Christmas in Singapore last year. I were and am happy to be the (so-called) tour guide of the trip with my course mates (Wilfred, Victoria, Tay, Ong, Arthur and (my beloved co-tour guide) Nai). Actually, we just explored Singapore together. The transportation system is very good. It is well planned. Hope the Malaysia government learn from it. Don’t we have all those ‘power power’ people up there in the government (who are very well in “talk big” (cakap besar), who are graduate from renowned universities in the world, who are always making the “wise” decision “for” the Rakyat). Not that I am not patriotic, but sometimes we are really not doing well in a particular field. It is an undoubted fact. Please change for the better especially mindset. No point saying you are first class graduate (even some are not), but you don’t even flush the toilet after you pass motion. All in all, the Christmas celebration in Singapore is a new experience to me. Every new experience will just be nice to me. It is the place I learn to be a better man. A lot of unforgettable memory during that time. Write a special article about it when I have time later. Meanwhile, I celebrated my 2010 new year at The Zon in JB. We drank there, watched fireworks there, bought chocolate bar there. On 1st January, we went to CS to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks - the squeakquel, to go shopping and then had dinner there. The chocolate ice cream in Swensen’s is just nice. I love it.

After all those year-end celebration, my life is extremely busy. Tests, assignments and projects just pour in. A lot to read, a lot to do. Just like everyone else does out there. Besides, I have to choose the company that I will undergo my internship and also my final year project (FYP) supervisor. Thanks God, I have got my internship company – VSL Engineers Sdn. Bhd.. Hope that I will be learning a lot there, not just going there for the sake it is an international renowned company. May that time my internship “boss” will just be fine. I don’t mind learning the hard way, just scare that people are not lending you their helping hands. About FYP. I have found mine (haha, don’t want to tell here as my other friends do initially. Keeping it as secret – scare you will grab my chance with the supervisor. Haha. Just telling truth, if you feel offended, then it is my fault, sorry ; if you feel guilty, it is not your fault. You are just doing the right thing. C'est La Vie). Mine is Assoc. Prof. Abdul Rahman Sam. May change it after I find out more appropriate field for me after internship. Hope so.

“Pen” off here. It is 4am now. I have spent my time allocated for study for tests and doing assignments writing this article. But, I feel worth it. Writing what I am thinking is a pleasure for me. I like sharing sincerely ; I detest hypocrisy. Last but not least, this semester I have a English course lecturer who emphasizes very much on grammar. It is a good thing as many of us don’t master it. Once the lecturer emphasizes it, the students have to study in order for an A. I don’t hope they study that way but no choice. I am not superb in language, but just slightly read more than you guys. You guys also do have your strengths. I just hope that you guys will not say that language is useless. Calculation is more important all those. Please think how if you are working in an international company or abroad (as many of us hope to be), will you say language is not important that time or will your manager accept your paper work which has lots of grammatical errors. Just simply an example. Not to insult others but just hope that people don’t think people who learn language is less useful. Please remember that the phrase “I love you” that you said or will say to your lover is also a part of language. Pen off.

My Theory of Structures Lecturer

3 September 2009 12.30am

The result of the teams qualified for the bridge competition had finally come out. Yeah, my group’s proposal had been declined (meaning that my group can no more compete with others). Don’t know how to describe the feeling. Ambivalent. Am I disappointed? Yes, because we really hope can win the competition or at least have some experience with that, but now my group is not even qualified. So, just forget it. At the same time, I feel a bit (just a little bit) happy since I am now free again (need not spend a lot of time to design, build and present my bridge). Therefore, life goes on like normal. Study > Raya break > Test 2 > relax > study week > final exam > semester break > …to be continued.

This semester I have a very interesting lecturer, Dr. Airil, my Theory of Structures lecturer. I say he is interesting because he is a young clever (Malay) lecturer whose alma mater is UTM as well. But later, he pursued his PhD in Imperial College, London where he met his lovely and respectable supervisor, Prof. David A. Nethercot (Dr. Airil always says how powerful Prof. Nethercot is ,hence he is also power gila babi as well (the word babi does not mean any criticism, just simply a word to show how powerful he is, he himself says this sentence in class too)). So, Dr. Airil did go overseas to further study, experiencing western life there.(He likes to play guitar too).

In my opinion, Dr. Airil is clever and confident. When one has knowledge, he will be confident ; when one is diffident, he has no knowledge. Is the second statement correct? Think about it. Since he is open-minded, his way of teaching is different from the others. He does not spoon-feed us. He always ask us to read more and think. He very rarely uses PowerPoint. What he brings when entering the class are just two books (Structural Analysis by R.C.Hibbeler and Teori Struktur by Yusof Ahmad) and several marker pens (red, black and blue). That’s all he brings in. But, of course, he brings along his brilliant mind which is full of knowledge he gains from reading as well. His different way of teaching (asking us to read more ourselves) may not give us good result as we are so used to be spoon-fed (given all the notes and taught what only come out in the exam, however, this way of learning is too exam-orientated. We are pursuing for A instead of knowledge).However, something is much more precious if we get it ourselves. Do it the right way, not the easy way.

I hope that my Uni will have more lecturers like he so that my Uni (and also my country) education system will be better. Meanwhile, all the other lecturers who are teaching me are responsible and good as well. Hehe.

My Cup of Tea

Nowadays, it seems like most of the people get their cup of tea very early, but why not me? Perhaps I prefer coffee to tea, particularly the 3-in-1 coffee (which is a very good friend of mine especially during the exam week or assignment time. Hehe.)Or it is maybe that I just do not know how to enjoy tea, so there is no tea for me to taste even a little bit.

Sometimes, you may have found your favorite cup of tea, but that cup is too sought after as it is very hot. Besides tea, there are still lots of beverages for me to choose. However, I do not like to have a cup just for the sake of having (as many of your friends do have theirs). Fortunately, there are still friends who have not found their cup of tea (just like me) or lost theirs as the cups are too hot.So, let's find our cup of tea together but not the same cup oh or else....Haha. All in all, I am still searching for my favorite cup of tea, in the mean time, improving myself to be a better man, equipping myself with all kinds of skills needed to be great tea taster.