Craving high definition audio visual to complement your home theatre system?

Audio visual and entertainment technologies have come along way – particularly with the development of HDMI cables which reduce consumer confusion with their standardised connections.

Forget the once-common nightmare of hundreds of cords connecting your audio visual and home theatre. With HDMI you can easily connect televisions, audio visual, Blu-ray disc players, multimedia PCs, gaming systems, digital camcorders, and more.

To find out if your audio visual equipment is HDMI compatible or if you have any questions be sure to get in touch with your local home theatre distributor.

It’s the must-have home theatre appliance for any home entertainment guru, but choosing the right flat screen can be a whopper of a decision with so many options available in LCD and Plasma screens.

Ask any expert and they can wax lyrical about the advantages of Plasma vs LCD for hours, but in finding the right big screen for your entertainment and living situation you’ll need to do a little research.

Plasma TV has been declared one of the most important developments in consumer electronics technologies of the past decade, thanks to the edge it has traditionally had in display quality of contrast.

LCD TV displays however have been fast catching up with this technology, and are said to offer a lighter and les power-hungry alternative for space and eco-conscious consumers.

Some of Wellington’s most innovative technology companies and local industry stars are showing their skills at today’s Gadgets, Games and Geeks techfest.

The event offers an exciting opportunity for the public to see both the latest innovations, and catch-up on industry trends, developments and expertise.

Organised by Wellington IT networking association Unlimited Potential, Gadgets, Games and Geeks has established itself as the premier showcase and networking event for Wellington’s IT sector.

Local speakers at today’s event include Andy Satterthwaite – the executive producer of Sidhe, New Zealand’s only games maker with a high international profile. Sidhe’s latest release, Shatter, is one of the highest rated downloadable games for PlayStation.

Gadgets, Games and Geeks will be showcasing the latest gaming technology, software and other technologies and services.

Wellington companies featured include Instinct Entertainment, which has developed the world’s first ‘point and click’ mobile game creator, and Virtual Expos, the first mass market virtual event software to offer the ‘real-world’ feel of a live expo.

Gadgets, Games and Geeks is a free event and will run today from 4.30pm at the  St James Theatre, Courtenay Place.

Have you ever worried that the government is losing its transparency or isn’t fully democratic? In a move that will keep the New Zealand public in the political loop, Parliament’s full proceedings are now broadcast live online.

Parliament will be sitting for around 17.5 hours each week, with debates and question time available to view via a number of remote-controlled cameras in the parliamentary chamber. The antics and heated debates of our favourite politicians should make for some good viewing!

This new service doesn’t come free, though, with a price tag of some $4.1 million to set up the broadcast and ongoing costs of $1.7 million every year. The new technology development brings New Zealand up to speed with the rest of the world (60 nations already broadcast similar material).

To watch the live broadcast from Parliament, just visit the site and choose from broadband (high speed / low speed) or dial up connection, make sure you have QuickTime or Windows Media Player, and you’re away laughing. If you’re new to the political game, there’s also provide plenty of information on how Parliament works.

This is a great way to find out what really goes on behind the Beehive doors, so take a minute to tune in…

I decided my first blog post just had to be on podcasts. They’re brilliant. If you haven’t caught the pod-bug yet, beware – it can quickly become addictive. For those who aren’t in the know, the word ‘podcast’ is a blend of ‘iPod’ and ‘broadcast.’ The new word has even made it into the Oxford dictionary:

podcast n. a digital recording of a radio broadcast or similar programme, made available on the Internet for downloading to a personal audio player.

The thing is, there are blogs on just about anything. Whether you’re into music, reading, cars, travel, comedy or computers, there’s a podcast for you. There are heaps of podcasts from around the world, all available on the world wide web, but there are also places to go for podcasts with a Kiwi flavour. If you don’t believe me, go to our New Zealand podcast category or check out my latest find – the audio download section on the Radio New Zealand site. Go there for intelligent audio programmes, interviews and news that you’ve missed during your working day.

My pick of the moment: their Advancing Environmental Sustainability series. In these discussions, hosted by Kathryn Ryan, experts examine the state of the environment 20 years on from the creation of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. But it’s not all doom and gloom for the world: contributors put forward suggestions for a sustainable future. It’s well worth a listen for anyone who cares about the environment!