Lighted Christmas Decorations

A lighted Christmas decoration is one of the most popular ways to decorate your house for the holidays. Christmas is a great opportunity to decorate a home both on the inside and on the outside.

Since Christmas occurs in the winter, a lighted Christmas decoration has many evening hours to create a warm and loving glow in your home. Lighted Christmas decorations can range in price from hundreds of dollars to just a few dollars.

It is important to learn what to look for when shopping for these decorations. You can blow a lot of money shopping for lighted Christmas decorations, so before you head to the store, you need to set your budget.

One of the most popular and highly used types of lighted Christmas decorations is that of a strand of Christmas lights. Christmas lights are almost always wrapped around a Christmas tree but consider the many other uses such as along the banister, a doorway and most certainly to highlight your outdoor bushes and trees.

There are many ideas for lighted outdoor decorations. Some avid decorators enjoy collecting lighted snow villages as their lighted Christmas decorations.

An increasing popular outdoor decorating idea is the inflatable lighted decoration. These large outdoor decorations use a powerful fan to inflate a vinyl decoration, which has a light in the bottom. Popular shapes are inflatable snow globes, Santas, penguins, and snowmen.

Other lighted outdoor Christmas decorations include nativity scenes that depict Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus.

Fiberglass lighted decorations shaped like reindeer or Santa are also popular The most popular are reindeer inflatables. This decoration is medium-sized, and little lights (generally white in color) are woven into the wire so that the reindeer looks as if it is completely comprised of those lights. For those that enjoy technology, this kind of decoration also comes in such a form as that when it is plugged in, the neck of the reindeer moves up and down so that the reindeer looks as if it is eating the lawn.

Another example of a great lighted outdoor Christmas decoration idea is that of an elf; this decoration is about the same size as the reindeer decoration and is similar to the reindeer in that it is generally composed of white lights, but this decoration is made out of garland, so it looks like it was fashioned out of a bush.

Those who have long front walkways leading up to their house should make use of it with small lighted Christmas trees that frame the sides of the walkway. This is a cheery way to invite your guests into your home and into the holiday spirit.

Many people avoid putting decorations on their lawns because of snow. Simply use a shovel or a snowblower to clear an area of the lawn so that it is visible and one can easily place decorations on the ground.

The price of a lighted outdoor Christmas decoration will vary in regards to their size and design, but it is a safe assumption that these decorations will generally end up costing at least $100. Everywhere you go this Christmas, you will see lighted Christmas decorations around you, lighting the way to holiday cheer.

Streaming Technology Explained in Layman's Terms

Various on-demand movie and television services popping up the last few years have introduced some new terminology to many of us who are not technologically savvy, and who are just beginning to explore the vast, uncharted territories known as the worldwide web. One term that is practically a household term is streaming. The concept of streaming isn't new. Radio and television are streamed. Streaming is, in a nutshell, a delivery method for media. We can stream anything that can be digitalized, including music, movies, sports, and Watch Sports Online Free television shows.

One statistic that may surprise many people is that 30% of all internet traffic today is from Netflix streams alone. And over-the-top (OTT) media consumption from distributors like Netflix, Hulu Plus and SuperPass is projected to increase by 60% within the next two years.

To clarify, there are two types of video streaming - live and on-demand. Live streaming is viewed on the internet simultaneously as a camera captures and digitally encodes the event. Progressive streaming is the type of streaming that OTT streaming providers utilize. On-demand videos are compressed files that are delivered by a streaming server. When the end-user wishes to stream a movie, for example, they will select the film and click on a play button. The OTT vendor will then deliver the requested film through specialized software called a streaming server. The streaming server will assess what is happening on the end user's media player and make adjustments called buffering to ensure a good viewing experience. The streamed content is not saved on the end user's the hard drive. Once the content is streamed, it cannot be accessed again unless the file is requested again from the streaming service provider.

Besides streaming, there is another delivery method for these compressed files, which is called downloading. When you purchase a movie, song or TV show, you download the file from a web server (instead of a streaming server), and you save the file somewhere where you can access it whenever you wish - usually on your hard drive. Generally, at least a portion of the download must be completed before you can begin viewing the content without interruptions.

Downloads can either be rentals or purchases. If it is a rental, then the OTT provider generally gives a specified period of time from the time of the rental in which to view the content before the file deletes itself. It's important to note that downloaded files can contain viruses and malware, so make sure that you trust any source from which you download a file.

Media players can take on many forms when you stream or view your downloaded purchase. If you watch the content on your computer, you will probably utilize the media player that came with your operating system, or you may download a free or premium media player that the streaming service provider recommends. If you wish to watch on your television, you will need to utilize a gaming console, Blu-ray player, internet-enabled television set, or a streaming media player that is connected to your television and your home wireless network. It's important to make sure that your intended media player is supported by your OTT provider.

Streaming is without a doubt here to stay as part of our entertainment options. Watch as the technology continues to improve and more options are available to consumers.