Technology Connections
Season 3 Episode 5 - Why Sony's Beta Videotape System Failed--and failed hard (Part 1)
2015
Documentary, Comedy
The late 1970's and early 1980's were a frightening time to be a video enthusiast. Two formats are duking it out and trying to assert their dominance, and although Sony was first* to market with their Betamax machine, they were caught off guard by JVC's competing VHS system which, rather than focus on pedantic details like cassette design and technical perfection, strived to make a cheap, versatile format that worked.
Episodes in Season 3
1
The Impossible Feat inside Your VCR
2
What is Dolby Noise Reduction? Dolby's Humble Beginning
3
Furnaces: Why we still burn fuel to heat our homes
4
Stupid Design--The Needlessly Useless Webcam Activity Light
5
Why Sony's Beta Videotape System Failed--and failed hard (Part 1)
NOW PLAYING
6
Why Sony's Beta Videotape System Failed--Part 2
7
Comparing Beta & VHS on Quality: Was Beta Really Better?
8
Lines of Light: How Analog Television Works
9
Mechanical Television: Incredibly simple, yet entirely bonkers
10
LED bulbs that flicker, and CFLs that almost never did
11
GE's bizarre early attempt at a CFL
12
Philo Farnsworth and the Invention of Electronic Television
13
Digital ICE: The High-Tech Dust Removal Found in Film Scanners
14
How Analog Color TV Works: The Beginnings
15
The Twinkling Light Set: An increasingly rare but delightful type of decorative lighting
16
Compatible Color: The Ultimate Three-For-One Special
17
Analog Color TV Wrap-Up--Some extra info
18