Question: Sometimes my digital camera tells me I have 30 pictures remaining on the memory card, but I manage to squeeze in 34 or 35 before the card is full. Is there something wrong with my camera since this number is often incorrect?

Ann Frank Hilton Head, S.C.

Answer: Your camera is fine. Most people take pictures with the camera in jpg mode, which means the camera takes the information from the sensor and compresses it into a jpg file before it is saved on the memory card. The amount of compression and the file size depends on the detail in the scene. For example, if you were taking pictures of an evenly lit, perfectly smooth blank white wall, you could probably take a dozen pictures and still have room remaining on your memory card, even if the camera said you had room for only four or five. If you were photographing a stadium with thousands of people in it, you may run out in two or three pictures instead.

Given how unpredictable the actual final picture count is, I would not count on always having those extra pictures available.

Question: I am finally in the market for a Blu-ray player for my A/V system. I currently have a new 46-inch 1080p LCD TV with audio powered by an Onyko TX-SR576 receiver. Could you please recommend an inexpensive yet decent Blu-ray player?

Patrick Kennedy Pittsburgh

Answer: Is under $100 inexpensive enough for you? The $119 Insignia I wrote about a month or so ago was popular with readers, and now just a month later the $100 price barrier has been broken. There is a Magnavox Blu-ray player now on sale at Wal-Mart for only $98.

Though the Magnavox has proven to be a solid entry-level player, it does not connect to the Internet and cannot decode Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD lossless, high definition audio. Unfortunately the receiver you have does not decode lossless audio either. This means if you get the Magnavox it will sound excellent but you will be leaving some potential sound quality on the table. Your best choice may be the Panasonic DMP-BD60 that sells for $200 online. The DMP-BD60 decodes lossless audio, plays Blu-ray BD-Live Internet features and can display video streamed from the Internet as well.