1080p iTunes not as good as Blu-ray

[radagast]

http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/artic..._1080p_itunes/

[NeoMaximuz]

Yeah... I don't think I'd ever replace Blu-Rays with something like downloads. Maybe in the future when you know you're getting the exact same thing, but even then I like to have something palpable. Not to mention that iTunes not only doesn't have lossless audio, but probably has a more compressed track than DVDs.

Kudos to iTunes and Apple, but last week's 1080p AppleTV and downloads wasn't very exciting to me, for the same reason that I know I won't be replacing Blu-Ray and any download will still be inferior. I mean, two-point-some gigs for an "HD" movie? Wouldn't that qualify DVDs (and single layer at that) to be able to display HD movies?

Now, if Apple, or anyone, gives us a TV with a "Retina Display", then that would be something to look into!

[RBBrittain]

You're preaching to the choir here. No matter how much Apple refines its compression ratios, there still isn't enough bandwidth out there to transmit 1080p video over the Internet at the same bitrate as BD. They may be able to restrain BD to a niche market, but until we get bigger pipes nothing in the download world will ever match BD.

[-Sandro-]

An article was needed to notice?

[ZoetMB]

I think Apple made some good progress here and it's good that they recognize 1080p as being important, but their compression alogorithm definitely does have some problems, especially on certain types of scenes. I saw a comparison online with a scene that looked like dark blue clouds and the Apple version had all kinds of artifacts.

But having said that, I think this will look pretty good on the small iPad screen and most portable device users don't care that much about quality anyway. It's all about convenience. If it seems to look good, they're happy.

And the progress that's been made in compression algorithms over the years has been amazing, so I think over the coming years they'll be better compression techniques and the PQ will get even better.

As for me, if it's an average TV show, maybe I don't care all that much, but if it's a movie that I care about, I'm going to only want to watch it on my 55" with full 5.1 uncompressed sound (unless I was stuck on an airplane).

[radagast]

Originally Posted by -Sandro-

An article was needed to notice?

I just think that it is good that someone actually wrote it so maybe it will help.

[Trekkie313]

No, shit.

[bobbydrugar]

+1 to trekkie.

I mean who has the bandwidth to maintain the bitrate needed to pull a 25+GB file down in under 100Min. there is a high degree of compression that happens to make these streaming capable services work. even products like On Demand cable service television has massive compression artifacts. and let us not get into the lossy audio.

thanks,
T

[42041]

This is news to someone? You'd need at least 16mbits/sec to even approach the point of diminishing returns for most movies and they're probably about half that.

[vargo]

Originally Posted by 42041

This is news to someone? You'd need at least 16mbits/sec to even approach the point of diminishing returns for most movies and they're probably about half that.

They are using ~4Mbps for 1080p currently.

Both articles are terrible with many technical errors and misunderstandings. Also they are using static shots of peoples faces; any shot that holds focus for a few frames is super-easy to compress. Look at an action scene and the iTunes looks like garbage.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by radagast

I just think that it is good that someone actually wrote it so maybe it will help.

I doubt it. The issue is the people that want to accept crappy DL don't care and will still argue it looks good when it does not.

[radagast]

Perhaps a better way to say it is this: We knew it already, but it's good to see it in print somewhere other than here.

[Steedeel]

In other news....................The moon is not made of cheese!

[john_1958]

Originally Posted by radagast

http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/artic..._1080p_itunes/

true what you said and they say blu-ray is on its way out lol the idiots

[punking]

I hate this idea that media like blu-ray is obsolete because streaming is the future. People who spout this seem to not realize that once more people switch to online streaming then the IP companies are going to really gouge us on data caps. Then, there's the possibility that we as consumers will never truly be able to 'own' a film. Perhaps invoking time limits or pay per view schemes.

Trust me people will one day dream of the day they had a film on a solid matter that they can do whatever ever they want with, whenever they want, for just the cost of the original purchase price.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by punking

I hate this idea that media like blu-ray is obsolete because streaming is the future. People who spout this seem to not realize that once more people switch to online streaming then the IP companies are going to really gouge us on data caps. Then, there's the possibility that we as consumers will never truly be able to 'own' a film. Perhaps invoking time limits or pay per view schemes.

Trust me people will one day dream of the day they had a film on a solid matter that they can do whatever ever they want with, whenever they want, for just the cost of the original purchase price.

But, sadly, this day is coming. Even people on this forum seem to be freely using digital copies and watching their films on phone. they see it as just another option. The truth is, there will not be any more options in the future. Tv sets will be obsolete in around 10 years (they are starting to free fall now, sales wise i believe)
Our options will be

1. Tablets (even then a worrying trend of people settling for 7 inch sizes)
2. smart phones (Yuck!)
3. Laptops (sad)

Cinema will be there for the big blockbusters but what's the point of that type of film on a phone or tablet. so they will become watch once films.

[nateo200]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

But, sadly, this day is coming. Even people on this forum seem to be freely using digital copies and watching their films on phone. they see it as just another option. The truth is, there will not be any more options in the future. Tv sets will be obsolete in around 10 years (they are starting to free fall now, sales wise i believe)
Our options will be

1. Tablets (even then a worrying trend of people settling for 7 inch sizes)
2. smart phones (Yuck!)
3. Laptops (sad)

Cinema will be there for the big blockbusters but what's the point of that type of film on a phone or tablet. so they will become watch once films.

That scares me...I mean I have a massive library of BluRay rips and DVD rips but when I go to watch the movie with friends on my 46" LED with my AV receiver I want 1080p @ 20+mbps, TrueHD/DTS Master blaring from my receiver and basically just beastly quality to show off the mighty cinematic experience. I mean directors make movies with all these amazing qualities because thats how they intended you to experience it whether it be in a theater or not.

[Steedeel]

It scares me too. but the general population destroyed (virtually) HQ music. They now look like they are to do the same to home cinema. It is a bigger mess than the music industry though. At least you can still feel the emotion of songs, even compressed. Film wise, everything will be lost on a 3.5/4 inch screen. In fact, the need for CGI outside the cinema would be non-existent. We could not see bad special effects at that size!

[alehel]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

In other news....................The moon is not made of cheese!

Hmm. I guess I learnt something today aswell.

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

But, sadly, this day is coming. Even people on this forum seem to be freely using digital copies and watching their films on phone. they see it as just another option. The truth is, there will not be any more options in the future. Tv sets will be obsolete in around 10 years (they are starting to free fall now, sales wise i believe)
Our options will be

1. Tablets (even then a worrying trend of people settling for 7 inch sizes)
2. smart phones (Yuck!)
3. Laptops (sad)

Cinema will be there for the big blockbusters but what's the point of that type of film on a phone or tablet. so they will become watch once films.

sorry, that's nothing but scare tactics. the HDTV market has reached it market maturity. Unlimited growth can't last forever. There is ZERO evidence that the tv industry is going belly up. I don't see people watching even dvd's quality on their ipods or tablets unless they're out on a trip. I don't know a single person (tech geek or not) who would give up their "big screen" for a dinky phone/tablet. the numbers don't prove that either.