Physical & Digital EST: The Future of Home Video Discussion Thread

[Boccaccio]

Originally Posted by Boccaccio

Ghostbusters (1984) 8€
The mummy (1999) 3€
Monos (brand new release, I'd consider this a more obscure title) 12€
The Grand Budapest hotel 7€
Destroyer (brand new release, lesser known movie) 15€
Elle (latest Paul Verhoeven) 5€

Just did a quick comparison with Amazon.

Ghostbusters 13,86
The mummy 9,97
Monos 22,99
The Grand Budapest hotel N/A new, only used probably because of the upcoming Criterion
Destroyer 19,99
Elle 17,99

That's almost 85 $ for one less movie.
And that's without shipping.

[SillyG]

Originally Posted by Misioon_Odisea

Well, that I didn't fully understand before. I guess that explains why most if not all UHD players I've seen list BD-XLs as an incompatible format. Kind of a shame, really, because that means we currently can't record our home movies on UHD discs...

Indeed. I suppose one could burn UHD files to BDs at a more efficient codec that could possibly be read by some players, but I haven't tested this myself. I am tempted to buy a few UHD cases and burn the raw XAVC-S files to regular BD-50s (as this codec is quite efficient size-wise and should be playable without recompression). I'll test my Sony player and see if it can play them natively via USB.

The problem with the XAVC-S format though is that it is a long GOP format and I believe it is incapable of being smart-rendered (meaning that I wouldn't be able to edit them without subjecting the footage to recompression). I'm not 100% sure about this though, and perhaps I should try again. IAVC-I footage from my pro camera smart-rendered without issue though.

Either way, I'd rather be patient and "remaster" my recordings if/when UHD-Rs hit the market rather than waste BD-50s for only 50 or so minutes of footage when I could be burning 4.5 hours of footage in HD instead.

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

The PlayStation 5 uses 100GB UHD discs, not BDXL discs. The author of the article probably heard that the PS5 would use 100GB discs and jumped to the conclusion that they were BDXL discs (or thought that all 100GB Blu-ray discs were called BDXL). As far as I know BDXL discs are always burned, not pressed. PS5 games will all be on pressed discs (just like every other PlayStation console).

Originally Posted by Vilya

From glancing at other articles on the subject, most are just saying that PS5 games will be available on 100GB optical discs, but using UHD discs makes the most sense for several reasons.

Sony has never used proprietary media for any of their home consoles. Even PS1 discs were just CD-ROMs coated with a black dye (I recall being able to read the files from PS1 discs on PC back in the day, though we didn't have a burner then). And my cheapskate cousins often used to play games via burned CDs.

Considering that the PS5 doubles as a UHD player, it would stand to reason that UHD discs will also be used for games. While I have no interest in the PS5, I think it's great news that games over 50GB will still be available in physical format. The adoption of the PS5 will also put more UHD players in people's hands, which should bolster UHD sales, and while I don't expect it to create a dent in the popularity of streaming or reach Blu-ray numbers (let alone DVD), more UHD players means more UHD content on physical media, so, I'm quite excited about the PS5 for that reason alone (I'm mostly a Nintendo gamer myself).

I just wish that PC games would be given the Blu-ray treatment as well (as opposed to codes-in-a-case as the majority seem to be nowadays ). Fortunately, GOG games are DRM-free and I can burn them to my own BD-50s, but most popular AAA releases are locked to Steam or other clients.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by SillyG

(I'm mostly a Nintendo gamer myself).

I take it then that you are a fan of the Nintendo Switch? That console is getting a little long in the tooth now, isn't it? Is it still worth buying? My sister keeps hinting that she wants one...as a present from me no less.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I take it then that you are a fan of the Nintendo Switch? That console is getting a little long in the tooth now, isn't it? Is it still worth buying? My sister keeps hinting that she wants one...as a present from me no less.

The Switch is a good system. They have brought out a handheld only version (pointless calling it the Switch) which is cheaper. If your sister wants the option of both, the original Switch is still a fun console. If it’s handheld gaming that appeals, the cheaper version will be a better option.

The quality of games makes it well worthwhile even though it’s way less powerful than the likes of PS4. Not sure if it matters though because Nintendo is all about fun with garish colours and cartoonish design.

[Steedeel]

Bond delayed until November due to the virus. Could be a scrappy year with release schedules all over the place.

[SillyG]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I take it then that you are a fan of the Nintendo Switch? That console is getting a little long in the tooth now, isn't it? Is it still worth buying? My sister keeps hinting that she wants one...as a present from me no less.

I'm mostly a handheld gamer, so that is a resounding yes from me. While the Wii U was a great concept, I hardly used it (most of my gaming time was on 3DS), but the Switch affords the best of both worlds, and is the console that many of us Nintendo fans have been yearning for over the years.

I have more physical games than I wish to contemplate (and increasingly less space to store them).

It is also home to many great exclusives, a broad library to appease all tastes, and a solid back catalogue of last-gen ports that are available on a portable console for the very first time. The library isn't quite as broad as the DS/Wii, mind you, as many of the more casual sorts of games synonymous with the Touch Generations line of software have since migrated to mobile, but Nintendo has been dipping their toes into some more casual DS-style titles from time to time, which I would like to see more of to supplement the premium console-style experiences.

I can't say the Switch is going anywhere anytime soon, so now is as good a time as any to pick one up. I've known several people who would never have picked up a Nintendo system in the past, but have since grabbed a Switch.

If you do pick one up, perhaps your sister would appreciate the Animal Crossing console bundle that's coming up over the next few weeks (it's irresistibly pretty ).

[Vilya]

The BBC is offering a 6 minute video on their news website that explores the huge carbon footprint caused by streaming called Dirty Streaming: The Internet's Big Secret:

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/stories-...t-s-big-secret

The video points out that a single commercial server uses enough electricity to power one entire household. It illustrates this power usage by stating that binge watching all of Peaky Blinders (30 hours of video content) produces the same carbon emissions as an 87 mile long car trip. At current growth rates, it is estimated that powering the internet, driven largely by video streaming and online gaming, will use 20% of the world's total electrical output by the time that it takes a baby today to become a teenage adult.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

The BBC is offering a 6 minute video on their news website that explores the huge carbon footprint caused by streaming called Dirty Streaming: The Internet's Big Secret:

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/stories-...t-s-big-secret

At current growth rates, it is estimated that powering the internet, driven largely by video streaming, will use 20% of the world's total electrical output by the time that it takes a baby today to become a teenage adult.

Yep, you surely remember our discussion about this several months ago?

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Yep, you surely remember our discussion about this several months ago?

Yes, I do, but the video does conclude by stating that Amazon is working to be powered with 80% renewable energy by 2024 and 100% renewable energy by 2030. Dominion Power company has set a goal of zero emissions by 2050. Therein lies the hope and the answer to the problem: the usage of clean renewable energy.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Yes, I do, but the video does conclude by stating that Amazon is working to be powered with 80% renewable energy by 2024 and 100% renewable energy by 2030. Dominion Power company has set a goal of zero emissions by 2050. Therein lies the hope and the answer to the problem: the usage of clean renewable energy.

Clean renewable energy that not many households seems remotely interested in at the moment. It’s a two way street, it’s not just about data centres, it’s about the home.

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by Vilya

The BBC is offering a 6 minute video on their news website that explores the huge carbon footprint caused by streaming called Dirty Streaming: The Internet's Big Secret:

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/stories-...t-s-big-secret

The video points out that a single commercial server uses enough electricity to power one entire household. It illustrates this power usage by stating that binge watching all of Peaky Blinders (30 hours of video content) produces the same carbon emissions as an 87 mile long car trip. At current growth rates, it is estimated that powering the internet, driven largely by video streaming and online gaming, will use 20% of the world's total electrical output by the time that it takes a baby today to become a teenage adult.

I wrote a similar article as the above about two years ago and nobody believes me.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

I wrote a similar article as the above about two years ago and nobody believes me.

I know how that feels.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Clean renewable energy that not many households seems remotely interested in at the moment. It’s a two way street, it’s not just about data centres, it’s about the home.

As more power plants generate power from clean renewable sources, that is what more homes will use. It kind of follows automatically.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

As more power plants generate power from clean renewable sources, that is what more homes will use. It kind of follows automatically.

Who will pay for that?

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I know how that feels.

It's no surprise that you can empathize with that feeling considering all of the curious and unique predictions that you have posted.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Who will pay for that?

You will. I'm sending my utility bills to you, mate.

Anyone that can afford all of that Belgian chocolate can afford to pay for my power.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

You will. I'm sending my utility bills to you, mate.

Anyone that can afford all of that Belgian chocolate can afford to pay for my power.

Seriously though, a family can’t afford extra expense like that.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Seriously though, a family can’t afford extra expense like that.

We can't afford not to switch to clean energy.

Once the infrastructure to produce renewable energy on a large scale is established the costs to produce that energy will stabilize. It is the transition that is expensive; once done the cost of clean energy could even be cheaper than what we are paying now for fossil fuel sourced power.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Vilya

We can't afford not to switch to clean energy.

Agreed. In my area there are several large solar power farms and we have several hydroelectric plants with Fontana Dam being one of the largest.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

We can't afford not to switch to clean energy.

Once the infrastructure to produce renewable energy on a large scale is established the costs to produce that energy will stabilize. It is the transition that is expensive; once done the cost of clean energy could even be cheaper than what we are paying now for fossil fuel sourced power.

So working class families have to pull money from their backside? This is never going to work unless it’s law, and if it’s law, it will need to be part funded.