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

[mdo7]

Originally Posted by Ectropy

The max resolution for downloaded movies on iTunes/TV is 1080p, but you may need to change the default settings to get this instead of 720p:

https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2019/0...ies-in-itunes/

Streaming resolution goes up to 4K depending on hardware support.

No, my Itunes setting for movie is set to 1080p, I think the Itune copy of Jaws given to me is 720p only available.



Yep, this is my current Itunes setting in the picture above. It was never set to 720p.

Originally Posted by alchav21

Yes, downloaded files are small they are not the same as the files used for Streaming. Probably for efficiency and convenience.

Yeah, that's what I thought. But with better smartphones and tablets that are capable of displaying 1080p and 4K video. I think Itunes and other digital retailers should offer the choice of downloading your HD resolution choice.

Originally Posted by JohnAV

To show they are not all like that

Alita_ Battle Angel (1080p HD).m4v 4.96 GB
Aladdin (1080p HD).m4v 4.09 GB
Hugo (HD).m4v 4.30 GB. This is a 720P

Not all films are available as 1080P downloads

Yeah, that's what I hope after reading your reply. Glad to know that not every HD digital titles from Itunes are 720p. But anyway, I got chance to play around and got to know more about the advantage of MA and digital copy. Let me help any other people that are going to own digital copy and creating a Movie Anywhere account/profile. This is my MA profile and this is my digital retailers sync/connect:



And here's my Jaws HD title purchases being synchronized. Here's Vudu:



Microsoft:



Youtube:



Now this is where it's get very interesting about how the HD delivery is offered after connecting/sync several digital retailers to my MA.

On Movies Anywhere and Vudu, it looks like I can watched it on 4K:





Yeah and here's the selection of purchasing Jaws on Vudu:



And when I looked what kind of download option from Microsoft Movies & TV I was given:



Does anyone know if the Microsoft HD digital copy is 1080p or 720p?

And finally, I go to Youtube to see what kind of resolution quality they have, this is really disappointing if you have a HD/UHD TV:



Yes, Youtube's version of Jaws only has 480p as the maximum option, not 1080p. EDIT (1/4/2021): Looks like you can watch Jaws on Youtube in 1080p if you use a PS4 (via YT app installed on the device) or a blu-ray player that has a YT app, I explained it here.

So what did I learn about MA and digital copy of Jaws after looking around and the pictures above.

Want to watch a 1080p or 4K version of Jaws digitally: MA, and Vudu are the best.

Itunes give you 720p, Microsoft Movies & TV will give you I assume 720p (please correct me if I'm wrong), and Youtube gives you 480p.

So digital copy like Movies Anywhere, Vudu, Itunes, Microsoft, and Youtube do differ when it comes to video quality. I guess hmm.... welcome to the world of digital copy I guess.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by mdo7

No, my Itunes setting for movie is set to 1080p, I think the Itune copy of Jaws given to me is 720p only available.



Yep, this is my current Itunes setting in the picture above. It was never set to 720p.



Yeah, that's what I thought. But with better smartphones and tablets that are capable of displaying 1080p and 4K video. I think Itunes and other digital retailers should offer the choice of downloading your HD resolution choice.



Yeah, that's what I hope after reading your reply. Glad to know that not every HD digital titles from Itunes are 720p. But anyway, I got chance to play around and got to know more about the advantage of MA and digital copy. Let me help any other people that are going to own digital copy and creating a Movie Anywhere account/profile. This is my MA profile and this is my digital retailers sync/connect:



And here's my Jaws HD title purchases being synchronized. Here's Vudu:



Microsoft:



Youtube:



Now this is where it's get very interesting about how the HD delivery is offered after connecting/sync several digital retailers to my MA.

On Movies Anywhere and Vudu, it looks like I can watched it on 4K:





Yeah and here's the selection of purchasing Jaws on Vudu:



And when I looked what kind of download option from Microsoft Movies & TV I was given:



Does anyone know if the Microsoft HD digital copy is 1080p or 720p?

And finally, I go to Youtube to see what kind of resolution quality they have, this is really disappointing if you have a HD/UHD TV:



Yes, Youtube's version of Jaws only has 480p has the maximum option, not 1080p.

So what did I learn about MA and digital copy of Jaws after looking around and the pictures above.

Want to watch a 1080p or 4K version of Jaws digitally: MA, and Vudu are the best.

Itunes give you 720p, Microsoft Movies & TV will give you I assume 720p (please correct me if I'm wrong), and Youtube gives you 480p.

So digital copy like Movies Anywhere, Vudu, Itunes, Microsoft, and Youtube do differ when it comes to video quality. I guess hmm.... welcome to the world of digital copy I guess.

What a cluster****.

So glad I’m disc only.

[Steedeel]

This will be mine.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Fanny...lu-ray/280515/

[mdo7]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

What a cluster****.

So glad I’m disc only.

Well I do agree the world of digital copy is full of cluster(bleep), and bunch of inconsistency. I'm not against digital copy, but I do agree it's a good idea to keep a BD copy just in case you're not happy with the digital copy offered. But it's also a good idea to synchronize/connect digital retailers to your MA profile. Sometime the Vudu copy maybe better then the Itunes version, and etc...

But to be honest, I'm kinda glad I synchronized/connected my Google/Youtube, my Microsoft account, my Vudu account, and my Itunes account to my Movie Anywhere profile. This helps me analyze how each of the digital HD's resolution option differ.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by mdo7

Well I do agree the world of digital copy is full of cluster(bleep), and bunch of inconsistency. I'm not against digital copy, but I do agree it's a good idea to keep a BD copy just in case you're not happy with the digital copy offered. But it's also a good idea to synchronize/connect digital retailers to your MA profile. Sometime the Vudu copy maybe better then the Itunes version, and etc...

But to be honest, I'm kinda glad I synchronized/connected my Google/Youtube, my Microsoft account, my Vudu account, and my Itunes account to my Movie Anywhere profile. This helps me analyze how each of the digital HD's resolution option differ.

It’s no man’s land for me. If I desire a film, I want the 4K disc or Blu-ray full stop (or period as US folk say)

[sapiendut]

Too much work for something inferior. Don’t get me wrong, I also stream, but unless it’s a single button press, I’m not going to stream. After all, streaming is supposed to be conveny, right?

[Ectropy]

Originally Posted by mdo7

No, my Itunes setting for movie is set to 1080p, I think the Itune copy of Jaws given to me is 720p only available.

[Show spoiler]

Yep, this is my current Itunes setting in the picture above. It was never set to 720p.

That's the playback setting. Check the 'Downloads' tab instead:



Tick the box for 1080p downloads. You will need to remove the downloaded file for the movie by right-clicking and selecting 'Remove download', then you can re-download and it should be 1080p:

[Vilya]

Streaming a movie from either an SVOD or from a digital seller, like Vudu, is every bit as easy as playing a disc. You can fault streaming for many things, but ease of use is not one of them.

Downloading movies from Apple is another matter, but I suspect that even doing this is not very difficult.

[Vilya]

I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! I hope that 2021 is better in every way.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Streaming a movie from either an SVOD or from a digital seller, like Vudu, is every bit as easy as playing a disc. You can fault streaming for many things, but ease of use is not one of them.

Downloading movies from Apple is another matter, but I suspect that even doing this is not very difficult.

Yeah, the actual streaming part. But all of the jumping through hoops to get 1080p on a mobile device? I stick by my cluster**** comment.

Plays in 720p on this device but only SD on this one. This device handles 1080p but not the other device. What a load of bollocks.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! I hope that 2021 is better in every way.

Same to you man.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by mdo7

Well I do agree the world of digital copy is full of cluster(bleep), and bunch of inconsistency.

Mainly because there is not a set of standards for streaming providers (apps) and hardware makers. Its every streamer for themselves and once a Jeanie like that is out of the bottle there is no putting it back in. Below is just one example. Click here for some more.

That said, streaming is just fine for millions with simple sets ups using a smart TV that most likely has never been calibrated, has match frame off, motion interpolation set to max, etc.

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

The streaming software & hardware CF continues:

Nivida Shield Pro 2019
HBO Max ● Last Christmas movie, audio PCM 2 channel
HBO Max ● Deadwood, S1 E1, audio PCM 2 channel
HBO Max ● Wonder Woman 84 movie, audio Dolby Atmos

Roku Ultra 2019
HBO Max ● Last Christmas movie, audio Dolby Digital+ 5.1 channel
HBO Max ● Deadwood, S1 E1, audio Dolby Digital+ 5.1 channel
HBO Max ● Wonder Woman 84 movie, audio Dolby Atmos

Because the Roku has handshake problems with my 8 bit SDR 4K projector I have ordered a Amazon FireTV Cube to see how it does in my setup.

[mdo7]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

Too much work for something inferior. Don’t get me wrong, I also stream, but unless it’s a single button press, I’m not going to stream. After all, streaming is supposed to be conveny, right?

That's why I have a love-hate relationship with streaming.

Here's why I love streaming:

• Exclusive movies, TV shows, and documentary (Netflix's documentary really appeal to me). And you can't find these on BD (well with some exception)
  
• Makes it easier for foreign films, and TV shows (see, I'm a K-drama fan, and also like to watch non-English TV shows/dramas) to get audiences that can't get DVD/BD release in the US
  
• B-movies I don't want to buy or even rent/borrowed on BD/DVD and if it's on streaming, I can just watch it easily.

And here's why I hate streaming:

• Sub-quality video/picture quality compared to blu-ray. But to be honest, when it comes to SD material on streaming, they can be slightly better then the DVD (even one with bad picture quality) because they don't get compressed a lot compared to HD.
  
• Audio quality is not as great as a BD. If you try streaming a movie with Dolby Atmos, that Atmos found on streaming is not as effective as the 4K UHD BD copy. I mean how is a streaming site supposed to bring out Akira's 192 KHz Japanese and hypersonic audio when streaming audio compression would eliminate most of the hypersonic audio. See this is why streaming can't hold candle to the BD. Same can be said about Independence Day's DTS:X audio that you listen to on it's 4K UHD BD. There's no way a good streaming site (that include Disney+) that even think about streaming Independence Day would be able to deliver this DTS:X uncompressed without breaking the bandwidth limitation.
  
• Not every movie(s) that are on BD/DVD are available on streaming.
  
• Movie titles that are on streaming don't stay there for too long.
  
• The case involving Harry Potter and Nolan's Batman (both owned by WB) appearing on Peacock (owned by NBCUniversal), and not on HBO Max (which is owned by WB)
  
• Streaming sites can face outage, anybody remember Netflix being down in US and Europe back in March. This is what I worried about, future outages. And Netflix won't be alone, I would be scared if Disney+ had a outage and if I was entertaining my nieces and nephews and I couldn't access Disney+ to put on Disney content for them to keep them entertain. Just a reminder, in November, Amazon had this outage which effected a lot.
  
• Internet outages, and when that happen in your area, you don't have access to streaming sites. And the fear of internet outage goes back even before streaming, go watch this video (fast forward to 1:09):
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovIOvBBNpDA&feature=youtu.be
  
  That's not the only time we had internet outage, go watch this local news report about internet outages 4 months ago:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chnSxap57TI

This is the problem I have with streaming whether it's Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, etc.... This is why I have love-hate relationship with streaming.

[mdo7]

Originally Posted by Ectropy

That's the playback setting. Check the 'Downloads' tab instead:

[Show spoiler]

Tick the box for 1080p downloads. You will need to remove the downloaded file for the movie by right-clicking and selecting 'Remove download', then you can re-download and it should be 1080p:

[Show spoiler]

Thank you for that, I'm re-downloading Jaws and hopefully I can get 1080p this time.

EDIT/UPDATE: The re-download is done, and yes I can confirmed it's 1080p after following the direction you give me:

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Yeah, the actual streaming part. But all of the jumping through hoops to get 1080p on a mobile device? I stick by my cluster**** comment.

Plays in 720p on this device but only SD on this one. This device handles 1080p but not the other device. What a load of bollocks.

As you know, I do not watch movies on mobile devices. A Youtube short maybe, but never a movie or TV show.

I wonder if I would even notice much of a difference, if any, between 720p and 1080p on my 5" phone screen or even my 10" tablet screen? I don't see how I can blame my mobile device's display limitations on a streaming service. If I try to use a streaming service that does not support my mobile device then that's on me, too.

Watching streamed content on either of my two TVs, calibrated or not, is as easy as watching a disc or as easy as watching OTA broadcasts.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by mdo7

That's why I have a love-hate relationship with streaming.

For me, it is just another source of entertainment. Just like in the days of LaserDisc and video cassette, LaserDisc was the A/V champ but video cassette had more content and rental was just across the highway while LaserDisc rental was 20 miles away.

Amazon FireTV Cube arrived today so another box to try out.

[mdo7]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

For me, it is just another source of entertainment. Just like in the days of LaserDisc and video cassette, LaserDisc was the A/V champ but video cassette had more content and rental was just across the highway while LaserDisc rental was 20 miles away.

I don't disagree with you on what you said, but my statement(s) still stand when it comes to streaming, I will continue to have a love-hate relationship when it comes to streaming.

[JohnAV]

How about a little cheer - yes it's getting closer to the new year.

Norm Lewis: What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? - YouTube

May everyone stay safe this coming year, along with being happy what you able to watch and listen to.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by mdo7

I don't disagree with you on what you said, but my statement(s) still stand when it comes to streaming, I will continue to have a love-hate relationship when it comes to streaming.

I just take streaming for what it is. It is a source of a lot of content. It is very highly compressed A/V material so when we see aberrations in video or hear shortcomings in the audio we just pass it off as “its just streaming”.

We have never watched a streaming movie if we have the same movie on disc. For a long time I just gave away my codes included with my disc but stopped bothering when folks started refusing them for free. So I started redeeming my codes and no longer have a stack of them in my desk drawer. For a time I used to compare the stream version to the disc but concluded it was just a waste of time. The disc was always better.

Do you do 3D? If so there there is no contest between a stream and a disc. AFAIK disc is still the only way to get frame packed 3D and lossless audio.

[bhampton]

Jaws -> get the UHD !! The restoration is beautiful.


Watched 300 Rise of an Empire and Shark Night both 3D in today’s double feature.

I think Shark Night is the only 3D import I have.