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

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Some are complaining about Netflix audio pops and dropouts here. I like the ATV and Shield. Both have their ±'s. The Shield is more speedy and versatile, can do shortcuts to apps and play lossless immersive audio from files. It requires a app to match frame but Android 12 is supposed to have auto frame rate switching.

Page 1 of my shortcuts:

[Show spoiler]

I haven't hear a pop or dropout for a long time, of course there are many other factors than a ATV. (Path,AVR issues, TV issues). Thats not to say Netflix doesn't have server loading issues with number of sessions where your resume kicks off flawless every time.

One of the things that isn't automatic at times is updating to the latest version of a tvOS app, if something isn't behaving right, check that first as the major streaming hosts (other then YouTube) regularly update. Currently its at tvOS 15.3 beta (19K5527e).

[stonesfan129]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Just so you know, some are having audio issues with Netflix via the ATV4K. Have not tried on mine, I will use the Nvidia Shield Pro when we start the Witcher.

If you have Mac(s) then you may want to install Display HUD on your ATV. HUD can be a PITA sometimes.

So for, I still manage to tote Netflix rental disc to and from the mail box. Also, not having to much trouble removing a disc from our library and placing disc in player. If it becomes a problem I/we will resume our PT.

For completely different reasons, I have purchased a Zidoo Z9X media player and may or may not procure a Synology DS1821+ NAS and populate it with 14TB drives. Then I will rip our collection to the NAS.

Yup all my discs are ripped and lightly compressed across two redundant NAS drives. One is in my PC, the other is cold storage. Then I have a 5TB USB 3.0 HDD and I usually just plug in directly to my TV and watch things off of that. I refuse to re-buy stuff on iTunes that I already own on disc. Everything else I am okay with using either iTunes or Vudu on the ATV4K.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

I haven't hear a pop or dropout for a long time, of course there are many other factors than a ATV. (Path,AVR issues, TV issues).

Many, including myself, do not believe there is a streamer that does everything well, it appears to be combo of the platform and the content vendors. While I like the ATV it does not have the Netflix server test the Shield Pro has nor will it direct display the Netflix diagnostics like the Pro does. On Vudu the Pro can display connection quality bars, the ATV does not. On Prime the Pro can display very detailed diagnostics with a sequence, the ATV does not. Via the Refresh Rate app I have setup shortcuts to my services*, AFAIK nothing similar can be done on the ATV.

As you know the ATV with HUD can display diagnostics for most sources but can not do it on the fly like the Pro does.

I am glad that both are in my rack so I can use the best features each offers.

*

[Show spoiler]

[sapiendut]

I watched “Don’t Look Up” and “Unforgivable” on Netflix. Both very good stories with no need of surround sound or even big screen to be enjoyable.

[cheez avenger]

I watched some more Outback noir on various streaming platforms:

Mystery Road (PRIME)
Goldstone (Kanopy)
Mystery Road S1 (Hoopla)

Mystery Road also has a S2 on Hoopla and I heard that it's been renewed for a third season. Such a great show and franchise. I believe the Mystery Road series can also be viewed on Acorn TV, but there's charge -- Hoopla is free with a library card (assuming your library system subscribes to Hoopla Digital).

[JohnAV]

Box Office: ‘Spider-Man,’ ‘Sing 2’ Top Christmas, ‘Matrix’ and ‘King’s Man’ Get Sidelined - Hollywood Reporter 12/26

The sleeper hit of Christmas weekend was Christian film 'American Underdog,' which joined 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' and 'Sing 2' in the rarefied A+ CinemaScore club.

Sony’s Spider-Man: No Way Home crushed it at the Christmas box office, earning $138.6 million from 4,336 theaters in North America for the long five-day holiday to finish Sunday with $467.3 million domestically and more than $1 billion worldwide.

No Way Home has shattered numerous records since opening last weekend and is the first film of the pandemic era to hurtle past the $1 billion threshold at the worldwide box office.

It also scored the third-best Christmas Day gross of all time ($31.7 million) in North America for a weekend gross of $81.5 million. The 10-day domestic total of $467.3 is the second-best showing ever for the month of December and the third-best for any superhero film, according to Sony.

Overseas, the international total through Sunday is $587.1 million from international — without China. The U.K. leads with nearly $69 million despite a surge in COVID-19 cases due to the new variant omicron.

The only other Hollywood holiday event pic to hold its tune over the long holiday corridor (Wednesday-Sunday) was Universal and Illumination’s Sing 2.

Sing 2, buoyed by an A+ CinemaScore and support from younger kids, posted a five-day opening of $41 million from 3,892 locations and a three-day gross of $23.7 million, in line with expectations. The $41 million total includes $1.6 million in Thanksgiving previews.

The Matrix Resurrections and The King’s Man both disappointed in their openings as males largely stuck with Spidey. The two films, along with Sing 2, launched on Wednesday.

From Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow, Matrix Resurrections had trouble getting to $22.5 million. Warners and Village Roadshow had been counting on at least $40 million for the Wednesday-Sunday stretch. Audiences, however, didn’t respond especially well between poor exit scores and a B- CinemaScore. The movie’s three-day tally was $12 million.

The Matrix reboot, playing in 3,552 theaters, opened simultaneously on HBO Max, likely dampening its box office.

20th Century and Disney’s King’s Man also came in well behind expectations with an estimated five-day debut of $10 million from 3,180 sites, including $6.4 million for the three-day weekend.

Both King’s Man and Matrix needed to make a strong showing among older male moviegoers, but older consumers continue to stay away from theaters in larger numbers because of concerns over COVID-19.

King’s Man almost lost the weekend itself to American Underdog, a Christian sports film about NFL quarterback Kurt Warner that was released on Christmas Day by Lionsgate and the Erwin brothers.

American Underdog, which played best in the Midwest and South, posted a stellar two-day gross of $6.2 million from 2,813 cinemas. Like Sing 2 — and No Way Home — it received a coveted A+ CinemaScore.

A Journal for Jordan also opened in select theaters on Christmas Day, earning an estimated $2.4 million from 1,250 for the two days.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s hit specialty pic Licorice Pizza expanded on Dec. 25 into 786 runs, earning a promising $2.3 million for the short weekend.

While Christmas weekend was certainly better than last year, moviegoing still lagged compared to pre-pandemic times as worries over omicron grow.. Domestic revenue for the Wednesday-Sunday stretch is expected to come in at around $249.2 million, a 28 percent dip from 2019.

The corridor between Christmas and New Year’s is historically a time when multiple films can prosper.

Warner must be really upset with their HBO Max deal by now, there is no way the spun off streaming deal to boost HBO Max subscribers at this late stage makes any logical sense to maintain. $22.5 million is a sick joke for the Christmas break revenue, but it did have a lot of competition. Liongate's American Underdog even bested it because its just a interesting sports story to be told.

[JohnAV]

‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Hurtles Past $1B at Global Box Office in Pandemic-Era First - Hollywood Reporter 12/26

The Sony and Marvel blockbuster accomplished the feat in near-record time.

Spider-Man: No Way Home‘s web keeps giving.

On Sunday, the superhero blockbuster became the first film of the pandemic era to cross the $1 billion mark at the global box office.

And it accomplished the feat in near-record time. Avengers: Endgame is No. 1 on the list (five days), followed by Avengers: Infinity War (11 days) and Star Wars: The Force Awakens (12 days). Sunday is No Way Home‘s 12th day in release.

No Way Home has shattered numerous records since beginning its exclusive theatrical run and has dominated the Christmas box office.

On Christmas Eve, it became Sony’s top-grossing domestic title of all time after finishing Friday with $405.5 million in domestic ticket sales, not adjusted for inflation. The previous record-holder was 2017’s Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle in 2017 ($404.5 million).

The tentpole is the 49th film to cross $1 billion and only the second Spider-Man pic — or Sony release — to do so after Spider-Man: Far From Home, which topped out at $1.1 billion in 2019.

Grosses so far
DOMESTIC (44.3%) $467,331,855
INTERNATIONAL (55.7%) $587,100,000
WORLDWIDE $1,054,431,855

[Vilya]

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I could use some TV buying advice if any of you would be willing to offer it over in my little mini thread:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...0#post19687580

Thank you!

I ordered my neighbor a new TV tonight! The delivery estimate has been revised to Jan. 3-6, 2022. I can't wait to surprise him with it!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday!

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by Vilya

[Show spoiler]

I ordered my neighbor a new TV tonight! The delivery estimate has been revised to Jan. 3-6, 2022. I can't wait to surprise him with it!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Why so long on the delivery date?

If it's really first week in March, you might cancel your order and wait for CES. The new announced 2022 TVs will usually drive down prices of the 2021 models.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

Why so long on the delivery date?

If it's really first week in March, you might cancel your order and wait for CES. The new announced 2022 TVs will usually drive down prices of the 2021 models.

Its not March.

Jan. 3-6, 2022.

Just signifying Jan 3-Jan 6.

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by Vilya

[Show spoiler]

I ordered my neighbor a new TV tonight! The delivery estimate has been revised to Jan. 3-6, 2022. I can't wait to surprise him with it!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Very cool thing you are doing Vilya! In a world that seems to be focused on the negative and stories of entitlement, it is this sort of gesture that brings us back to center.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by gotmule

Very cool thing you are doing Vilya! In a world that seems to be focused on the negative and stories of entitlement, it is this sort of gesture that brings us back to center.

Thank you! I sure hope that I made a good choice and that he likes it. It comes with a 100 day return for a full refund policy, if needed.

I am thinking of throwing in a new blu-ray player, too, as his antique DVD player may not even have a HDMI port. I don't think that my neighbor would ever buy a 4K disc.

The TV is "preparing for shipment"; my credit card has been charged. Only thing to do now is to wait and ponder how best to surprise him.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by Vilya

[Show spoiler]

I ordered my neighbor a new TV tonight! The delivery estimate has been revised to Jan. 3-6, 2022. I can't wait to surprise him with it!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday!

will you be my neighbor

[alchav21]

Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year! I spent my Christmas in Texas, where the guys go to the Cinema. We went to a CineMark, with a gigantic screen, Fantastic Sound System, and reclining lounge chairs. Saw Matrix Resurrection, I liked the Movie, I was all in when I heard White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane!

[cheez avenger]

Finished the first 5 episodes of Kolchak: The Night Stalker on BD. That is a fun show and precursor to the X-Files. I'll have to track down the two films that predate the series as well.

[unberechenbar]

bought these this week:


Watched The Protégé on 4K and it was amazing. One of the best-looking discs released this year in my opinion. The movie itself wasn't bad either.

[bhampton]

Apple Music completed transition to lossless for (almost) everything.

https://9to5mac.com/2021/12/28/apple...alog-lossless/

I know some people avoid Apple at all costs and I understand that completely as I was the same way for many years.

I hope this change toward lossless audio continues and somehow ports over to streaming video. It's crazy but .... maybe someday it could happen with new standards of bandwidth in the future.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Apple Music completed transition to lossless for (almost) everything.

Has Apple ever stated Dolby Atmos music is lossless? I am told the ATV4K (2021) can not output lossless audio from files with lossless Dolby Atmos. Installed Infuse 7 but did not activate when I learned of this deficiency. Not a biggie as I have the Oppo 203 and Zidoo Z9X.

[sapiendut]

Anybody here bought the Twilight Zone complete bluray collection (released Halloween 2021)? It’s only C$50 for 24 discs. Just wondering about the picture quality.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Has Apple ever stated Dolby Atmos music is lossless? I am told the ATV4K (2021) can not output lossless audio from files with lossless Dolby Atmos. Installed Infuse 7 but did not activate when I learned of this deficiency. Not a biggie as I have the Oppo 203 and Zidoo Z9X.

The ATMOS of Apple Music is lossy like the ATMOS of iTunes movies.

Now, What you said "The ATV4K can not output lossless audio from files with Dolby Atmos" isn't fully technically correct.

If you have a lossless ATMOS file in infuse the output will become lossless PCM. What is lost is the "object" layer that tracks 3D position. Depending on your surround sound setup this may not really be much of an issue but it can take the fun right out of things. And if you want ALL the quality you pay for it can be a deal breaker.