Apple wondering what is happening: So much for downloads...

[xwingsct]

Originally Posted by BStecke

If Apple TV ever ends up being what Steve Jobs wants it to be, I'd probably get one. Their selection would have to be at least equal to Netflix though . . . cool idea for rentals. I'll never be thrilled with digital purchases, though.

Why bother renting from Apple when you can have all you can eat with Netflix.
Once Netflix start doing video streaming with PS3 who is going to rent from Apple. First you gotta buy Apple TV to rent any movies from them, forget that and who would want to watch movie on their Ipod or Iphone... Yeah, Let's watch Starwars on Iphone, I don't think so.

[BluStar88]

I have an apple TV and while I am not a huge fan of it I do enjoy getting my TV shows from it and I hope that the TV aspect continues to grow and they are able to get a deal re-struck with nbc-universal

[BluStar88]

I tried the rentals it took like 1 week to download transformers and the quality wasn't that great... its no competition realy.

If you look apple tv and unbox neither are doing well.

[Maxell]

WTF?, 720p is High Definition. It sure looks better than most 1080i programming.

But about Apple, they've been trying for years with video downloads, ever since they debut the video ipod. But their video services are a huge failure. Sorry but I'm not going to rent Apple movies while I can get real blu-rays sent from netflix and have thousands of movies on demand online at no extra charge.

[Ferris]

Downloads are du jour right now.... It'll eventually happen, but I just think right now, it's too soon for this.... Perfect your technology first.

Also, with buying/renting physical discs, you take it hope and play when you're ready. It beats leaving your machine on for a while so the download can (maybe) finish by the time you're ready to view it.... Just my opinion.

[statikcat]

Originally Posted by Mobe1969

Geez, I feel like a broken record but 720p is NOT high definition. It is medium definition. There is a bigger difference between 720 and 1080 than 480 and 720.

And if digital downloads of movies are the future, why the hell isn't DVD worried...

480p = standard def
640p = enhanced def
720p+ = hi def

Sorry, 720p is high def wether you think you are too elite for it or not. And for most users on most tv the difference between 480p to 720p is much greater than 720 to 1080p. Going from SD to HD is going to make a bigger eye impression than low HD to high HD. Maybe that depends on your tv and the size...I have watched a lot of 720p content and even it blazes over DVD.

[CptGreedle]

When will they learn? Music downloads are great, but video downloads suck.
At least until the technology across the board improves.

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by Maxell

WTF?, 720p is High Definition. It sure looks better than most 1080i programming.

So in attempting to dispel one stupid argument, you bring up another one. Bravo.

[statikcat]

Lol.

Well music downloads make sense because music is on the go, mp3 players, etc. Video is all different. After what happened with music downloads companies cant help but try with video tho..possibly so much money to be made.

[funkybudda]

Originally Posted by Terjyn

So in attempting to dispel one stupid argument, you bring up another one. Bravo.

lol... so true.

[IMind]

I like Netflix.. but it's not really "downloads" it's streaming on demand... and it basically augments rentals for me. Movies I buy I still buy... not to mention I watch stuff with Netflix that I probably wouldn't ever get around to watching just because it's there. Anime series.. old tv show episodes I missed... something to watch while my wife insists on watching Rock of Love 2... but it certainly isn't even close to replacing blu-ray and 1080p content and it doesn't try to be.

All the HD-DUDers and media idiots who think that downloads are going to replace Blu-ray are on crack.

[Neo65]

Download's biggest enemy is still free eyepatch torr*nts. If your quality is the same as what people get for free if they are willing to wait 48hours for a 2 hour movie, then very very few will pay 4.99 or 2.99 for it.

The only solution is you have to offer something much more compelling, higher video and audio quality, enough for people to be willing to pay for it.

This is something BD already has with much higher bitrates, also something downloads cannot offer because of infrastructure and bandwidth costs.

[xwingsct]

Why download movies when you can get movies from On demand in an instant , no internet required and I didn't really see that on demand is doing that good either.

Those Journalists are living in Startrek land. We'll get there some day but it's not gonna in the next ten or twenty years. Eventually Bluray will get replaced with something, it's technologies evolution and I can't wait for that to happen but don't count me on purchasing download movie. When I buy movie I want to physically hold it in my had with original case and artwork not some bits and bytes sitting on my hard drive.

[kaliraver]

I for one can't see Apple putting a Blu-Ray drive in their Macs now that they have their own agenda to push in digital downloads. If anything Apple will take its time before it puts Blu-Ray drives into its Macs, just like they did when they started putting Super Drives in their computers. For some things Apple is behind technologically and even PC manufacturers are embracing Blu-Ray instead of Apple.

[mystiksuicide]

I have always laughed at the notion that people prefer downloads to buying disc. If I am buying I want a disc not gb

[Kuraudo]

Originally Posted by Neo65

Download's biggest enemy is still free eyepatch torr*nts. If your quality is the same as what people get for free if they are willing to wait 48hours for a 2 hour movie, then very very few will pay 4.99 or 2.99 for it.

The only solution is you have to offer something much more compelling, higher video and audio quality, enough for people to be willing to pay for it.

This is something BD already has with much higher bitrates, also something downloads cannot offer because of infrastructure and bandwidth costs.

Amen.

[Bigdog]

Originally Posted by BluStar88

I tried the rentals it took like 1 week to download transformers and the quality wasn't that great... its no competition realy.

If you look apple tv and unbox neither are doing well.

Good glad to hear that these services not only offer a overpriced product in a d/l form, but that the distribution and quality both suck!

[Chevypower]

Guys, just because Apple released their Macbook Air and releasing movie downloads, doesn't mean that they are doing away with Optical Drives, and don't want Blu Ray. Apple are going to be replacing Super Drives with Blu Ray drives when they have a confirmed supplier, and they are ready to ship the drives, and they have software which authors to Blu Ray, such as Final Cut Studio and iDVD.

[ranma]

Originally Posted by Chevypower

Guys, just because Apple released their Macbook Air and releasing movie downloads, doesn't mean that they are doing away with Optical Drives, and don't want Blu Ray. Apple are going to be replacing Super Drives with Blu Ray drives when they have a confirmed supplier, and they are ready to ship the drives, and they have software which authors to Blu Ray, such as Final Cut Studio and iDVD.

Steve Jobs values download way more than blu-ray.

The only reason they back blu-ray, just because HDDVD was backed by the OTHER operating system and video codec provider.

[Mobe1969]

Originally Posted by Simplayer

The jump from 480 to 720 is exactly the same as the jump from 720 to 1080 (not including the extra pixels for 720 and 1080 being widescreen, as that's not fair to 480).

Just looking at the number of lines alone (not taking into consideration actual pixels):
- 720 - 480 = 240
- 1080 - 720 = 360

That ain't exactly midway even. It is closer to SD than to proper HD

And looking at the PAL SD We have in Australia:
- 720 - 576 = 144
- 1080 - 720 = 360

Number of pixels:
- 640x480 = 307200
- 1280x720 = 921600
- 1920x1080 = 2073600
Differentials:
- 480 to 720 = 921600 - 307200 = 614400
- 720 to 1080 = 2073600 - 921600 = 1152000

So about double the pixel differential.

So going back to my initial statement, 720 is closer to 480 than to 1080. It is not high def.

1080 has OVER TWICE the resolution of 720.

I wouldn't even bother with HD if it was 720. I'd stick with PAL.

And I don't see anyone with a computer saying "yeah, I think 720 lines is good enough". My god, I haven't had to work with a computer running at under 1024 lines in over ten years.