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

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by master gandhi

iTunes compares quite favorably to disc, when I watch it.

It still falters in dark scenes, but that’s always been a trouble area for digital. It’s difficult to hide compression in the darkness, as we all seem to know. Someday, they’ll solve that problem, but even as it is now, it’s much better than it was years ago.

Audio with digital always remains behind the quality of physical, so that’s another faltering area that needs to improve. It isn’t a high priority of mine, though, so I never consider the audio quality a drawback.

Other than that, it holds up IMO. I just pointed out things that people could complain about with digital, but I don’t find these differences distracting. I’m still fully immersed in my experience.

See, I don’t see that as comparing favourably. The artefacts take me right out of the movie. I honestly struggle to understand why someone (anyone) would watch a inferior copy when such good A/V quality exists. Take something like The Revenant for example. Stunning on disc. I don’t get it.

As for ITunes, I think it looks overly digital. Some day scenes have lots of shimmer and sharpening going on. It doesn’t look good projected imo. On a 32-46 inch screen it fares better but it’s still apparent to me. Any film with night time sky or fog really struggles. Gradients are very obvious in such circumstances. Banding is a obvious artefact to spot.
Is the quality awful? Nope, not at all. However, having spent good money on my set up, I’m. Not about to go downgrade
Having said all that, I have rented a few on Irunes (films I knew I wouldn’t buy). Is the 720p still better than 1080p? It was laughable imo that 1080p only got slightly more bitrate than 720p.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Zu Nim

Only one of those points is even half-correct and I've addressed them all at least once. The post is quintessential Steedeel: Wrong, paranoid, and rude. Bookmark it and come back to it in five years. I hope a different man reads it.

3D is a wonderful format. I give you Gravity, Avatar, a Life Of Pi, House Of Wax, T2, The Walk, Coco, Hugo, etc.. all those films are enhanced hugely by the format. Watch Gravity in 3D on a good screen and come back and tell me it’s not a good format. It’s a different league to any digital experience especially on a projector. The 3D Film Archive is restoring some vintage titles and doing a wonderful job also.

Digital is struggling to make an impact in EST. All the success is coming via subscription.

ITunes MP3 was absolutely touted as the future. You know it was.

Finally just because you lot don’t agree doesn’t mean I’m wrong. I correctly predicted the demise of UV and the rise of Keychrst but no one points that out, wonder why?

Also rude? You guys need to go back and check your posts? Double standards.

With the exception of PCfan, Master Ghandi and Alchav, you digital crowd have been nothing BUT rude for the most part. Rude and insulting imo. Oh and patronising, having read your last senance.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by flyry

That was me on the AVS forum as well .

I'm sure it will get resolved with an update but the VUDU app on those TV's has been messing up a lot lately.

I've spent the majority of my evening trying to rectify it.

Like someone said, a streaming box is always going to be a better solution.

[Indy64]

Our Roku TV's stream quite well.

[The_Donster]

Originally Posted by flyry

That was me on the AVS forum as well .

I'm sure it will get resolved with an update but the VUDU app on those TV's has been messing up a lot lately.

I've spent the majority of my evening trying to rectify it.

Like I said, *Knock on wood* I've never had an issue with streaming through my KS8000. I've done my best to minimize the amount of components in my Sanctum's set up. My family still stream through the BD player or DVR depending on what they are watching in the other rooms.

[IronSoldier]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

3
Digital is struggling to make an impact in EST. All the success is coming via subscription.

Music streaming has been revolutionary, I went straight from buying CDs to subbing google play music, long term i've lost money due to cost of family plan others abuse me for but damn, it's awesome. I don't like buying digitally to an extent when it comes to content tied to a platform- if moviesanywhere came here i'd be more confident. Though i'd love if iTunes had a £40 a month sub which gave you access to all movies and tv shows instantly as they are released. New episode of Gotham? Just watch it. Star Wars released? Just watch it. Stop your sub and lose access. If you want to buy something to keep you get 15% off. I'd sign up in a heartbeat. Call me one of those young people ruining media but it's convenient and simple. Heck they could then even charge extra if you want double bitrate and downloads

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by IronSoldier

Music streaming has been revolutionary, I went straight from buying CDs to subbing google play music, long term i've lost money due to cost of family plan others abuse me for but damn, it's awesome. I don't like buying digitally to an extent when it comes to content tied to a platform- if moviesanywhere came here i'd be more confident. Though i'd love if iTunes had a £40 a month sub which gave you access to all movies and tv shows instantly as they are released. New episode of Gotham? Just watch it. Star Wars released? Just watch it. Stop your sub and lose access. If you want to buy something to keep you get 15% off. I'd sign up in a heartbeat. Call me one of those young people ruining media but it's convenient and simple. Heck they could then even charge extra if you want double bitrate and downloads

Barely anyone uses it now is my point. It went from being the future to being outlasted by CD. Comical and it made those bloggers and authors look like fools.

Convenience is this decades ugly word to me. The nemesis of quality for me. I ******* hate it.

[flyry]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Like someone said, a streaming box is always going to be a better solution.

Yes but it all feels a bit redundant at this point. I spent a pretty penny on this TV and until yesterday never had any issues.

I already have a chromecast (gen 1) which I do not use. (well rarely do if I'm watching Filmstruck but we usually watch that in the other room).

I have a Roku stick for my 1080 TV.

I get what you're saying but I didn't buy a Roku 4k out of principal before when VUDU had not yet enabled UHD on my TV.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by flyry

Yes but it all feels a bit redundant at this point. I spent a pretty penny on this TV and until yesterday never had any issues.

I already have a chromecast (gen 1) which I do not use. (well rarely do if I'm watching Filmstruck but we usually watch that in the other room).

I have a Roku stick for my 1080 TV. I'd feel silly buying the 4K Roku.

I get what you're saying but I didn't buy one out of principal before when VUDU had not yet enabled UHD on my TV.

It might save headaches in the future though? You will always have a reliable backup.

[flyry]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

It might save headaches in the future though? You will always have a reliable backup.

Well It would allow my wife to watch Filmstruck in the living room as she's too lazy to download the app to cast it

Just bought one. Will pick up on my lunch break.

[IronSoldier]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Convenience is this decades ugly word to me. The nemesis of quality for me. I ******* hate it.

Yeah. I want the convenience but quality right now is awful in most cases from UK providers or i'm locked into one so im 'stuck' buying UHD discs ready for the day digital providers catch up, i've got the connection and home network for it. I'm ready, but it's not offered, or even reasonably close except for kaleidescape if you're rich enough. I could accept quality loss on music as often my listening is done whilst carrying out other tasks but for a film.. Im looking at it for 2 hours. It's gotta look good.

[TROLLY]

Digital is much better. Far more convenient. You’re not going to notice the difference, unless you’ve got a 70” TV.


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[TROLLY]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Digital HD is not doing well even with Movies Anywhere imo. Subscription? Yes, sure but that’s not collecting movies anymore now, is it?

The only reason why Digital (to buy) is not doing well, is because of piracy as well as subscription TV platforms.

The same goes for physical media. It’s not like it was 15 years ago.

People just don’t want to pay for music or films anymore, because they have other options now.

[flyry]

Originally Posted by TROLLY

The only reason why Digital (to buy) is not doing well, is because of piracy as well as subscription TV platforms.

The same goes for physical media. It’s not like it was 15 years ago.

People just don’t want to pay for music or films anymore, because they have other options now.

I was thinking about this the other day. I want to buy Beauty and the Beast (1946) on Criterion. But its on Filmstruck. So instead of getting my 20.xx, they will be receiving my $100/yr instead. Which of course the companies would all prefer.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by TROLLY

Digital is much better. Far more convenient. You’re not going to notice the difference, unless you’ve got a 70” TV.


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Of course it is.

[moviegeek1992]

Originally Posted by TROLLY

The only reason why Digital (to buy) is not doing well, is because of piracy as well as subscription TV platforms.

The same goes for physical media. It’s not like it was 15 years ago.

People just don’t want to pay for music or films anymore, because they have other options now.

I agree. If a title is people want to watch is on Netflix that's great but if what they want to see is not available on their sub most would torrent that movie rather than rent it digitally, they think they're paying for Netflix, it justifies their torrenting that single movie. It's their dumb sense of entitlement. Reading comments on various sites from such torrenters gives me the impression they expect everything to be included with their subscription subs.

I've also read loads of people complain about Amazon Prime and accuse them of bait and switch tactics, they're watching season 1 of a show that's included with Prime and then season 2 is buy only. That's not bait and switch, that's just Amazon having merged their storefront and subscription service together.

[mrr1]

I like having the disc. I can make my own throw-away digital copies.

[Ender14]

I think physical provides a better experience. I have a 65" TV and can tell the difference between streaming and physical immediately when I walk into the room. The clarity and color from a physical disc is better than streaming to my eyes.

With that being said, I do redeem all of the digital codes from my physical discs. There are times a digital copy is convenient. And now that they are including the bonus features digitally, I will generally watch them that way rather than using the disc since I'm not as concerned with PQ on features.

But I enjoy having a physical collection. I have collected VHS, Laserdisc, DVD, Blu-ray and now 4K. I like the idea of owning something I pay for. When you purchase something through a digital storefront you don't technically own it. You are just renting it indefinitely. If that service goes out of business you have lost your content. This is a great article where a copyright lawyer states as much:

https://www.theatlantic.com/technolo...n-dies/409387/

So purchasing a disc is really the ONLY way to truly own the content you pay for.

[cpr3584]

Originally Posted by Ender14

I think physical provides a better experience. I have a 65" TV and can tell the difference between streaming and physical immediately when I walk into the room. The clarity and color from a physical disc is better than streaming to my eyes.

With that being said, I do redeem all of the digital codes from my physical discs. There are times a digital copy is convenient. And now that they are including the bonus features digitally, I will generally watch them that way rather than using the disc since I'm not as concerned with PQ on features.

But I enjoy having a physical collection. I have collected VHS, Laserdisc, DVD, Blu-ray and now 4K. I like the idea of owning something I pay for. When you purchase something through a digital storefront you don't technically own it. You are just renting it indefinitely. If that service goes out of business you have lost your content. This is a great article where a copyright lawyer states as much:

https://www.theatlantic.com/technolo...n-dies/409387/

So purchasing a disc is really the ONLY way to truly own the content you pay for.

I feel the same. I've been on the fence a while. I also have a 65 inch TV and can tell right away the sharpness and color of a disc. Sticking with my discs but redeeming the digital copies for a backup. although im missing out on selling the codes

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by TROLLY

Digital is much better. Far more convenient. You’re not going to notice the difference, unless you’ve got a 70” TV.

This statement supports/feeds Steedeel’s theory that digital enthusiasts are going smaller with their screens, while physical enthusiasts are going bigger.

Perhaps there’s some merit to that theory, but it seems to me that TVs are getting bigger and even tablets are generally getting bigger. You can find 70-80” TVs at Costco, and the iPad Mini is no longer seeing refreshes.

I have a (2014) 65” UHD TV, and from my viewing distance, I don’t find the difference between disc and digital distrating at all. I’ve gotten used to digital because we watch so much on Netflix (which I have to say also looks really good IMO). Just the other day, I watched four movies on Netflix and was very pleased with their appearance. Cars 3 looked stunning.

Digital still has room for improvement, though. I think sometimes they hide the compression by softening the image, so physical can still offer generally sharper images. But I don’t feel it’s a night and day difference. Digital approaches physical quality to me, and it’ll only get better as time goes on.

If you think back to when Netflix streaming first started, it looked pretty noticeably compressed, along with other streaming providers at the time (around ten years ago, I believe). How far streaming as a whole has come since then, that we can even argue that the visual difference is hardly noticeable to some of us.