Apple gone HD

[jimsowden]

Over the past few years I've noticed apple loudly and then quietly switching to widescreen. First the 22" and the 15" powerbook. Then the iMac 17", then the 20" cinema followed by the 17" powerbook. Switch the while display line to nothing but widescreen, then the same for the iMac line. Now they seem to be doing that for their facilities, as in the new HD projection implemented at MWSF, and finally and most importantly their new iPod ad is the first piece of apple media in history, less that crappy pepsi ad, to be in widescreen, and from the aspect ration I assume HD. Now the question is, will apple be broadcasting the ad in its HD format? Obviously, they will have an SD version for when the network isn't in HD, but I have seen other companies have HD ads, usually tied to the very end of a segment of an HD program. Anyone seen it yet? I know NBC primetime is big on apple ads, and HD of course.

 

[marknicholls]

Over the past few years I've noticed apple loudly and then quietly switching to widescreen. First the 22" and the 15" powerbook. Then the iMac 17", then the 20" cinema followed by the 17" powerbook. Switch the while display line to nothing but widescreen, then the same for the iMac line. Now they seem to be doing that for their facilities, as in the new HD projection implemented at MWSF, and finally and most importantly their new iPod ad is the first piece of apple media in history, less that crappy pepsi ad, to be in widescreen, and from the aspect ration I assume HD. Now the question is, will apple be broadcasting the ad in its HD format? Obviously, they will have an SD version for when the network isn't in HD, but I have seen other companies have HD ads, usually tied to the very end of a segment of an HD program. Anyone seen it yet? I know NBC primetime is big on apple ads, and HD of course.

Out of interest, is HD really that much better? We dont have it in the UK yet, but sky digital seems pretty crisp and clear to me as it is?

 

[Darwin]

Well I guess when they have released Tiger they will use the H264 codec in Quicktime to give their media higher qualitiy

 

[mpw]

Out of interest, is HD really that much better? We dont have it in the UK yet, but sky digital seems pretty crisp and clear to me as it is?

I was wondering about HD aswell. For years the UK's PAL broadcasts were far better than the US network TV now it seems the tables have turned.

I went out looking and there are now a few HD sets on the market in the UK and the BBC are now filming in HD but have not said when broadcast are to begin.

The only trouble is that Sky have said that their broadcasts (when they start) are going to be encrypted so that they'll not work through DVI displays this includes the Sky branded displays they're selling now.

Just another early adopter format dilema I guess.

EDIT: Just re-read the Sky article. Their broadcasts will be encrypted with HDCP(high def. content protection) which will only work through compatible DVI or HDMI connections.

 

[panphage]

I don't know how much better HD is than PAL, but it's tons more better than NTSC.

NTSC - National Television Standards Committee. The oldest existing standard, developed in the USA. First used in 1954. Consists of 525 horizontal lines of display and 60 vertical lines. Sometimes referred to as "Never Twice the Same Color."
Only one type, known as NTSC M.
SECAM - Système Électronique pour Couleur avec Mémoire. Developed in France. First used in 1967. A 625-line vertical, 50-line horizontal display. Sometimes referred to as "Something Essentially Contrary to the American Method" or
SEcond Colour Always Magenta!" Different types use different video bandwidth and audio carrier specs. Types B and D usually used for VHF; types G, H, and K for UHF; types I, N, M, K1 and L for both VHF/UHF. Different types are
generally not compatible.
PAL - Phase Alternating Line. Developed in the United Kingdom & Germany. First used in 1967. Also a 625/50-line display. Proponents call it "Perfection At Last." Due to the cost of the enormous circuit complexity, critics often refer to it as
"Pay A Lot". Different types use different video bandwidth and audio carrier specs. Common types are B, G and H; less common types include D, I, K, N and M. The different types are generally not compatible.

HD resolution: http://www.voom.com/newsletter/aug_resource2.shtml Note that this page says "normal" (I assume NTSC) resolution is 480 lines but I was always taught it was 525 lines. I was also told in 1990 by my media teacher that HDTV was right around the corner. Yeah, maybe in Japan.

 

[3Memos]

I was wondering about HD aswell. For years the UK's PAL broadcasts were far better than the US network TV now it seems the tables have turned.

PAL and 720P HD are very close in resolution. UK has had it good for some time.

 

[3Memos]

Note that this page says "normal" (I assume NTSC) resolution is 480 lines but I was always taught it was 525 lines. I was also told in 1990 by my media teacher that HDTV was right around the corner. Yeah, maybe in Japan.

525 lines refer to horizontal resolution. The 480 number you are quoting refers to DV vertical resolution.

 

[dejo]

Over the past few years I've noticed apple loudly and then quietly switching to widescreen. First the 22" and the 15" powerbook. Then the iMac 17", then the 20" cinema followed by the 17" powerbook. Switch the while display line to nothing but widescreen, then the same for the iMac line. Now they seem to be doing that for their facilities, as in the new HD projection implemented at MWSF, and finally and most importantly their new iPod ad is the first piece of apple media in history, less that crappy pepsi ad, to be in widescreen, and from the aspect ration I assume HD. Now the question is, will apple be broadcasting the ad in its HD format? Obviously, they will have an SD version for when the network isn't in HD, but I have seen other companies have HD ads, usually tied to the very end of a segment of an HD program. Anyone seen it yet? I know NBC primetime is big on apple ads, and HD of course.

I don't recall seeing any commercials in HD/widescreen format on my semi-HD channels (depends on the program). But the ads on my "all-the-time" HD channels (Discovery HD, INHD, INHD2) are always in HD, although they're not really third-party ads, other than Circuit City on Discovery HD. And none from Apple.

I also noticed that Steve's keynote from MacWorld was also streamed in widescreen format, which makes sense. Wanna match what was projected on the big screen behind him.

 

[LethalWolfe]

I watched the Superbowl last year in HD in the US and it looked very nice (except for some of the graphics which were SD). And source HD footage (i.e. raw footage shot in the field and not compressed for TV) looks f'n awesome.

525 lines refer to horizontal resolution. The 480 number you are quoting refers to DV vertical resolution.

525 refers to the number of horizontal lines in the signal, but not all of those lines carry visual info. IIRC 480 is the number of horzitonal lines that carry picture info that makes up the vertical resolution on a TV.


Lethal