DVD upconversion?

[wizwaz3]

I was wondering if anyone knows whether the iMac upconverts DVDs to HD because of the HD screen? I know that you can buy standalone players that do this, and considering it's a powerful computer, one would think it possible. Does anyone know?

 

[Super Macho Man]

I was wondering if anyone knows whether the iMac upconverts DVDs to HD because of the HD screen? I know that you can buy standalone players that do this, and considering it's a powerful computer, one would think it possible. Does anyone know?

Upconversion = scaling. Upconverting DVD players take the DVD picture, scale it, and send it out to the TV at a higher output resolution. But they can't create visual information where none existed in the first place. That's why the picture from a non-upconversion DVD player looks just as good on an HDTV with a good scaler as it does from an upconversion player. So yes, every software DVD player ever made does upconversion.

 

[wizwaz3]

That makes sense... So in reality, an HD upconverter isn't all it's hyped up to be... Good thing I never splurged on one! 😛

 

[toiletooth]

I disagree.
The upconverting DVD players most definately make DVD's look better. I am not a pro, but I can tell you that they work. The mac upconverting? I am not sure of that. Someone please be smart and say something helpful.
thanks!

 

[Nermal]

I've noticed that the Leopard DVD player does a much better job than the Tiger one did. My HD DVDs used to look significantly better than regular DVDs, but since Leopard the difference is smaller.

 

[Jiddick ExRex]

I disagree.
The upconverting DVD players most definately make DVD's look better. I am not a pro, but I can tell you that they work. The mac upconverting? I am not sure of that. Someone please be smart and say something helpful.
thanks!

Every dvd/media player is capable of doing this. It's the same thing you're doing when you watch youtube videos in full screen.

 

[Nermal]

Yes, all players can do it, but some players do a much better job than others.

 

[tderemigis]

yea, i can def see a difference in upconverted dvd's. And now in leopard especially the upconversion does a great job.

 

[takeabyteoutta]

The DVD players included with the Mac OS are upconverters that improve picture quality.

 

[toiletooth]

I really don't think my MacBook Pro upconverts, I think it just resizes. There's no fancy algorithms other than the resolution changes in my opinion. My crappy Phillips DVD player running S-Video looks exactly the same on my 37" HDTV.
Running component looks less ok.
The Xbox 360 same as S-Video and Macbook running DVI to HDMI.
All the digital ins look really similar. Basically, old DVD's look poopy.

 

[Cave Man]

I've noticed that the Leopard DVD player does a much better job than the Tiger one did. My HD DVDs used to look significantly better than regular DVDs, but since Leopard the difference is smaller.

+1. DVD Player.app in Leopard is remarkable. It does a better upscaling job than the 3 or 4 upscaling stand-alone DVD player's I've seen. The Apple dev team did a super job with this app.