Assuming a reasonably complete library, I'd sign up for that.
It's more than the studios are going to make off of me from cinema tickets and Bluray sales, for sure.
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iPad 3 to Pave Way for 1080p iTunes Content and a New Apple TV?
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Assuming a reasonably complete library, I'd sign up for that.
It's more than the studios are going to make off of me from cinema tickets and Bluray sales, for sure.
1080p ≠ always better indeed, BUT ... with the same material and source, 1080p Bluray will always look way waaaay better than DVD counterparts.
It's not just about color, but also details, scrap little things on the picture looks way better if the content compressed into AVCHD bluray compared to DVD.
Just compare a 480p MKV encoding vs. original 480p DVD for a comparison sake with the SAME movie. You can always tell the difference although they're both dumbed down to 480p. It because Bluray's original have less compression. Thus it's still better than DVD with the same resolution but crappy encoding and compression.
Should've learn and see more into your mom's bluray player before you post.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Who says 1080p must come with crappy bitrates? This one gets slung in every time there is a discussion about 1080p. Why not, "I'd rather have 1080p at high bitrates than 720p with crappy bitrates." We never get that version.
OR, the same could be said for SD vs. 720p: "I'd rather have SD with high bitrates vs. 720p with the same crappy bitrates." But we never see that one either.
Apple won't roll out 1080p rentals at "crappy bitrates" such that the 720p version will look better. It would make no sense to do that. Did they roll out 720p at "crappy bitrates" when it was added to the iTunes store so that the (then) established standard of SD looked better?
Are iPhone 4s 1080p videos at "crappy bitrates"? Do they look worse than Apple 720p? They're probably a very good proxy for Apple's 1080p quality decisions when that kind of content is made available.
Besides, some of us could care less about 1080p options in the iTunes store. In my own case, I shoot all of our home video at 1080p and would simply like to be able to push that at full quality to my 1080p HDTV via
TV3. I'll probably NEVER rent/buy a 1080p film from iTunes.
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Who says 1080p must come with crappy bitrates? This one gets slung in every time there is a discussion about 1080p. Why not, "I'd rather have 1080p at high bitrates than 720p with crappy bitrates." We never get that version.
OR, the same could be said for SD vs. 720p: "I'd rather have SD with high bitrates vs. 720p with the same crappy bitrates." But we never see that one either.
Apple won't roll out 1080p rentals at "crappy bitrates" such that the 720p version will look better. It would make no sense to do that. Are iPhone 4s 1080p videos at "crappy bitrates"? Do they look worse than Apple 720p? They're probably a very good proxy for Apple's 1080p quality decisions when that kind of content is made available.
Besides, some of us could care less about 1080p options in the iTunes store. In my own case, I shoot all of our home video at 1080p and would simply like to be able to push that at full quality to my 1080p HDTV via
I've gotten 1080p content from Vudu and Directv. Some content is getting pretty close to bluray. A lot looks aliased with very poor contrast ratio. This is a result of low bitrates. 720p @ 5mb/s vs 1080p @ 5mb/s will result in 720p looking better so of course they will need to up the bitrate for 1080p to at least 10mb/s. What I'm talking about is give me 720p content at 10-20mb/s and I'd be perfectly happy.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
I understand what you are trying to say. But it won't make any sense for Apple to roll out 1080p at the same mb/s that they're offering for 720p. When they rolled out 720p, it was NOT encoded at the same mb/s as the SD version.
Of course, 2 resolutions at the same mb/s rate is likely to favor the lower resolution. But by that standard, we should argue for doing away with 720p and embracing SD... or doing away with 720p and SD and embracing VCR resolutions "at good bitrates".
If you are longing for 720p at 10-20mb/s over 1080p at 5mb/s, why not 1080p at 10-20mb/s over 720p at 5mb/s?
I see the situation like this:
- The CE industry has done a reasonably good job of selling the idea of "Full HD" (1080p) as THE max standard (for now anyway). If you buy an HDTV this year, you're probably buying one capable of 1080p
- There's only ever-shrinking offerings of CE equipment capped out at 720p
- Even Apple has embraced 1080p in the iPhone 4s (and probably will again in the iPad3). It's not as exciting to shoot "full HD" with our new iDevices but then have them down-converted to 720p and then upscaled again to our 1080p HDTVs, losing detail in the downconversion, then inventing detail in the upconversion. Why not just give us a little box to show the video as it was shot?
- The rumored Retina display of an iPad3 will beg for 1080p to maximize those pixels rather than scaling up 720p or less. And if an iPad3 comes out with resolutions higher than Macbook Pros, Macbook Pros with retina displays seem like they will have to be right on it's heels (and they too will beg for higher resolution videos above 1280 x 720p)
However, all that said, those- apparently like you- who are happy with 720p don't lose ANYTHING if Apple rolls out hardware that can play higher-than-720p video. A 1080p
TV3 will play your 720p at its fullest, just like a quad core iMac will run software coded for a single core at its fullest. Better hardware can always handle- even max out- lesser-demanding software. Don't want 1080p files? Don't download them. Just as the people who don't care for (or don't have the storage for... or don't have the bandwidth for... etc) 720p in the iTunes store can still choose the SD version, I'd expect this to go the same way: choose from SD vs. 720p vs. 1080p, probably at 3 price points and maybe with some Apple-friendly notices about how long bigger files will take to download vs. smaller files.
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What they should really do is sell a master copy that is in the cloud, and then let you set which version you want to stream or download locally. You own it forever, but you can adjust the quality depending on what you're watching it on.
So you buy a movie, it's in iCloud at Blu-ray quality, 20-45Mbps, 1080p.
Then in iTunes, on your iPhone, iPad1/2, iPad3, AppleTV3 and actual Apple Television you have settings for those devices: Auto(detect device and current network speed), Low (for iPhone/iPod Touch) Medium (iPad1/2/AppleTV) High (iPad 3/AppleTV3/AppleTelevision) and Very High(i.e. the full quality, probably most useful on the devices used for the High setting but with a fast connection).
This way you optimise for devices and connection speeds, and make sure those who care about quality can get it, and everyone gets the digital equivalent of a triple play Blu-ray set that will work on any iOS device.
They should also do something similar for Audio in iTunes too - ALAC if you want it, AAC for streaming or downloading on slow connections.
I know Apple don't like to give us loads of options, but this would be no more complicated than the CD import settings in iTunes.
So you buy a movie, it's in iCloud at Blu-ray quality, 20-45Mbps, 1080p.
Then in iTunes, on your iPhone, iPad1/2, iPad3, AppleTV3 and actual Apple Television you have settings for those devices: Auto(detect device and current network speed), Low (for iPhone/iPod Touch) Medium (iPad1/2/AppleTV) High (iPad 3/AppleTV3/AppleTelevision) and Very High(i.e. the full quality, probably most useful on the devices used for the High setting but with a fast connection).
This way you optimise for devices and connection speeds, and make sure those who care about quality can get it, and everyone gets the digital equivalent of a triple play Blu-ray set that will work on any iOS device.
They should also do something similar for Audio in iTunes too - ALAC if you want it, AAC for streaming or downloading on slow connections.
I know Apple don't like to give us loads of options, but this would be no more complicated than the CD import settings in iTunes.
Why the hell has this turned into a technical argument about blue ray? Are you lot obsessed with willy waving today or something?
Seriously, Blueray will be better then any codec you can stream media with via satellite or the internet.
I'm sure it will change one day, but it won't be anytime soon! As for people wanting 1080P and HD audio, good luck with that, not many people have broad band connections able to support that!
Seriously, Blueray will be better then any codec you can stream media with via satellite or the internet.
I'm sure it will change one day, but it won't be anytime soon! As for people wanting 1080P and HD audio, good luck with that, not many people have broad band connections able to support that!
The selection of movies available at no additional charge with Amazon Prime is a joke (a sad, small, tiny joke).
I wonder if a subscription model is workable. A flat monthly subscription is worthless without a large selection of movies to choose from.
A really good monthly subscription service might be so expensive most of us would be better off just renting individual movies.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Man, that would be videophile/audiophile heaven for us consumers. I'd love to see that too. However, the Studios really like selling us the same products over and over again. It's hard to imagine them being sold on this... especially if the only beneficiary of it is really us consumers + Apple.
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If Apple has to wait until "ALL people have the broadband connections able to support that", it will never happen. Apple can't control how quickly broadband is made available to all people everywhere. Apple can build hardware that encourages those in the broadband business to widen their pipes. Those customers who can enjoy 1080p now can get it. Those that can't can still choose 720p or SD to fit their own situations. Everybody wins.
OR, Apple sticks with things "as is". Those who can enjoy 1080p now spends their money to access that content with other companies. Apple loses.
Apple doesn't hold back quad cores until ALL software is quad core capable. Apple doesn't hold back Thunderbolt until all peripherals everywhere are TB capable. Apple doesn't hold back iDevice innovations like "Retina" until all apps are Retina-ready. Etc. The hardware must lead. In doing so en masse, the software is always catching up to the full capabilities of the hardware. 720p MAX was "it" in about 2006. It's 2012 now.
so true!
I transferred a client's HD camcorder footage to blu ray and DVD (they just bought their BR player and wanted a DVD for their trip).
Of course, there was absolutely no comparison in quality.
The BR file was 23 GB and the DVD file was just under 4 GB, given the lower bit rate level. The same applies for an ipad or iphone file. different specs so of course the BR file looks so much better.
For me, I'll rent an iTunes movie if it's not full of action.
For Action flicks, I'll either rent BR or wait until the used BR sales are on at the local Rogers store. I just picked up rise of the planet of the apes and capt america for $24 (together). I'll pay the $12 for a far superior output.
Speaking of Rogers, wow oh wow - their stores have to be hurting! I've been in there on a Friday night and it's busy, but never as jam packed as before. A sign of the times?
Cheers,
Keebler
It would be nice if Apple just allowed all 3 options.
Standard Def, HD 720p, and HD 1080p.
I think this should make everyone happy.
The killer part of an Apple TV would be an App Store.
A new touchpad remote would be cool too.
Angry Birds for my TV would rock.
Standard Def, HD 720p, and HD 1080p.
I think this should make everyone happy.
The killer part of an Apple TV would be an App Store.
A new touchpad remote would be cool too.
Angry Birds for my TV would rock.
You can't use quad core and thunderbolt as arguments! They are controlled by one company or two! BB relies on hundreds of different companies, and telephone lines, the entire internet, just how many people do you know who use fibre optic broad band too?
It's not a case of Apple holding back, it's a case of common business practice, why would you offer 1080P AND HD surround sound audio at great expense when only a fraction of people can get it? And I'm talking world wide here not just America, in fact the average BB speed in the UK today is 10MB, and according to the internet, America last October had an average of just 5.8MB, how is that going to stream 20 GB of video and audio? Or even 10GB and make it watchable?
If youll pardon the pun, you are not comparing apples to oranges, the vast majority of BluRays are 1080 x 1920 or ~2 million pixels whereas 720 has a shade under a million pixels, by definition bitrate for a 1080p stream is going to require considerably more bandwidth to match a 720p stream at the same compression rate.
Blu-ray is undoubtedly the superior format and I doubt iTunes or the countries broadband infrastructure could support quality greater than BluRay at this point*, but iTunes HD content is perfectly fine, considerably better than DVD quality and way better than broadcast HD - and yes I have A/B tested them on my 120" 1080p projection, 7.1, home theater system. I still buy Blu-ray for great movies I watch again and again, but for films Im only going to watch once a 720p rental has always been fine.
* don't forget Apple has their own super high-fidelity codec launched with 10.2 or 10.3, I forget, but it was for use in production environments to provide 1:1 quality.
MacRumours staff, you did so well with this article:
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/02/12/an-ipad-3-retina-display-comparison-graphic/.
But then you go and blow it with more expected release dates BS. You can't seem to get this difference:
People predict/want/guess/feel etc etc the iPad 3 will be released the first week of March. And that is a fair prediction given the rumours flying around.
But only idiots expect (or in other words say it will be released for 100% certain) the iPad 3 will be released the first week of March. Only Apple will know this for 100% certain. And we public will know when they tell us. And not a moment before.
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It'll make the people who don't care about picture quality and sound happy and that's about it. Kind of sad for a company that claims to pride itself on user experience.
Unless they can have comparable video quality to blu ray, why wouldn't I just buy a blu ray. Unless they're a lot cheaper. And wouldn't that be funny if apple had the low cost, low quality version.
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No one knows why you would or wouldn't do something. But, for people like me, we prefer not having to go to a store. We prefer not having our movies take up useless space in our apartments. And we prefer the ability to instantly download and watch the movie when we are in the mood. Those features trump the max quality, since in our experience, the quality offered is good enough. If Apple bumps up the quality, great!
But right now I've got no complaints with what they offer. I watch iTunes HD movies on a 720p projector that projects the image to a 120" screen, and the picture looks wonderful (no artifacts). Everyone who comes to my place raves and prefers the experience to watching Blurays on a 50" screen, where most details aren't even noticeable during the viewing experience. Of course if I could get the equipment to project the BD movies, I'm sure they would look much better, but in my opinion BD isn't worth the trouble.
I also like the fact that digital movies leave less of an environmental footprint.
The sooner the studios realize that the golden years of DVD sales is over and not going to come back, the better for everyone. There is absolutely NO WAY that I'll start building another movie lib after wasting so much money. My other friends who used to have movie collections have all moved on.
The Apple TV 2 is very well be able to play 1080p content.
However network bandwidth, even in a Local Area Network is an issue when it comes to 1080p content - at least in compression ratio used on blurays currently.
In todays blurays a regular movie has around 25-30GB which the network must be able to deliver in a timely manner to the ATV2. The ATV2 has only a 100Mbit plug (forget about streaming this via WLAN).
I think the next gen. ATV needs at least a 1000MBit plug to support.
I have however even more concern regarding bandwidth when it comes to streaming 1080p content over the internet (at decent and not ugly compression rates).
However network bandwidth, even in a Local Area Network is an issue when it comes to 1080p content - at least in compression ratio used on blurays currently.
In todays blurays a regular movie has around 25-30GB which the network must be able to deliver in a timely manner to the ATV2. The ATV2 has only a 100Mbit plug (forget about streaming this via WLAN).
I think the next gen. ATV needs at least a 1000MBit plug to support.
I have however even more concern regarding bandwidth when it comes to streaming 1080p content over the internet (at decent and not ugly compression rates).
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Aww I bought an apple tv 2 in dec 2011 ... That won't be able to do 1080p so will apple release atv3? Dang it!
Aww I bought an apple tv 2 in dec 2011 ... That won't be able to do 1080p so will apple release atv3? Dang it!
Except, Jim Dalrymple confirmed it, and he is not an idiot. His word is the closest confirmation you can get without Apple itself saying so. Unless Apple's plans change in the next month, it will happen then. Macrumors' wording is fine.