VUDU vs Satellite

[HeadHodge]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

From Merriam-Webster Online:

Main Entry: intriguing Function: adjective Date: 1752 : engaging the interest to a marked degree : fascinating <an intriguing story>

So yes, I would say it is both fascinating and intriguing. I suppose it would be even more fascinating if it weren't.

Ouch!!! I just got blindsided and broadsided by redwein.

Touche!! Your point this time redwein, but just remember I don't get back...... I get even!!!

[HeadHodge]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

BlueRay DVD averages about 25 mbps to deliver their picture.

I think I read is that BluRay is also MPEG4 encoded. Do you if this is correct?

If not wouldn't you be able to encode the content with one of the higher MPEG4 bitrate levels that would be the same or closely emulate the same quality but at maybe a lower mbps rate?

Regards

[RonV]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

I can't get FIOS, so I don't know much about it. Just that it involves fiber optic as a transmission medium.

If everybody had something like FIOS, do you think it would then be possible??

BlueRay DVD averages about 25 mbps to deliver their picture. Fiber can deliver this but there is still the issue of source and latency. I am not sure what FIOS speeds are out there since they don't offer the service in my area.

When I was working in Milwaukee last year we had TimeWarner deliver a OC-3 (155.52 Mbps) and OC-12 (622.08 Mbps) for a massive MPLS VoIP/Data network. Of course we didn't have the raw bandwidth we just purchased what we needed but the capacity was there. If we needed more we just logged into the managment portal. Set the rate and waited about 5 minutes and the bandwidth was there. Of course the bill would arrive next month and a bit of work needed to be done on the MPLS so we could blanace the usage.

[redwein]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

I think the whole topic is not only fascinating but intriguing as well.

From Merriam-Webster Online:

Main Entry: intriguing Function: adjective Date: 1752 : engaging the interest to a marked degree : fascinating <an intriguing story>

So yes, I would say it is both fascinating and intriguing. I suppose it would be even more fascinating if it weren't.

[HeadHodge]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

It's impossible with today's bandwidths to stream a 25 Gigabyte movie file in real time. Maybe some day!

I can't get FIOS, so I don't know much about it. Just that it involves fiber optic as a transmission medium.

If everybody had something like FIOS, do you think it would then be possible??

[HeadHodge]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

What is the format of the source material Vudu receives? I don't know. I have asked and have not received an answer. My assumption therefore is that it's on a need to know basis and I don't have a need to know.

Thanks for that great reply!!!

And also thanks for at least asking.

I think the whole topic is not only fascinating but intriguing as well. It seems like it's either a well kept secret that is done with part Vudu and part Black Magic, or it's simply such new technology that hardly anyone really knows how it's done.

It seems like everyone and their mother is doing it though. Perhaps it's a case of where the masses use a calculator to do their math, but no one really understands how they work.

Please let me know if you get any more insight.

Regards

Oh yeah, I forgot to ask....... So tell me again how did you stumble onto a movie like Color of the Cross Part II??

[NA9D]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

The video quality is determined by two things:

1.) The Source Material
2.) Encoding - Including level of compression, bit rate, etc.

Predominantly, if you see a poor quality video on Vudu, then it's the source material. I'm not sure if it's available to everyone yet, but check out Color of the Cross Part II. The video quality is absolutely awful. There's breakup in the first few minutes, etc. It looks like crappy YouTube type stuff. It's the source material. And don't ask me how I know this about an obscure movie on the box!

So you can take a good source or a crappy source and encode it into MPEG-4/H.264. Due to the compression and bit rate limiting, there will be degradation of any source material. But they try to minimize that as much as possible but this is one reason why HD content on Vudu isn't as good as BluRay. It's impossible with today's bandwidths to stream a 25 Gigabyte movie file in real time. Maybe some day!

What is the format of the source material Vudu receives? I don't know. I have asked and have not received an answer. My assumption therefore is that it's on a need to know basis and I don't have a need to know.

So, now on paying fees for HD licensing - I have no idea. That was certainly a guess. I wouldn't put any stock in it.

[HeadHodge]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

VUDU does their own encoding. H.264 is the standard that they are using. Here is the reference I use:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.264/MPEG-4_AVC

Thanks!! It's really interesting stuff.

The part about the patent infringement battle with Qualcomm was interesting too, because Qaulcomm has a huge economic influence here in the San Diego area. The name of the Chargers Football stadium is even called Qualcomm Stadium and they have their own road, called Qualcomm Way.

Although I read a lot about about the specs for the resulting encoded format and levels of quality, I didn't really see any mention of any corresponding requirements for video inputs.

So if I'm reading it correctly, then I'm assuming you could either take a crappy video or a high-res video and compress them both into the same output format.

If that's true then do you know what video format is typically being provided by the various studios for encoding. i.e. raw SDI or SDI HD on some sort physical media, like a disk or hard drive?

And do you know if the studios impose restrictions on the level of encoding that can be done with the video content they provide to VUDU? Or is it just a matter of what video format the studio supplies that determines the movie's quality? i.e. whether it's SD or HD and stereo or DD.

I'm just curious after thinking about NA9D's comment about VUDU possibly not opting to pay a higher license fee in order to be able obtain or provide an HD encoded version of a movie.

Anyways, hope I'm not being too nosy. Thanks in advance for your replies.

Regards
Bob

[RonV]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

Well I've been honeing up a little on my encoding techniques. Do you know who actually does the MPEG4 encoding of the movie content for VUDU?

If you watch the Steve Jobs keynote speech at CES 2008, he clearly makes it sound like Apple is doing it themselves for ATV.

VUDU does their own encoding. H.264 is the standard that they are using. Here is the reference I use:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.264/MPEG-4_AVC

[HeadHodge]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

But RainX won't work. The problem isn't rain on the dish. It's the fact that the incoming satellite signal scatters off the rain drops. That's the issue...

That's where Lex Luther would come in handy. He would be able to make you a magnetronic H2O polarizer that would easily orient the rain drops properly in your immediate area to actually amplify the Sat signal to your Dish. I use to be a tropospheric radio relay specialist in the Portland Air Guard, so I know it can be done!!

(As an aside: we would always get in trouble for calling a Travelling Wave Amplifier Tube by it's acronymn!)

It's a very good question and no one who posts here has the answer. The studios seem to make sure that all the VOD providers have the same terms for viewing (ie: 30 days and 24 hours after starting viewing, rentals 30 days after DVD release, etc.). But they don't seem to provide the same content to all services. Who knows. Maybe DirecTV paid more money for the DD movies.

Well I've been honeing up a little on my encoding techniques. Do you know who actually does the MPEG4 encoding of the movie content for VUDU?

If you watch the Steve Jobs keynote speech at CES 2008, he clearly makes it sound like Apple is doing it themselves for ATV.

I've just scratched the surface of the topic, but it's very interesting. I now understand some basic vocabulary, like SDI, SDI HD, Parellel SDI, and 3G SDI, and multichannel SDI. It's pretty neat stuff.

Oddly enough I found a lot of my info at BlackMagic.com. They make some cool PCIx gadets for the professional video production wannabes.

Regards

(p.s. my attempt to make this thread less relevant but more interesting for the Master!!)

[aaronwt]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

I see FIOS just launched their HD VOD in my area. All the new pay titles are $5.99 which is the same as VUDU . I'll have to try one out and compare it to VUDU. FIOS VOD is done by IP but it is also Mpeg2 so it needs alot of bandwidth.

[NA9D]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

Well I think if you review your own posts about ATV and ReplayTV but substitute my name with them, then I think you would come to the same conclusion.

Dunno. ReplayTV isn't a competing service and I've been highly critical of the shortcoming of ATV.

But perhaps I'm not being fair. Maybe I'm just tired of little activity in here and am bored with reading about DirecTV. I really don't #%&#$(#@ care!

(BTW so do you want the 1 year subscription or not?? I've read that spraying RainX on the dish solves the problem to some degree. )

Sure. I'll take it! I never refuse free things.

But RainX won't work. The problem isn't rain on the dish. It's the fact that the incoming satellite signal scatters off the rain drops. That's the issue...

[HeadHodge]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

Why don't I want DirecTV? Because I want to watch movies in a rainstorm!

That one is just tough for me to relate to. It doesn't sleet nor snow or rain down here in San Diego! I talk to our postman every day and he's a very happy man.

My take was that you feel DirecTV has a lot of positive things over Vudu. That's what it sounds like...

Well I think if you review your own posts about ATV and ReplayTV but substitute my name with them, then I think you would come to the same conclusion.

I think the reason it comes across that way is because I have intimate experience with Directv and Netflix. So it's easy for me use them as points of comparision to try and provide "constructive" criticism of VUDU's offering.

My only goal is to push for things that makes VUDU competitive for my money. I can only speak from my personal perspective and not any other VUDU customer. That's up to the VUDU marketing department to do that.

I think I'm fair in that I also serve praise to VUDU when I think it's deserved.

Best Regards
Bob

(BTW so do you want the 1 year subscription or not?? I've read that spraying RainX on the dish solves the problem to some degree. )

[NA9D]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

But seriously I was only pointing out (in my obviously obscure way) that I don't understand why Directv is able to provide a movie in HD and DD5.1 while VUDU is only able to provide it in SD and stereo. And also trying to convey my disappointment that VUDU doesn't (for whatever reason).

I wish we knew. Why does Vudu have some content in HD that AppleTV doesn't? Why does AppleTV have some HD content that Vudu doesn't? Why does AppleTV have no SD content in DD5.1?

It's a very good question and no one who posts here has the answer. The studios seem to make sure that all the VOD providers have the same terms for viewing (ie: 30 days and 24 hours after starting viewing, rentals 30 days after DVD release, etc.). But they don't seem to provide the same content to all services. Who knows. Maybe DirecTV paid more money for the DD movies.

Here's one for you: When I had Dish Network, they had DD5.1 movies on PPV. But not every showing of those movies were in DD5.1. Why would that be???

Again, an answer that is unknown to the little people.

For some reason, someone seems to have a bug up their butt about Directv. I'm now seriously thinking about giving him a years subscription to Directv for Christmas!

The bug where the sun don't shine is because in this thread, the "praises" of DirecTV have been sung so much. That's why. Why don't I want DirecTV? Because I want to watch movies in a rainstorm! I think DirecTV has gotten overly positive treatment when in reality, I don't think they really matter. In order to get all their wonderful movies, you have to get all their wonderful equipment and subscription to all their wonderful channels. With Vudu I can use it with any internet provider and I can have any TV subscription or lack thereof that I want.

I've also pointed out differences between VUDU and ATV in other posts, where I have I listed available titles from ATV without being accused of being an ATV salesperson.

My take was that you feel DirecTV has a lot of positive things over Vudu. That's what it sounds like...

[HeadHodge]

Re: VUDU vs Satellite

Interesting, a single movie in stereo instead of 5.1 and a list of PPV movies available on DirecTV shows the emperor having no clothes in what way?

Yeah you're right. I was just grasping for threads with that one.

But seriously I was only pointing out (in my obviously obscure way) that I don't understand why Directv is able to provide a movie in HD and DD5.1 while VUDU is only able to provide it in SD and stereo. And also trying to convey my disappointment that VUDU doesn't (for whatever reason).

I was just pointing out a concrete example of my point. As I had stated, there are other movies in that list that are also examples, I just didn't go through an exhaustive comparison.

I love my VUDU and would definitely prefer to rent the movies from VUDU, if only they could provide the movie with the same quality. I was just trying to give VUDU feedback on would it would take to get even more of my hard earned money.

For some reason, someone seems to have a bug up their butt about Directv. I'm now seriously thinking about giving him a years subscription to Directv for Christmas!

I've also pointed out differences between VUDU and ATV in other posts, where I have I listed available titles from ATV without being accused of being an ATV salesperson.

Regards