Compression Discussion

[Rusdude]

Re: Compression Discussion

Nothing is going to come close to a good Blu-Ray encode. However, if encoded properly, HD videos from VUDU/Apple/Xbox/PS3/etc. could look better than an MPEG2 DVD.

Each GB of bandwidth costs the provider money (I've seen a few dollars mentioned as a cost for an HD flick), so they have to balance the quality with costs of bandwidth and download time. VUDU, though, has a better distribution model (p2p) so they could conceivably offer higher quality downloads at same prices (I talked about that while back).

[aaronwt]

Re: Compression Discussion

Way back I stated the issues with Vudu HD titles, they never compare to real HD forget about Blue Ray. Anyhoo, check this out, this may clear it up once and for all:

http://gizmodo.com/5048025/giz-expla...-very-high-def

As I stated, I like VUDU, however their HD is not really that good, neither is Apple's by the way, compared to actual HD, but they do look great on my projector. If they were say, $4 a pop I might be more willing.

Not that mis-informed article with that crappy incorrect comparison again. I compared VUDU to Xboxlive and the HD DVD with Transformers and I had much more detail from the VUDU title than the person from Gizmodo. They didn't even have any idea what resolution they were using from the VUDU box. Of course the HD DVD was best, but the VUDU quality was much better than the article implies since apparently they didn't have theirs setup right. I compared a scene with text and the extra detail from the VUDU encode was obvious since you could easily read the text. And then the VUDU encode didn't have all the macroblocking that the Xbox Live encode surprisingly had.
Of course all the VUDU 1080P24 encodes aren't as good as Transformers but it is one of the better ones. It's just the gizmodo article gives alot of misinformation since their setup wasn't correct and/or the person didn't know how to set it up properly.

[Riekl]

Re: Compression Discussion

The point for me, and I think a lot of people isn't the quality issue, it is the price issue. $5.99 is a LOT of money for a one time rental.

Physical media charges the same to rent HD as they do SD, it costs no more to get blu ray from blockbuster or netflix as to get a normal dvd. Why the huge premium for online ? Even apple has a premium but at least it is a more moderate one, $2extra is significant and too much. $4.99 is really borderline too much for a rental HD or not but at least it is a competitive price.

Given that Vudu has far less HD content (compared to ATV) and is falling further behind every day, is this ever going to change ? I bought my Vudu back in April because my ATV didn't have enough movies. Over the past 5 months that has really changed, Vudu still has more but Apple is catching up every day, and already has far more HD and TV.

Vudu had the lead in both SD and HD, where is the big push to get this back?

[RonV]

Re: Compression Discussion

Riekl,

HD rentals are priced 3.99, 4.99, and 5.99 depending on title plus they are instantly delivered. If you want to go to blockbuster and pick up a DVD to watch in HD just because the price is the same that is fine except that you have to use your time and gas which is a bit costly these days. Or you can wait till Netflix determines that your next in line for the BlueRay version of the movie from your list.

Yes convenience is what VUDU promised and does deliver and I look at the catalog as providing some of the best movies that are out there at a reasonable cost.

From what I know that Apple doesn't even publish the number of movies in their catalog and that a 3rd party on runs a site listing the titles. VUDU opening displays the number of titles available on the VUDU box when you search. I have also seen in the last few weeks a lot more HD in the catalog, so it is growing.

There is always going to be compeition in the VOD market. And even VUDU is not the same box it was 5 months ago with the software upgrades they have put into place and the more flexable rental terms and promotions such at 99 cent rentals.

Thanks for the post....

The point for me, and I think a lot of people isn't the quality issue, it is the price issue. $5.99 is a LOT of money for a one time rental.

Physical media charges the same to rent HD as they do SD, it costs no more to get blu ray from blockbuster or netflix as to get a normal dvd. Why the huge premium for online ? Even apple has a premium but at least it is a more moderate one, $2extra is significant and too much. $4.99 is really borderline too much for a rental HD or not but at least it is a competitive price.

Given that Vudu has far less HD content (compared to ATV) and is falling further behind every day, is this ever going to change ? I bought my Vudu back in April because my ATV didn't have enough movies. Over the past 5 months that has really changed, Vudu still has more but Apple is catching up every day, and already has far more HD and TV.

Vudu had the lead in both SD and HD, where is the big push to get this back?

[Nded]

Re: Compression Discussion

.....snip...Vudu had the lead in both SD and HD, where is the big push to get this back?

There are several articles talking about the Vudu HD catalog very quickly exceeding 1000HD titles. This is going to happen, and I think this will happen very soon, but I don't have any insider knowledge as to when.

Don't forget that the Vudu also gives you better output compared to the other guys.

[NA9D]

Re: Compression Discussion

People pay $2.00 for a cup of Starbucks. If the you want that HD movie, just get one less venti coffee of the day this week! :-)

I remember when it cost $6.00 to rent VHS!

I wish the price of everything was lower. But it's not. You want a premium product, you need to pay a premium price.

And Vudu is not standing still either...

[aaronwt]

Re: Compression Discussion

VUDU prices are inline with all the other VOD providers. I have four HD VOD choices, including VUDU and the prices are usually the same or very close.

The point for me, and I think a lot of people isn't the quality issue, it is the price issue. $5.99 is a LOT of money for a one time rental.

Physical media charges the same to rent HD as they do SD, it costs no more to get blu ray from blockbuster or netflix as to get a normal dvd. Why the huge premium for online ? Even apple has a premium but at least it is a more moderate one, $2extra is significant and too much. $4.99 is really borderline too much for a rental HD or not but at least it is a competitive price.

Given that Vudu has far less HD content (compared to ATV) and is falling further behind every day, is this ever going to change ? I bought my Vudu back in April because my ATV didn't have enough movies. Over the past 5 months that has really changed, Vudu still has more but Apple is catching up every day, and already has far more HD and TV.

Vudu had the lead in both SD and HD, where is the big push to get this back?

[Riekl]

Re: Compression Discussion

VUDU prices are inline with all the other VOD providers. I have four HD VOD choices, including VUDU and the prices are usually the same or very close.

Really ? Where else are HD rentals $5.99? Not on AppleTV .. not on Xbox.

Look I'm not griping for the sake of griping this is a heavily competitive market and I am just saying I am very disapointed in Vudu's VERY slow growth in HD (you can say what you want about future growth, I bought the Vudu in March because it had more then Apple and all things being equal should have stayed that way, over the last six months the situations are reversed. Apple has more and is growing faster.) Sorry but the only real advantage Vudu had going for it was its huge content lead which seems to have been allowed to flaunder as the competitors catch up. Apple has a better, sleaker interface, easier to find what you want, and costs less. Pricing on Vudu needs to be the same, not a penny more for the content.

[aaronwt]

Re: Compression Discussion

FIOS HD VOD is $3.99 to $5.99 like VUDU, Xbox is up to $6 if you pay full price for 1600 points although I usually pay $10 to $14 for 1600 points, but most people pay $20.
On the PS3 I've seen up to $5.99
On Comcast(at my Brothers) I've seen HD VOD up to $5.99

And of course VUDU is $3.99 to $5.99
I have no idea about AppleTV sinc eI don't have it and I don't know anyone that has it.

It sounds like ATV is the odd one with other providers being in line with each other. At least the five I have sampled.

Really ? Where else are HD rentals $5.99? Not on AppleTV .. not on Xbox.

Look I'm not griping for the sake of griping this is a heavily competitive market and I am just saying I am very disapointed in Vudu's VERY slow growth in HD (you can say what you want about future growth, I bought the Vudu in March because it had more then Apple and all things being equal should have stayed that way, over the last six months the situations are reversed. Apple has more and is growing faster.) Sorry but the only real advantage Vudu had going for it was its huge content lead which seems to have been allowed to flaunder as the competitors catch up. Apple has a better, sleaker interface, easier to find what you want, and costs less. Pricing on Vudu needs to be the same, not a penny more for the content.

[jleavens]

Re: Compression Discussion

Look I'm not griping for the sake of griping this is a heavily competitive market and I am just saying I am very disapointed in Vudu's VERY slow growth in HD

I think we all have been disappointed in this area. But it sounds like there is a renewed effort in the company solve the problem and get titles popping.

[HeadHodge]

Re: Compression Discussion

FIOS HD VOD is $3.99 to $5.99 like VUDU, Xbox is up to $6 if you pay full price for 1600 points although I usually pay $10 to $14 for 1600 points, but most people pay $20.
On the PS3 I've seen up to $5.99
On Comcast(at my Brothers) I've seen HD VOD up to $5.99

And of course VUDU is $3.99 to $5.99
I have no idea about AppleTV sinc eI don't have it and I don't know anyone that has it.

It sounds like ATV is the odd one with other providers being in line with each other. At least the five I have sampled.

DirectTv (that phasgorsmic service I mention occasionally) $4.99.

[Rusdude]

Re: Compression Discussion

I'm not sure what's going to happen to in-store rentals, but even Netflix admitted to having to raise prices for Blu-Ray disks (don't think they've said how much, though).

Secondly, while I'm not exactly sure why VUDU charges $1 for some HD rentals compared to ATV, there's a simple reason why VOD services charge more -- bandwidth costs. While to us, the costs are 0 (if we are on unlimited plans, lol), service providers have to pay for extra bandwidth used by HD files.