VUDU 4k confirmation

[Gnatevil]

Re: VUDU 4k confirmation

My problem with 4K is that it will suck bandwidth like a vampire. Depending on how much compression they use to cut down on bandwidth usage, the quality of the picture may suffer to the point that it is no better than HDx with minimal compression. Been doing a little reading and in blind tests, most people couldn't tell the 4K from the 1080 and in some cases, the 4K was worse than the 1080. Now, if the internet providers decide that they want to offer unlimited bandwidth cap to all users with no throttling of speeds, then 4K may be a viable streaming solution. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen unless you pay thru the nose for your service. I get 15M down right now. That is plenty fast for my HDx fix. I have a 250G cap which sucks, but I manage my streaming so I don't go over. Throw 4K into the mix and I'm out the windows on that.

[jeremymc7]

Re: VUDU 4k confirmation

My problem with 4K is that it will suck bandwidth like a vampire. Depending on how much compression they use to cut down on bandwidth usage, the quality of the picture may suffer to the point that it is no better than HDx with minimal compression. Been doing a little reading and in blind tests, most people couldn't tell the 4K from the 1080 and in some cases, the 4K was worse than the 1080. Now, if the internet providers decide that they want to offer unlimited bandwidth cap to all users with no throttling of speeds, then 4K may be a viable streaming solution. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen unless you pay thru the nose for your service. I get 15M down right now. That is plenty fast for my HDx fix. I have a 250G cap which sucks, but I manage my streaming so I don't go over. Throw 4K into the mix and I'm out the windows on that.

Obviously some people won't be able to take advantage of 4k streaming. There will be various reasons: bandwidth caps, inadequate hardware, poor vision, poor viewing environment, cost of material, etc.

These problem apply to HDX vs HD vs SD as well to some extent.

The good thing is that it's an option, if people can't or don't want to take advantage of it then they don't have to and there's no real impact to them if they don't.

Broadening the materiel broadens the available customer base which is good for Vudu, 4k customers, HDX customers, and even SD customers.

Obliviously things need to change with 4k and thats the good thing. Current HDX has been around for YEARS and YEARS and basically still works with hardware of that day. 4k will likely require not just faster equipment but equipment that supports better (not just heavier) quality compression thats just not possible on older equipment.

[TrackZ]

Re: VUDU 4k confirmation

I read on AVS that UHD on VUDU will be ~15 Mbps. I really hope they increase that bit rate and up the audio bit rate along with it. Really give us a solid option in audio/video quality against what UHD Blu-ray will be like.

[Jake]

Re: VUDU 4k confirmation

My problem with 4K is that it will suck bandwidth like a vampire. Depending on how much compression they use to cut down on bandwidth usage, the quality of the picture may suffer to the point that it is no better than HDx with minimal compression. Been doing a little reading and in blind tests, most people couldn't tell the 4K from the 1080 and in some cases, the 4K was worse than the 1080. Now, if the internet providers decide that they want to offer unlimited bandwidth cap to all users with no throttling of speeds, then 4K may be a viable streaming solution. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen unless you pay thru the nose for your service. I get 15M down right now. That is plenty fast for my HDx fix. I have a 250G cap which sucks, but I manage my streaming so I don't go over. Throw 4K into the mix and I'm out the windows on that.

We currently anticipate (due to using more efficient HEVC codec) that UHD @ 2160p/4k will only take about 50% more bandwidth than HDX. It will probably be more like 60-70% if adding in HDR and Dolby Atmos, etc.

IMO (and in most other's opinions) HDR such as DolbyVision has a much larger impact on video quality than 4k. The extra brightness/contrast and expanded colorspace are *very* noticeable.

Also, in case you didn't notice, there is a new feature in settings to choose a "default" video quality. For example. you can choose "HD" instead of HDX to stream 720p by default; it's useful for those who buy HDX but may not have the bandwidth to watch it reliably, or those who just want to conserve their bandwidth. Of course, you can still manually change it from the player controls as before.

[jeremymc7]

Re: VUDU 4k confirmation

We currently anticipate (due to using more efficient HEVC codec) that UHD @ 2160p/4k will only take about 50% more bandwidth than HDX. It will probably be more like 60-70% if adding in HDR and Dolby Atmos, etc.

IMO (and in most other's opinions) HDR such as DolbyVision has a much larger impact on video quality than 4k. The extra brightness/contrast and expanded colorspace are *very* noticeable.

Also, in case you didn't notice, there is a new feature in settings to choose a "default" video quality. For example. you can choose "HD" instead of HDX to stream 720p by default; it's useful for those who buy HDX but may not have the bandwidth to watch it reliably, or those who just want to conserve their bandwidth. Of course, you can still manually change it from the player controls as before.

Thanks for all the technical details. MUCH appreciated.

Is there likely to be 3D option along with that 4K or are we going to be stuck with a compromise choice like we did with HDX where you could have say HDX/3D/5.1 or HDX/2D/7.1 but not 3D and 7.1 ?

[Gnatevil]

Re: VUDU 4k confirmation

We currently anticipate (due to using more efficient HEVC codec) that UHD @ 2160p/4k will only take about 50% more bandwidth than HDX. It will probably be more like 60-70% if adding in HDR and Dolby Atmos, etc.

IMO (and in most other's opinions) HDR such as DolbyVision has a much larger impact on video quality than 4k. The extra brightness/contrast and expanded colorspace are *very* noticeable.

Also, in case you didn't notice, there is a new feature in settings to choose a "default" video quality. For example. you can choose "HD" instead of HDX to stream 720p by default; it's useful for those who buy HDX but may not have the bandwidth to watch it reliably, or those who just want to conserve their bandwidth. Of course, you can still manually change it from the player controls as before.

Cool...good info to have. Especially about the default settings.

Now I just need to be able to afford a 4K projector and more bandwidth to really enjoy the higher quality stuff. Until then, I guess I'll just have to slum it at 1080p.

[swiss21]

Re: VUDU 4k confirmation

Any upgrade path plans? Btw where's the option to change default resolution?

[Capt-Cupcake]

Re: VUDU 4k confirmation

Free? I'd settle for discounted upgrades! Like $2.50 for SD to HDX or HDX to 4K, and $5 for SD to 4K would be awesome. At that price I'd probably upgrade everything I could within a few months, and I don't even own a 4K TV yet!

It's a smart move. For a small fee, they would make a ton of money on upgrades where as no on can afford to rebuy everything at full price. It's just too much. Maybe a handful (favorite titles), but that's it. At 2.50 a pop, people would upgrade a ton more so they stand to make more.

[rdodolak]

Re: VUDU 4k confirmation

UHD streams will likely cost $7.99 to rent.

[CthulhuSaves]

Re: VUDU 4k confirmation

Ok, I'm gonna say what nobody's bothered to yet.

4K kinda blows.

Seriously, if you're watching a nature show or sporting event, it's frikkin' amazing, but for movies and TV shows it's just plain awful. Granted, it looks like you could reach through the screen and touch someone, but the "magic" is entirely gone. Was watching a Dirty Harry flick, and instead of Harry being menacingly smooth and saying cool dialogue he just looked like some aging schmuck talking crap.

People have referenced stuff like old live broadcasts, video tape or security cameras as examples, but it just now hit me, the best description is this: it's like seeing the actors/actresses without any makeup or F/X; all the things that give films their mystique and mood. It's raw and visceral instead. The cinematic aspects get stripped away, leaving you feeling like you're watching a bunch of college kids shooting a home movie with digital camcorders. It just ruins the experience.

So for me at least, I'm not gonna sweat possible Vudu upgrades to 4K unless they're live performances or scenic stuff (like those spiffy blu-rays that spotlight gorgeous locations and make us die a little inside when we look up and see our apartment walls again, lol). HDX is just fine by me. Looks awesome. Clears-up the blurry edges of 480p, but isn't so "good" that I can see every flaw.

And man, the price difference on TVs... I could've gotten an almost identical TV @ 1080p for a fifth of what the 4K version cost.

[rdodolak]

Re: VUDU 4k confirmation

Ok, I'm gonna say what nobody's bothered to yet.

4K kinda blows.

Seriously, if you're watching a nature show or sporting event, it's frikkin' amazing, but for movies and TV shows it's just plain awful. Granted, it looks like you could reach through the screen and touch someone, but the "magic" is entirely gone. Was watching a Dirty Harry flick, and instead of Harry being menacingly smooth and saying cool dialogue he just looked like some aging schmuck talking crap.

People have referenced stuff like old live broadcasts, video tape or security cameras as examples, but it just now hit me, the best description is this: it's like seeing the actors/actresses without any makeup or F/X; all the things that give films their mystique and mood. It's raw and visceral instead. The cinematic aspects get stripped away, leaving you feeling like you're watching a bunch of college kids shooting a home movie with digital camcorders. It just ruins the experience.

So for me at least, I'm not gonna sweat possible Vudu upgrades to 4K unless they're live performances or scenic stuff (like those spiffy blu-rays that spotlight gorgeous locations and make us die a little inside when we look up and see our apartment walls again, lol). HDX is just fine by me. Looks awesome. Clears-up the blurry edges of 480p, but isn't so "good" that I can see every flaw.

And man, the price difference on TVs... I could've gotten an almost identical TV @ 1080p for a fifth of what the 4K version cost.

If it's true to the source then this is how it was meant to be seen. However, not all movies, especially in the digital age, were filmed or finished in 4k or 8k. Some were meant to be seen with 2k resolution.

[lujan]

Re: VUDU 4k confirmation

I'm waiting until the 4k Tvs are as low as the 1080p TVs now. Might be a few years but my TVs are fairly young yet and I will get many years from them for now.

650 HDX
2 HD
2 SD

[jeremymc7]

Re: VUDU 4k confirmation

I'm waiting until the 4k Tvs are as low as the 1080p TVs now. Might be a few years but my TVs are fairly young yet and I will get many years from them for now.

Smaller 4k TV's can easily be found in the $300-500 price range. That's the same as a good quality 1080P

[BlakkMajik3000]

Re: VUDU 4k confirmation

We currently anticipate (due to using more efficient HEVC codec) that UHD @ 2160p/4k will only take about 50% more bandwidth than HDX. It will probably be more like 60-70% if adding in HDR and Dolby Atmos, etc.

IMO (and in most other's opinions) HDR such as DolbyVision has a much larger impact on video quality than 4k. The extra brightness/contrast and expanded colorspace are *very* noticeable.

Also, in case you didn't notice, there is a new feature in settings to choose a "default" video quality. For example. you can choose "HD" instead of HDX to stream 720p by default; it's useful for those who buy HDX but may not have the bandwidth to watch it reliably, or those who just want to conserve their bandwidth. Of course, you can still manually change it from the player controls as before.

Jake, is this enabled on all platforms? I haven't dug into the settings on any of my devices in quite some time.

[lujan]

Re: VUDU 4k confirmation

Smaller 4k TV's can easily be found in the $300-500 price range. That's the same as a good quality 1080P

That maybe so but I'm not going to exchange my 92" 1080p for a 32" 4k TV. No, that ain't going to happen.

650 HDX
2 HD
2 SD