[Ratm]

For those that were curious. I think it looks good. I will buy more in the future.

This is the size of the video that iTunes sets by default. (double size view)


Same size as the first.


And here it is at fullscreen
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/6310/picture50pu.png

[Ratm]

The still shots look a little blurry but when watching the video it looks very crisp and clean. I'm off to watch the rest of the show!

[Hawkeye_a]

Looks pretty damn good for a 320X240 resolution doubled. What codec do they use ? H.264 ? And word on the DRM if any ?

[- - e r i k - -]

Yeah, H.264 scale really good.

[Cubeoid]

Yea. I totaly agree with what you're all saying.

[Ratm]

I spent maybe 25-30min to download and the rate was at 150 kbs And of course there is DRM. From what I heard you can't make a DVD from he files but you can back them up on disks as data.

Get info shows this.
Duration 00:42:29.24
AAC (protected), Stereo, 44.100 kHz
AVC0 Media, 320 x 240, Millions
FPS 24.00
Data size 208.52 MB
Data rate 693.96 kbits/sec
320 x 240 pixels

[ajprice]

Anybody tried to format an iTunes video to PSP using iPSP or PSPware?

[Eug Wanker]

I think it's mediocre at best, and that's being generous. Good? Definitely not.



Now, at 640x480 in a window, the above doesn't look that bad, but at fullscreen it is very unimpressive.

480x360 would have been much more desirable (and 720x480 would have been ideal), but alas, the iPod isn't powerful enough to decode H.264 files of that size. (480x360 is twice the resolution of 320x240. 720x480 is 4.5X the resolution.) Interestingly though, the iPod IS powerful enough to display 480x480 MPEG4.

[Hawkeye_a]

Even when playing at 25-30fps ?

I think its going to be awesome for animated TV shows....
imagine, Simpsons, Futurama, Family Guy, South Park.......all for $1.99 each. Sweeetttt

[pathogen]

I think I'm anxious to see what it looks like on video-out from the iPod to a TV... which is how I'll likely view anything I'd buy.

[residentEvil]

Originally Posted by pathogen

I think I'm anxious to see what it looks like on video-out from the iPod to a TV... which is how I'll likely view anything I'd buy.

Exaclty. Either iPod or iMac downloaded video content on a tv/projector (HD set and SD set comparison too juts to see how it lookes stretched/zoomed from the TV side of things).

[legacyb4]

What's going to be interesting to see is if there is a shift in BT trending from max-quality video files back down to "iPod-ready" files for content. I have to hand it to Jobs though; he's covered his backside by licensing legal content with ABC/Disney, but he's already got a huge content distribution network ready and waiting for the first delivery of the new iPods?

[Ratm]

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

I think it's mediocre at best, and that's being generous. Good? Definitely not.

Well try looking at that video fullscreen from several feet away....notice something? No, you don't. It's only when you're a few inches away from your monitor that you can see the difference. You're looking at this with the mentality and with the eyes of a nerd or geek. That's wrong. Caught up in technical specifics. Like I said, fullscreen several feet away and it looks like regular non high-def T.V. signal.

[insha]

Originally Posted by Ratm

I spent maybe 25-30min to download and the rate was at 150 kbs And of course there is DRM. From what I heard you can't make a DVD from he files but you can back them up on disks as data.

Get info shows this.
Duration 00:42:29.24
AAC (protected), Stereo, 44.100 kHz
AVC0 Media, 320 x 240, Millions
FPS 24.00
Data size 208.52 MB
Data rate 693.96 kbits/sec
320 x 240 pixels

I'm impressed by the Data Rate/File Size ratio...

I will be getting at least three of the Pixar shorts (that didn't sound right) and finaly get the Pilot for Lost to see if it lives up to it's hype.

Edit: I meant ratio.

[Eug Wanker]

Originally Posted by Ratm

Well try looking at that video fullscreen from several feet away....notice something? No, you don't. It's only when you're a few inches away from your monitor that you can see the difference. You're looking at this with the mentality and with the eyes of a nerd or geek. That's wrong. Caught up in technical specifics. Like I said, fullscreen several feet away and it looks like regular non high-def T.V. signal.

No it doesn't. I already tried that. It definitely looks worse than good quality SD TV.

If I were approaching this only as a nerd or a geek, I'd be demanding HD now. No, what I suggested was 480x360. That's roughly equivalent to good broadcast quality, and only half the resolution of DVD.

[BRussell]

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

480x360 would have been much more desirable (and 720x480 would have been ideal), but alas, the iPod isn't powerful enough to decode H.264 files of that size. (480x360 is twice the resolution of 320x240. 720x480 is 4.5X the resolution.) Interestingly though, the iPod IS powerful enough to display 480x480 MPEG4.

There's also the issue of how long it takes to download and how much room it takes up on your hard drive. It's definitely a balancing act, just like the 128 AAC music.

[Eug Wanker]

Originally Posted by BRussell

There's also the issue of how long it takes to download and how much room it takes up on your hard drive. It's definitely a balancing act, just like the 128 AAC music.

That's just it. 320x240 for downloaded TV shows is nowhere near comparable to 128 Kbps AAC for music.

Think 80 Kbps AAC: That would be a better comparison in terms of subjective quality IMO.

480x360 would be a great balance IMO. The quality is pretty good (albeit not great), and the increased bandwidth is manageable.

The main problem is that the iPod can't display 480x360 H.264. It can do 480x360 MPEG4 however.

[mdc]

good point. i have around 16 or so videos, and it is taking up 400mb.
music videos, 6 pixar shorts, 1 video that came with the Common album, and 4 that came with the Gorillaz single.

[Ratm]

Originally Posted by insha

finally get the Pilot for Lost to see if it lives up to it's hype.

When it debuted I thought, "Not another F'ing show that's just tragic and extreme" I mean look at desperate house wives. It started off with a murder....oh God is there anything normal on TV. You don't have to shock me in order to get me to watch.

But I viewed the entire show and I was pissed when it ended. I felt like buying the entire first season just to know what happened<---look Apple see what you did. You got me hooked! I was able to resist music downloads and maybe buy one or two songs every once and a while but T.V. shows are a whole different ballpark. Stupid Apple.

It's an interesting show.

[willed]

At least you can play the stuff. My iBook 500 with 640MB RAM plays at about 0.5fps if that.

Awesome.