HD DVD vs. VUDU HD vs. VUDU SD

[steaky]

http://gizmodo.com/352392/vudu-test-...eds-to-be-done

As you can see in the image above, the so-called HD experience from Vudu wasn't one that could come close to comparing with the HD DVD playback. In fact, it was awfully hard to see a vivid difference between that and the perfectly fine (and $2 cheaper) SD download.

I'd quote more but IMO you have to see the sample pics at the link for yourself.

VUDU HD isnt all that impressive if its barely better than its own SD movies.

The bottom line is that HD downloads are a novelty item now, and they'll probably stay that way until:

• Higher bandwidth permits the rapid download of huge files
• A quality-assurance system is agreed upon where "HD" refers to specific attributes that go beyond frame resolution
• Hollywood deems it fit to start releasing mainstream videos in great quantities in HD—remember, those dudes hold the keys, now and forever, whether we like it or not

All facts brought up before by many of us here. We dont have big enough tubes yet and wont for several years.

'HD' needs to mean something and IMO artists and studios need to mandate this, that you cant degrade their released version eg. studio will release a few versions for broadcast and download in 1080p, 1080i, and 720p with appropriate HD audio for each version. Its in their interests for their work to be shown as it was meant to be, or at least as close as possible.

[steveybaby]

As a VUDU user since last November I feel I have to respond to your post.

The gizmodo review was misleading and inaccurate. The feedback that has been posted on the VUDU forums by their users - and the results that I have seen myself - contradict everything in this poorly researched "review". A couple of poorly captured screenshots of strange scenes of one movie is hardly a definitive comparison.

VUDU HD isnt all that impressive if its barely better than its own SD movies.

The quality I have seen from my VUDU for HI-DEF movies has been excellent. Side by side comparisons to SD VUDU movies or DVD's show a dramatic improvement in detail and clarity - and are certainly deserving of the title "HD". They easily compare to broadcast HD and also to XBOX HD downloads. Myself and other users have seen this for themselves.

VUDU is an impressive bit of kit - it has a large movie library, including around 80 HD titles, all instantly available. The SD titles (of which there are thousands) are also very good quality, roughly equivalent to an upscaled DVD in my opinion. There is no other technology today that can instantly deliver HD movies.

Sure, VUDU isn't for everyone. Many people will want to start re-buying their entire DVD collection in Blu-ray. I think others will decide that a rental model is more appropriate, and those people will be looking for High def titles that are available more or less instantly. For those people, VUDU is a good fit.

Have a browse around the forums on vudu.com to learn more about it rather than get your opinions from this Gizmodo hack. I'll be happy to answer question based on my experience too. I don't work for Vudu or anything (although I did get a cheap unit as part of their "evangelist" program).

[steaky]

Care to point us to better reviews? I would find it hard to trust anything from vudu.com for obvious reasons.

[JamesS]

It looked pretty interesting to me, but the audio is a deal breaker. HD DVD and Blu-ray have spoiled me to the point that I'll never be able to go back to good ole' DD5.1.

[aaronwt]

Yesterday I rented the VUDU SD and HD version. I have no idea what the person at Gizmodo watched. IN the opening scene when they are in the OSPREY(good closeups and also the desert backdrop) and right before when showing the desert as the backdrop, it is very, obvious which is the SD version and which is the HD version. The HD version has much more detail than the SD version. You cannot mistake the two. It's not possible. Now the HD DVD has even more detail, but the VUDU movies are going to be below the HD DVD/BD versions and that is expected. I still don't know how anyone can say the HD version is close to the SD version. The detail is not there in the SD version which is always the case with any SD DVD or SD content I've seen. The extra detail in the VUDU HD version is there to see.

Another good example. When they see the unidentified aircraft on the radar. The text at the bottom of the radar screen is unreadable on the VUDU SD version. You can easily read it on the VUDU HD version

[aaronwt]

And also last night I rented the Transformers movie in HD from Xbox Live too.. From what I've compared so far I would definitely rank the VUDU quality above Xbox Live.
On the one Radar scene, the text at the bottom of the radar screen is readable on Xbox Live but it's not as easy to read as it is with VUDU HD version. The VUDU HD version is crisp and clear while the XBL version is clear but not as crisp.
Also in the scene where the Helicopter Transformer attacks. Right after it first attacks there are a lot of bright flashes from the lights exploding. I was surprised to see a bunch of macro blocking from the XBL version. The VUDU version didn't have this macro blocking. SO the VUDU version, at least from what I've seen so far, is better than the XBL version too.
And of course both of those versions are easily better than the SD DVD or the VUDU SD version.

So the order should be
1. HD DVD/BD
2. VUDU HD
3. Xbox Live HD

[popcorn97]

for those who have a NEW apple tv rent the HD cut of Transformers then compare all of the HD cuts.

[steveybaby]

Care to point us to better reviews? I would find it hard to trust anything from vudu.com for obvious reasons.

Pretty much all the "active" users of VUDU are posting on the forums there. They haven't censored any of us. You will see our complaints as well as compliments (for example, I saw a lot of compression artifacts in an early HD movie and complained about it and you'll find the thread in the forums still).

Aaron has just posted some comparison screenshots (photos) of SD versus HD versus Xbox on the forums. It's clear to see the difference in quality from his pics.

As for a non-biased VUDU review that includes the HD titles - its kinda hard as they have only just released them (a week ago). CNET posted a review but couldn't be arsed to wait an extra day to experience the HD rentals.

If I had more than 10 posts Id have included links in this post...sorry about that

[aaronwt]

I didn't realize there was a new section.
I'll post it here too.


I tried taking some pictures with one of my digital camers. The pictures will never show exactly what I see. The picture looks much better than what I see but these examples will show the difference in text between two scenes and the macoblocking from the XBL version.
The VUDU version overall is better than the Xbox Live Version. And of course HD DVD will be the best. But the VUDU fills a nice spot above SD DVDs, and Xbox Live HD.

[aaronwt]

Radar Scene SD from VUDU. Text is unreadbale at bottom.

[aaronwt]

Radar scene from Xbox Live HD. Text at bottom is readable but not as crisp.

[aaronwt]

Radar scene from VUDU HD

Now when actually watching the movie the text at the bottom of the screen is clear and crisp. The XBL version is mostly clear but not as crisp as the VUDU HD version. Again this is from a camera and a camera pic really doesn't show the differences as well as it actually looks.
When actually watching the movie all the text at the bottom is easy to read.

[aaronwt]

This scene is from the Xbox Live HD version and it shows the macroblocking from the bright flashes. This is right after the helicopter Transformer attacks and all the glass breaks in the scene before this.

[aaronwt]

This the same scene from the VUDU HD version.

[aaronwt]

Now these pictures were not taken in pause mode which is also one of the reasons that everything looks so poorly. When actually watching the movie it looks much better but my point was to try and show how little detail is in the Sd version compared to the HD version and the text is the easiest way to see this.
I was surprised by the macroblocking in the XBL version. I didn't expect to see it. That is one of the things you see all the time in TV shows and sporting events in HD any time you have fast pans, fast movement and bright flashes.
This is one of the reasons I rank the VUDU HD above broadcast quality.