buying films on itunes store

[Dingo Dave 69]

Can anyone tell me what the quality is like of the films you can buy? Is there a difference from the quality I would get buying the dvd and converting it via handbrake?

Also, if I buy the film does it show up in my mac as a standard video file? Can I convert it using visual hub if I wanted to?

 

[AliensAreFuzzy]

I've found that my Handbrake rips are slightly higher quality than the ones I've purchased off iTunes

 

[TheQuestion]

Can anyone tell me what the quality is like of the films you can buy? Is there a difference from the quality I would get buying the dvd and converting it via handbrake?

Also, if I buy the film does it show up in my mac as a standard video file? Can I convert it using visual hub if I wanted to?

I wasn't aware you could buy "films" at the ITMS!

Just messing with you.

Of course the answer to your question lies in the HB settings.

 

[zedsdead]

Itunes cannot hold a candle to handbrake. Handbrake can do DVD quality rips, while iTunes is being handicapped for some inane reason by Apple at non-anamorphic 640xN.

Also iTunes does not offer 5.1 surround, subtitles, alternate audio or special features.

 

[Dingo Dave 69]

So really not much point in buying anything on the ITMS to keep then, better buying the DVD.

 

[sushi]

So really not much point in buying anything on the ITMS to keep then, better buying the DVD.

Unless you value your time.

iTMS makes it convenient to DL and own a movie. Quick. Easy. Very convenient.

Of course you can always purchase a DVD, rip it, Handbrake it, etc. As others have said, you get features on the DVD that you do not get on iTMS. But it takes time to do. For some, the convenience of iTMS outweigh the benefits of this solution.

Personally, I've used both ways.

 

[Jeff Hall]

For standard definition movies, you'll have better results converting your own DVDs because Handbrake can encode them with 5.1 surround (if the DVD supports it).

iTunes only offers 5.1 on some HD rentals.

Having said that, the HD rental experience tops what you get from Cable/Satellite because they are not compressed as much.

 

[mallbritton]

Can anyone tell me what the quality is like of the films you can buy? Is there a difference from the quality I would get buying the dvd and converting it via handbrake?

Also, if I buy the film does it show up in my mac as a standard video file? Can I convert it using visual hub if I wanted to?

"Quality" is, of course a subjective term. But I've found the quality of the videos I've purchased from the iTunes Store to be satisfactory for me.

The videos you can purchase are generally encoded at about 1500 Kbps, and will work on all video capable devices Apple sells. This means that on my 32" Hi Def TV the video can sometimes look a little soft. The clarity of a ripped video can be higher because you can target the device you want to watch the video on. For example my rips of Babylon 5 season 1 (targeted specifically for AppleTV) are sharper than the season 2 videos (targeted for AppleTV, iPhone, iPod, etc) I bought from the iTunes Store. But the quality is fine for me.

Since the videos sold on the iTunes Store are protected by FairPlay you can not "convert" it to anything else or burn it to video DVD.

Regards,
Michael

 

[sandman42]

Handbrake can do DVD quality rips, while iTunes is being handicapped for some inane reason by Apple at non-anamorphic 640xN.

Don't they do this so the movies are playable on iPods, which are limited to 640x480?

 

[mallbritton]

Don't they do this so the movies are playable on iPods, which are limited to 640x480?

Yes. All videos that are sold via the iTunes Store are playable on all video capable devices Apple sells. They aren't "handicapping" the video, just making sure the process of playing the video on all the Apple branded devices is simple and transparent.

If someone doesn't like the quality of the videos being sold they shouldn't buy those videos.

Regards,
Michael

 

[zedsdead]

Yes. All videos that are sold via the iTunes Store are playable on all video capable devices Apple sells. They aren't "handicapping" the video, just making sure the process of playing the video on all the Apple branded devices is simple and transparent.

If someone doesn't like the quality of the videos being sold they shouldn't buy those videos.

Regards,
Michael

Apple is offering Abamorphic encodes in their rentals. The only device that would have issues is the 5th gen iPod video. Time to move forward.

 

[sandman42]

Apple is offering Abamorphic encodes in their rentals. The only device that would have issues is the 5th gen iPod video. Time to move forward.

Rentals are only playable on iPod Classic and the 3G Nano. Older iPods can't play rentals, but all video iPods will play purchased movies. I think this has mostly to with enforcing the 24-hour expiration on the portable device, and the anamorphic content may be a side benefit for the newer and more capable devices.

In addition, it should be pointed out that content that's rented via the TV (even SD) is higher resolution than what you get from iTunes, but TV rentals are only playable on the TV.