Can't wait for Blu-Ray any longer!

[philb7777]

I video a lot of my kids sporting events in 1080i video from a Sony camcorder. I've been patiently waiting for Apple to have blu-ray hardware in their Mac Pros and software support through iMovie or Final Cut.

Now that Apple TV is getting the 'take 2' treatment, I'm wondering if this works and its effectiveness:

1. Film video in 1080i
2. Use iMovie HD to convert it to 1080i (with H.264) to 1080i Quicktime movie
3. Import QT 1080i movie into itunes
4. Stream movie (file size probably 10G) to AppleTV to a Sony Bravia LCD TV that is 1080p.

I think I understand correctly that if I download a 1080i file to AppleTV it will only send it to a max resolution to the TV of 720p. How about streaming it though? Any difference? Would streaming such a large file be really choppy? Anyone done anything like this out there with some suggestions?

Thanks in advance for any info, etc!

 

[desenso]

I video a lot of my kids sporting events in 1080i video from a Sony camcorder. I've been patiently waiting for Apple to have blu-ray hardware in their Mac Pros and software support through iMovie or Final Cut.

Now that Apple TV is getting the 'take 2' treatment, I'm wondering if this works and its effectiveness:

1. Film video in 1080i
2. Use iMovie HD to convert it to 1080i (with H.264) to 1080i Quicktime movie
3. Import QT 1080i movie into itunes
4. Stream movie (file size probably 10G) to AppleTV to a Sony Bravia LCD TV that is 1080p.

I think I understand correctly that if I download a 1080i file to AppleTV it will only send it to a max resolution to the TV of 720p. How about streaming it though? Any difference? Would streaming such a large file be really choppy? Anyone done anything like this out there with some suggestions?

Thanks in advance for any info, etc!

The file won't even show up on your AppleTV.. or at least, that's how it was under version 1. You'll have to export at 720.

 

[aristobrat]

The file won't even show up on your AppleTV.. or at least, that's how it was under version 1. You'll have to export at 720.

Right.

The easiest way to do that if you're using iMovie '08 is to click Share > iTunes and then select one of the two AppleTV preset sizes.

 

[philb7777]

Thanks

Guess I'm going to keep waiting for Blu-ray. I realize that there is probably minor differences (practically) in 720p and 1080i/1080p but I just want higher resolution.

Blu-ray Apple, Blu-ray software support..............

Thanks so much for your quick responses.

 

[desenso]

Guess I'm going to keep waiting for Blu-ray. I realize that there is probably minor differences (practically) in 720p and 1080i/1080p but I just want higher resolution.

Blu-ray Apple, Blu-ray software support..............

Thanks so much for your quick responses.

Have you got hard drive space to spare? To be honest, the thought of having to shuffle through Blu-Ray discs in order to watch a video seems really undesirable to me. Why not export a 720 version, retaining the higher quality, so that you can at least enjoy the content for the time being? Eventually the Apple TV will do 1080.. but who knows when that will be.

 

[philb7777]

Have you got hard drive space to spare? To be honest, the thought of having to shuffle through Blu-Ray discs in order to watch a video seems really undesirable to me. Why not export a 720 version, retaining the higher quality, so that you can at least enjoy the content for the time being? Eventually the Apple TV will do 1080.. but who knows when that will be.

Not too much hard drive space, but I could always shrink the files into zip files until I am ready to view them. A 720p version would take less memory too. They have a new review up at ilounge and the comparisons are interesting between Blu-Ray, AppleTV, Cable HD, and standard DVD. AppleTV at 720p faired very well, but still not quite up to Blu-ray.

You bring up a great point though. I am beginning to realize that Apple may NEVER put Blu-Ray drives in their computers. I think they think that the true future of HD video is through wireless media. No need for a optical drive. I just wish they would hurry with true HD support with 1080i and 1080p.

 

[desenso]

From what I've read, the current Apple TV will never put out true 1080p due to hardware limitations. That's why I think, at this point, you might as well live with 720p...

 

[KDR]

The PS3 can play raw M2T (1080i) files from my Sony cam, but I cannot find a way to stream them consistently. I need to have them on a dvd or on the hard drive. I wish the PS3 or Apple TV could stream the raw files so I can skip the encoding process entirely. Anyone have any suggestions, or is this just a waiting game?

 

[HD Shooter]

Similar Issue

Hi,

I was hoping to find someone with this question and here you are

I have a thread on the Mac Pro area about how we need to Blu-Ray authoring with Final Cut Studio.

I shoot in 1080i HDV as well and would like to set up an ATV as a standalone unit to loop a short production we made.

I should be able to set this thing up without an internet connection right?

Just plug it in and my mac should be able to send the compressor file at 720P H.264 to the video part of the ATV just like I do to my Iphone. Then output 720P to a 720P display?

Sorry about the thread highjacking but I think we share a similar issue.

I, like you don't want to blow a few hundred bucks if we can't use the ATV for what we want right?