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wizwaz3

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 4, 2006
506
0
Northern Arizona
I was wondering if anyone knows whether the iMac upconverts DVDs to HD because of the HD screen? I know that you can buy standalone players that do this, and considering it's a powerful computer, one would think it possible. Does anyone know?
 
I was wondering if anyone knows whether the iMac upconverts DVDs to HD because of the HD screen? I know that you can buy standalone players that do this, and considering it's a powerful computer, one would think it possible. Does anyone know?
Upconversion = scaling. Upconverting DVD players take the DVD picture, scale it, and send it out to the TV at a higher output resolution. But they can't create visual information where none existed in the first place. That's why the picture from a non-upconversion DVD player looks just as good on an HDTV with a good scaler as it does from an upconversion player. So yes, every software DVD player ever made does upconversion.
 
That makes sense... So in reality, an HD upconverter isn't all it's hyped up to be... Good thing I never splurged on one! :p
 
I disagree.
The upconverting DVD players most definately make DVD's look better. I am not a pro, but I can tell you that they work. The mac upconverting? I am not sure of that. Someone please be smart and say something helpful.
thanks!
 
I've noticed that the Leopard DVD player does a much better job than the Tiger one did. My HD DVDs used to look significantly better than regular DVDs, but since Leopard the difference is smaller.
 
I disagree.
The upconverting DVD players most definately make DVD's look better. I am not a pro, but I can tell you that they work. The mac upconverting? I am not sure of that. Someone please be smart and say something helpful.
thanks!

Every dvd/media player is capable of doing this. It's the same thing you're doing when you watch youtube videos in full screen.
 
yea, i can def see a difference in upconverted dvd's. And now in leopard especially the upconversion does a great job.
 
I really don't think my MacBook Pro upconverts, I think it just resizes. There's no fancy algorithms other than the resolution changes in my opinion. My crappy Phillips DVD player running S-Video looks exactly the same on my 37" HDTV.
Running component looks less ok.
The Xbox 360 same as S-Video and Macbook running DVI to HDMI.
All the digital ins look really similar. Basically, old DVD's look poopy.
 
I've noticed that the Leopard DVD player does a much better job than the Tiger one did. My HD DVDs used to look significantly better than regular DVDs, but since Leopard the difference is smaller.

+1. DVD Player.app in Leopard is remarkable. It does a better upscaling job than the 3 or 4 upscaling stand-alone DVD player's I've seen. The Apple dev team did a super job with this app.
 
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