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Want more HD movies for purchase!
- Thread starter mohanman
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Yup. I saw Casino Royale Blu-ray on sale at Wal-Mart for $17.99 last week. The Two-disc Special Edition is on sale for $19.99 right now at Amazon.
Your spending a lot of money for a computer file
For me, I'm not up for collecting a bunch of discs all over again. I already had the fiasco with vhs tapes, then laserdiscs, then dvds. They take up room, they get scratched, misplaced and are just a plain nuisance. If two people want to watch the same movie in the same household, you cant'.. why? because you would need two discs.
Nope, I'd rather have a centralized storage of movies on my imac which streams to multiple atvs throughout my home. Am I paying a lot for these movies? probably, but they also come with ipod/iphone version, and the conversion looks fantastic too me. I won't convert to blue-ray no way no how, unless the movies were 3-4 dollars each. Otherwise, keep that crap away from me.
Mo
Oh, and I'm busy.. I don't have time to watch FBI warnings, previews, then navigate through some stupid menu just to watch the blue-ray movie.
Nope, on my multiple ATVs, I have access to the movie within few seconds, and about 200 other movies, instantly.. no stupid menus.
Mo
Nope, on my multiple ATVs, I have access to the movie within few seconds, and about 200 other movies, instantly.. no stupid menus.
Mo
^^^ FYI, I did this and they don't like it - edit your posts.
I prefer "Physical Media" which allows you to play it anywhere on any machine that is compatible.
With iTunes video downloads, you can only play them on iTunes enabled devices. I doubt that the studios will let Apple sell them DRM free...
I prefer "Physical Media" which allows you to play it anywhere on any machine that is compatible.
With iTunes video downloads, you can only play them on iTunes enabled devices. I doubt that the studios will let Apple sell them DRM free...
Doesn't matter to me. I can load them on my laptop and bring them anywhere with me as well. I prefer to NOT have DVDs to worry about putting away and scratching.
Get the best of both worlds -- buy the Blu-Rays and rip them. Store the discs as a backup, use your files. A lot of A-list Blu-Rays come with iPod/iPhone versions too (called "Digital Copy").
If you buy files from iTunes, you better pray you never lose them, and you're only getting 720P and AC3 sound. Get the Blu-Ray and you get 1080P and lossless 7.1 sound. And when (not if) some better format/codecs come around, just go back to your master Blu-Ray copy and re-rip it. When the next-gen ATV comes around that can do 1080p and supports the lossless surround formats (Dolby True HD, DTS HD Master Audio) you have to re-buy your iTunes library. Or if you're lucky they'll let you upgrade for an additional cost (like they did with iTunes Plus). Which if you bought the disc instead of downloading on iTunes, you wouldn't have to bother.
Same thing with music -- why not buy the CD and rip it, instead of going nuts on iTunes? This way you have a physical copy as a backup and a master, and if you later decide you want higher quality or even lossless, just re-rip. Can't do that with an iTunes download.
And I don't understand why you want Blu-Rays to cost $4 (which will never happen) when it costs $15-$20 (most are $20) to own an HD movie from iTunes, which is just a file download -- no disc, no keepcase, no inserts. IMO when you can get a Blu-Ray for around that much (mine are usually $25-$30), that is 1080p instead of 720p, and has lossless surround instead of AC3, and extras, and it's a permanent physical copy, well, buying on iTunes just doesn't make sense.
But you have lots of time to wait for a download to complete, your ATV to wake up and slowly navigate through its menus
And if you rip the Blu-Ray, how are you worse off? Oh yeah, ATV can't do 1080p and can't do lossless surround since it doesn't support 7.1 channel PCM, Dolby True HD, or DTS HD Master Audio.
'
Ahh.. good point. How do I rip Blue-ray using a mac though? I don't want to buy more hardware and have the time to do it? Does handbrake convert bluerays?
Mo
Plus you have to find somewhere to put all the DVDs after you rip them. 100 DVD cases take up allot of space. We don't even have an HDTV and don't plan on getting one for a few years.
I love these arguments. It always comes down to American's obsession with mirror imaging onto others...
1. If you are videophile, you will never be happy with the current ATV. Until it can do 1080p, 7.1 yada yada yada...it will seem like a waste of money to you. Thats fine. For YOUR uses that is the correct choice.
2. For the casual user, ATV fits the fill almost perfectly. The casual user has HDTV's less than 45" (if even that). Therefore, 1080p is basically meaningless to them. Casual users do not care about 7.1, 5.1 or any kind of surround sound. Surround sound is a waste of lots of money for small benefits (as well as tons of hassle) that most people don't want to bother with. Casual users like convenience. ATV offers a convenient way to watch content. There are no physical discs for moms to hassle with. Kids can't scratch files. Mom doesn't have to worry about losing all that wall or closet space to 100's of dvd's and cd's that no one uses anymore. Mom and Dad are NOT about to buy extra drives and mess around with Handbrake ripping DVD's.
I can understand both points of view. Both are correct for THEIR specific wants and circumstances.
...so lets stop this stupid meaningless battle already...
1. If you are videophile, you will never be happy with the current ATV. Until it can do 1080p, 7.1 yada yada yada...it will seem like a waste of money to you. Thats fine. For YOUR uses that is the correct choice.
2. For the casual user, ATV fits the fill almost perfectly. The casual user has HDTV's less than 45" (if even that). Therefore, 1080p is basically meaningless to them. Casual users do not care about 7.1, 5.1 or any kind of surround sound. Surround sound is a waste of lots of money for small benefits (as well as tons of hassle) that most people don't want to bother with. Casual users like convenience. ATV offers a convenient way to watch content. There are no physical discs for moms to hassle with. Kids can't scratch files. Mom doesn't have to worry about losing all that wall or closet space to 100's of dvd's and cd's that no one uses anymore. Mom and Dad are NOT about to buy extra drives and mess around with Handbrake ripping DVD's.
I can understand both points of view. Both are correct for THEIR specific wants and circumstances.
...so lets stop this stupid meaningless battle already...
Your conclusion makes some sense, but a lot of components of your argument do not.
If someone is a "casual user", then DVD (and by extension handbrake rips) -or- SD iTunes downloads which cost half as much as the HD downloads are good enough. Again, why buy the iTunes downloads (in either SD or HD) when you can have the discs. And really, discs don't take up tons of space, just stick 'em in a box in your basement... Unless you have a one bedroom apartment, I just can't see this as a problem.
Who exactly, then, is seeking something better than SD but not the best HD resolution? Are there casual users for whom DVD isn't good enough but Blu-Ray is too good? Quite an odd "casual user". Especially since the OP is asking for more HD content on iTunes. Why would a "casual user" even want HD in the first place?
If the "casual user" has an HDTV, he may not be a casual user. A "casual user" still has an analog TV, or has an HDTV with no HD source and watches analog broadcasts in stretchy-vision (tm) and complains about the picture being stretched.
Not to mention the "casual user" who either buys everying through the ATV (which wasn't even possible a few months ago) or also has a Mac or PC to which the ATV is synchronized. That actually sounds a lot more complex than just having a disc player into which you insert a disc.
I really find this hatred of Blu-Ray irrational and it's probably due to "I don't have it so therefore it is useless" syndrome. I can't understand how people could want MORE than SD/DVD but settle for something in-between like 720p HD iTunes, but don't want 1080p Blu-Ray... Quite an odd niche.
The whole '1080p is meaningless below 45"' argument is complete nonsense. Would you say 1920x1080 on a computer screen is meaningless below 30"? What about the 17" MacBook Pro? Who says 1080p is only useful above 45"? You? I have a 22" 1080p set I use in my den that makes a big difference over the 1680x1050 monitor it replaced (which itself is better than 1280x720 of a 720p display). Besides, 720p is pretty much a dead resolution that nobody supports. AppleTV/iTunes do because Apple skimped on the ATV hardware. Fox and ABC are the only networks who broadcast in 720p. Everybody else broadcasts in 1080i, all the other high-def delivery methods including Blu-Ray do 1080i/p. Not to mention, since the 720p sets are falling away and everybody is doing 1080 sets, 720p content looks like crap because it has to be upscaled which introduces artifacts. If you don't understand that your HDTV has a native resolution, and any content not in that resolution gets upscaled or downscaled, maybe you don't have an HDTV and the whole "I don't have it so..." comes into play...
Finally, if surround sound isn't important, why did Apple enable SPDIF output on the ATV and why do the movies have 5.1 sound? Once again the curious case of the in-between "casual user" who apparently likes surround sound in the form of DD 5.1 over SPDIF but doesn't want the better, newer variations available on Blu-Ray. Curious indeed.
This is all about justifying Apple's poor support of the latest technology and fetishising file-only distribution, not about getting the best product. If you want to do it, fine. I'm just going to point out that you don't get the best quality, you don't get a hard copy (so I hope you make frequent backups), and you can't move to the next best ripping format when it comes along.
There is a thread on the front page about Blu-Ray ripping with the Mac. It isn't as simplified as Handbrake yet, but I expect it to get there eventually.
Edit: Found it, Blu-Ray to Apple TV. Only new hardware you need is a Blu-Ray drive, since obviously no Mac comes with one.
I got a USB Blu-Ray drive for $99 from FastMac.
lol. You just described me. I don't want to bother with blu-ray and it's attendant issues but I also like the better looking picture. I don't own a movie theater - just a 40" 1080P TV on which Apple's 720P looks significantly better than SD. Converting takes time and hardware that I'm not inclined to invest in. I don't need 7.1 sound to immerse myself in and wallow in the agonizingly-perfect reproduction of starships battling, or dinosaurs roaring, or Batman grunting. Stereo's just fine.
Fifteen dollars is actually what I'd consider a fair price for the upgrade from SD. I thought twenty was too much so I'm glad they started this special. As soon as I saw Bond was fifteen in HD I went for it.
BTW, I loathe Stretchy-Vision (tm) and fix my friend's TV's whenever possible.
You should stop there. Your endless rationalization is painful to watch.
Please count me in as one of those folks who has no interest in Blu-Ray, will never buy a Blu-Ray disc, nor a Blu-Ray player, but has high hopes that Apple will provide lots of HD content for my Apple TV (and iTunes).
A.
Man. I wish iTunes would FINALLY add some reduced quality videos man! I REALLY wish I could stream movies while on a Dial-Up connection.
And yeah, the HD video isn't really "true HD" status. But, whatev. And I really don't care. Many of the "HD videos" on the iTunes store aren't that good.
Crap in High Definition is still Crap.
And yeah, the HD video isn't really "true HD" status. But, whatev. And I really don't care. Many of the "HD videos" on the iTunes store aren't that good.
Crap in High Definition is still Crap.
What exactly is the point of this post? Is there a meaning behind all the snark?
iTunes HD provides more value than blu-ray, IMO. It's a great picture with more convenience and better pricing. What's so hard to understand?
OK, I'll condense it down to Cliff Notes. It's about having something better than the masses but not the best, and fetishising the solution, leaving fanboys barking in defiance of logic. Which sums up Apple in a nutshell on every front -- Macintosh, iPhone, iPod, ATV.
And IMO, it doesn't. HD iTunes costs $20. HD Blu-Ray costs $25-30 (and can be found cheaper during sales -- Amazon was recently selling some titles below $10).
Blu-Ray provides high bitrate 1080p and lossless 7.1 audio. HD iTunes provides low-bitrate 720p and 512kbps Dolby Digital 5.1.
iTunes downloads will ALWAYS be optimized for low bitrates (because that impacts Apple's bandwidth costs). Blu-Ray discs are optimzed for high bitrates (I've seen as high as 45 mbps on the video alone) because you don't have to worry about keeping file sizes small for downloads.
Blu-Ray provides extras including commentaries like DVD, a physical hard copy so you don't have to worry about hard disk crashes, and it's portable so you can take it on the road with you, lend it to a friend, etc. HD iTunes provides none of these and is DRM locked to 5 devices max. So are we back to the Apple definition of "convenience", which equates to "lack of features"?
Not to mention, there is a far greater library of selection on Blu-Ray than on iTunes.
In the end, iTunes is slightly cheaper but inferior quality and overall less bang for the buck.
I like bringing my iTunes HD movies over my gf's house, o wait thats my Blu-Ray because I can't bring downloaded movies anywhere!