Apple using shoddy up-sampling for some iTunes vids?

When Apple announced the new VGA res for all iTunes videos the other week -- including new versions of their current QVGA catalog -- we were definitely stoked to be getting 4x the pixels for our video dollar, even if we were a bit miffed at having to re-purchase some of those videos which we'd already bought. Unfortunately, it looks like the offer might not be quite as rosy as we would've hoped. It seems that for certain videos, Apple has simply up-sampled the flick from its formerly compressed QVGA version, the disastrous results of which can be seen above. So, instead of paying $2 for a second time around for what should be a high-res video sampled straight from the original source, you might be paying through the nose for a file that doubles the pixels and megabytes, but severely lessens the general quality of the picture. Friendly tipster Paul C. was kind enough to alert us to this problem, and screencapped a few videos to demonstrate the sitch, all of which can be seen after the break. If you're experiencing similar quality problems, please let us know in the comments so we can figure out the extent of this issue, and bring the appropriate smackdown upon Apple.

First off, let's look at this done right.

Anastacia - "Left Outside Alone"
Original: 320 x 224 upscaled through QuickTime (file size: 17MB):


Updated: 640 x 480, clearly encoded from high-quality original (file size: 45.7MB):


Not too shabby, eh? Next up we have Madonna, whose image consultant can't be at all happy about those jaggies.

Madonna - "Sorry"
Original: 320 x 240 upscaled through QuickTime (file size: 24.9MB):


Updated: 640x480, poorly up-converted from old content, not from high-quality original source (file size: 55MB):


Jaggies are even worse in this Blue vid. For shame, Apple.

Blue featuring Elton John - "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"
Original: 320 x 160, upscaled through QuickTime, (file size 18.3MB):


Updated: 640 x 346 (file size 39.5MB):

How are your vids looking?

[Matt @ Sep 29th 2006 12:49PM]

Typical Apple...

[Jitaroo @ Sep 29th 2006 12:37PM]

the vids im buying arent that bad...

[strider_mt2k @ Sep 29th 2006 12:36PM]

Wow that sucks.

And you had to buy it AGAIN for that?

[ND @ Sep 29th 2006 12:42PM]

Are new releases having this problem too or just the old ones?

[daedric @ Sep 29th 2006 12:49PM]

Don't worry about it, ipod users won't complain about the poor quality they get, I can assure you of that. I doubt that most ipod users know what up-sampling means.

[Joseph @ Sep 29th 2006 1:06PM]

While I think you meant this as a stab, the reality is it is true. The common consumer is not an expert on their consumption. Only with the internet are "The average consumer[s]" starting to research and review.

I realize that consumer reports pre-dated this, but those are not average people.

[Joe Henson @ Sep 29th 2006 12:48PM]

Maybe they just did this to people with bad musical taste?

[Remo Williams @ Sep 29th 2006 12:54PM]

I agree, most iPod users are not "geeks" or into technology. Smarter people into the new tech will buy a device with more functionality...

[shon @ Sep 29th 2006 1:21PM]

i think you'd be suprised to find out that most people making movies and graphics are probably using a mac(which ill bet they also use an ipod), so im pretty sure your comment is off by a bit. plus devices with more funcitonality are ugly and cumbersome. wait for the true video ipod.

[DeTinux @ Sep 29th 2006 1:53PM]

I find the ease of use refreshing. I've had other players too (iRiver and Creative a.o.), but I enjoy the straightforward operation of the iPod. And the soundquality, which is great.

I'm a pianist and I have to say that a Lossless file plays very well with Shure E3c Earphones!

[Paul Christensen @ Sep 29th 2006 12:56PM]

In the meantime, I've used the iTunes Store Purchase History to report problems with the specific videos I purchased. Stay tuned to see if we get a response. I assume this only applies to older content, not new content. For example, the video for O.K. Go's "Here It Goes Again" is of good quality.

The real pain here is two fold: (a) you have to pay AGAIN for content you've licensed, and (b) you get a larger file of worse quality.

[Chris Moroz @ Sep 29th 2006 12:59PM]

Well there you have it, if they won't notice, there's nothing wrong. Of course I wouldn't want to watch that crap with iTV....

[Simon @ Sep 29th 2006 12:59PM]

(c) you are STILL a sucker

[Alric Lopez @ Sep 29th 2006 1:00PM]

Worrisome also is HD widescreen material that is presented in foolscreen format at the iTS. I noted this with the Battlestar episode "The Story Far". This show is free so I am hoping this will not be the case when season 3 of BSG begins.

Cheers!

[tr @ Sep 29th 2006 1:03PM]

in the madonna example, isn't that just the way she looks these days?

[Travis Bell @ Sep 29th 2006 1:06PM]

I posted an article a little while ago dealing with some of this (look in the comments);

http://consumeroo.com/articles/2006/09/15/apples-itunes-video-strategy

And yes, I had noticed the quality of these vids top be less than stellar, especially when compared to HD versions...

[Mystic @ Sep 29th 2006 1:20PM]

LOL, How did I know this would bring out the anti-apple/ipod robots? If you don't like, move on with your lifes. The more you comment about how much you don't like Apple and the ipod just tells me your jealous.

[PEZ @ Sep 29th 2006 10:06PM]

Wow, thats really rotten of apple to pork their loyal customers like that.

Sometimes, when you cook a whole pig, you put an apple in its mouth. Does that make sense?

It does now.

[PEZ @ Sep 29th 2006 10:05PM]

Wow, thats really rotten of apple to pork their loyal customers like that.

Sometimes, when you cook a whole pig, you put an apple in its mouth. Does that make sense?

It does now.

[ucarve @ Sep 29th 2006 1:44PM]

I downloaded "The State" last night. It definitely looked upsampled and behaved strangely on playback.

I'd rather have Apple, etc. their time resampling from original source than rush the "job" for the sake of marketing. But Jobs loves expounding suprelatives and absolutes even if they're half truths.

Sigh. Is there always a catch?

[rick @ Sep 29th 2006 8:44PM]

About The State, even if its upsampled it has to be better than the VHS copies of copies of copies I've been getting by with for ten years.

[Joshua Ochs @ Sep 29th 2006 1:39PM]

Guys, Apple doesn't do any of the encoding - the studios that provide the content do. If they're screwing up, blame them and don't buy their videos.

Apple should put pressure on them to do it right, but don't make this out to be Apple's fault.

[Phoenixfury @ Sep 30th 2006 1:02AM]

Personally I wouldn't rebuy old episodes for the supposedly better quality videos in the first place. I think upscaling was just a quick fix for anyone who hadn't bought those videos in the past already, but at least offers somewhat of an improvement for the new 640X480 screens. However I also agree Apple should be replacing these episodes with a new high quality versions versus the easy road of just upscaling them.

For those of you hating on iPod. Well your entitled to your opinion as much as I am. I don't care that you do not like iPods. In fact no one who enjoys iPods including fellow geeks (myself included) could care less that you don't like iPods. If it's your opinion that we iPod owners are being screwed by Apple, then I can respect that.. But I could still care less that you feel that way. That doesn't make my iPod sound (audibly) any worse in any way shape or form. :)

Oh one last thought. Even though the upscaling does look crappy, I have noticed the native 640X480 res stuff looks amazing! My opinion (sorry got another one, sorry iPod haters)is not to even buy the old videos on iTunes, just get them on DVD. However don't let the old stuff sway you from the new video content because the new content looks sweet!

[David @ Sep 29th 2006 1:53PM]

First off, Apple should make content providers to do a fresh encoding or keep the old versions until they do (clearly labeled with the low-res).

APPLE: BAN THIS UP-SAMPLING NOW!!!

Second, ENGADGET COMMENTORS: STOP RIPPING ON MADGE, M'KAY? Not funny.

[Jamus @ Sep 29th 2006 1:58PM]

I am glad somebody listed the bit about Apple not doing the encodes. My guess is some studio decided to be lazy/quick or had someone doing encodes that did not want to spend the time for the reencodes. Either way, this one doesn't seem to be Apple screwup (for once).

[Peter @ Sep 29th 2006 1:55PM]

:: throws stapler at copy machine > kicks paper shredder > knocks over
water cooler ::

[mazola @ Sep 29th 2006 1:56PM]

Don't blame Apple, that's what Madonna looks like in HD.

[Tone @ Sep 29th 2006 2:00PM]

Yay Madonna!

[Kyle @ Sep 29th 2006 2:09PM]

I bought Angels and Airwaves - The Adventure and got a refund after I had this problem.

I experienced HORRIBLE quality. I emailed Apple and at first was refered to a FAQ. They thought I was just a moron, and so they threw performance issue FAQ's in my face. I emailed back and told them that it was not a performance issue, and that the video's are simply encoded horribly. I was emailed back by someone different than before and was given a refund and told "The video has been submitted to Apple engineers for evaulation and repair. Please try buying the video again in 2 weeks so that the engineers have time to fix the video."

[T-Will @ Sep 29th 2006 2:18PM]

I feel sorry for anyone who wastes their money on DRM protected content. And anyone gullible enough to repurchase video they've already paid money for is an idiot.

[T-Will @ Sep 29th 2006 2:20PM]

I feel sorry for anyone who wastes their money on DRM protected content. And anyone gullible enough to repurchase video they've already paid money for is an idiot.

[Reality @ Sep 29th 2006 2:27PM]

When I see something like this, I rejoice because it makes consumers acutely aware of the fact that they are getting the shaft. People pay their hard-earned dollars for inferior garbage. Companies celebrate as more of these desirable fools gobble it all up. They deserve what they get for they have no one to blame but themselves. They fall for the hype and feed their insatiable need to buy what was once free. For what purpose? What makes this even sweeter is that it is a video of a washed-up, studio-created, transvestite. Oh well, the record labels care not as you will surely pay hundreds of dollars without a thought to see the creature live in concert... keep oiling the machine.

[Rohit @ Sep 29th 2006 2:35PM]

The fall of Apple is near...Everything for them hangs on the video and if they dont get that right...well....

[Chris @ Sep 29th 2006 2:39PM]

Not to be a kill joy, but for the sheer fact of having to repurchase movies you already purchased just for higher resolution i would have dropped itunes..

Sorry to tell you guys but Unbox blows the itunes quality out of the water BIG TIME

[CajunLuke @ Sep 29th 2006 3:33PM]

"cable user": From what I read, Amazon Unbox doesn't work on Macs or with iPods, both of which I have, and the review I read had trouble getting it to work /at all/.

Moreover, I can't really tell the difference between the pictures.

[iScott @ Sep 29th 2006 3:13PM]

"It seems that for certain videos"

This 'article' has a very biased tone to it. Within the first day or two after apple offered the new higher resolution videos I did a comparison myself. I went and re-downloaded the free pilot episode of Eureka. The new 640 x 480 video was ofcourse, 4 times the resolution, and just about the same quality video. It was DEFINITELY not up-sampled from a 320 video. I watched both versions on a TV off my iPod and the sharper video on the TV of the 640 video vs. the 320 was extremely noticeable.

Who know's why a couple music videos MIGHT have been upsampled, but I can gaurantee you that it's not the case all around. The new TV show purchases are ALOT better for TV output then the old 320 videos, by far.

[daedric @ Sep 29th 2006 4:25PM]

This is what I'm talking about. Those ipod lovers here are talking about how the videos are HD. In order for videos to be "HD", it has to be atleast a 720P. Just because people are not ignorant of technology does not mean they are nerds. Also, if Apple did not encode this, why is it that the person who got the email from an Apple rep said that they will have an Apple engineer to repair the video? The Apple "engineer" cannot repair a video if he doesn't have a source of it. If he had the source, he probably did the encodes. Also, for all the freaks who keeps saying people are jealous and they don't care what others think, then quit responding to the comments.

[Grandmaster Cao @ Sep 29th 2006 4:31PM]

Typical Apple. Another overlooked item is that iTunes encodes their AAC at 128kps. Glad I'm switching back to Wintel.

[tf @ Sep 29th 2006 5:27PM]

"This is what I'm talking about. Those ipod lovers here are talking about how the videos are HD."

Not a single person, nevermind an "ipod lover: has said such a thing.

This is what I'm talking about. The ipod-haters have to make up sh!t to whine about and even then they are wrong.

[Andrew @ Sep 29th 2006 6:09PM]

For some tv shows i've bought before the resolution increase, i have removed them from my music library, then clicked the 'check for purchases' and downloaded the larger resolution for free.

[jasonwingrove @ Sep 29th 2006 5:55PM]

You should be able to re download what youve already purchased again for free. ive downloaded very little stuff but ive got to say the pixar short 'One man band' looks pretty bad eveon on my ipod. what a rip off. cmon apple let people upgrade the quality of what theyve bought to something decent for free!!!!
jas

[David Gerard @ Sep 29th 2006 6:19PM]

Would they be selling these in the UK? Then UK users hit by this can complain that the videos (a) are not as advertised (b) not fit for purchase and ask for their money back. See http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/ - they have the legal procedure right there. And it's distance selling, too, which means Apple have to work to higher standards. I'm sure that a few *polite* complaints from paying customers wanting a refund on the videos will catch their attention comprehensively.

[LE @ Sep 29th 2006 6:24PM]

I have a feeling that something *technically* went wrong with the encoding of this video. I don't think Apple is trying to screw anyone here.

[troy @ Sep 30th 2006 12:13PM]

Thats the one thing that pisses me off about apple, they have a hardcore copy protection on their music and they dont let your download songs more than once. They know if and when you already have purchesed that song, so why cant they just let you download a nother copy of it, you did pay for it.

[victor871129 @ Sep 29th 2006 10:48PM]

Of course this videos are crappy, there are 640X480 in INTERLACED mode...like a TV, and this KIND of videos always have blinkings, flashings and fast changing scenes, problems that videos in INTERLACED mode always have.

[eddie @ Sep 30th 2006 2:37AM]

This is why I get all my TV Shows and music videos off of bittorrent and youtube.

[Frederik @ Sep 30th 2006 5:02AM]

As Cartman would say:

Weak.

[BigD @ Sep 30th 2006 5:35AM]

@Adam...

I think Engadget is behind the Zune for one reason only: competition. Microsoft is the only company out there with the resources to challenge Apple in this market, and while the Zune might not be better than the iPod at this point (Apple has had multiple generations to get it right), it will be if they stick with it. Look how much respectability they gained in the console market after two generations against the "King of the Consoles," Sony. The Zune is the best thing that could have happened for consumers, as it allows choice, and may even push Apple to play it's hand a bit earlier than they had intended, too. Added competition in a market that is completely dominated by an entity has never been a bad thing, so just relax and enjoy the good times that are bound to come of this. Anyone that is anti-Zune is basically anti-consumer (or an Apple shareholder).

[Carl @ Oct 3rd 2006 10:55AM]

jackass...its not like Apple created this market...there were players in the market...they came in and the PEOPLE decided and made the iPod the winning platform choice...now things can change but to say that Microsoft getting into this is providing choice is nuts and anyone that disagrees is anti-consumer or an Apple shareholder...is it me or are people more inclined to say whatever stupid things come into their mind when they are on the internet then they would if you were talking to them in person...

[SanHolo @ Sep 30th 2006 8:54AM]

As Joshua already pointed out, it is not Apple who provides the videos, its the studios. So blame them, not Apple!

Apple should better have an eye on them...