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?
posted September 29th 2006 12:28PM
If you infact download one of bad quality just complain, I complained, and they refunded me for everything i bought that day not just the one bad video. So im still happy.
I can state authoritatively that Apple does all the encoding for ITMS. Previously they did they encoding from tapes (usually digi-beta) but now they are asking for MPEG2 versions. All the errors - clipped end titles etc are due to Apple's QC. I am suprised they have upsampled previously encoded material - perhaps they thought we wouldn't notice.
Is there any actual evidence that these were re-encoded from lower resolution vids? They look like crap, yes, but it could just be poor encoding from the original source.
Did anyone notice that the new vids have quadruple the number of pixels, but less that double the bitrate? I'm not surprised that some of the files have a lot of artifacting.
Any one out there watching "how to" videos on their ipod? I'm interested if there is a demand yet.
http://www.how-to-tie-a-tie-video.com
Cheers, How to Tie a Tie Video
Saying things that you wouldn't say in person....
hmmm. You mean like calling me a 'jack@ss'? I never said that apple created the market, but why wouldn't you welcome another big-time player to the market? What are you afraid of? You don't have to buy it, and neither do I. The fact still stands that competition has always driven the market to the benefit of the consumer. I'm a consumer. I hope that a few years down the line, there will be a multitude of players that constantly drive each other to do better. Not necessarily from a hardware point of view either. I'd like to see better services at lower prices. Not saying that Apple or Microsoft would do this on their own, but in order to stay profitable, maintain market share, and one up their competitors, they will have to give better services at lower prices. The PEOPLE will speak.
Christopher Walken should be president. walken2008.com