Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[BBC HD faces claims of HDLite after slashing bitrate]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/28/bbc-hd-faces-claims-of-hdlite-after-slashing-bitrate/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/28/bbc-hd-faces-claims-of-hdlite-after-slashing-bitrate/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/28/bbc-hd-faces-claims-of-hdlite-after-slashing-bitrate/#commentsEven on this side of the Atlantic, we've been hearing complaints about a supposed drop in HD quality from the BBC over the last few months. After installing new encoders in August, the broadcaster slashed its bitrate and viewers have since complained about a variety of PQ issues. Of course the Beeb claims its new hardware is capable of delivering similar quality while saving bandwidth when it went to replace old, out of date technology. In the last few days it's received a bit of a boost, as consumer watchdogs Which? went to the tape, comparing earlier recordings from BBC HD with live broadcasts over Sky and Freesat, claiming any difference between new and old is "tiny, and smaller than the existing differences between any two HD programmes filmed in a studio or on location." Only time will tell if that is enough to calm the commenters on BBC's blogs calling for a return to the old, if your Top Gear and Doctor Who watching has been affected, let us know.

BBC HD faces claims of HDLite after slashing bitrate originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artifactsbbcbbc hdBbcHdbitratebitstarvecompressionencoderhdhd liteHdLiteovercompressionukMon, 28 Dec 2009 15:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Rogers reportedly implements more compression on HD channels]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/01/rogers-reportedly-implements-more-compression-on-hd-channels/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/01/rogers-reportedly-implements-more-compression-on-hd-channels/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/01/rogers-reportedly-implements-more-compression-on-hd-channels/#commentsSadly, we don't have any reason to believe that this is some nasty April Fool's prank. We heard right around this time last year that Rogers Cable was looking to pull a Shaw and compress its HD signals even further, and now, it seems that said smashing has begun. According to Digital Home, a "majority of all Rogers high definition channels measured are now being compressed." Investigation in the matter has found that around 60 percent of Rogers' HD channels in Toronto were compressed, with HBO, The Movie Network, MPix, Nat Geo, CBS West, ABC West, Fox West, NBC West and PBS suffering the most. We're told that those stations saw typical bitrates of around 10Mbps to 13Mbps, while Rogers SportsNet, CityTV, CBC, CTV, Global and Discovery HD saw streams between 16Mbps and 18Mbps. Any locals care to confirm / deny?

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Rogers reportedly implements more compression on HD channels originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cablecanadacompressingcompressionhdhd liteHdLiteimage qualityImageQualityqualityrogersWed, 01 Apr 2009 22:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Popular Mechanics gets wise to HD compression]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/27/popular-mechanics-gets-wise-to-hd-compression/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/27/popular-mechanics-gets-wise-to-hd-compression/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/27/popular-mechanics-gets-wise-to-hd-compression/#commentscompression
Around Engadget, we're all too familiar with the evil bit starving ways of some content providers and local affiliates in the name of the bottom line. But it's always good to see the more mainstream press get wise as Popular Mechanics has a good article on the why and why not, our HD signal is over compressed. The most interesting new piece of information is something we've heard of in the past, but it's good to get additional details, which is HBO's requirements in regards to what a provider can do with its signal. We assumed the requirements would specify a minimum bit rate, but in reality it is a limitation of what other content can be carried on the same QAM channel. So that means no sports, animated content, or any other bit hungry content for that matter. Ultimately, all this talk just makes us enjoy our Blu-ray Discs that much more.

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Popular Mechanics gets wise to HD compression originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Jul 2008 19:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Talk about an onslaught. Within the course of a few weeks we've seen Shaw, Rogers and Comcast all get flamed for purportedly compressing their signals to a point beyond acceptable, and as if that wasn't enough, a recent research report found that video quality issues (shocking, we know) were the primary reason for call-in complaints. All the while, Verizon is taking the chance to toot its own horn and boast about its ability to pass along HD signals sans additional tweakage. So, are you right in the middle of this firestorm? Or are you gleefully looking in from the outside with a gorgeous HD picture on your set? Give us your story below, won't you?

[Image courtesy of Vidiot]

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Poll: Have you been affected by over-compressed HD feeds? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cablecompressiondegradationfiberhdhd liteHdLiteimage qualityImageQualitymacroblockingpollpollsqualitysatellitevideo qualityVideoQualitySat, 05 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[HD compression goes under the microscope]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/04/hd-compression-goes-under-the-microscope/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/04/hd-compression-goes-under-the-microscope/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/04/hd-compression-goes-under-the-microscope/#comments
Considering the recent hullabaloo over Comcast and Rogers Cable deciding to (over) compress at least part of their respective HD lineups, Electronic House's latest writeup is particularly timely. It's investigation into HD Lite reveals quite a few tidbits that everyone should know, but often get overlooked in the uproar. Put simply, every high-def channel that gets piped your way is compressed in some form or fashion (that includes you too, Verizon) before it hits the carrier. In other words, just because a signal gets modified before it hits your set doesn't automatically make it HD Lite. Still, there's no doubt that some providers have taken this squeeze too far and compressed signals to the point of noticeability -- that's where the problem emerges. Give the article a read, you'll likely learn a thing or two about nomenclature if all else fails.

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HD compression goes under the microscope originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cablecompressiondegradationfiberhdhd liteHdLiteimage qualityImageQualitypicture qualityPictureQualityqualitysatelliteFri, 04 Apr 2008 23:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon FiOS TV spot boasts of "uncompressed" HD]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/04/verizon-fios-tv-spot-boasts-of-uncompressed-hd/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/04/verizon-fios-tv-spot-boasts-of-uncompressed-hd/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/04/verizon-fios-tv-spot-boasts-of-uncompressed-hd/#commentsIt was inevitable, really. No sooner does Comcast and Rogers Cable begin taking heat for over compressing their HD feeds than Verizon pumps out a TV spot trumpeting its ability to deliver "pure, uncompressed high-definition." The ad campaign asserts that its delivery of material is superior to that offered up by traditional cable providers, but the company's media relations director Bobbi Henson did note that the real purpose was to show that "FiOS TV customers are receiving HD that's not compressed by Verizon." She noted in an e-mail statement that "content owners compress their video before sending it to video service providers, but [Verizon] forwards the signal to its customers the way that [they arrive]." You know what they say about bandwidth: if you've got it, flaunt it.

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Verizon FiOS TV spot boasts of "uncompressed" HD originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadsadvertisementadvertisingcommercialcompressiondegradationfiberfiosfios tvFiosTvhdhd liteHdLiteimage qualityImageQualitypicture qualityPictureQualityqualityverizonFri, 04 Apr 2008 15:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Rogers Cable to implement more compression on some HD signals]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/04/rogers-cable-to-implement-compression-on-some-hd-signals/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/04/rogers-cable-to-implement-compression-on-some-hd-signals/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/04/rogers-cable-to-implement-compression-on-some-hd-signals/#commentsBad news for Rogers Cable customers -- word on the street has it that your HD feeds may begin to look a little less fantastic in the coming days. According to Digital Home Canada, the carrier has outlined a plan in a technical briefing sent out by Rogers Network Engineering and Operations that will compress part of its high-definition lineup in order to "deliver more HD channels without having to use more bandwidth." As it stands, 15 HD channels are facing the dreaded HD Lite treatment effective April 9th, but curiously, we're not told which HD networks are actually on the docket to be added. Granted, we've yet to see a definitive confirmation, but given that Comcast has recently caught loads of flack for its decision to shove three HD channels on a single 6MHz slot, we suppose an awful trend could be (re)emerging. Keep a critical eye out, Rogers customers -- let us know if anything changes.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Rogers Cable to implement more compression on some HD signals originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cablecanadacompressiondegradationglobalhdhd liteHdLiteimage qualityImageQualitypicture qualityPictureQualityqualityrogersrogers cableRogersCableFri, 04 Apr 2008 08:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Is your Comcast HD quality up to snuff?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/20/is-your-comcast-hd-quality-up-to-snuff/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/20/is-your-comcast-hd-quality-up-to-snuff/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/20/is-your-comcast-hd-quality-up-to-snuff/#comments
It's not unusual to hear of entire neighborhoods kvetching over lackluster HD quality, but judging by the growing chorus of complaints over at AVSForum, we're beginning to wonder if this issue isn't more widespread. Reportedly, Comcast is squeezing three HD channels onto a 38.8Mbps QAM, which is typically used to handle just two HD channels. One particular user decided to pull screen grabs from shows seen on Comcast and Verizon's FiOS TV, and needless to say, the results were fairly startling. We aren't assuming that the overdone compression is being seen elsewhere, but we are curious to know if your Comcast service has taken a hit in quality. So, is your viewing experience as good as ever? Or have things become slightly less Comcastic of late?

[Thanks, Dave]

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Is your Comcast HD quality up to snuff? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cablecomcastdegradationhdhd liteHdLiteimage qualityImageQualitypicture qualityPictureQualityqualityThu, 20 Mar 2008 19:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Shaw cable customers still facing quality issues?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/28/shaw-cable-customers-still-facing-quality-issues/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/28/shaw-cable-customers-still-facing-quality-issues/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/28/shaw-cable-customers-still-facing-quality-issues/#comments
We had heard that some Shaw customers up north (that's Canada, to be precise) were having some serious quality issues with their HD programming towards the end of 2007, and according to a recent writeup by Digital Home, the problems haven't gone away -- entirely, at least. Apparently, the audio dropouts and macroblocking that seemed to be present on nearly every HD channel were finally brought to the attention of management, and while the bigwigs did proclaim that they were taking the complaints "very seriously," nothing had been done as of early January. After a six-week effort that consisted of gathering data from 38 volunteers experiencing the problems, users say that the audio issues have improved somewhat, yet visual quirks are persisting. Any problem that hangs around for months on end can't be good, but we're curious to see if Shaw's done anything since to improve matters. So, dear Canadians, has it?

[Image courtesy of Vidiot]

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Shaw cable customers still facing quality issues? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cabledropoutshdhd liteHdLiteissuemacroblockingproblemqualityshawThu, 28 Feb 2008 00:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Poll: Are you satisfied with your HD service?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/09/poll-are-you-satisfied-with-your-hd-service/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/09/poll-are-you-satisfied-with-your-hd-service/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/09/poll-are-you-satisfied-with-your-hd-service/#comments
After breaking things down as best we could this week, we noticed a flood of comments from critical HD consumers about the quality (or lack thereof) of their HD service. Of course, it's impossible for us to take a look at each provider out there and assess just how wonderful (or not) its deliverance of high-definition programming is, so we figured we'd put it out there for all of you readers. Bottom line: are you stoked about the quality of your high-def service? If so, by all means, let the world know who's treating you right. If not, shout out what's keeping you from extolling your carrier -- be it a shoddy HD DVR, inexplicable compression, a high level of outages, a dearth of HD offerings or simply charging too much for too little.

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Poll: Are you satisfied with your HD service? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cablecompressioncustomerfiberhdhd litehd qualityHdLiteHdQualityinternetpollpollsqualitysatellitesatisfactionsatisfiedsubscribersurveySat, 09 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Comcast Media Center gets creative with compression]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/14/comcast-media-center-gets-creative-with-compression/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/14/comcast-media-center-gets-creative-with-compression/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/14/comcast-media-center-gets-creative-with-compression/#commentsMake no mistake about it, as the bandwidth belt tightens around cable, carriers are grasping for ways to cram more channels into an increasingly small space. Reportedly, Comcast Media Center has devised a method to stuff three HD signals into a single 6MHz carrier, which is typically just enough to handle two HD channels without picture quality taking a dive. Though the process sounds quite technical, the long and short of it is that a "second-pass MPEG-2 encoding system from startup Imagine Communications" is reportedly being used to "stack together three signals at variable bit rates into one 6MHz QAM channel." Of course, it's hard to say if this clever methodology results in noticeably poorer picture quality, but unless something drastic happens in the world of coax, you can count on seeing a whole lot more where this came from.

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Comcast Media Center gets creative with compression originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Dec 2007 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cablecmccomcastComcast Media CenterComcastMediaCentercompressionhdhd liteHdLiteImagine CommunicationsImagineCommunicationsmultiplexmultiplexingqamstatistical multiplexingStatisticalMultiplexingFri, 14 Dec 2007 08:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Aussies criticizing Seven Network for compressing HD feeds]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/04/aussies-criticizing-seven-network-for-compressing-hd-feeds/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/04/aussies-criticizing-seven-network-for-compressing-hd-feeds/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/04/aussies-criticizing-seven-network-for-compressing-hd-feeds/#commentsSame story, different continent. The compression bug has seemingly struck again, and this time its aggravating those Down Under who'd like to enjoy Seven Network's 1080i programming in all of its high-definition glory. After just recently flipping the switch to broadcast content in HD, a sect of Australians have already begun to grumble over the "relatively low amount of bandwidth the network has allocated to the high-definition channel." Of course, it should be noted that "most" viewers have seen no reason to get bent out of shape, but for those relaxing in Oz, what say ye on the Seven situation?

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Aussies criticizing Seven Network for compressing HD feeds originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Jul 2007 21:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080iAustraliaAustralianbandwidthBrisbanecablecomplaincomplaintscompressiongripehdhd liteHdLiteMelbourneSevenSeven networkSevenNetworkSydneyWed, 04 Jul 2007 21:59:00 EST<![CDATA[NAB scolds cable companies for downconverting HD locals]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/23/nab-scolds-cable-companies-for-downconverting-hd-locals/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/23/nab-scolds-cable-companies-for-downconverting-hd-locals/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/23/nab-scolds-cable-companies-for-downconverting-hd-locals/#commentsNABWe've certainly seen the head honchos give the cable companies a piece of their mind before, but this time the carriers are receiving a fairly stiff scolding care of the National Association of Broadcasters. David Rehr made sure to make every moment of his speech segment count, as he ripped cable providers for "downconverting" the signals of local channels in order to boost the bandwidth available to "their own high-definition signals." Mr. Rehr even went so far as to call the process "broadcast discrimination," and we can only presume that certain providers -- such as Time Warner, who has ties to HBO and Comcast, which is strongly linked to Versus / Golf Channel -- are the targets of recent battles. Unsurprisingly, anonymous cable services have reportedly denied the claims of delusion, but how do the actual end-users see it? Let us know folks: is your cable company giving preferential treatment to channels it has vested interest in?

[Via HiDefster]

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NAB scolds cable companies for downconverting HD locals originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Apr 2007 02:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abccablecable companiesCableCompaniescbsdilutedownconversionfoxhbo hdhbohdhdhd litehd vodHdLiteHdVodlocal channelsLocalChannelslocalsmulticastingnabnbcotapicture qualityPictureQualityMon, 23 Apr 2007 02:56:00 EST<![CDATA[CableLabs names 15Mbps as "safe harbor bitrate" for MPEG2 HD VOD]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/31/cablelabs-names-15mbps-as-safe-harbor-bitrate-for-mpeg2-hd-vod/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/31/cablelabs-names-15mbps-as-safe-harbor-bitrate-for-mpeg2-hd-vod/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/31/cablelabs-names-15mbps-as-safe-harbor-bitrate-for-mpeg2-hd-vod/#commentsWe already know how fond CableLabs is of HD VOD content, so it makes perfect sense that the gurus behind the scenes are aiming to provide media that satisfies the discerning eye of the HD viewer. Considering that nearly every HDTV owner has a sneaking suspicion that they're not getting the bandwidth they're paying for at times, CableLabs new specifications hope to ensure that HD VOD viewers don't get the "HD Lite" experience. While the recommended SD VOD rate remained steady at just 3.75Mbps, CableLabs has named 15Mbps the "safe harbor bitrate" to allow all forms of HD VOD content (including talking heads and fast-moving action films) to be seen at a quality that represents what HDTV should be about, including 5.1 audio and an absence of pixelation. Of course, these latest suggestions are entirely based on MPEG2 transfers, and could very well change if MPEG4 starts running the show, but at the very least it's good to see someone making sure we get our due bandwidth.

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CableLabs names 15Mbps as "safe harbor bitrate" for MPEG2 HD VOD originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Jan 2007 11:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bandwidthbitrateCableLabscompressionhdhd litehd vodHdLiteHdVodvideo-on-demandvodWed, 31 Jan 2007 11:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Time Warner gets fussy with DirecTV over NFL Network coverage]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/16/time-warner-gets-fussy-with-directv-over-nfl-network-coverage/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/16/time-warner-gets-fussy-with-directv-over-nfl-network-coverage/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/16/time-warner-gets-fussy-with-directv-over-nfl-network-coverage/#commentsThere's nothing like a warm, heartfelt lawsuit to really spread that holiday cheer, and we've got yet another battle in the courtroom about to get cranked up, and this time it's between rivals DirecTV and Time Warner. While TWC still can't claim the ability to offer the fledgling NFL Network on its cable systems, DirecTV felt the need to boast not only about its "superior coverage," but to also rub a little salt in Time Warner's wound by informing folks in NFL towns that games shown on the NFL Network "couldn't be seen" on Time Warner. Although the claims seem somewhat legitimate, Time Warner insists that "all eight games featured on the NFL Network will also be available to local fans over broadcast networks," which apparently wasn't the message being conveyed to pigskin-loving consumers. Regardless, DirecTV dug its hole a tad deeper by hiring Jessica Simpson to state that the firm's HD quality "beats cable," which is quite the laughable statement to anyone familiar with "HD Lite." In the end, however, we're sure the ads will be removed (or at least reworded), and the two firms will continue to bicker in future bouts, but what fun would it be if these two actually decided to get along, right?

[Via MultiChannel]

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Time Warner gets fussy with DirecTV over NFL Network coverage originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 16 Dec 2006 09:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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