“Ars was recently able to conclude that the newly launched iTunes movies encoded in 1080p do, in fact, look better than the same content encoded in 720p, despite the modest increase in file size,” Iljitsch van Beijnum reports for Ars Technica. “That’s good news for iTunes customers. But the real question is: How do iTunes 1080p downloads compare to the reigning king of home video image quality—Blu-ray Disc (BRD)? This is what we set out to test.”
“Things started out well for iTunes with the movie’s titles, which look very sharp on both BRD and iTunes 1080p,” van Beijnum reports. “An early scene that shows a ship on the ice-filled sea also shows that iTunes 1080p almost matches Blu-ray’s level of detail… Color reproduction is almost identical.”
van Beijnum reports, “I was surprised to see how close the iTunes 1080p download comes to Blu-ray, considering that it’s only a fraction of the file size.”
Read more, and see the comaprison screenshots, in the full article here.
Physical media is soooo last century.
Yeah. When you can get 80-90% of the quality at 1/5 the file size, why bother with physical media? 😛
I just wish the same could be said for sound… :/ that’s the only place iTunes 1080p content lacks… and with the Apple TV it makes sense to include better sound… I want to actually use my HTS…
On a 50″-60″ screen you’re right. However, put it on a 133″ screen and it makes a difference.
I’ll take physical media every time over a file especially one that’s located on a remote server. Internet goes down I can still use my theater. iTunes account gets messed up for some reason, I can still use my theater. Want to swap movies with a friend, I can do that.
I have a 55″ screen. The problem with a 133″ screen is the pixels are so damn big… and my living room is small enough that I’d sit close enough to notice 😛
the problem with itunes is you have to have the computer on to stream the movie to your apple TV. i just pop a blu ray into my PS3 since my laptops are almost always shut off.
and most blu ray’s come with a DVD as well so i can take it to my inlaws’ if i need to. or my son’s pre-school lets kids bring in movies to watch late in the day. they only have dvd
That’s the way it used to be, but it all changed with iCloud. Computers can sleep while you access your content.
note he said LAPTOP….
laptop shut… can’t access.
Laptop powered OFF… can’t access.
iMac asleep? you are good to go still cause Apple TV will wake it up over wifi/ethernet.
I still buy/rent the DVD/BR and rip them. I rarely use them to watch, unless I’m taking them somewhere that doesn’t have airplay.
until EVERYONE has an appleTV, DVD/BR are still needed. And do not forget that some people have data limits on their internet providers… that means they can’t watch everything online whenever they want. ISP overcharges or shutdowns for the rest of the month are FAR more expensive than the $1 Redbox or $2-3 Rental from local Movie rental store.
And also don’t forget that there is a GROWING number of DVD/BR players in CARS (back seats) for kids… I don’t see a small Screen, an Apple TV, and a satellite Internet connection being cheaper than a simple $100 DVD screen/player built into (or hanging from) the back seat.
Yes *some* parents would use an iPad etc in the back seat and let the kiddies use that instead.
Don’t be so narrow minded MikeK. just cause YOU can’t think of any use for a DVD/BR does NOT mean that there is NO use for them…
FTB, do a little research before making an ass of yourself.
iCloud handles streaming WITHOUT the laptop being part of the equation. so yes, it can be asleep, shut, even powered down and you can still stream your media via iCloud.
Hang on to your physical media as long wish, I don’t care. It’s just simply old tech, and nothing will change that.
Streaming is here for good. Physical media is dead. Adapt or die. 🙂
you need to be using iTunes match though, don’t you?
explain to me where the hell he said iCloud?
thats right YOU did……
YOU are injecting iCloud into the argument. not him.
he said iTunes.
if we RIP a movie and ADD it to iTunes. HOW THE HELL DOES iCLOUD COME INTO THE PICTURE?
oh what, I have to PAY extra to get that added into iCloud.
I buy the bargain basement DVD/BR for $5, and THEN on top of that pay another $20 (or so) to get it added to iTunes so I can STREAM it over the internet. (those free digital copies DO have an expiration date you know…)
Or take that $5 DVD/BR and spend 30 minutes ripping it and adding it to my LOCAL iTunes Library.
oh wait, that would make your argument invalid.
You injected iCloud instead of iTunes.
Alen is 100000% correct. you are correct ONLY if you CHANGE the talking point to YOUR view.
Alen’s comment stands.
I think you are mixing apples and oranges. The TOPIC is streaming movies on TV. There is NO need to have a computer running (laptop or otherwise) to stream movies now through TV. Neither does this have anything to do with iCloud. And the TV doesn’t really connect to iTunes or the iTunes Store, per se, you see only categories to rent or buy “Top Movies”, “TV Shoes” “Music” etc. TV is now a very independent devices with its own unique window on the world. As for picture quality, I can’t believe that compressed streaming video can match a Blu-Ray disk.
@Spark.
thats why MikeK is wrong.
Alen was talking about his local content from iTunes, which does need the laptop to be on.
IF you had every single item in your iTunes library purchased through iTunes.. then with the new change to iTunes MikeK would be correct.
I have over 200 movies and TV Shows in my iTunes library.. only 10-11 of them are Digital Copies I “purchased” (Voucher Codes) through iTunes.
*only* those 10-11 would MikeK be correct on. All others, he is wrong.
He is only Correct if 100% of your Library was purchased through iTunes, or with iTunes Match (Does that include Movies/TV now?.. I am not sure.)
Streaming can’t be as good as the physical copy you are correct. Good, but not as good as BR.
Apple TV + iCloud + Airplay = No BluRay for me.
apple tv is excellent for renting. Specailly cuz most Blockbuster are closed (at least in Tampa/St Pete). New and old movies. I rented The Godfather 2 a few nights ago. Only 720 but still looked good.
The first step in having SJ’s “bag of hurt” taken to the curb.
InB4 “Blu-Ray needs to be on AppleTV” comments.
I hate DVDs, CDs, BRDs and any other disk media format…every thing I have has been digitized to tv format…no more FUCKING FBI WARNINGS, no more FUCKING MENUS, no more inserting and jackin’ with disks, their packaging, storage, etc…its this simple: tv on, select title, play….”boom.” to quote the Maestro.
There’s very few titles I actually buy to own nowadays. Those few I will endeavour to get on blu-ray, but most things are completely disposable so I’m not going to worry too much about the quality. That said, it’s still way cheaper to get a netflix account (which is admittedly still online like itunes – in the uk at least) or lovefilm than it is to rent from itunes, so I’m not going to use iTunes regardless of the quality. Ultimately, as long as the quality is decent enough I’m going to worry more about cost.
Some people are so dense when it comes to Blu-ray. I want Blu-ray on the Mac for DATA STORAGE. I don’t know why other people don’t get that.
There is no need.
1. Licensing fees truly are a “Bag of Hurt” that Apple would never go for.
2. External storage is cheaper and more efficient.
3. iCloud, dropbox have already antiquated BDD for storage.
4. BDD is not the future.
Also for larger storage I use livedrive from iozeta I get 1tb cloud storage and I can stream anytime for $10 a month. 500gb for $8.
So there is lots of ways to have online storage for backup cheap.
I bought a Blu-Ray for data a couple years ago from OWC for a project with a ton of video (HD), photo and audio data. Works fine, though I haven’t used it in 6 months or so since hard disks got cheaper/easier for my needs. Here’s the OWC link to their Blu-Ray products: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/blu-ray
to MikeK:
I think a lot of people would like to backup their Data on Blu-ray.
Not this…
http://www.macblurayplayer.com/
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20077240-263/blu-ray-playback-comes-to-os-x/
But this…
http://www.mcetech.com/blu-ray/
Can this drive not be fitted into a external case and connect via fw400/800?
—-
to Flock of Budgie:
http://macbluray.com/
As of today, it is possible to use a blu-ray drive on mac. Indeed, you can buy an external usb drive for around $150, and be able to read from the discs. However, there is currently no blu-ray player on Mac!
Toast 10 is able to burn to blu-ray media in data mode. Since the blank medias are still very expensive, this is not yet very useful.
If you wish to play blu-ray media, there is currently only two possibilities: MakeMKV, a software which decrypts and remux the video files into a format suitable for playing using VLC, or Mac BlurayRipper Pro which also decrypts but keep the same structure as the original. The result can also be played using VLC, but the advantage is that whenever a blu-ray player is available, you’ll be able to play with all the bells and whistles of the original disc (menus, etc).
exactly.
What MikeK thinks is that If someone needs to author a BR disk, for what ever reason….(Data or Video) they are wrong.
So I need to create an HD movie for a client, 50 copies to hand out to their staff. (Or just back up their DATA and store it off site)
MikeK’s way. Purchase a huge External drive for EACH copy of the movie and give it to them…
Or just Burn BR copies for them.
MikeK can’t see any valid use for something HE doesn’t use. His opinion of course, but he can’t understand any one else’s view.
Streaming and external HD storage is good, but the DVD/BR disk is FAR from obsolete.
I find using my PC for BR ripping is far better than what is out there for Mac though..
MakeMKV makes a HUGE file and takes forever to rip a BR. I rip a BR on PC in about 30-45 minutes. and whatever size i want.
DVDFab is now on Mac (what I use on PC) but holy crap they want a fortune for it.
you can use the trial on PC, over and over again… after the trial ends.
I don’t have any BR drive on my Mac so I probably will never bother with trying to get a Mac BR ripping setup going.
Granted Ripping and Full backup’s are different (MakeMKV/BlurayRipper make full backups)
I considered getting a Blu-ray external for data storage.
Then I looked at the still inflated costs of Blu-Ray discs versus DVD media. It’s as if Sony is trying to commit seppuku.
Then there is that lingering DRM (Digital Rights Manglement) garbage: Why the HELL can’t I have a Blu-Ray burner that lets me burn BOTH data AND Blu-Ray movie discs without:
(A) Draconian DRM shite built into my computer?!
-and-
(B) Sony Internet surveillance of what I’m burning?!
-or-
(C) Having to use hacking tools to subvert Sony?!
This is how it should be: JUST LIKE DVDs. You burn whatever you like and no Corporate Oligarchy Scum is looking over your shoulder waiting to kill you.
IOW: Frack you Sony for fracking up your own technology. It could have been WoNDerFUL! But no, you had to be paranoid and greedy as hell.
Therefore, despite being a Blu-ray champion at the start, I own NOTHING Blu-ray. To hell with Blu-ray. To hell with Sony. That Apple never bothered with Blu-ray either makes perfect sense to me.
Blu-Ray RIP 3/2012
a true home theatre is a combination of sight and sound. Not having DTS-MA is a very big advantage for BR discs
doesn’t mean I don’t rent. I tend to rent on iTunes a lot of documentaries or movies with little dynamic range in their sound tracks. The upgrade to 1080p cannot hurt also as I was also watching on my LCD when I rented from iTunes instead of using the projector. Not I can use the projector more often
This is great news. Let me go to the iTunes store and buy movies so I can watch them in family. Wait… No subtitles in my language? No blu-ray on a mac? Hum… Not good apple, not good.
With this I think you can Jorge,
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20077240-263/blu-ray-playback-comes-to-os-x/
Just curious:
Do all Blu-ray discs have your language in subtitles?
What about NetFlix – hows that for you?
I am from Portugal, so yes, there are a lot of blu-ray discs with subtitles. As for netflix, I think that it doesn’t work here. But thanks for the player. I acctually prefer to buy moveis from iTunes, but today that is not an option.
If you want to pay the outrageous exorbitant licensing fees for Blu-Ray, feel free. Apple doesn’t feel like getting taken to the cleaners to offer an obsolete format.
As for the subtitle thing, that does suck. I hope they add your language real soon.
I don’t want to pay blu-ray. But I do want to have an option. Blu-ray or iTunes. But Apple gives me none.
Apple doesnt include the option because would have to pay insane licensing fees to include that option in the Mac or Apple TV. For a media type that seems to have its days numbered, it just doesnt make sense. Sony charges other companies outrageous licensing fees to use or decode blu-ray content.
I am so glad that I held out from buying a Blu-ray player for this long. I actually purchased a cheap Sony one that only cost me $70.00., just so that I could get this media from Netflix, but all my future purchases will be from iTunes.
The so called 720p and 1080p formats have to be compared with their time variables. The standards are 720p60 and 1080p24. The file size for the 720 is about 11% larger.
It’s hilarious how upset people get over stupid topics such as the “need” for physical media. For audio professionals Blu-Ray media for archival purposes will ALWAYS be desired. A solid size recording session can 30-50GB’s. However regardless of whether I purchase a Blu-Ray I still digitize it -> MKV to H.264. Average file size is 4.5-6 GB’s so I would like to compare iTunes files to those. How many audio tracks does iTunes give you? Are there any special features with the file when using an AppleTV? I still think HD movies are too expensive on the iTunes store. 6-12 months after a Blu-ray releases it’s usually under $20 so why not buy physical copies?
BDD is already dead.
Why invest in the past when you can embrace the future?
@ MikeK: how about using data to support your opinion rather than just relying on your own personal circumstance?
Physical media holds > 69% video market share, likely much more since the 31% of video consumers with download capability also buy discs to access content that is simply not available from online services. http://www.broadbandexpert.com/blog/ip-tv/31-percent-of-household-broadband-customers-get-movies-and-tv-directly-from-their-broadband/
I would hardly call a 69% disc market share “already dead”.
And by the way, according to the Department of Commerce, only 200 million American households have high-speed internet access; over 30% of Americans have no internet at home whatsoever. Good luck trying to convert rural customers or lower classes to take on $1xx/month broadband services when DVD and BRDs are cheap and available in every library, flea market, and corner store from coast to coast.
look at the (descending) direction of the chart for that 69%.. Yep, it’s already dead. 🙂
Mikey, I don’t own anything Blu-ray.
And yet, if Blu-ray is truly dead then so is DVD.
So, i must be dead too, since I am still burning DVDs and CDs.
Of course i know that some people still use physical media and will continue to do so for some time.. When I say “dead,” I mean there is no future in it, it’s on the decline, and something already exists to take it’s place.
And in regards to this thread, there won’t be any forms of physical media finding it’s way into future Apple products.
So yes, “dead” 🙂
You have a very strange interpretation of the term “dead”.
your argument is based on semantics, not reality.
buyers spend ~ $150 million PER WEEK on physical video discs in the USA alone. and yes, it is a volatile market as content quality varies widely. But don’t mistake soft consumer luxury spending during tepid economic times for the death of a technology. Technology doesn’t die, it gets refined. Physical media will always have a place.
Has your electronic gadget replaced pen & paper in your household? is paper DEAD? didn’t think so. isn’t it great to have options? options beyond what Apple itself chooses to offer? I think so.
No future for physical media. Apple is killing it off, the record labels are killing it off, the public is moving on. It’s dead.
And BTW: I am a audio recording professional, never archived any sessions on anything but HDD. FTP, iCloud and Dropbox handle the sharing end of it.
Without a doubt, that is a very valued point MikeK makes.
Sure, streaming movies work great for home use. What is the solution for video systems currently built into automobiles – without having to have a data plan and some sort of data service with a wireless enabled iPad?
It is so easy for the kids to grab a DVD and watch it in the car – or take it with them when grandma picks them up.
Until wireless data services is everywhere and cheap, DVD’s/BD’s won’t go by the wayside.
Physical media is dead just like VHS tapes.
Streaming will get more sophisticated and digital content will be mostly purchased online and maintained online. The world is networked and is getting more networked.
You could watch movies for the spoiled kids in the backseat via an iPod/iPhone/iPad, or other similar media devices. You don’t need da clunky mechanical media device.
Nope not yet and not as soon as you think. Blu ray sales have been on the rise over last few years and yes even lately
IMPORTANT:
Though you CAN view a movie, live while streaming from iTunes on iPad/iPhone/iMac and AppleTV; it is “extremely” important to know that Apple greatly differs from the NetFlix mentality of maintaining that internet connection at all times.
iTunes movie “rentals” and “purchases” actually download the COMPLETE movie to your iPad/iPhone/iMac and can be viewed “later”.
Only AppleTV, requires you to keep a constant internet connection for streaming while viewing the movie.
Once the download is complete, the same movies “rented” or “purchased” are transferrable from one device to another. And viewable without internet connection. Setup your devices for the kids before going on a long trip. No internet connection is required for playback during this time.
Both “rental” and “purchased” movies are DRM protected, yet “rentals” have about 48 hrs and/or up until 2 hrs before the expiration time to view the movie – after which it then self-destructs or vaporizes.
THOSE DVDs – you can convert them with HANDBRAKE and use iCloud or iTunes to distribute them onto other devices so long as you have legal rights, proof purchase and/or ownership.
—-
DVDs really can very convenient. However, 20 converted DVDs, 10 purchased movies, 3 rentals, a bunch of converted YouTube funnies – pre-loaded on several iPodTouches – also be seen as extremely convenient and super compact and shareable with Airplay.
NetFlix is fast and easy to use, however, iTunes offers far more flexibility and please, remember it does not require constant internet connectivity to enjoy your media.
I love the idea of using my Apple TV for getting 1080p content but I hate the fact that I have to decide a day in advance what I want to watch, rent, then start the download… kinda makes it all not worth the trouble.
Yeah right, this is BS. Its not almost as good ! that last pic clearly shows noticeable compression banding and that’s a deal breaker for me.
They should be comparing against a high-bitrarte reference Blu Ray disc, and they should be comparing on a better display panel than a DELL monitor !
I am happy to keep using blu ray and prefer to own the physical media for the few movies I do buy. I’ll use my Apple TV for TV show downloads & airplay but not HD movies. I will stick with blu ray for good reason!
I hear you. I agree.
Have you witnessed HD from NetFlix, I have. And, still
I buy and watch most things in SD.
I don’t care so much to see if Tom Cruise has a pimple or not, its the story I care more then the picture quality.
Streaming is here for good. Physical media is dead. Adapt or die
Ahhh not so fast my blind friend. Some of actually still have discerning eyes that CAN see the difference between BluRay and it’s heavily compressed streaming counterpoint.
I’m fine with you never looking at BluRay again… just don’t expect me to accept such a poor substitute as streaming media.
iTunes 1080p is OK, like any other 1080p streaming is just OK.
But 4Mbs of H.264 is still no match for 40Mbs of H.264 if you’ve got a projector or very large display. In comparison it is a bit blurred and has compression artefacts.
Also, if you’ve got a decent home theater audio setup you only get Dolby Digital 5.1 not lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 either.
Although, it’s good enough for most people. Like AAC 256K is good enough audio for most people.
Will streaming be able to keep up with the advances in video resolutions? Movies today are being shot at 5k resolution. Check this link for comparisons of 1080p vs. 5k:
http://michaelthinks.typepad.com/blog/2011/11/28m-in-cameras-for-the-hobbit-sounds-just-about-right.html
If I’m going to switch to a more convenient format Apple TV 1080p Vs Blu-Ray disc 1080p, the picture and sound quality better be just as good or else it’s not going to happen.
I really find this article to be a tad off the mark. To say the iTunes “comes close to Blu-Ray” is flat-out off the mark. Aside from the fact that there is banding, greater loss of detail, fuzzy images, and noticeable loss of film grain, it’s just like Blu-Ray. The huge advantage of Blu-Ray over a compressed video is that it is a close to actual looking film as one can get. Yes, the iTunes video does look very nice, but in each instance of Ars Technica’s side-by-side comparison, I immediately knew which was iTunes and which was Blu-Ray. While the difference is not the difference between DVD and Blu-Ray, there is a significant enough difference to never make the claim that it “comes close.” It doesn’t. Blu-Ray’s greater image quality is far superior.
It’s always fun to come here to read all the Apple fanboys wet themselves over anything. At least the comments on this thread are much more rational.
The picture quality has too many artifacts. iTunes needs to compress the video more than a BRD. Yes, you will notice it darker scenes, and in action movies when there’s a lot of stuff going on. If you don’t care about that, and frankly people think 128kbps music files sound great, so what do we know. And iTunes is easy to use. But I buy BluRay Discs for movies I love watching over and over (I love the Band of Brothers BRD set, for example). I rent them when I want to watch them once. It’s just easier. Netflix delivers the stuff to me next day, since I live pretty close to one of their distribution points.
But the bigger issue is the sound quality. iTunes video sound quality just sounds bad on a good 7.1 or even 5.1 system. I’m assuming the bandwidth to deliver 1080p plus great sound is too much.
However, what really gripes me about Apple TV is the lag. Right around Xmas, it took a day to download videos.
For 80% of the customer base, I’m sure this all works. But honestly, I have a PS3, which plays BRD, and it sits right next to the HDTV. No lag. Perfect picture. Outstanding sound. And great games.
Hell, Blu Ray looks better than the movie theatres! I don’t think it is going away soon…IMHO
What I find annoying and interesting at the same time is that no one really discusses the audio portion. I really hope that NetFlix and Apple and any others getting into 1080p downloads can also include 24/96 DTS HD Master audio and/or 24/192 True HD Master audio. There are a LOT of people out there spending gobs of money on home theater systems that can play high end audio and we would like to be able to get content that incudes this, otherwise, buying the actual media with the better audio is the proffered method for those with REAL Home Theater systems that want to take advantage of the better video and audio experience.
To anyone who uses icloud or google drive yer all idiots!
You will pay over and over in bandwidth charges. I will pay once for a blu ray, then rip what I legally own and copy it over and over forever at my choosing to all the IOS and Android, windows and mac devices I have. You will instead pay more $$$ to download it over and over, streaming away and pay 100 times over the many years to come for the same thing I stopped paying for after the first time. Oh yea, and then there will be a virus that devours icloud files and you have to purchase all your stuff all over again as there was no “digital” record of your purchase histories!
For you fools that think physical media is just so old, you are simply to young and ignorant to understand yet, Like a virgin giving you there “expert” opinion on how to screw ?! You will grow up one day and become wiser, by then you will have doomed the world though.
Its already started. Now they “sneak” digital copies out of the physical packages ( even though it says digital copy included) now so you have to go download the digital copy and pay your internet provider more $$$ to access what we got for free just months ago.
Complete fools!
I like buying DVDs and CDs for a good price in the store. I can watch them a lot. I don’t have to worry about downloads because WE don’t have a credit card. I bought a few things from itunes once with a gift card, and the movie quality sucks, nothing beats DVD or Blu-Ray copies. I have a bookshelf of DVDs and CDs I still use. Download my butt. Takes forever; depends on the connection. Lion King and Marry Poppins was removed from itunes a month ago; and I am glad I kept the DVDs of the classics. See what happens if you do save a back-up Disc?!!! That is all I have to say.