Don't run out and replace that HD-DVD with Blu-Ray player before reading up on XStreamHD!

NoMoShocks · 02-20-2008, 02:24 PM

My friend and I were talking yesterday about how both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are only short term solutions with network delivery of content just around the corner. Then, this morning, I stumbled across this which sound's way cool if the PPV price is reasonable. I have to admit, I want one now! What do you think Brian?

XStream HD - Wireless Ventures

Don't run out and replace that HD-DVD with Blu-Ray player before reading up on XStreamHD!-receiver_hi.jpg

Don't run out and replace that HD-DVD with Blu-Ray player before reading up on XStreamHD!-receiverback_hi.jpg

priusenvy · 02-20-2008, 03:39 PM

If you're interested in those kind of devices, you should be aware of the Vudu, which is already shipping and has been in user's hands for around five months now.

VUDU - Home

Vudu - Page 6 - AVS Forum

boulder_bum · 02-20-2008, 06:43 PM

That's what I was going to say.

Check out Vudu and Apple TV. I'm sure Tivo w/Amazon Unbox will go HD eventually, too.

NoMoShocks · 02-20-2008, 06:49 PM

Interresting. The two of you may have forced me to stop by Magnollia HiFi on the way home, but I think I will try to be cautious so I don't repeat my Toshiba HD-DVD error again.

morpheusx · 02-20-2008, 06:54 PM

You can already download a ton of movies and TV shows in both HD and Standard Def on the Xbox 360 with xbox live.
Xbox.com | Movies & TV Shows - Movies and TV on your Xbox

steviet · 02-20-2008, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoMoShocks

My friend and I were talking yesterday about how both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are only short term solutions with network delivery of content just around the corner. Then, this morning, I stumbled across this which sound's way cool if the PPV price is reasonable. I have to admit, I want one now! What do you think Brian?

XStream HD - Wireless Ventures

Attachment 7633

Attachment 7634

Not just yet.... Downloading HD movies poses a bandwidth vs quality issue. Currently there isn't a download service that gives you the quality that you get with either BluRay or HDDVD physical media. If it ever gets to the point where the quality is the same you're talking about ~50GB per movie. Comcast currently limits a user when downloading bit-torrents because of the bandwidth it takes. And before you say anything about bit-torrents, legal downloads can be made using bit-torrents, it doesn't automatically mean you're doing something illegal. We are years away from downloading the same quality that we would get from physical HD movies today.

Steve

priusenvy · 02-20-2008, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steviet

Not just yet.... Downloading HD movies poses a bandwidth vs quality issue. Currently there isn't a download service that gives you the quality that you get with either BluRay or HDDVD physical media. If it ever gets to the point where the quality is the same you're talking about ~50GB per movie.

Reports on AVSForum are that Vudu's 1080p HD content (a tiny fraction of their 5000 titles) is noticeably better than Apple's 720p. So far no one has reported on Vudu 1080p vs. Blu-ray or HD-DVD 1080p.

50GB is the entire Blu-ray disk. No movie I'm aware of takes up all 50GB. Casino Royale is something like 35GB of movie and 12GB of extras.

boulder_bum · 02-20-2008, 09:19 PM

If you're going to buy something soon, I'm personally recommend the Apple TV. You can get HD (720p) rentals that you can start watching in about a minute or two, you can watch videos from YouTube (cooler than you'd think), stream your photos from Flickr, listen to your music from your iTunes library and take advantage of Apple's large selection of TV shows, movies and music videos in their iTunes store:

Apple - Apple TV - Guided Tour

Oh, and it's a WiFi device (no cable to run) and I believe Apple is the ONLY vendor who has deals with every major movie studio.

Plus, a lot of the content you play on your Apple TV, you can take with you in an iPod!

Here's a good comparison of Apple TV/Vudu, though.

vodyo » Blog Archive » Side by Side: Apple TV and Vudu Compared

NoMoShocks · 02-20-2008, 10:19 PM

Thanks for sharing about Apple TV. I am glad there are several companies working on this, because the Apple TV HD new release movie rental price of $4.99 seems a little steep for now. I am too spoiled by unlimited rentals from Netfix and now Blockbuster.

boulder_bum · 02-20-2008, 11:08 PM

I'm actually cancelling my Netflix subscription, myself!

To get a new release I can either login every few weeks to Netflix, add a movie to my queue, then get it a week to a month later, or sit my butt on a couch, press a button and start watching.

That and Netflix doesn't help get YouTube and purchased movies/TV shows onto your TV.

02-20-2008, 02:24 PM	#1
NoMoShocks Electrical Engineer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Camas, WA Posts: 1,219 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 2 Thanked 49 Times in 31 Posts Friends: 1	Don't run out and replace that HD-DVD with Blu-Ray player before reading up on XStreamHD! My friend and I were talking yesterday about how both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are only short term solutions with network delivery of content just around the corner. Then, this morning, I stumbled across this which sound's way cool if the PPV price is reasonable. I have to admit, I want one now! What do you think Brian? XStream HD - Wireless Ventures

02-20-2008, 03:39 PM	#2
priusenvy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Silicon Valley, CA Posts: 1,758 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	Re: Don't run out and replace that HD-DVD with Blu-Ray player before reading up on XStreamHD! If you're interested in those kind of devices, you should be aware of the Vudu, which is already shipping and has been in user's hands for around five months now. VUDU - Home Vudu - Page 6 - AVS Forum

02-20-2008, 06:43 PM	#3
boulder_bum Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Castle Rock, CO Posts: 1,293 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 1 Thanked 23 Times in 6 Posts Friends: 5	Re: Don't run out and replace that HD-DVD with Blu-Ray player before reading up on XStreamHD! That's what I was going to say. Check out Vudu and Apple TV. I'm sure Tivo w/Amazon Unbox will go HD eventually, too.

02-20-2008, 06:49 PM	#4
NoMoShocks Electrical Engineer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Camas, WA Posts: 1,219 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 2 Thanked 49 Times in 31 Posts Friends: 1	Re: Don't run out and replace that HD-DVD with Blu-Ray player before reading up on XStreamHD! Interresting. The two of you may have forced me to stop by Magnollia HiFi on the way home, but I think I will try to be cautious so I don't repeat my Toshiba HD-DVD error again.

02-20-2008, 06:54 PM	#5
morpheusx Professor Chaos Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 1,505 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 7 Thanked 38 Times in 24 Posts Friends: 3	Re: Don't run out and replace that HD-DVD with Blu-Ray player before reading up on XStreamHD! You can already download a ton of movies and TV shows in both HD and Standard Def on the Xbox 360 with xbox live. Xbox.com \| Movies & TV Shows - Movies and TV on your Xbox

02-20-2008, 09:19 PM	#8
boulder_bum Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Castle Rock, CO Posts: 1,293 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 1 Thanked 23 Times in 6 Posts Friends: 5	Re: Don't run out and replace that HD-DVD with Blu-Ray player before reading up on XStreamHD! If you're going to buy something soon, I'm personally recommend the Apple TV. You can get HD (720p) rentals that you can start watching in about a minute or two, you can watch videos from YouTube (cooler than you'd think), stream your photos from Flickr, listen to your music from your iTunes library and take advantage of Apple's large selection of TV shows, movies and music videos in their iTunes store: Apple - Apple TV - Guided Tour Oh, and it's a WiFi device (no cable to run) and I believe Apple is the ONLY vendor who has deals with every major movie studio. Plus, a lot of the content you play on your Apple TV, you can take with you in an iPod! Here's a good comparison of Apple TV/Vudu, though. vodyo » Blog Archive » Side by Side: Apple TV and Vudu Compared __________________ Help With African Business Startups and Scholarships at www.AfricanChristianCharities.org.

02-20-2008, 10:19 PM	#9
NoMoShocks Electrical Engineer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Camas, WA Posts: 1,219 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 2 Thanked 49 Times in 31 Posts Friends: 1	Re: Don't run out and replace that HD-DVD with Blu-Ray player before reading up on XStreamHD! Thanks for sharing about Apple TV. I am glad there are several companies working on this, because the Apple TV HD new release movie rental price of $4.99 seems a little steep for now. I am too spoiled by unlimited rentals from Netfix and now Blockbuster.

02-20-2008, 11:08 PM	#10
boulder_bum Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Castle Rock, CO Posts: 1,293 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 1 Thanked 23 Times in 6 Posts Friends: 5	Re: Don't run out and replace that HD-DVD with Blu-Ray player before reading up on XStreamHD! I'm actually cancelling my Netflix subscription, myself! To get a new release I can either login every few weeks to Netflix, add a movie to my queue, then get it a week to a month later, or sit my butt on a couch, press a button and start watching. That and Netflix doesn't help get YouTube and purchased movies/TV shows onto your TV.