Mis-information from Telecom and return of TiVo

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DS9

325 posts

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#271714 10-Nov-2009 17:13

Hi,
The movies were 576i SD and upscaled to 720p on a LCD/Plasma maybe? Seems more likely to me since freitasm has stated many times already in a few topics all downloaded content is SD.

I aim to misbehave.

Oblivian

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#271715 10-Nov-2009 17:14

I guess only Caspa could answer that one. Telecom/TvioNZ may not feel the network is up to being able to cache the higher bitrate stuff until vDSL is about at this time so only have the low bitrate/res versions to offer.

/edit beaten! As above, the tivo is possibly doing upscaling like most freeview boxes to stop 720+ panels complaining or looking rubbish.

As for SkyTV I'm not entirely sure on how they work. Someone else will have the data but they tend to have varying outputs depending on the channel popularity. For all we know, the sky boxes may simply be doing upscaling but the option is disabled for premium channels (Ive not seen HD sky to see if the TV mode changes when swapping channels) until you pay them more dosh.

As I understand it However freeviewHD works like this: (of course this changes if the boxes themselves to any re-scale output)

C4,TVNZ6, 7, prime :
576i stream (or less). Footage format upscale from 480, 1:1 576

TVNZ 1, TVNZ 2 :
720p stream. Footage upscaled to 720. Some footage (HD labelled programs) are in 720p format so direct 1:1 format showing.

TV3
1080i stream.
All Footage upscaled to 1080i output, some shows (labelled HD) purchased in 720/1080 and appear clearer as less stream fiddling.

sbiddle

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Biddle Corp

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#271719 10-Nov-2009 17:22

frednz:
In any event, is there really a huge visual difference in the quality between 576p and 720p? Even 720p would be below the 1080i that I think Sky achieves with it's HD movies?

Regards
Fred

576p isnt really a standard. 620p is. If you meant the difference beeen 576i and 720p the answer is that the difference is very noticeable.

As for 1080i you have to remember that it's an interlaced format whereas 720p is a progressive scan format. For the average viewer the difference is not noticeable, and infact many ways 720p is a superior format as it's already in a progressive scan format and doesn't need to be de-interlaced by your flat screen TV (which has a progressive scan panel) to view it.

dacraka

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#271720 10-Nov-2009 17:23

kiwipeter: I asked the guy face-to-face (at the Telecom store!) "are CASPA movies in HD?" He replied "yes they are!"

Maybe you could go back to the store quoting this and get a refund (if you wanted a refund).

mike872c

28 posts

Geek

#274519 19-Nov-2009 16:18

Of course there's a noticeable difference between 576p and 720p. Take a look at the horizontal definitions. They are 720 x 576 and 1280 x 720. The difference is one is 4:3 format, the other 16:9, and that is probably the defining difference - wide screen as against SD (4:3). Bear in mind that much 576 content has been reconstituted anyway to appear 16:9, but it's still SD

ilovemusic

1439 posts

Uber Geek

#274535 19-Nov-2009 16:55

Even Stevie Wonder would see the difference between 576i/p and 720p...

I was told by a pretty, young thing at a Telecom store that CASPA movies would be HD if they had access to an HD version.

Clearly she was using her feminine wiles to entice a sale...

sbiddle

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#274548 19-Nov-2009 17:40

mike872c: Of course there's a noticeable difference between 576p and 720p. Take a look at the horizontal definitions. They are 720 x 576 and 1280 x 720. The difference is one is 4:3 format, the other 16:9, and that is probably the defining difference - wide screen as against SD (4:3). Bear in mind that much 576 content has been reconstituted anyway to appear 16:9, but it's still SD

720x576 isn't only 4:3 it's can also be 16:9 - it depends whether the video is anamorphic or not.

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DS9

325 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#274671 20-Nov-2009 09:50

sbiddle:
mike872c: Of course there's a noticeable difference between 576p and 720p. Take a look at the horizontal definitions. They are 720 x 576 and 1280 x 720. The difference is one is 4:3 format, the other 16:9, and that is probably the defining difference - wide screen as against SD (4:3). Bear in mind that much 576 content has been reconstituted anyway to appear 16:9, but it's still SD

720x576 isn't only 4:3 it's can also be 16:9 - it depends whether the video is anamorphic or not.

I think that was his point that SD is only 4:3 and broadcasted 4:3, it is on the TV that turns the picture into 16:9. The point I believe mike872c is making is the amount of pixels is far great between 576i and 720p

Thanks

I aim to misbehave.

preeve

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#274678 20-Nov-2009 10:05

Sounds like a case of dealing with a Telecom shop monkey (perhaps the same one that told me the Touch Pro 2 was discontinued???!!!!)

Love my Tivo as it means I don't get berated by the other half for failing to stick a tape in the VCR and record some dire episode of AMERICAS NEXT TOP CHEF SAMOA

Now that I have figued out how to stop it helpfully recording (Tivo Suggestions) Chinese TV it is even better.

Have not explored CASPA but have not seen anything I would be desperate to download anyway.

No doubt Telecom monkey has mislead you in my opinion.

rossmnz

507 posts

Ultimate Geek

#274687 20-Nov-2009 10:46

Or the same one that said whatever net you had with telecom the speed would not change??

Oh wait thats the blurb!!

Clearly Telecom are promising things their infrastructure cannot handle. This hasnt changed i see.

The force is strong with this one!

kiwipeter

211 posts

Master Geek

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#274692 20-Nov-2009 10:54

But the speed doesn't change! That is a true statement of fact.

Telecom do not throttle the CASPA services so you get full speed regardless no matter what plan you are on! This has been mentioned many times and verified by TiVo and Telecom.

For example, if you are on a monthly 3GB plan and exceed this, you will drop to dial-up speeds for the remainder of that billing cycle. CASPA, on the other hand, is not affected by this and you will still get full speed regardless.

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