No HD content ... at all?

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spazz

266 posts

Ultimate Geek

#8745 27-Jul-2006 00:43

Okay so I splurged on a new 32-inch Bravia (V-Series) last week, knowing full well that no one was really offering HDTV in NZ yet.

But over the last few days I can't help but puzzle over the fact that I can't find ANYTHING even mildly HD-like to impress my friends with. I even tried turning running XP Media Centre and streaming mpeg files with "HDTV" in the filename to my Xbox 360 but I've come to the conclusion that these files are not actually HD at all, but captured from an HD source (correct?). Surely there's someone in this technologically-beleaguered wee country that runs some sort of HD content? Imported HD DVDs perhaps? Is this cost-effective? Is there a way to view HD content via my X360 that I'm missing? It just seems a pity to waste such a gorgeous screen on standard def programming...

http://walkingisoverrated.com

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66 posts

Master Geek

#42567 27-Jul-2006 09:25

Buy a HD DVD player and some HD DVD's from Amazon maybe?

That is really your only chance right now; I'd wait 4Q 06/1Q 07 for HD DVD and BluRay to hit NZ

ljbade

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#42569 27-Jul-2006 09:38

HD content for download:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/musicandvideo/hdvideo/contentshowcase.aspx
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/guide/hd/

(You will need decent broadband and a beefy processor/grahics card to play these files)

lchiu7

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#42570 27-Jul-2006 10:24

The only HD content I have ever been able to show on my HD set (56" JVC D-ILA) is T2 Extreme Edition which has a HD (720p) version of the movie on the DVD in WM9 format. As somebody else notes, you need a fairly grunty PC to show this. My modest Athlon XP 2000+ which is what drives my PVR barely manages it. But one caveat. This title has some pretty aggressive DRM since it requires a new licence to be acquired every 7 days and the licence process checks your IP address to make sure it's in the US.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

kiwiana

35 posts

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#42592 27-Jul-2006 16:17

you could move to Aussie, they now show approx 10% of all programs on free to air TV in HD.

freitasm

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#42598 27-Jul-2006 16:56

Frankei: Buy a HD DVD player and some HD DVD's from Amazon maybe?

That is really your only chance right now; I'd wait 4Q 06/1Q 07 for HD DVD and BluRay to hit NZ

Exactly. Amazon is already carrying some HD DVD titles. And you can get the Toshiba Qosmio laptop with HD DVD drive now (at $6,000+ price tag though)...

ljbade

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Master Geek
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#42600 27-Jul-2006 17:22

Does amazon let you take international orders for Dvds?

freitasm

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#42601 27-Jul-2006 17:35

Yes, and books... And if you purchase from this Amazon link you are helping us...

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

lchiu7

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#42665 28-Jul-2006 10:12

Agreed. I order lots of stuff from Amazon. It's not much cheaper to order DVD's from them but sometimes I want the NTSC version rather than PAL since, especially for a musical, I dislike the 4% speedup that PAL DVD's have.

But to get back on topic, there is a clip on Microsoft's site which previews a show on WMVHD about the search for Kennedy's PT109. It starts off with old film clips of Kennedy during the war and then it switches to a modern shots of the people and boat that are looking for the PT109. The jump from the old film to HD quality video is quite startling and really makes you lust for HD TV!

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

freitasm

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#42671 28-Jul-2006 10:28

I had two WMV HD DVDs here a few months back, and gave away to our readers. Really really nice stuff...

richms

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#42712 28-Jul-2006 13:45

HD movies are often up for download in 4 gig H264 format with either ac3 or aac multichannel sound on the common bittorrent trackers. Also if you go for the 700 meg TV ep's they are usually half the res of 1080i, and the 1.4 gigs are usually in 720p I have downloaded a couple of 24 episodes in 720p but my PC cant really keep up with it.

Shame that NZ fraudband means you end up bloving over half of your monthly cap getting a single movie. One would expect it to cost less then driving across town to pick it up on a round shiny piece of polycarbonate, but alas, still not the case.

Richard rich.ms

lchiu7

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#42769 28-Jul-2006 20:19

freitasm: I had two WMV HD DVDs here a few months back, and gave away to our readers. Really really nice stuff...

Inspired me to go buy another title from Amazon. There are about 100+ titles there but most of them are dreck! I went for a title about the Space Shuttle rather than some Bikini Beach party

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

lchiu7

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#43504 8-Aug-2006 11:29

Just received the HDNET video of the relaunch of the Space Shuttle. It's in wmvHD format at 720p. Played through my 56" JVC D-ILA HD TV, the PQ is brilliant. A huge jump over regular TV of course but very noticeable even over upscaled DVD. I guess it just makes not having HDTV here even more frustrating when you know what the format is capable of.

I can't imagine the cost of delivery HDTV when Freeview comes out being that much higher than regular TV. We don't need the news or local current affairs in HD. Just send the imported programming up in HD and provide an option for us who want it to purchase the more capable STB's

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

Fraktul

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#43701 10-Aug-2006 19:05

I can't imagine the cost of delivery HDTV when Freeview comes out being that much higher than regular TV. We don't need the news or local current affairs in HD. Just send the imported programming up in HD and provide an option for us who want it to purchase the more capable STB's

Higher res=more bandwidth required.
Higher res=more processor intensive decoding.
So basically more expensive hardware and more spectrum space per channel, more money in anyones language.

Fraktul

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#43702 10-Aug-2006 19:11

Oh BTW regarding XBMC you need to change the Xbox to NTSC for it to display in 720p, also 720p playback of divx etc will be pushing the Xbox cpu to its limits and you will get dropped frames. Depending on the contant your watching this may or may not be noticable.

Frankei

66 posts

Master Geek

#43809 12-Aug-2006 19:43

DVD is about 4Mb/s from memory

Mirchee TV runs 4Mb/s which gives you pretty decent quality to get something really good without going HD you need 6Mb/s ideally but such bandwidth from the studio to broadcast center isnt cheap

With Mirchee we had a 40Mbit cable to the SkyTower... Had meaning I dont do any work for those theiving curry munchers any more...
Lucky enough to have the keys to Carlaw park however ;) And with Clear installing a free unmetered fiber net connection w00t

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