Blu-Ray is out, and so far, it does not compare to HD DVD
Today is the official launch date for Blu Ray players from Samsung, and a host of movies to go along with it.
Like HD DVD it actually broke street date from various retailers and has been in enthusiasts homes for a little over a week now.
From reports on various forums I have read, it was simply not ready for launch.
I am going to skip right to the meat of the contention. Compared to HD DVD, Blu-Ray just isn't ready for prime time. Currently all BR discs are currently encoded with a less efficient codec called MPEG-2. While it is scalable beyond current DVD encoding and can deliver a great high definition picture, it simply uses a lot more space than the VC-1 codec that the player is capable of using. This is resulting in movies that have artifacts and macroblocking that is especially more visible in fast motion action scense. Think speeding cars on a street and building backgrounds whipping by. When viewed in a similar instance on HD DVD, there is simply nothing but an excellent picture. Take Serenity close to the beginning of the movie with the Reavers chase scene, that background with mountains and trees, are a sight to behold. On DVD and broadcast HD, it would be jumbled blocky pixelated mess.
The other gripe is about one of my favorite Sci-Fi movies, The Fifth Element. Reports are that the movie was mastered from a damaged print, where dirt and scratches are highly visible in the image and that overall, it really doesn't offer more than the Superbit version on standard DVD.
How could Sony launch this format in its current incarnation? I would rather wait for a product a bit more and be released correctly, than rushed out of the gate because it is tired of playing catch up. If it is truely superior, then care for it and manage it to the best possible conclusion. I really don't see what is so difficult about that. I am sure that picture quality will eventually improve, but if I was a first gen BR supporter, I would be right miffed at the current state of things.
Like HD DVD it actually broke street date from various retailers and has been in enthusiasts homes for a little over a week now.
From reports on various forums I have read, it was simply not ready for launch.
I am going to skip right to the meat of the contention. Compared to HD DVD, Blu-Ray just isn't ready for prime time. Currently all BR discs are currently encoded with a less efficient codec called MPEG-2. While it is scalable beyond current DVD encoding and can deliver a great high definition picture, it simply uses a lot more space than the VC-1 codec that the player is capable of using. This is resulting in movies that have artifacts and macroblocking that is especially more visible in fast motion action scense. Think speeding cars on a street and building backgrounds whipping by. When viewed in a similar instance on HD DVD, there is simply nothing but an excellent picture. Take Serenity close to the beginning of the movie with the Reavers chase scene, that background with mountains and trees, are a sight to behold. On DVD and broadcast HD, it would be jumbled blocky pixelated mess.
The other gripe is about one of my favorite Sci-Fi movies, The Fifth Element. Reports are that the movie was mastered from a damaged print, where dirt and scratches are highly visible in the image and that overall, it really doesn't offer more than the Superbit version on standard DVD.
How could Sony launch this format in its current incarnation? I would rather wait for a product a bit more and be released correctly, than rushed out of the gate because it is tired of playing catch up. If it is truely superior, then care for it and manage it to the best possible conclusion. I really don't see what is so difficult about that. I am sure that picture quality will eventually improve, but if I was a first gen BR supporter, I would be right miffed at the current state of things.
