http://the-ish.com/blog/?p=19 waxing technologic / philosophic Mon, 18 Aug 2008 03:56:23 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://the-ish.com/blog/?p=19&cpage=1#comment-1629 Michael Thu, 22 Feb 2007 06:48:02 +0000 http://the-ish.com/blog/?p=19#comment-1629 I haven't downloaded much from the iTunes store for video, but what I have leads me (a professional video editor) to a different aspect (**cough**) of this question. When we get "Lost" on iTunes, they give us an image that is 640 x 480 in size. When we get something in widescreen (like the "Return to Jericho" catch-up episode from CBS, which I snagged because it was free) they give us an image that is 640 x 360. You are entirely correct to point out that if a show is widescreen and they cut off the sides, then they aren't giving us the full experience. But how much they have shrunk the picture? A widescreen show that is originally 720 pixels tall is shrunk to half of its original resolution. But a 4:3 version of that show is only shrunk to two-thirds size (once the sides are amputated) so although the sides are cropped, the remaining image will have a lot more detail. When we get a 4:3 show, we pay $1.99 and get 307,200 pixels in each frame. When we pay the same amount for a 16:9 show we only get 230,400 pixels per frame. Another thing to consider is that although many TV shows are now created in HD, they are shot to "protect the 4:3", meaning that nothing crucial is put in the sides of the shot (which is understandable since the vast majority of TVs are still 4x3, but it is still a bummer for those of us who love widescreen and want to see that screen real estate get used properly). One solution that I wish iTunes would embrace: Anamorphic. But that's a subject for another time. Thanks, Michael I haven’t downloaded much from the iTunes store for video, but what I have leads me (a professional video editor) to a different aspect (**cough**) of this question. When we get “Lost” on iTunes, they give us an image that is 640 x 480 in size. When we get something in widescreen (like the “Return to Jericho” catch-up episode from CBS, which I snagged because it was free) they give us an image that is 640 x 360. You are entirely correct to point out that if a show is widescreen and they cut off the sides, then they aren’t giving us the full experience.
But how much they have shrunk the picture? A widescreen show that is originally 720 pixels tall is shrunk to half of its original resolution. But a 4:3 version of that show is only shrunk to two-thirds size (once the sides are amputated) so although the sides are cropped, the remaining image will have a lot more detail.
When we get a 4:3 show, we pay $1.99 and get 307,200 pixels in each frame. When we pay the same amount for a 16:9 show we only get 230,400 pixels per frame.
Another thing to consider is that although many TV shows are now created in HD, they are shot to “protect the 4:3″, meaning that nothing crucial is put in the sides of the shot (which is understandable since the vast majority of TVs are still 4×3, but it is still a bummer for those of us who love widescreen and want to see that screen real estate get used properly).
One solution that I wish iTunes would embrace: Anamorphic. But that’s a subject for another time. Thanks, Michael

]]> http://the-ish.com/blog/?p=19&cpage=1#comment-1625 the-ish.com/blog » iTunes versus Pirating Wed, 21 Feb 2007 20:48:37 +0000 http://the-ish.com/blog/?p=19#comment-1625 [...] I’ve purchased a number of things from the iTunes Store. Music and TV shows primarily, and I’ve been pretty happy with the ease of use and quality of my purchases… The problem i have, though, is that television shows such as Lost, which are broadcast in a 16×9 aspect ration HD, when purchased from the iTunes Store, are only 4×3. EDIT: this apparently only applies to ABC shows. this is an important distinction, and i apologize it was not originally noted. For more info, please read the followup. [...] [...] I’ve purchased a number of things from the iTunes Store. Music and TV shows primarily, and I’ve been pretty happy with the ease of use and quality of my purchases… The problem i have, though, is that television shows such as Lost, which are broadcast in a 16×9 aspect ration HD, when purchased from the iTunes Store, are only 4×3. EDIT: this apparently only applies to ABC shows. this is an important distinction, and i apologize it was not originally noted. For more info, please read the followup. [...]

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