VUDU has been trialing higher quality HD downloads for a little while, but now they’re officially available for all users. The so-called HDX downloads are 1080p24 downloads which take longer to download but offer superior image quality compared to their usual ‘instant on’ highly compressed downloads. I’ve said before that I’d rather have quality over speed for most of my movie viewing, and I’d take Blu-ray over HD downloads be cause the services out there over-compress the content. As I said, all 1080p content is not the same.

So it is nice to see VUDU giving users the option to wait a little longer and get higher quality content instead of being limited to fast but comparatively poor quality playback. However, they don’t say just what the quality level is. They talk resolution, but, as I’ve said, resolution is just part of the puzzle. All 1080p24 content is, by definition, the same resolution. But if one is 40Mbps and the other is 4Mbps, all else being equal (same codec, etc), one is going to be much higher in quality. I really would like to know what the HDX bitrate is. Conventional non-HDX HD content from VUDU requires 4Mbps, I’m presuming HDX is higher, but how much?

Some press is calling it Blu-ray quality, but that’s bunk. Even without knowing the bitrate being used I’m positive it doesn’t match Blu-ray, and I’m just as positive it doesn’t use lossless audio like Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD-MA. The website says:

HDX technology delivers the best available surround sound quality for Internet delivered movies with immersive, high resolution sound at a 40% higher bit-rate than standard surround sound DVD’s.

‘Standard surround sound DVDs’ use Dolbly Digital at 448Kbps, sounds like they’re using Dolby Digital at 640Kbps.

HDX is definitely a step in the right directly, IMHO, but don’t believe it is Blu-ray quality.

EDIT: Found this from David Pogue at The New York Times:

To see why HDX looks so good — especially on big screens — check its data rate, a measure of how much information is used to describe each frame of the video. It averages around 9 megabits a second, but spikes to 20 during action scenes. Compare that with Vudu standard definition: (2.2 megabits a second), Vudu and Apple TV high definition (4), regular DVD (8) or Blu-ray DVD (40). In other words, HDX quality is somewhere between DVD and Blu-ray. The audio offers a 40 percent improvement, too.

That is a marked improvement over their normal HD streams, but yes, still not Blu-ray quality. It does make the product more appealing in my eyes though, and certainly puts VUDU in the lead as far as HD download services go. I’m not sure if he’s comparing just video bit rates or what - DVD’s full video rate is ~10Mbps, but that’s MPEG-2 so apples and oranges to the others which are H.264. Blu-ray is 40Mbps max for video (not that it is all used normally), 54Mbps total bit rate.

HDX raises my personal interest in VUDU, though with a TiVo Series3, PlayStation3, and SlingCatcher already it isn’t high enough yet to get me to put another box under my TV.

I’ve said it before, and I will probably say it again, all 1080p content is not the same. There is more to picture quality than lines of resolution or pixel count, bit rate is equally important, if not more so. With DirecTV, DISH Network, VUDU, and others touting their 1080p content they’re often comparing it to the gold standard in home video - Blu-ray Disc. As DISH Network did just the other day: “Blu-Ray Disc quality 1080p resolution”. And that doesn’t get into the audio, which doesn’t come close to the lossless audio available on many Blu-ray titles. Well, it looks like the Blu-ray Disc Association has finally had enough, according to David Mercer at StrategyAnalytics:

These claims have clearly struck a sensitive nerve within the Blu-ray community, which, given their strategy as outlined above, is perhaps not surprising. Today the BDA has given me the following statement:

“A number of companies have recently launched advertising campaigns claiming their products deliver high definition picture and sound “equal” to that delivered by Blu-ray Disc. These comparisons are irresponsible and are misleading to consumers. Up conversion and satellite broadcast cannot provide a true Blu-ray high definition experience, as neither is technically capable of producing the quality delivered by Blu-ray players and Blu-ray discs. To that end, the Blu-ray Disc Association is exploring these claims further and will take appropriate action, as necessary, to prevent consumers seeking the ultimate in high-definition home entertainment from being misled.”

I’m happy to see this. Blu-ray has struggled to educate consumers about higher quality home cinema, and now that it is started to gain recognition and traction in the market other vendors are trying to ride their coattails by tricking consumers into thinking they offer the same quality experience just because they’re also ‘1080p’.

Picked up from EngadgetHD.

I’ve been really busy lately, so I didn’t cover the announcement a week ago that VUDU is bringing ‘adult entertainment’ to their box via a partnership with AVN (Adult Video News). That could boost interest in VUDU’s box, and could provide some competition for the adult-only FyreTV.

Now they’re following up on that with a deal they’re calling ‘99 for 99′. A rotating selection of 99 titles available to rent for just $.99 each. That blows away Amazon’s weekend sales, which generally only have an handful of titles for $.99, when they have any for that little. EngadgetHD has VUDU’s press release.

They may not be ebony and ivory, but as I’ve said in the past, Blu-ray and video downloads can live together in perfect harmony. When I see people saying things like ‘Blu-ray is DOA’ because downloads will kill it, I tend to either snicker or roll my eyes, or both. Because, while I agree that someday downloads will probably kill off physical media, that day is years away. Many years. People point to music download services, like iTunes, as an example - and I’ll point out that the vast majority of music is still sold on physical media, and downloads have a long way to go before they kill CD. (I buy all of my music via download, CD is a last resort.) And video downloads are many times the size of music downloads.

With video downloads it is always a compromise between speed and quality. For instant gratification you have streaming video, but that’s the lowest quality. Broadband speed limitations restrict the maximum possible streaming bitrates. Downloads can offer higher bitrates, but still require fat pipes to be feasible, and, of course, storage. But even the best download services don’t come close to matching the picture quality of Blu-ray, because they can’t match the bitrates. And don’t even get into bonus features, lossless audio (Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD-MA), multiple audio and subtitle tracks, etc. With most commercial Blu-ray titles using between 30GB or more of disc capacity, we’re not going to be downloading content at that quality in the near future.

So I was a little gratified to see this article in CE Pro, entitled Blu-ray and Downloads: Why Both Are Worth Offering. CE Pro is an industry magazine with a primary audience of consumer electronics professionals, the kind of folks who install custom systems in high end homes. The article focuses on Blu-ray for physical media and VUDU for downloads, but Amazon Unbox on TiVo, iTunes on Apple TV, Xbox 360, PlayStation3, NetFlix, etc, are all possible broadband video options for the consumer. Downloads aren’t about to replace discs for those who prefer a quality viewing experience, but downloads offer the kind of instant gratification that discs can’t match. I think having both available is the best approach, the best of both worlds.

DVRupgrade is giving away a VUDU box at TiVoCommunity. Anyone can enter, see the details in DVRupgrade’s latest newsletter and at TiVoCommunity. Any one can enter, but you must do so by April 13, 2008.

This issue of Home Media Magazine has an article, ‘Battle of the Boxes‘, which compares the four main options for watching broadband downloaded video on your TV: TiVo, Apple TV, VUDU, and Xbox 360. Overall the article is kind of down on the download services in general:

“Not a consumer interviewed wants to buy another set-top box,” said Richard Doherty, research director for research firm The Envisioneering Group.

I certainly can’t argue with that, I’m loathe to add another STB to my stack. And I’ve said so repeatedly. I think that gives TiVo and the Xbox 360 an edge - people buy them for other functions (DVR & gaming, respectively), and the downloads are kind of a bonus. And when it comes to HD, I have to agree with this as well:

Richard Bullwinkle, chief evangelist for Macrovision, predicts a layering effect. Macrovision has looked at TiVo, Xbox 360, Vudu and Apple TV.

“The best experience on a large TV is Blu-ray,” he said. “None of the download boxes gives you the same experience.”

But I thought what they said about TiVo in particular was unfair.

But download times are long, nothing is available in high-def, and the 24-hour rental period once the movie has started can be problematic.

The download times are roughly comparable to other services - but it, of course, will vary a lot. The TiVo Series3 and TiVo HD have had progressive download since 9.2 - which means they can start playback once enough of a buffer has built up, with no need to wait until it is all downloaded. I’d expect the Series2 to get the same in the next update. (They’re still on 9.1.) And the article makes the 24-hour window sound like a problem unique to TiVo when it is common to all of the download rental services. They don’t mention it when talking about the three other products, so readers who don’t know what will think this is a TiVo limitation. But there is more:

However, Bullwinkle said, TiVo offers the worst quality of any of the movie downloading options he’s tried, and the number of TiVo owners who download movies is small.

Ouch. That especially stings given who it is coming from. Why? For those who don’t know, once upon a time Richard Bullwinkle was known online as TiVolutionary. He was one of the early TiVo employees and their primary online evangelist on forums like TiVoCommunity.com. Back in May of 2002 he left TiVo and went to work for ReplayTV. And now he’s with Macrovision.

The quality issue is largely subjective, so I’ll leave that as may be, but how does he know how many users download movies? I don’t believe TiVo or Amazon release those numbers. Did they do an independent survey of TiVo owners? Where is the data to back up the claim?

But TiVo isn’t the only one to get a little heat in the article. All four products get what I consider to be fairly poor reviews, highlighting their shortcomings. But read the article for yourself.

TiVo also got another mention in this issue, with a small article on the roll-out of TiVo Desktop 2.6. (And I apologize for not having my review of said up yet, the behind-the-scenes work on the renaming took a lot more time than I expected.)

EngadgetHD has reviewed VUDU, including their support for HD content. And they’re conclusions echo what I’ve said in the past:

We wanted the VUDU to deliver in such a way that HD freaks could really grab hold if those excruciatingly long wait times encountered with Netflix / Blockbuster were pushing them to find an alternative. Unfortunately, we still can’t wholeheartedly recommend the VUDU to those who appreciate high-definition. To be honest, the device still seems grossly overpriced when you consider that the aforementioned rental-by-mail options can be turned on and off on a whim, provide flicks that don’t vanish 24 hours after you hit play for the first time, and have HD libraries that far exceed that found on the VUDU. The primary selling point of this device is its ability to provide absolute instant gratification, but with HD VOD quickly expanding into more markets across the nation — not to mention the smattering of local B&M video stores surrounding most everyone — we’re still left scratching our heads trying to uncover exactly what niche this thing is aiming for.

At the end of the day, our time with the VUDU could be described as generally enjoyable. We were pleased with the interface, thrilled with the ease of use and particularly wowed by the audio quality. Still, those flashes of greatness can’t overcome the subpar HD video quality, high initial cost of ownership and unfortunate rental restrictions. Is the VUDU a unique and nifty gizmo for acquiring HD movies? Unquestionably so. Is it something that’s ready to replace your satisfactory relationship with HD VOD, Netflix / Blockbuster or HD DVD / Blu-ray? Not just yet.

VUDU is expensive for a single-purpose device, especially when video downloads are appearing as features on other devices - Amazon Unbox on TiVo, downloads on Xbox, AppleTV, etc. Sony is talking about adding downloads to the PS3. Netflix is talking about bringing streaming to more platforms, including the 360 and PS3.

And the system they use, caching a small amount of video for instant starts and relying on downloads for the rest, limits their quality. VUDU claims they can support HD downloads with a minimum of 4Mbps. But there is no way they can even come close to Blu-ray (or HD DVD) with bitrates that low. VUDU claims they’re ‘broadcast quality’, but even matching broadcast with bitrates that low would be tough. (Even given their codec advantage - broadcast is MPEG-2, VUDU is MPEG-4/H.264.) And EngadgetHD’s review reflects this.

A little birdy just sent me a press release that VUDU has scheduled to hit in the morning. They will be cutting the MSRP on their entry-level box from $399 to $295 effective January 24th. Certainly a move in the right direction, but still too expensive for what it provides in my opinion. Get it down to $199 and it gets interesting, $99 and it is an easy sale. But I still don’t like the multiplying set top boxes. I wish it did more. If it worked as a media center extender, supporting other content, it would be a much better value.

In what I think it is nice gesture, VUDU will offer a $100 movie credit to anyone who has purchased a VUDU box in the last 30 days, provided they can supply proof of purchase. Shades of the iPhone price drop, though this credit should certainly be more useful to VUDU owners than Apple’s credit was to iPhone owners. They also restate that the VUDU XL, announced at CES, will ship by the end of February.

The press release:
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Not buying the VUDU because the $399 price is too expensive for a box that only allows you to pay more to download content? Well then, you’re even less likely to buy the VUDU XL. The ‘XL’ quadruples the capacity from 250GB to 1TB, but it also bumps the price 2.5x to $999. It will be available in February. Remember that at this time you cannot re-download purchased movies from VUDU, as you can with other services like Amazon Unbox. All your eggs are in one basket, the XL is a bigger, more expensive basket.

I still say download services like this should be incorporated into other devices - as Unbox is on TiVo and Netflix is doing with LG - or, failing that, the hardware needs to be dirt cheap. How about a $99 VUDU box with minimal internal storage and the ability to delete and re-download purchases, and support for external drives to allow people to bring their own storage. $99 would get the box into more homes, and those who really use it will add-on storage.

On the up-side, VUDU is also adding 70 more HD films in January. Instant HD playback requires a broadband connection of 4Mbps or greater. That would make me nervous - 4Mbps is extremely low for HD streams, even using 720p and H.264 or VC-1. You really have to over-compress HD content to squeeze it into 4Mbps.

Via EngadgetHD.

First it was Panasonic, then it was Sony, and now VUDU is using an HDTV bundle promotion to promote their products. Purchase a 42″ or larger 1080p Sharp AQUOS LCD HDTV through VUDU’s website by January 5, 2008 and receive a free VUDU box ($399 MSRP) and a $50 movie credit. They’re offering 42″, 46″, 52″ and 65″ models, with prices ranging from $1,799.00 (42″) to $7,999.00 (65″).

They dropped a press release about the promotion:
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