Unbox Video quality

Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 by MegaZone

The Amazon Unbox Blog has a new entry which details the video encoding settings for their PC, TiVo, and portable device downloads.

TiVo “Best Quality” File

  • Video Encoding Type: 2-pass bitrate VBR
  • Video Codec: MPEG-2
  • Video Bitrate: 2800 kbps avg, 6600 kbps peak
  • Video Frame Size: 640×480 – all 16×9 content is letterboxed
  • Video Frame Rate: 23.98, 29.97 (same as source)
  • Video Keyframe Interval: 4 seconds
  • Audio Encoding Type: 2-pass bitrate VBR
  • Audio Codec: MPEG-2 Layer 3
  • Audio Bitrate: 192 kbps avg, 1000 kbps peak
  • Audio Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz (same as source)
Posted in Amazon Unbox, TiVo | Leave a comment

From TiVo, better data on ad skipping

Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 by MegaZone

TiVo may have the answer. The DVR maker is offering buyers data on viewing on some of its digital video recorders that would reveal just how much ad-skipping does take place. But the information is new, and it could take buyers many months to analyze. That means it probably won’t become a tool for negotiations until next year’s upfront.

An article on how DVRs impact TV ratings, and how TiVo’s Stop||Watch service can provide the most detailed information on actual viewing patterns.

Posted in TiVo | Leave a comment

GCi(TM) to Enable Premium Digital Content and Services to Sling Media’s Slingbox Customers

Posted on Monday, April 23, 2007 by MegaZone

Some Sling News…
Continue reading →

Posted in Press Release, Sling Media | Leave a comment

Interpublic Subscribes to TiVo Stop||Watch(TM) Ratings Service

Posted on Monday, April 23, 2007 by MegaZone

TiVo Inc. (Nasdaq: TIVO), the creator and a leader in advertising solutions and television services for digital video recorders (DVRs), today announced that the Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE: IPG), one of the world’s leading organizations of advertising agencies and marketing services companies, has purchased a corporate subscription to the TiVo Stop||Watch ratings service. The subscription, which will be funded through the Interpublic Emerging Media Lab and participating media agencies, allows for the company’s media specialist agencies, including MAGNA Global, Initiative and Universal McCann, to have full access to the TiVo Stop||Watch ratings service and research.

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Blu-ray besting its high-def DVD rival

Posted on Monday, April 23, 2007 by MegaZone

Of the high-definition discs consumers bought in the first quarter, 70 percent were Blu-ray Disc and 30 percent were HD DVD, according to sales figures provided by trade publication Home Media Magazine.

Blu-ray is picking up steam with the PS3 on the market! I knew that would happen, and player costs will continue dropping too. HD DVD still has the standalone player cost advantage, but the gap is steadily closing and as more systems come on the market, economies of scale and competition will drive BD costs down faster.

Posted in Blu-ray/HD DVD | Leave a comment