Video Flashcards
The three streaming formats available right now are?
The difference between the different formats is the
number of **** that comprise the video image.
Standard Definition (SD)
High Definition (HD) and
Ultra High Definition (UHD).
pixels
Standard Definition or SD quality is the cheapest format you can rent or buy.
It is also known as DVD quality since DVD movies also max out at this resolution: ***
858 x 480 (480p)
When is SD quality enough?
On smaller screens like those old tube TVs or even smartphones, SD quality may be good enough.
Some people say that the resolution
differences between SD and HD are not perceivable on small screens so you’re just wasting the extra pixels pretty much.
If you’re streaming off Netflix or Amazon Video on mobile, SD quality is also more efficient, since it takes less bandwidth.
In fact, most carriers are already throttling streaming videos to SD to relieve their networks of congestion.
What’s the spec for HD and Full HD quality?
720p and 1080p videos fall under HD quality.
720p (1280 x 720 pixels) is simply known as HD (or sometimes semi-HD)
(720 = climbing NASA, astronauts climbing the vertical side of a screen)
1080p (1920 x
1080 pixels) is known as Full HD.
Resolution when referred to with one number, references which edge of the screen, vertical or the long horizontal edge?
The vertical.
so 720p is 1280 horizontal with 720 vertical pixels.
If you’re watching at home on a TV that’s at least ** inches and at least 720p compatible, then paying the extra cost to get the HD version of a movie is definitely worth it.
You’ll get a significant bump in quality and level of detail that’s hard not to miss.
32 inches
Also, the bigger the
TV and the closer your viewing position is, the more discernable the differences are, even when comparing 720p and 1080p resolution videos.
Another important thing to consider is that when you buy HD quality movies from streaming sites including Vudu, Amazon, Google Play, Fandango or iTunes, the SD quality version is also included in your
purchase.
This means what?
if you’re planning on watching your movie
purchase later on the road on mobile, you can view the SD version instead to save bandwidth.
Why is it important to differentiate between renting vs buying a streaming movie?
If you’re renting, you have a specific situation in mind, i.e. either watching on a mobile device or larger TV.
So if watching on mobile, just rent mobile.
However, if you are buying however, even if you are watching on mobile now, you may want to watch on a large TV in the future.
Because streaming site like Amazon offer both when buying HD, you can then watch the most suitable format based on your device size and available bandwidth.
Now, here’s the latest, greatest and biggest format, 4K or * ( 3860 x
*** pixels) video.
UHD
2160 - easy to remember, is just double 1080, the full HD spec.
It used to be a real luxury to get a 4K TV and the
matching content to go with it. But slowly but surely, with prices for 4K TV sets dropping and streaming services like Netflix, Vudu and Amazon offering more 4K content, mainstream adoption is inevitable.
4 cons of 4K?
- They cost more than HD ($20-30)
- 4K videos are extremely large and take up lots of
bandwidth. Make sure that your internet connection has the recommended speed (and data cap) for handling 4K content. - You need 4k TV sets to render this highest quality video.
- To date, early adopters have had to buy 4k version of their fav movies even though they already have the HD version. This is changing however, with Apple leading the way and offering a free upgrade from your HD version to 4k.
Is UHD the same as 4k?
For the display market, UHD means 3840x2160 (exactly four times HD), and 4K is often used interchangeably to refer to that same resolution.
For the digital cinema market, however, 4K means 4096x2160, or 256 pixels wider than UHD.
