[mythtv-users] OT: Why 1080p?

[Steven Adeff]

On 11/7/06, Michael T. Dean <mtdean at thirdcontact.com> wrote:
> On 11/07/2006 01:48 PM, Ed Gatzke wrote:
> >
> >  On 11/7/06, Rich West <Rich.West at wesmo.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > 1080p is not in the spec for broadcasts.  It was never considered,
> > > and word is that you'll never see 1080p over regular broadcasts.
> > > The highest you will get via broadcast would be 1080i.
> >
> >
> >  I have heard 1080p is in the broadcast spec, but I can't find a link
> >  to support this.  Nobody currently broadcasts 1080p
>
>
> Yep--and it's been in the spec since the ATSC spec was finalized (i.e.
> as long as we've had HDTV).
> http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ISSUES/what_is_ATSC.html
>
> That's why saying "1080i" or "1080p" or "720p" is just plain wrong when
> discussing video--it doesn't fully define the spec (while it's fine for
> discussing resolution of an X display or a TV).  Instead, you should
> say, "1080i60" or "1080 60i".  Similarly, there's "1080p30" ("1080
> 30p"), "1080p24" ("1080 24p"), and 720p comes in 60, 30, /and/ 24 fields
> per second varieties.  (For progressive formats the number of fields per
> second equals the number of frames per second.  For interlaced formats,
> the number of fields per second is twice the number of frames per second.)
>
> In the US (at least at this time), /all/ broadcast networks have decided
> to use only /one/ format for /all/ content (all of them 60
> fields/second).  Therefore, ABC and Fox are using 720p60 and PBS, NBC,
> CBS are all using 1080i60.
>
> With CW and MyTV, the situation is more complex...  Previously, WB used
> /only/ 1080i60 and some UPN stations used /only/ 720p60 and some UPN
> stations used /only/ 1080i60 (I think the CBS-owned UPN's were 1080i60
> and the FOX-owned ones were 720p60).  When CBS bought up the WB, in some
> markets where both WB and UPN affiliates existed, the WB affiliate
> became the CW affiliate, but in other markets, the UPN affiliate became
> the CW affiliate.  (And, the one that didn't become the CW affiliate
> either became a MyTV affiliate or went "independent".)  I haven't heard
> whether all CW affiliates are currently using 1080i60, but most
> (possibly all) are, and all are going to be.  I have no idea about MyTV.
>
> Therefore, when people talk about "1080i", they generally mean "1080i60"
> and when they talk about "720p", they generally mean "720p60"--solely
> because those are the formats that are currently in use in the US.
> However, just because people haven't seen any of the other 16 formats
> available in the ATSC specification, that doesn't mean they're not
> there...  :)  (OK, so some of the 480 formats actually exist in the
> wild, but you get the point.)
>
>
> > > HD-DVD supports up to 1080i, and Blueray supports up to 1080p.
> > >
> > > If you use your Myth system for anything else (viewing Blueray
> > > DVDs, playing games, etc), you will want the best resolution your
> > > set can offer. :)
>
>
> Good luck getting your system to read a BD-ROM or an HD-DVD--every
> occurrence of both are tagged "defectivebydesign" (= DRM-encumbered) by
> the EFF on any web storefront that allowed tagging:
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-HD-A1-DVD-Upconverting-Player/dp/B000E1PTGK/sr=8-1/qid=1162928919/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-0916098-6255835?ie=UTF8&s=electronics
> http://www.amazon.com/Sony-BDP-S1-Blu-ray-Disc-Player/dp/B000DZS0G8/ref=tag_sr_title/103-0916098-6255835
>
> Along with /much/ more:
>
> http://www.amazon.com/gp/tagging/glance/defectivebydesign/ref=tag_dp_ct/103-0916098-6255835
>
>
> > > However, as you can guess.. a lot of the noise about 1080p is
> > > solely about numbers ("If my TV can push 1080p, then I am going to
> > > display it at that rate!" and "1080p is a lot more than 720p!")
> > > more so than about what is actually being displayed.
>
>
> But, in reality, to properly display 1080i on a fixed-pixel display, you
> /must/ have 1080p pixels.  Otherwise, the picture would jump up and down.
>
>
> >  And game consoles are coming out with 1080p games.  I think the PS3
> >  is doing this at least.  I have run HL2 on 2650x1900 (greater than
> >  1080p) and high resolution is very nice indeed...
>
>
> I heard MS just pushed out an update providing 1080i for the XB360.

1080p, it always did 1080i...
http://www.betanews.com/article/Xbox_360_to_Get_1080p_Upgrade/1162245377
http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/xbox-360-fall-update-details-revealed-1080p-auto-download-wmv/
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/personality/elle/20061030-update.htm

-- 
Steve
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