Wikipedia defines high definition (HD) video as a video system of higher resolution than standard-definition (SD) video, most commonly at display resolutions of 1280x720 (720p) or 1920x1080 (1080i or 1080p). The difference in video quality between standard and high definition is like the difference between night and day. The images in the standard format seem much more pixelated when comparing to high definition video.
The trailers on www.apple.com/trailers demonstrate the difference between SD and HD video. Given that your computer monitor outputs at 720p or 1080p, the trailers are amazing in quality. I watched the trailers for Cloverfield and Beowulf and would definitely see them now since watching the trailers in HD. Showing movie trailers in high definition makes the movie look very appealing compared to watching it on standard definition. In my mind having movie trailers in HD promotes the movie to a level never seen before.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Multimedia review: Youtube and Google Video
Communication through video over the Internet has exploded in popularity over the last few years. This can be mainly attributed to the creators of YouTube, a website where anyone can post videos of their liking and allow the world to see them. Despite being the door openers of video communication, YouTube has now become a household name. Google rebutted with Google Video which is a knockoff of YouTube, but offers more or less the same features as YouTube. Google, the smart company they are, realized that they would not be able to compete at the level YouTube was as at so they bought them out. Now, Google Video has a search engine that can provide links to YouTube videos and many more providers as well.
Like I said before, YouTube has made itself so successful mainly due to their recognized name in society; they have become a household name. By beating out the competition, YouTube forced Google to buy them out which granted the owners with well over a billion dollars.
In terms of use, I found that they are very similar to operate and that the main difference was in the way each website looks. YouTube looks much more appealing with better design and organization. Google Video seems too blank in design and needs to be more appealing to the eye if it wants to attract more users. On the upside, since Google purchased YouTube, Google contains a larger library of videos from YouTube and other providers. With the trends YouTube has created, there is no doubt in my mind that they will own the video sharing industry for many years to come.
An example of a YouTube video is this one showing Mats Sundin's 6 point night agianst the Florida Panthers.
Like I said before, YouTube has made itself so successful mainly due to their recognized name in society; they have become a household name. By beating out the competition, YouTube forced Google to buy them out which granted the owners with well over a billion dollars.
In terms of use, I found that they are very similar to operate and that the main difference was in the way each website looks. YouTube looks much more appealing with better design and organization. Google Video seems too blank in design and needs to be more appealing to the eye if it wants to attract more users. On the upside, since Google purchased YouTube, Google contains a larger library of videos from YouTube and other providers. With the trends YouTube has created, there is no doubt in my mind that they will own the video sharing industry for many years to come.
An example of a YouTube video is this one showing Mats Sundin's 6 point night agianst the Florida Panthers.
Podcasting and Audiobooks analysis
Podcasting as many of you may or may not know is defined as a Web-based audio broadcast via an RSS feed, accessed by subscription over the Internet. During my research of podcasts, I came across some of interest to me. I simply searched the iTunes store for podcasts and did some additional surfing on NHL.com and TSN.ca and came up with some exciting results. You can listen to the podcasts I listened to by going to http://www.nhl.com/podcasts/index.html or http://www.tsn.ca/podcasts/. In terms of enjoyment, I found podcasting to be a great way to keep up to date with all your favourite radio events. One can receive new podcasts if they choose to by subscribing to their podcasts of interest. The fact that podcasts are transferable to ones iPod is a feature that would spark me to use this technology again and again.
When comparing podcasting to other methods of providing information, such as newspapers, magazine, etc, podcasting has an edge on its competitors. With the rise of multimedia devices like the iPod, users are able to subscribe to podcasts they enjoy and listen to them on the go.
When I researched "audiobooks" I found two sites that offer this service. They are www.audible.com and the iTunes store. Personally, I feel the line has been crossed with books now being read to us. I feel that society has gotten caught up with making things easier, but we must not forget the importance of reading. The only benefit I can see with audiobooks in the future is for the blind. The blind would now be able to enjoy the books they could only dream of reading before. An audiobook on iTunes goes for roughly $20 and on audible.com users pay $7.49 for the first 3 months and $14.95 per month afterwards and receive 1 credit towards 1 book. In terms of library and selection, iTunes carries the better of the two, but in terms of price audible.com is the better option.
When comparing podcasting to other methods of providing information, such as newspapers, magazine, etc, podcasting has an edge on its competitors. With the rise of multimedia devices like the iPod, users are able to subscribe to podcasts they enjoy and listen to them on the go.
When I researched "audiobooks" I found two sites that offer this service. They are www.audible.com and the iTunes store. Personally, I feel the line has been crossed with books now being read to us. I feel that society has gotten caught up with making things easier, but we must not forget the importance of reading. The only benefit I can see with audiobooks in the future is for the blind. The blind would now be able to enjoy the books they could only dream of reading before. An audiobook on iTunes goes for roughly $20 and on audible.com users pay $7.49 for the first 3 months and $14.95 per month afterwards and receive 1 credit towards 1 book. In terms of library and selection, iTunes carries the better of the two, but in terms of price audible.com is the better option.
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