Unless all SD channel are HD upscaled?

HD channels need huge bandwidth to broadcast, I don't think astro has enough transponders to broadcast all channels in HD
astro can opts for wide-screen SD transmission in 16:9 ratio and save on bandwidth, HDTV viewers will be happy, but CRT viewers may not like it

I would take that anyday if PQ is close to F1 HD UPSCALE
But that would take up a lot of bandwith and will not be a good business move by Astro
But then again
Screwing up business decisions are Astro specialty..

Hey..to all of u out there
If Astro say they were following international standard of broadcasting, then that refers to Pillar Box mode right?
Astro had this 'International Standard' before the firmware update
So what were they doing replacing stretch with zoom in the first place since it had nothing to do with Pillar Box?

zoom mode will no pass any broadcasting standard, good thing astro is going to take it off permanently

Upscaled SD to HD? eventhough technically HD, but it has no feature that HD offers such as crisp clear picx, more details and etc...

International standards or rules do not prejudice Astro in whatsoever way, legally. This is a marketing strategy and nothing to do with regulations.

upscale is good enough for non-HD channel. just remain the pricing

+1.. i agree some ppl change tv because of byond

I kind of agree with Astro on this one, there are no broadcasters I know of that allow out of aspect ratio video come out of the set top box. I actually think stretch mode will be in breach of their HDMI certification (if they have it?).

The HDMI standard is very long and strict, see http://www.hdmi.org/manufacturer/specification.aspx, for example it clearly states that Audio must be of a fixed RMS in terms of volume so the Astro decoder must output a fixed audio on the HDMI connector. It also clearly states that all video must adhere to the native aspect ratio of the display and not distort.

Astro may return the stretch option but could equally come under pressure from the HDMI certification to remove it! The TV manufacturers and the actual producers of the tv shows may also put pressure on Astro to remove stretch.

Perhaps, Astros renaming of "stretch" to "fit to screen" is them attempting to hide the fact that they are deliberately distorting the video output of the box?

From what I have seen on TallJustins blog, the zoom looks like it fills the screen yet is technically compliant with the HDMI standard.

Unfortunately I cant see for myself as I am in Japan until next week and it looks like Astro will have done the new software on the b.yond box.

My personal opinion, if the zoom is what I think it is, is that the new download will break the box in terms of HDMI standards and my personal 4:3 viewing as I dont want "postage stamping" of 16:9 programs that are letterboxed down to 4:3.

They can never please all of us I suppose!

replace?

This post has been edited by SiriuslyCold: Mar 16 2010, 03:46 PM

ATTENTION..

Erm...someone will be joining astro tour this saturday....so, anybody have question to ask at astro regarding b.yond...please note down...really appreciate ur point...this is the chances for us to communicate with astro...

New HD Channels this year.

+9999

This post has been edited by sufian89: Mar 16 2010, 04:18 PM

Then make the HDMI standard offer warranty when people's TV suffer burn-in or LCD persistance! My Sharp LC19A35M cost RM1200, my Dell E248WFP costs RM1500. If they get LCD persistence heads will roll.

Not going to happen. CS rep told me that when I called in to follow up on my complains. The World Cup HD channels are the last of new channels for this year (thus the making their press release for byond a blatant lie- they did promise at least 10 HD channels by the end of the year in that press release).

Agreed. Astro's actions have made Malaysia's TV offerings look backwards even when compared to India.

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Mar 16 2010, 04:41 PM

can you show me which paragraph in the "HDMI Specification 1.3a" document stated that particular requirement?

HDMI requirement stated as: "HDMI 1.3 to HDMI 1.3c uses the CEA-861-D video standard"

byond box only uses 4 of the video mode listed above


This post has been edited by neb: Mar 16 2010, 04:56 PM

4 more maybe upscaled HD?

5 FIFA World Cup channels in HD

After World Cup, what will happen to those channel?

It's mean this thursday new firmware update(with “Fit to Screen”option)?



This post has been edited by stasio: Mar 16 2010, 06:15 PM

Even better, come join us for the tour. More details here: http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1353806
You can DM me, or email to astrohd2010@gmail.com to request for invite.

Basically, I will also compile the questions, of course the most frequently asked ones will be my priority la.


p/s: Nope, I'm not Astro staff, I worked for an agency, which Astro is our client =)