It won't be available for "rent" as I believe Astro's current model would be one decoder for watching or recording. If you want to record, you can pay a monthly fee (likely) or a one-time activation fee (unlikely). They could use proprietary HDDs (unlikely since they would have to provide extra support) or they could let the end user choose the size of their own HDDs (likely since the end user will have to figure the HDD problems out themselves).

So in two years time, everybody will get the B.yond box. Whether you want to activate the HD channels or recording capability, that is your choice.


fuad

Jurassic Park and The Lost World will be on HBO HD, starting at 9:45AM today (Sunday). Hopefully it will be in HD and with 5.1 audio.


fuad

Jurassic Park is in HD and 5.1. Interesting to see stuff that you've missed on the DVD version because of the lack of definition, including animatronic gaffes. Hopefully Spielberg would fix some of this including the inconsistent color values between the CGI scenes and non-CGI scenes.

The Lost World is also in HD and 5.1. Tried to sync it with my DTS DVD and it won't. This means that at least for this movie, the frame rate is 25.


fuad

This post has been edited by writesimply: May 9 2010, 12:16 PM

If you're talking about H.264, B.yond decoder can definitely handle MPEG-4. If it can't handle the decoding, then we won't be getting any HD channels.

B.yond also handles MPEG-2 otherwise we won't be able to view the SD channels. The decoder can also decode MPEG-2 HD if Astro transmits it.


fuad

Well I can confirm that The Lost World and State Of Play on HBO HD are the 25fps versions. I mentioned about TLW before (oddly Universal altered the opening of it instead of keeping it black until the ocean shot). I used the BD of State of Play to compare and it is 25fps; I kept getting sync but within 10 seconds it'll be out of sync. I still wonder why we need 25fps for the HD transfers of 24fps movies.


fuad

Not true. A lot of companies vie for the coverage but Sony won the bid. The bid is not just about showcasing 3D at the end-user level; the bid is to SHOOT the matches in 3D and to release those selected matches on BD eventually.

So to Sony, it doesn't matter that the end-user has a Samsung or Panasonic or LG 3D HDTV to watch the 3D match. It's to make aware to the end-user that they are watching the match in 3D BECAUSE of Sony. As far as I know, Samsung and LG have yet to make 3D pro cams.
It doesn't work well.


fuad

The 50Hz signal is only a factor when it comes to OTA broadcast via radio waves. Astro's signal is encoded prior to transmission, so there really is no need for 25fps video. Unless the feed comes from 25fps video camera, movies with 24fps telecine master need not be converted to 25fps.


fuad

The display does not do the video decoding; B.yond decoder does.

There is no reason for any HD movie channels that are broadcasting in PAL countries to not adopt 1080i24/720p24. Except maybe that they are afraid that people may find that their favorite Hollywood actors don't sound so teeny.
Most US displays sold can't do 1080i/p 25/50 even though it costs next to nothing to implement it.


fuad

Again, you set the setting on the decoder box. Just like how BD players can set the 1080p24 to auto or force it to always be on, the same thing can be done for the B.yond box. IF it's on, only the movie channels will be affected as they are the ones with the most 1080i/720p24 content. The rest would be 1080i50/720p25 content.

The different fps possible is not because of the progressive display of the computer. A flat panel LCD/Plasma display is also a progressive display as they need to convert interlace to progressive even if the resolution is 1080i. Computers can do this because the GPU can match the video's FPS to the computer's refresh rates on the fly.


fuad

It could be two things: the shutter speed of the HD camera used or the lights used in the stadium. If the former is the problem, the problem can be avoided if the playback is sped up a bit until the flickering disappears. If the latter is the problem, the broadcaster must work with the stadium in suggesting which lights to use. Lights do have a flicker rate but as long as it doesn't match the camera's shutter speed, it's okay.

How'd you know they didn't?


fuad

Widescreen SD broadcast is Europe's solution to HD migrating. Malaysia via RTM didn't accept that route and looks like we will go straight to HD instead. Could Astro have pioneered widescreen SD? Yes, they could've but then they would probably angered a lot of subscriber base 10 years ago because the picture look "small". They could switch to it now but they'd have to demand it from their channel distributors.

I was thinking today that in 3-5 years, to get HD we have to pay RM20 on top of the packages we have to watch the HD channels. In 5-10 years, the RM20 will be omitted and the SD channels, who knows how many there will be then, will be free.


fuad

My conclusion for widescreen SD transmission is this: Astro will not do it until more than 60% of their subscribers have HDTVs. By which time, the same number would have already migrated to B.yond, or are forced to upgrade if Astro wants to migrate to H.264 codec for all of their transmissions.

Judging from the sale of VCDs which is still fairly significant, TV owners in Malaysia are mostly 4:3 CRT SDTVs. They don't see the value of DVDs - which most often has anamorphic video - so they also won't see the value of widescreen SD transmission. When they DO get a HDTV, THEN they'll demand for it.

But as I said earlier, by which time HD channels will be the default and SD channels are provided free or at minimal costs.

You're talking about the B.yond function with regards to SD channels. What we were talking about is widescreen SD transmission where the video is actually anamorphic video like what is on anamorphic DVDs.

You can still get the aspect ratio of SD channels correct using the aspect ratio function on B.yond. But you'd have to use your TV remote as well. First, enable the zoom function on B.yond; this will stretch the video. Second, use the Zoom function on your TV to squash it back to the correct aspect ratio; use a channel like Discovery, NGC or History to make the adjustments. BE MINDFUL that the non-anamorphic widescreen programs do not have the same aspect ratio. Some are correct 16:9 while others are more zoomed in; for example some of the programs on Star World like Mercy and Trauma.


fuad

This post has been edited by writesimply: May 19 2010, 12:22 PM

H.264 is a better codec than MPEG-2. Japan does have more HD channel than Astro. You're wearing a blue shirt today and your neighbor is wearing a white t-shirt. One truth does not negate the other truth.

Using H.264 is a better way to increase Astro's HD channels when the company has limited transponders.

Japan have had HD since the 80s. They have OTA, satellite and cable in HD. Their entertainment infrastructure are in HD.

Back when Astro launched with the Philips decoder, one of the settings you could set was if your TV was widescreen or not. Astro could have done it the way Europe and Australia have done it. But they didn't because the majority of Malaysians didn't have widescreen CRTs/RPTVs. So using that feature would not only be useless to the subscribers who don't see the value of it, it would also cause more headaches for Astro when subscribers are asking why the channel info is chopped off. When implementing a feature, you have to make sure that the feature is something that people would see value of and it won't cost you money in terms of call center reports.

We will see.


Besides replacing the whole board? No.

Maybe that's in their financial plan for B.yond...


fuad

Indeed. Analog or not, it is still a HD broadcast system. That was the standard NHK and others followed. Only later did they migrate to MPEG-2.

There were MUSE Laserdiscs players and discs produced during this era as well. Obviously it looked a lot better than LDs and DVDs at the time.

Can Japan migrate to H.264? Definitely. Private cable companies with their own STBs will have the ability to enact the change than OTA channels since the STBs are their own, just like how Dish Network and Astro are doing right now. Unlike the US which only went total MPEG-2 HD broadcast recently, Japan can migrate easily as they have mandatorily used MPEG-2 a lot longer.

That's why 15 years ago we saw DVD recorders from Japan first. Their media companies are not afraid of people recording content. This spurred consumer electronics companies to make DVD recorders.

Can Astro come out with a three-decoder B.yond Max box? Sure. So long as the pricing is right because there definitely is a demand for a lower-cost Astro recorder.


fuad

You can buy the Ambery HDMI Digital-to-Analog converter box for RM431+Shipping. But with what you got and the price of the Ambery, you might as well get a new 5.1 HTiB system. Not because the Edifier may not sound good, but the price difference between the Ambery and a new HTiB is almost negligible.

The Ambery will decode DD/DTS/DTS HDMA/TrueHD 5.1/7.1 into 5.1/7.1 analog signal. That's how it'll work with your Edifier. This means that if you have a PS3, all you need is a HDMI switcher and you're set for BD and gaming as well.


fuad

It's pretty good. So good that ... see comment 5 below.

In stereo only. Too bad since the audio mixing guys could show their chops at doing online 5.1 mixing. And it would have worked quiet well.
There are artifacts when there are fast movements. People have to be watching for it to know where to look.
In a way, this is another test transmission before the World Cup, like a live shoot in a studio.
Astro's production team MUST work extra hard for their in-house channels for this simple reason: you see more detail in HD. Start with this simple fact: HD looks really good on bigger screens. That means every production flaw is also blown up bigger.

1) The set designer must have worked independently from the lighting and camera crew. The spots where the hosts usually interviews the singers are not entirely black. That means you can see deficiencies in the background sets. The lighting designer must ensure that those areas are not lit (or covered - which falls under the set designer responsibilities) while the camera crew/director must ensure that THOSE areas are not in frame. The set designer must also work with the sound crew to figure out what they need BEFORE finalizing the design. On the two front steps, there were gaffer tapes hiding the cables for the monitor speakers on the stage. Since the RED highlight was hidden underneath the tape, it's clear that the designer really didn't know what the audio guys need and build around it.

2) The director and camera crew must be mindful not just about which part of the stage to shoot, they must also be mindful of which part of the stadium NOT to shoot. When they were doing the audience coverage, they were also showing the balcony section, which honestly doesn't look complimentary.

3) The make-up artists must be trained again. The female make-up looks good but the guys were bad. It's just bland foundation with no highlights including the male judges.

Considering that what bitrate the channel gets is the same as the other 5 HD channel on B.yond, it's pretty good. You do also have to consider that this is online encoding instead of offline. Offline encoding can be tweaked limitless times to maximize the medium it is for say Blu-ray Disc or 8Mbps TX limit. Online encoding must be done once and then it goes to broadcast.


fuad

This post has been edited by writesimply: May 23 2010, 12:51 AM

Right now that means AXN HD is being retransmitted to the Asia-Pacific countries by Measat-3. It doesn't mean Astro has finalized a deal - if they were making one to begin with - to include AXN HD as part of its HD line-up.


fuad

How exactly are you being tricked and manipulated by Astro? Were you tricked into thinking that B.yond cannot record?

I don't agree that B.yond subscribers have no choice but to get the WD AV HDD. Astro should allow any USB storage solution (HDD or solid state) to record off the USB port. Astro however can guarantee that using WD AV HDD will get more support from them and WD.

As far as PVR is concerned, that's part of their revenue stream. Nobody paid anything for the B.yond decoder, apart from the monthly service fee. Having to pay for a PVR is an option, just like Tivo has many different Tivo HD recorders.

On the more serious side, I think that the PVR box should be around RM500-1000, with THREE TUNERS (2 to record and one to watch) with 500GB or more HDD, with an e-SATA port, Wifi functionality for internet programming, and that the PVR service can be paid for as a lifetime service for an additional RM300-500. Or cheaper.

Unless those media players can start to record HDCP protected content via HDMI, they are pretty useless when combined with Astro.

From what I see, the info we are getting are not official and incomplete. In these type of situation, don't panic and rant just yet.


fuad

Yes, I know how 2-tuner PVRs work. I said SHOULD, as in the features the PVR should have to make the idea more interesting.

The reason for three tuners is simple: most people often want to record two programs that they want to watch over and over again. The third program they don't have to keep but to pass the time. 2-tuner PVRs work best when you're not at home or asleep when the programs are on but 3-tuner PVRs work better when you are at home and recording.

That said, launching the HD PVR service right now would be a minor disaster for Astro. Most people would likely use it to record SD content as HD content is still paltry and of those who want to record SD, they would have had Astro Max already. I reiterate: the PVR box should have 500GB HDD at least, three tuners, one e-SATA port for HDD extension and Wifi/LAN connectivity.

---

Added on May 26, 2010, 11:01 am No, I didn't experience the same thing. Reset your B.yond. Disconnect and reconnect your HDMI cable from B.yond.


fuad

This post has been edited by writesimply: May 26 2010, 11:06 AM

Thanks for the "respect" but incorrect.


Also incorrect.


Good deduction, Watson.

The recording function of B.yond may or may not come with a one-time activation fee. But it doesn't mean that you own the box, unlike Astro Max where you actually BUY and own the device.

That is what Cam hinted at.

According to Cam, B.yond will be able to record if you agree to activate that function. If you don't, it won't. Regardless of whether you activate the function or even use it if it's enabled to all B.yond users, it is there to be used. It's not like the regular Astro decoder at all.

Apart from you paying extra for the installers to use a longer cable than provided, B.yond is practically free. Granted that you are tied to the service and you pay RM480 in two years for the HD access, the decoder and installation itself is free.

People who live in flats generally can have their own Astro dishes. The people who live in condos with centralized systems are the ones who feel envious.

I don't believe that Astro should be paying for the upgrade for a centralized dish building. If Astro did that, their capital outlay per condo complex would be huge with no guaranteed return of investment. The condo board or building management should conduct a survey to see how many would subscribe to B.yond if the management upgraded the cabling. If the results are for B.yond, then the management can negotiate with Astro about partial investment contribution.

If Astro doesn't want to invest much, then the management have two options: pay for the installation by getting mandatory contribution from each owner of the condo, or release the clause that prohibits the installation of Astro dish on the outside area of their unit (balcony, window. The second option would be a nightmare for the condo owners but it would also be a nightmare for Astro as each installation would take two hours.


fuad

This post has been edited by writesimply: May 26 2010, 11:35 PM