360 to offer DVD upscaling to 720p

[kyleb]

i'm not convinced by screenshots on a PC, that doesn't really tell you whether the final image on your HDTV is going to look any better.

You can always follow the guide and see for yourself. You don't need ZoomPlayer either, Media Player Classic will do just fine.

The problem with that comparison is the 480p "before" image hasn't been upscaled to 1080i.

We need to see a comparison of a 480p analogue source upscaled to 1080i, compared to a 480p digital source upconverted to 720p analogue source, then upconverted AGAIN to 1080i.

I would bet there is no noticeable difference since they both end up at 1080i(or whatever your HD set is) anyways.

DVDs aren't 480p and that image wasn't upscaled to 1080i, but it does give you an idea of what can be done with upscaling and flitering. you can use ffdshow for yourself to tweek to whatever resolutions you want to experement with all the options to see what can be accomplished; granted I have already done all that and figured I'd let you in on what I have seen, but if you don't want to belive me then the tools are right there for you to check it out on your own.

 

[DemoCoder]

All this does for me is contribute more evidence that MS's lack of digital out (DVI/HDMI) is a problem. For a console designed for the "HD era", it's a huge missing feature. I hope they quickly come out with another SKU that contains HDMI capable output (I wouldn't hold my breath for some kind of "adapter", HDMI support requires not only digital framebuffer out via TMDS but also HDCP)

Sort of a reverse of what Nintendo did for the cube. Nintendo released another SKU removing progressive out. MS should release a future SKU adding digital-out.

 

[DuckThor Evil]

I"m sorry but upscaling 480p VIDEO to anythng will not add detail it just doesn't work like that, like I said it will help if you ahvea a super big screen but thats about it. You can't add detail that isn't there

True, but for example using ffdshow will make huge difference in picture quality whether you recognize it or not.

 

[Agisthos]

Regarding upscalers, most tv's and dvd players that do this add nothing to the image quality and in fact sometimes make it worse.

But just recently a new upscaling technology has been introduced by Silicon Optix called the 'Realta HQV' chip. The only product to use it at the moment is the Denon 5910 dvd player and a few very epensive projectors.

From the few reviews I have seen apparently it is spectacular, and upscales normal dvd to look like HD resolution in 720p. It does this by using their patented alogorithms which not only add detail to the image but also remove grain and grit from the picture making even older movies look good.

 

[Agisthos]

"The Realta HQV video engine provides true 10-bit video processing, full four-field motion adaptive video de-interlacing for both standard definition and high definition signals, temporal-recursive noise reduction, automatic multi-cadence detection, and pixel-based detail enhancement.

It also utilizes the same video processing power—1 trillion operations per second— as the $60k Teranex Xantus platform that is widely utilized in Hollywood post production and television broadcast markets. In addition to its flagship video processing, Realta delivers advanced image scaling using the world’s first 1024-tap adaptive scaler. HQV (Hollywood Quality Video) processing is a no-compromise video processing solution designed for the most demanding digital cinema applications."

 

[Tap In]

I want the Realta HQV in my Xbox 360.

 

[scooby_dooby]

You can always follow the guide and see for yourself. You don't need ZoomPlayer either, Media Player Classic will do just fine.

DVDs aren't 480p and that image wasn't upscaled to 1080i, but it does give you an idea of what can be done with upscaling and flitering. you can use ffdshow for yourself to tweek to whatever resolutions you want to experement with all the options to see what can be accomplished; granted I have already done all that and figured I'd let you in on what I have seen, but if you don't want to belive me then the tools are right there for you to check it out on your own.

i have ffdshow but have only ever used it as a codec for Xvid, i'll give it a shot

 

[Shifty Geezer]

"The Realta HQV video engine provides true 10-bit video processing, full four-field motion adaptive video de-interlacing for both standard definition and high definition signals, temporal-recursive noise reduction, automatic multi-cadence detection, and pixel-based detail enhancement.

I was gonna suggest a software upscaler on PS3 could be even more useful as it can be upgraded, but then they said...

It also utilizes the same video processing power—1 trillion operations per second—

So unless some amazing efficiency is used maybe the hardware solution will remain supreme?

However, a $3000 DVD player can afford to have 'excessive' hardware!

 

[Agisthos]

I was gonna suggest a software upscaler on PS3 could be even more useful as it can be upgraded, but then they said...
So unless some amazing efficiency is used maybe the hardware solution will remain supreme?

However, a $3000 DVD player can afford to have 'excessive' hardware!

The "1 trillion operations per second" figure is probably just theoretical marketing speak.

I can't see why Sony or MS couldn't just license a technology like this and use if for their dvd playback via software like you suggest.

 

[expletive]

The "1 trillion operations per second" figure is probably just theoretical marketing speak.

I can't see why Sony or MS couldn't just license a technology like this and use if for their dvd playback via software like you suggest.

The cost for licensing these software algorithms for each console (i.e. per unit costs) would be astronomical. Youre tlaking about technology that onl y a small percentage would know or care about. The Denon player uses a subset of the HQV technology, full hardware/software solutions of it are running in the neighborhood of $6k and up.

The companies' whose core business is audio/video processing are currently the best at it but their relatively high R&D costs drive the prices of the products up to where only the serious enthusiast can afford them.