PS3 VS. Apple TV VS. Blu-ray….. Fight!
Here we have it, a comparison of two HD download services, with Blu-ray being the standard to shoot for. As you know by now Sony updated the Playstation Store with video rentals. Not the first console maker to do so as Microsoft has the Live video store up and running, for some time now. First impressions. The PSN store is easy to navigate but the UI feels old and dated, yet a big improvement over its first iteration. The rental process was easy. Find movie, hit button, confirm and you’re on your way. The issues I have so far are the DL speed. The movie took 5 hours for 100% download and I average 7mb down. Yes you can start watching after a few minutes but still. File size is also an issue; Sony is using an H.264 AVC codec and it was over 7gb. (Side note: This is a good reason for the entertainment companies to get behind no bandwidth caps, along with video DLs, online gaming, and demos to name a few things this would push your allotted bits.) Before I get to the “results” I have to say a few things; my screen caps are done with a point and click Fuji digital camera, my display has not been professional calibrated, nor do I think I’m a know it all videophile. I’m just a guy who likes HD and loves his AV toys. That being said, on to contest.
Blu-ray. By far the “winner” (if there was a winner), it has the best color, bet sound, and action scenes flow well. I think all of us knew that Blu-ray would outshine both downloads so this is no shock.
Bluray
PS3. Maybe there is a reason for the file size, but the movie didn’t seem as “sharp” overall. The quality is good. You can see it in the screen cap looking around the webbing on the mask, how the black lines seem to soften. The color was nice, not as deep as the Blu-ray version, but it had pop. The backgrounds seems to suffer the most from compression. Look over Spiderman’s shoulder and you can see what I’m talking about, around the far buldings and in the sky. Also the sound was in Stereo not Dolby Digital. Thats a thumbs down in my book, and it cost .50 more to rent
PS3
Apple TV. What can I say that hasn’t been said before about he quality of HD titles from Apple; you get more of the same. I have always felt the Colors are a bit warm on the Apple TV (Both my Apple TV and PS3 run to my onkyo 605 then out to my TV, all over HDMI, so its not the display) but the movie seems sharper. Apple however gives you 5.1Dolby Digital and is .50 less.
Apple TV
Both the PS3 and Apple TV offer good quality from what I have seen. For me 5.1 and slightly shaper images makes the Apple TV edge out the PS3. What am I saying, of course 5.1 sealed the deal. However the PS3 is not a bad choice. I hope to see titles include surround sound, and we can find a way to speed up downloads.
Update - Here is a direct link to the three images at our ATVJ Flickr page.
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How’d you get these screenshots?