High-def video streaming services: Are they really HD?

[M_Smith]

High-def video streaming services: Are they really HD?
[SIZE=-1]Recent months have seen a rash of new products that connect to online video services, such as Netflix, that allow you to stream?and in some cases, download?movies and TV shows from the web for display on your TV. While most of the fare so far has been in standard definition (SD), limited amounts of ?high-definition? programming is now available, and more is expected to come. Given that immediate access to HD content will be a key selling point for many prospective customers, we wanted to know if the quality of these streaming HD shows was equivalent to what we're used to seeing from high-def TV services and Blu-ray discs.
In a word, the answer is no. In our tests, streaming HD movies looked to be about the same quality as standard DVDs. Standard-definition movies from the streaming services looked a lot like VHS tapes.
The one standout for quality was a new video technology, called HDX, from a lesser-known player, Vudu. HDX titles, however, are downloaded, not streamed, which can be time-consuming. So while Vudu's streamed content, in both SD and HD, fared no better than the others, movies downloaded in the Vudu HDX format are delivered in 1080p, with crisp detail and rich colors. Though not as sharp as the best Blu-ray titles, Vudu HDX movies at least looked like high-def. (Click on the image above for a closer look at the VuDu media player.)
All of these services require broadband connections, the faster the better. Most services stream to standalone boxes. Four of the boxes we tested provide access to Netflix's video-on-demand streaming service. They included LG's BD300 Blu-ray player ($300), Samsung's BD-P2500 Blu-ray player ($313), Microsoft's Xbox 360 Pro ($300), and the Roku Netflix Player settop box ($999). To receive streaming content, you need to be a Netflix subscriber. Xbox owners also need to be Live Gold members.
Blockbuster offers similar capability through a separate settop box it sells, the 2Wire MediaPoint digital media player. The box itself (Click on the image at right for a closer look.) is free, but requires a $99 pre-payment for 25 movies.) Other streaming services we tested include Apple TV ($229 for the 40GB model), which gets content from the company's iTunes music and video service, and Vudu ($99 to $299, depending on promotions and retailer), which maintains a library of content on its servers.
We also tested Sony's DMX-NV1 Bravia Internet Video Link (currently $210 at Amazon), an add-on module that attaches to certain Sony TV models to provide access to select online video content, including Amazon's video-on-demand service.
While the quality of these services may be acceptable to many viewers, those looking for high-quality high-def content will likely be disappointed. The good news is that all the receivers connect in a straightforward way, and the Apple, Blockbuster, and Roku boxes have built-in Wi-Fi, a plus if a wired connection isn't convenient. The Netflix service requires a few more steps than the others, since you have to visit the Netflixwebsite using your computer, choose the movies you want, and then add them to your online queue. They will then become available via the settop box. (Click on image at right for a closer look at the Roku player.)
With Vudu's HDX downloads, the downside is that even with a fast broadband connection (5Mbps or more) it can take two hours to download a movie, and up to nine hours if you have a slow (2-3Mbps) connection.
That means at least for the time being, you'll have to make a choice between the convenience of an instant stream or the higher quality enabled by a download. And at CES, LG and Vizio announced upcoming TV models that will include built-in Netflix streaming, so there's no need for a separate box.
We'll be filing a more complete evaluation of these services in the near future that addresses relative pricing for hardware and content, and the number of titles available from each.
?James K. Willcox and Richard Fisco
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