So what IS the
minimum resolution requirement for something to be called "high-definition"? We kicked this around last year
(and then we
got kicked around in the
comments) when discussing "
Truth in
Advertising". On on hand folks believe that any display that can show 720 horizontal lines qualifies as
high-def, meaning that XGA (or 1024 x 768) should be considered high-def. Our contention is that XGA is a computer
resolution and that the more traditional 1280 x 720 (or higher) would be required for the HD moniker. We'll be running
a poll on this one later today, but before we do, take a look at Henning's thoughts over at HDBlog for his insights on
the subject.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Thomas Crymes @ Mar 6th 2006 11:44AM
If High Definition is defined as a telivision standard, then I'd guess that to be considered high def you'd need to be at 720p or greater AND have a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Practically, it probably has to be 720p or 1080i/p. What resolutions is the content being brought to you in? As far I'm concerned, that is the only thing that matters, and probably is the ultimate practical indication of what is HD.
Benjamin Higginbotham @ Mar 6th 2006 12:40PM
I'll go for 720p being the minimum (in my personal opinion, anything interlaced should be kicked off the HD spec, but that's just me). I don't think aspect ratio should be a determining factor though. While uncommon, I have seen some 4:3 HD encodes for some specialty films and whatnot. As long as the resolution is there, the aspect, in my mind does not matter.
Kevin Pataky @ Mar 6th 2006 3:11PM
In this past Sunday's paper, the big headline on the Circuit City flyer in my area said "Movies in HD Experience the Magic of Harry Potter." How can they advertise this way? The DVD is not HD. They are just confusing people. Should they be allowed to do this?
Mike @ Mar 6th 2006 4:39PM
The CEA document is indeed confusing. Henning and Richard misinterpreted the fact of what is an hd television versus what is an hd signal. If you go by the video standard there is no other resolution with 720 vertical lines other than 1280x720. Its name is 720p the same way as VGA names 640x480 which is not 480p ( 720x480 ). VESA standards are for a different purpose and have nothing to do with HD ( a marketing term with no white paper backing it ). Read my post on the topic at theaterathome.blogspot.com.
Galley @ Mar 7th 2006 7:39AM
I walked into Circuit City early Sunday morning, and they had a correction notice posted above the flyer rack about the Harry potter HD snafu.
Wilbur Pan @ Mar 7th 2006 11:48AM
As one of those who was doing the "kicking around" in your "Truth in Advertising" post, I think I can clarify things.
In the referenced blog, Mr. Henning says, "So lets just call it as it is and say that an HDTV has to have a resolution of at least 1280 x 720, in both dimensions." He can say this, but he's wrong.
The document describing the ATSC standards regarding HDTV, and DTV in general can be found at http://www.atsc.org/standards/A53D.pdf
The 1920x1080 and 1280x720 standards for HDTV are set by SMPTE, which is a TRADE organization. Being a trade organization, they ultimately have NO regulatory power. The ATSC has regulatory authority, being part of the federal government.
Now, in Section 9 of the ATSC standards, it says:
"9. POSSIBLE VIDEO INPUTS
While not required by this standard, there are certain television production standards, shown in Table A1, that define video formats that relate to compression formats specified by this standard.
The compression formats may be derived from one or more appropriate video input formats. It may be anticipated that additional video production standards will be developed in the future that extend the number of possible input formats."
Table 1 shows three standards. Two are from SMPTE -- the aforementioned 1920x1080 and 1280x720 standards. The third is ITU-R BT.601-4, which is a 720x483 DTV format.
Notice that this section specifically says "not required by this standard". By this, the ATSC is saying that the ONLY requirement for HDTV is that the display meets the vertical resolution requirements for 720p or 1080i. A 1024x768 display meets this criteria.
Now, one can argue as to whether the video quality is worse on a 1024x768 display compared to a 1280x720 display, but both are HDTVs regardless.
Personally, I'm waiting for the 37-40" 1920x1080 LCDs to come to market, but I will acknowledge that a 1024x768 42" plasma is an HDTV.
Gen Kiyooka @ Mar 13th 2006 6:23AM
Don't forget about temporal resolution. Remember 35mm film is 4k x 4k pixels (or more) but it still flickers due to the 24fps frame rate.