Apple MI-5 video poor compared to Netflix version

I note that Apple TV-rented streaming videos of the popular UK series MI-5 (known as Spooks in the UK) look like over-compressed trash next to streaming Netflix versions of the same series, played through the same Apple TV box. Color space is also off on the Apple TV stream. C'mon, Apple! You can do better.

I can't comment on that particular series, but everything i've ever rented from apple looks great. You can notice some artifacts in darker scenes but overall i'm impressed.

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Why poor quality AIC & Apple ProRes HQ video when compared to original video files!

First, I'm a long time PC user who has recently switched to Mac's and I'm rather picky about the quality of my videos.
Problem: I have HD video from a Canon HF S10 camcorder and Canon EOS 7D that looks fantastic on a PC... but looks very so-so once imported into a iMovie or FCE or FCP. I've tried all three programs using AIC and yes I've even tried Apple Pro Res HQ (FCP 7.0 log & transfer) and still end up with very poor quality mov files when compared to the originals. Part of the problem (or benefit of a PC) is that the PC actually plays the original RAW MTS/M2TS/MOV files without any trouble and and they look unbelievable. Where as my Mac has to import/convert the file to AIC or Apple Pro Res HQ... so no matter what codec I use, my Mac produces video that is not even close to what I get out of my PC.
My original RAW files are all 1920x1080 60i and are MTS files from the HF S10 and Mov files from the 7D. Even the original RAW Mov files produced from the 7D don't look as good on my Mac as they do on my PC. I even took a SD card with the original files down to the local Apple store to see how they look on a Macbook Pro and they still don't look like the originals on my PC. Also, all my comparisons are being done side by side on two 24" Apple cinema displays at full size (1920x1080) that are calibrated. What am I doing wrong and why the loss in quality? Any ideas as to why the quality is just so-so when compared to the originals would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

The thing that is wrong is that you are judging the quality of VIDEO on COMPUTER monitors. Properly calibrated or no...this is not how you do it. Calibration for computer monitors sets them right for PHOTOSHOP and color, not VIDEO and proper monitoring. Only getting a signal to a broadcast VIDEO monitor, or HDTV, will show you what you really have. And for that you need an HD input/output device or capture card...and the HDTV or HD monitor.
Computer monitors are never the place to judge video quality. Resolution is typically lowered to allow for full frame playback. Even if paused.
Shane

Apple DVI to Video Adapter vs Apple PAL DVI to Video Adapter

I've just bought my mum a Mac mini (for Christmas) and although it will almost certainly be mostly used with a VGA monitor she has it would be interesting to see what the picture would be like on her fairly new (CRT) television. (If it's good enough she might prefer it plugged in there - especially since I've also got her a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard - plus wireless networking for accessing the Internet et cetera.) The Apple Store (UK) shows two "suitable" connectors...
a) Apple DVI to Video Adapter
b) Apple PAL DVI to Video Adapter
My local Apple Store (Meadowhall / Sheffield) only has the former and someone I spoke to there yesterday reckoned that it does exactly the same as the latter. I found that hard to believe so called the online Apple Store - yet they couldn't tell me the difference either. So, perhaps someone out there in the Big Wide (European PAL System User) World can help me. If so then perhaps you could also tell me what the quality of the picture is like - though I appreciate that such would be dependant on the television itself.
Incidentally, my girlfriend has a current range iBook and I bought her the corresponding lead for that a while back - the image quality on my (admittedly aging) television not only being rather poor but also only in black and white regardless as to which of the two connections we used. (Her digital still camera plugs into the Composite Video port on the television and a colour picture appears.) The problem sounds like NTSC is being output (the television's not able to handle that) but given that she's got a "British" iBook I suspect the problem is with the television itself. I've actually yet to try that with my mum's television but I will soon - so, perhaps, proving if it's my antique display that's at fault. The VGA output on the iBook is, by the way, fine.
Mac mini Mac OS X (10.4.3)
Mac mini Mac OS X (10.4.3)
Mac mini Mac OS X (10.4.3)

I'm fairly sure you will need the PAL adapter if you are feeding a PAL television set. VGA is VGA, regardless of country of origin (so to speak), but composite video is specific to the TV system in use!
The other reply, about the setting the iBook for PAL output, sounds sensible if the IBook produces composite video directly.
-- Eric

Apple DVI to Video adapter M9267G/A and extension cable

Will the Apple DVI to Video adapter M9267G/A work with this cable?
http://shop.vendio.com/dcables/item/899653106/?s=1181815202
Also, is it safe to "hot plug" the adapter, or should I only plug it in when the Mac is off?
I bought the adapter used with no documentation, and couldn't find any setup instructions on Apple's downloads page.
Thank you.

Hi-
So you're trying to extend the reach of the adapter? Closer to TV, VCR, etc.?
Seems like it should work, though I would personally get a long S-video/composite cable. Cheaply constructed DVI extensions can cause a loss of signal strength, and/or pick up RFI and result in poor performance.
It would be safe to hot plug the adapter itself, though I would not power on the attached devices until after connected to the adapter.
G4AGP(450)Sawtooth, 2ghz PowerLogix, 2gbRAM, 300gbSATA+160gbATA, ATI Radeon 9800 Mac OS X (10.4.8) Pioneer DVR-109, ExtHD 160gb x2, 23"Cinema Display, Ratoc USB2.0, Nikon Coolscan

Did Apple fix the video quality issue in iMovie '09?

I am a casual video editor and iMovie 08 had the perfect user experience / functionality for what I want to do.
However, the known video quality issue (throwing away interlaced scan lines) made the result unacceptable since I archive our family video on DVDs. I have been forced to use iMovie HD for that reason. I have tried tricks such as converting the original DV files to AIF and deinterlace prior to import into iMovie08 but that did not seem to work either.
So does anyone know if Apple fixed the video quality issue in iMovie '09.
MESSAGE TO APPLE IF YOU ARE LISTENING:
Please fix the video quality in iMovie09 if not already. Yes, the quality is ok for YouTube or Internet video but for those of us who want simple editing to archive our family video we cannot accept poor video quality. Dropping an interlace field effectively halves the vertical resolution. Thank you.

Please explain this in more detail when you say Adaptive Deinterlacer. Are you talking about another program? If so, what program and what are the specific steps.
Also, sounds like you are recommending imovie09. By saying to do the above, are you saying imovie09 still causes you too loose significant quality like imovie08? Are you saying you can use imovie08 or imovie09 with these steps to get high quality video or just imovie09? I guess I just need more specifics on how you do what you are describing and how imovie09 fits into this versus imovie08. I joined this whole discussion trying to figure out if upgrading imovie09 made a difference regarding the whole quality issue. I know it has more features, but I am more concerned about he quality of the video right now. Thanks.

Why would Lightroom video capabilities/iTunes import/Netflix streaming/Photoshop all stop working at once?

Hi forum --
Several programs all stopped working at the same time and will only work (briefly) right after I've restarted my computer including:
- iTunes audio cd importing
- Lightroom video importing and playback
Netflix streaming (on both Safari and Chrome) won't work and Photoshop (CS4) won't open at all.
Videos work without a problem in: Quicktime, iMovie, Final Cut Pro, and Bridge CS4 and CS6. YouTube also works without a problem.
Maybe the problems are conincidence, but this seems like it is posisbly a software problem with my computer, not my programs.
I have tried reinstalling Ligthroom and resetting the preferences files but they don't help.
The only things that I can think of that happened is that I:
1. downloaded my own videos from my own YouTube acocunt after my external hard drive failed and maybe there was a virus?
2. I deleted some programs with "Clean My Mac 2" and maybe it deleted some crucial file someplace?
I am running a 2009 13" MacBook Pro with a 2.53 Ghz processor and 4 GB RAM and Mountain Lion (everything is up to date).
Thank you for any suggestions!

I had problems with streaming until I changed the WiFi channel that I was using. The original one conflicted with my neighbor. After that, MOST of my streaming problems vanished. Occasionally, a movie would pause for more buffering and I eventually ran an ethernet cable from the Apple TV to my Apple Extreme (to eliminate the Wifi). I have not had a single problem since then (except to repair the drywall after running the ethernet from one floor to another). :-)

Apple DVI to Video Adapter NOT WORKING

So I have this mac pro but no monitor. I went to the apple store and bought the Apple DVI to Video Adapter. I hooked it up and turned the computer on and there's nothing showing up on the screen(TV). Why is this happening? The whole point of this adapter is to not need a monitor.... do i need a monitor to set it up?

Why don't you click on the Apple icon at the top left of the screen.
Select About This Mac. Click on the info about which version of OS X you have - under the Apple icon - click twice to see your serial number. Use it to determine the model of your Mac Pro on Apple's web site. Inform those who would help you what model Mac Pro you have.
Click on More Info...
Select Graphics/Displays.
Inform those who would help you what your graphics card is.

Apple DVI to Video Adapter

Hello all,
I recently purchased this Samsung TV which I would like to hook up to my computer to watch videos. Here are the TV complete specs:
http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/detail/spec.do?group=televisions&type=televis ions&subtype=lcdtv&model_cd=LNT3253HX/XAA&fullspec=F
As you can see I have the following inputs on the TV:
Input & Output(Side)
HDMI 1
composite (AV) 1
S-Video 1
Headphone 1
Input & Output(Back)
HDMI 2
composite (AV) 1
S-Video 1
PC input (D-sub) 1
Component(Y/Pb/Pr) 2
As instructed by one of the guys at the Apple store, I got today an Apple DVI to Video Adapter, and I have a RCA Audio Cable Adapter (that I used in my previous laptop, an iBook). I also have another cable that I don't know the name but it fits in the hole of the adapter where there is a TV-display icon. I used all of these but have no computer image on the TV...
What am I doing wrong? Do I need a "S-Video" cable? Where should I plug the cables on the TV?
I hope someone can help me!
Thanks!

Hey Rhyd, thank you for your reply!
Here is a complete list of audio and video features. I guess there are some audio features in the Input & Output (side and back) lists too. Do you think I have this optical audio input? - perhaps the "composite (AV)"? :
AUDIO
Sound Effect System SRS TruSurround XT
Sound Output(RMS) 10W x 2
Input & Output(Side)
HDMI 1
composite (AV) 1
S-Video 1
Headphone 1
Input & Output(Back)
HDMI 2
composite (AV) 1
S-Video 1
PC input (D-sub) 1
Component(Y/Pb/Pr) 2
I usually use a Bose system with a subwoofer and two tiny speakers I have when I watch movies. I connect it to the headphone output of the TV. How would it work with this? This is the system:
http://www.bose.com/controller?event=viewproduct_page_event&product=companion3_computerindex
Thanks again!
Message was edited by: geegeet
Message was edited by: geegeet

Apple DVI to Video Adapter on PC???? WILL IT WORK?

Will the Apple DVI to Video Adapter work on PC's as well as Apple? I own a mac but the computer I need to convert on is an older PC with a DVI port on back. Will it work? It's just an adaptor right? It cn't be built to ONLY work on mac...theres no software in that little thing.
HELP!!! before I buy

No, it won't work with a PC. It requires the video card support the adapter, and since it was made for Apple cards, chances are the PC one won't. You might be lucky, but I doubt it.

Apple DVI to Video Adapter performance issues in Lion

I'm an active Apple DVI to Video Adapter user for a couple of years already and everything worked perfectly well until I've upgraded to Lion.
Everything on my TV screen is lagging now, even mouse pointer, and there is no change to watch any movie like that.
Does anyone have the same issue? Maybe someone could give me an advice of what could I do in order to improve graphics performance on TV screen using Apple DVI to Video Adapter? I'm using late 2007 MBP with 8600M GT video adapter.

I am having the exact same problem. I have a late 2007 MBP. I use it everyday where I teach. I use the adapter to project on a large white screen using S-Video. SInce the Lion update, it is very slow and has even completely crashed my computer a few times. I realize the MBP is getting a bit dated, but the difference between Snow Leopard & Lion is remarkable.

Apple DVI to Video adapter + Mini DVI to DVI adapter pins not same

I just purchased an Apple DVI to Video adaptor so I could plug in a Mac mini to an older tv, however the pin arrangement on the Apple DVI to Video adapter is not the same as the pin arrangement on the Mini DVI to DVI adapter that came with the Mac mini.
Anyone have any idea what adapter I can use to make this connection?

Joseph Kriz wrote:
James,
I'm confused here.
Which Mini do you have?
I know you posted this in the 2009 Mac Mini section so your Mini should have 2 video out ports.
1. Mini DVI
2. Mini DisplayPort
If that is true, then there is no way you could have connected the DVI to Video adapter in your first post as the new Mini does not have a DVI port.
The new Mini's come with 1 adapter.
Mini DVI to DVI adapter.
I don't know of any Apple adapters that will output to S Video, component or composite connections on the new Mini's.
The one that osxdude shows above will not work on a new Mini. It say nothing about a Mini in their description:
*The Mini-DVI to Video adapter is designed for the iMac (Intel Core Duo), MacBook*, and 12-inch PowerBook G4, allowing you to connect to most S-video or Composite enabled devices.*
Good Luck and let us know what you find.
Yes, I have a late 2009 Mac mini. It came with the mini DVI to DVI adapter as you stated. I need to hook up to an older tv with yellow component video port. Not knowing any better, and looking online, it looked like the male DVI end of the “Apple DVI to video” adapter would connect to the female DVI end of the “Mini DVI to DVI” adapter that came with the Mac mini. I figured that since they were both DVI plugs, male and female, they would connect, but the “Apple DVI to video” adapter has 4 extra pins, so they won’t.
Then, following osxdude’s lead, I went to a local independent Apple store, and they told me that the same adapter that osxdude suggested would work, so I bought that (at an inflated price), but as you stated, it does not work. Also, as you stated, the Apple site does not list the Mac mini as being used with this adapter, which is why I did not originally purchase it online. It was only at the insistence of the independent Apple store that it would work that I purchased it. Unfortunately, once the package is opened
the store were I purchased it will not take it back. Boy... this is getting expensive, and confusing! Why so many adapters?
After much searching I found this info: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=706736&highlight=monoprice so I’m going to try that.
Once it’s all said and done, I guess I’ll be listing a few adapters on ebay!

Apple DVI to Video adapter on ATI 2600 looks horrible in Leopard.

We have a number of dual boot Mac Pros with ATI 2600 cards. We have the Apple DVI to video adapter connected to port #2, and cannot get a decent picture on an LCD monitor. Text is not only pixelated under any NTSC 60 Hz resolution, but also aliased, very badly. We've learned to tweak the video fro Quicktime playback, and sometimes have to resort to PAL 50 Hz display to make the problem a little less worse.
I accidentally booted into one of the Tiger partitions on the same box, and behold, beautiful crisp picture on the NTSC monitor via the adapter. No aliasing, no issues at all.
Is there an ATI kernel extension missing in Leopard for improved NTSC playback via the adapter?
Thanks in advance.

No, it won't work with a PC. It requires the video card support the adapter, and since it was made for Apple cards, chances are the PC one won't. You might be lucky, but I doubt it.

Apple DVI to Video Adapter working but not anymore

Hello,
I have the Apple DVI to Video Adapter connected to standard TV via Rca, This had worked for a couple of months and suddenly the image went blur with some lines, it is hard to see something clear but I see the desktop on my TV. Is there something that I am missing? Configuration? I tested the Rca cable and it's fine..
Many Thanks

On the TV side, I'll assume it works properly from other inputs and that controls on the TV's built-in menu did not get reset somehow.
On the Mac side, video output settings are stored in PRAM, so you could try resetting the PRAM if you haven't done that already.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238

Can I use the "Apple DVI to Video Adapter" with the GeForce 8600M GT?

It's all in the subject, folks. I've got an nVidia card, not ATI. Should I go ahead and buy the Apple DVI to Video Adapter to connect my MacBook Pro to my CRT Sony TV?
Thanks.
PS My May 2005 Powerbook G4 had both a DVI and sVideo connector. I used to use the latter to connect to view on the TV. Now, my Powerbook is dead...

The first review posting on the product page is:
+dosen't work on mac pro with nvidia!!!!!+
+Written by PH from hamburg+
+August 27, 2007+
Which suggests no. I have heard from an Apple Store "genius" that it does.
Both are n=1, so I'd suggest a call to the Apple Store sales line (even if you don't order it that way).

Help With Apple DVI to Video Adapter

I bought a Apple DVI to Video Adapter, which works fine when I connect my computer to my T.V. However, I want to be able to use both my monitor and my T.V. at the same time. If I connect the Apple DVI to Video Adapter to my T.V., then that takes away the port I use to connect my computer monitor. There is another port on the same card, but that size is not compatible with the plug on the of my monitor. Therefore I am limited to using either my T.V., or my computer monitor.
Is there any device I can get that allows me to connect the computer to the monitor and the T.V. at the same time?
Thanks

I thought that cables and adapters worked the same going either direction. I believed that the only concern was the male or female end points on them. Not sure anymore though

Apple MI-5 video poor compared to Netflix version

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