YouTube will do higher quality, not HD

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

November 16, 2007, 2:33 PM

YouTube is planning to upgrade the quality of its videos within the next three months, but it will not be high-definition video.

The social video company has been testing higher quality video, but it does not want to alienate its traditional users with long load times. YouTube provides content to everyone, co-founder Steve Chen said at the NewTeeVee conference.

Other sites had incorrectly reported that Chen was referring to high definition. One of the moderators of the panel at the NewTeeVee Conference where he revealed his upcoming plans for YouTube cleared the air.

"What I got out of [Chen's] comments was that YouTube's first priority is making sure everyone, everywhere, on any device, could view every video on the site. Steve actually said himself, as the commenters above are saying, that HD really doesn't make sense for the short, silly clips that are YouTube's bread and butter," Liz Gannes wrote to AlleyInsider.

This is not to say that HD is off YouTube's radar -- as it is -- but like many other content providers it just does not make sense for the site at this time. As Dan Frommer wrote for AlleyInsider, much of the content on the site currently on the site would not be viable for HD since it is not shot, edited, or uploaded in the format.

Other video sites are already providing video in HD, such as Vimeo. In fact, the site's founder Jakob Lodwick used YouTube's announcement to take a shot at the company.

"YouTube is an illicit organization built upon a self-destructive philosophy," he said. "If you are a creator, these guys do not give a [expletive] about you, neither as a person nor as a demographic."

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By Tenoq

posted Nov 18, 2007 - 6:13 PM

While my first response to this is: "Cool, Youtube really could use a bump in video quality" when I think about it, Youtube already has trouble streaming videos to me consistently. While my connection is more than capable, it seems Youtube isn't. Perhaps a bandwidth upgrade to go along with the improved video quality?

Score: 0

By yokozuna

posted Nov 17, 2007 - 2:54 AM

They should work a little harder. Divx Labs acquired MainConcept last week. MainConcept is one of the leading H.264 codec makers (Adobe, Corel, Sony, Panasonic use their version of the codec). There is no secret that Stage6.com, a site owned by Divx Labs, will be pushed toward H.264 (the use Divx 6 now). Stage6 already has quality advantage over YouTube. There will be no comparison when they will start to use H.264.

Score: 0

By extremely well

posted Nov 16, 2007 - 9:46 PM

Viddler is still the best out there technology wise.

Score: 0

By DZNetworks

posted Nov 16, 2007 - 8:47 PM

Whats the point of higher quality if you are still only limited to 10 minute videos?

Score: 0

By mdotwills

posted Nov 16, 2007 - 7:30 PM

Good, considering that YouTube is now offered through AppleTV (?), this could be interesting...

Score: 0

By DigitAl56K

edited Nov 18, 2007 - 7:49 AM

Get yourself a DivX Connected box when you can, and enjoy Stage6. The videos are higher quality and higher resolution.

http://www.divx.com/connected/news.php

Score: 0

By bobthegoat2001

posted Nov 17, 2007 - 4:36 AM

Does anyone even have an AppleTV?

Score: 0

By Program86

posted Nov 16, 2007 - 4:55 PM

'bout effin time.

Score: 0

By mrow

posted Nov 16, 2007 - 4:20 PM

Good, the quality of YouTube videos now is pretty sad. If they're worried so much about longer loads for people with slower connections, why not have the player detect the persons speed and scale up or scale down the video accordingly?

Score: 0

By romanski@pdx.edu

posted Nov 16, 2007 - 3:25 PM

Before YouTube was purchased, the bandwidth bill was $1,000,000 per month. I wonder how much it will be after this.

I believe that YouTube is a great tool in the arsenal in the infowar against the globalist elite who sell us slick propoganda.

I think that films such as Terrorstorm are such an example of a counterattack against the millenial reign of terror.

Excellent film on government sponsored terror
http://video.google.com/...ocid=786048453686176230

Score: 0

By sega

edited Nov 16, 2007 - 7:35 PM

Alex Jones, the person who made Terrorstorm is a disinformation agent. There is a good article about him here.
http://iamthewitness.com/Alex-Jones-summary.html

And a nice video on YouTube by someone called prothink.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-mFOQE5QRmk

Personally I believe he is damage control for the "globalist elite", he is just another person selling propaganda.

Score: 0

By kashin

posted Nov 17, 2007 - 10:36 PM

Americans only buy into propaganda if it comes straight from the highest level of their own government.

Score: 0

By imafurby

posted Nov 18, 2007 - 10:07 AM

yes Rosie.

Score: 0

By imafurby

posted Nov 16, 2007 - 10:30 PM

Correction... Alex Jones is a nutcase, and so is the person who wrote the article about him if you ask me, but I do love all this "intrigue".

Score: 0

By imafurby

posted Nov 16, 2007 - 3:38 PM

globalist elite?, millenial reign of terror?

When your stupid video opens with a shot of the Pentagon, you're in "Loose Change" territory for sure, but I could be wrong.

Higher quality videos indeed. Less of that garbage if you don't mind.

Score: 0