HD, wasn't this supposed to fix the letterbox issue?

[Daniel W. Rouse Jr.]

I'm discussing shows here, not movies. Resolved: 2.35:1 or higher movies
will have black bars, those movies pre-date HDTVs.

However... here are the 1.8:1 aspect ratio TVs and the program usually fits
nicely on the widescreen without any letterbox black bars. At the same time,
I've noticed an annoying trend--several of the commercials have had black
bars, using a wider than 1.8:1 aspect ratio. Specifically, I noticed this
was especially true on NBC Sports Network--nearly every commercial during
Olympics coverage had black bars, letterboxing even on HD. (Aside from
noticing the letterboxing on HD, these commercials can otherwise be ignored
as in between program annoyances but the lack of used screen space is
immediately noticeable.)

I hope the programs are not eventually influenced by the commercials? I
mean, they letterboxed 4:3 to get viewers to get the widescreen TVs, many
viewers now have widescreen TVs, so why create another problem of unused
screen space?

[Gene E. Bloch]

Twice you used the number 1.8 as an aspect ration, whereas the actual
value is 1.7777....

I am deeply concerned about your unused digit space.

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

[Kimba W Lion]

"Daniel W. Rouse Jr." <dwro...@nethere.comNOSPAM> wrote:

>However... here are the 1.8:1 aspect ratio TVs and the program usually fits
>nicely on the widescreen without any letterbox black bars. At the same time,
>I've noticed an annoying trend--several of the commercials have had black
>bars, using a wider than 1.8:1 aspect ratio. Specifically, I noticed this
>was especially true on NBC Sports Network--nearly every commercial during
>Olympics coverage had black bars, letterboxing even on HD. (Aside from
>noticing the letterboxing on HD, these commercials can otherwise be ignored
>as in between program annoyances but the lack of used screen space is
>immediately noticeable.)

Watch the picture, not the blank spaces.

[Bill Gill]

This may have something to do with the TV I noticed at a Pizza Parlor.
It appears that the screen is extra wide. I mean even wider that HD.
The one I saw always has sports on it, and there are various other
things shown in the extra area on the sides.

Bill

[whosbest54]

In article <F-ydnWlEL7fSyLHN...@nethere.com>,
dwro...@nethere.comNOSPAM says...

I haven't seen any evidence that original new HD programming on any network
I've watched will use any aspect ratio other than 16x9. I wouldn't worry
about it.

A few SD commercials are 4x3 pillarbox, some are 16x9 letterbox inside 4x3
pillarbox. A couple HD commercials, notably IBM, purposely produce
commercials that are a different aspect ratio and are letterbox with blue
bars at the top and bottom. I think they do it because they think it will
get your attention.

I haven't seen NBC Sports Network, but it almost sounds like there was a
problem with their commercials vid format that they originated or the TV
interprets something incorrectly and displays it wrong.

whosbest54
--
The flamewars are over...if you want it.

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[whosbest54]

In article <F-ydnWlEL7fSyLHN...@nethere.com>,
dwro...@nethere.comNOSPAM says...

Just saw NBC Sports at a bar on a HD set in HD. The HD commercials filled
the screen, with the exception of the always present sports ticker at the
bottom. Don't know what caused you to see black bars at the top and bottom.

[J G Miller]

On Fri, 17 Aug 2012 13:01:10 -0500, whosbest54 wrote:

> Don't know what caused you to see black bars at the top and bottom.

Some commercials are deliberately made with a wider aspect ratio than
16:9 in order to appear "cinematic".

Also note that for a while, Philips (when they were still making TVs for
home use) did sell a model that was 21:9 extra-cinema-wide.

As far as I am aware it was a flop because of its much higher premium
price and that 16:9 material (which it would be used for most of the time)
was pillarboxed.

<http://www.pocket-lint.COM/news/35359/philips-3d-219-cinema-television>

<http://www.televisions.COM/tvs/philips-televisions/philips-lcd-tvs/Philips-Cinema-219---56-PFL-9954-H.php>

[whosbest54]

In article <k0m4ct$jij$1...@dont-email.me>, mil...@yoyo.ORG says...

>On Fri, 17 Aug 2012 13:01:10 -0500, whosbest54 wrote:
>
>> Don't know what caused you to see black bars at the top and bottom.
>
>Some commercials are deliberately made with a wider aspect ratio than
>16:9 in order to appear "cinematic".
>

Yep, I already mention one advertiser that does that in first post to this
thread - IBM.

[G-squared]

This chart was done at ADS to show the variety of possibilities. Clients get confused too.

http://www.digitalcinemasociety.org/downloads/AspectRatiocharts.pdf

G²

[Drewdove]

> G�

The dreaded black bars are thinner with 2.35 on HDTV than 16x9 are on the
old square tube.

I still have a laserdisc player where many of the titles are letterboxed
because true videophiles (those who have LD players) would rather have OAR
than pan-n-scan. To the rest they got VHS.

Like many I watch the picture, not the spaces above and below.

[Ant]

On 8/25/2012 7:13 PM PT, Drewdove typed:

> Like many I watch the picture, not the spaces above and below.

Ditto. I want the whole picture. I don't mind the black bars!
--
"All good work is done the way ants do things: Little by little."
--Lafcadio Hearn
/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
/ /\ /\ \ Ant's Quality Foraged Links: http://aqfl.net
| |o o| |
\ _ / If crediting, then use Ant nickname and AQFL URL/link.
( ) If e-mailing, then axe ANT from its address if needed.
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on this computer.

[the dog from that film you saw]

On 26/08/2012 03:13, Drewdove wrote:


>
> I still have a laserdisc player where many of the titles are letterboxed
> because true videophiles (those who have LD players) would rather have OAR
> than pan-n-scan. To the rest they got VHS.
>
> Like many I watch the picture, not the spaces above and below.
>
>

i hope you're putting your tv in zoom mode then - because laserdiscs
were non anamorphic and will be the wrong shape if you don't.

--
Gareth.
That fly.... Is your magic wand.

[clover]

On 8/26/2012 6:46 AM, Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
> In article <k1c0ns$v3g$1...@dont-email.me>, "Drewdove" <che...@juno.com>
> wrote:
>
>> The dreaded black bars
>
> so, you go into the whole thing with the definition that the black bars
> are "dreaded".
>
> And why is that?
>
> I guess you don't go to movies, where they adjust the top and side
> curtains dynamically depending on the movie they're showing--that is,
> every movie can have its own aspect ratio as defined by the director.
> There is no one standard, but you want there to be and therefore by
> definition any divergence from that is "dreaded".
>
> "I bought all that TV screen, and by God I will see it all used!!"
>

I thought that the choice to 'zoom' a TV picture in or out was a user
option in many, if not all, modern TV sets. It is certainly so on each
set, or the player feeding the a/v to the set, here. Recently, we
rented (or should I say, NetFlixed) two old, pre 1952, and favorite
movies which had been released on Blu-Ray. As the picture quality was
great, I zoomed, in aspect, to 16:9 and felt no loss at all for the top
and bottom cropping. Similarly, several 2.35 videos can lose their
edges without degrading content in any way. Some find black bars
"dreaded," I find them disposable. It's why there are options
now-a-days. WTFAY to tell anyone else how they should watch or what
they should appreciate? Your dictatorial standards are by no means of
interest to me. The 'pure' proselytizing purity smacks of a JW mind
set, compelled to sell their adopted standards door-to-door for their
remaining time on earth;-)

[clover]

On 8/26/2012 10:22 AM, Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
> In article <H5CdnaBOionHz6fN...@giganews.com>,

> clover <clo...@invalid.nul> wrote:
>
>> Recently, we
>> rented (or should I say, NetFlixed) two old, pre 1952, and favorite
>> movies which had been released on Blu-Ray. As the picture quality was
>> great, I zoomed, in aspect, to 16:9 and felt no loss at all for the top
>> and bottom cropping.
>

> that is to say, your OCD about the "dreaded black bars" and how they are
> "just wrong!" overcame any desire you had to see the *actual* movie
> itself.
>
> You're so busy seeing the screen, you can't see the story being played
> on it.
>
Some of us can multitask! Sorry you're not among us;-)

[Drewdove]

Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
> In article <k1c0ns$v3g$1...@dont-email.me>, "Drewdove" <che...@juno.com>
> wrote:
>
>> The dreaded black bars
>
> so, you go into the whole thing with the definition that the black
> bars are "dreaded".
>
> And why is that?

I was being sarcastic. I thought the rest of my post made that clear.

> I guess you don't go to movies, where they adjust the top and side
> curtains dynamically depending on the movie they're showing--that is,
> every movie can have its own aspect ratio as defined by the director.
> There is no one standard, but you want there to be and therefore by
> definition any divergence from that is "dreaded".
>
> "I bought all that TV screen, and by God I will see it all used!!"

Drewdove wrote : Like many I watch the picture, not the spaces above and
below.

>:P

[Gene E. Bloch]

On Sun, 26 Aug 2012 13:24:05 -0400, Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:

> In article <H5CdnaBOionHz6fN...@giganews.com>,
> clover <clo...@invalid.nul> wrote:
>

>> WTFAY to tell anyone else how they should watch or what
>> they should appreciate?
>

> You can watch what you want. I will continue to call you insane for
> your insistence on being bothered by the "black bars" and for filling up
> the screen, because you're too busy watching the screen to watch the
> story being displayed on it.
>
> I can only wonder the level of anxiety you will exhibit in theaters now
> that you know they adjust the curtains because no movie uses the entire
> screen. You'll see nothing but the curtains for your $14.50.

You seem to be unaware that clover is not the OP.

[clover]

On 8/26/2012 5:24 PM, Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
> In article <16Cdnfl_XKvB_KfN...@giganews.com>,

> clover <clo...@invalid.nul> wrote:
>
>>> You're so busy seeing the screen, you can't see the story being played
>>> on it.
>>>

A specious argument at best. Were you truly enrapt by the story, you'd
not notice the aspect ratio. Thus my comment on multitasking, as I
notice both and manipulate the only one of which I can to best satisfy
myself.

>> Some of us can multitask! Sorry you're not among us;-)
>

> You mean, some of you are extremely OCD and can't relax. Right, Sheldon?
>

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD): an anxiety disorder characterized
by repetitive thoughts which produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or
worry causing driven behaviors. Reads, to me, like a description of a
majority of your Usenet posts. Whereas, I've said nothing indicating
repetitiveness in my behavior. In literally multi-thousands of video
viewings, I've changed the aspect ratio perhaps tens of dozens of times.
And yes, I've relished it every time, feeling smug in my control of my
entertainment environment;-)

Grasping for straws, Shag ?

[clover]

On 8/27/2012 3:46 AM, Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
> In article <BuWdnVepRY6Cn6bN...@giganews.com>,

> clover <clo...@invalid.nul> wrote:
>
>> Whereas, I've said nothing indicating
>> repetitiveness in my behavior. In literally multi-thousands of video
>> viewings, I've changed the aspect ratio perhaps tens of dozens of times.
>

> It's not your behavior, it's your OCD on noticing the black bars every
> time.
>
Hmmmm, somehow I thought I'd made it clear that I do not see black bars
on selected videos, because they've been removed. Were their removal
OCD, I suppose I'd then have to reinstate the black bars so that I could
remove them again and again and etc. Is English not your native language?

[clover]

On 8/28/2012 6:04 PM, Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
> In article <q8ednV7ZxKZVaqHN...@giganews.com>,

> clover <clo...@invalid.nul> wrote:
>
>> Hmmmm, somehow I thought I'd made it clear that I do not see black bars
>> on selected videos, because they've been removed.
>

> ...by your zooming, because first you *did* see them and they bothered
> you intensely.
>

You're apparently describing the way *you* feel about my preferences.
"Intensely" is *your* adverb because its one with which you are
intimately familiar. As I've already said: if you're truly content
driven, you'd care less how the video is cropped. You seem to have the
attributes regarding this matter that you wish to attribute to me. It
seems your more enrapt by the boxed image than the story. Pot . . .
kettle . . . ;-) And, if I was bothered "intensely" so easily, I'd
merely ignore your posts. But, like altering frame sizes, which I
enjoy, I'm quite enjoying your blathering! I suppose you could, if you
calmed down, actually tell me why it's so important to you how I watch
video. But I doubt that you have any idea. You just have an untenable
position and it's vital to you to appear to defend it with vigor.