I've groused about not being able to watch the HD WMP version of Terminator 2 from my own DVD because my fast PC isn't web-connected and can't get the DRM license. This morning I was able to watch some similar content thanks to www.wmvhd.com. There are a number of samples available at 720p and 1080p. I chose the smaller display of the coral reef adventure for my P4-1.8, which is still below the recommended system requirement. This particular file was an 84 MB download, and the quality is staggering. So, if you're curious about what HD wmv looks like - and whether or not your system is up to playing it - head to
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/content_provider/film/ContentShowcase.aspx

You can get there via http://www.wmvhd.com too.

David Hurdon

I've tried to watch the clips and, of course, didn't accomplish anything. However, I did use Windows Media Encoder to produce smaller, more usable videos that look amazing. I'm very impressed with Windows Media Encoder's ability and wish it was available for my Mac. But when trying to watch the 720p and 1080p, it looks like all they did was crank the bitrate up to an extreme, unusable on most computers, level (almost 9000kBps). Can't any encoder potentially do that?

You'll need a very fast PC to watch those HiDef WM movies. I'd
say AMD 2800+ (Intel 2500+ probably) CPU at least. I can't play
any of it back fast enough with my AMD 2200+ CPU. Looks
stunning though.

Hey, it's all changing...I have the JVC HD10u prosumer HD camera. It shoots HD similar to what you are seeing at that site www.wmhd.com - of course, I don't have the inscredible lenses etc.

Anyway, for $3,000 you can shoot similar looking footage. Checkout some of the clips on the HDV forums...you can download some stuff there. It's pretty amazing.

Murph

Nicholi, my media player displayed a bit rate of 6880 best I can remember on the 720p files, and they played perfectly in full screen with my P4-1.8 and a 128 MB vid card. The plug-in WME9 for Premiere 6.5 will encode very high bit rates, but not that high if I recall correctly. I'll have to look again. Perhaps they don't offer the option because the NLE they built the plug-in for won't handle hi-def input(?)

David Hurdon