I've been looking for any information regarding WMV9 acceleration on video cards but haven't found much. If anyone has any links, I would appreciate it.

Doesn't MP9 rely on some processing power of a Pentium 4? I believe some of its processing is done via special instructions that are only available in the Pentium 4 chip, thus marrying Microsoft and Intel even further.

So just assume that if you don't have a P4, or some other monster video processor, forget watching this disc in HD.

It's just a novelty anyway. Eventually it'll be released again (the Excessive Edition, perhaps?) in a proper HD format, whenever that may be.

-- Jough

This could just be hype but here is something S3 mentions about their card:

Windows Media Video Post-Processing Support
Windows Media Video (WMV) is a Microsoft-defined format for compressed video streams. DeltaChrome's Chromotion engine supports post-processing on the decoded video data for both Windows Media Video version 8 and Windows Media Video version 9 compressed bit streams. DeltaChrome is also capable of
accelerating select decoding functions defined in WMV8 and WMV9.

I'd much rather see something from nVidia or ATI about this.

The equipment exists just fine, you may not own a PC capable of playing it well, but they've been available for some time now. Also, the transfer on the Ultimate edition (which I own) is not as good as this own (I also own the d-theater which also uses the same transfer as this new release) so I have seen the difference.

Personally, I wish they would encode the WMV9 version at a resolution and bitrate that won't playback on any hardware available today - because by next year and forever after it will exist, effectively making the release better as time goes by.

Cover Art (courtesy of DavisDVD):

The HD version will look freakin awesome on my HTPC and Z1.

I can't wait!

Disney has also done this with their Snow White and Beauty & Beast DVDs.

Actually there is a $5 rebate.

Where did you read that WM9 is part of DirectX9? If it is really the case, then the ATI Radeon 9500/9600/9700/9800 supports it because thses cards have officially 100% hardware support of DirectX9!

I base my statement about the pending support for WMV9 acceleration on the comments of one of the WMV9 engineers who regularly posts at avsforum.

T2 Ultimate edition is fine, there was no need for the re-re-re-release!

Hey Rocky,

The new release will have a VERY nice new transfer - for those who claim they want the best presentation of a movie possible (kinda the point of DVD) should be pleased with the new release. The purchase is worth it just for the transfer.

When you add the Cameron commentary track (the purchase is worth it just for that) and the newly produced documentaries (the disc is worth it just for them) AND an HD version of the film (albeit only computer-viewable - for now) well, it looks like there's a lot of reasons to re-release this title.

So don't buy it if you don't want to. But to talk about "need" when it comes to DVD is pretty silly. These are products, after all. No one *needs* DVDs (although some of us come close ).

-- Jough

Hey Jough

There is nothing wrong with the current version, the transfer is fine. And I will talk about the "need" all I want to, so sorry if my opinion is "silly" to you, you go ahead and keep buying the same movie over, and over and over, show them it is ok to keep you buying the same movie time and time again.

No one said there was something wrong with the current version. He said there is a BETTER version, and everyone wants the BEST version possible since that's the point of DVD.

And, I am also buying this, if not for the better version, than for the commentary track and the new extras.

And, I will also keep buying new editions of already re-re-re-released DVD's if I like the movie (Stargate, Men In Black, to name a few others) if they add a better transfer or extras that are worth my purchase.

The DVD is selling for $15, it's not like they're asking for an arm and a leg for another version!

\


Good, then your doing exactly what they want you to do. Personally, I would like the best version possible in the first release.

That's my choice. No one is forcing me. No one is forcing you.

Damn right he is! DVD's were made to make money for the movie studios. Once again, if you dont want an upgrade then dont buy it. Those who like the hobby of collecting dvd's will buy it! It aint brain surgery...

I am asking a lot, I am asking people here to think, clearly that is too hard. Send them a message with your wallet, remaster what needs to be remastered.

We did think. We thought that the extras on the disc as well as the new transfer would be well worth our $15.

Why is it so hard for you to get that? You seem to be the one that has the problem thinking.

Ok Erik, you win, be a puppet.

Oh yea, do not forget to buy the new transfer of XXX and Men in Black 2, they were put out a whole 6 months ago, those tired transfers really needed to be remastered also, and make sure to pick up the 5th release of Halloween, and don't forget to get Army of Darkness, I think I will wait for the limited number extreme edition II with the ultra HD transfer, and the interview with Arnold in the can.

Rocky,

There is some truth to what you are saying - but anyone could have guessed that xXx and MIB would one day be released in a Superbit format. These surely will be the same transfers, however UNLIKE T2.

T2 is different. It came out three years. ANY DVD that came out before 2001 needs to be re-released IMO. Compressioning and authoring techniques have improved tremendously. Compare any 1998-2000 release with a new one and you will see fewer artifacts, etc. on average.

The T2 transfer is only average at best. There are WAY too many compression artifacts as the picture looks compressed, as well. It doesn't look as film-like as other films I have seen from it's era. And, it has a lot of edge enhancement.

The new transfer will surely put this to shame. I suspect the differences between the UE and Extreme will be almost as night and day as the original Terminator I release and the MGM SE.

Finally, I sold my UE T2 on Ebay for $15.00. This essentially covers the cost of the new one. So, I don't see any big deal with all of this. I see it as just something for people to find and bitch about.

DavidH,

it sounds like we will all be surprised by the new transfer??..I was wondering because it looked like it was designed primarily for people who had a state of the art computer system which I don't..

I "only" have a 48 inch widescreen JVC HDTV..

Why did you sell your old copy??..The new edition does not have the extended cut (or is it the theatrical) + new xtras so it might be a good idea to keep both just in case

David,

First, I am not "bitching", I am allowed to express my OPINION on the topic.

Second, the T2 UE transfer is better than average.

Third, would you rather see a company re-release the same title over and over, or would you rather see them aquire the rights to a film that does need to be redone such as A Boy and his Dog?

There are so many great movies that need to be re-done, I am sorry, but T2, Halloween, Army of Darkness, MIB etc already have great versions available, I want these company's to put some effort where it needs to be put.

David, you had valid points till the last sentence, why did you bring your post to a lower level with the last statement?

True, but consider this? Why did Criterion release Armageddon and The Rock? If you buy their tired argument about showcasing blockbuster movies, well I've got some real estate in Brooklyn to show you.

It was to make money to continue releasing Bergman, Kurosawa, Hitchcock, etc. The bigger titles support the lesser titles.

The same is true for any other studio. I hope Columbia Tristar keeps re-releasing Men in Black 1 and 2, maybe someday they'll have the funds neccesary to release good versions of the Godzilla movies.

And seriously, how many people truly buy every version of every movie ever put out? And when they do, do they not usually sell the old version used? When they do, the person buying that used version, is not buying a new version. It all evens out.

Yes, we want to see the studios dip into the vaults, but face it, most people don't. It's the re-releases of those certain titles, for the majority of those people, that allows the release of catalog titles for us, a definite minority.