November 24, 2008

More Space for YouTube Videos

YouTube's Google Video-ization continues by using more space for the player and less space for the sidebar. YouTube changed the aspect ratio from 4:3 to 16:9, generally used for high-definition TV. Since the videos aren't yet converted to a widescreen format, you'll see an annoying pillar box effect.

"The pillar box effect occurs in widescreen video displays when black bars (mattes or masking) are placed on the sides of the image. It becomes necessary when film or video that was not originally designed for widescreen is shown on a widescreen display, or a narrower widescreen image is displayed within a wider aspect ratio."


{ Thanks, Mark. }

16 comments:

  1. It make sense that they will go for a wide screen format

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  2. It looks like Youtube test the 16/9 format (on many 4/3 video too)

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  3. Only 16:9 videos should be displayed this way.

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  4. only to me this change make loss audio stream?

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  5. It's a logical progression to have videos displayed like this. More and more screens are becoming wide screen oriented especially as things move towards HD. Given time you'll be able to easily appreciate this. I have a 16:10 Laptop and a 4:3 Desktop Monitor, but when it comes time for me to replace my CRT I wouldn't get anything but a wide screen with the way things are going. In the mean time, the videos will be the same size (in non-full screen format) as they're expanding the size of the window, so thank you Google.

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  6. People are annoyed by the presence of two black rectangles?!?

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  7. "Annoying pillar box effect"? Yeah...sure hampers the viewing enjoyment.../rolleyes

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  8. What's worse than the pillar box is videos that were uploaded in a letterboxed widescreen format. Now they have a thick black border all the way around.

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  9. Being mostly digital in Australia now, most of the flat panel screens in homes are widescreen and 16:9 and we are quite used to the side panels for old 4:3 presentations on it. In some cases TV stations to a nice side blocking, repeating the video content in a masked/blurred mirror or in some cases do a magnify of the pic to fill more of the space. Maybe the uploaders will get some choice when sending some 4:3 vid on how its presented in the 16:9 format on YT.

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  10. in general, i'm somewhat more annoyed by the content inbetween those black boxes.

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  11. Finaly, not a day too early.

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  12. mark said on November 26, 2008 12:00 AM PDT:
    in general, i'm somewhat more annoyed by the content inbetween those black boxes.

    LOLOLOLOLOLOL !!!

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  13. I've noticed that since recently a lot of Youtube videos links are "no more available"

    That's boring and makes me turn to Dailymotion and others video providers.

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  14. Finally the widescreen boom came to youtube!

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  15. Thank you, can any one advise the best settings for adobe premiere cs4. my digital video camera takes 16:9,. but am confused as to the adobe premiere settnigs to begin with.

    thanks for any help

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