Theater 650 Pro Discussion

[jake123]

Thanks Mike, just getting desperate waiting and waiting. Just built this HTPC, missing the 650 to complete. Wife ready to throw me out after spending the huge (and I mean huge) bucks on this project that just sits there lonely and waiting. Getting close to wearing the paper bag on my head, know what I mean. Any hint on the "first partner" to roll it out...any hint however small would help.

[hrlslcbr]

Originally Posted by Multimedia Mike

Hi,
Just a few response comments:
hrlslcbr, edge enhancement is always on and you can't tweak it. However, don't worry it doesn't create artifacts and only improves the quality of the image.

I hope it does only that. I was worried when I read that article SHSPVR posted...

Originally Posted by Multimedia Mike

Theater 650 Pro products will support both Composite and S-video inputs. Stay tuned!

No component input (480i)? Maybe using a similar cable some ATI cards use to output component signals (I know it is for output, but it's just the idea of using the cable).

[Seraphic-]

Originally Posted by Multimedia Mike

Actual boards with the Theater 650 Pro on them should be coming out really soon, but I'm not at liberty to give you an exact date on that.

Hi,

Are we talking days or weeks?

[jake123]

When you say "not at liberty" do you mean you know and can't tell or you don't know. And if you know, are you talking before the end of the month, July? Beyond that, I really will go ahead with something else. I mean, at this rate, my HTPC project will be acient technology by then. They will probably be using sim card size disposable all-in-one systems you chew like bubble gum. LOL

[hrlslcbr]

Originally Posted by jake123

They will probably be using sim card size disposable all-in-one systems you chew like bubble gum. LOL

Nice!

Originally Posted by SHSPVR

There no onboard hardware deinterlacer just Edge enhancement if want lean more see here http://www.videophile.info/Guide_EE/Page_01.htm

Don't read that page!!! You'll start to see edge enhancement on everything!!!
( Really... I never noticed it as much as I do now...).

[Octavean]

I have heard unsubstantiated reports that ATI would “NOT” be releasing their own branded version of a Theater 650 Pro based card, instead leaving the product in the hands of partners. If I recall correctly, I already asked Multimedia Mike about this (among other things) but he was either unwilling or unable to confirm or deny this (among other things).

Iff (if and only if) this is true, then even ATI wouldn’t know when Theater 650 Pro cards will ship.

[jonaslasky]

Originally Posted by hrlslcbr

Don't read that page!!! You'll start to see edge enhancement on everything!!!
( Really... I never noticed it as much as I do now...).

Well our own eye-brain combination does something similar. Our brains enhance edges of objects. That's why even sloppy crayon fills can look pretty smooth. so maybe electronic edge enhancement is redundant.

Jonas

[jake123]

If ATI is not going to sell it, but have other "partners" do it, I have a problem with that. It's not like they don't sell their own brand products. I also agree with you that if ATI is going to have others sell their 650, they really do not have a real say in when it will be available for sale. So far, none of their "partner" are announcing it anywhere on their websites. Here's a question...if the card was "tested", given to various groups to review, then whose card was furnished to them? Was it a "partner's card", or was it ATI. If ATI, then why not just manufacture them for sale? This is become like another "WMD search".

[Octavean]

Originally Posted by jake123

If ATI is not going to sell it, but have other "partners" do it, I have a problem with that. It's not like they don't sell their own brand products. I also agree with you that if ATI is going to have others sell their 650, they really do not have a real say in when it will be available for sale. So far, none of their "partner" are announcing it anywhere on their websites. Here's a question...if the card was "tested", given to various groups to review, then whose card was furnished to them? Was it a "partner's card", or was it ATI. If ATI, then why not just manufacture them for sale? This is become like another "WMD search".

If one were to guess one would probably conclude that “reference” cards were used for reviewer evaluation rather then a finalized product. Unless the reviewer makes mention of the production state of the specimen we have no way of knowing what was actually used. In the past, ATI reference video cards were supposedly made by “Sapphire” and reference motherboards too, so perhaps a company like Sapphire made reference Theater 650 Pro cards.

[jake123]

Thats good to know. Wish they would tell us when we can really expect it to be available, and not just tease us until the cows come home. You would think "partners" would be announcing it on their website.

[Multimedia Mike]

Hi guys,
Listen, you gotta cut me some slack here. I'd be more than happy to tell you exactly when and where you can go and buy these cards, but I'm just not at liberty to do so. All I can say is that there will be Theater 650 Pro based products coming out in the near future, so stay tuned to press annoucements and websites.

[Seraphic-]

Hi Mike,

I guess I can understand you can't go into it more. But I just hope the card is out before the end of July. =D

Just a few other questions.

1. Why wasn't a onboard hardware deinterlacer put into the Theater 650 Pro?
2. What do you recommend to deinterlace captured Playstation 2 video?
3. What is the Theater 650 Pro's onboard hardware DRM (Digital Rights Management) engine used for and will I have any problems capturing the video I want?

Thanks

[hrlslcbr]

Originally Posted by jonaslasky

Well our own eye-brain combination does something similar. Our brains enhance edges of objects. That's why even sloppy crayon fills can look pretty smooth. so maybe electronic edge enhancement is redundant.

Jonas

Oh, I didn't know that. Where do we have the control panel to adjust it ?

Hi Mike,

I guess I can understand you can't go into it more. But I just hope the card is out before the end of July. =D

Just a few other questions.

1. Why wasn't a onboard hardware deinterlacer put into the Theater 650 Pro?
2. What do you recommend to deinterlace captured Playstation 2 video?
3. What is the Theater 650 Pro's onboard hardware DRM (Digital Rights Management) engine used for and will I have any problems capturing the video I want?

Thanks

I don't know about Mike, but I'd use the deinterlacer built into any current video card, which can be used with the winamp tv plug-in... (by the way, did you get that tv plug-in working?)
DRM doesn't matter if you want to use the card with a video game console.

Hi guys,
Listen, you gotta cut me some slack here. I'd be more than happy to tell you exactly when and where you can go and buy these cards, but I'm just not at liberty to do so. All I can say is that there will be Theater 650 Pro based products coming out in the near future, so stay tuned to press annoucements and websites.

It seems I'm one of the few who understand why you just can't tell us that kind of info.

But I just hope the card is out before the end of July. =D

Only 12 days left...

[Seraphic-]

No, I never got the tv-plug in to work with my Videum 1000 Plus. But maybe I'm doing it wrong or my video card is too old (Radeon 9700).

[jake123]

At this rate, NVidia will be doing their own version of a high end digital (a la 650) card. Funny, I was looking at their website at their new dualTV card, and they have a survey that ask if you would be interested in buying a high end digital card if it came out in 3 months. Of course, on the flip side, with CableCard and Vista coming out next year, the need for these two will be zip. ATI should stop announcing their new card for what seems like forever and just get this show on the road.

[Seraphic-]

Will the Theater 650 Pro work with Windows XP Pro or just with Microsoft Windows Media Center Edition?

Also, what is the big deal with CableCards? I keep hearing how they will be so much better then PCI/PCI-E based cards. How do they work?

Thanks