Database Users

Poor video recording compared to Moto Droid?

I've done a whole battery of video recording comparisons with my Moto an HTC droids. My main findings are thus:
1. Moto video is much smoother and the light balancing is also sm oother. I find that the Incredible videos are very jumpy and the light brightness also shifts very ruggedly. It is mildly better when I record at the 640x480 instead of 800x480.
2. The video data rates are nearly twice as large on the Moto droid (approx 3600kbps) than the incredible (approx 2000kbps)
3. Audio bit rates are significantly better on the Moto. 98kbps vs 12kbps for the Incredible.
Now, am I just crazy, or has anyone else noticed this? I mean, I almost get sick just watching the jumpy video for the incredible, but video from the Moto seems so smooth.
Sent from my ADR6300 using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

no way. the moto droid noise level is so high when recording.

I'm really having a hard time appreciating much of a difference in noise levels. What about the jumpiness I am speaking of? Trust me, I want to believe that the Incredible is better, but I'm just not seeing it. Audio is hands down better on the Moto. Maybe I can link some sample videos later if I get time.
Sent from my ADR6300 using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

I wonder if HTC has some work to do here. I even saw the moto droid vs DI picture article online.
I have both, so I did an informal test, and the DI has some color cast, but it has more detail to work with in Adobe CS.
I also noticed that it's not sharpening like it should. For those in the DSLR realm, take a raw file.... you have to sharpen it or basically "post process" it for sharpening.
I don't want to take these steps, hopefully HTC will step up here. Get the function down in the phone and you will have much better pics than anything out there in it's class

Good points, and I agree that photos give more detail to work with, but I'm speaking soley about the video quality.
Sent from my ADR6300 using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

Check out this link for a good video comparison. Seems I'm not just going crazy, but that the Motorola actually does record video better than the Incredible. What a shame.
When looking at the video, take note of how the vehicles driving by are "jerky". I can't understand why this is the case when the Incredible supposedly records at a higher frame rate. Does anyone know if this kind of thing can be addressed in a future software update??
http://www.phonearena.com/htmls/Mot...ncredible-side-by-side-review-r_2432-p_2.html

720p
I believe that the Moto Driod does DVD Quality 720p HD in its specs, where our phone MAY have the hardware capability, but the software has not been configured that way. Hopefully when we're rooted, and someone created a custom rom, that will be fixed

Nexus One, why not 720p officially

Just to start a discussion.
everyone knows N1 is capable of doing video recording on 720p.
I am just wondering, why google does not officially release such capability? Or do you think they just want user to root it and do whatever they want? Desire has it anyway.
I am so looking forward to an official 720p, if it ever happens.

Because of the bit rate and frame rate. It's not good enough to do it over 24 FPS consistently.

evilkorn said:
Because of the bit rate and frame rate. It's not good enough to do it over 24 FPS consistently.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because of the lens?

zachthemaster said:
Because of the lens?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok, that too. ;-)
it does a really nice job @ 800xwhatever, but 720p is just too much. it starts having artifacts if there is any motion at all, and any panning/tilting turns the picture terrible. just what i've experienced.

using the latest CM6 nightly i have yet to come across any issues with it, i actually like it, but yea compare it to a real HD camera (not the Evo) but a handheld camera the 720p is crap

slowz3r said:
using the latest CM6 nightly i have yet to come across any issues with it, i actually like it, but yea compare it to a real HD camera (not the Evo) but a handheld camera the 720p is crap
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah. But that's obvious. You spend probably around 300 for a good 720p camera ya know?
I hate to bring it up, but why can the iPhone 4 handle HD video so well? It has a 5MP sensor just like the N1. Any ideas? Because I know this sensor could handle it if the iPhone's could. Am I wrong?
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

evilkorn said:
Because of the bit rate and frame rate. It's not good enough to do it over 24 FPS consistently.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well rooted N1s and desires are able to do it. Better than what HTC gave in the official froyo update too.

zachthemaster said:
Yeah. But that's obvious. You spend probably around 300 for a good 720p camera ya know?
I hate to bring it up, but why can the iPhone 4 handle HD video so well? It has a 5MP sensor just like the N1. Any ideas? Because I know this sensor could handle it if the iPhone's could. Am I wrong?
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think it's the sensor. I think it has to do with how fast the phone can take data from that sensor and do something with it. It can't keep up with the camera flooding it with data at 24 FPS at 720p.

zachthemaster said:
Yeah. But that's obvious. You spend probably around 300 for a good 720p camera ya know?
I hate to bring it up, but why can the iPhone 4 handle HD video so well? It has a 5MP sensor just like the N1. Any ideas? Because I know this sensor could handle it if the iPhone's could. Am I wrong?
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
megapixel sensor size doesn't equate to the quality of a camera.
The hardware in the iphone4 is better than that of the nexus one.

JCopernicus said:
megapixel sensor size doesn't equate to the quality of a camera.
The hardware in the iphone4 is better than that of the nexus one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I knew that. I didn't know if the iPhone's hardware was better. I didn't think it was.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

It's all about politics, they don't want to sell you a phone that can do everything, they want you to spend more money on the next best thing. That's the consumer market for you

Stea1thmode said:
It's all about politics, they don't want to sell you a phone that can do everything, they want you to spend more money on the next best thing. That's the consumer market for you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aka, see Google Nexus One.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

Stea1thmode said:
It's all about politics, they don't want to sell you a phone that can do everything, they want you to spend more money on the next best thing. That's the consumer market for you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A bit better (and closer to the truth) explanation would be:
Google have X engineering "horsepower" that can only do Y stuff in a given amount of time. They can:
1) Spend more time upgrading their DEVELOPER phone capabilities (which was never intended to be anything but developer phone) for the sake of the VERY FEW customers that bought this phone while it was in commercial stage (Nexus owners are a tiny percentage of Android device owners),
2) Spend more time enhancing Android system for ALL the current and future customers of ALL phone manufacturers.
Guess which one they would prefer? Not a hard guess, right?
Yes, unfortunately, it's not the one you would prefer.
The same goes for "why not improved graphics driver", "why not improved N support", etc.

I 2nd that.I think that Google engineers are more into improving android os as a whole.
OP,didn't you notice how many updates and radios the desire has compared to ours?
Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk

The iphone4 does 720p and movement really, really well, i was shocked, and admittedly a little jealous. When it is said that the Iphone4's "hardware" is better, is it that the I4's hardware has better quality, or does it just have better specs? In other words, the I4 doesnt have a full ghz processor right? But is it just much better quality? I dont really know what im talking about im just very interested in 720/HD recording on smartphones, definitely a prerequisite going forward...thanks

DMaverick50 said:
The iphone4 does 720p and movement really, really well, i was shocked, and admittedly a little jealous. When it is said that the Iphone4's "hardware" is better, is it that the I4's hardware has better quality, or does it just have better specs? In other words, the I4 doesnt have a full ghz processor right? But is it just much better quality? I dont really know what im talking about im just very interested in 720/HD recording on smartphones, definitely a prerequisite going forward...thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, even when I tested the iPhone 2G camera that has 2MP sensor, it's photo quality was alot better than my Nexus. just the resolution is bigger in Nexus. and iPhone 4 has a Apple A4 1 GHZ processor, that equals almost the same CPU on Nexus but with different GPU on iPhone (PowerVR SGX). it just does it really really well.

The CPU and its main frequency has exactly nothing to do w/ video encoding, most probably. Encoding/decoding in small-scale devices is usually implemented by separate subsystems (packaged with the CPU - that's why they call it SoC).

Jack_R1 said:
The CPU and its main frequency has exactly nothing to do w/ video encoding, most probably. Encoding/decoding in small-scale devices is usually implemented by separate subsystems (packaged with the CPU - that's why they call it SoC).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i see, so Apple spent a good deal of efforts to specifically make the camera so good...It wasnt just that they made the phone well, and in turn that solid hardware allowed for good camera quality.
I dont even use the N1 video recorder very often but for some reason I really want better capabilities, maybe if I did have much higher fps and resolution I would use it a lot. Currently the fps are really poor, any movement is a blur regardless of the amount of light. And of course 480 is quite dated. But the phone is otherwise top notch, and the 5mp camera is really solid and i use it a lot, under varied conditions.

I imagine the internal memory vs. whatever SD card a normal consumer would get might also play a part. The Android devices that do have 720p officially all have internal memory ( >1GB ), right? So the manufacturers can control the quality of memory used. I would think that Google/HTC would get lots more complaints from the general population who got bargain basement cards from the back of a truck and expected everything to perform flawlessly. I also agree with above points about the hardware and subsystems. So many variables. But that's also why I like the Android platform. You have a choice (and not just 16GB vs. 32GB locked to one carrier with a contract).

zachthemaster said:
Yeah. But that's obvious. You spend probably around 300 for a good 720p camera ya know?
I hate to bring it up, but why can the iPhone 4 handle HD video so well? It has a 5MP sensor just like the N1. Any ideas? Because I know this sensor could handle it if the iPhone's could. Am I wrong?
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IF I remember correctly, Charansingh said the Iphone achieved 720p by duplicating the image thereby increasing fps to achieve 720p...or something like that. The amount of available light controls the phones ability to reach higher fps. I've gotten 26fps outdoors in bright light. The N1 is set to a max of 30fps, but will only do 1/2 of that indoors. fwiw

720P recording

I love everything about the G2 besides our video cam peformance... i used an Epic 4G and the video was night & day difference, i couldnt believe how nice it looked compared to our G2's.
I envy Epic 4G (Samsung Galaxy S phone) users and iPhone 4 users.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

i havent actually had any issues with the 720p. The iphone 4 does record the best though. i wasnt too impressed with the sgs though.
SD card maybe?

Trust me, the Epic 4G in 720p was a night & day difference. I couldnt believe how smooth it recorded compared to my G2. My videos were slow & choppy @ 720p while the Epic 4G was smooth like an iPhone 4G.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

I've never seen another phone record HD video better than an iPhone 4. That being said, if you step down the quality on the G2 it actually looks pretty good. Also the macro on the camera is surprisingly good with adequate lighting.

Youre kiddin' right? The G2's 720p recording at low light is horrible, which is a real disappointment!
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

TL24 said:
Youre kiddin' right? The G2's 720p recording at low light is horrible, which is a real disappointment!
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kidding about what?

sciphonic said:
Kidding about what?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
About the G2's quality... the G2 only does good in a decent lit place but at low light its horrible, just horrible man...
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

I didn't even mention the 720p recording, but I agree it's below average in the current crop of smartphones. The thing is, all phones are pretty bad in low light so I don't think that's a good reason to hate on the camera. When I shoot outside with the G2 on lower quality it does look good, plain and simple.

Meh, its a phone. I dont expect good HD performance from it. If i want good HD performance I'll use my full 1080p camcorder.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 running Cyanogenmod.

Yeah i know what you mean, but it would be nice to have a phone that can record 720p like the Galaxy S & iPhone 4.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

go get a freakin iphone then. wtf.

urfavoritemazn said:
go get a freakin iphone then. wtf.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great, now we have a fanboy gettin' mad.. buddy, relax... just because i said the iPhone 4 records a better 720p video doesnt mean i think the iPhone 4 is better.
The G2 isnt perfect and im only pointing out the obvious. Smoke a blunt will ya?
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

Im gonna second that the iphone 4 is the best

urfavoritemazn said:
go get a freakin iphone then. wtf.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hate when people do that. He doesn't want an iphone, he wants the g2 to step it up. :/
Anyways, another issue is the horrid codec they use.. I use my ipod touch to record videos because the sound quality is ten times better.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

icolorado303 said:
Im gonna second that the iphone 4 is the best
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uh no it's not. Have you seen the quality of the Nokia N8. Blows away the IP4.
Low light is exceptional, dual mic recording, very high bitrate recording etc...
See here: http://vimeo.com/14903500
I think the OP has a point. If they are going to offer 720P then why not make a lens and sensor that is capable of producing a decent quality video.
Can you imagine if you took the quality of the hardware of a Nokia camera and combined it the awesomeness of Android?
I had the N8 and IP4 but I love the versatility of Android and had to come back. Telling people to go buy an iPhone is not the right reaction. Telling HTC to make a damn good camera for once is!

Blue1k said:
Can you imagine if you took the quality of the hardware of a Nokia camera and combined it the awesomeness of Android?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YES ! I can imagine an expensive phone.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 running Cyanogenmod.

ibemad1 said:
YES ! I can imagine an expensive phone.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 running Cyanogenmod.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like the G2 is cheaper than the N8? lol
I don't mind paying for quality.

Right, if you're going to advertise "720p video at 30fps!!!" then actually meet that quote. The G2 is one of the best Android phone out there so it's a shame that they can't even include a decent lens/sensor that actually records at 720p @ 30fps.
Not a deal breaker, but like i said it's lame to see a Samsung Galaxy S phone capable of doing it but we can't on ours because of some cheap ass lens/sensor/hardware limitation.
Oh and the audio quality is just horrible too - and yes i know, if i want HD video with good quality audio/video use a camcorder. But you know I paid good money for these new devices and they are advertising good quality video/audio so why settle for less? Unless you have a camcorder with you everywhere you go, your phone is sometimes the only option to capture events that maybe only happens once in a lifetime.
Just a thought.

Although I love the g2 I side with the ones saying video is kinda mediocre... G2 kicks butt in benchmarks and etc, so I was expecting video to be up there too.. the quality is iffy, esp don't like the bad audio quality.. to be honest it seems its like my G1 only in "HD"
I don't like to settle for less.. usually... but when other phones do a lot better.. eh.
However id take physical keyboard over smooth hd
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

Just buy a camcorder!!
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

Video of band Recorded live in show with ATRIX

Just thought I shared a video of how AWESOME video and sound quality is of the ATRIX video camera at 720. This is of the band ANKLA that visited Puerto Rico last night.
youtu.be/UBDY3SauqHg?hd=1

Atrix video looks good on 720p @ 30fps until you move camera from a static position and start to pan. Very evident in your video, and videos I have done myself. The jitter is very bad when you move the Atrix around, even if done slowly. Also, movement very close to the phone will look like Age of Conan running on a Pentium 4 with everything set on high.
Audio came out really good which is surprising for a phone.

yay for non-Apple Products!
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20068404-1/apple-patent-suggests-infrared-sensors-for-iphone/

Techcruncher said:
yay for non-Apple Products!
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20068404-1/apple-patent-suggests-infrared-sensors-for-iphone/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very interesting!
Beamed in from WinBorg 4G via XDA Premium app

Techcruncher said:
yay for non-Apple Products!
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20068404-1/apple-patent-suggests-infrared-sensors-for-iphone/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
More control of your device that you own without your permission.
I think its sad that they're going to these lengths, people record it for personal memory and its not going to be massive sellable quality so whats the problem?
I must say though, that video quality is amazing albeit a little bit of jitter here and there.

[Q] Gear VR - is it worth it?

Hey, I don't have the Note 4 yet, but really interested simply for the Gear VR.
My main concern is, is the resolution enough to comfortably (and enjoyably) watch a full HD movie on it?
Any thoughts? I am actually dying to know (without making an expensive mistake of course)!
Thanks.

not worth it. best to wait until we get actual decent 3D goggles with high res screens for each eye.
the only good experience ive had with 3D was with two 4K high res projectors with horizontal+vertical polarization and polarized glasses. worked extremely well.

It depends what you expect. Resolution is about 720p. If you into watching movies or technology lover then is a must. Otherwise you can live without. I got mine and I like it. For a long time we cant expect product what will satisfy everyone.
Sent from my SM-N910T using XDA Free mobile app

zurkx said:
not worth it. best to wait until we get actual decent 3D goggles with high res screens for each eye.
the only good experience ive had with 3D was with two 4K high res projectors with horizontal+vertical polarization and polarized glasses. worked extremely well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey! that's an entirely different technology and an unfair comparison! right? that's not immersive 3D.

darekz said:
It depends what you expect. Resolution is about 720p. If you into watching movies or technology lover then is a must. Otherwise you can live without. I got mine and I like it. For a long time we cant expect product what will satisfy everyone.
Sent from my SM-N910T using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's true, but can you comfortably watch an entire movie; does it feel as comfortable as watching a 720p movie on YouTube, or are you bothered by the pixels?

For me is ok. I can watch whole movie laying in bed and looking at the ceiling. Pixels, hmm if you think about them and concentrate on them, then they are there. If you into movie then they are gone. You need to realize that picture bever going to be perfectly sharp but that is the way how optics work. Phone is only about 1.5" from the face.
Sent from my SM-N910T using XDA Free mobile app

Is there an adjustment for those that need reading glasses for up close material?
Sent from my TF700T using Tapatalk

awilson77584 said:
Is there an adjustment for those that need reading glasses for up close material?
Sent from my TF700T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Gear VR does indeed come with an adjustment dial; however, I just leave it on the setting closest to my face because that seems to be the best setting [for me].
nirpaudyal said:
That's true, but can you comfortably watch an entire movie; does it feel as comfortable as watching a 720p movie on YouTube, or are you bothered by the pixels?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Although everyone's experience it different, I do not have an issue watching an entire [3D] movie with the Gear on. Is it the most comfortable thing though? Probably not :silly: The pixel issue or screen door effect (or whatever it's called) is definitely there and I won't deny that, but it doesn't bother me in the slightest unless I intentionally look for them pixels
nirpaudyal said:
Hey, I don't have the Note 4 yet, but really interested simply for the Gear VR.
My main concern is, is the resolution enough to comfortably (and enjoyably) watch a full HD movie on it?
Any thoughts? I am actually dying to know (without making an expensive mistake of course)!
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personally, I think the $200 price tag is nothing for someone who can afford a Note 4.
Think of it like this: $200 for a full 360 degree experience with games and a cinema mode that mimics a screen size that feels larger than anything that can fit in a typical house.
In the end, the decision will be entirely yours.

Have u tried Google cardboard? There are quite a few apps that support it. You can watch 3d trailer from YouTube. The effect is quite good. However, you still able to see pixels on note 4. I guess gear vr will be the same
Sent from my SM-P605 using XDA Premium HD app

torickray said:
Have u tried Google cardboard? There are quite a few apps that support it. You can watch 3d trailer from YouTube. The effect is quite good. However, you still able to see pixels on note 4. I guess gear vr will be the same
Sent from my SM-P605 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually installed google carboard app on my note and use it with gear vr. It is not the same. Google carboard experience makes me feel like im ready to throw up while oculus app gives very smooth experience i can enjoy for hours. Gear vr has gyro build in and being used by oculus app while carboard relies on phone sensors.
Sent from my SM-N910T using XDA Free mobile app

This is an interesting discussion - I am not pixel hungry and I will not go hunting for pixels, however, I want to experience an immersive 3D movie or a 'cinema like effect' when watching a 2D video.
e.g. we can comfortably watch a movie on any laptop reasonably from a distance of 1/2 a meter, providing the experience compares to this, I think it would be ok.
I guess what we have to think about is, its not just the screen thats 1.5" from your eyes, the screen is also somewhat magnified which will add to pixel visiblity.
Its a shame there is no where to try out the Gear VR... I guess thats the only way of knowing for your self and being satisfied. Its expensive overall, for a relatively new craze.

nirpaudyal said:
This is an interesting discussion - I am not pixel hungry and I will not go hunting for pixels, however, I want to experience an immersive 3D movie or a 'cinema like effect' when watching a 2D video.
e.g. we can comfortably watch a movie on any laptop reasonably from a distance of 1/2 a meter, providing the experience compares to this, I think it would be ok.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are several different viewing modes when viewing movies with the VR Cinema, including one that is a virtual movie theater - this is the mode I use when viewing 3D movies because I feel the virtual environment tricks me into believing there is depth.
& I would much rather view movies with the Gear VR, assuming that the video is of high quality.
nirpaudyal said:
Its a shame there is no where to try out the Gear VR... I guess thats the only way of knowing for your self and being satisfied. Its expensive overall, for a relatively new craze.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are Samsung stores that allow you to test out the Gear VR? I did not even know of their existence until recently stumbling upon an article about it. Not sure if we have any in America S:

JippleStar said:
There are several different viewing modes when viewing movies with the VR Cinema, including one that is a virtual movie theater - this is the mode I use when viewing 3D movies because I feel the virtual environment tricks me into believing there is depth.
& I would much rather view movies with the Gear VR, assuming that the video is of high quality.
There are Samsung stores that allow you to test out the Gear VR? I did not even know of their existence until recently stumbling upon an article about it. Not sure if we have any in America S:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats quite encouraging to hear that you would prefer to view on Gear VR ... I presume compared to laptop/pc monitor?
I hadnt considered the Samsung Store ... they are called Experience stores, I am based in the UK and there's one close to me, I will have to call in.

nirpaudyal said:
Thats quite encouraging to hear that you would prefer to view on Gear VR ... I presume compared to laptop/pc monitor?
I hadnt considered the Samsung Store ... they are called Experience stores, I am based in the UK and there's one close to me, I will have to call in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty much, yeah S:
I can't afford those crazy expensive TV's that cost several thousand dollars * -* So this seemed to be the best option If you're rich and have like some ridiculous theater room though, this probably wouldn't be as impressive XD for movies at least
& nice! I'm sure you will enjoy it :good: