Like many people, I was excited to learn that YouTube was going to be available in HD. In December the moment arrived and the general reaction of most users has been very positive. Some people have complained that the quality does not match that of other websites that use HD, but any step forward has to be positive, right?
As you can tell I’m a fan of YouTube, even without HD. I love the fact that I can watch my favourite bands live in concert without having to spend a cent or leave my seat. It’s a hell of a lot cheaper too. I must also admit I’ve never been a fan of mosh-pits.
I was telling a friend about YouTube HD and he said, “You need more than HD to turn a home movie into something worth watching”. This was a response I should have expected, as my friend is cynical about most things invented after 1990. (However, this doesn’t stop him downloading porn).
The point of HD of course, is not to turn amateur film-makers into the next Steven Spielberg. It’s about creating an image that is clearer. Until we are able to do away with monitors completely and receive internet images directly in our brains (if this ever happens) technology such as HD, although not perfect, is necessary, and more than worthwhile.
As for my technology-challenged friend all is not lost. If he ever chooses to watch a YouTube video he can enjoy the original resolution by not clicking on the ‘watch in HD’ option. It is inevitable, given the popularity of HD, that one day all YouTube videos will only be available in HD. I think my friend will crawl out of his cave and eventually embrace YouTube as well. But probably not until it contains a dedicated X- rated section.
So what do you think about this new service?
