Request 16:9 Format

[diverjones]

I would like to request a 16:9 format "switch" be added to CloneDB. I have always disliked letterbox when all I had was a DVD and the old 4:3 television. I understood it, but disliked it terribly. Fast forward 15 years and now that old 4:3 format TV is history, and I have a fancy 55" 1080P HD TV whose NATIVE FORMAT is 16:9 (as is all HD TVs are) and here comes BluRay discs and movies.

What did I have to look forward to....A 1080P HD picture that STILL does not fill up my 55" screen! I hate a movie that only fills the center of my screen, it makes me fill I am not getting my moneys worth........and I am NOT. I may have disliked letterbox 15 years ago, now I just HATE IT and have good reason to. I would like CloneDB to have a switch I can just click, check, whatever, and as it is transcoding my disc, it will convert the format into a 16:9 format at same time. Heck, it takes me already 12 to 16 hours to copy anyway, whats another few hours. I realize that I can click a button on my remote and fill my screen up, but the picture is zoomed in, cropped, or distorted too much for me to enjoy.

Yes, I realize I would probably lose material on the sides, but at least its an option that could be checked or unchecked at will and allows for individual choice.

Diverj

 

[robertwallace]

Your fancy TV's zoom is likely already doing what you're asking for -- zooming in so the top and bottom fill your screen which, of course, loses all the action on the sides of the video. I can understand why this would be too much for you to enjoy -- it's no longer the movie you paid to see.

You can also check the back of the case of the movie you're buying -- if it says aspect ratio is 1.85:1 or 2.35:1 or 2.40:1, you should not buy it because it will have black bars on the top and bottom. You should also avoid any movie that has a 1.33:1 ratio as it will have black bars on the sides of the screen. I believe you'll only be "safe" if you watch movies with a 1.78:1 ratio - these should fill your screen completely with no black bars anywhere.

Robert

 

[Adbear]

If your TV already zooms in and crops the edges that's exactly the same as what converting to 16:9 would do. It will crop of the same amount around the edges as your TV already does.