Default resolution for video playback

[kobayashi]

Hi,

Is there a way to set default resolution for video playback. I have a Pro account and currently default playback is set to "Hi-Def"; would like to have the ability to set default as "iPod/DVD".

Bests,
Koba

[docwalker]

The default is auto for direct access in the gallery. The size of the visitors screen determines the playback size. The only way to restrict the playback size is to either create your own link to the size of your choice, or upload smaller videos.

[nigelbb]

I would really like an option to set the default resolution for video playback. I want to use the SmugMug player & I would always want to offer the option of HD. However a surprising number of our customers either have old PCs, are network challenged or both. Having to explain that they can choose a lower resolution video that will not jerk & stutter does not provide such a good impression as having a small video play smoothly but with the option of HD playback if their environment is up to snuff. This is the default on YouTube & Vimeo.

Cheers

Nigel

[peestandingup]

And this is why I've <a href="http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=113490">been preaching</a> that Smugmug shouldnt go by monitor resolution only.

[nigelbb]

And this is why I've <a href="http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=113490">been preaching</a> that Smugmug shouldnt go by monitor resolution only.It's not monitor resolution that defines the video size but the size of the browser window. I just checked this on both IE7 on Windows & Safari on a Mac.

Cheers

Nigel

[peestandingup]

It's not monitor resolution that defines the video size but the size of the browser window. I just checked this on both IE7 on Windows & Safari on a Mac.

Cheers

Nigel Its both actually. Monitor resolution defines your browser window size if at full screen. Sure, not all browsers use up the same exact real estate, buttons are different sizes, toolbars, etc. But for the most part, resolution defines usable browser space. Trust me, I'm painfully aware of this.

Quoted from the previous posts I linked to above:

I've been testing the new 1080p resolution. Looks great, but I'm starting to think that the list of sizes are getting kind of out of hand. WIth 1080p (FullHD) now in the mix, there are now a whopping 5 to choose from & I think the average visitor will probably end up getting confused on what they all mean.

Currently, Smugmug seems to be the only ones who offer a plethora of exact sizes like this that are exactly to scale (which brings up other issues in itself). Most video sharing sites that do HD offer an HD version & a non-HD version. Basically they both playback in the same "space" in your browser, but the HD version of course is much crisper with more resolution & detail packed into the space. When you really see the difference is at full screen though.

Everyone does this with their HD. Youtube, Facebook, Vimeo, etc. And I think Smugmug should consider trimming down that confusing size chart & going with a simpler player. I've talked about this before, but a lot of people didn't seem to get what I was saying. Hopefully its more apparent now.

The auto-size does do a decent job most of the time, but I think its far from a perfect solution because it determines it solely by what a visitor's screen resolution is.

A couple examples. I have a G4 12" PowerBook that has a screen res of 1024 x 768. So whenever I click on a Smugmug video, it always serves me up the "Mid-HD" version, which fits the screen but is just too intensive for my PowerBook's CPU to handle. So that means I have to click-down to the next size every single time.

Another one. I also have a 13" MacBook that has a screen res of 1280 x 800. The MacBook is quite capable of playing full HD videos just fine. But what does Smugmug serve me? The same "Mid-Def" video size. That means even though my computer is very capable of playing a higher res video, Smugmug doesnt seem to think so because my screen resolution isnt enough to pack in all 1280 x 720 of Smugmug's Hi-Def resolution with browser windows & all in place.

Which therein lies the main issue. Playing HD videos to scale is the root of the problem, especially with 1080p (who has a monitor with enough res to fit that all in?). Since Smugmug doesnt compact the size like it does with photos so they're presentable on the screen, its basically spewing video all over the browser window instead of compacting it to fit my screen like the other guys do. That would be like me uploading a 6 megapixel photo to Smugmug & you guys showed all 3008 x 2000 pixels on the screen. It doesnt make sense with photos so it shouldnt make sense with videos.

[nigelbb]

Its both actually. Monitor resolution defines your browser window size if at full screen. Sure, not all browsers use up the same exact real estate, buttons are different sizes, toolbars, etc. But for the most part, resolution defines usable browser space. Trust me, I'm painfully aware of this.Sorry but he size of the video played is defined by the size of your browser window not by your monitor resolution except indirectly in that the monitor size determines the size of the browser window when displayed at full screen. If I squeeze down my browser windows then a video with a smaller resolution is played with the Auto setting. On the 30" 2560x1600 screen that I have in front of me I can adjust my browser window so that when I play a video from a SmugMug gallery I get the 320x240 Web version in the Lightbox in my bowser.

BTW In answer to your question Playing HD videos to scale is the root of the problem, especially with 1080p (who has a monitor with enough res to fit that all in?)My monitor has enough pixels to display full HD with a decent chunk to spare but all 24" monitors can accommodate full HD both the original 16:10 1920x1200 monitors & the newer 16:9 19020x1080 ones. There are even some 22/23" monitors that display full HD. My MacBook Pro has a 17" 1920x1200 screen & there are other laptops with screens from 15-16" upwards that are either 1920x1200 or 1920x1080.

However even if your screen is capable of displaying the video at full size that doesn't mean that your network connection is fast enough to stream video at the bit rate required or that your computer is powerful enough to play 1080p smoothly.

Cheers

Nigel