There’s some buzz right now about the iPhone 3G S and other phones being capable of 720p recording, or perhaps even 1080p if they use the newest sensors. Wow! The future is here! 720p video built right into your phone! But here’s the thing: would you rather have HD video recording implemented very badly, as it must be with the limitations of mobile phones, or would you rather not have it at all and have space for more battery or RAM? Because there’s no way that video is going to be watchable, except as a low-bandwidth stream, and if that’s your idea of 720p… I feel sorry for you.
Look, I’m excited about the prospect too, but consider that today’s compact camcorders like the Webbie, Zx1, and MinoHD produce only passable video, and it’s the only thing they do. The lens, sensor, and encoder are all going to be absolutely bargain bin. Everything that compromises them is going to be worse on a mobile phone.
Due to space limitations, you’re going to have a crappy lens. No one expects any kind of serious glass on a mobile, but the reason no one really cares is because the images and video are bad to begin with and low resolution to boot. The more resolution you get, the more you’re going to see distortion, scratches, and so on. These add-on lenses, as much as they may affect viewing angle and such, aren’t going to be high quality enough to let in a serious amount of light (goodbye low-light video) and they don’t change what the sensor (with a garbage lens in front of it) is capable of. Speaking of which:
The sensors used may be state of the art, but they’re also tiny. That means that the photosensitive wells are going to be small, crowded, and over-amplified to make up for the lack of light. This means you’re going to see lots of noise, bad color and smearing of details. A slow electronic shutter will mean weird, wobbly motion. Exposure will be spotty and low light performance will be murder.
Lastly, the encoder and the space required are just not going to be enough. You don’t get good video quality and small file size, period — it’s still just not an option right now. Highly compressed video looks like crap out of the gate, and it looks even worse after you’ve edited and exported it. They’ll overcompensate for lack of keyframes and motion tracking by oversharpening. Don’t want to compress it too much? Oops! You’ve only got a maximum of 32GB of space and you probably want some room for, I don’t know, TV shows and music and stuff.
Someday we’ll have it, but right now the limitations on the technology are just too much. Trust me, if they enabled it right now on your 3GS, you’d switch back to 640×480. It’ll look just as good and you won’t feel the need to burn it onto a Blu-ray disc to display in HD.
Update: I’ve re-posted this article to relate to current goings-on. No lens or kit is going to make this device capable of producing anything more than passing video. That said, if “passing” is what you want, that’s great! But if you want to produce a nice video for your grandkids (as I would), the iPhone is the wrong platform for it. Instead of spending $50 or more on a bunch of loose doodads you’re never going to have with you, and which is essentially making the best of something never meant to take video in the first place, buy a decent camcorder with a real lens and sensor that won’t take what you’re looking at and automatically convert it into what’s merely acceptable. You’ll thank yourself later.
That said, if your goal is a simply a revolution in media sourcing, then yes, you’ll be happy. The iPhone will provide an unprecedented level of video noise, much as Twitter provides an unprecedented level of everything noise. Both will be superseded by superior services, and while I accept that some value the utility of both in the meantime, I find them both woefully inadequate and hardly worth serious consideration, considering the iPhone’s “unique” functionality is duplicated in the G1 among other devices. Seriously, if someone recorded the JFK assassination on their mobile, do you think posterity would copy down the model of phone for the history books?
If all you care about is the capability of mobile phones to shoot video, then great! We’re already there. I’ve been able to upload video straight from my phone to YouTube for ages. But if you’re looking to replace a dedicated video device, even a budget one costing under a couple bills, you’re barking up the wrong tree. There will be a reckoning years from now when many people look back and wish they had chosen fidelity over convenience, but it’s difficult to convince them of that now.
I see it now: one day, there will be a feature film released, shot entirely on iPhone. The script will have been crowdsourced via Twitter and the director will take his cues entirely from comments. When that movie is released, I will move to the moon.
This is very similar to “do you really need a 14 megapixel sub compact digital camera?” Just how good can that image be? How much noise & image artifacts are there? Have you ever tried to email a 14 megapixel image of anything?
It’s merely a game to get people to buy it. When the masses realize how much space & cpu usage a 1080p video uses they likely do not have the ability to shoot in that res for very long. Even if they do they quickly run out of space.
yeah, i would like 720p in 2010, when memory and battery will have better capacities.
I rather have the option and then make the call if I want to switch back. Call me crazy but more choices rather then few are my preference. Ah but I guess it’s an apple world these days.
I would rather have a couple of quality choices than a zillion of bad choices.
Not me, I like wading through brier patches. Makes me feel like some sort of hunter, or something.
Are you using linux ? If not, jump in it right now !
I don’t think it’s necessary at all. I mean eventually I can see phones like the iphone turning into crazy media devices but for now, I doubt we really need a 720p camera in our phones. Some of these phones don’t even last in terms of battery life, imagine if they had an HD camera. They would wouldn’t last a day.
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That is definitely true! My last Sanyo was frustrating in that the video quality was too good for a handheld cam. A tripod is a definite requirement to steady the beast.
A high definition iPhone (or any phone for that mater) would be pointless is the video or pic looks like crap. Also, as far as the US is concerned, its probably too soon.
Give me good quality pics and video before you give me HD on my phone.
Start packing, Devin, and pay special attention to your oxygen supplies.
“I see it now: one day, there will be a feature film released, shot entirely on iPhone. The script will have been crowdsourced via Twitter and the director will take his cues entirely from comments. When that movie is released, I will move to the moon.”
Is that a challenge? You might have to start training for your trip, this will happen sooner than later…
The only thing stopping me from jumping on the 3gs (or any “smart phone” for that matter) is current battery life. I think batteries are the biggest limited technology in phones, not to mention other battery operated tech…
When battery technology starts improving longevity drastically, then things like a proc, camera, internet browsing, and other such power draining features can also be upgraded. Only then when phones last days before charging rather than hours after using all said features, then count me interested in the mobile multimedia bandwagon.
Wait – isn’t the movie going to be shot on the moon? Maybe you can be an extra.
I suppose you guys have never come across the Samsung Omnia HD i8910?
With its 8MP camera, it can shoot 720p with acceptable quality.
Do I really want 720p on my phone? Yes! If I have a 8MP+ camera, why not?
yes, it’s an 8MP camera, but as Devin says, the optics are gonna be pretty bad. Plus all the sensor noise…
but what if you want a few minutes (or even seconds) of really good quality video without anyone knowing you have a video recorder in the room?
And where will this ‘really good quality’ video come from? High resolution does not equate to high quality. You’d be a lot better off with VGA.
it would need a chip for hardware offloading and a crapload of disk space on a tiny drive but would it be cool? fck yeah for any guy that actually hooks up with a hot chick from time to time fun doesn’t even begin to describe it…iPr0n
You seem to be neglecting the fact that you could bolt on a HD camera, and use the iPhone as a storage device. I’ve already seen a decent amount of interest from wireless headcamera manufacturers as to options to implement this.
Yikes, I can’t think of a less cost-effective flash storage device. No one can seriously be considering that for anything except an iPhone accessory, right?
The quality of dedicated camcorders is currently so great – and their size is so small – I don’t know why anyone would want to avoid buying one and carrying it with them.
I get the appeal of the all-in-1 device, but do yourselves a favor folks, and look at what’s out there on the camcorder market right now.
It’s not your Dad lugging a 3-pounder around the Grand Canyon.
Samsung Omnia HD takes HD video which is almost as good as on my Kodak Zi6 camcorder. And 720p is way better in quality than standard VGA. If it wouldn’t, there will be no Mino HD and other HD camcorders.
BTW, video camera in 3GS doesn’t kill VGA camcorders. Because 3GS is insanely pricey over the course of it’s 2 year contract, and camcorders are cheap.
iPod Touch with video will be the killer for VGA camcorders.
Devin, did you clear this article with the powers at TC (and Siegler)?
Slipped it in under the radar. If you’ll notice, Mike and MG have both posted opinions rather the opposite of mine :)
since we’re talking about wanting 720p in a phone, i guess another point is about having all that SD or HD-resolution (not quality!) and uploading it to YouTube or FB! So you’ve crappy quality video *and* it’s going to be a pain to upload all that stuff over 3G!
What insider info do you have on the iPhone 3GS’ or successor’s capabilities? And do you realize there are already mobile phones that do 720P?
If I have a choice between crappy 640×480 and crappy 720p, I’m taking the higher res.
The only good camera is the one you have with you when you need it. Any argument on the relative merits of HD quality versus VGA, optics and sensor types falls flat on its face if your shiny HD camcorder is sitting in a drawer at home when something worth filming happens.
The advantage of embedding a 720p capable camera in a mobile phone is presence, pure and simple. It’s always there when you need it.
Now, we could go on at length about the lens and sensor size of the 3GS, but the fact is that for most everyday life snippets even the current VGA filming is of ample quality. 720p would be a welcome boost, but if the current camera’s good enough for music videos, (http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/06/first-music-video-sh-1.html) it’s certainly good enough for your grandkids’ birthday.
I agree with your point, the megapixel/sensor debate it a good one, but at the end of the day what matters is what device do you have with you at the time you need it.
So you have a shiny new HD camcorder, that brilliant and i’m happy for you, but do you have that in your pocket at all times? i know i have my iPhone with me at all times.
I can’t imagine there are any budding filmmakers out there who (a) require filming at 720p or higher and (b) think an iPhone is sufficient. People who need (and I mean really need) that quality resolution will be willing to buy a proper camera anyways. Why do people buy 10MP cameras and display them on screens that are too small to notice the quality difference? Same argument.
I actually have a digital camcorder that I’m getting rid of because literally the only reason I never use it is because it’s a gigantic pain in the butt to take anywhere. So as an end-user, yes I want a high resolution camera in my phone, so that I can take pictures and video of decent enough quality for my needs, with a device I already will have with me.
Too many posts about video on iPhone 3GS, do you guys have some sort of hidden advertising deal with Apple?
Your argument amounts to little more than Bill Gate’s famous ‘no one will ever need more than 640K” statement. It assumes that the video technology in these devices won’t change.
Ask the people on the Street in Iran if they need 720p in their cameras.
Let’s start with the tech we have (limited as it is) and build on it.
Time to say goodbye? Techcrunch is just being watered down with tripe articles lately from writers stretching at topics. Removing HD functionality on the next breed of mobiles is not going to magically give you more space for RAM or longer battery life. The HD capabilities are part of the graphics processors being installed, they can turn the features on or off. Would you really rather they just left functionality that’s there off?
There’s “no way that’s going to be watchable”? Huh?
Go hunt down a VCR and homemade tape or, even better, an 8mm film. Watch them. Now tell me that a 720p video made by a device that fits in your pocket is unwatchable.
Recording a 720p video on a device that fits in your pocket is remarkable. Sure it’s not going to be the best possible quality but it sure will be watchable.
I want my phone to burn DVDs. This a bit much if you ask me.
This is the story every manufacturer of lower-end video cameras wants you to tell.
“You don’t want this..you want what we sell…you don’t want this…These are not the droids you are looking for…”
is this a start-up blog or a tech blog?
Absolutely I want 1080p on a phone now! What is the problem.
Lack of video is what kept me with Nokia and with the iPhone. Now that they put it in, they put it in half assed (quality wise). For what they are charging for a phone, they should have 1080p with a damn good lens and chip.
Oh, but that might mean an SD card…ok, give me that too.
What’s your opinion on the sound?
Yes. 720p now. Options with bad quality are better than no options at all.