HD Wars -Youtube vs Vimeo vs TGR (and tips for users)

**powdork** · 04-11-2010, 03:29 AM

As the popularity and availability of HD Helmet Cams and HD video in general skyrockets, it's important for publishers to know what formats are working best for the masses (which is why this isn't in the photo/video forum). The video has been uploaded to Youtube, Vimeo, and directly to TGR since these are the three sites from which you can embed the videos directly into the forum. I am interested mostly in finding out which format works most of the time, and with which browsers and operating systems, as well as other issues like employer blocking, etc. In the past, problems were generally due to users being behind the curve in terms of hardware and software, but now many with new systems are having issues since new browsers designed for 64-bit systems aren't playing well with old software. I am also interested in solutions to these problems, and will include them within this first post. I will also do a sort of cross post (but from the publisher's point of view - ease of uploading and such) in the the photo/video forum. Also included - TIPS FOR TURNING OFF HD FOR EACH FORMAT, since not all computers can handle it, and the options are often hard to find.

PLEASE NOTE- Once you start a movie, it will continue downloading even after you pause it. If you start another it will seem slower because you will then be downloading both simultaneously. To fix this, just click your back button, and then your forward button to come back to the page. That should stop all downloads.

the video (Melissa Coray Peak - Kirkwood sidecountry)
Vimeo - My favorite as a publisher since their plus package allows for embedded hd and fullscreen, something i can't get from youtube within the context of embedding on this site. The quality is top notch. I am concerned about it's usability. (vimeo.com/10796939)

to turn off hd, the button is one of the controls that appears on right hand side when mouse is over player. first tough, make sure the downloaded bar section is ahead of the playhead. if not, pause the video and let it download for a bit, then hit play.

YouTube - you typically need to turn on hd which is controlled along the bottom. it doesn't appear until you start the video (?) and then starts the video from the beginning after you change the setting. i haven't found a way to go fullscreen from the embedded version on this forum, but would like to hear otherwise

HD shouldn't need to be turned off, since it is off by default when embedded here.

TGR
TGR really isn't a serious contender for HD due the the 100Mb limit. The Video below bumps up against the limit, is short, and only in 720HD. I am finding the video jumpy as compared to Vimeo or Youtube (trying later, i found the opposite)

no option to change quality

for me vimeo is the clear winner
whatchyall think?

**Mike Pow** · 04-11-2010, 04:42 AM

Vimeo.

Nice footage.

**MESKIBUM** · 04-11-2010, 05:11 AM

Must be something wrong with my PC, but all I ever see for Vimeo videos are three swirling triangles on a white background. I downloaded a newer Adobe Flashplayer version, and I still have this issue. So, I would vote YouTube based on me having an old computer. Plus, I'm not that concerned about seeing something in HD or Low def when viewing on my PC. To me, the stoke is the same.

I think that it has more to do with the proper camera. My helmet camera needed image stabilization, otherwise it looked like the Blair Witch Project. I was better off hand holding my digital camera than using the helmet camera at times. Plus, the audio of most helmet cams are really bad. FWIW-I'm talking about the Oregon Scientific ATC2K.

**unpossible** · 04-11-2010, 08:52 AM

Vimeo FTW!

If you are a Vimeo+ user I believe you can even embed as HD, whereas for free accounts you need to click through to the Vimeo site to turn it on. I do wish Vimeo+ was a little bit cheaper though.

**powdork** · 04-11-2010, 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by MESKIBUM

Must be something wrong with my PC, but all I ever see for Vimeo videos are three swirling triangles on a white background. I downloaded a newer Adobe Flashplayer version, and I still have this issue. So, I would vote YouTube based on me having an old computer. Plus, I'm not that concerned about seeing something in HD or Low def when viewing on my PC. To me, the stoke is the same.

I think that it has more to do with the proper camera. My helmet camera needed image stabilization, otherwise it looked like the Blair Witch Project. I was better off hand holding my digital camera than using the helmet camera at times. Plus, the audio of most helmet cams are really bad. FWIW-I'm talking about the Oregon Scientific ATC2K.

the 3 triangle thing is what i am hoping to get to the bottom of here. i am pretty it is browser specific for Internet Explorer. Anyway, I've included the url for the Vimeo version (i can't make it clickable or just turns it into the video again).

the hd looking jumpy does have to do with your old pc. with newer computers it is smoother than sd, and allows you to go fullscreen without a loss in quality.

**ex-powderbroker** · 04-11-2010, 09:47 AM

**powdork** · 04-11-2010, 10:53 AM

i may be getting a little closer to finding the vimeo 3-triangle problem.
i have embedded the vimeo version on my site and it does work on computers that show the 3 triangles on video embedded here. the difference is that the embed code here does not specify the value "always" for the parameter allowScriptAccess. If TGR fixed that, the embedded Vimeo vids would always show here, but there may some security reasons they don't do that. The question is what security setting within IE is allowing the embed on some pc's, but not others.

**Whiteroom_Guardian** · 04-11-2010, 11:01 AM

I have been using Vimeo Plus and uploading all my footage in H.264. Seems to be the best setup so far.

**powdork** · 04-11-2010, 11:11 AM

^^^^agreed, but what we're talking about here is usability for the masses. many with internet explorer cannot see embedded vimeo on this site, because of the way they embed it. this is independent of how it is uploaded to vimeo. sweet vid, btw

**Dhelihiker** · 04-11-2010, 11:18 AM

youtube's copyright bullshit and ads are enough to make me go crazy.

Vimeo is dope dope dope. The amount of quality films on Vimeo in unreal. However the vimeo search engine blows ass.

TGR- cmon, its a generic flash player, no?

**bfree** · 04-11-2010, 12:16 PM

I do about half of my tgr surfing from my phone (droid), which, to my knowledge, will only load youtube videos. That said, I vastly prefer vimeo when I'm on a laptop/desktop.

**Whiteroom_Guardian** · 04-11-2010, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by powdork

^^^^agreed, but what we're talking about here is usability for the masses. many with internet explorer cannot see embedded vimeo on this site, because of the way they embed it. this is independent of how it is uploaded to vimeo. sweet vid, btw

Thanks!

What we really should be addressing though is why anyone is still using IE.

**skier666** · 04-11-2010, 03:17 PM

YouTube works on a iPhone. Vimeo does not.

**Skipig25** · 04-11-2010, 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by Whiteroom_Guardian

What we really should be addressing though is why anyone is still using IE.

quoted for truth.

vimeo wins in my book, using chrome

**greatjones** · 04-11-2010, 04:58 PM

Does Vimeo work on the iPad? That's a deal killer for me if it doesn't (in terms of getting an iPad).

**klauss** · 04-11-2010, 04:59 PM

Vimeo three triangle thing

it shows up for me a lot on TGR posts and usually the video screen shot/image will show and I can play after I refresh (F5 key on internet explorer or in the toolbar) my browser 1-3 times.

**powdork** · 04-12-2010, 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by greatjones

Does Vimeo work on the iPad? That's a deal killer for me if it doesn't (in terms of getting an iPad).

it should. vimeo supports html 5.0, which means the ipad should play them, even without flash, but so should an iphone. it prolly won't play embedded vimeo movies, which still (at least on this site) use a flash player.

**Marius** · 04-12-2010, 01:21 AM

Originally Posted by skier666

YouTube works on a iPhone.

youporn, too.

**HotTate** · 04-12-2010, 07:57 AM

I don't know...
I was posting a lot to vimeo and was getting a lot of people telling me that my videos were stuttering on playback, so bad that it wasn't watchable.

**MTT** · 04-12-2010, 08:21 AM

I use my work Lap-Top mosttly to watch The Vid's. The Vid links are almost always from TGR.

I have no control over the version of my browser (Controled by AT&T)

I always am able to watch Youtube Vid's
Vimo is less than 50% Never been able to figure out why some work and some don't.

I can can watch HD Vimo and always am able to play them direct from Vimo and (Unofficalsquaw.com)

As of now every Vimo link in this thread is (The non playble Floating Triangles)

And I cannot even figure out the source to go direct to Vimo.

When Vimo works it is my prefered viewing experience

But I do missalot

Browser
IE 7.0.5730.13

Edit.
The TGR Media Link always works. However the link you proivided does not look like HD ? And your Blue 196 Lhasa's look light green ?

**krp8128** · 04-12-2010, 08:34 AM

Vimeo FTW from a viewer perspective.

Can anyone explain how the hell you upload videos to TGR? If I click on the Upload Media: Video link above it asks me to log in, then I have to click upload video on a new page, and it asks me to log in again. Circles....

**MTT** · 04-12-2010, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by HotTate

I don't know...
I was posting a lot to vimeo and was getting a lot of people telling me that my videos were stuttering on playback, so bad that it wasn't watchable.

I don't know what affects that. But my older Lap-Top with a P 1.66 Centrino Studders with HD

My newer P 2.0 Core Duo ? Works great.

**Roo** · 04-12-2010, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by MTT

I don't know what affects that. But my older Lap-Top with a P 1.66 Centrino Studders with HD

My newer P 2.0 Core Duo ? Works great.

I've got a brand new Toshiba Satellite Pro laptop and I can't watch that Vimeo movie. Just looks jumpier than Fred West on Time Team. By contrast, the Youtube 720p works a treat.

**allenataylor** · 04-12-2010, 10:49 AM

It should be noted that Vimeo+ gives you 25,000 embedded HD views. It is not unlimited. This would only be a problem if you have a very large audience (I wish I had that problem).

I have had a great experience working with vimeo+ but I wonder if as a filmmaker I am missing out on a large part of the audience by not using youtube as well.

**Ripzalot** · 04-12-2010, 11:52 AM

vimeo stutters on old pc, no problem with youtube. i find CPU utilization goes to 100% on my desktop (6 year old P4 3.00Ghz) with vimeo but runs about 15-33% on youtube. on my laptop (newish lenovo dual core) both run fine.

but i like vimeo because they don't strip out your soundtrack due to copyright infringements.