Dark areas have horrible pixelation (screenshots inside)

[Punker1234]

Good afternoon everyone.

I just purchased a Nexus 7 (2013) and I love the thing to death. Perfect size and quick as heck. However, I have one problem that is bothering me as it's incredibly noticeable when watching videos. I've searched online for people with similar experiences and the conversation usually ends with "totally normal" or "its your internet connection". However, after looking at 5+ devices in store, the Nexus 7 is the only one that appears to do it. I have even tested difference sources.

Essentially, dark areas looks extremely pixelated. There is no true black color, it's always a jumble of colors (ie grays or dark greens). I've taken screenshots and added them here, but I want to point out that it looks substantially worse on the device itself. Just so you know, the same source on my desktop, my tv, even my Galaxy S3, the suit looks very dark/black on all of those devices.

I went to Best Buy thinking my device was defective, but the device at Best Buy does it as well. However, Galaxy Note's and Tab's have a rich dark black with no pixelation. Could it just be poor coloring on the screen? This isn't my specialty, so I really don't know whats going on.Thoughts? Help? Thank you for reading! -Jeff

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/6862/drj.png

http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/5926/88w7.png


****Added 10-21-2013*** This is an example of it really badly. This was on SOns of Anarchy on Netflix. But it's like this on all videos, it's really this bad. I'm glad I got a better example to show you.
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/4964/vqpz.jpg

 

[Android_1234]

Did you only test it with the video you were watching? It could just be the video that you are watching that has this.
My Nexus 7 has true black colours.
Download this app to test your screen - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yota.screentest&hl=en

 

[Punker1234]

I've tested multiple sources on multiple platforms. Netflix, video on the device itself, youtube, chrome. I also tested multiple videos, including different movies and television shows. In addition, the same video on other devices does not have the pixelation. I'm wondering if the color just needs to be corrected?

 

[Punker1234]

This is the source about the 1:27 mark. I've tried this source on 6 other devices and it's not there. On the Nexus 7 in store and the one I own, it does this. AGain, this doesn't do it on ym desktop monitor, my television, and the other tablets, so I can only conclude it's the Nexus device. But why it does it, I don't know.

The Dark Knight Bank Robbery Scene HD - YouTube

 

[douglerner]

I just tried this with my iMac, iPad 2 and Nexus 7 and they all look pretty much the same to me. I watched the mark location in question and didn't notice anything unusual about the black areas on my Nexus 7.

doug

 

[Punker1234]

Hi Doug.

Did you see any artifacting similar to the picture i posted?
Thanks.

 

[Bishop_99]

Netflix and Youtube have pretty bad HD videos. The amount of compression they apply will cause this. It's just more noticeable since it's a larger 1080p screen. If your device lets you, bring down the contrast so it won't be so noticeable. But honestly, your best source would be to put that same clip from the actual Dark Knight Blu-ray and I assure you those issues will be gone. In other devices with deeper blacks, it may be harder for you to spot them, but they're still there. I've sampled Netflix HD on a HDTV and on my galaxy s4 and the compression makes it look like a mess. The source you are watching is the real issue, not the Nexus 7. Once you play that same clip from the Blu-ray disc, your Nexus 7 will display a perfect picture.


And yes, that Youtube clip from The Dark Knight at 1080p displays the same compression artifacts you are seeing on your Nexus 7, your device is just fine. The Blu-ray version will not display that at all


Also, see this screenshot from the actual Blu-ray, which is in a similar time to your Dark Knight screenshot from youtube, and you will see how much more detail there is on the Blu-ray and no pixellation. Your Nexus 7 is fine

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u98/adzez/TDK/d73623f8.png (Dark Knight Blu-ray screenshot)

 

[Punker1234]

Netflix and Youtube have pretty bad HD videos. The amount of compression they apply will cause this. It's just more noticeable since it's a larger 1080p screen. If your device lets you, bring down the contrast so it won't be so noticeable. But honestly, your best source would be to put that same clip from the actual Dark Knight Blu-ray and I assure you those issues will be gone. In other devices with deeper blacks, it may be harder for you to spot them, but they're still there. I've sampled Netflix HD on a HDTV and on my galaxy s4 and the compression makes it look like a mess. The source you are watching is the real issue, not the Nexus 7. Once you play that same clip from the Blu-ray disc, your Nexus 7 will display a perfect picture.


And yes, that Youtube clip from The Dark Knight at 1080p displays the same compression artifacts you are seeing on your Nexus 7, your device is just fine. The Blu-ray version will not display that at all


Also, see this screenshot from the actual Blu-ray, which is in a similar time to your Dark Knight screenshot from youtube, and you will see how much more detail there is on the Blu-ray and no pixellation. Your Nexus 7 is fine

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u98/adzez/TDK/d73623f8.png (Dark Knight Blu-ray screenshot)

Hi Bishop.

I understand that there is always compression and that these pixels and macroblocking exists. I understand with a cleaner source that it most likely won't exist. But what I can't refute is that I went to Best Buy and tried a multitude of devices and this did not exist on the surface pro, the galaxy 10.1 tab, the note 8, or the galaxy 8 tab. That I can't ignore. And to boot, the Nexus and the Surface (non pro) were the only devices that had this blocking and pixeling. Could this truly be a contrast issue? How would I adjust this on the Nexus 7? I'm happy to give that a shot. I'm not sure why this is happening but frustrating none the least. I thank you for any suggestions.

Ps, my Galaxy S3 doesn't show the pixelation.

 

[douglerner]

Hi Doug.

Did you see any artifacting similar to the picture i posted?
Thanks.

To be honest, I'm not sure what you are indicating in your two pictures inside the red circles. On my iMac screen, when opening your two pictures, I don't see anything odd.

doug

 

[Bishop_99]

I think he is pointing out to the pixelation on the left of the joker and in the darker areas all the compression artifacts. I tried to capture a screenshot from my The Dark Knight Blu-ray, although I don't have the best screencapture tools. But you can see the difference from the one he posted

 

[douglerner]

I think he is pointing out to the pixelation on the left of the joker and in the darker areas all the compression artifacts. I tried to capture a screenshot from my The Dark Knight Blu-ray, although I don't have the best screencapture tools. But you can see the difference from the one he posted

http://i44.tinypic.com/23hr3mc.jpg

Sorry if I'm being dense here. But what pixelation? Are you talking about jaggies? If so, where? When I look at the picture - even fully blown up - I'm not seeing anything wrong. What am I overlooking?

doug

 

[Bishop_99]

Sorry if I'm being dense here. But what pixelation? Are you talking about jaggies? If so, where? When I look at the picture - even fully blown up - I'm not seeing anything wrong. What am I overlooking?

doug

Both, but to me the pixelatation is more noticable on the bag he is holding than on his black clothing. I guess you would have to increase the contrast a bit more to see what he is seeing from the youtube video. Which maybe why it' so noticable to him on the Nexus 7 and not on other devices. I currently don't have a Nexus 7, I will get one next month, I'm not sure if the original poster can adjust the settings. Waiting for him to post to see if the image looks better to him from the screenshot I posted.

Now the jaggies are heavily there in the youtube screenshots he posted. Just compare the first youtube screenshot he posted to the similar screenshot I posted from the blu-ray, back to back, and you will see the jaggies magically disappear and reappear

 

[Bishop_99]

Hi Bishop.

I understand that there is always compression and that these pixels and macroblocking exists. I understand with a cleaner source that it most likely won't exist. But what I can't refute is that I went to Best Buy and tried a multitude of devices and this did not exist on the surface pro, the galaxy 10.1 tab, the note 8, or the galaxy 8 tab. That I can't ignore. And to boot, the Nexus and the Surface (non pro) were the only devices that had this blocking and pixeling. Could this truly be a contrast issue? How would I adjust this on the Nexus 7? I'm happy to give that a shot. I'm not sure why this is happening but frustrating none the least. I thank you for any suggestions.

Ps, my Galaxy S3 doesn't show the pixelation.

Sorry for the late reply, I completely missed your post. As I said, those issues are there regardless, but they are more noticeable on your Nexus 7 because of the video settings. I don't currently have a Nexus 7 so I can't tell you if you can adjust the contrast or not, maybe there is an app that lets you do that. You might just need to bring down the contrast slightly when playing low quality videos so you won't detect them as much. It seems that this only affects you with the video playback and not on video games or any other area of the device. Which is why I strongly think that it is mainly source related. But, adjusting the contrast for video playback will help you if you can find an app for that. I would recommend that you would bring back the contrast to normal settings when you are not watching a video though.

I don't have a Galaxy S3, but I have a Galaxy S4. The resolution is higher on the S4 and I can tell you that I'm seeing the same pixelation and compression in that youtube video that you posted on the screenshots. The same problems where visible playing the video on my Desktop PC as they were on my Galaxy S4. Although, it was more noticable to me on the bag rather than on his dark clothing..... My only guess as to why you saw it on those two devices and not on the other devices maybe because of the video settings. Because that youtube video has those issues you described. The other devices on which you saw them, didn't display them for a number of reasons from contrast to noise reduction. If those other devices have some kind of noise reduction on video playback, it will make the video look smoother and those defects won't be as noticable, but the noise reduction will remove fine detail and the video quality suffers. I really couldn't say.

Try and see if there is an app that lets you adjust the video settings, but in the end, it's the video source.

 

[kenyee]

And FWIW, I don't see the pixelization on my color calibrated IPS desktop monitor.

I think it's compression as well from what you describe though...

 

[Punker1234]

I'll check it out on my Nexus 7 when I can. Might be a little bit.

I assume you are just using the YouTube app to play these in, or are you playing them in a browser?

HI EvilMOnkey. Yes, using the default Youtube app.

 

[Punker1234]

Sorry for the late reply, I completely missed your post. As I said, those issues are there regardless, but they are more noticeable on your Nexus 7 because of the video settings. I don't currently have a Nexus 7 so I can't tell you if you can adjust the contrast or not, maybe there is an app that lets you do that. You might just need to bring down the contrast slightly when playing low quality videos so you won't detect them as much. It seems that this only affects you with the video playback and not on video games or any other area of the device. Which is why I strongly think that it is mainly source related. But, adjusting the contrast for video playback will help you if you can find an app for that. I would recommend that you would bring back the contrast to normal settings when you are not watching a video though.

I don't have a Galaxy S3, but I have a Galaxy S4. The resolution is higher on the S4 and I can tell you that I'm seeing the same pixelation and compression in that youtube video that you posted on the screenshots. The same problems where visible playing the video on my Desktop PC as they were on my Galaxy S4. Although, it was more noticable to me on the bag rather than on his dark clothing..... My only guess as to why you saw it on those two devices and not on the other devices maybe because of the video settings. Because that youtube video has those issues you described. The other devices on which you saw them, didn't display them for a number of reasons from contrast to noise reduction. If those other devices have some kind of noise reduction on video playback, it will make the video look smoother and those defects won't be as noticable, but the noise reduction will remove fine detail and the video quality suffers. I really couldn't say.

Try and see if there is an app that lets you adjust the video settings, but in the end, it's the video source.

Hi Bishop. Thank you for the response Bishop, I appreciate it. I'm going ot try and find an app that will allow me to adjust the contrast. I get the pixelation will be there, but if I can minimize it i'd be extremely happy. Thanks again, I"ll post results on what I find out.

 

[Punker1234]

Hi everyone.

I found a better way to show you whats going on. Taking screenshots didn't seem to do it "justice" so I finally just snapped a picture on my phone. This is Sons of Anarchy on Netflix. All videos look this bad, and when it's moving, it's extremely distracting. I can't stress that enough.

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/4964/vqpz.jpg

 

[muddy211]

To me it looks like a wrinkled coat and shadowing there...I watch Brain Games on Nat Geo, our eyes are deceiving us!!!

 

[kenyee]

I found a better way to show you whats going on. Taking screenshots didn't seem to do it "justice" so I finally just snapped a picture on my phone. This is Sons of Anarchy on Netflix. All videos look this bad, and when it's moving, it's extremely distracting. I can't stress that enough.
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Wow...that does look ugly. I'm guessing compression artifacting as well. Looks like you have your brightness cranked up too high. The compression probably the video was dark enough that it didn't need to keep much detail in the dark areas...

 

[Punker1234]

I tried an adjuster too and it didn't do much. I cruised over to Best Buy and tried out the Surface 2 (non pro) and it was clean as a whistle. I'm not sure what to do here, as it's very distracting. Normally I just work through these issues, but as you can see it's literally in your face.