Is filetype a dealbreaker? Please vote.

[Glen Quagmire]

So you guys is downloading files uploaded by a anonymous uploader without having a clue what filetype you are downloading?
What if it turns out to be an infected hex file?
To me it's unthinkable to click download if I don't know what type of file I'm downloading.

[lola]

I think is important to know the file type. Considering that there could be other sources for downloading the same movie or clip, I would avoid .mpeg or .flv for different reasons. For mpeg, large files do not necesarily mean good quality, as mpeg1 or mpeg2 encoders are largely outdated now. For flv, it's an obsolete format and I don't want to loose quality converting it before playing it on my smart tv.

An the latter is probably the most important reason. Whereas my computer can playback almost any format, my tv can't, and I would prefer to have the freedom to play the movie anywhere I want.

[hos]

What if it turns out to be an infected hex file?

that's a different story. once a file was downloaded (and eventually extracted from a packed archive) you usually see the filetype. if not, especially if it's not linked to your videoplayer (file symbol shows this) you can still stay safe and check the file locally with mediainfo (very useful and handy tool, afaik it's also part of the k-lite codec pack and will be added to the contextmenu of the windows file explorer).

if some member wants to fuck up other forum members with this kind of crap, what would help us if that person adds wrong fileinfo to his post? i understand that fileinfo is helpful and useful, but it can be as compromised and stinky as the file itself. so you have to do the final check on your local pc anyways if you have dld something, no matter how convincing the description was.


addendum:

An the latter is probably the most important reason. Whereas my computer can playback almost any format, my tv can't, and I would prefer to have the freedom to play the movie anywhere I want.

i guess you know this and rather don't want to invest the necessary work on your own but it's possible to convert nearly every format into a version even your tv is able to play.

virtualdub, as old as it is, is still one hell of a tool (and still available for free) when you know how to use it (which is a bit more tricky if you have to find/install/edit settings of available plugins and tweak codecs to handle very problematic formats. then it can be a really nerdy route you have to take and need some guide or experience, but it is possible).

in the end, we don't dl porn because our TV is able to play it but because we are curious about something different.

[chip]

Originally Posted by Glen Quagmire

So you guys is downloading files uploaded by a anonymous uploader without having a clue what filetype you are downloading?
What if it turns out to be an infected hex file?
To me it's unthinkable to click download if I don't know what type of file I'm downloading.

I'm looking at the file name and extension before I hit the button on the download page. If I see something I don't recognize as a video extension or a rar/zip etc, I quickly bail out on it.

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[shallowood]

I welcome file type, size and resolution information, as they help me decide if I want to download the clip or not. Lack of info would prompt me to ignore the clip entirely. And yes, I have pet peeves when it comes to file formats; so, for me, it's a factor.

Cheers.

[Sixat]

For me it's the content. I have digitalizing software to enhance any bad quality vids. Along with naturally changing the file type if need be.

[Frovo]

Some rare files from ancient, long defunct websites came in exotic video formats like Vivo. It's always good to have the original.

[DARPA]

Resolution info is important to me. If I'm downloading a 480i video that was originally produced at that resolution, I want to know if the resolution of the video I may download is less than that or more than that.

File size info is important. I want to know how big the file is so I know (roughly) how long it's going to take.

File format is not important. I've got the K-Pac mega codec pack installed and it covers most videos I download and the ones it doesn't I can easily convert. And I have no qualms about recompression because if it's 480i recompression won't materially alter the quality of the image unless you're a moron who over-compresses the file which would degrade anything.

I'm a little more circumspect about conversion caused recompression damage with HD but I really have not noticed a material difference there...especially if it's one of those videos that got posted to VEF after being ripped from a streaming site in which case the video was already damaged to the point that recompression shouldn't make a difference because the damage had been done when the file got uploaded to the streaming site.

I post all the info as a matter of courtesy when I post a video. But for my downloading purposes I don't need file format info anymore. I probably did 20 years ago, but not now.

[Denaniel]

Different sections of the forum have different needs and priorities. In Classic Movies, we require file type (aka media format, along with size, runtime and resolution) for a number of reasons, some of which don't apply as much to clips as they do to full length movies.

Some of those reasons have already been mentioned above, and I won't repeat them.

But one that has not been mentioned, is that sometimes we are trying to replace a vid that was previously posted but the links have died, and we want to be sure we're getting the original file. Unfortunately, some nefarious uploaders are only in it for the money, i.e. they get cash rewards from their file hosts, and often post whatever they find on multiple forums/boards/blogs to maximize the downloads and cash earned. AND, some of these "breadposters" like to re-encode everything they find to add their own logo, e.g. promoting a personal blog or website. (Vids with these personal logos are banned in Classic Movies, btw.)

Sometimes, the only detectable difference between the original file and the re-encoded one is the file type/media format (file size, runtime and resolution may be the same as the original; these can be easily retained using a target bitrate when re-encoding.)

If the screencaps are small, and the file type is not listed, we can end up downloading a big file, hoping to replace a vid we once had, and discover after downloading that the file is not the original but a poorer quality re-encode with somebody's personal logo popping up over and over during playback. Hence, file type matters. To some of us.

[DARPA]

Originally Posted by Denaniel

But one that has not been mentioned, is that sometimes we are trying to replace a vid that was previously posted but the links have died, and we want to be sure we're getting the original file.

I know this will never be implemented as it requires too many people to break their current workflows.

BUT...

...if it's that much of an issue the better solution is to insist on including .CSV data of the file in the post; not as a download link in the post but as text in the post. Then you'll know the re-upped file has not been altered because the CSV data remains embedded in the post and will always be there to check against.