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YouTube Releases the Google Video Quality Report

Posted by samzenpus on from the how-do-you-stack-up? dept.

mpicpp (3454017) writes "YouTube has released a tool that can show you how your video-streaming quality compares to your neighbor's. 'The Google Video Quality Report is available to people in the U.S. and Canada, where it launched in January. It compares your streaming video quality to three standards: HD Verified, when your provider can deliver HD video consistently at a resolution of at least 720p without buffering or interruptions; Standard Definition, for consistent video streaming at 360p; and Lower Definition, for videos that regularly play at less than 360p or often are interrupted."

5 of 66 comments (clear)

  1. Weak article, weaker report by Gothmolly · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "Results from your location are not yet available. Please check back soon."

    Translation: You don't live in one of the 3 metro areas we tested, but we hired some bloggers to crow about our new "service".

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  2. Hmmm. by ColaMan · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "HD Verified" sounds suspiciously like a way to extract more money out of someone.

    "Oh, you want to watch youtube? No, no, your standard account doesn't have that level of service.You need to get a Youtube HD Verified account. Only $9.95 a month extra!"

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    1. Re:Hmmm. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Or ammunition for the net neutrality fight. Not sure exactly how this data does that but it feels like it. If so, go Google. The more hard data available (like the Level3 congestion blog post), the better.

  3. Re:Link to the actual report tool by swillden · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The only one who benefits from this is the ISP who will no doubt tout it in endless commercials.

    They will if their rating is HD Verified. If they're not doing so well... not so much. And if your area has multiple providers (unfortunately not as common as it should be) you can click on the "compare providers" to see if there's someone who can do better for you.

    Google's clear motive here is to push the ISPs to provide consistently high bandwidth, so that YouTube works better.

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  4. i applaud the effort by kiddygrinder · · Score: 5, Insightful

    but i find this less tool a lot less useful than if they'd just let videos buffer to the end

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