Amid Profitability Concerns YouTube Bumps Its Offerings up to 1080p

Concerns about YouTube’s profitability still remain.  As the Google-owned online video juggernaut explores ways of justifying its massive bandwidth expenses, it isn’t being hesitant when it comes to adding to those expenses. 

YouTube just announced that it will be bumping the maximum quality of its high definition videos to 1080p, up from the previous 720p.  Writes YouTube software engineer Billy Biggs on the company’s blog, “As resolution of consumer cameras increases, we want to make sure YouTube is the best home on the Web to showcase your content.”

In March YouTube began offering HD video for the first time.  Much of its video is captured from mobile devices, such as camera phones, but even camera phones have now started becoming HD-capable.  One example is Samsung’s Instinct HD, available since September.  Packing a 5 megapixel camera, the phone is capable of shooting and posting HD video.

With the bump to 1080p, YouTube says it will upgrade videos previously originally sent in 1080p that were automatically downconverted to 720p.  For those who want it, 720p will remain an option, though.

For those with fast computers and large monitors, the bump to 1080p should provide a nice noticeable difference in picture quality.  Now if YouTube can only find ways to become profitable, it would be truly on a roll.