I would see more sense in unbox, if they would allow you to burn a dvd from it. This would destroy the DRM (not different to iTMS), but the "unbox-player" could offer burning the disc and print a cover. So you could delete the file from your disk and put the movie on your video-shelf. Otherwise I don't see the point in downloading it for the same price as the physical DVD (even with 6Mbs DSL-Connection...).
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iPod Amazon.com starts video download service
- Thread starter Peel
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Instead of Netflix, or Blockbuster, they would have you as a customer if they let you own the bits for what you're paying in rental now. They would grow their sales numbers dramatically at the expense of losing a much smaller number of full disc sales.ddrueckhammer said:
The problem isn't that they're greedy, it's that they're too backwards. They're passing up an opportunity to fundamentally change the marketplace in their favor.
Only the begining...
Surprised that amazon with its name and success could not wring a better deal from the studios.
The rental option really stinks. I've rented DVDs from blockbuster before for a weekend and if I really like the movie I might watch it 2-3x. Only being able to watch it once in a 30 day period? What's up with that? Only able to watch it on my PC unless I plug in an inferior s-video to my plasma? Its going to be an awful long s-video cable to go from home office to living room.
All that said its only the begining, boys and girls. We will see who makes the right adjustments over the long haul and who will be left standing in 3-4 years.
Surprised that amazon with its name and success could not wring a better deal from the studios.
The rental option really stinks. I've rented DVDs from blockbuster before for a weekend and if I really like the movie I might watch it 2-3x. Only being able to watch it once in a 30 day period? What's up with that? Only able to watch it on my PC unless I plug in an inferior s-video to my plasma? Its going to be an awful long s-video cable to go from home office to living room.
All that said its only the begining, boys and girls. We will see who makes the right adjustments over the long haul and who will be left standing in 3-4 years.
digitalbiker said:
Well, technically, I'd say the #1 player keeping Amazon off your Mac is Microsoft, not supporting DRM'd content on anything but "genuine" Windows.
As for iPod, yeah, that's all Apple's doing.
If Apple wants to enter this hornets nest of market, they better come up with some brilliant hardware a' la iPod or they will be just another player.
I doubt that iTMS would have mad that big splash if it wasnt for the iPod.
I doubt that iTMS would have mad that big splash if it wasnt for the iPod.
miketcool said:
Exactly what went through my mind when reading that. Can I unwrap a DVD? I mean, between the cellophane that is impossible to open without sharp instruments and the three "SECURITY DEVICE ENCLOSED" seals ... it's not exactly the experience I'd be likening my online download service to.
Still, though, given the comments I've seen so far, maybe it's just truth in advertising?
My take, so far:
I'm pretty sure Amazon rushed this to market in an attempt to steal Apple's lime light next week. The site is pretty confusing and difficult to work with. It's so difficult to even figure out if you can rent something or only 'buy' it. The download and playback experience don't sound any better. They may wish they had waited until they had it right in the long run. This is the period of time where people will just give it a try. But if they hate it, they won't come back, and they'll tell all their friends.
It's good that a large retailer is doing this at all. It's has got to open up more possibilities for the market as a whole.
Not Mac compatible Boo Apple, Boo Microsoft, Boo Amazon.
I'm OK with this not working on iPods or other mobile devices. I just don't want to watch much on a tiny screen.
The licensing and pricing is all over the place. I guess that's the way it has to be, but geez, I say TV episodes to RENT for 1.99 per episode.
The terms of service suck. I understand that for renting they've got to draw the line somewhere. But 'buying' is really just another form of renting. It's just for a longer indeterminate length of time, but there is no guarantee, and it won't be forever.
Watch while you download! Very nice. I wish iTMS had this...
You can download your videos again later! Very nice. I wish iTMS had this...
I guessing that Apple's movie store will kill this, though I hope they can pick up some of the nice features...
I'm pretty sure Amazon rushed this to market in an attempt to steal Apple's lime light next week. The site is pretty confusing and difficult to work with. It's so difficult to even figure out if you can rent something or only 'buy' it. The download and playback experience don't sound any better. They may wish they had waited until they had it right in the long run. This is the period of time where people will just give it a try. But if they hate it, they won't come back, and they'll tell all their friends. It's good that a large retailer is doing this at all. It's has got to open up more possibilities for the market as a whole. Not Mac compatible Boo Apple, Boo Microsoft, Boo Amazon. I'm OK with this not working on iPods or other mobile devices. I just don't want to watch much on a tiny screen. The licensing and pricing is all over the place. I guess that's the way it has to be, but geez, I say TV episodes to RENT for 1.99 per episode. The terms of service suck. I understand that for renting they've got to draw the line somewhere. But 'buying' is really just another form of renting. It's just for a longer indeterminate length of time, but there is no guarantee, and it won't be forever. Watch while you download! Very nice. I wish iTMS had this... You can download your videos again later! Very nice. I wish iTMS had this...I guessing that Apple's movie store will kill this, though I hope they can pick up some of the nice features...
ddrueckhammer said:
Bittorrent? That relies on sharing files. Bearing in mind that we are dealing with files DRMed to the purchaser and therefore of no use to anyone else except maybe hackers, just who is going help this torrent along?
I can't see how that would work unless you stripped the DRM from the file to begin with. The studios would love that.
Nobody really wants to watch movies on their PC/Mac. Even their iPod for that matter. Apple needs to come up with a way to get them to my TV. It would be cool if that was the big deal on the 12th. A new hardware device to wirelessly pump H.264 from my Mac to my HDTV. Heh. Yeah, right
stuartluff said:Unbox? WTF. Wouldnt it make more sense (and sound better) as NoBox?
Anyhoo... no ipod support and strangely high minimum specs seems to me it might not do too well.
I might of tested it out if it was mac compatible but oh well.
Didn't 7-up used to call themselves the "un-cola"...the name carries a bit of idealism with it. Sort of a non-materialist, greenpeace idealism. It's a total joke, and I find the name presumptuous, but I doubt most people will understand it in the first place. (Perhaps even I don't really understand it.)
Everybody's missing the real point though: 2.2GB download. The DVD download era will finally push people to demand more bandwidth once again. Things really slowed down in the last 5 years with consumer bandwidth. Except for Verizon, I don't know of any providers who are even currently selling next-gen bandwidth.
I picked up a Samsung Blu-ray Disc player at Fry's a couple of weeks ago for $899. Fry's also has an HD-DVD player on display. They need more BD and HD-DVD movies for sale, but the number of those they have is growing quickly.Evangelion said:
Best Buy also has the players and discs.
By the way, it's "Blu-ray Disc", abbreviated BD.amols said:
The Blu-ray logo is a "BD" as well:
http://www.blu-ray.com/info/
"Blu-ray, also known as Blu-ray Disc (BD), is the name of a next-generation optical disc format jointly developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), a group of the world's leading consumer electronics, personal computer and media manufacturers (including Apple, Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Thomson)."
Also, did you see the announcement that 200GB BD have been shown? http://www.tdk.com/procommon/press/article.asp?site=corp&recid=127
iSee said:My take, so far:
I guessing that Apple's movie store will kill this, though I hope they can pick up some of the nice features...
I'm actually glad it's not compatible with Mac. Apple tends to get things right the first time, and it will be great marketing to be able to say that the best service is available on both platforms. (I'm assuming Mac's new video player/store will be immediately available for Mac and PC.)
Just because it's not compatible with Mac doesn't mean it doesn't work with your iMacs, Macbooks, etc remember? You have Bootcamp or Parallels to get the content. I'd rather have the DVD sized content personally, and resize it to portable players afterwards, not the other way around. Hopefully we'll see what the iTMS will bring us.
autrefois
macrumors 65816
I think Amazon being in the TV and video download market could be a good thing. I don't think having only one company (even if it is Apple) is a good thing. Not enough options for people.
One thing I do NOT like is Amazon's lack of Mac support.
This is why I dislike Boot Camp and Parallels. Companies will start using this as an excuse for not having Mac-compatible products. The majority of Mac users (and based on your sig this apparently includes you, too) are still PPC, and that will be the case for quite a while...
One thing I do NOT like is Amazon's lack of Mac support.
Over Achiever said:
This is why I dislike Boot Camp and Parallels. Companies will start using this as an excuse for not having Mac-compatible products. The majority of Mac users (and based on your sig this apparently includes you, too) are still PPC, and that will be the case for quite a while...
Hope This is What Apple Shows on the 12th
How did the iPod jumpstart the market? It allowed people to rip the CDs that they already owned into MP3 (or AAC) so it could be transferred to the iPod. More of a wish than a prediction, I hope we see an "iFlicks" app that allows people to rip their DVDs into it, in a format that could show on a TV and play on a video iPod. Sure it would take a while, but it can be done already with Handbrake and let to run overnight. They could get around DCMA by limited the movie to the computer and "client" devices (not a lawyer, just guessing)
Also, the entire iFlicks "ecosystem" would be announced on Tuesday as well:
How did the iPod jumpstart the market? It allowed people to rip the CDs that they already owned into MP3 (or AAC) so it could be transferred to the iPod. More of a wish than a prediction, I hope we see an "iFlicks" app that allows people to rip their DVDs into it, in a format that could show on a TV and play on a video iPod. Sure it would take a while, but it can be done already with Handbrake and let to run overnight. They could get around DCMA by limited the movie to the computer and "client" devices (not a lawyer, just guessing)
Also, the entire iFlicks "ecosystem" would be announced on Tuesday as well:
- DVD quality
- iFlicks includes a Torrent client that speeds downloads, offering small credits to user who participate.
- Set-top box (aka client) with appropriate Component or HDMI connection for TV viewing; gigabit ethernet and Pre-N wireless connection; FrontRow interface;
- (variation could also include an iPod dock where iPod plays the movie. The current chip in the video iPod almost plays DVD quality. I'm sure an updated chip can handle DVD quality.)
- For purchased movies. iTunes-like DRM with 5 computers/devices (no DVD burning, studios won't allow it)
That's a good point, but the fact is there are many universities that are not Mac OS friendly ... even the medical school here does not work with macs, so paying for Parallels was a lifesaver. At my friend's college, they had a choice between buying a Dell laptop and a Macbook Pro running bootcamp for class ... and 70% of the entering class chose the MBP.autrefois said:
It's a good way for options, and Amazon does not lose much by not going into the 5-10% Mac share, they also know that Apple is going to release a solution of their own. This is where the new Intel chips come in.
Hopefully the solutions will expand, but not now. There's no need to.
Over Achiever said:
I actually have Parallels and Bootcamp installed, but there's no way I'm rebooting every time I want to watch a movie and my bootcamp partition is already full, so I'd have to go through the trouble to access the movies on external media. I'm pretty sure Parallels will choke on DVD quality playback.
Parallels and Bootcamp just aren't good enough for this.
GryphonKeeper said:
GryphonKeeper, I sure hope you work at Apple as VP of the iFlicks division
This would be perfect with two more things:
Add Tivo-like capabilities to the set-top box--probably store the content back on your Mac, though. Allow people to get First-run movies through iFlicker--for a premium, of course.I know these two things won't happen, but I'd love it.
Sounds like this will be better than any Apple attempt.
If apple only include disney movies then the available content will be pretty weak.
So what if it only runs on windows - doesn't mean its less better - if it works reliably and does what its supposed to with a good range of movies.
If apple only include disney movies then the available content will be pretty weak.
So what if it only runs on windows - doesn't mean its less better - if it works reliably and does what its supposed to with a good range of movies.
2.2Gb is a fair chunk out of my 10Gb (in & out) monthly allocation and then I have to pay for additional storage. I think I'll just continue to get off my back-side and go buy a 'real' DVD or CD.