To those buying the new Apple TV......

[Supermallet]

The only reason I use Vudu at all is because of Ultraviolet. I would never give a dime to a company owned by Wal-Mart. Vudu's HDX quality looks great on my Roku, and I sincerely hope they make a great tvOS app, but I'm not holding my breath because their iPad app is awful.

The one nice thing about Ultraviolet is that I'm not stuck with Vudu if they don't work for me, I can jump to any service that's an Ultraviolet partner, like Flixster.

I almost never buy digital movies anyway. For usually less money than the digital asking price I can get a Blu-ray that frequently comes with an Ultraviolet code, so I'll get my digital copy and a physical copy that's of higher quality and doesn't require an internet connection.

I believe I've rented a digital movie once, through Amazon, and that was a catalog title so it was cheap. I usually don't rent digital titles because the prices are hardly much better than--again--buying the Blu-ray and certainly not better than renting with a promo code for Redbox. With digital rentals you're really paying a lot for convenience and immediate access.

So really, neither iTunes NOR Vudu are huge selling points for me. Airplay is a much bigger selling point than iTunes, and because of that I do hope that Apple is not restrictive about what apps it approves on tvOS. I want to be able to view my streaming media from any source on one device. That's the ideal. Right now I have a Roku as my main streaming box. It does 90% of what I need. I also bought an ATV3 after the price drop to do the other 10% of what I need. I'd love to replace both with a single box, but it's not going to be this new ATV. I'll wait for the one that supports HEVC and to see if Apple is indeed letting Amazon and Vudu and other vendors have apps (I don't care about purchasing through them, I just want to be able to stream).

Maybe the next ATV will be the one for me. I do like the Siri features a lot, but this release just doesn't do everything I'm going to need it to do yet.

 

[Snoopy4]

I am sure Vudu will be on there, but only to watch your already owned content. You will not be able to rent/buy directly through Vudu on the ATV.

That's all it needs to do now that a significant number, if not the majority of Digital copies are on UV not iTunes. The studios have largely bailed on iTunes digital copy.

 

[Snoopy4]

This is one place where Disney has gotten it right. Their Disney Movies Anywhere is awesome. Just link your different accounts and anything you buy (Disney content) from one store is automatically available from all of the others. iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, Vudu, Microsoft, doesn't matter. If only the other studios would be this open.

Not only that you can transfer the entire library to someone by simply unlinking your account and linking the Disney app to another user. I can now leave the entire Disney collection that I created to my kid at some point. It's brilliant.

 

[ffmed124]

As convenient as digital copies can be I also share your thought in this 100%

I too believe you can't beat Blue-Ray, the picture and sound are just so much more crisp than you can get from streaming. That being said, I also use Vudu because of the UV codes from the Blue-Ray movies. My past 2 smart TV's came with the Vudu app already installed.

 

[Badrottie]

I never watch any movies from iTunes because I still have NetFlix for only 7.99 a month. I am not worried about new movie release because Netflix will get it at later date.

 

[john16420]

Bluray is superior to any streaming format. If I have the disc, I'll watch the disc instead of streaming.

I'm sure everyone knows blu ray is great. Now for someone that travels often, wont take a wack load of blu ray discs when *digital copies make things less of a Hassel. ............

 

[mattopotamus]

I'm sure everyone knows blu ray is great. Now for someone that travels often, wont take a wack load of blu ray discs when *digital copies make things less of a Hassel. ............

I am always the first to argue for Picture Quality, but I am such a minimalist that I hate storing blu-rays and even having a blu-ray player connected to my TV. I currently have about 2000 blu-rays and have slowly been converting them all to digital copies. Of course there are a select few that are visual masterpieces and I will keep those.

Also, like others, I am finally realizing I can rent a movie 4-5 times before it would compare to the cost of ownership.

 

[TurboPGT!]

Do you buy digital movies?
Are you exclusive to iTunes?

I'm trying to figure out how anyone could blind buy this without first seeing if Apple will approve Vudu, which is the number 1 digital movie service for purchased movies.

I think they will approve it eventually, but they obviously never did before on the Apple TV which is probably reason why other boxes like Roku could thrive

Never heard of Vudu. Couldn't care less what it is.

I'm exclusive to AppleTV already. Between iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and others...more than enough than enough content for 1-2 hours a day my family has time to watch the idiot box.

 

[russ99]

Vudu (Ultraviolet really) is larger by default. The movie studios decided to "protect" themselves from Apple by forming a digital locker consortium. The studios feared Apple would take over like they did the music business. So instead of working with Apple, they decided to compete against them.

Then they also decided to freeze out iTunes by releasing blurays only with ultraviolet digital codes. This last part is most important as it forces consumers to stay with ultraviolet. The studios all could very well give codes to all digital stores if they wanted to. But hey that would be too free market of them now wouldn't it??

I understand movie studios wanting to protect themselves, but if I buy a movie, I want a file that plays on and streams from iTunes. I don't trust that someday they just won't yank the cloud files away from us.

So to defeat the ultraviolet nastiness, I buy the DVD/Blu Ray combo pack and rip the DVD.

More studios are giving consumers the choice between Apple Digital Copy and Ultraviolet, I think only Sony is the last hardline studio forcing Ultraviolet on people.

 

[Aluminum213]

Never heard of Vudu. Couldn't care less what it is.

I'm exclusive to AppleTV already. Between iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and others...more than enough than enough content for 1-2 hours a day my family has time to watch the idiot box.

Idiot box? You must watch some great content

 

[Cigsm]

Vudu is nowhere near the #1 digital movie service. That prize goes, of course, to iTunes.

Do you buy digital movies?
Are you exclusive to iTunes?

I'm trying to figure out how anyone could blind buy this without first seeing if Apple will approve Vudu, which is the number 1 digital movie service for purchased movies.

I think they will approve it eventually, but they obviously never did before on the Apple TV which is probably reason why other boxes like Roku could thrive

 

[TurboPGT!]

Vudu is nowhere near the #1 digital movie service. That prize goes, of course, to iTunes.

It's not even the top...I dunno...50? I've never even heard of it.
The arrogance of some people...

 

[boomhower]

I think I have one movie I have bought through iTunes. Apple TV is purely a streaming device to me. I have other devices for playback of on network media.

 

[wesk702]

Do you buy digital movies?
Are you exclusive to iTunes?

I'm trying to figure out how anyone could blind buy this without first seeing if Apple will approve Vudu, which is the number 1 digital movie service for purchased movies.

I think they will approve it eventually, but they obviously never did before on the Apple TV which is probably reason why other boxes like Roku could thrive

I rarely rent or buy from iTunes.
I have about 300gigs of movies converted into iTunes which stream fine. Also about 400gigs of mkvs that stream perfectly to the Apple TV using air video hd. Never relied on the iTunes Store and can't see it being a problem with the new version. Iflicks can convert avis and mkvs into iTunes format in a matter of seconds.

 

[ehrens]

I owned a first gen Apple TV and now own 2 of the third gen model. I don't plan on getting the new one unless Comcast builds a Streampix/On Demand app for it. We cut the cord about 18 months ago so we have minimal interaction with cable content (HBO and ESPN being notable exceptions) and my wife has adapted well to the Apple TV ecosystem but I fear complications if we venture further down the rabbit hole.

Regarding use of the iTunes Store for video and digital copies:

I have about 1TB of video I store locally for streaming. This includes a handful of digital copies of movies and television shows. I have always been a physical medium first type of guy (I have ~500 CDs from my teens and 20s stored in my basement) so I prefer to buy Blu-Ray discs. I typically look for BD/iTMS combo packs and failing that BD/DVD combo packs. BUT if a BD only offers an Ultraviolet DC I will look for it on the iTMS first, and if it isn't I usually skip it.

UV in my experience is terrible. I have tried to use it with Vudu and Flixster and it really is pretty awful. On top of the weird streaming/transfer rules, I have had content expire (Sony's Austin Powers and Moneyball) and I have also run into situations where movies can only be streamed with certain apps (Warner's LEGO Movie can only be used with Flixster).

 

[Blujelly]

For a long time I'd purchase all my DVD's (hard copies) from Amazon, they would always come up cheaper then most other places.

Sometimes if iTunes had it released early and I didn't want to wait the I'd buy from them, Apple for a long time in my eyes were one of the most expensive to buy from.

Recently I've noticed Apple have had a price drop in most of their films, so I might start buying from them. Although I do like a good DVD collection (hard copy)

 

[Brian32984]

This was the first let down for me... I didn't even think about Apple not allowing Vudu to have an app. Every smart device I've ever had has access to Vudu and that's where most of my movie collection has accumulated over the last several years. AirPlay isn't as great as I had hoped either, thought that it might make up for some of the missing apps but it really isn't blowing me away so far.

Unless you're buying your first streaming device or somehow haven't used any service other than iTunes to purchase media I really don't know why anyone would choose an Apple TV over a Roku or something. Hopefully they will at least add a Vudu player in the future.

 

[Jago]

This was the first let down for me... I didn't even think about Apple not allowing Vudu to have an app. Every smart device I've ever had has access to Vudu and that's where most of my movie collection has accumulated over the last several years. AirPlay isn't as great as I had hoped either, thought that it might make up for some of the missing apps but it really isn't blowing me away so far.

This forum is the first time I've ever even heard of Vudu. Apparently it's US-only, so it's existence (or not) is irrelevant to the vast majority of the world population. "Apple not allowing Vudu to have an app" is blatantly FALSE. Whoever develops Vudu is free to develop and release an app for the new Apple TV.

 

[mattopotamus]

This forum is the first time I've ever even heard of Vudu. Apparently it's US-only, so it's existence (or not) is irrelevant to the vast majority of the world population. "Apple not allowing Vudu to have an app" is blatantly FALSE. Whoever develops Vudu is free to develop and release an app for the new Apple TV.

I agree with this. I think apple would allow Vudu if an app is developed. Obviously you would not be able to make purchases through the Vudu app, but your collection should be able to be accessed. I really think at this point it is a Vudu issues not apple one.

 

[NickTuesday]

Once your involved heavily in the Apple ecosystem, choosing to buy a movie elsewhere becomes a struggle. There is no Walmart ecosystem as far as I know.
I don't hate Vudu. In some instances the Vudu version is superior. Mullohand Drive looks like garbage on Itunes. The Vudu version is beautiful and even includes chapter stops for some reason (they must have forced this, it seems to be against Lynch's wishes). Of course you are likely to get a free digital copy for Vudu with your blu-rays. Apple doesn't offer this anymore.

 

[ffd]

I remember when I thought iTunes was the best thing. All of my media offline and in one place. But then I got a smart TV and I couldn't watch any of my movies. Then I got a game console. Still couldn't watch them. So I got an Apple TV and it's really not all that (here's to hoping the 2015 ATV will be better!) and I find myself using VUDU more than iTunes these days.



I'm 50/50. VUDU has certainly caught up with iTunes in my opinion, I can watch my movies and TV shows anywhere on any device which is a huge perk. With my PS4, if I want to watch late at night, I can plug headphones into my controller and listen without disturbing anyone. That, and it seems most movies come with a UV only copy or a choice between the two services; there's no more iTunes only digital copy deals.

However, when a movie comes with a VUDU or iTunes copy, I redeem iTunes first as I'd rather have it downloaded in my possession instead of available to me only online. And while I know VUDU lets me download videos, there's no central place for me to store them like there is for iTunes. If my internet goes down, I can stream to any TV in my home, my iPad or my phone with iTunes.

Then just use Plex to stream your purchased movies to wherever you want.

 

[ffd]

I agree with this. I think apple would allow Vudu if an app is developed. Obviously you would not be able to make purchases through the Vudu app, but your collection should be able to be accessed. I really think at this point it is a Vudu issues not apple one.

They have an iOS app, so there's no reason at all they can't port it to the TV (and have approved).

 

[d21mike]

This was the first let down for me... I didn't even think about Apple not allowing Vudu to have an app. Every smart device I've ever had has access to Vudu and that's where most of my movie collection has accumulated over the last several years. AirPlay isn't as great as I had hoped either, thought that it might make up for some of the missing apps but it really isn't blowing me away so far.

Unless you're buying your first streaming device or somehow haven't used any service other than iTunes to purchase media I really don't know why anyone would choose an Apple TV over a Roku or something. Hopefully they will at least add a Vudu player in the future.

Like others I find this hard to believe. Of course if they allowed you to purchase content then they would have to pay Apple as an in-app purchase. So some Apps do not allow in-app purchase. But you stated as a FACT, do you have a link from the developer stating Apple would not allow it. I heard the first PLEX App was rejected and then PLEX Fixed whatever the problem was and now it is on the App Store. Maybe something like that?

 

[rkieru]

On the subject of Vudu there is something to keep in mind is that in addition to their having no Apple TV app at this time, they also have no app for Chromecast.

You can access their service via the Chrome browser in Chromecast - but they don't provide an app. Their reason for doing so is to avoid losing any part of their profits to selling their content in-app, something that both Google and Apple require a tithing to allow.

It may not be that Apple is holding Vudu back due to wanting to avoid competition; but rather that Vudu is not interested in creating an app that either a.) Loses some of their profits to Apple or b.) Lacks the ability to function as a store.

 

[Fofer]

On the subject of Vudu there is something to keep in mind is that in addition to their having no Apple TV app at this time, they also have no app for Chromecast.

You can access their service via the Chrome browser in Chromecast - but they don't provide an app.

But Chrome can cast the VUDU stream, at 1080p. That's how Chromecast works with all compatible services. None have "Chromecast apps."

http://www.vudu.com/setup_chromecast.html