VUDU iOS App Updated With $2-$5 Disc-to-Digital Movie Conversions Using Barcodes

[MacRumors]

Walmart today announced that a new update to the mobile app for its streaming movie service, VUDU, will allow customers to scan and digitize any physical DVD or Blu-Ray into digital form for a price between $2 and $5, right from their smartphone. The update is an expansion of Walmart's "Disc-to-Digital" in-house service, which encouraged customers to bring their physical movies to a local Walmart to transfer them into cloud storage, and in recent years also added digital conversion on home computers.

Now, Mobile Disc-to-Digital will work on both iOS and Android devices and will support nearly 8,000 films from Lionsgate, Paramount Home Media Distribution, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. VUDU said it intends to keep adding support from more distributors over the coming months.

"The average movie collector owns nearly 100 DVDs and Blu-rays. We know these customers have invested a lot into building their physical movie collections," said Jeremy Verba, general manager, Vudu. "As more and more customers create digital libraries, we are constantly looking for ways to help them unlock additional value from the movies they already own."

"Like Walmart, at Vudu we're always striving to save our customers time and money," added Verba. "Our Mobile Disc-to-Digital service is a key part of Vudu's broader effort to make digital entertainment access simple and convenient."

To convert a movie into a digital copy, customers must navigate to the new disc-to-digital section of the VUDU app and scan the physical barcode of the film they want to digitize. Here they will be presented with digital options and prices: converting a DVD to SD or a Blu-ray disc to HDX costs $2, while converting a DVD to the higher-definition HDX costs $5. Users can keep scanning and adding movies in bulk, and once the digitalization is finished, all of the movies can be viewed on any VUDU-enabled device.

To ensure that users are scanning in copies of films that they have already purchased, the VUDU app will enable disc-to-digital conversions only when it can determine that the user is at their designated home/billing address.

VUDU is available on the iPhone and iPad [Direct Link], and today's Mobile Disc-to-Digital update will go live at 12:00 p.m. EDT. An engineer working for the streaming company recently confirmed that an Apple TV app is in development, with no clear timetable as to when it might debut.

Article Link: VUDU iOS App Updated With $2-$5 Disc-to-Digital Movie Conversions Using Barcodes

 

[avanpelt]

Those prices are steep; but like everything else in this world, if you don't have the knowledge or resources to do it yourself, you pay someone else to do it for you.

 

[enc0re]

VUDU continues to impress. I find it fascinating that Apple is getting beat in the digital movie space, which it should dominate based on its structural advantages. But VUDU is more and more cementing itself as the way for purchased (as opposed to subscribed) content.

I hope Apple wakes up soon and gives us 4K, HDR, and Atmos in a hurry. They have a disadvantage because they aren't built into the TV, but Apple's TV box should carve itself a niche as the highest quality way to own movies digitally.

 

[Rigby]

VUDU continues to impress. I find it fascinating that Apple is getting beat in the digital movie space, which it should dominate based on its structural advantages. But VUDU is more and more cementing itself as the way for purchased (as opposed to subscribed) content.

You may want to take a look at their market share compared to iTunes or Amazon.

 

[Breadman86]

Really tempted by this offer... I don't own an Apple TV as it doesn't support 4K or HDR, I don't have a Blu-ray or DVD player anymore but I do have tons of old DVDs/Blu-rays. While I certainly won't be converting everything, I'll probably convert a few things. Seems like a good option to me! I wonder if Vudu will only give you the movie or if it will also carry over any special features with it. That'd be a real win, and I'd start converting my collection in a heartbeat if that was the case.

 

[mlabonte21]

Tempting, but still a no.

I just can't shake a feeling that one day Walmart may wakeup in the morning and say "Nah--the digital video content business is just not for us" and then close down VUDU.

I just don't have that worry with iTunes.

If Disney were included (With Disney Movies Anywhere) I'd jump all over this.

Curious-- what if you scanned a barcode of a boxset? Like LOTR trilogy-- would that be $2 or $6?

 

[willmtaylor]

I know several folks who will be all over this. Convenience is worth something.

 

[groove-agent]

Cool concept as many people have old libraries collecting dust. Bringing them in would be a pain, esp if you get those bringing in huge libraries. They should have to surrender the physical copies thought otherwise their neightvour will be in the next week with the same box.
pain

 

[netnothing]

Really tempted by this offer... I don't own an Apple TV as it doesn't support 4K or HDR, I don't have a Blu-ray or DVD player anymore but I do have tons of old DVDs/Blu-rays. While I certainly won't be converting everything, I'll probably convert a few things. Seems like a good option to me! I wonder if Vudu will only give you the movie or if it will also carry over any special features with it. That'd be a real win, and I'd start converting my collection in a heartbeat if that was the case.

Vudu has been getting much better with the extras on newer releases. You can always check the title online and see what extras are included first.

Tempting, but still a no.

I just can't shake a feeling that one day Walmart may wakeup in the morning and say "Nah--the digital video content business is just not for us" and then close down VUDU.

I just don't have that worry with iTunes.

If Disney were included (With Disney Movies Anywhere) I'd jump all over this.

Curious-- what if you scanned a barcode of a boxset? Like LOTR trilogy-- would that be $2 or $6?

The vast majority of Vudu titles are all Ultraviolet, so once you own the UV rights, you own the rights. If Vudu were to ever go out of business, I'm sure someone would step in. There are titles that are not UV, but generally anything you can do via D2D is going to be UV. Sure, Walmart might wake up one day and not want to do Vudu anymore, but I would think it's far to valuable to just dump - they'd probably sell to someone.

Disney would never do D2D. Too greedy.

I tried a few discs I have at home - seemed to work ok (I didn't actually convert anything). Was nice that it identified titles I already owned.

-Kevin

 

[DTphonehome]

How do they prevent someone from just scanning their neighbor's collection?

 

[netnothing]

How do they prevent someone from just scanning their neighbor's collection?

They don't. Same as the old school in-home D2D. You can borrow discs or check them out from the library etc. Most at home D2D has been limited to 2013 titles and older, not sure about this new version.

-Kevin

 

[djdj]

A few thoughts...

(1) It doesn't seem to have the "all conversions are 50% off when converting 10 or more discs" feature that the desktop version of the app has. That's unfortunate.

(2) It requires a device that has a GPS. I tried it on a WiFi-only iPad Pro and it fails because it doesn't have one.

(3) I love Vudu. It's available on pretty much every platform... except Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV.

 

[Kaibelf]

While i understand the business model for this, I can't bring myself to pay again for content I already bought. I should be able to spend a flat fee (or perhaps, frankly, NO fee) to have access to content that I already paid a studio to own.

 

[JBaker122586]

Disney would never do D2D. Too greedy.

Disney has BY FAR the most consumer-friendly disc/digital policy in the industry, and it's not even close. I feel like you are talking without knowledge of what Disney actually does here.

Every Disney new release comes with a "Disney Movies Anywhere" code in the box. Enter it online, and you now own that movie on iTunes, Amazon, Google, Xbox, and Vudu, in addition to being able to view it within the Disney Movies Anywhere app. I believe the same applies if you purchase digitally. If I buy a Disney movie on iTunes, it is also added to my account on Amazon, Google, etc.

So we don't need Disney to adopt a policy like Vudu, we need other studios to adopt policies like Disney.

 

[Breadman86]

A few thoughts...

(1) It doesn't seem to have the "all conversions are 50% off when converting 10 or more discs" feature that the desktop version of the app has. That's unfortunate.

(2) It requires a device that has a GPS. I tried it on a WiFi-only iPad Pro and it fails because it doesn't have one.

(3) I love Vudu. It's available on pretty much every platform... except Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV.

Interesting about the 50% off with 10 or more discs on desktop. I can't see why I would use the iOS method over the desktop method in that case. What's the benefit other than being able to scan more quickly?

Also, I had no idea Vudu wasn't available on AppleTV. That's super annoying. I feel like I'm always forced to own more than one streaming device for this very reason. AppleTV doesn't have VUDU or Amazon Prime. Amazon Fire TV doesn't have VUDU or iTunes purchases. Roku has everything but iTunes purchases. You're forced into owning basically at least 2 devices if you own content or want to watch things on either the Apple platform, VUDU, or Amazon Prime... sucks.

 

[netnothing]

Disney has BY FAR the most consumer-friendly disc/digital policy in the industry, and it's not even close. I feel like you are talking without knowledge of what Disney actually does here.

Every Disney new release comes with a "Disney Movies Anywhere" code in the box. Enter it online, and you now own that movie on iTunes, Amazon, Google, Xbox, and Vudu, in addition to being able to view it within the Disney Movies Anywhere app. I believe the same applies if you purchase digitally. If I buy a Disney movie on iTunes, it is also added to my account on Amazon, Google, etc.

So we don't need Disney to adopt a policy like Vudu, we need other studios to adopt policies like Disney.

I know exactly how it works. Currently own 139 DMA titles. My greed comment had nothing to do with DMA. I agree 100%, DMA is great. Disney nailed it. Buy/redeem once and it's available everywhere. I'd love to see the entire industry move to that model so there is no lock-in anywhere.

My greed comment was about Disney in general. Everything they do is priced just a little higher than the rest. Disney digital titles start at $19.99, whereas the rest of the industry starts new releases at $14.99. Disney titles, when on sale are never as low as all the other studios.

-Kevin

 

[dino12]

Just use TunesKit. Best program out there.

 

[psylence2k]

I wonder if Itunes would ever create a program to match this.

 

[jclardy]

Disney has BY FAR the most consumer-friendly disc/digital policy in the industry, and it's not even close. I feel like you are talking without knowledge of what Disney actually does here.

Every Disney new release comes with a "Disney Movies Anywhere" code in the box. Enter it online, and you now own that movie on iTunes, Amazon, Google, Xbox, and Vudu, in addition to being able to view it within the Disney Movies Anywhere app. I believe the same applies if you purchase digitally. If I buy a Disney movie on iTunes, it is also added to my account on Amazon, Google, etc.

So we don't need Disney to adopt a policy like Vudu, we need other studios to adopt policies like Disney.

Yeah I agree, I just entered a few digital codes from some blu-ray's I had yesterday. Fox/WB/Sony - each one gave one option for redemption (Vudu was the only consistent option.) My Disney blu-rays are available on iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, etc. I didn't have to choose.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

I know exactly how it works. Currently own 139 DMA titles. My greed comment had nothing to do with DMA. I agree 100%, DMA is great. Disney nailed it. Buy/redeem once and it's available everywhere. I'd love to see the entire industry move to that model so there is no lock-in anywhere.

My greed comment was about Disney in general. Everything they do is priced just a little higher than the rest. Disney digital titles start at $19.99, whereas the rest of the industry starts new releases at $14.99. Disney titles, when on sale are never as low as all the other studios.

-Kevin

So surely you feel the same about Apple? Like Apple, Disney is a niche in their industry and they typically create superior content. Most of the other studios put out junk with an occasional gem.

 

[Defthand]

Me likes.

I could rip a DVD in a second, but then I'd have to manage a local storage solution.

Optical discs may or may not exist for two more decades. I disconnected the DVD player when streaming emerged, but I still have some favorite movies on disc that I'd like to have in the cloud when I'm feeling nostalgic.

 

[Westside guy]

For discs I've already purchased, I use the free alternative service HD2D - Handbrake Disc to Digital.

 

[D.T.]

I have a few beefs with Vudu, one is actually addressed below (the mediocre extras). I also had the worst customer experience ever, I've been mostly self-serve, but I had one simple issue that took them 45 days to correct and required 4 different support tickets from my end.

I'd still love a native ATV4 app - unless Apple would deny it (and they already know this), it makes no sense for them not to make another, less than trivial group of device owners, have the best experience to motivate purchasing from their content service. Unlike Amazon, they don't even represent a competitive hardware/ecosystem. Heck, you can even buy movies through Google Play and play them through the YT app on an Apple TV.

Vudu has been getting much better with the extras on newer releases. You can always check the title online and see what extras are included first.

Yeah, that's been one of my complaints with Vudu vs. iTunes, I'm a big movie buff and really into the additional content, but it's good to hear they're improving.

It doesn't seem to have the "all conversions are 50% off when converting 10 or more discs" feature that the desktop version of the app has. That's unfortunate.

Oh that's a bummer, the couple of times I've done it, I did batches of 10 (DVD to HD) and that's winds up pretty cheap.

I could rip a DVD in a second, but then I'd have to manage a local storage solution.

True, but also keep in mind you also have the opportunity to upgrade your SD (DVDs) to nice HD versions, and if you get into the 50% off for 10 or more, that's only $2.50/each.

 

[richpjr]

Those prices are steep; but like everything else in this world, if you don't have the knowledge or resources to do it yourself, you pay someone else to do it for you.

The one thing with this is that you are storing the movies in the cloud so you don't have to worry about disk space and running media servers (if you don't already have that set up). Also you can upgrade a standard DVDs to a higher bitrate.
[doublepost=1490290172][/doublepost]

For discs I've already purchased, I use the free alternative service HD2D - Handbrake Disc to Digital.

I use Handbrake, but there are still too many things it can't rip.

 

[ftaok]

I'm not looking to add more titles to my VUDU account, even though it's my "go to" Ultraviolet vendor. However, I wonder if this would work in "reverse" in order to get an iTunes copy of a Disney movie that didn't come with a digital copy.

I bought the Tangled blu-ray/dvd combo pack that didn't come with a digital copy.

If I were to do a D2D on it with my VUDU account (which is connected to my Disney Movie Anywhere account, which is also connected to my iTunes account), would it magically appear in my iTunes. Of course, after the $2 fee. Might actually be worth it to get iTunes versions of any Disney movie that I don't have in iTunes as well (not sure how many of these titles exist).

ft