Amazon Unbox Video Released!

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Ameesh,


the main hurdle that it looks like your product will have to overcome is download times. While the quality of movielink and that starz one isn't steller, it does stream the movie to you, even on 768k dsl. I realize that WMP lets you stream a lot, but it looks liek your app here controls downloads.

<---hasn't tried it yet

Any comments about that?

We support progressive download meaning as the file starts you can start watching it as soon as you have enough buffer to ensure an uninterrupted playback. most people with standard cable modems should be able to start watching in a matter of a couple of minutes.

We have also partnered with a great CDN partner and you should see outstanding download rates relative to your connection speed.

Try it out, and check out the quality on shows like Prison break and csi miami. they look fantastic!

 

[Goosemaster]

ameesh, off the record, do you recommend any currrent tv shows based on quality alone? I want to see the best that you are ouputing for network stuff right now

 

[lokiju]

No Smallville?

No Lost

No Scrubs

Damn, those are my top favorite shows.


Well I think it's a great idea personally :thumbsup:

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: DurocShark
Nice Ameesh. Thanks for letting us know.

Now let us know when they actually get cheaper than buying the DVD.

Yeah, I think the pricing is still a bit high. I really can't see paying $2 to watch a TV episode (although I know that's the current market price). $1 might be fair. And the movies should probably be about $5 less. Not that I think you have any control over the pricing

 

[lokiju]

Sweet!
Aquaman, Pilot Episode.

DL'ing now!

I had no clue there was a pilot for this already.

 

[lokiju]

How do you tell the progress of your download?

If I select "Download Progress" from the sort option I don't see anything about the progress, unless I'm missing something.


It just keeps showing up as Queued # 1 and won't download.

Am I missing something here?

Any suggestions?

Shows that I've downloaded it and says my download time was 00:00, but nothing ever downloaded and I can't "force" it to download.

 

[axia55]

Does your computer have to be connected to the internet to be able to watch the movies or are they physically on your hard drive?

 

[anxi80]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: DurocShark
Nice Ameesh. Thanks for letting us know.

Now let us know when they actually get cheaper than buying the DVD.

And the movies should probably be about $5 less. Not that I think you have any control over the pricing

i think it would be cool that for paying the $9-$13 for a movie that amazon would actually send you the retail dvd movie and in the meantime you can watch it through the download version in case you didnt want to wait the couple of days it would take to arrive at your house. so you would still be buying the actual dvd, but you would get the option to be able to watch it beforehand.

 

[Goosemaster]

*starts downloading CSI*

1GB for a 1hrs show:shocked: I hope that is a good thing

Only problem so far is the downlaod speed: only 2Mbits/s

 

[Goosemaster]

very good quality indeed....much better than what you get for yoru $1.99 with itunes. (itunes quality is pretty bad


that said, your player is very limited in what it can do. while having other players control these files might sound out of the question due to advertising etc, it might actually be a good thing.

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: anxi80

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: DurocShark
Nice Ameesh. Thanks for letting us know.

Now let us know when they actually get cheaper than buying the DVD.

And the movies should probably be about $5 less. Not that I think you have any control over the pricing

i think it would be cool that for paying the $9-$13 for a movie that amazon would actually send you the retail dvd movie and in the meantime you can watch it through the download version in case you didnt want to wait the couple of days it would take to arrive at your house. so you would still be buying the actual dvd, but you would get the option to be able to watch it beforehand.

That would work for me. :thumbsup:

But I can't see paying that much for such limited use as DRM controlled downloads. DVDs go anywhere, and I can rip anything I want to take mobile.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: DurocShark

Originally posted by: anxi80

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: DurocShark
Nice Ameesh. Thanks for letting us know.

Now let us know when they actually get cheaper than buying the DVD.

And the movies should probably be about $5 less. Not that I think you have any control over the pricing

i think it would be cool that for paying the $9-$13 for a movie that amazon would actually send you the retail dvd movie and in the meantime you can watch it through the download version in case you didnt want to wait the couple of days it would take to arrive at your house. so you would still be buying the actual dvd, but you would get the option to be able to watch it beforehand.

That would work for me. :thumbsup:

But I can't see paying that much for such limited use as DRM controlled downloads. DVDs go anywhere, and I can rip anything I want to take mobile.

perahaps charge an extra fee for having the movie immediately? Perhaps make it temporary but charge a much lower fee, such as $3-5 with the purchase of the DVD

That would be KILLER.


sort of how they get you on roller coasters for the movie of the ride etc...

 

[flexy]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
glad you chose vc-1 over h.264....not enough stuff can accelerate it in hardware yet can it runs liek crap on may devices

h.264 is the devil 10-14hrs encoding of a two hr movie using high-profile is the norm...and this on a A64 running@2600 mhz. I will look into that vc-1 codec, if there are any out already.

Although..h.264 is great..at least using x264, encoding with megui/staxrip etc...but as said...incredible slow

 

[thehstrybean]

Nice! Thanks for the heads up!

 

[thehstrybean]

Woa! Nice quality! Stargate Atlantis: Rising (1 & 2) looks great!

 

[iwearnosox]

Usenet's been unboxed longer.

 

[Lucky]

the DRM restrictions are pretty harsh. Even though you can have the file on two computers, you can't just transfer the files between the computers- you have to redownload it. Seems pretty silly. And their original statement about apple "not allowing" them to develop a version that works on Macs was a joke. No, they just didn't want to put in the effort to do it.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: anxi80

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: DurocShark
Nice Ameesh. Thanks for letting us know.

Now let us know when they actually get cheaper than buying the DVD.

And the movies should probably be about $5 less. Not that I think you have any control over the pricing

i think it would be cool that for paying the $9-$13 for a movie that amazon would actually send you the retail dvd movie and in the meantime you can watch it through the download version in case you didnt want to wait the couple of days it would take to arrive at your house. so you would still be buying the actual dvd, but you would get the option to be able to watch it beforehand.

I bought a CD a couple years ago that they allowed me to stream after making the purchase.

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: Lucky
the DRM restrictions are pretty harsh. Even though you can have the file on two computers, you can't just transfer the files between the computers- you have to redownload it. Seems pretty silly. And their original statement about apple "not allowing" them to develop a version that works on Macs was a joke. No, they just didn't want to put in the effort to do it.

Actually, Apple will not let us use their DRM (in fact they don't let anyone use it) which is the only approved DRM for Macs. If we can't use it we can't build on Macs. Apple definitely doesn't want people to compete with iTunes on the Mac Platform.

It's defintely not a question of laziness or apathy, we would love to be able to support the Mac community, they are typically very enthusiastic consumers and are largely comprised of early adopters, apple just tied our hands.

-Ameesh

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: DurocShark

Originally posted by: anxi80

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: DurocShark
Nice Ameesh. Thanks for letting us know.

Now let us know when they actually get cheaper than buying the DVD.

And the movies should probably be about $5 less. Not that I think you have any control over the pricing

i think it would be cool that for paying the $9-$13 for a movie that amazon would actually send you the retail dvd movie and in the meantime you can watch it through the download version in case you didnt want to wait the couple of days it would take to arrive at your house. so you would still be buying the actual dvd, but you would get the option to be able to watch it beforehand.

That would work for me. :thumbsup:

But I can't see paying that much for such limited use as DRM controlled downloads. DVDs go anywhere, and I can rip anything I want to take mobile.

perahaps charge an extra fee for having the movie immediately? Perhaps make it temporary but charge a much lower fee, such as $3-5 with the purchase of the DVD

That would be KILLER.


sort of how they get you on roller coasters for the movie of the ride etc...

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: Lucky
the DRM restrictions are pretty harsh. Even though you can have the file on two computers, you can't just transfer the files between the computers- you have to redownload it. Seems pretty silly.

I forgot to address the first point you made. You can copy the files over if you want, make sure you copy both the normal and the mobile and just use the import feature in the app and you will be all set. It will automatically sync up your accounts and get you a license and all the metadata to enjoy the content in question.

 

[Lucky]

Originally posted by: Ameesh

Originally posted by: Lucky
the DRM restrictions are pretty harsh. Even though you can have the file on two computers, you can't just transfer the files between the computers- you have to redownload it. Seems pretty silly. And their original statement about apple "not allowing" them to develop a version that works on Macs was a joke. No, they just didn't want to put in the effort to do it.

Actually, Apple will not let us use their DRM (in fact they don't let anyone use it) which is the only approved DRM for Macs. If we can't use it we can't build on Macs. Apple definitely doesn't want people to compete with iTunes on the Mac Platform.

It's defintely not a question of laziness or apathy, we would love to be able to support the Mac community, they are typically very enthusiastic consumers and are largely comprised of early adopters, apple just tied our hands.

-Ameesh

Perhaps I was wrong...I found it curious that the wording was changed on amazon to drop the explanation of why and simply say "not available".

 

[Lucky]

Originally posted by: Ameesh

Originally posted by: Lucky
the DRM restrictions are pretty harsh. Even though you can have the file on two computers, you can't just transfer the files between the computers- you have to redownload it. Seems pretty silly.

I forgot to address the first point you made. You can copy the files over if you want, make sure you copy both the normal and the mobile and just use the import feature in the app and you will be all set. It will automatically sync up your accounts and get you a license and all the metadata to enjoy the content in question.

I was not aware of that. I guess some of the /. posting are factually incorrect.

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: Lucky

Originally posted by: Ameesh

Originally posted by: Lucky
the DRM restrictions are pretty harsh. Even though you can have the file on two computers, you can't just transfer the files between the computers- you have to redownload it. Seems pretty silly.

I forgot to address the first point you made. You can copy the files over if you want, make sure you copy both the normal and the mobile and just use the import feature in the app and you will be all set. It will automatically sync up your accounts and get you a license and all the metadata to enjoy the content in question.

I was not aware of that. I guess some of the /. posting are factually incorrect.

Shens!

 

[MisterJackson]

Originally posted by: lokiju
Sweet!
Aquaman, Pilot Episode.

DL'ing now!

I had no clue there was a pilot for this already.

Where, I don't see it with a search.