Does Amazon Unbox suck this much for everyone else?

[aphex]

Amazon gave me a $5 credit to trying out their Amazon Unbox service, and even though it was free, I feel like I was ripped off.

First off, the rental page says "30 day rental period; 24 hour viewing period." Problem is, when I click 'Rent', it automatically sends me through to the on-demand viewing page where the movie starts playing, starting my 24 hour viewing period. I didn't want to start watching it tonight, I just wanted to use the credit.

So, fine, i'll watch a movie. I start watching the movie and it goes for 30 seconds, then buffers for 10, then goes for 30 seconds, then buffers for 10. WTF. THIS SUCKS.

Video Quality looks like crap so far from what i've seen.

I'm on a decently fast internet connection now (much better than my parents DSL I posted about the other night), 10mb Down / 1mb Up. No sites have speed issues except Amazon Unbox.

Seriously? No wonder they are giving away credit for the damn thing. The prices IMO are way too high as well (heck, most online rentals are way too high). My cable co offers HD On Demand movies for $3.99 and $4.99 and can be watched on my 46" HDTV. $4 to watch it on my small LCD? Blugh.

Am I alone?

 

[Zim Hosein]

WTH is Amazon Unbox aphex?

And yes, I am too lazy to look it up myself, you should at least give us a linky!

 

[Evadman]

garbage.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
WTH is Amazon Unbox aphex?

And yes, I am too lazy to look it up myself, you should at least give us a linky!

I figured it was fairly self explanatory mr. lazy bones

http://www.amazon.com/Unbox-Vi...?ie=UTF8&node=16261631

:beer:

 

[aphex]

BTW, its like a Moderator Sausage Fest in here so far

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

it works okay on Tivo, and I hear HD support is coming soon.

prices are a tad high, but if you're too lazy to hit the video store, it can be handy.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
WTH is Amazon Unbox aphex?

And yes, I am too lazy to look it up myself, you should at least give us a linky!

I figured it was fairly self explanatory mr. lazy bones

http://www.amazon.com/Unbox-Vi...?ie=UTF8&node=16261631

:beer:

Thanks for the link aphex! :beer:

After looking at the service, I don't think it will last long especially after the Fall update that will tie in VOD for Xbox360 users and NF IMO; I know it's a "different" comparison, but it still...

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: aphex
BTW, its like a Moderator Sausage Fest in here so far

I'm not turning my back on any of you other mods!

 

[Jeff7]

Streaming video? Ugh, that stuff sucks.


I'd be out of the game entirely. I have to set The Daily Show episodes to 500kbps to have a chance of getting them in realtime. RR Lite = 768kbps.

 

[Baked]

Originally posted by: aphex
BTW, its like a Moderator Sausage Fest in here so far

That's 'cause Derek made half the forum mods... fail.

----
Want a spot? It pays well.
Rich Mod

 

[aphex]

So this makes no sense. I just rented another movie to use up the rest of my credit. As soon as I hit purchase, I closed the browser. Loaded it back up, went to my 'Video Library' and I see the movie there, but it says it expires in a week. WTF. Thats not 30 days.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: Baked

Originally posted by: aphex
BTW, its like a Moderator Sausage Fest in here so far

That's 'cause Derek made half the forum mods... fail.

That's a mod callout Baked, play nice!

 

[biggestmuff]

Sounds shitty, but you weren't ripped off.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: biggestmuff
Sounds shitty, but you weren't ripped off.

I've now been trying to watch this movie for 3 hours. The movie is only 1.5 hours long. It was working for a good 20 minute spat, then went through hissy fits, then started again for another 20 minutes, then decided to restart itself. It keeps pausing, but come hell or high water, i will make it though.

Yes, I was ripped off.

 

[Shawn]

This is pretty much how netflix watch instantly is too. Movie selection is kinda crappy but at least I don't have to pay anything extra and can watch as many as I want. Just watched Omega Man and Logan's Run. Old movies but I had never seen them before.

Actually though, Netflix has gotten a lot better. Lot less buffering now than there was when it first started out. I think they finally got some faster servers.

 

[Eos]

Anything I've streamed has worked fine for me. I get the highest bitrate every time. You need to download it instead and use the Unbox player.

I just pulled up a free video and it works fine.

Of course your office is not the best place. I watch on my LCD tv in the tv room.

 

[allisolm]

Does Amazon Unbox suck this much for everyone else?

No. It works fine for me and has for over a year. As others have said, did you download the player? Did you wait until it said "Ready to Watch''?

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Netflix + Roku Box FTW

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Shawn
This is pretty much how netflix watch instantly is too. Movie selection is kinda crappy but at least I don't have to pay anything extra and can watch as many as I want. Just watched Omega Man and Logan's Run. Old movies but I had never seen them before.

Actually though, Netflix has gotten a lot better. Lot less buffering now than there was when it first started out. I think they finally got some faster servers.

i've never had a buffering problem with netflix. it's always run through the entire movie/episode without a hitch.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Wasn't someone on the forums part of the team that developed Unbox?

 

[allisolm]

Originally posted by: joshsquall
Wasn't someone on the forums part of the team that developed Unbox?

Here. It's been almost 2 years since it came out. Unfortunately, Ameesh hasn't visited the forums since Dec, 2007.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: allisolm
Does Amazon Unbox suck this much for everyone else?

No. It works fine for me and has for over a year. As others have said, did you download the player? Did you wait until it said "Ready to Watch''?

There is no player for the Mac, its online streaming only. That being said, when you click rent, its supposed to allow you to choose when to watch it. It doesn't. It just starts streaming, and buffering, and streaming, and buffering, etc.

 

[Eos]

Do you have the most recent flash update?
Have you tried clicking pause for a length of time and then playing to see if the buffer goes away at that point?

You have to ask yourself how fast your connection is. I have a 10mb/1mb and have no issues with the streaming content.

 

[allisolm]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: allisolm
Does Amazon Unbox suck this much for everyone else?

No. It works fine for me and has for over a year. As others have said, did you download the player? Did you wait until it said "Ready to Watch''?

There is no player for the Mac, its online streaming only. That being said, when you click rent, its supposed to allow you to choose when to watch it. It doesn't. It just starts streaming, and buffering, and streaming, and buffering, etc.

I didn't think unbox downloads were Mac compatible.

 

[Shawn]

I didn't think so either. I know Netflix won't work on a Mac.