A different Digital Copy question...complaint

[Darev]

So, I bought the director's edition of Watchmen today (yes, probably eventually going to double dip...but anyways) and noticed the expiration date on the paper containing the code to "redeem" the digital copy. At the top of one of the sides, the "digital copy offer expires July 21, 2010" is right there in plain lettering.

I had no idea you had to "redeem" them by a certain date in order to use them.

I looked at the digital copy paperwork for The Dark Knight, and there in the fine print, another expiration date.

Do all digital copies have this (in my mind needless) expiration date?

I've never redeemed any of mine because I don't have an IPOD (or similar device) and was going to wait until I did own one.

[dg5150]

You don't have to have an ipod to watch it - you could just as easily watch it on your computer. It will play with Windows Media Player or iTunes. If you think you might get an ipod though, it wouldn't be a bad idea to download the itunes software and download the digital copy to your itunes. I don't know if you could convert it to be itunes compatible if you played it first with windows media player.

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by Darev

So, I bought the director's edition of Watchmen today (yes, probably eventually going to double dip...but anyways) and noticed the expiration date on the paper containing the code to "redeem" the digital copy. At the top of one of the sides, the "digital copy offer expires July 21, 2010" is right there in plain lettering.

I had no idea you had to "redeem" them by a certain date in order to use them.

I looked at the digital copy paperwork for The Dark Knight, and there in the fine print, another expiration date.

Do all digital copies have this (in my mind needless) expiration date?

I've never redeemed any of mine because I don't have an IPOD (or similar device) and was going to wait until I did own one.

it's worse on the for-mentioned date the digital copy will no longer play
remember they "the studios" believe you don't own that disc they do, you merely have a "license" to view it at home just like windows you don't own it you have a user key to use it

[steve_dave]

Originally Posted by Alan A

it's worse on the for-mentioned date the digital copy will no longer play

Sorry but that statement is wrong. Its a lie that digital copy haters want to keep pushing as truth.

The fact is that the only digital copies that expire are rental copies and these expire 14days after download or 48hours after first viewing whichever comes first. Digital copies provided by studios with DVDs and BDs will never expire but due to DRM, you may have issues playing them back on unauthorized devices.

Simply put, the studios put expiration dates on redemption codes only. That means you have a limited time to get your premium digital download.

Just download it your computer when you get it, the movie will still work when you get an iPod with Video, iPod Touch, or iPhone. The movie will also work with the Apple TV device.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Here's a question...

WHY DON'T THEY MAKE THE DIGITAL COPIES A DOWNLOAD FROM THE INTERNET???

Since there is obviously some type of internet database keeping track of all these codes anyhow, why not just offer the damn content as digital information? Less waste, less shipping costs (weight comes into play when hundreds of thousands of copies come into play), less production costs, less hassle, easier for them to keep track of. MANY problems solved!

[jceperley]

Sometimes, the fine print date you seem might be extended. I think Fox did on the Blue Harvest DVD, since I had downloaded it, but got a new computer after the date, and it still worked.

Also, I recommend redeeming them and storing them on your computer, mostly if you have a laptop, so when you have your laptop on the go and got time to kill, such as a long flight, you can still be entertained without having to lug around a bunch of DVDs.

As for the download question here's a reason: The files are huges, like almost 1GB per hour, so unless you have the bandwidth, it'll take forever to download. My biggest problem with this system is they slap the Digital Copy logo and name everywhere on the front and back of the case, then have to make room in the actual case to fit the disc, ie. a 2 or 3 disc case when there's only 1 or 2 (respectively) BDs then this extra disc. Why not just put it in a sleeve and put a sticker on the front shrinkwrap or something? Then if you don't want/ use it, you can pretty much forget it ever came with one.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by jceperley

Sometimes, the fine print date you seem might be extended. I think Fox did on the Blue Harvest DVD, since I had downloaded it, but got a new computer after the date, and it still worked.

Also, I recommend redeeming them and storing them on your computer, mostly if you have a laptop, so when you have your laptop on the go and got time to kill, such as a long flight, you can still be entertained without having to lug around a bunch of DVDs.

As for the download question here's a reason: The files are huges, like almost 1GB per hour, so unless you have the bandwidth, it'll take forever to download. My biggest problem with this system is they slap the Digital Copy logo and name everywhere on the front and back of the case, then have to make room in the actual case to fit the disc, ie. a 2 or 3 disc case when there's only 1 or 2 (respectively) BDs then this extra disc. Why not just put it in a sleeve and put a sticker on the front shrinkwrap or something? Then if you don't want/ use it, you can pretty much forget it ever came with one.

1GB per hour?!?!?! What the hell? There is no need for the files to be anywhere NEAR that big. You can find DVD rips on torrent sites that are less than 700MB in size. AND, those are the highest quality resolutions that one would need in a digital copy since they will mostly be watched on laptops (screens no bigger than approximately 20") and portable devices (screens as small as 5").

This whole idea of a digital copy in the first place seems like a waste to me. I have a hard enough time considering putting a DVD in any player since Blu-ray came out. I would never ruin a film by watching it on a small screen in stereo at this point.

My digital copy discs go straight into the trash without a second thought... after all, you can only have so many coasters lying around before the place starts to get messy.

[bhampton]

I don't like digital copies.

I do load them into my itunes... I don't know why because if I have the digital copy then it's something I have on Blu Ray so it's something I would rather watch on Blu Ray. But,.. since I paid for it I guess and since they expire... I just load them into my itunes for the heck of it.

I don't bother with the Windows only one's like my copy of Dark City. I don't use PC's since getting a Macbook.

If the future is movies on cell phones... I don't even want to think about it.

=Brian