The future of iTunes and Digital Copies

[bsweetness]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

Oh, my Walmart does D2D. They've had it since day one. My town really isn't small. It's just that most of the local theaters only do mainstream films. I think there is one does a mixture of both.

Have you really looked around very much? I used to live down that way, and the Raleigh/Durham area has more than one theater that shows independent and foreign films. Several of the really big theaters will usually have one or two, but off the top of my head I know The Carolina Theatre, The Rialto, and The Colony are all dedicated to independent and foreign films (along with some live performances from time to time).

[squatting hen]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

Oh, my Walmart does D2D. They've had it since day one. My town really isn't small. It's just that most of the local theaters only do mainstream films. I think there is one does a mixture of both.

Cool. I have just heard a few rare stories of consumers getting an uninformed employee and the process taking a bit longer than expected.

As bsweetness mentioned if you wanted to go the cheapest route and just buy the UV digital code there is a thread here you could do that.

[bsweetness]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

What's the most popular payment option in the Buy/Sell/Trading Forum? Full disclosure, I hate PayPal. Had a bad experience with them.

According to the site rules, PayPal is the only service that can be used. I suggest you give it another try. The only issues I've ever had when using PayPal weren't PayPal's fault, they were the seller's fault (and to a certain degree mine for buying from that particular seller). If you buy from people here with good trade ratings, there shouldn't ever be any problems.

[squatting hen]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

What's the most popular payment option in the Buy/Sell/Trading Forum? Full disclosure, I hate PayPal. Had a bad experience with them.

Deleted my reply as bsweetness posted the official rules.

[Jumpman]

Originally Posted by bsweetness

Have you really looked around very much? I used to live down that way, and the Raleigh/Durham area has more than one theater that shows independent and foreign films. Several of the really big theaters will usually have one or two, but off the top of my head I know The Carolina Theatre, The Rialto, and The Colony are all dedicated to independent and foreign films (along with some live performances from time to time).

The Carolina Theatre not really that much anymore. I mean, they do but it's not as consistent as it was. The Rialto still does. Never been to the Colony.

[Walter-S_NC]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

Do I really need to have the printed list with me to do the in store disc to digital transaction?

No, but I have found it facilitates the process.

[Clark Kent]

First off, iTunes is not going to disappear as a venue for digital movies. Apple is just about the most profitable company on Earth and the studios won't abandon the platform. But they also are positioning UV as a very strong alternative, so that Apple can't leverage their market dominance in negotiations with the studios.

Both Apple and Amazon are extremely likely to remain separate from UltraViolet. It is not in their best interests to join up with UltraViolet.

[Walter-S_NC]

LINK:
http://www.archives.gov/records-mgmt...media-faq.html

On a side note, National Archives lowered their optical disc storage life from seven to 2-5 years.

For storing your entertainment media, UV is the best option available. Optical disc start to fail sooner then most people think.

[Walter-S_NC]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

First off, iTunes is not going to disappear as a venue for digital movies. Apple is just about the most profitable company on Earth and the studios won't abandon the platform. But they also are positioning UV as a very strong alternative, so that Apple can't leverage their market dominance in negotiations with the studios.

Both Apple and Amazon are extremely likely to remain separate from UltraViolet. It is not in their best interests to join up with UltraViolet.

I agree. There is a core of Apple Nazis which have been indoctrinated beyond the point of seeing reason.

They will always be around till the bitter sock puppet end.

Let me tell you a story.

One time there was an application called Napster. It was so prolific it was seriously discussed that the internet would become nothing but one big collection of napster nodes.

The number of Napster accounts at high water mark numbered over 100 million.

Now, do you know anyone who has a napster account which they have used in the last five years?

The difference between UV and iTunes is iTunes is backed by a single technology company.

UV is a consortium. It is principlly backed by the distribution studios. It is they who decide where their content will be distributed through.

You say iTunes 'will not' be left out of distribution.

I say that process has already started. Fox announced that their digital copy redemption will exclude iTunes a few months back. They join Sony/Columbia and Warner Brothers who have already gone UV exclusive.

So what you suggest 'can not' happen has already begun.

Welcome to the world of consumer technolgy where nothing is absolute and where market dominance is fleeting.

[wzz]

If you agree with what Clark Kent has written, what's with all the extra paragraphs of unclear nonsense?

Is there a link between napster and what Clark Kent had said?

& From what I see, (9th paragraph), I believe "You" meant "Clark Kent"; Clark Kent did not mention about digital copies, but digital movies.

Originally Posted by Walter-S_NC

I agree. There is a core of Apple Nazis which have been indoctrinated beyond the point of seeing reason.

They will always be around till the bitter sock puppet end.

Let me tell you a story.

One time there was an application called Napster. It was so prolific it was seriously discussed that the internet would become nothing but one big collection of napster nodes.

The number of Napster accounts at high water mark numbered over 100 million.

Now, do you know anyone who has a napster account which they have used in the last five years?

The difference between UV and iTunes is iTunes is backed by a single technology company.

UV is a consortium. It is principlly backed by the distribution studios. It is they who decide where their content will be distributed through.

You say iTunes 'will not' be left out of distribution.

I say that process has already started. Fox announced that their digital copy redemption will exclude iTunes a few months back. They join Sony/Columbia and Warner Brothers who have already gone UV exclusive.

So what you suggest 'can not' happen has already begun.

Welcome to the world of consumer technolgy where nothing is absolute and where market dominance is fleeting.

[Blu-News]

Is it really fair to compare Apple to Napster though?

I'm very curious to see what Apple does in the near future, I wonder what updates will come to the AppleTV and iTunes store. I'm curious if they'd ever be able to implement a disc to digital program as well.

I have embraced Vudu quite a bit in the past few days, my collection is now at 500 movies in a little less than a week. I am curious what device Vudu users use most for viewing their films? I have been watching on a PS3 mostly, although I have used an iPad and compature as well, and while the streaming is fine, I do notice a lot more black crushing than I have ever encountered with an HD movie on iTunes.

I think I can say I've had a lot of experience with iTunes, and comparing the quality of the image, I do think that iTunes is superior at least when using an AppleTV to stream 1080p content. Of course with updates and new technology, Vudu will improve, but from a streaming standpoint I do find Apple to be superior.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Walter-S_NC

To turn a Blu-ray Disc into an 1080p HDX title costs $2.

However, they have a special running through the end of the month that cuts that price in half if you do ten at a time.

To convert a DVD into an 1080p HDX title cost $5, but that too has the half price offer through the end of the month.

You are right that the battle is not between packaged media and EST.

Everyone knows the sales of packaged media is in decline and EST is going up.

Instead, the real battle is between SVoD and iVoD.

Will consumers just want SVoD like Netflix and Amazon Prime like a buffet, or will they continue to want their own select content to be static via an iVoD service.

The jury is still out on this.

Bluray is up actually. 15 percent YOY. Although, streaming fanboys will conveniently forget that and just lump it in with dvd.
As for digital downloads/streaming Apple should not be underestimated. They can and will get a grip on the market.

Finally, I believe Netflix will become tv only in the future. I would guess apple and Vudu etc.. Would just become a buffet style service to blend in if that's what people wanted rather than the rental/buying model they are now.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by wzz

If you agree with what Clark Kent has written, what's with all the extra paragraphs of unclear nonsense?

Is there a link between napster and what Clark Kent had said?

& From what I see, (9th paragraph), I believe "You" meant "Clark Kent"; Clark Kent did not mention about digital copies, but digital movies.

Something will have to give. There are a lot of apple products in people's homes around the world. Personally, I will stick with the only safe option. Blurays. Not going to risk my collection going up in a puff of smoke in future.

[Walter-S_NC]

Originally Posted by wzz

If you agree with what Clark Kent has written, what's with all the extra paragraphs of unclear nonsense?

Is there a link between napster and what Clark Kent had said?

& From what I see, (9th paragraph), I believe "You" meant "Clark Kent"; Clark Kent did not mention about digital copies, but digital movies.

My apologies if I was unclear. Let me explain.

Napster once was thought unshakably the dominant force.

Apple is being referred to as in a similar position.

Find one of your friends who still has/uses a napster account.

The same may very well be true for iTunes in the not too distant future.

This is the nature of the CE industry.

The iconic sock puppet is the warning. I will assume you know the underling meaing of refering to a sock puppet. If not, look at the history of Pet Smart.

[Walter-S_NC]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Bluray is up actually. 15 percent YOY. Although, streaming fanboys will conveniently forget that and just lump it in with dvd. As for digital downloads/streaming Apple should not be underestimated. They can and will get a grip on the market.

touché.

The numbers do not lie.

I still believe that consumers are quickly embracing streaming. This includes iVoD and SVoD.

As such, Red Box now has both services via their Red Box instant. They did so in response to consumer's demands and out of fear of no longer being viable renting physical media when consumers are streaming instead.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Walter-S_NC

touché.

The numbers do not lie.

I still believe that consumers are quickly embracing streaming. This includes iVoD and SVoD.

As such, Red Box now has both services via their Red Box instant. They did so in response to consumer's demands and out of fear of no longer being viable renting physical media when consumers are streaming instead.

Numbers do not lie. Which is why bluray is up 15 percent YOY. What are the numbers for streaming and EST? No one doubts the rental market will be streaming/downloa in a few years, never in question. I am talking ownership. We shall see.

[Walter-S_NC]

Originally Posted by Blu-News

Is it really fair to compare Apple to Napster though?

I do feel it is a fair comparison. Whenever I am told by someone that some technology is so popular it is never going to loose dominance, I know that is simply not true, using history as a guide.

No so long ago, Apple Corp. was being criticized for having employees playing basket ball in the parking lot. So many people had been laid off, there was extra space and also there was not much to do anyway.

Then the iPhone revolution. Well, that is coming to an end. The iOS foot print on the global cell phone market is down.

Plus, they made draconian demands of the movie industry distribution studios. The studios just went and stood up their own vendor agnostic distribution system (DECE) and now Apple Corp is loosing market share in frightening proportions.

Just walk down a movie isle in your local retailer and try to remember how much the iTunes logo was around for digital copy redemptions just 18 months ago. It was really on every combo pack.

That is not the case today. Now it is the purple UV logo which is ubiquitous and the iTunes logo is all but gone.

Originally Posted by Blu-News

I am curious what device Vudu users use most for viewing their films? I have been watching on a PS3 mostly, although I have used an iPad and compature as well, and while the streaming is fine, I do notice a lot more black crushing than I have ever encountered with an HD movie on iTunes.

I think I can say I've had a lot of experience with iTunes, and comparing the quality of the image, I do think that iTunes is superior at least when using an AppleTV to stream 1080p content. Of course with updates and new technology, Vudu will improve, but from a streaming standpoint I do find Apple to be superior.

I would agree that AppleTV @ 1080p and Vudu @ 1080p are either equal or AppleTV is a little better.

I have no recourse to loading my current physical media library into the iTunes system though.

This makes nuances about stylistic feel and subtle playback method deltas to be moot. At least, that is my view.

Plus, not having my family's entertainment library tied to a single company is a big plus.

If Apple Corp joined DECE, I would have a hard time not choosing my AppleTV for playback.

Below are the devices I payback my UV library on:

1. PS3 via Vudu (HDMI out onto plasma)
2. Roku XD via Vudu (HDMI out onto plasma)
3. iPhone 4 via Vudu 2-Go
4. iPad via Vudu 2-Go
5. iPod Touch via Vudu 2-Go
6. Kindle Fire via Flixster

[Walter-S_NC]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Numbers do not lie. Which is why bluray is up 15 percent YOY. What are the numbers for streaming and EST? No one doubts the rental market will be streaming/downloa in a few years, never in question. I am talking ownership. We shall see.

...I will have to find the link. If memory serves, iVoD is up about 100% from year before at the end of Q1 `13. SVoD is also still on a hockey stick increase too.

I will see if I can find the link.

It is true that both SVoD and iVoD combined into an aggregate number pale in comparison to the sales numbers from packaged media. However, t is the forecasts which is what companies are making decisions on.

All of them show EST as growing market share and this is an advantage for the studios.

If they do not need to foot the bill for pressing, shipping, storing, shelf stocking packaged media, that is profit in their pockets.

We as consumers get our library kept in pristine quality for perpetuity, plus all the other advantages of streaming previously mentioned.

Anyway, it is the forecasts which is what is making the market pivot. Not the current sales numbers.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Walter-S_NC

...I will have to find the link. If memory serves, iVoD is up about 100% from year before at the end of Q1 `13. SVoD is also still on a hockey stick increase too.

I will see if I can find the link.

It is true that both SVoD and iVoD combined into an aggregate number pale in comparison to the sales numbers from packaged media. However, t is the forecasts which is what companies are making decisions on.

All of them show EST as growing market share and this is an advantage for the studios.

If they do not need to foot the bill for pressing, shipping, storing, shelf stocking packaged media, that is profit in their pockets.

We as consumers get our library kept in pristine quality for perpetuity, plus all the other advantages of streaming previously mentioned.

Anyway, it is the forecasts which is what is making the market pivot. Not the current sales numbers.

We as consumers are at the mercy of the service we use, let's not kid ourselves here. Our collection isn't ours.
Forecasting is forecasting. Some forecasted that Lone Ranger would be a huge franchise success like POTC, look what happened.
I will stick with bluray for ownership thanks all the same.

[Walter-S_NC]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

We as consumers are at the mercy of the service we use, let's not kid ourselves here. Our collection isn't ours.
Forecasting is forecasting. Some forecasted that Lone Ranger would be a huge franchise success like POTC, look what happened.
I will stick with bluray for ownership thanks all the same.

$160,000,000.00 down the tube.

Geeze, if I ....

well, anyway you are right of course. Forcasts are a fickle thing.