Physical & Digital EST: The Future of Home Video Discussion Thread

[Margot Robbie Fan]

What's all this I see around the net about folks downloading copies of their iTunes movies and backing them up? Amazon or Google don't offer this option and the people who buy from them aren't complaining, at least not on forums like this. So why do people who use iTunes worry so much. I get the idea of having a backup but it's not like blu-ray enthusiasts back up all their discs in case they stop working one day.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by Margot Robbie Fan

What's all this I see around the net about folks downloading copies of their iTunes movies and backing them up? Amazon or Google don't offer this option and the people who buy from them aren't complaining, at least not on forums like this. So why do people who use iTunes worry so much. I get the idea of having a backup but it's not like blu-ray enthusiasts back up all their discs in case they stop working one day.

I was backing up Blu-rays and DVD's Centuries ago, but I think most Apple people are not that technical and just started doing this because they are not confident in Digital HD. UV has so many Providers that your Collection is backed up on many Servers, while Apple basically only has one. I think the Apple Ecosystem is very fragile, and is on the verge of crumbling all apart!

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I was backing up Blu-rays and DVD's Centuries ago, but I think most Apple people are not that technical and just started doing this because they are not confident in Digital HD. UV has so many Providers that your Collection is backed up on many Servers, while Apple basically only has one. I think the Apple Ecosystem is very fragile, and is on the verge of crumbling all apart!

What are you basing this on?

[Zu Nim]

Originally Posted by alchav21

UV has so many Providers that your Collection is backed up on many Servers, while Apple basically only has one.

UV has many providers where anyone can view their entire collection:

• CinemaNow
• FandangoNow
• Flixster
• Kaleidescape (only rich customers)
• Paramount (only Paramount titles)
• Sony ULTRA (only Sony titles)
• Target Ticket
• Universal
• Verizon FiOS (only FiOS customers)
• Vudu
• WB Movies All Access (a couple dozen Warner titles)

What a fractured, failed mess. UV is on a glide path to history. Apple will unquestionably outlast UV at this point. Even if that wasn't the case, a lot of my iTunes and Vudu movies are now at Movies Anywhere and now exist at four providers - probably soon to be more.

[talkingpictures]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I was backing up Blu-rays and DVD's Centuries ago, but I think most Apple people are not that technical and just started doing this because they are not confident in Digital HD. UV has so many Providers that your Collection is backed up on many Servers, while Apple basically only has one. I think the Apple Ecosystem is very fragile, and is on the verge of crumbling all apart!

iTunes will be around at least for the next 10 years (if not longer), that's longer than most media formats have lasted!

[cmleblanc]

Originally Posted by Zu Nim

UV has many providers where anyone can view their entire collection:

• CinemaNow
• FandangoNow
• Flixster
• Kaleidescape (only rich customers)
• Paramount (only Paramount titles)
• Sony ULTRA (only Sony titles)
• Universal
• Verizon FiOS (only FiOS customers)
• Vudu
• WB Movies All Access (a couple dozen Warner titles)

What a fractured, failed mess. UV is on a glide path to history. Apple will unquestionably outlast UV at this point. Even if that wasn't the case, a lot of my iTunes and Vudu movies are now at Movies Anywhere and now exist at four providers - probably soon to be more.

You forgot TargetTicket

[Dunk the Lunk]

Originally Posted by Zu Nim

UV has many providers where anyone can view their entire collection:

Updated for the UK. I imagine most of the rest of the world looks similar.

• Vudu
• CinemaNow
• TalkTalk
• FandangoNow
• Flixster
• Kaleidescape (only rich customers)
• Paramount (only Paramount titles)
• Sony ULTRA (only Sony titles)
• Universal
• Verizon FiOS (only FiOS customers)
• WB Movies All Access (a couple dozen Warner titles)

I don’t actually know if the studio websites work in the UK but I doubt it. Im glad I’ve only ever used iTunes for purchases. Hopefully when Flixster closes they’ll allow UV redemptions to transfer across to iTunes like MoviesAnywhere (but I doubt it).

[Cutter_]

I'd like doing both. For the stuff I collect, I buy physical. For stuff where I just want to watch the movie, I buy digital. My collection is about 50% physical, and about 50% digital. I don't see that changing anytime soon.

An example of something I want to collect, is next week's release The Breakfast Club, by Criterion. There are so many extras that will be exclusive only to Criterion that I want to see, that will never be on digital (unless you subscribe to the Criterion channel). So, this will go into my physical collection as something I will collect. Whereas, something like Thor: Ragnarok, I'll buy the digital copy, and it will have enough extras to keep me happy. And, it'll be cheaper than the physical copy (new releases are usually about $5 cheaper than their physical counterparts).

Also, @talkingpictures (I think?) mentioned a couple of pages back that not all releases are on digital yet. So, in these cases, the only option is physical. And the same goes in the other direction. There are HD copies of movies on digital that never got a blu-ray release. So, I buy the digital copy.

For me it's a harmonious relationship, they both serve me well, and I expect it to continue that way for the foreseeable future.

[Fiffy]

Originally Posted by alchav21

UV has so many Providers that your Collection is backed up on many Servers, while Apple basically only has one.

Yep, that server is in Tim Cook's office and personally administrated by him.

I think the Apple Ecosystem is very fragile, and is on the verge of crumbling all apart!

Absolutely. Just look at their horrible financial reports.

[talkingpictures]

Originally Posted by Cutter_

I'd like doing both. For the stuff I collect, I buy physical. For stuff where I just want to watch the movie, I buy digital. My collection is about 50% physical, and about 50% digital. I don't see that changing anytime soon.

An example of something I want to collect, is next week's release The Breakfast Club, by Criterion. There are so many extras that will be exclusive only to Criterion that I want to see, that will never be on digital (unless you subscribe to the Criterion channel). So, this will go into my physical collection as something I will collect. Whereas, something like Thor: Ragnarok, I'll buy the digital copy, and it will have enough extras to keep me happy. And, it'll be cheaper than the physical copy (new releases are usually about $5 cheaper than their physical counterparts).

Also, @talkingpictures (I think?) mentioned a couple of pages back that not all releases are on digital yet. So, in these cases, the only option is physical. And the same goes in the other direction. There are HD copies of movies on digital that never got a blu-ray release. So, I buy the digital copy.

For me it's a harmonious relationship, they both serve me well, and I expect it to continue that way for the foreseeable future.

I'd love to be able to do that. But I'm very OCD and like to have all things together. For instance I'd either want all my movies displayed together on blu-ray or together on iTunes, that's why I can't mix and match digital providers either like 50% Amazon 50% iTunes because I'd like all the titles displayed alphabetically next to one another. Alas there will have to be a middle ground as even with blu-ray people are still collecting titles on DVD that don't have a BD release.

[Cutter_]

Originally Posted by talkingpictures

I'd love to be able to do that. But I'm very OCD and like to have all things together. For instance I'd either want all my movies displayed together on blu-ray or together on iTunes, that's why I can't mix and match digital providers either like 50% Amazon 50% iTunes because I'd like all the titles displayed alphabetically next to one another. Alas there will have to be a middle ground as even with blu-ray people are still collecting titles on DVD that don't have a BD release.

Well, it's going to be tough on you then. Like you and I both mentioned. You can't get everything you want, if you only do one format.

If you want to choose, though. I'd go digital and apple. That seems a safe bet.

[Fiffy]

Originally Posted by Zu Nim

Even if that wasn't the case, a lot of my iTunes and Vudu movies are now at Movies Anywhere and now exist at four providers - probably soon to be more.

The Movies Anywhere providers include 3 of the 4 largest companies in the world (by market cap). I think if they all go under we have bigger problems than our movie collections.

[Fiffy]

Originally Posted by Cutter_

I'd like doing both.

Same here. I don't see why it has to be either or. The majority of my purchases are digital these days, but I still buy discs of certain titles that are classics, depend heavily on the visuals, or have substantial exclusive bonus material. 3D is also still a draw for me and only available on disc for new titles. The next disc I'll buy will probably be Blade Runner 2049 3D.

An example of something I want to collect, is next week's release The Breakfast Club, by Criterion. There are so many extras that will be exclusive only to Criterion that I want to see, that will never be on digital (unless you subscribe to the Criterion channel).

Yeah, it's a shame that Criterion don't include their extras on their iTunes releases. Arrow Video releases, on the other hand, have all the extras that also come with their discs. I bought their Donnie Darko release on iTunes for $5 a few days ago, which includes hours of extras. A steal.

[TROLLY]

Originally Posted by talkingpictures

I'd love to be able to do that. But I'm very OCD and like to have all things together. For instance I'd either want all my movies displayed together on blu-ray or together on iTunes, that's why I can't mix and match digital providers either like 50% Amazon 50% iTunes because I'd like all the titles displayed alphabetically next to one another. Alas there will have to be a middle ground as even with blu-ray people are still collecting titles on DVD that don't have a BD release.

I know what you mean. If every single movie I’ve ever liked and wanted to own and was available on iTunes, I’d be happy.

Sadly, that doesn’t happen.

[talkingpictures]

Originally Posted by Dunk the Lunk

Updated for the UK. I imagine most of the rest of the world looks similar.

• Vudu
• CinemaNow
• TalkTalk
• FandangoNow
• Flixster
• Kaleidescape (only rich customers)
• Paramount (only Paramount titles)
• Sony ULTRA (only Sony titles)
• Universal
• Verizon FiOS (only FiOS customers)
• WB Movies All Access (a couple dozen Warner titles)

I don’t actually know if the studio websites work in the UK but I doubt it. Im glad I’ve only ever used iTunes for purchases. Hopefully when Flixster closes they’ll allow UV redemptions to transfer across to iTunes like MoviesAnywhere (but I doubt it).

Don't forget Sainsbury Entertainment and Wuaki TV which has now dropped UV and rebranded as Rakuten, which imo has a pretty good interface but it'd be silly buying your movies from them as they're more likely to go under than the majors.

[Cutter_]

Originally Posted by Fiffy

Yeah, it's a shame that Criterion don't include their extras on their iTunes releases. Arrow Video releases, on the other hand, have all the extras that also come with their discs. I bought their Donnie Darko release on iTunes for $5 a few days ago, which includes hours of extras. A steal.

Great deal I have the physical release. Arrow did a great job with Donnie Darko.

btw, Criterion has their digital subscription. So, they are pushing their own digital service. That would be my guess why you won't see their extras on iTunes. I hear it's good, but I don't want to pay for another subscription.

[talkingpictures]

Originally Posted by Fiffy

Same here. I don't see why it has to be either or. The majority of my purchases are digital these days, but I still buy discs of certain titles that are classics, depend heavily on the visuals, or have substantial exclusive bonus material. 3D is also still a draw for me and only available on disc for new titles. The next disc I'll buy will probably be Blade Runner 2049 3D.
Yeah, it's a shame that Criterion don't include their extras on their iTunes releases. Arrow Video releases, on the other hand, have all the extras that also come with their discs. I bought their Donnie Darko release on iTunes for $5 a few days ago, which includes hours of extras. A steal.

Arrow do have some good sales on iTunes. However I've noticed the vast majority of their movies are deliberately sabotaged on iTunes. Most Italian titles have an option of both the Italian track and the English audio track, however on iTunes, Arrow pick for you. So if you prefer the Italian track on What Have You Done to Solange? then too bad because they only offer the English without subs also IIRC. Arrow obviously have a vested interest in people buying their physical releases and I can do without the special features but when they do that with their Italian titles it's not good.

[dublinbluray108]

Nearly half of respondents in this survey from IBM Cloud Video say that they can't get recommendations to watch something else while using video streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu & HBO Go.

Where's the streaming video you really want to see? Good question

Nearly half of streaming-video viewers say services like Netflix, Amazon and Hulu don't recommend what they want to watch, according to a new study.

Even for streaming video, it's true what they say: You can't always get what you want.

The top complaint consumers have about streaming-video services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Hulu is lack of content, according to a survey by IBM Cloud Video, which powers streaming for online video providers. Nearly half of those users say video-streaming services rarely or never recommend something they want to watch, the survey says.

https://www.cnet.com/news/streaming-...me-video-hulu/

I suppose that cannot be helped with streaming services having temporary deals in place from the studios for people to watch stuff on their services for a limited period of time. This is not a problem with having original content from a service; but it is a problem for those who like to watch third party content to make their subscription more worthwhile.

People who are into enjoying both streaming and physical may be more undecided with this approach.

And people are completely into physical media all the time; they may be fine in not having to worry about watching their stuff at any time without any worries of accessing back up servers from a video service provider.

[TROLLY]

Originally Posted by dublinbluray108

Nearly half of respondents in this survey from IBM Cloud Video say that they can't get recommendations to watch something else while using video streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu & HBO Go.















https://www.cnet.com/news/streaming-...me-video-hulu/



I suppose that cannot be helped with streaming services having temporary deals in place from the studios for people to watch stuff on their services for a limited period of time. This is not a problem with having original content from a service; but it is a problem for those who like to watch third party content to make their subscription more worthwhile.



People who are into enjoying both streaming and physical may be more undecided with this approach.



And people are completely into physical media all the time; they may be fine in not having to worry about watching their stuff at any time without any worries of accessing back up servers from a video service provider.

I can’t believe Roku is the most popular streaming platform. I don’t know anyone personally, who uses it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[WestMan]

Originally Posted by TROLLY

I can’t believe Roku is the most popular streaming platform. I don’t know anyone personally, who uses it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Everybody in my family has one. It's the best box because it has the most apps. Apple, Amazon, and Google play games with how their apps or services are available on other platforms. Roku has been neutral for years and has benefited because of it.