Explain Digital Copies, can I download a DC to an external HD and then copy it to my

[jlaavenger]

Explain Digital Copies, can I download a DC to an external HD and then copy it to my laptop or desktop later if I want to?

[steve_dave]

For iTunes DCs this is very possible although I just leave mine on the external drive just in case.

With Windows Media DCS, it's tricky because you need to have the exact same DRM key to play back the movie.

[AcidRain]

I prefer iTunes, you can even copy them again if you use the same code for the same account.

[jlaavenger]

Originally Posted by AcidRain

I prefer iTunes, you can even copy them again if you use the same code for the same account.

What I'm refering to are the Digital Copies or Downloads that come with some Blu Rays. I have a dozen or so that I've never used. Like for example Tangled, Tron and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy all came with Digital copies or downloads.

[steve_dave]

Yes...

98% of all digital copies bundled with Blu-ray Discs offer iTunes and Windows Media versions. The iTunes versions are the best since the Digital Rights Management restrictions are less restrictive than Windows Media.

[AcidRain]

Originally Posted by jlaavenger

What I'm refering to are the Digital Copies or Downloads that come with some Blu Rays. I have a dozen or so that I've never used. Like for example Tangled, Tron and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy all came with Digital copies or downloads.

I dont know much about the WMP digital copy but for the iTunes you can copy it and play it in any computer you want as long as you use your same iTunes username and you can synchronize it to any iPad, iPod or iPhone you want.

I would check the expiration dates on the movies,for example some warner titles only valid for 6months, disney dont have expiration dates, fox and lionsgate are 2 years I think,sony a year and unviersal are 1 year but they like to expand it (drag me to hell expired already and hellboy 2 expired last year but just recently got expanded till dec/11)

and the expiration date is to redeem the copy after that you can watch it anytime.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by steve_dave

Yes...

98% of all digital copies bundled with Blu-ray Discs offer iTunes and Windows Media versions. The iTunes versions are the best since the Digital Rights Management restrictions are less restrictive than Windows Media.

The only problem is that the iTunes versions are even more compressed than the PC versions. The PC Digital Copies run about 1.5 GB while the iTunes Digital Copies run about 500 MB because they are made for the small iPhone screen. Now, these iTunes Digital Copies look beyond horrid on a PC monitor if you ask me as it's like watching 240p on YouTube. At least the PC Digital Copies look tolerable on a monitor, but nowhere good as a DVD. This is why I'd rather the studios include a DVD with BDs instead of Digital Copies as they are just a waste of plastic.

[Indiana Jones]

I have quite a few films on my iPad which have come from digital copies and most are definitely bigger than 500Mb, am sure several are around 1.5Gb

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Indiana Jones

I have quite a few films on my iPad which have come from digital copies and most are definitely bigger than 500Mb, am sure several are around 1.5Gb

I think you got them confused. The PC versions are generally 1-1.5 GB, but the iTunes versions are rarely more than 750 MB.

[kevfree]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I think you got them confused. The PC versions are generally 1-1.5 GB, but the iTunes versions are rarely more than 750 MB.

The Itunes versions are always around 1.5 GB, I have tons of them on my desktop and have never seen 1 under a GB.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by kevfree

The Itunes versions are always around 1.5 GB, I have tons of them on my desktop and have never seen 1 under a GB.

Well, the ones I have seen are not that large. They must be longer movies or something.

[michaeljoo]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

The only problem is that the iTunes versions are even more compressed than the PC versions. The PC Digital Copies run about 1.5 GB while the iTunes Digital Copies run about 500 MB because they are made for the small iPhone screen. Now, these iTunes Digital Copies look beyond horrid on a PC monitor if you ask me as it's like watching 240p on YouTube.

Originally Posted by Indiana Jones

I have quite a few films on my iPad which have come from digital copies and most are definitely bigger than 500Mb, am sure several are around 1.5Gb

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I think you got them confused. The PC versions are generally 1-1.5 GB, but the iTunes versions are rarely more than 750 MB.

Originally Posted by kevfree

The Itunes versions are always around 1.5 GB, I have tons of them on my desktop and have never seen 1 under a GB.

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Well, the ones I have seen are not that large. They must be longer movies or something.

Yes, I can also confirm that the DC files that I have for iTunes (used on a Mac) are generally in the 1.0-2.0 GB range, usually in the upper half of that.

I probably have over 20 DC's from movies downloaded, and none of them are less than 1 GB. I can't recall if any are >2.0 GB.

However, despite that, I will agree with HD Goofnut that the pic doesn't look all that great on my desktop monitor (27" iMac) or when I connect my iPod to a TV, which is what we usually do now in hotels when traveling.

On the diminutive screen of an iPod, and probably on the slightly bigger iPad screen, the DC will probaby look fine, but when you get up to a good sized monitor or TV I found that they don't look so good.

Since we generally only use the DC's while traveling, it's not such a big deal and IMO it's better than not having access at all to the movies in our collection. So I for one do appreciate and like the DC's and try to get the versions that come with them whenever I can.

[michaeljoo]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Well, the ones I have seen are not that large. They must be longer movies or something.

BTW, most are just regular length movies. I'm not in front of my home computer at the moment, so I can't check the length of the individual titles.

I can check later when I get home.

Also, to the OP, I keep my entire iTunes library, including all the DC's, on an external HD.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by kevfree

The Itunes versions are always around 1.5 GB, I have tons of them on my desktop and have never seen 1 under a GB.

I can confirm this too, all of mine are larger than 1 GB. Some are 2 GB (like LOTR, I think).

[Chordata]

I just also realized this weekend that you can easily transfer files between computers at home via the Home Sharing function in iTunes (assuming you use the same username and thus keep it legal).

For example, I have a netbook and was always bummed that I couldn't get my iTunes DCs to it since it doesn't have a CD drive. The Home Sharing function takes care of that; I literally just drag and drop on my netbook, and all the files are now there.

For the OP: I am sure you could use an external drive, but I personally don't want to have to hook up the external drive every time I check out my iTunes library. Plus I've heard some external's stop working at some point. I'd rather have everything on my computer, back it up to an external drive, and transfer via syncing an iPod/iPad or other computer via Home Sharing.

[Bk_Tan]

Sorry to bump this, but I know not where else to ask.

My computer's hard drive is running out of space and I have about a dozen movies stored inside as digital copies on iTunes. I want to move them to an external hard drive to free up space, but how do I do this and will it still work the next time I plug the drive in assuming that the movies are no longer on the computer?

Cheers

[The_Donster]

OK, so how does this work as I plan to get an external hard drive myself. Is it just a case of click and drag to the external hard from iTunes? I actually lost a couple of movies when my computer had to go back to square one and want to make sure this doesn't happen again. While the CS at Apple was great, I don't want to push my luck next time.

[Bk_Tan]

Thanks sc1957, any more help would be ideal fellas!

[Bk_Tan]

Surely someone's done it before.

[DNinja]

Originally Posted by Bk_Tan

Sorry to bump this, but I know not where else to ask.

My computer's hard drive is running out of space and I have about a dozen movies stored inside as digital copies on iTunes. I want to move them to an external hard drive to free up space, but how do I do this and will it still work the next time I plug the drive in assuming that the movies are no longer on the computer?

Cheers

It should work fine. I recently built a new PC and I backed up all of my digital copies to an external drive. Once I installed iTunes on the new PC, I just copied the movies over and they worked just fine. I believe the iTunes digital copies are tied to your account, not to your PC specifically.