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

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Since you bought Independence Day: Resurgence I can't help but laugh. Hey its all good depending on what mood you have for viewing various films on media.

My copy of Independence Day: Resurgence is in 3D. Being presented in 3D alone adds a full star to a film's rating.

Besides, the Independence Day movies are so bad that they're good.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

Don't know if I mentioned it or not, but speaking of streaming, iTunes has Gravity in HD with Atmos for $4.99. The Blu-ray that had Atmos goes for over $100 (up to $200) on the secondary market since it's OOP.

Gravity is a great 3D blu-ray! Very pleased to own it.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by alchav21

. As for the Quality of Streaming I still say it's Subjective, and very dependent on your budget, equipment, and setup!

I see that you're subjecting us to this nonsense again; did your "it's all digital" rubber stamp break, so your back to using this lil' chestnut instead?

There are numerous objective measurements for comparing a disc presentation of a given movie with a streamed presentation. The only subjective part is how much we care about the differences between the two.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by veritas

So how many digital copies have you guys lost over the years? I had a copies just vanish for days at a time in the past and a Funimation digital copy just went poof months ago and never came back. I have a couple of shout digital copies that are hard enough to access that I honestly don't know if they are gone or not.

Dealing with support anytime you have a problem is also pretty horrible. Digital is very convenient when its working but anytime theirs a problem its horrendous to get it fixed.

Honestly I have a pretty good memory but if a film vanished from my collection idk if I would always catch it.

I haven't lost any as far as I know, but I haven't been redeeming or buying digital copies for very long. I never think of them as being owned, anyway. I just think of them as leases of unknown duration.

[Steedeel]

Disc=great

Streaming=shite

For more detailed info, PM me!

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Disc=great

Streaming=shite

For more detailed info, PM me!

May your inbox overfloweth.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by veritas

So how many digital copies have you guys lost over the years?

I haven't lost any, and have been collecting for about 8 years. I have always used one email address and don't share with anyone. Also good Streaming Providers, started with Flixster, then Vudu, Amazon Prime, and MA. Vudu has good Support and Amazon does too. If I have any kind of a problem they fix it right up, no complaints!

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I never said only Streaming, I said have access to what Streaming Services. Also that our Generation watches newly released Movies on Subscription Streaming. I know you guys will keep buying Discs as long as they keep making them, and that's okay. As for the Quality of Streaming I still say it's Subjective, and very dependent on your budget, equipment, and setup!

What generation is that ?

My friend is coming over to watch Jaws. I'm pretty excited as he's never seen it and I haven't seen it in my theater in a while.

[bhampton]

These days I stream a lot of things. Mostly with my ATV4K but I also purchased the $20 Walmart UHD streaming box and I find that competes surprisingly well with the ATV4K. I stream quite a lot of stuff either because it's the ONLY way to consume the material or because it's a good way to decide if I am interested in buying the disc. It's fun collecting UHD discs and I love the amount of new releases we are having lately.

Who's to know how long discs will remain viable but in my case I just ordered a new player and I hope it lasts a long time. One of my kids claims she wants to inherit the collection so she forbids me to get rid of any of them.

Panasonic UB9000

I really need to reconfigure my Harmony Remote Setup.

-Brian

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by bhampton

These days I stream a lot of things. Mostly with my ATV4K but I also purchased the $20 Walmart UHD streaming box and I find that competes surprisingly well with the ATV4K.

Several devices available, each with their ±’s, in the home theater I use a Nvidia Shield Pro most of the time, also use a ATV4K and Sony UBP-X1000. Use a Roku Ultra and Amazon FireTV Cube in bedrooms.

Who's to know how long discs will remain viable but in my case I just ordered a new player and I hope it lasts a long time.

Panasonic UB900

Need to add another zero to the model number. Congrats on your new player, hope it works well for you.

I really need to reconfigure my Harmony Remote Setup.

Have you looked into a alternative to the Harmony?

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Have you looked into a alternative to the Harmony?

Not really. I know you have a nice one with graphics. Do you have recommendations for alternative to Harmony?

The only thing I use my Harmony lately is the projector but with a new source device coming it's time to re-work the control scheme.

My Theater system uses only 4 addressable devices. UB9000, ATV4K, Denon 750H, and RS3100. (I guess there's also the Hue lighting control but I don't tend to use the harmony for that.)

I have a program on my computer (HomeBridge) that lets me add Harmony Activities to Homekit so I can ask Siri to put the projector in Scope mode for example.

I really like the smal, simple, bluetooth remotes that the ATV4K and ONN streaming boxes use. Both of them have voice control. last between charges, and don't require line of sight. The ONN one is nicer than the Apple one because it has a better shape and feel and uses AAA batteries. I think the Apple one has a internal battery that just dies eventually.

My harmony remote is known as Smart remote and is on the simple side of their lineup and I like the size and feel of it.

My Remote

[Show spoiler]

I really love this bluetooth remote that is under $20 at Walmart and comes with a UHD streaming device, batteries and an HDMI cable.

[Show spoiler]

-Brian

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Do you have recommendations for alternative to Harmony?

Not at this time.

There is the URC MX-990 but it is much more expensive than any Logitech, for no pointing would need a URC base station. At this point don’t know if URC is still accepting membership request to their portal and access to the CCP program. There is a fairly steep learning curve for the CCP (Complete Control Program). Started with a MX-850 many years ago so the transition to the newer ones was a little easier for me.

I have 17 discrete devices on three pages on my MX-980. On a couple of these I have combined 2 or more devices. One device is called Screen, the screen control consists of just 3 commands so I have Velleman relays, Cine Slide and others under Screen. First (of 3) device page below.

I am keeping an eye on what Allonis and YIO is doing. The Sofabaton X1 will not import Pronto hex codes so it is a nonstarter for me.

[Show spoiler]

[cheez avenger]

Placed another GRUV order.

Robin Hood 4K
American Gangster 4K
Apollo 13 4K

Today is the last day for their 2 for $22 deal, so I added Robin Hood (it wasn't part of the sale) and used a 20% off code. Brought my total down to $29 and some change with free shipping. Basically $9.99 per title doing it that way.

I also went ahead and officially placed my order for that Hitchcock Vol 2 4K set, Smokin Aces, and threw in the first Jurassic Park 4K disc. Used the 20% off coupon on that and my total was about $88 shipped.

[bhampton]

Gruv is great. Got my 6 got $66 order and one had a slip cover. Used the wrong coupon so only saved 15%

I think it's only the second time I shopped there but if they send me coupons and deals I'll buy more because so far so good.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

Placed another GRUV order.

If they had prizes for savvy disc shoppers I feel certain you would be a top prize winner.

I've picked up some deals because of your (and others) post in this thread.

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

Placed another GRUV order.

Robin Hood 4K
American Gangster 4K
Apollo 13 4K

Today is the last day for their 2 for $22 deal, so I added Robin Hood (it wasn't part of the sale) and used a 20% off code. Brought my total down to $29 and some change with free shipping. Basically $9.99 per title doing it that way.

I also went ahead and officially placed my order for that Hitchcock Vol 2 4K set, Smokin Aces, and threw in the first Jurassic Park 4K disc. Used the 20% off coupon on that and my total was about $88 shipped.

I bought the same 3 from them a few months ago.

[cheez avenger]

May is gonna be a stacked month for 4K disc releases. I read that The Batman is scheduled for release on 4K disc May 24th. It releases next month on HBO MAX, so about month later for the disc in HDR / DV / Atmos.

Oh, and I got my tickets for Morbius in IMAX for next Thursday night. My expectations are low, but it's been in the can for more than 3 years now, so it can go either way.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

May is gonna be a stacked month for 4K disc releases. I read that The Batman is scheduled for release on 4K disc May 24th. It releases next month on HBO MAX, so about month later for the disc in HDR / DV / Atmos.

Oh, and I got my tickets for Morbius in IMAX for next Thursday night. My expectations are low, but it's been in the can for more than 3 years now, so it can go either way.

Can’t wait for The Batman in 4K.

I’m going to see Alex Garland’s ‘Men’ in May.

[bhampton]

I can wait for anything that needs to come to streaming first. Waiting for Spiderman now but have no desire to settle for the steaming version in the meantime.


As long as it's coming to disc, ... I have time and it's worth the wait to have a better copy.

May sounds pretty soon for Batman.

This May will be "Mathilda May"

[gotmule]

Showing up today is The Godfather 4K trilogy from Deep Discount as well as The Sopranos complete set from Amazon, as it had a big price drop. I have seen parts of seasons of the Sopranos when it originally aired, but have never watched it the right way all the way through. I also just finished season 4 of Gomorrah adding to the mob theme I seem to stuck in.

Side note is that Gomorrah is definitely in my top three of all time, and might just take out Breaking Bad for #1 show depending on how it wraps up with season 5. Hands down, the most menacing character I have ever seen.

Edit.....Road to Perdition shows up tomorrow so it is officially Mob Month!