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

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

In order to play your purchased content?

That how it appeared. I had to connect to wifi because nothing happened when I clicked the my movies button. Then it wanted to download an update so I let it. I figured the update would enable offline access since they shut down their servers, but I guess not. After the update I had to reconnect to the internet to get access. I was concerned that I was going to lose access. I tried to purchase a movie but there was a message saying the store was closed but that I would continue to have access to my downloaded content. I guess that means having to have an internet connection to get access.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by bruceames

That how it appeared. I had to connect to wifi because nothing happened when I clicked the my movies button. Then it wanted to download an update so I let it. I figured the update would enable offline access since they shut down their servers, but I guess not. After the update I had to reconnect to the internet to get access. I was concerned that I was going to lose access. I tried to purchase a movie but there was a message saying the store was closed but that I would continue to have access to my downloaded content. I guess that means having to have an internet connection to get access.

That's an interesting Player, I saw a 2015 Review on the FMP X10. Like you said you could Download 4K Movies from Sony and play them without a High Speed connection. It sounds like you still need to be connected for some kind of verification. Now the 4K Movies are available to certain Sony 4K UHD Models. I could watch 4K Movies like Jumanji and The Shallows, and they are Fantastic!

[Vilya]

I enjoy the new 4k format and I just ordered the Harry Potter 8 film 4K box set from the U.K. It cost far less, only $112 with the fastest shipping option selected, and unlike the U.S. release, each movie is in its own separate case.

But for sheer fun, I still love 3D! I ordered fourteen 3D titles this week. 3D is another area where streaming disappoints as they offer virtually no support for this wonderfully fun format.

I bought 26 movies (on disc) total this week; do I need an intervention?

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by flyry

HBO and soderbergh tried a choose your own adventure type show with Mosaic a few months ago and it was a complete and utter failure.

Or at least I know nobody online or IRL who watched/used it.

So it was a failure because you don’t know anyone who watched it/tried it? Come on, I can’t let that one go after the stick you guys give me.

[flyry]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

So it was a failure because you don’t know anyone who watched it/tried it? Come on, I can’t let that one go after the stick you guys give me.

If choose your own is the next big thing as your paranoid self touts then why did no one watch or talk about this show?

No one.

I live on forums and never saw it mentioned.

I looked up the ratings and they were terrible.

Choose your adventure , like VR will never take off. They may try every few decades but it still won't be mainstream so I have nothing to fear

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by alchav21

That's an interesting Player, I saw a 2015 Review on the FMP X10. Like you said you could Download 4K Movies from Sony and play them without a High Speed connection. It sounds like you still need to be connected for some kind of verification. Now the 4K Movies are available to certain Sony 4K UHD Models. I could watch 4K Movies like Jumanji and The Shallows, and they are Fantastic!

Yeah it was one of two 4k download options before disc came out. Samsung was the other, but in that case, the movies were preloaded onto a hard drive that would connect to the TV. I actually bought one of those drives cheap for around $50 soon after disc came out. Even though I don't have a Samsung TV, it worked by connecting to the Samsung UHD player and AFAIC it doesn't need an internet connection for verification.

I want to keep the X10 around because I like hanging on to deceased formats and because there are a few movies on it that I want to continue to access if I want to (especially Lawrence of Arabia and It Happened One Night). If I had realized they were going to shut the servers down then I might have picked up a few more movies that I thought would be least likely to make it to UHD disc. But they were $30 each so I might have been deterred anyway because of that.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by flyry

If choose your own is the next big thing as your paranoid self touts then why did no one watch or talk about this show?

No one.

I live on forums and never saw it mentioned.

I looked up the ratings and they were terrible.

Choose your adventure , like VR will never take off. They may try every few decades but it still won't be mainstream so I have nothing to fear

Like VR? . You just want a argument don’t you?

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Services that offer digital comics, music, games, etc.. included as PART of the subscription. Services that work far better and make more sense as an all inclusive option that allows access to digital comics, music, games with the tv NOT being a option to display those books, games etc..

So what? Some of what you're saying is true but so what?

Yes, TVs are NOT the best option when somebody wants to read a book or listen to music. So what? TVs are NOT the best option when I want to make a phone call or heat up some noodles either. So what?

Originally Posted by Steedeel

the tv will display movies and tv from that service but you aren't getting the full benefit Of the service.

Here's what you're missing. You can't get the full benefit of this type of service with a tablet either. You can only get the full benefit of a service like this with a TV and a mobile device.

Now, you'll undoubtedly read that and think 'well, sure we might see it that way but these damn kids today with their hippity hop music and their unisex bathrooms, there's no telling how they'll see it'.

Well, you know who's keeping theaters alive these days? These damn kids, that's who. Their age cohort actually gets their asses into theater seats far more frequently than the us film lovers. They like big screens. One could make a credible case that they like big screens more than we do.

Yes, kids use touchscreens. They also watch TVs and go to movies and grow up.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by octagon

So what? Some of what you're saying is true but so what?

Yes, TVs are NOT the best option when somebody wants to read a book or listen to music. So what? TVs are NOT the best option when I want to make a phone call or heat up some noodles either. So what?



Here's what you're missing. You can't get the full benefit of this type of service with a tablet either. You can only get the full benefit of a service like this with a TV and a mobile device.

Now, you'll undoubtedly read that and think 'well, sure we might see it that way but these damn kids today with their hippity hop music and their unisex bathrooms, there's no telling how they'll see it'.

Well, you know who's keeping theaters alive these days? These damn kids, that's who. Their age cohort actually gets their asses into theater seats far more frequently than the us film lovers. They like big screens. One could make a credible case that they like big screens more than we do.

Yes, kids use touchscreens. They also watch TVs and go to movies and grow up.

But those things i mentioned are new generation film and tv offerings. With baked in goodies that appeal more to tablet and smartphone users.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by alchav21

That's an interesting Player, I saw a 2015 Review on the FMP X10. Like you said you could Download 4K Movies from Sony and play them without a High Speed connection. It sounds like you still need to be connected for some kind of verification. Now the 4K Movies are available to certain Sony 4K UHD Models. I could watch 4K Movies like Jumanji and The Shallows, and they are Fantastic!

Originally Posted by bruceames

Yeah it was one of two 4k download options before disc came out. Samsung was the other, but in that case, the movies were preloaded onto a hard drive that would connect to the TV. I actually bought one of those drives cheap for around $50 soon after disc came out. Even though I don't have a Samsung TV, it worked by connecting to the Samsung UHD player and AFAIC it doesn't need an internet connection for verification.

I want to keep the X10 around because I like hanging on to deceased formats and because there are a few movies on it that I want to continue to access if I want to (especially Lawrence of Arabia and It Happened One Night). If I had realized they were going to shut the servers down then I might have picked up a few more movies that I thought would be least likely to make it to UHD disc. But they were $30 each so I might have been deterred anyway because of that.

That's what I wanted to ask you, Full Resolution Downloads are 50+Gbs, what were the size of your Downloads? I imagine the one on the HDD was Full 4K Resolution.

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by alchav21

That's what I wanted to ask you, Full Resolution Downloads are 50+Gbs, what were the size of your Downloads? I imagine the one on the HDD was Full 4K Resolution.

The downloads were quite large, around the same size as the UHD BD discs. The only difference is that they don't have HDR.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

But those things i mentioned are new generation film and tv offerings. With baked in goodies that appeal more to tablet and smartphone users.

What's so new about offering various goodies and extras along with a film or a tv show?

[octagon]

Originally Posted by gotmule

A movie to me is not just a way to pass some time.

Movies can be events but can they also be a pretty good way to just kill some time.

Are movies art? Are they entertainment?

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by octagon

What's so new about offering various goodies and extras along with a film or a tv show?

It’s a service. A streaming service.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

It’s a service. A streaming service.

Right. I used to get catalogs and ads in the mail and now I get them primarily via email.

So what?

What's the difference between sticking a physical comic book in with a DVD or BD and including digital comic books as part of a subscription service. They're both sweeteners.

Why should either of them terrify me?

[octagon]

Here's some interesting tidbits about movie-goers.

https://www.mpaa.org/wp-content/uplo...16_Final-1.pdf

In 2016, the total number of frequent moviegoers increased by 2.1 million. The number of frequent moviegoers increased among all age groups, except 40-49 year olds and 60+ year olds. Individuals 12-17 years old and 18-24 years old continue to be overrepresented among frequent moviegoers relative to their population size.

In 2016, the 18-24 age group was the most overrepresented age group in terms of tickets sold, accounting for 10 percent of the population and 16 percent of tickets sold in 2016. To a lesser extent, the 12-17 and 25-39 age groups are also overrepresented for tickets sold (13% and 24%) relative to their share of the population (8% and 21%).

In 2016, 18-24 year olds had the highest per capita attendance (6.5), followed by 12-17 year olds (6.1). 18-24 year olds had the largest increase in per capita attendance, up 0.6 from 2015. Per capita attendance also increased for 25-39 year olds and 50-59 year olds compared to the previous year.

12-17 year olds viewed an average of 4.1 3D and large screen movies in 2016, more than any other age group. 18-24 year olds followed at an average of 3.9.

Remember when I said a credible case could be made that these damn kids today care more about the big screen experience than us film lovers do?

This is the kind of stuff I was talking about.

These damn kids today are the ones keeping theaters open. If it wasn't them there would be a lot fewer big screens.

Frequent moviegoers tend to own more key technology products (computers, smart phones, disc players, tablets, video-streaming devices, and video game systems) than the general population of adults 18 years or older. More than three quarters of all frequent moviegoers (79%) own at least four different types of key technology products, compared to 60 percent of the total adult population.

Frequent moviegoers also have a significantly higher share of ownership for all key technology products when compared to the total adult population. Smart phone (88%), video streaming device (65%), and video game system
(59%) ownership is particularly high among frequent moviegoers relative to the total adult population.

Wait, this can't be right.

Frequent movie-goers are more likely to own all these new-fangled devices? And they still go to see a movie in a theater at least once a month?

That's a lot of trips to the theater for people who don't care about the big screen experience.

Weird.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by octagon

Right. I used to get catalogs and ads in the mail and now I get them primarily via email.

So what?

What's the difference between sticking a physical comic book in with a DVD or BD and including digital comic books as part of a subscription service. They're both sweeteners.

Why should either of them terrify me?

All they would have to do is charge less for 1 streaming device at a time and boom! Choice time. Full service with comics on iPad or phone or lose put and just have tv and films on television. Can you see the problem there?

[Vilya]

I am beginning to think it would be easier to just go ahead and be afraid. It would take less time and energy than responding to every what if doomsday scenario.

In 1978, my home entertainment options were few; I could count them on one hand. Watch cable TV or I could play video games on an Atari 2600.

In 1988, I could rent and own film on glorious VHS. I played them on my $850 Hi-Fi VCR. That's $1,895.97 in today's dollars.

In 1998, I had switched from buying laserdiscs to buying them new fangled digital versatile discs: DVDs. The internet was not yet ready for prime time.

In 2008, I had abandoned the failed HD-DVD format and had embraced blu-ray. The internet was now useful for shopping and watching youtube shorts.

In 2018, I still buy DVDs, blu-rays, 3D blu-rays, and now 4K uhd discs. I have multiple ways to play innumerable video games. The internet is more robust and I can stream movies and play online games. I have more choices than ever before.

And still across all four decades, I watch movies on the largest display in my possession. The entertainment menu has grown greatly, but I find that I still order the same entree almost every time.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

All they would have to do is charge less for 1 streaming device at a time and boom! Choice time. Full service with comics on iPad or phone or lose put and just have tv and films on television. Can you see the problem there?

No. I see no problem there.

It's absurd to think this whole push toward multimedia is aimed at cutting TVs out of the media mix. That's ridiculous.

Your whole argument here seems predicated on the notion that people don't really care about TVs and will jettison them from their lives after the slightest provocation and that flies in the face of the fact that people freaking love TVs.

The idea that people will abandon televisions to save a few bucks is ridiculous. Not having a TV has always been significantly cheaper than having a TV and that didn't stop people from buying them as fast as they could. Living room TVs, bedroom TVs, basement TVs, rec room TVs, portable TVs....decades of consumer data tell us that people can't get enough of these freaking things.

But they're going to just drop them if DC throws a few digital comic books their way.

Okay.

And not for nothing, this argument also conveniently overlooks the fact that companies like Disney and Lucasfilm and Marvel and Pixar have nothing to gain - and literally trillions to lose - by luring people away from big screens.

[The_Donster]

The only problem I see are the ones in your head Steedeel. You, like alchav21, have this fallback "doomsday" argument you like to pull out on a rainy day or when you think you've got a new audience. Problem is, we've heard it all before and there is no new audience since the thread got moved. Both digital and physical media are evolving and working alongside each other just fine. So at this point you are just wagging the dog.