FAQ - Digital Copies (UV, CinemaNow, Vudu, Flixster & Apps Help Thread)

[Kuma]

Originally Posted by RandomNinjaAtk

Amazon announced last year at CES that it had joined the DECE (UV)... But they're hasn't been any other news in regards to it. With Barnes & Noble integrating UV into their video service, I would think there would be more pressure on Amazon to do so.... I'm really looking forward to CES 2013 for announcements in regards to UV and I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't hear something then...

Just my thoughts...

That is great news indeed, the idea of UV in theory works very well for me as I like to own physical copies of movies Ive bought, but still like to have the ability to have them digitally. The only problem with this is that the 3 major services leave a lot to be desired in my eyes at least. Amazon has gotten a lot of things right with Instant Video and the addition of UV would be icing on the cake.

[rdodolak]

After researching more info about the iCould, it seems you only get to stream the HD version of a movie only if the studio gives you an HD digital copy. I'm a bit disappointed given the fact that most studios are still only giving SD iTunes digital copies.

[basketb]

Originally Posted by Kuma

That is great news indeed, the idea of UV in theory works very well for me as I like to own physical copies of movies Ive bought, but still like to have the ability to have them digitally. The only problem with this is that the 3 major services leave a lot to be desired in my eyes at least. Amazon has gotten a lot of things right with Instant Video and the addition of UV would be icing on the cake.

Pardon my ignorance, but what makes Amazon better than VUDU, Flixster, or CinemaNow?

[ready2play]

Originally Posted by basketb

Pardon my ignorance, but what makes Amazon better than VUDU, Flixster, or CinemaNow?

One thing I can say is that with amazon, you can watch your movies through the Wii U

[Kuma]

Originally Posted by basketb

Pardon my ignorance, but what makes Amazon better than VUDU, Flixster, or CinemaNow?

Well, I can chalk a lot of it up to personal preference. Although, the 3 services you mentioned have given me problems with their mobile apps which Amazon has not and on top of that I get the Instant Video streaming with Prime that the others dont offer.

[ready2play]

So....has anyone actually READ the agreement on UV?

How About the fact that the digital streaming of copies expires in a year, then you can be charged to watch your movie:

Originally Posted by Ultraviolet offer details

STREAMING: UltraViolet Rights include streaming from the selling UltraViolet Retailer, at no extra charge above the original content purchase price, for at least one year after purchase. This no-extra-charge streaming will be offered to specific apps/devices, and via streaming means, to be determined by the selling UltraViolet Retailer. Streaming of a given title from the selling UltraViolet Retailer more than a year after its purchase, or at any time via Streaming Services other than the selling UltraViolet Retailer, may incur fees and if so any such fees would be presented to the consumer in advance of streaming titles, with the consumer having the option to accept the fees or not use that Streaming Service. Members of an Account may stream up to three titles at the same time. Streaming availability may be subject to territorial restrictions if an Account Member is seeking to stream in a territory that is different from where content was purchased. Streaming availability may also be subject to restrictions that exist for certain periods of time, for certain titles.

BUT, if you purchase a digital (UV) copy online, it is your right to request said title in physical form from the seller

Originally Posted by Ultraviolet offer details

Physical copy option:When consumers make online purchases of UltraViolet-enabled content for digital use (i.e. not buying a disc via e-commerce, but rather buying download/streaming rights), they may also be offered the opportunity to buy a version of that UltraViolet-enabled title that allows them to have a single physical-media copy (e.g. the title copied onto a DVD or flash memory). Whether this option is available, and the details of how it works to obtain this copy, may vary by retailer and by title. If the consumer chooses to purchase a version of an UltraViolet-enabled title that does include this option for a physical media copy, they will have one year from the date of purchase during which the selling UltraViolet Retailer must facilitate them obtaining the copy, at no charge above the original content purchase price.

[RandomNinjaAtk]

I don't feel that providers such as VUDU would ever charge for streaming after 1 year because there business is built on streaming...

The physical copies are still not out yet, I would expect to hear announcements about it at CES 2013. I'm referring to the Common File Format (CFF) files...

[seregloth]

I feel like I read something about the rights for the D2D films staying permanent, but I'm not sure. Except that for I couldn't reconnect my UV to my VUDU for a week sometimes two months ago and all the d2d titles stayed in my Vudu account.

[RandomNinjaAtk]

Well your will movies never expire or be removed from your UV account. Which is clearly stated in the TOS. So they are permanently added, its just the whole streaming for 1 year clause and etc. that has people some worried. I'm personally not worried about it..

[Kuma]

Originally Posted by RandomNinjaAtk

Well your will movies never expire or be removed from your UV account. Which is clearly stated in the TOS. So they are permanently added, its just the whole streaming for 1 year clause and etc. that has people some worried. I'm personally not worried about it..

Neither am I, UV needs good publicity now, not a PR nightmare.

[meremortal]

Sorry if this has been mentioned already, but how do I check if a code has not already been used?

I ask because I've bought several blus lately in used shops that have the digital code card included. But I don't know if they've been used or not and I want to sell them.

[RandomNinjaAtk]

Don't think you can, unless you attempt to redeem them...

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by RandomNinjaAtk

Don't think you can, unless you attempt to redeem them...

Yeah, I'm not aware of a way to determine if a code has already been used without attempting to redeem it. If the code is still active it will be immediately redeemed.

[flix1]

Well, went through my first, and overly problematic, D2D experience with Vudu/Walmart.

Walmart has a number of movies for sale that have advertising on them for "$4 off Disc-to-Digital conversion". Inside the cases, there is a sheet of paper that has 2 $2 off coupons.

I decided to give it a shot, especially since its free and they have a 5 free movie promotion through December 17th for trying D2D.

On Thursday, I went into the store, and there were a couple of associates behind the Photo counter than did not seem to know what to do. They did find a D2D form, which they asked me to fill out. Then they said to leave the disc and the form, and I would be contacted in a couple days when it was complete. Being my first time, I did not know what needed to be done, so I assumed that was correct.

On Saturday evening, I called and the photo center at the Walmart and spoke to a different associate who asked me to come into the store, as the process only takes a few minutes. I went into the store, and the associate was very helpful and we completed everything in a couple of minutes. The only hiccup was that the barcode printed by the D2D computer would not scan, so the associate manually entered a generic Vudu SKU.

By Sunday evening, the movie was still not showing in my account and I had not received any email. I went back to the store, explaining that it had not showed up. The same associate from Saturday helped me. She let me see the D2D computer and brought up my account. She tried to add the movie again, but the computer prompted that it was already added. I noticed that it noted "Suspended Transaction" by the title.

Long story short, the issue was the SKU used for checkout of the original transaction. The barcode generated by the D2D computer needs to be part of the completed transaction. When the generic SKU was used, the system did not recognize to complete the transaction initiated on the D2D computer. She rang up the transaction with the D2D printed SKU and that did it.

The Vudu transaction appears to be a 2 part process. The first is that they verify the disc and generate the SKU for the transaction. The second is to complete the transaction at a register through checkout/payment, which then adds the title to your Vudu account. Your printed receipt has a pretty detailed set of information regarding the Order Number and Digital Movie SKU.

Now that I know how its supposed to work, I'll be sure to check my receipts immediately upon checkout in the future.

On a side note, I've not been a fan of Customer Service at Walmart, as my past experiences have been less than pleasant, but the associate in the Photo department who worked through all of this with me was friendly and extremely helpful.

[DealsR4theDevil]

I redeemed my UV code for Ted over an hour ago and it is not in my digital locker. Anyone experience this?

[saprano]

Do it directly from the Vudu site.

[Drewbee87]

Give it awhile, sometimes it take 5 to 6 hours.

[DealsR4theDevil]

Originally Posted by saprano

Do it directly from the Vudu site.

Thank you! Problem solved.

[saprano]

Samething happened to me. Glad i could help.

[chickfila3766]

I should start a new thread, but - I am trying to use Flixster on my iPad and can't seem to connect to my account. When on my Flixster account on my desktop, I have three movies there and can watch them. When I launch Flixster on my iPad, there are no movies there. It doesn't ask me for my user name and passcode and I can't seem to watch anything.

Can anyone help?

Thanks.