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

[master gandhi]

I do like the theory of buying new releases on physical disc, since all mainstream movies include digital copies too these days (and I guess I'd have a backup, even though I doubt I'd ever use the disc), and it basically supports both formats. Does this mean I don't prefer to pick up a new movie on a digital platform? No.

It's still more convenient (and often cheaper) to buy it digitally, and I don't really feel much need to have the disc in my collection. I own Batman v Superman, Suicide Squad, Arrival, Don't Breathe and many more on digital only instead of both disc & digital. I don't feel the absolute need to keep adding movies to my shelves. As long as I can watch them somehow, I'm fine.

I get all the arguments for physical media. We've discussed them here ad naseum. I was once an obsessive all-physical collector. I'm still a fairly obsessive collector and fan of movies/TV. The format I choose isn't really based on my interest in that title. I love Star Wars, and I would've bought it digitally a couple days ago if it weren't for the fact that I want it in 3D (and I want the Target-exclusive bonus disc).

Sure, VUDU has a 3D option, and I bought and watched Doctor Strange and Moana in 3D on VUDU, but I actually don't think digital 3D works as well as it does on a disc. It works on digital, but I want it to work as close to flawless as possible, or I'm better off watching it in 2D. 3D is more demanding than 2D. The same goes for UHD. I'd rather get that on a disc. I bought Watchmen and Pacific Rim on VUDU in UHD before they were on disc, and they looked great, but still not great in all aspects. On a disc, the presentation would've been more pleasing. If you're going to shell out $25-30 for a UHD version, it may as well be in its highest quality.

So really, there's a great many reasons why one would go with physical over digital. The biggest reason is the overall quality. Another reason is the absence of a need for a high-speed internet connection. Beyond that, it might be special features, packaging, you name it.

Digital is a different beast. It doesn't offer you a physical possession, but mere access to your movie(s). Is it the future? Who knows. We know it's here now. We don't know what the future holds. But right now, it's giving people another way to consume their content. Not necessarily a better way. Just a different way. For all we know, if everyone went all-digital, studios/digital providers might get lazier and stop caring about quality. Because not everyone is all-digital, these companies are forced to compete with the ever-improving world of physical media. So we probably do need physical media to survive. Otherwise, we might not like what the studios offer us instead.

The End

?

[whipnet]

Originally Posted by master gandhi

The End

?

This is a Chevy vs. Ford or Windows vs Apple thread. There is no end.......

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by whipnet

This is a Chevy vs. Ford or Windows vs Apple thread. There is no end.......

Ha
Touché

The end of my story for the day anyway.

[ArmyOfDarknessAW]

For the people that legitimately like and use digital...Do you stick to one provider or jump around? Basically I feel tied to VUDU with 700+ in my library, but I've grown to really like what Google Play offers. I want to purchase some stuff from there, but part of me wants it all to be in one place. I just bought Train to Busan for $0.99 which is incredible, but I so wish it was in VUDU. Just curious what other people do for their library of movies.

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by ArmyOfDarknessAW

For the people that legitimately like and use digital...Do you stick to one provider or jump around? Basically I feel tied to VUDU with 700+ in my library, but I've grown to really like what Google Play offers. I want to purchase some stuff from there, but part of me wants it all to be in one place. I just bought Train to Busan for $0.99 which is incredible, but I so wish it was in VUDU. Just curious what other people do for their library of movies.

At first, I was all about VUDU, but when I figured out that iTunes typically had more special features, I started leaning more towards iTunes. Then I found that Amazon Video On Demand had good deals sometimes, and like you, I saw that deal on Train to Busan through Google Play (watched that movie last night on Netflix, and it was awesome), so I had to have that too. My movies are all over the place digitally, but they're easily accessible through my Roku, Apple TV and mobile devices. I'm open to just about all of it.

[tobz]

Originally Posted by ArmyOfDarknessAW

For the people that legitimately like and use digital...Do you stick to one provider or jump around? Basically I feel tied to VUDU with 700+ in my library, but I've grown to really like what Google Play offers. I want to purchase some stuff from there, but part of me wants it all to be in one place. I just bought Train to Busan for $0.99 which is incredible, but I so wish it was in VUDU. Just curious what other people do for their library of movies.

I prefer to have them in one place as well, so when I use digital I prefer to have everything in iTunes, as I own all apple devices. I find the extras, ability to download (and rip drm if you know where to look) and convenience on my apple TV make it the best option for me.

I don't tend to worry about the future because in 5-10 years I may not have a blu ray player, or my disc might not work or even I may not want to watch my blu ray copy as I may have a 4k or 8k copy available. The future is uncertain so best thing to do is decide what works for you now and just use that. Worry about what the future holds when we get to it.

[SarahS]

Originally Posted by ArmyOfDarknessAW

For the people that legitimately like and use digital...Do you stick to one provider or jump around? Basically I feel tied to VUDU with 700+ in my library, but I've grown to really like what Google Play offers. I want to purchase some stuff from there, but part of me wants it all to be in one place. I just bought Train to Busan for $0.99 which is incredible, but I so wish it was in VUDU. Just curious what other people do for their library of movies.

I only Use Vudu but they are shared with Googleplay, Flixster etc..and all the others as I have accounts with all of them.

[PCFan]

Originally Posted by ArmyOfDarknessAW

For the people that legitimately like and use digital...Do you stick to one provider or jump around? Basically I feel tied to VUDU with 700+ in my library, but I've grown to really like what Google Play offers. I want to purchase some stuff from there, but part of me wants it all to be in one place. I just bought Train to Busan for $0.99 which is incredible, but I so wish it was in VUDU. Just curious what other people do for their library of movies.

I currently use Vudu for my main digital library of movies. I have a little over 600 movies and 3 TV series in my Vudu library. I used iTunes in the past for about 3 months and have around 200 movies and 2 TV series in my iTunes library. I use Netflix as well, but that is a subscription service, so that does not count. Most of what I have in my iTunes library is in my Vudu library as well. I have considered going back to iTunes and buying an Apple TV but I have my reasons to wanting to stick with Vudu which I think outweigh my reasons for wanting to go back to iTunes.

[BlakkMajik3000]

Originally Posted by ArmyOfDarknessAW

For the people that legitimately like and use digital...Do you stick to one provider or jump around? Basically I feel tied to VUDU with 700+ in my library, but I've grown to really like what Google Play offers. I want to purchase some stuff from there, but part of me wants it all to be in one place. I just bought Train to Busan for $0.99 which is incredible, but I so wish it was in VUDU. Just curious what other people do for their library of movies.

VUDU is my primary. I have over 900+ movies and several TV seasons on there.

Recently, I've been building my iTunes collection. It's not, nor ever will be, as large as my VUDU collection, but I really like some of the features iTunes has that VUDU doesn't. The ability to create movie playlists, add BD rips to my library, and download all my movies to a single PC and stream my iTunes library to all my iDevices is pretty great.

I have a few things on Amazon, but I mainly only use that to stream some of the kids shows on Prime for my little one. I will occasionally watch some of the stand-up comedy I bought from there as well.

Google Play only has my DMA movies, and I never use it. Even though I've had Android devices for years (before switching to Apple in the past year), I never found anything compelling about it to build any type of collection there.

[ArmyOfDarknessAW]

Thanks everyone. Good to see a difference of opinion. VUDU definitely seems to be the main one overall though for people.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by ArmyOfDarknessAW

For the people that legitimately like and use digital...Do you stick to one provider or jump around? Basically I feel tied to VUDU with 700+ in my library, but I've grown to really like what Google Play offers. I want to purchase some stuff from there, but part of me wants it all to be in one place. I just bought Train to Busan for $0.99 which is incredible, but I so wish it was in VUDU. Just curious what other people do for their library of movies.

I use Vudu, but also have Amazon I think that gives me the best of both worlds. My Library on Vudu is almost 500 Movies plus TV Shows. With Amazon and their Original Programming, plus Prime Video I'm set. I know Penguin talks about Movies disappearing, but the Major Studios don't want to hear about that and I have not seen it happen. This only applies to small Studios and Independents with obscure Movies that will be on a Server which can be retrieved if the demand is there. I think we are headed for an all Digital Future, it's just the next progressive step.

[tobz]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I use Vudu, but also have Amazon I think that gives me the best of both worlds. My Library on Vudu is almost 500 Movies plus TV Shows. With Amazon and their Original Programming, plus Prime Video I'm set. I know Penguin talks about Movies disappearing, but the Major Studios don't want to hear about that and I have not seen it happen. This only applies to small Studios and Independents with obscure Movies that will be on a Server which can be retrieved if the demand is there. I think we are headed for an all Digital Future, it's just the next progressive step.

On iTunes I have had a few movies stop being sold on the store but I was always able to stream them and they come up under my purchased. An example is the 2005 fantastic four. Another kind of example is my XML code redemptions of Thor and cap 1. It's actually the old paramount listing that I'm streaming from not the new Disney one. That's why the XML redemptions for those movies don't have the new iTunes extras etc.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

Every device with an internet connection can easily access illegal content. It takes about a minute to find and download those apps on any device. The "fully loaded" devices have just taken out a few steps that likely make the customers more oblivious to the fact that they are accessing illegal content. But none of those devices contain any illegal content themselves, they just contain programs that can access illegal content.

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I know that. I was under the impression these boxes have everything set up for the end user to start streaming content straight away.

I know Penguin says this is irrelevant to this Tread, but I think it's very relevant to Access of Digital Content. Kodi is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) that can be loaded on a Device to Access Media Content. The controversy came when Steedeel read these Kodi Boxes were Fully Loaded to Stream Media Content out right. Now if the Boxes had Storage, like TeraByte Hard Drives this might be possible without an Internet Connection, but depending on the HDD type the Box would have to be bigger or cost more. Fully Loaded with Apps or Applications to Access Media Content over the Internet is totally something different. Accessing Content, and having Content are two different objectives.

Now taking it a step further, if I loaded my Back-up Blu-ray Disc Collection onto a Home Server and set up Kodi to Access this to my Entertainment Center. Then I could Stream this Movie Content with the Kodi App at a 1:1 Picture & Audio Quality.

[PenguinMaster]

Originally Posted by alchav21

Now taking it a step further, if I loaded my Back-up Blu-ray Disc Collection onto a Home Server and set up Kodi to Access this to my Entertainment Center. Then I could Stream this Movie Content with the Kodi App at a 1:1 Picture & Audio Quality.

In doing that you'd be using physical distribution, not digital distribution. I have no problem with that scenario.

[veritas]

Originally Posted by ArmyOfDarknessAW

For the people that legitimately like and use digital...Do you stick to one provider or jump around? Basically I feel tied to VUDU with 700+ in my library, but I've grown to really like what Google Play offers. I want to purchase some stuff from there, but part of me wants it all to be in one place. I just bought Train to Busan for $0.99 which is incredible, but I so wish it was in VUDU. Just curious what other people do for their library of movies.

I primarily use iTunes. I basically don't buy digital copies I 99.9% of the time just use the code that comes with the bd but I prioritize iTunes. I figure if I ever want the film on Vudu it would only cost a dollar to do the conversion and iTunes simply has higher quality playback on my devices. iTunes also almost always has more special features and in general experiences less glitches. Itunes also allows you to store your own video files which is very useful in terms of organization and when traveling.

I do use vudu since sometimes they only offer uv codes and when a movie is only a dollar I can think of it as more of a rental but if the price is the same I always choose iTunes.

I am pretty much in the camp that I want both physical and digital. I mostly watch movies on digital on my computer or ipad but I can see the difference between bds and vudu so having a physical copy thats at the highest quality is best. I also have little faith in vudu lasting forever given Walmarts business practices.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I know Penguin says this is irrelevant to this Tread, but I think it's very relevant to Access of Digital Content. Kodi is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) that can be loaded on a Device to Access Media Content. The controversy came when Steedeel read these Kodi Boxes were Fully Loaded to Stream Media Content out right. Now if the Boxes had Storage, like TeraByte Hard Drives this might be possible without an Internet Connection, but depending on the HDD type the Box would have to be bigger or cost more. Fully Loaded with Apps or Applications to Access Media Content over the Internet is totally something different. Accessing Content, and having Content are two different objectives.

Now taking it a step further, if I loaded my Back-up Blu-ray Disc Collection onto a Home Server and set up Kodi to Access this to my Entertainment Center. Then I could Stream this Movie Content with the Kodi App at a 1:1 Picture & Audio Quality.

It's still illegal watching Of content though either way. The government have changed the wording on the Digital Economy Act and it now leaves the path wide open for Copyright trolls (Speculative invoicing) to increase these poisonous letters and emails. They have the added threat of 10 years prison to use a bait if the accused don't pay a fine right away. I feel sorry for the people caught up in this ho have never broke the law in that sense. Apparently there were plenty folk who got caught in the net and ended up paying through pure panic despite never downloading illegal content. There are people cwmpeining for the wording to be altered on the act because it means even a small thing like using a gif from a movie or streaming a football match is included in the 10 year prison bit!

Now, obviously no one is going to jail for ten years for minor offences, however many will be fooled by the threat and that is a big deal

I'm glad I only buy my films through Blu-Ray but there will probably be a lot of worried people out there right now in the U.K. (I understand the U.S had similar issues several years ago?)

Of course not everyone uses a VPN.

[Steedeel]

I have to apologise for the Kodi thing. I know quite a bit about tech, but having never used such boxes I relied on what I was told about them. Turns out I was wrong to a certain extent. Although people use these boxes to illegally watch content, that content is accessed through torrents I now understand? Rather than a app that comes fully loaded with said content. I don't think I will fully understand it and I never intend to get one so I will leave it there.

Apologies to all who responded but especially ArmyOfDarkness.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I know Penguin says this is irrelevant to this Tread, but I think it's very relevant to Access of Digital Content. Kodi is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) that can be loaded on a Device to Access Media Content. The controversy came when Steedeel read these Kodi Boxes were Fully Loaded to Stream Media Content out right. Now if the Boxes had Storage, like TeraByte Hard Drives this might be possible without an Internet Connection, but depending on the HDD type the Box would have to be bigger or cost more. Fully Loaded with Apps or Applications to Access Media Content over the Internet is totally something different. Accessing Content, and having Content are two different objectives.

Now taking it a step further, if I loaded my Back-up Blu-ray Disc Collection onto a Home Server and set up Kodi to Access this to my Entertainment Center. Then I could Stream this Movie Content with the Kodi App at a 1:1 Picture & Audio Quality.

The average family are not going to be bothered with all this. They just want to zone out on the sofa after work and stream Netflix or whack in a DVD/Bluray.

[sleepydumbdude]

Originally Posted by ArmyOfDarknessAW

For the people that legitimately like and use digital...Do you stick to one provider or jump around? Basically I feel tied to VUDU with 700+ in my library, but I've grown to really like what Google Play offers. I want to purchase some stuff from there, but part of me wants it all to be in one place. I just bought Train to Busan for $0.99 which is incredible, but I so wish it was in VUDU. Just curious what other people do for their library of movies.

95% vudu. I will purchase on any device that has a Roku app/Phone apps on multiple OSes. I hate the Amazon video layout but I own like 200 movies on it, When they had that Disney Channel original movie sale I bought all of them. Pretty much I go with VUDU>Google Play>Amazon Video>FandangoNow(mainly because they are expensive, I like their layout better than Amazon.)

I have a few things on itunes but haven't bought any shows/movies from them since about 2010 of so. Also have a few on on Xbox video cause I had a windows phone. Haven't bought anything from them in about 3 years. Its a bit annoying to have in different apps but still takes less time to access than getting up and putting in another disc.

[huskerbear]

Originally Posted by ArmyOfDarknessAW

For the people that legitimately like and use digital...Do you stick to one provider or jump around? Basically I feel tied to VUDU with 700+ in my library, but I've grown to really like what Google Play offers. I want to purchase some stuff from there, but part of me wants it all to be in one place. I just bought Train to Busan for $0.99 which is incredible, but I so wish it was in VUDU. Just curious what other people do for their library of movies.

I feel lucky that I didn't start with digital until UV started. I actually didn't even know about itunes until I googled digital movies and probably would have went that route until I found out it was an Apple only thing. Shortly there after UV was announced, perfect fit. Vudu works great and I'm happy everything is in one place (1400+) The only way I would consider another provider is if somebody else joined UV and I didn't have to buy new equipment to access them. Like master gandhi, I still purchase 3D discs though.