I am looking into currently available HD video download services that provide a better option to purchasing and viewing HDM than Blu-Ray provides.

Can anyone here chime in about a currently available HD video download service that I can use to purchase HDM and view them?

The only service I know that lets you purchase movies is VUDU. Unfortunately, I don't want to wait 4 hours for my purchase to download before I can watch it. I also want to build a movie collection larger than 25 HDM titles, which is the maximum capacity for VUDU.

Please don't chime in about options that are not currently available. I don't have a time machine that whisks me to the future.

This depends heavily on what you mean by better option.

Microsoft's Xboxlive video marketplace provides HDM content, albeit at 720p instead of 1080p, but also at a much lower price. It also is not a collector's medium, but then a lot of viewers -- most of the rental market, for example, are not collectors.

I am looking into currently available HD video download services that provide a better option to purchasing and viewing HDM than Blu-Ray provides.

Can anyone here chime in about a currently available HD video download service that I can use to purchase HDM and view them?

The only service I know that lets you purchase movies is VUDU. Unfortunately, I don't want to wait 4 hours for my purchase to download before I can watch it. I also want to build a movie collection larger than 25 HDM titles, which is the maximum capacity for VUDU.

Please don't chime in about options that are not currently available. I don't have a time machine that whisks me to the future.

There is none. Check back in couple years. In the mentime buy some optical discs.

Of course in 2005 if you started a useless thread in the DVD forum asking what is optical format is currently better than DVD you would have gotten the same answer.

It's obvious the TC is trying to make a point...

Unfortunately, I don't want to wait 4 hours for my purchase to download before I can watch it. I also want to build a movie collection larger than 25 HDM titles, which is the maximum capacity for VUDU.
Too bad there's no spam filter for posts on AVS, it would have easily kicked this thinly veiled attempt of flamebait.

BTW, your argument is not the most intelligent. Millions of customers have no problem waiting 1 or 2 days for movies from Blockbuster Online or Netflix, but you "claim" you can't wait 4 hours? If you're going to flambait, at least make a viable argument. :rolleyes: Welcome to the list.

I only have a 768K internet connection, no cable TV connection and no satellite service. I use OTA only. Will they have OTA HD on demand. How do you expect me to get 1080p HD without a disc?

What about my grandparents that can only get 28.8 dial up out in the country? Discs will be here a while, if you don't like the disc format, wait it out.

You think I'll tell you these secrets for free?

Give me $2.4trillion dollars and i'll let you in on the secret.

Anyone? Bueller?

What about Vudu? I keep hearing about it on the HT Guys pod-cast and it sounds pretty cool.

http://www.vudu.com

I'm not ready to take it up yet... but I'm also not extremist anti-download like a great many people seem to be.

I definitely have a collector's mentality (1000+ SD DVD, 100+ BD & HD DVD, and I still buy CDs), but you simply can't deny that downloads *provided the infrastructure is there* make *alot* more rationale sense. My 1000+ discs have to be made somewhere - using resources & creating waste, have to somehow be physically delivered to my home, must be stored in my home - redundantly occupying space, and will eventually end up in a landfill somewhere.

If you had a single set-top box from which you could, in theory, access essentially any content you wanted - all of those issues instantaneously disappear. For that, I think it's well worth asking people to give up "something they can hold" and a completely imaginary "sense of ownership".

Now I don't think the infrastructure is readily available yet to make this feasible (at least in the U.S.), and downloads have their own issues (DRM, what if the provider closes shop etc.), but it is coming, and I think, we'll be better for it. Right now I can order 10Mbs cable internet in my home, and some folks already have access to 30Mbs fiber optic service.

What about Vudu? I keep hearing about it on the HT Guys pod-cast and it sounds pretty cool.
I already checked out VUDU.

You're limited to owning 25 high-definition movies maximum because of capacity limits.

Content prices are as high as physical media, but include no special features.

I can't move the content between rooms, or let the content be borrowed unless I transport the entire set-top box.

Cost is $399 for hardware.

High-definition movies take 4 hours to start downloading before you can play them.

Video quality is comparable to cable/satellite; compression artifacts, color banding, etc. Audio is standard bit-rate surround.

Now I don't think the infrastructure is readily available yet to make this feasible (at least in the U.S.), and downloads have their own issues (DRM, what if the provider closes shop etc.), but it is coming, and I think, we'll be better for it. Right now I can order 10Mbs cable internet in my home, and some folks already have access to 30Mbs fiber optic service.

Everyone still assumes that any HD download system/service will rely on the Internet. It won't. It'll be a managed service provided by your cable/telecom company.

Fiber optic solutions are getting cheaper and cheaper and the infrastructure is ALREADY run to your street. All they need to do is pipe it to your house from the street and wham... welcome to instant HD.

A 30mbs fiber optic service is limited to 30mbs by the Internet pipe.. not the capacity of the line.

For example fiber can easily attain signal rates measured in terabyes per second. How much bitrate can that do??? :) A LOT more than Blu-ray.

http://www.fiber-optics.info/fiber-history.htm

"The “last mile” for optical fiber goes from the curb to the television set top, known as fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) and fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC), allowing video on demand to become a reality."

Everyone still assumes that any HD download system/service will rely on the Internet. It won't. It'll be a managed service provided by your cable/telecom company.

Fiber optic solutions are getting cheaper and cheaper and the infrastructure is ALREADY run to your street. All they need to do is pipe it to your house from the street and wham... welcome to instant HD.

A 30mbs fiber optic service is limited to 30mbs by the Internet pipe.. not the capacity of the line.

For example fiber can easily attain signal rates measured in terabyes per second. How much bitrate can that do??? :) A LOT more than Blu-ray.

http://www.fiber-optics.info/fiber-history.htm

"The “last mile” for optical fiber goes from the curb to the television set top, known as fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) and fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC), allowing video on demand to become a reality."
I love the future so much, I wish I could live in it.

I love the future so much, I wish I could live in it.

Forget all this HD stuff. Haven't you watched Back the Future? We're all going to have flying cars and we'll get to make our dinner in a food hydrator.

I love the future so much, I wish I could live in it.

I remember thinking that very same thing about 12 years ago when my cable company mentioned some crazy idea about cable internet. I thought my 56.6k Motorola was the shiiizzznit!

Same as when I bought my first CD and CD player... wonderful.. I went on to purchase several hundred more CDs over the following few years... I thought about that as I threw out the last two I found kicking around in my storage room.

I wonder how far away is the time i'll be tossing out my DVDs and looking back and saying.. who woulda thunk... just 10 years ago DVD was introduced... discs... why did I waste all that money and space...

I already checked out VUDU.

Oops - apologies, I must of read your original post too quickly. :o (All this Warner going BD stuff has me on the edge of my seat & skimming through the million post threads that pop up like 7-11s.)

Too bad there's no spam filter for posts on AVS, it would have easily kicked this thinly veiled attempt of flamebait.

BTW, your argument is not the most intelligent. Millions of customers have no problem waiting 1 or 2 days for movies from Blockbuster Online or Netflix, but you "claim" you can't wait 4 hours? If you're going to flambait, at least make a viable argument. :rolleyes: Welcome to the list.
I don't know what your problem is. This is a very ligitimate discussion for this forum. Not every thread here had to be about Blu-Ray. It seems like the OP is asking for assistance and has done a bit of homework of his own on the issue. If you don't like the thread, skip it. Bye.

I don't know what your problem is. This is a very ligitimate discussion for this forum. Not every thread here had to be about Blu-Ray. It seems like the OP is asking for assistance and has done a bit of homework of his own on the issue. If you don't like the thread, skip it. Bye.

Did you catch the OP's "Anyone. Bueller?" remark? He's obviously not looking for assistance, simply to assert there are no download service currently available to justify talk of a DD future.

To that assertion, I offer Xbox Live Video Marketplace, HD VOD via cable providers. Given that Apple TV supports HD, HD videos from iTunes can't be too long away.

I'm sure the OP is already aware of these services though.

To that assertion, I offer Xbox Live Video Marketplace
I checked that out too.

HD movie rentals are $6

Rental period expires in 24 hours

Movies are 720p/DD5.1/no special features

Entire movie must be downloaded before playback (between 4-7GB per movie)

No movie purchase available; rental only

Playback only via X360

I have an XBOX 360; it is the noisiest consumer electronic device I own, and I have a "quiet" model.

HD VOD via cable providers.
Again, it's a rental only model, with the same limitations as XBLM. Playback/storage is limited to your cable set-top device, costs are just as high, quality is typically lower than XBLM VC-1.

Given that Apple TV supports HD, HD videos from iTunes can't be too long away.
The AppleTV is a flop. iTunes video downloads are strong because of the iPod, and are thus SD only.

HD VOD via cable providers.


Again, it's a rental only model, with the same limitations as XBLM. Playback/storage is limited to your cable set-top device, costs are just as high, quality is typically lower than XBLM VC-1.


Um I think your wrong here. Comcast VOD HD rentals are 1080i with DD 5.1 and you do not have to wait for them to download. There are no playback/storage limitations based on your set-top device. Storage on your DVR is simply not an option. They are on comcasts servers and you have 24 hrs to stream them as much as you want.

With the eventual DOCSIS 3.0 I see no reason why comcast wouldn't be able to "eventually" stream 1080i/p lossless just as easlily as they currently do.

I don't know what your problem is. This is a very ligitimate discussion for this forum. Not every thread here had to be about Blu-Ray. It seems like the OP is asking for assistance and has done a bit of homework of his own on the issue. If you don't like the thread, skip it. Bye.

Did you catch the OP's "Anyone. Bueller?" remark? He's obviously not looking for assistance, simply to assert there are no download service currently available to justify talk of a DD future.
Exactly.

Look at the OPs post history from throughout the day prior to this thread. According to the OP, download services discussions are due to bitter HD DVD owners trying to sink Blu-ray. He's simply trying to poke some eyes. Notice how currently available is bolded three times in the OP. The last sentence in the OP makes it painfully obvious he baiting and trying to prove some point and not genuinely looking for help. Just look at his satirical responses, come on.

Exactly.

Look at the OPs post history from throughout the day prior to this thread. According to the OP, download services discussions are due to bitter HD DVD owners trying to sink Blu-ray. He's simply trying to poke some eyes. Notice how currently available is bolded three times in the OP. The last sentence in the OP makes it painfully obvious he baiting and trying to prove some point and not genuinely looking for help. Just look at his satirical responses, come on.

This doesn't look like flame bait to me. Flame bait is generally outrageous, designed merely to incite, and rarely designed to make any logical point.

Firstly, while you might not agree with his point, he is making one: the download services he has looked into do not currently meet his definition of "ready for prime time." Secondly, there's nothing particularly outrageous about his assertions. And thirdly, if his main goal was to incite, he certainly could have been a little more incendiary.

Compared to 90% of the stuff I read in this particular forum, this is very light weight. If this comes across as flame bait to you, I humbly suggest that you might be happier if you hung out in a different forum. I know I would be, so I think I'm going there now.

Xbox Live doesn't require you to wait until the entire movie is downloaded before you can watch. For me, typically I only have to wait 15-30 seconds from hitting the download button for the movie to be ready to play.

CinemaNow and MovieLink also provide HD movies that you can purchase, are portable, and are decent quality.

Do these download services off HD DVD features like U-CONTROL, Interactive features, lossless audio (DTS MA / TRUE HD)???

If not, why bother..? It sounds like a step backwards from Blu Ray / HD DVD...

I just picked up 3:10 from Yuma from my local Blockbuster store, it cost $4.99 to rent for a week. 1080p video and lossless sound... Seems an easier / simpler route to the goal of great audio and video.

I checked that out too.

HD movie rentals are $6

Rental period expires in 24 hours

Movies are 720p/DD5.1/no special features

Entire movie must be downloaded before playback (between 4-7GB per movie)

No movie purchase available; rental only

Playback only via X360

I have an XBOX 360; it is the noisiest consumer electronic device I own, and I have a "quiet" model.


Again, it's a rental only model, with the same limitations as XBLM. Playback/storage is limited to your cable set-top device, costs are just as high, quality is typically lower than XBLM VC-1.


The AppleTV is a flop. iTunes video downloads are strong because of the iPod, and are thus SD only.
I watched The Invasion(HD) on Xbox Live Tuesday night and
Shoot 'Em Up(HD) on Xbox Live on Monday Night.
Each time as soon as I hit purchase it started downloading and in 20 seconds i could watch the movie. Then I was able to watch the entire movie without it having to stop to download more. This is how it always is when I download movies from Xbox Live. Even when I had a slow Comcast connection it worked the same way.

For noise my Elite 360, which I have in my main viewing area with the PS3, is the same loudness as my PS3 when watching movies. Both louder than I would like, but I can only hear them during quiet passages in the movies, and even then they aren't very noticeable.

As far as the price, it depends on how much you pay for your MS points. I usually pay between $12 and $16 for 1600 points since I usually buy them when they are on sale. The maximum price is $20 per 1600 but I've only paid that much a couple of times when I purchased it directly off Xbox lIve. I usually just wait for a sale and purchase my points then. Plus I always get a few thousand points for my Birthday and Christmas since I also use the MS points with my Zune Players.

I remember thinking that very same thing about 12 years ago when my cable company mentioned some crazy idea about cable internet. I thought my 56.6k Motorola was the shiiizzznit!

Same as when I bought my first CD and CD player... wonderful.. I went on to purchase several hundred more CDs over the following few years... I thought about that as I threw out the last two I found kicking around in my storage room.

I wonder how far away is the time i'll be tossing out my DVDs and looking back and saying.. who woulda thunk... just 10 years ago DVD was introduced... discs... why did I waste all that money and space...

The real question is... do you spend as much on music now as you did 10 years ago? If not...then I would think that your example is not the direction that movie companies want to go to.

Plus music is an entirely different animal. MP3 Music has a ton of advantages over their CD counterpart.

1) Music you listen to over an over. - movies are watched 1-2 times

2) MP3s are much cheaper($0-$3) and a fast download

3) you can cherry pick the best songs off an album, instead of listening to what an artist really has to offer. It wouldnt make sense to buy the best three scenes of a movie.

4) Mobility. In my IS, I can put 2000 songs on one DL DVD... and I have a 6 Disc changer. Thats 12000 songs. You can put almost as many on an MP3 player. You listen to songs while you drive, while you workout, while at work. You shouldnt do any of those things while watching a movie.

The truth is, Movie downloads, have no practical advantage over physical disc other than instant gratification. Its not evenn cheaper, and downloads have many many more limitations. IE not portable, lower quality video and audio, less features, higher implemntation costs... etc.

The real question is... do you spend as much on music now as you did 10 years ago? If not...then I would think that your example is not the direction that movie companies want to go to.

Plus music is an entirely different animal. MP3 Music has a ton of advantages over their CD counterpart.

1) Music you listen to over an over. - movies are watched 1-2 times

2) MP3s are much cheaper($0-$3) and a fast download

3) you can cherry pick the best songs off an album, instead of listening to what an artist really has to offer. It wouldnt make sense to buy the best three scenes of a movie.

4) Mobility. In my IS, I can put 2000 songs on one DL DVD... and I have a 6 Disc changer. Thats 12000 songs. You can put almost as many on an MP3 player. You listen to songs while you drive, while you workout, while at work. You shouldnt do any of those things while watching a movie.

The truth is, Movie downloads, have no practical advantage over physical disc other than instant gratification. Its not evenn cheaper, and downloads have many many more limitations. IE not portable, lower quality video and audio, less features, higher implemntation costs... etc.


But for your average consumer they are perfectly fine with movie downloads. Otherwise Comcast On Demand wouldn't be growing as quickly as it has. Your average consumer is just getting in to 5.1. I had 5.1 in the 90's and I'm on my fourth 7.1 receiver since 2001. That is not the norm though. AVS doesn't represent the average consumer.

I watched The Invasion(HD) on Xbox Live Tuesday night and
Shoot 'Em Up(HD) on Xbox Live on Monday Night.
Each time as soon as I hit purchase it started downloading and in 20 seconds i could watch the movie. Then I was able to watch the entire movie without it having to stop to download more. This is how it always is when I download movies from Xbox Live. Even when I had a slow Comcast connection it worked the same way.

For noise my Elite 360, which I have in my main viewing area with the PS3, is the same loudness as my PS3 when watching movies. Both louder than I would like, but I can only hear them during quiet passages in the movies, and even then they aren't very noticeable.

As far as the price, it depends on how much you pay for your MS points. I usually pay between $12 and $16 for 1600 points since I usually buy them when they are on sale. The maximum price is $20 per 1600 but I've only paid that much a couple of times when I purchased it directly off Xbox lIve. I usually just wait for a sale and purchase my points then. Plus I always get a few thousand points for my Birthday and Christmas since I also use the MS points with my Zune Players.

From someone that obviously watches a lot of HD movies (via disc) how do you think the HD content on Xbox Live compares? I've yet to rent a movie, the prices are a little higher than I'd like to spend.. but I'm curious on how YOU think the quality is. I know the vids are 720p, but I only own a A2 which only does 1080i anyways. Thanks :)

I am looking into currently available HD video download services that provide a better option to purchasing and viewing HDM than Blu-Ray provides.

Can anyone here chime in about a currently available HD video download service that I can use to purchase HDM and view them?

The only service I know that lets you purchase movies is VUDU. Unfortunately, I don't want to wait 4 hours for my purchase to download before I can watch it. I also want to build a movie collection larger than 25 HDM titles, which is the maximum capacity for VUDU.

Please don't chime in about options that are not currently available. I don't have a time machine that whisks me to the future.

See Here. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1009754)

The only flamebait I'm seeing in here are the ones who are blu-ray fanboys trying to disprove download services. What is the point? Who cares? Go away.

There are many free services out there. I love MKV downloads, full 1080p res. I still buy the physical media to own the movie, but I am happy there are people out there who do the work for me, for free.

Yeah unfortunately right now it's called Torrent and the movie industry better offer a decent alternative to it before P2P does to the movie business what it's already done to the music biz.

We know these movie studio execs are going to be greedy and try to push another disc format while holding back digital distribution. This will end up becoming a boon for piracy. And then one day there'll be an entire generation of kids who think it's absurd to pay money for movies.

I'd rather watch my content legally.

I think the above mentioned services are already viable competition to HD rentals.

But due to DRM issues there doesn't yet seem to be any legal competitive download to own service. If they can't get that part worked out it may move completely to the dark net, torrents and news groups.

- Tom

Just to add my 2 cents, I have an XBOX360 and a DirecTV HD DVR, and I can download and watch movies on either one. (Albeit with a VERY limited selection of movies.)

Mike

I checked that out too.

HD movie rentals are $6

Rental period expires in 24 hours

Movies are 720p/DD5.1/no special features

Entire movie must be downloaded before playback (between 4-7GB per movie)

No movie purchase available; rental only

Playback only via X360

I have an XBOX 360; it is the noisiest consumer electronic device I own, and I have a "quiet" model.


Again, it's a rental only model, with the same limitations as XBLM. Playback/storage is limited to your cable set-top device, costs are just as high, quality is typically lower than XBLM VC-1.


The AppleTV is a flop. iTunes video downloads are strong because of the iPod, and are thus SD only.

You do not have to wait for the entire movie to download for HD movies on Xbox live. I can generally start watching the movie 5-10mins after the download starts. Of course I have a fast internet connection so perhaps that makes a difference.