And so it begins: Amazon has launched their movie download page called Unbox and is offering a free television show – just to let n00bs get a handle on things – and TV episode downloads for about $1.99 and movies for about $15. Do the Right Thing, for example, is $36.
Each “purchase” gives you a DVD-quality video file and a Windows Media file for portable devices. It is currently Windows-only and movie rentals, which are cheaper, expire after 30 days.
Most notable, however, is that Amazon launched this before Apple. I know CinemaNow and a few other sites are offering downloads – goodie for them – but this is Amazon. For Amazon to make a play in the non-box-it-up-and-ship-it-out media is a very big deal. Get ready for some rough and tumble times in the movie industry.
Product Page [Amazon Unbox]
Amazon Unbox Goes Live [TechCrunch]
I’d rather stick with netflix or use alternative methods to get my tv shows and movies. What are the video files downloaded as?
The Amazon files are downloaded in a proprietary Amazon format and require the Amazon Video Player.
Regardless of Amazon or iTunes, I will never purchase a full-length film that I cannot burn to DVD at high-quality, especially at the same or nearly the same price. It seems these services are going to miss the mark and the use of BitTorrents are going to continue to propagate.
I have a “friend” that used to just burn movies straight from the dvd’s he got from netflix and then there is the use of bittorrents…why would anyone want to utilize this service? Maybe I’m a cheapskate, I mean my “friend” is a cheapskate. *shrug*
I agree with your point exactly.
Oh and BTW, Amazon files are Windows-friendly only. I suspect Apple will support both Mac and Windows since it has iTunes for both platforms, and of course, wants to reach the masses as with the iPod to get an early lead in the service. We’ll just have to wait for the super-fantastic-ultra-maximum-secret-special, Apple event on Sept. 12. Shhh…don’t tell anyone.
This whole DRM, RIAA, MPAA situation is just complicating a very viable service where lots of profits can be made but these folks are ubergreedy and are going to fade any real chances of its viability in the near future IMHO.
That’s cool, but we can download movie for free from different torrents p2p net.