Blockbuster will deploy an in-store download service in the coming months. The program, initially available only in Dallas, will let consumers download movies onto a portable device in, as Blockbuster’s CEO James Keyes hopes, under 30 seconds. So far, only Archos-made portable media players are compatible with the as-yet unnamed service.
No details regarding what movie studios have signed up, but Keyes said he would love to have “everyone” on board. Okay, terrific.
While the technology itself seems fun enough, what benefit is it to me, exactly, to go to a brick-and-mortar store to download a movie when I can already do that from home, either on iTunes or some other service? Blockbuster will have to offer something above and beyond in order to get me to visit the video rental store again.
I think Blockbuster is simply taking advantage of the fact that this is one perk Netflix may have a difficult time duplicating. I doubt it’s intended to be the ultimate feature in movie rentals, but it may help someone who hasn’t chosen a provider make a choice between going with Netflix or Blockbuster.
Personally, I think it’s a nice idea since I have at least 4 or 5 Blockbuster locations within 10 miles of where I live. Although it’s unlikely I would ever make a trip out to one of these locations just to download a movie, i CAN imagine myself making a pit stop while running errands or at a neighboring store simply because it’s convenient. Then whaddya know, Blockbuster got me into one of their stores and browsing their overpriced candybars and used video games and movies.
The advantage is, it only takes 30 seconds to transfer a movie to your Archos once it is docked on this Blockbuster movie kiosk thing. There is going to be tens of thousands of titles available, many more then are possible to put on the shelves of a normal store. Also, you can load 200 movies on your 160GB Archos and you can then sit back with a $10 Blockbuster unlimited movies subscription and watch them legally whenever you want.
So basically this kiosk will have terrabytes of movies connected to it and are transfered to your Archos that has or hasn’t got a screen (see the $100 Archos Moovyplay device currently sold in France, comes with 40GB (or any other 2.5″ hard drive), a TV-output docking station and an easy< to use remote, has no screen and no battery to lower the cost.) Advantage of the Archos Moovyplay is that it comes with the complete 10-thousand catalog so that you can browse all of it on your TV, many of them have the trailer pre-loaded on the device, then you make your “Wish-list” on your TV from home, then when you arrive to the kiosk you just plug it in and it will grab 40 movies in one time without you needing to do anything, you don’t even need to pay upfront. Especially if you are not using an “Unlimitted movies” subscription, then you can pay to unluck each movie using an SMS code.
And of course, no need to return the movie when you have finished watching it.
Whats the point to have 1000s on a drive? go to the web site, select from their catalog and view on line …and I don’t have to leave my lounge. This is technology that should have been out years ago. They have missed the window of opportunity and I don’t see this lasting much past….umm say Wednesday next week, and now I have to by an Archos?