It wasn’t that long ago, that Blockbuster semi-announced plans to enter the crowded realm of movie streaming devices and sure enough, here is the device. The 2Wire manufactured device, dubbed MediaPoint, doesn’t require a Blockbuster subscription and for a limited time is “available for free with the advance rental of 25 first-run movies, TV shows, foreign or classic films from Blockbuster On-Demand (previously Movielink) for $99″ So, in other words, the box is $99 and comes with 25 movie rentals. After the initial investment, the movies will cost between $1.99 and $3.99.
I still hold true to my original point that even though Blockbuster is entering the digital streaming world after Vudu and Apple TV, along with all the Netflix clowns of Roku, Xbox 360, TiVo, the LG Blu-ray player and Samsung Blu-ray player, don’t count Blockbuster out just yet.
MediaPoint has a great price and seems well equipped with both WiFi and Ethernet. There isn’t word on specific video resolutions just yet, but the player packs an HDMI port so high-def doesn’t seem out of the question.
More important than the technical capabilities of the player is the demographic. Chances are displays showing off the player’s capabilities will be shown in every Blockbuster and that’s the crowd that will want this box. Not the people shopping and purchasing DVDs at Best Buy and Wal-Mart where the other streamers are demo’d; those folks are buying for their movies at those stores.
Blockbuster holds the ace that these players will be demo’d to people that rent movies and there is a distinct difference. A good amount of the population still likes to own and display their movie collection and so digital downloads are foreign to that mindset. But a lot of Blockbuster fans couldn’t care less about showing off racks of DVDs and so a device that gives them everything they want – just to watch the movie – should be an easy sale.
Now, that’s not to say this thing won’t flop, ’cause it might thanks to the broadband requirement which a good amount of the U.S. population does not have, but Blockbuster might have a better chance than all the other options currently available though because of its established customer base.
Home Media Mag via Eng
The UI for the box is great and it seems to be capable of streaming content that isn’t in your Instant Queue (unlike the Netflix players, that I know of) but unfortunately I don’t use Blockbuster Online. Netflix is much better and seems to be a lot friendly to their customers than Blockbuster is.
its “couldn’t care less”
If you buy any of these “boxes,” you can’t shop around for movies nor can you surf the Internet. Why not just use the expensive box you already have – your computer? All you need is an inexpensive cable: PCTVCables.com
I tried Blockbusters Movielink online movie rental. Unfortunately a download is required and it crashed my computer. Cinema Now works great and is my top pick. Check out this free Incredible Hulk trailer. Be sure to click on the “full screen” button! http://www.cinemanow.com/wmp.aspx?skuid=333139&bitrate=700#
I am no fan of blockbuster or 2wire, but if they deliver as promised this could be great.
Curious why you referred to them as “clowns”?
I use Blockbuster Online and like it, especially the fact that I can exchange the mailed DVD for a free in-store rental. No need to wait 2 days to get the next movie in queue. Anyways, my question is, how is Netflix better? Price? Speed? Nicer logo? Why all the hate for Blockbuster?
If this box delivers good quality I will totally go for the $99 deal.
Blockbuster needs to start waking up on online movies offered. Because between HuHU.com and know YouTube sign contract with MGM show movies on their website. On my website you can check out YouTube seach easy to use just type in anything you will rec video on the search you put in. Just click on my name go directly to website.
“Netflix clowns”?!
I think you meant to say “Netflix clones”
GC
Nope, they are kind of funny. I meant what I wrote.
“… thanks to the broadband requirement which a good amount of the U.S. population does not have”
If this is like Blockbusters download service, it is progressive so even if you have less bandwidth than you need to stream, you still get the movie and the same video quality you get if you had alot of bandwith.
“… thanks to the broadband requirement which a good amount of the U.S. population does not have”
If this is like Blockbusters download service, it is progressive so even if you have less bandwidth than you need to stream, you still get the movie and the same video quality you get if you had alot of bandwith.
Last week I finally caved in and bought an Apple TV (after thinking about it for months).
I wish I’d bought one ages ago. My wife and kids can easily use the interface to watch TV shows, photos, podcasts and movies. We’ve also found purchasing and renting movies quite convenient: click “rent” and the movie is ready to watch (almost instantly).
I can see Blockbuster having an advantage in that they have existing retail stores from which to promote their new box. However, I think a lot of this is about how “cross-platform” a given solution is.
When I buy a movie on iTunes, it becomes available to my wife’s iPod, my iPhone, our home iMac, my work Macbook and our Apple TV. That makes it a convenient, and attractive, choice for homes that already own one more of those Apple products.
This kind of cross-platform functionality just isn’t there for the competition: Vudu, Roku, Xbox 360, TiVo, and Blockbuster.
Does the world need another box?
it’s stil cheap !
i think like t is if the box shows new & old released movies in hd & the load time is no more then 1 to 3 min being max time & the price for the box stays @ $99 & the movies @ $1.99 & $3.99 then why not… que viva blockbuster 4life!!!
Here is what I need
-plug into the HMDI or composite port on my HD TV
-have some kind of a remote
-have a pause button
-have some reasonable time period from when I start watching until I finish (a couple of days would be good)
-a reasonable selection
–I still have the blockbuster mail service to get
What I don’t need
-watch a movie on something smaller than my HD TV
I’m a Netflix subscriber, but can’t use their Roku box due to my slow 756kbps DSL connection. The fact that this box saves movies locally looks very attractive. And the price is good too.
However, being Blockbuster, they’ll find a way to wring the value out of the deal. I was a BB customer for a long time, using my free Rewards card to rent-one-get-one free (mostly older movies). Then, surprise, one day they told me that they “enhanced” their Rewards program and it now costs $24 per year, and the free rentals were limited! I haven’t been back since.
I just received it and installed it. I’m not happy with their new releases. I read almost every pre-review and what BB advertised on their site; that they’re different from the others by having the latest slection or newest releases. Well, after installing it and registering it, I beg to differ. I browsed through the selection and I found that the latest movies were not there…Tropic Thunder, Hell Boy and Dark Knight. I’m quite disappointed on the fact that I had Tropic Thunder and Hell Boy ready to ship on my Netflix Queue but canceled when I ordered this box. I guess I should have waited before cancelling my subscription with Netflix. My wife is kicking me in the ass as I’m typing! Ouch ouch ouch!!!
The only box Blockbuster needs is APPLEBOX!
Blockbuster – and no one else – can offer download movies at the same time DVDs are released at this time. DVDs will always be out in advance until someone is able to work a better deal with the studios. So, you can always get a movie quicker by getting a DVD. However, if you don’t care about waiting about three to four weeks to watch the latest movies, then this may be ok for you. With Netflix, I have been waiting about that long for many of the newest releases anyway since as soon as they come out most have a “long wait” in my queue.
Here in South Africa the price of bandwidth is so expensive, one of the most expensive in the world. 1 GB download will cost me about R200 ($20), added to this price and its far less money to pop in to the store and rent a movie for R15 ($1.5).