In spite of the slick demo we got from Steve Jobs last week, this is why neither I nor anyone else should rent movies from Apple or Microsoft right now:
First, it's too restrictive. Having only 24 hours to watch a movie once you hit play is going to kill it right there. People have lives. Sometimes that means that you cannot sit down and watch a movie straight through. It also gets you on the 'oops' factor. Hit "Play Now" even just to verify the download is okay and ready to go, and you've just started your 24 hour clock. Better budget some time or kiss the money goodbye, pal!
Second, it's not portable. Oh yes, I heard what Jobs said. I can move movies from iTunes or Apple TV to my iPod Touch. Great. Unfortunately, I cannot have my cake and eat it too. If I rent an HD version of the video, then I cannot copy it to my iPod. However, if I rent the DVD version, I cannot watch it in High Definition. This stinks. A license to rent a movie should cover that movie in whatever resolution/device I want to see it. I should not have to rent a movie twice in order to see it at its best on both devices.
Third, how is this in any way superior to NetFlix? I've seen Netflix's demise written of many times by supposedly respectable reporters. But how could this be when you drop from 1080p HD quality movies to 720p movies, you lose things like lossless audio, all the extras, and of course the fact that you can keep the movie AS LONG AS YOU DARN WELL LIKE with NetFlix for no extra charge, and go through movies as quickly or as slowly as you like?
All this, for the convenience of immediate downloads. Now don't get me wrong, I love instant gratification, but knowing that my purchase is not portable in its best formats, only is good for 24 hours once someone even STARTS it, and loses many of the best features of high definition video just doesn't do it for me.
Even if you're not a High Definition lover and you're fine with DVD quality movies, what about that stupid 24 hour limit? It's just not happening. Apple TV and XBox Marketplace video rentals do not compete properly with NetFlix until they find a way to extend the rental period past 24 hours. Heck, even the 'old' days of Blockbuster you could rent for 3 days and watch as many times as you liked during that period. Is it me, or are we going BACKWARDS?
Clearly the Movie Industry is behind these limits, and they are still trying to accomplish their financial goals by clubbing us over the heads with their property rights. And then they wonder why they aren't making any money and why piracy is so rampant.
Clue to the Movie Studios: Stop treating us so poorly, and you will get more of our money. It really IS that simple. And as far as Apple's shiny new Apple TV, in my opinion, it's just sugar coated pill that masks the continued ugliness of the behavior of movie studios, trying to manipulate us all.
Randy
Saturday, January 19, 2008
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3 comments:
I agree that 24 hours is too short but 48 hours is plenty - let's face it if you don't watch all of it the first time you download the movie, you have about a 10% chance of EVER finishing it.
As for 720p vs 1080p, I completely disagree - all the pundits are saying that it's hard to tell the difference between the two. When you then consider that 1080p probably doubles the download size, it's a no brainer. BTW, have you ever seen a 1080p display that doesn't flicker?!
Nice blog. Keep up the good work. Cheers:-)
Thanks, Marylin. I generally think of my blog as venting therapy. I have no idea if anyone ever actually sees anything, but I still feel better getting things off my chest. If it makes another person go "amen", so much the better!!
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