HD movies and TV shows for xBox

[Diatribe]

Yep, Microsoft is offering HD content from multiple sutdios for the xBox. Link

And they even let you redownload things without additional cost.
Now where is Apple on this? This is one of the very few times where Microsoft could actually threaten Apple and surpass them in the digital media field...

 

[MisterMe]

...

And they even let you redownload things without additional cost.
Now where is Apple on this? ...

Apple will not be offering movie downloads for the Xbox

 

[Diatribe]

Apple will not be offering movie downloads for the Xbox

I don't know whether you're being sarcastical... but I really think this is a nice offering from MS and something Apple should consider doing for the iTMS because as it looks right now MS does have the better movie and TV offering by far.

 

[steve_hill4]

It certainly has come straight out of nowhere. There is a price difference though. iTV will be $299 and to get this service through your XBox 360, you need to drop at least another $100. More if you want the HD-DVD, but that would put it well ahead of Apple. You do get a games console for that though.

As i said in a topic on this in MacBytes yesterday, would be interesting to see if the PS3 responds. Considering the tv and movie studios and record companies that Sony own, it would certainly then appear to be heading back towards their favour.

 

[Frisco]

Apple certainly new something like this was coming from MS. That's why Steve previewed the iTV at the last Apple Special Event. He wanted to get the idea out first.

 

[Diatribe]

Apple certainly new something like this was coming from MS. That's why Steve previewed the iTV at the last Apple Special Event. He wanted to get the idea out first.

Well they better hurry then and get more studios in the boat and up the resolution, just having the iTV won't do **** if they don't do the two former.

 

[MisterMe]

Well they better hurry then and get more studios in the boat and up the resolution, just having the iTV won't do **** if they don't do the two former.

I know the sky is falling and all, but chill. An Apple reflexive response to Microsoft's announcement is not only unnecessary, but it would also be stupid. Even with H.264 compression, high-definition movies will take a long time to download for most prospective customers. Even with fairly high-speed broadband, you will be able to go out and shop at several video stores for your favorite movie before your download is complete. Many customers will order movies from Netflx and accept receipt of them while waiting for their HD downloads to complete.

Neither the iPod nor the iTunes Music Store were first out of the gate. Yet, they both dominate their market categories. It is much more important that Apple do it right than do it first.

 

[Diatribe]

I know the sky is falling and all, but chill. An Apple reflexive response to Microsoft's announcement is not only unnecessary, but it would also be stupid. Even with H.264 compression, high-definition movies will take a long time to download for most prospective customers. Even with fairly high-speed broadband, you will be able to go out and shop at several video stores for your favorite movie before your download is complete. Many customers will order movies from Netflx and accept receipt of them while waiting for their HD downloads to complete.

Neither the iPod nor the iTunes Music Store were first out of the gate. Yet, they both dominate their market categories. It is much more important that Apple do it right than do it first.

Part of doing it right is to actually have the offering and only having Disney just doesn't cut it in the long run.

 

[ftaok]

Not to be argumentative with anyone, but here's my take.

The beauty of downloading movies is that you don't have to go to a video store or wait for the mail (or UPS/FedEx) to deliver you a disc. While not instantaneous, d/l movies means you don't have to worry about the store (or Netflix) not having the latest release because everyone else in your area wants to watch the same movie. Plus you don't have the hassle of having to return the disc.

As for downloading speeds, yeah, right now it's a bit of a downer. TV shows and iTMS movies take a long time for most people to download. It'll get better eventually, but it's probably the biggest "minus" for downloading movies.

Rental vs. Buy - I prefer to rent. I will typically watch a movie once or twice and be done with it. Certain movies, however, I want to own. So I'd like to see both options available.

HD vs. SD - not everyone will admit it, but HD is coming and it's coming fast. I had been holding out for a long time, but we finally took the plunge to HD and it's awesome. The only downside is the lack of HD programming for cheapos like me. I currently only get the local HD channels and UHD from my cable company. I got a TV that has a QAM tuner, so I pick up any digital and/or HD channel that isn't encrypted. No extra charges for Digital Cable, cable box, etc. So that means 8 HD channels only. I'd love to have downloadable HD content, even if it's only 720p compressed to 5GB (for 2 hours).

X-Box vs iTV - I like both. I like the iTV based on what's been leaked/disclosed. The ability to stream media from my Macs is great. I don't have any iTMS movies yet, but I'm guessing it would look like crap on my HDTV. The X-Box 360 with the d/l HD movies sound great, but I was really looking at getting a PS3. Maybe Sony will jumble up the mess with their own Movie Store for the PS3. I think this will all shake out in the end and my vision is that everyone will offer HD Movies and TV Shows for downloading and that movies will be for rent/buy and TV shows for buy only.

ft

 

[MisterMe]

Not to be argumentative with anyone, but here's my take.

...

ft

There is no misunderstanding about what downloading means or its potential for convenience. But the potential for convenience is not the same as convenience itself. For most broadband subscribers, the time required for the contents of a DVD to download is anything but convenient. Admitted my Internet at work is slower than my ISP at home, but it illustrates my point. It recently required me about 6 hours to download Xcode (< 1 GB). A DVD is 4.7 GB or more. At this download rate, I could have driven to Blockbusters, rented several videos, returned home, watched them all, and returned them to the store before the contents of a DVD finished downloading.