April
9
Best Movie Downloads
Cinematech ranks the best movie download services, the ones most likely to succeed in the digital distribution future:
1. iTunes Store
The big dog. Works for both Mac and PC users, and as of January 2007, had sold 50 million TV shows and 1.5 million feature films. New $299 Apple TV device makes it easy to wirelessly transfer iTunes content to a television and view it there. The negatives: no rentals (only download-to-own, at $9.99 and up), no way yet for indie producers to sell their content, no simple way to burn shows or movies from iTunes to a DVD. Also: only a few studios offer features on iTunes, including Disney, Paramount, and Lionsgate. Others have so far been reluctant to cut deals with Apple CEO (and Disney board member) Steve Jobs.
2. Amazon Unbox
Unlike iTunes, Amazon Unbox makes movies available for digital rental and purchase. Movies can be sent directly to an Internet-connnected TiVo device for viewing on a TV. While Unbox hasn’t yet built much momentum in the marketplace, Amazon has a built-in advantage over the other players on this list: hundreds of thousands of consumers already trust the company with their payment information, and have Amazon accounts already. Amazon can also make movie recommendations based on past purchases.
Indie producers can make their content available on Unbox using Amazon’s CustomFlix service, and keep 50 percent of the revenues. That makes Unbox the most “long tail”-friendly movie service. Among the studios offering features: 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, Universal, Paramount, Sony, MGM, and Warner Bros. Movies from Lionsgate, Sony, Warner Bros., and Fox. Works well with Windows-compatible portable devices like the Creative Zen Vision. PC only.
3. CinemaNowCinemaNow has been in the movie download business longer than most anybody else: since 1999. It helped pioneer technology to download a movie and then burn it to a DVD (more than 100 titles are now available, mostly older movies), and CinemaNow also hasn’t been prudish about offering “mature content,” working with porn providers like Vivid and Hustler. CinemaNow is the only service working with all six major Hollywood studios. Offers some movies for free, as ad-supported streams. Movies can get to TV with a Windows Media Center Edition PC, and to Windows-compatible portable players. PC only.
4. Vongo
Vongo is unique in offering an “all you can eat” movie service for a dirt-cheap $9.99 monthly fee. About 1000 movies are available at any given time, but some titles rotate in and out of inventory. Works with various Windows systems (Media Center Edition, Vista Ultimate, Xbox 360) to display content on a TV. Content can also be synced with Windows-friendly portable media players. Vongo also offers a live, streaming version of the Starz TV channel. Rental only, PC only.
5. Microsoft Xbox 360 Video Marketplace
Microsoft has sold more than 10 million of its Xbox 360 gaming consoles, as of December 2006. The video marketplace offers standard-def and high-def features from Warner Bros., Paramount, Lionsgate, and New Line. (As of April 2007, Xbox and CinemaNow are the only of these services offering movies in high-definition.) Rentals only; no download-to-own. High-def new release movies cost $6, and standard-def new releases cost $4. Since the gaming console is already connected to a TV, viewing on the big screen is a breeze.
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While it is true that the Xbox marketplace is rental only for movies, the service also includes television shows and video games which are for "ownership". You own the rights to the TV show/game and the use transfers with your Marketplace account and can be retrieved on any 360 logged on with your user account. Movies can only be used on the 360 which downloaded them.
The 360 also includes the ability to use CinemaNow if the user has a Media Center PC which interfaces with the 360.
It really is a neat machine. As for the prices. Babel in HD cost 480 Marketplace points which is the $6 you mentioned. I don't know why Microsoft is using the crazy Points system, which is the one disadvantage.
Microsoft just expanded their partnerships to include A&E, ADV, and National Geographic
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/news/2007/0328-movietvroster.htm
But what really makes the 360 Marketplace so appealing to me is the wide range of products, TV/Movies/and Games. In fact, the game I am most awaiting (Catan Online) will be a Marketplace exclusive and not available in stores.
Posted by: Christian Johnson | April 09, 2007 at 05:01 PM
All I'll say about the above is that folks considering using Amazon's Unbox solution really ought to read this first:
http://www.boingboing.net/2006/09/15/amazon_unbox_to_cust.html
Basically? If you install their software on your computer, they essentially own your computer. Oh, and all the movies you "purchase" from them, too. If that works for you, carry on!
Posted by: moerex | April 10, 2007 at 04:32 PM
If you are looking for great indie films, B-movies and shorts please check out http://www.hungryflix.com.
All content is DRM-free and MPEG4 compatible with iTunes, iPod and now Apple TV.
Posted by: Evan | April 13, 2007 at 07:38 PM