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+--- Thread: HDer than it looks!. . .Amazon launches HD movie/TV show rental. . . (/showthread.php?tid=76828)
HDer than it looks!. . .Amazon launches HD movie/TV show rental. . . - NewtonMP2100 - 04-22-2009
. . .HD. . .
Amazon launches HD movie rental, TV show sales
. . .Online retailer Amazon.com Inc. said Tuesday it is adding high-definition video to its on-demand service, offering consumers the ability to rent movies and purchase television episodes shown in HD.
"Our customers have been asking us for two things: HD and the ability to watch movies and TV shows instantly on their television," said Bill Carr, Amazon vice president of music and video, in a statement.
The Seattle-based company said it will add more than 500 HD TV shows and movies to its Amazon Video On Demand service. Titles are from major networks and studios like Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures and Showtime Networks, with new-release movie titles including "Twilight" and "Frost/Nixon" and TV shows such as "The Tudors" and "Smallville."
Customers can use Panasonic VIERA CAST-enabled HDTVs, the Roku digital video player, certain types of TiVo and the Sony Bravia Internet Video Link device to order and watch HD movies for $3.99 to $4.99 each. Television episodes are available for purchase at $2.99 each.
Customers also can buy the content to watch on their personal computers or download it for later viewing offline. . .
quality. . .not quantity. . .
Re: HDer than it looks!. . .Amazon launches HD movie/TV show rental. . . - Filliam H. Muffman - 04-22-2009
Premature announcement much? My first impression is that it is even worse than iTunes HD. There is no information about quality/resolution, connection requirements, and no listing of which movies are in HD.
Okay, there the mention of speed is hiding in the bottom of the TiVo FAQ:
"With a fast broadband connection (5Mbits/sec) a movie can download in about an hour, while a 1-hour TV episode can download in about 30 minutes. On a slower braodband [SP?] connection (less than 1Mbit/sec), a movie can take up to 5 hours."
Re: HDer than it looks!. . .Amazon launches HD movie/TV show rental. . . - Article Accelerator - 04-22-2009
Filliam H. Muffman wrote:
My first impression is that it is even worse than iTunes HD.
Worse than iTunes HD? What don't you like about it?
Re: HDer than it looks!. . .Amazon launches HD movie/TV show rental. . . - deckeda - 04-22-2009
Filliam H. Muffman wrote:
Okay, there the mention of speed is hiding in the bottom of the TiVo FAQ:
"With a fast broadband connection (5Mbits/sec) a movie can download in about an hour, while a 1-hour TV episode can download in about 30 minutes. On a slower braodband [SP?] connection (less than 1Mbit/sec), a movie can take up to 5 hours."
That's what I don't understand about the "appeal" of HD rentals, downloads or streams. Very few people actually have a fat Internet pipe at home. "Honey, we've got a new movie to watch tonight. Should be ready in about 5 hours. NO --- I promise, this is better than simply going down to the corner and coming back in 20 mins with a movie."
Cable's on-demand has little to worry about for quite a while either.
Re: HDer than it looks!. . .Amazon launches HD movie/TV show rental. . . - Article Accelerator - 04-22-2009
deckeda wrote:
That's what I don't understand about the "appeal" of HD rentals, downloads or streams. Very few people actually have a fat Internet pipe at home. "Honey, we've got a new movie to watch tonight. Should be ready in about 5 hours. NO --- I promise, this is better than simply going down to the corner and coming back in 20 mins with a movie."
Cable's on-demand has little to worry about for quite a while either.
I'm not sure how Amazon's service works but for me, HD rentals from the iTS via Apple TV are always available for viewing within 3 minutes after buying the rental. I have a 10 Mbps connection. Nothing is more convenient than that.
Re: HDer than it looks!. . .Amazon launches HD movie/TV show rental. . . - Filliam H. Muffman - 04-22-2009
deckeda wrote:
"...I promise, this is better than simply going down to the corner and coming back in 20 mins with a movie."
Ah, a paraphrase of "Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway" by Andrew S. Tanenbaum.
I have absolutely no problem with it taking time to download. Netflix is doing quite well with making people wait two or three days for the next DVD to show up. I would really consider buying something like a $200 Dell Vostro A90 to spool movies since it is cheaper than an Apple TV and is a nice complete basic computer as well.
Re: HDer than it looks!. . .Amazon launches HD movie/TV show rental. . . - Filliam H. Muffman - 06-02-2009
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http://forums.macresource.com/read.php?1,739543
Microsoft updates Xbox 360 to stream 1080p. Microsoft has sold about 12 million units in the US. This is a huge installed base.
If Netflix adds the option, I think the Apple TV will officially dead and iTunes video has some massive competition.
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