Updated on October 24 to reflect that Hulu has released this feature for Android devices.

Hulu recently joined the ranks of streaming services that let you download content to watch when you’re offline. This is good news for people who travel or don’t otherwise have ubiquitous high-speed connectivity (i.e., mostly everyone). But there’s a catch. Multiple catches, actually.

Some Customers

First, not everyone qualifies. To take advantage of Hulu’s new download feature, you need to be a $12/month ad-free subscriber. This pretty much excludes anyone using Hulu in a bundle with some other service (e.g., Disney+, Spotify, etc.).

Some Titles

If you’re looking to download the latest episode of This Is Us for a private ugly cry in your hotel room, you’re out of luck—you’ll have to pick an older episode. Similarly, you can’t download current episodes of The Good Place or any episodes of South Park. But you can download older episodes of some. And some current episodes.

Some kids’ content is downloadable, which may be a nice way to ensure you have some shows for the little ones to watch on your wilderness getaway. And some movies. Again…just some of them. Bottom line: It’s too, unnecessarily confusing, just like Hulu’s episode availability and windowing practices. (Blame licensing.)

Some Devices

You rocking the latest Windows tablet or convertible? Well, you’re probably out of luck. Hulu has released the downloading feature on its iOS apps for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad and for Android phones and tablets. Don’t expect to see this feature on Windows any time soon…or at all.

…for Some Time

And, of course, there are even further limits on when and how you can watch these downloaded bits. Hulu downloads expire 30 days after you download them. You’ll need to re-download if you haven’t already watched them by then. Once you start watching something, you have 48 hours to complete it. Otherwise it expires. So don’t expect to start something in the car on your weekend getaway and finish it a few days later on the way back home.

We love seeing services make their content more readily available to customers, so this is generally a good thing. We just wish Hulu downloads didn’t have to come with so many catches. Any content, any place, any device—why is that so hard?

If you’re confused about what you can download when and where, you can review Hulu’s FAQs about the new feature.

The post Hulu Now Lets Some Customers Download Some Titles on Some Devices appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

Apple announced earlier this week that Samsung and other manufacturers will support AirPlay 2 on their TVs. We now know that those other manufacturers are LG, Sony, and Vizio. Samsung will include the feature in its 2019 TVs and provide an update that adds it to existing 2018 models. LG and Sony will include it in their 2019 models, and Vizio will offer the most broad backward compatibility, with support on some models back to 2016!

AirPlay 2 will allow consumers with Apple devices to easily “cast” content—both audio and video—to their TVs. It should also allow you to use external speakers, like a HomePod or a newer Sonos device, to listen to the sound for that content through remote speakers around the home.

Sony, LG, and Vizio will also support HomeKit, though it’s unclear exactly what that will mean. It may just be for voice control through Siri, or it could entail additional functionality that Apple has yet to reveal.

Additionally, Samsung announced at its CES press conference that its 2018 and 2019 smart televisions will sport a new iTunes Movies and TVs app. Many outlets are reporting that “Samsung TVs will have iTunes.” No. That’s not what this is. This is better…simpler.

When you see it lined up with all of the other streaming services, it makes sense. You’ll be able to access the iTunes marketplace to play movies and TV shows. This includes purchases you’ve made from iTunes. So if you’ve been buying or redeeming movies or shows through Apple, now you have another way of watching them on your biggest screen without needing an Apple TV device.

Why does this matter? We know that Apple is planning some original content that will be exclusive to its own services. This will help Apple extend the reach of its new shows.

Keep an eye on all of our CES 2019 coverage right here.

The post Apple Makes Some Noise at CES appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

We’ve been watching and reporting on PlayOn for years now, all the way back to the Windows Media Center days when inventive developers built (unofficial) plug-ins to bring PlayOn’s services to your home’s big screen (though in all reality, the screens probably weren’t so big back then). PlayOn has grown and evolved over the years, but their core service of recording and archiving streaming content lives on and has expanded into mobile and cloud-based offerings. To be honest, every time we talk about PlayOn, we scratch our collective heads a bit and wonder, “but how is this le—” …never mind. They say it is, and they’re still here, so let’s just get into it.

Earlier this Fall, PlayOn introduced a new offering, PlayOn Cloud Storage, which supplements their current PlayOn Cloud service. PlayOn Cloud lets consumers record programming from select video services using their Android or iOS mobile devices. Unlike the now-named PlayOn Desktop, you don’t need to install anything in your home. With PlayOn Cloud, the recording and playback all happen in the cloud.

PlayOn Cloud, however, is oddly disconnected from PlayOn Desktop. If you run PlayOn Desktop on a home PC somewhere, you’ll notice they don’t interact or integrate at all. Your desktop files stay on your local PC, while PlayOn Cloud recordings stay in the cloud. Which is fine, unless you want to keep your cloud recordings around for a while. PlayOn Cloud recordings go away after 30 days. You can download them to your mobile device or, through a rather cumbersome email process, to your desktop.

Enter PlayOn Cloud Storage. This pay-as-you-go storage option lets you keep your PlayOn recordings in the cloud for as long as you’d like. Plans start at just under $5/month for around 80 hours of HD storage, going up to about $20 for around 1600 hours of HD storage—enough for nearly any digital hoarder. Each monthly plan also includes additional recording credits that can be used within the month—about one for every dollar spent—which you’d typically purchase in bulk from PlayOn for 20 cents apiece. These credits just help keep you topped off.

PlayOn Cloud’s channel offering continues to grow, now including all of the major networks and PBS, the major streaming services [bring your own subscription], and several service providers’ content, including Charter and DirectTV Now. If you’re looking for a mobile-first DVR solution without any home-based server or storage requirements, PlayOn Cloud’s Storage solution might just be perfect for you.

The post PlayOn Cloud Storage = Cloud DVR appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

As it’s known to do, Microsoft later abandoned the Zune product line and re-branded the Zune services as Xbox Music, and then again as Groove Music. By this point, the music service wasn’t just limited to its own platforms but also offered apps for iOS and Android phones in addition to Windows-based PCs, tablets, phones, and the Xbox game console.

This Space is Crowded

Apple has been selling digital music online far longer than most and was the first digital music marketplace to overtake music sales on physical media. Spotify is the 1,000 lb gorilla in the market as the leading subscription-based streaming service in many countries. Google and Amazon are also in the game with their own stores and services, and now Apple’s newer streaming service is already in second place behind Spotify.

Was it all just too much for Microsoft to compete? Apparently so. Microsoft is officially pulling the plug on Groove, ending digital music sales (now in the Windows Store) and shuttering its now-named Groove Music Pass streaming service at year’s end on December 31, 2017.

Microsoft is working with Spotify to allow current Groove Music Pass customers to migrate their music collections and playlists to the industry leader’s own service. Customers will be get a reimbursement for any portion of their Groove Music Pass they paid for that remains unused by the end of the year.

While Groove never received the popular attention and audience of other streaming services, it had amassed something of an avid, albeit small, fan base—much like Zune in its day. Groove had some nice features and visualizations and serves those steeped in the Microsoft entertainment ecosystem well. But Microsoft has bounced the product around so much—switching up branding, lagging on core features, and lacking in the catalog breadth offered by other services.

What’s Next?

Over the years, Microsoft has struggled in the home entertainment space, abandoning more initiatives than we can possibly recount—media players, DVRs, …even an entire production studio—leaving a trail of neglected software and services in its wake, including Media Player, PlaysForSure, Internet TV, Zune software, Windows Media Center, and now the Groove app. In this case, the Groove app will continue to function, but only for “local” or downloaded music on your device or stored in your personal OneDrive space.

Despite our obvious slant toward and interest in Microsoft entertainment technology (you do listen to Entertainment 2.0, right?), we’ve long wondered why Microsoft was in some of these markets. Take Movies + TV for example. Is there enough of a base purchasing or renting video from Microsoft that it’s worth maintaining that section of its digital marketplace, or is that going to be the next casualty? Curiously, Microsoft recently ended its partnership with Disney Movies Anywhere, which may have been an early sign of the next impending demise.

Whatever happens next, we know that Groove Music will go largely unnoticed in the market, but those who embraced and enjoyed the service will likely miss it. If you identify with that group, just don’t forget to download your music purchases before the end of the year—online digital media is ephemeral.

The post How Microsoft Lost Its Groove appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

The web of ownership and transfers is a bit complicated here, but Warner brothers sold Flixster to Fandango in early 2016. Fandango quickly spun out the UltraViolet redemption and viewing service into Flixster Video, separating it from Flixster’s movie discovery and recommendation service. Around the same time, Fandango also acquired UltraViolet partner M-GO, rebranding it as FandangoNow, leaving Fandango with two UltraViolet properties. Warner Brothers retained some equity ownership in Flixster, while Fandango is owned by NBCUniversal.

As of August 28, 2017, the Flixster Video site and apps now display a service notice and FAQs that, curiously, blame the shut-down on “circumstances beyond our control related to the unexpected shutdown of a critical vendor.” Realistically, this consolidation was inevitable. What’s curious, however, is that while the FAQs mentions FandangoNow as an alternative, they’re clearly promoting and directing customers to VUDU to continue accessing their Ultraviolet library content. Coincidentally, we’d argue that VUDU probably offers the best UltraViolet service among all the participating vendors.

Were you a Flixster Video customer, and if so, are you sorry to see it go? Share your thoughts and future UltraViolet plans in the comments.

The post Flixster Shutters UltraViolet Movie Service appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

Walmart’s VUDU streaming service has launched its first app for the Apple TV. The app arrives over ten years since the launch of the Apple TV, almost as many years since VUDU’s introduction, and almost six years since the introduction of the industry’s UltraViolet digital copy service. Notably, even though it’s this late into the game, this is the first UltraViolet service to grace the screen of the Apple TV, finally bringing many consumers’ Digital Copy titles to one platform.

Despite all the industry excuse-making about how VUDU probably wasn’t on Apple TV because Apple would demand a fee for purchases, Walmart took the approach that savvy pundits had anticipated all along—excluding any of the features that allow you to purchase or rent titles. Instead, the app allows you to watch the titles in your collection (including your UltraViolet titles), watch its ad-infused free titles, and add titles to your Wishlist. This is pretty similar to the related iOS app for phones and tablets. Unfortunately, your VUDU titles are not yet included in Apple TV’s universal search or integrated TV app.

Amazon has announced plans to release its Apple TV app for Amazon Video later this year, and they’re expected to take the same approach. At that point, the Apple TV will be one of the only devices where you can access your digital content from nearly all major online services, including Google (via your YouTube account) and iTunes itself.

Now about that UltraViolet Common File Format….

The post VUDU Brings UltraViolet to Apple TV…6 Years Later appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

MediaMall Technologies, the company behind our favorite PlayOn and PlayOn Cloud products has recently released Roku channels to allow program viewing on your television screen. Lean-back viewing has been the big missing piece for PlayOn, and this finally fills that gap. The new PlayOn Cloud channel lets you watch the shows that you’ve recorded on your PlayOn Cloud account, including automatic commercial skipping. The oddly-named PlayOn Desktop channel (considering it’s an app on a streaming device), lets you watch streaming video from any configured source via PlayOn Desktop, assuming that’s running on a PC somewhere on your home network.

Why Two?

The fact that there are two separate channels just further reinforces the odd separation between these two services. We’ve always found it strange that PlayOn Cloud is so clearly separate from the PlayOn Desktop. Why aren’t these two products more closely integrated? And, perhaps more importantly, why aren’t they at least integrated into the same front-end experience, where the app sees your cloud and/or desktop services and just lets you select between them?

We’ve always been fans of the PlayOn service, and we’re glad to see it finally hit the (at-home) big screen, but the release of two separate apps just further reinforces this service as a hardcore geek offering. And maybe that’s where they want to be, because…we’re still scratching our heads, trying to figure out how this is all legal.

The post PlayOn Offers New Roku Channels appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

Here at the DMZ we’re a little obsessive when it comes to watching high quality video. In fact, just this morning while waiting for my coffee, I wondered what ever happened to the Amazon Video app for the Xbox One S that supported 4K and HDR. Apparently Microsoft and Amazon were reading my caffeine-deprived mind, because later in they day they finally released an updated app.

The new Amazon Video app doesn’t look significantly different, but the video quality is greatly improved for some content. You can now watch Amazon Originals such as The Man in the High Castle and Patriot in Ultra High Definition with High Dynamic Range (HDR) video. If you already have the app installed it should have updated automatically. If you were holding off until you could enjoy 4k, head to the store and get the app for free.

If you’re a frequent user of the Amazon Video app you may not notice a difference at first. If you select Originals from the main menu on the left you’ll see many titles, including Bosch, Patriot, The Man in the High Castle, and Manchester by the Sea, all have a UHD badge in the corner of the poster. If you select a show you’ll also see a badge for HDR on many of the shows. This is the best way to find content in 4k with HDR. If you simply search for a show, like Patriot, it will typically only show you the 1080p version. We don’t understand why there are multiple versions of shows and movies in the catalog, but it’s something you should keep an eye out for.

Now the Xbox One allows you to watch 4k UHD Blu-ray discs, along with offering 4k content from Netflix, VUDU, and Amazon. How is it working out for you? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Xbox Wire

The post Amazon 4K UHD with HDR Arrives on Xbox One S appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

PlayOn Cloud expands on the idea of PlayOn Plus, but removes the requirement of having an always-on computer. You can still use it to schedule recordings of your favorite online movies and television shows, but instead of being stored on your computer they are stored in PlayOn’s cloud.

Currently PlayOn Cloud is an iOS app that runs on iPhones, iPads, and IPod Touch devices. They have plans to release an Android version soon. The app itself is free, but you have to pay for each recording. Doing so is as simple as $0.99 in-app purchase.

You can schedule shows you like to automatically be recorded as they become available. Once you’ve recorded something it can be easily downloaded to your device for offline playback. So if you have a long flight coming up you can easily record a few TV shows and sync them to your iPad ahead of time.

While this functionality sounds an awful lot like today’s Netflix announcement, the major difference is that PlayOn supports dozens of video sources including Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and HBO. If you want to try it out for yourself, head on over to the App Store and install it. We’d love to hear how it works out for you!

Source: PlayOn Blog

The post Record Online Video Without a Computer Using PlayOn Cloud appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

Usually when we’re discussing Plex, it’s in the context of managing video content. But Plex is also great for accessing your other media, too, including music and photos. The latest update to Plex, version 1.3.0.3059, includes some significant improvements to photo libraries. First, the updated web app gets a much-improved photo viewing experience, including full integration of your home videos, which used to be relegated to a separate library. The photo import process has also been improved, now 3 times faster than in prior releases.

The real magic, though, is held for Plex Pass subscribers. Plex Pass now unlocks advanced automatic photo tagging. Based on a trusted, third-party machine learning analysis, Plex can apply keyword tags to your photos based on what’s in the images. If you’ve ever tried to find a photo you’ve taken amongst likely thousands of other digital images, you’ll appreciate the convenience this affords. And your original photographs are not altered in any way—the tags exist in your Plex library. To enable automatic tagging, edit your photo library settings, and choose Automatically tag my photos in the Options tab.

Plex Pass subscribers also have the ability to automatically upload photographs taken on their Android, iOS, Windows and Windows Phone devices, allowing for centralized local storage of photos taken on nearly all devices in your household.  And of course all Plex users can search on tags through Plex’s iOS, Android, and web apps.

Plex’s announcement of these features hints at additional improvements to come. We hope this includes improved 10-foot photo browsing on streaming devices and TVs.

Note to DVR beta users: If you’re using a beta version of Plex to try out its new DVR capabilities, you should not update to new versions of Plex as they’re released. Doing so will remove all DVR features. DVR users will need to wait until the DVR features are rolled into the main product before they can take advantage of these and other enhancements and fixes in Plex.

Source: Plex Blog

The post Plex Adds Photo Library Improvements appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

Microsoft made a joint announcement with Netflix to state that Microsoft Edge is the only browser capable of displaying Netflix videos in 4k. Edge, the browser that first launched with Windows 10, is the default browser in the operating system. Microsoft Edge got off to a rocky start when it was initially unveiled. Back then it was a very bare-bones browser, and it’s had to deal with the mental baggage from users linking it to the browser it replaced: Internet Explorer. However, Edge has many of the same web rendering features of its competitors, and it’s started to pick up other major features, like extensions, this year too. Microsoft is surely hoping that these features, along with better battery consumption, aided by 4k Netflix exclusivity will help to grow its market share.

Of course you’ll need more than just Microsoft Edge to enjoy 4k Netflix videos in your browser. You’re also going to need a monitor that supports the resolution, and one of the latest 7th generation Intel Core processors. You’ll also need to subscribe to the top-tier offering from the streaming video provider. In the United States that means paying $11.99/month for the 4 Screens + Ultra HD plan. While these are certainly some hefty requirements in November of 2016, many people are purchasing new computers this holiday season. Within a few months, 7th-gen Core processors will be far more common in the average computer. Let us know if you’re looking forward to streaming 4k content with Edge in the comments below.

Source: Microsoft

The post 4k Netflix Comes Exclusively to Microsoft Edge appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

While Dish Network’s press conference at CES this year lacked the polish and energy (and swag) of years past, there was no lack of news from the team responsible for one of our favorite video platforms. We’ve already posted about the new HopperGO device and Sling TV updates coming later this year. But the big news from Dish was the latest-generation Hopper 3.

The Hopper 3 is a significant revision of the Hopper home entertainment platform, including built-in support for UHD TVs and content. It will introduce new content service options offering 4K, a total of 16 actual tuners (no Prime Time Anytime tuner math here), a new 4-up “sports bar” mode that displays four HD channels simultaneously, and an updated processor to power it all that’s seven times faster than the silicon in the Hopper 2. And of course, the new box features the much-improved new Dish UI.

New 4K content options will include partnerships with Sony Pictures and the addition of Netflix and YouTube. This will bring 4K movies, shows, and videos to the new Hopper 3 and any of up to 6 connected “Joey” extenders. 4K content access will require an Ultra HD TV connected to either the Hopper 3 itself or a 4K Joey. A new universal search capability will make it easier to find content across your subscribed channels and these services.

Now you may be asking excitedly, in a raised voice, “SIXTEEN TUNERS?” Yep. Sixteen tuners. The intent is to just eliminate the need to worry about conflicts in a system with multiple extenders. Even with seven separate, active shows between the Hopper and six extenders and a few additional recordings at the same time, it’s unlikely anyone will need to worry about tuner conflicts.

Our favorite feature of this new box is the new Sports Bar Mode for Ultra HD TVs. This feature will use your TV’s full screen to display a grid of four full HD channels at full resolution and simultaneous motion. This is not like the jerky channel preview offered by some cable providers. You get to choose the channels, and you can easily decide which channel has audio and switch any of the channels to full screen. Think Sunday game day, weather/emergency/event reporting, or even election night.

Hopper 3 will be available in early 2016 to new customers and as an replacement for qualified existing customers at no additional cost.

The post Hopper 3 Brings 4K and a TON of Tuners appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

Earlier this week Mr. Davis issued a post with instructions for fixing the missing Netflix plugin in Windows Media Center. The fix involved downloading a copy of the plugin that he had found on a machine that had not been updated after the official removal on September 15th. At the DMZ, we’re not big fans of software being distributed by those who don’t own the license. We discussed that on the latest episode of Entertainment 2.0, and Davis heard our concerns.

Davis updated his post to include a new solution. The new download attempts to find the files needed by the Netflix plugin on your machine. It seems that sometimes the update doesn’t fully clean up after itself, and his process can find the old files and restore them. This new option should ease concerns of those who didn’t like the idea of downloading Microsoft software from a non-licensed entity.

While both of these options for restoring the Netflix plugin should help users right now, it’s not known how long they will continue to work. This plugin uses the Silverlight-based video streams, and Netflix has been migrating most of their apps to use HTML5 instead. When Netflix finally pulls the plug on Silverlight this Windows Media Center plugin will almost certainly break.

The good news is that Davis is working on a brand new Netflix plugin for Media Center users. It will be based off of Netflix’s HTML5 sources, so it won’t be left out to dry when the Silverlight feeds go away. He’s also going to handle authentication differently than how he does with his AmazonMCE plugin. The Netflix plugin will just be hosting the browser version of Netflix inside of Windows Media Center. This means you won’t be providing the app developer with your login credentials. (Update: This was worded poorly. As the developer noted in the comments below, AmazonMCE doesn’t provide the developer with your Amazon credentials. Some people have concerns over providing credentials through third-party apps though. This won’t be a concern with the Netflix plugin that he is developing. Our apologies for misconstruing how AmazonMCE handles authentication.) Of course the website doesn’t currently support remote controls, and having remote control support is critical in a Media Center plugin. That’s the main area where Davis is focusing his attention. Hopefully he finds a way for us to sign in to the Netflix site once, and then use a remote control for the rest of experience.

While the news is somewhat mixed, at least there are options for Windows Media Center users who still want access to Netflix content. Keep an eye on the DMZ for any further developments.

The post Short and Long-Term Fixes for Netflix in Windows Media Center appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

If you’re someone who loves Disney, Pixar, and Star Wars, you’re in luck. Beginning this week, you have the option to connect a Disney Movies Anywhere account to your Microsoft account. What this does is allow you to watch Disney Movies Anywhere content from any device/service that’s connected. Specifically, you’ll be able to watch from your Microsoft devices, even if you purchase Disney films from iTunes or Google Play or in-store.

How does it work exactly? When you purchase a Disney movie that is eligible for this program, that film is added to a Disney account. You can purchase films digitally (via Xbox, Windows, iTunes, Amazon, etc.) or in-store. When you purchase them in-store, you’ll be given a code that you enter, which then unlocks your film for the Disney Movies Anywhere feature. By syncing Disney Movies Anywhere with all of your other accounts (from Xbox/Windows to Google to Amazon to Apple), you’ll have a cloud collection of Disney content that you can use anywhere, anytime. You won’t be locked into one particular ecosystem.

Better yet, if you connect a service to your Disney Movies Anywhere account soon, you’ll get the Disney/Pixar film Monsters, Inc. for free. One thing you’ll notice is that while Star Wars films are part of this program, Chapter IV: A New Hope isn’t available because 20th Century Fox still owns the rights for that film. The other five in the series will appear in your collection if they’re in your Disney movies library.

When you’re ready to get this ball rolling, visit the Disney Movies Anywhere site and get started.

The post Microsoft “Movies & TV” Syncs With Disney Movies Anywhere appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

Mr. Robot

This last week was scheduled to have been the airing of the season finale, and with the way the season was going there were many fans waiting on pins and needles to see it. USA decided to postpone the showing though, and it seems as though they made the tough decision for the right reasons.

Last Wednesday morning there was a horrible incident in Virginia where a reporter and cameraman lost their lives to a shooter on live television. Apparently the finale of Mr. Robot has a scene which is similar to last week’s tragedy. USA released a statement in which they said:

“The previously filmed season finale of Mr. Robot contains a graphic scene similar in nature to today’s tragic events in Virginia,”

This was absolutely the right thing for USA to do, but there could be one small for the millions of fans of the show. Their DVR’s almost certainly think that they have recorded the finale of Mr. Robot already. That means that when the finale actually airs, September 2, many DVR’s will view the episode as a rerun.

If you’re a fan of Mr. Robot, you should double check that your DVR is set to record it come Wednesday night.

The post Mr. Robot Finale Delayed — Fix Your DVR appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

This is an editorial opinion by Digital Media Zone editor Richard Gunther

With great hoopla, Lucasfilm has released the Star Wars movies as digital downloads. All six movies are now available for purchase individually or as a collection. Sure, they’re the special editions, where effects and scenes have been “enhanced,” like the controversial who-shot-first scene with Han and Greedo, but the real offense is that Star Wars may be the perfect poster child for the licensing rights issues that create unnecessary and unacceptable confusion for consumers.

As we all know by now, Disney purchased Lucasfilm, including its back-catalog of titles, like the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. So it would follow that Disney would now release the films again before the highly anticipated sequel comes out later this year, right? Not so fast. Disney does not own the distribution rights to the original Star Wars movie, now known as Star Wars: A New Hope. 20th Century Fox does. And rather than coming to some cooperative distribution agreement that would benefit consumers, Fox and Disney have executed a coordinated release that ultimately makes it harder to purchase and watch these movies.

DMZ Twitter follower Eric Jilot wrote a blog post running through the many convoluted purchase and viewing options consumers have. Apropos of the complex licensing issues behind the collection, it’s a hard read. The bottom line is that depending on where you buy the movies, you likely won’t be able to watch them all where you’d expect to. And because the distribution rights for the original Star Wars movie are owned by Fox, some services aren’t even selling Star Wars: A New Hope.

If you buy from Apple’s iTunes Store, you can buy all six movies. You might expect that would mean you could then watch them all through any of the affiliated Disney Movies Anywhere services, including VUDU and Google Play. You’d be wrong. If you buy from iTunes, only I, II, III, V, and VI will be available for playback with Disney Movies Anywhere, et al. But Star Wars IV (A New Hope) can only be viewed through iTunes. The same is true if you buy from the Google Play Store.

VUDU may be your best bet if you’re not mired in the Apple ecosystem. If you purchase through VUDU, I, II, III, V, and VI will sync with your Disney Movies Anywhere and Google Play accounts. And while it’s not clearly indicated, Star Wars IV will sync with some UltraViolet services. Why not all? Because some video services don’t have the movie available. This includes Disney Movies Anywhere and CinemaNow. So even though CinemaNow is an UltraViolet partner, you won’t be able to watch this particular UltraViolet purchase through that service!

Well, you say, maybe I’ll just do a digital conversion of my Star Wars DVDs since they’re now available digitally. Nope. There is no DVD conversion option for the Star Wars movies through any of the services offering such capabilities.

UGH! What a muddle. Why is it this hard? What’s going on here? It boils down to DRM—digital rights management. And not just the annoying DRM that makes it hard to watch the properly licensed media that you’ve purchased, but specifically two competing digital asset “locker” systems created by Time Warner and Disney. Personally, I blame Disney for their continued habit of bucking the home video industry and insisting on doing things their own way. And I don’t say that lightly. I’m a Disney freak. I purchase nearly all their movies, I’ve bought into Vacation Club, and I own stock in the company.

But Disney purportedly created Disney Movies Anywhere specifically to offer consumers greater flexibility. And by refusing to partner with UltraViolet, instead positioning its system as a competitor to UltraViolet, Disney has created yet another format war that’s fracturing the consumer experience.

How fitting that one of Disney’s own properties—a collection like Star Wars, which is so deeply steeped in our movie-going and popular culture—is the product to expose how unreasonably complicated our DRM’ed video distribution system has become. Disney needs to fix this. At least for this specific release, they should throw whatever money is necessary at a licensing agreement that will make this experience easier. They should have done that prior to the release.

The post Star Wars: The Digital Rights Muddle appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

An Xbox Music Pass subscription will give you the ability to stream and download any tracks you want from Microsoft’s massive library of music. You can access their catalog through the Xbox Music apps on Windows, Windows Phone, the Xbox Music site, and even on the Xbox One and Xbox 360.

Normally a one-year subscription would set you back $99. If you were to purchase on a monthly basis you’d have to shell out $9.99/month. If you’re already in the middle of a subscription, then purchasing this will simply extend your subscription by another year.

Source: Microsoft

The post Save Big on Xbox Music for Pi Day appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

It’s now January, and your “smart” playlists are still littered with Christmas music. If you own a digital music library that you stream in your home, you’ve inevitably encountered this problem each year: how do you manage your Christmas (or any other seasonally celebrated holiday) music so that it’s readily available when you want it and out of mind when you don’t? Managing digital music collections can be challenging enough with file formats, meta data, album artwork, file server and storage options, backups, etc. Seasonal music just adds another wrinkle. In the old days, you just stored your Christmas CDs/cassettes/singles/LPs separately, so they were physically out of the way. But now…it’s just bits, and your Christmas bits are all mixed in with your regular bits. So how do you handle that? We’ve tried a couple of things that we’ll share here, but we want to find out what you’re doing. Leave a comment on this post and share your strategy with us.

Metadata

First off, to isolate your seasonal music, you’re going to have to identify it as such. iTunes likes to assign holiday music to the Holiday genre. This is good (and politically correct), but it doesn’t necessarily file your music appropriately. How would you categorize your John Phillips Sousa marches or your copy of “Monster Mash”? That, too, is holiday music, is it not? To properly bin your seasonal songs, you’ll need to be more granular. For example, you could assign all Christmas music a genre of [wait for it]…Christmas.

You can even get more granular if you like. Music streaming services these days tend to sport multiple holiday genres, like Classic Christmas, Popular Christmas, etc. Just make sure the holiday name itself (in this example, Christmas) is included in each. You’ll find out why in a minute.

That handles albums (a collection of tunes that were once sold as a single unit on a physical platter), but don’t forget about singles and tracks that artists may have otherwise included on other non-seasonal albums (I’m looking at you, “Last Christmas”). And if you’re purchasing music from multiple sources or you catalog them in multiple systems, this just got a whole lot more complicated.

Playlists

The easiest way of handling seasonal music listening is to create dynamic playlists that filter out the music you don’t want to hear except for a few days or weeks a year. If you’re creating playlists for, say, awesome 80s tunes, be sure to add the equivalent of “AND Genre is not equal to your-celebrated-holiday” to your playlist definition to ensure you’re not hearing George Michael pine about his lost Christmas love sometime in April. If you have multiple genres for the same holiday, then use something like the following logic instead: “AND Genre does not contain your-celebrated-holiday.”

This same problem may likely plague all your smart/automatic playlists. If you have playlists for your most recently purchased/played tracks or “favorites” based on number of plays, those may be peppered with holiday cheer well into the new year. Be sure to tweak those playlists with the same logic discussed above.

Depending on how complex your playlist engine is, you may also be able to nest playlist logic. For example, in iTunes, you can could create a playlist called Christmas Music that includes all music where the Genre contains “Christmas.” Then add the expression “AND Playlist is not Christmas Music” to all your other playlists. Note that some cloud-sync’ing services like iTunes Match may not let you nest cloud-based playlists, so your mileage with this trick may vary.

Hidden Holidays

Finally, there’s the brute force method—it’s the equivalent of putting the holiday CDs back in the attic. That is, you can always remove your holiday tunes from your music library altogether. This is often the easiest way to handle things, depending on your media player’s capabilities, but it also limits your ability to rock the Jingle Bell Rock in July if you’re so inclined.

For this method to work best, you should store all of your affected music files under a specific folder that you can either ignore, hide, or remove from your media player. For best results, if you have a Music folder that your player references, then create a Your-Holiday Music folder at the same level to contain the holiday tunes. For example, on my home server, I might have the following folders:

D:\Shared Media\Music\
D:\Shared Media\Christmas Music\

Different players monitor and reference media differently, so you’ll need to have some familiarity with how yours works.

In Windows (and consequently Media Player and Media Center), you can just add this folder to your Music library before the holiday, then remove it afterward. Similarly for Sonos and other systems that can monitor multiple folders, you can do the same.

In iTunes, however, you cannot monitor folders, and since there are two ways you can include content in your iTunes library—directly or by reference—you’ll need to be careful not to delete your actual music files. If you add music to your iTunes library without copying it to your iTunes Media folder, however, you should be able to just drag your seasonal folder into your iTunes library before the holiday, then delete all of the holiday music from your My Music view after the holiday. Music purchased from the iTunes store can usually be deleted and downloaded again later.

As with any destructive project, be sure to back up your complete music library before trying any of this!

The post The Digital Christmas Music Problem appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

Updated 11/18/2014: Confirmed that Disney digital titles now appear in VUDU library but not in UltraViolet library.

Disney’s digital video locker service, Disney Movies Anywhere, will soon be partnered with Walmart’s VUDU streaming service. Disney Movies Anywhere competes directly with UltraViolet, a similar service created by a consortium of industry players. Disney and Apple have quite noticeably not participated in UltraViolet, with Disney instead launching this service of its own.

After partnering with Google Play earlier in November, this is a big move for Disney’s service, and it opens the door for consumers to watch their Disney-distributed digital video purchases on many additional devices. This partnership works the same way as their Apple and Google arrangement. You’re able to buy Disney movies on any of these services—Disney Movies Anywhere, iTunes, Google Play, and VUDU—then access and watch them through any other. With VUDU apps on so many platforms, including Xbox, PlayStation, Roku, and now TiVo, this brings your Disney library to many more devices.

What’s of particular note is that VUDU is also a partner of the competing UltraViolet service. Many have argued even that VUDU may have breathed some much needed life and simplicity into UltraViolet at a point when it desperately needed support. While this dual partnership is interesting, it’s likely it will cause confusion for users who now typically expect VUDU purchases to automatically become part of their UltraViolet library. For example, your Guardians of the Galaxy purchase will not appear in both your Disney Movies Anywhere and UltraViolet libraries.

Broad access is good, but burdening consumers with managing two separate libraries is not. We appreciate the expansion and improvements, but what we really need is one library with access to all content. Or a content sharing agreement between UltraViolet and Disney, creating two libraries with access to all content. And while we’re at it, now’s as good a time as any to ask the DECE, “how’s that common file format coming?”

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First it would be best to describe exactly what the Xbox Music service is. If you’re familiar with Spotify, it’s just like that service except that you can also purchase music tracks through it. To clarify it a little more, there are multiple ways that it can be used. First, on a Windows 8 device, or through the Xbox Music site, anyone can stream any songs available in the catalog. You’re not limited to radio-like playback that services like Pandora are known for. You can pick any artists, album, or song, and listen to the tracks however you would prefer. The only downside is that occasionally your listening will be interrupted by an advertisement.  You can also purchase music through the service. Purchased tracks are downloaded as MP3 files without DRM.

Xbox Music is also available on Windows Phone,  Xbox One, iOS, and Android. However, to stream music on these devices you are required to have a subscription to the Xbox Music Pass. The music pass, which costs $9.99/month, gives you unlimited access to the entire catalog of music. You’ll never hear an advertisement, and you can download tracks for offline playback. Not having access to free streaming on the mobile devices was some-what understandable due to the fact that all of the competitors in this space, like Spotify, have the same restrictions. It never made sense to require a Music Pass to listen via the Xbox though.

So what is it that’s being discontinued? The only feature that is going away is the ability to stream for free on Windows devices and the web client. Nothing is changing on the mobile devices or on the Xbox consoles. Why has Microsoft decided to cut the free offering? According to their FAQ:

We are focusing Xbox Music to deliver the ultimate music purchase and subscription service experience for our customers. With Xbox Music Pass, you have access to millions of songs on your PC, tablet, Xbox, phone, and the web. Download music for offline listening and create playlists that automatically sync across all your devices. Don’t have a Music Pass? Sign up for a free 30-day trial at http://www.xbox.com/music/music-pass.

One thing that we know about Microsoft is that they never make any decisions without abundant telemetry data to back them up. We suspect that there are really two primary reasons for Microsoft to be switching their focus entirely on the subscription and purchase models.

The first is, of course, telemetry. The usage of the free streaming service was probably quite low. If hardly anyone has been using it, then they probably aren’t making much revenue from advertisers either. This could be a chicken and egg problem though. How many people actually knew about the Xbox Music website? Probably not many people even knew it was an option. What about the Windows 8 app? We also know that adoption of Windows 8 modern-style apps hasn’t been what Microsoft has hoped for.

The other possibility is that the service was simply too limiting. There have been numerous occasions where I would have gladly dealt with a few advertisements to easily stream music through my Xbox One. That’s simply not an option unless you have an Xbox Music Pass though. How many others have opened the Xbox Music app on their Xbox One exactly one time after discovering it requires a monthly subscription to use?

Isn’t the idea of a free streaming service to lure people into purchasing the monthly subscription? It’s a model that has worked out incredibly well for Spotify! Imagine how many more customers might have signed up for an Xbox Music Pass after using a free service through their Xbox a few times? The Xbox One, and to a lesser extent the Xbox 360, is attempting to be the ultimate living room entertainment device. For that goal to be a reality, music has to factor prominently into it.

Xbox Music is a nice service with well built apps. I’ve been using the free service since the launch of Windows 8, and for a few months I even paid for the Xbox Music Pass. The primary reason I don’t anymore is that some of my obscure musical preferences aren’t represented in Microsoft’s library. Many people though would be more than satisfied with the size and breadth of the Xbox Music catalog. For anyone heavily invested in the Microsoft ecosystem, from Windows Phone, to Windows, to Xbox, the Xbox Music service is one that should definitely be looked into. It’s just a shame that Microsoft has chosen to cut off the free entry route into their music service.

Source: Microsoft

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With nary a press release, Apple has added Showtime’s on-demand and live-viewing service, Showtime Anytime, to its list of available “channels” on the Apple TV. Consumers must have a Showtime subscription to activate and watch content in the app, so this isn’t a cord-cutter’s service option, but it does nicely round out the content now available on Apple TV’s trojan horse device in millions of homes.

In related news, Verizon FiOS is (finally) now a partner provider for Fox’s FOX Now app, just in time to not watch episodes of Fargo (which have since been removed from the service).

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This is the first Netflix rate increase in about three years, and unlike previous rate hikes, this one comes with a bit of good news. First, existing customers get a 2-year reprieve—they’ll be grandfathered into the old pricing for another 24 months. Customers can also opt for a lower pricing tier, allowing streaming to just one device at a time, at standard definition. Netflix also recently announced the official launch of Ultra HD streaming, on capable devices, for House of Cards and other shows soon, including Breaking Bad.

There’s no mention in this week’s announcement of any changes to Netflix’ long-standing DVD service, and their press site no longer even offers imagery for that service, so…maybe they’re just hoping that whole physical media thing will go away.

via c|net

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Today a new version of Amazon Instant Video for Windows Media Center was released, and it fixes the video playback issues. It does this by using Silverlight, yes really, instead of Flash. As if fixing this issue in less than a single weekend (remember, this is being developed by a single person who isn’t charging for his work) wasn’t enough good news, he also threw in a new feature: You can now watch movies in HD!

So if you’ve noticed the plugin stopped working, or you haven’t even tried it yet, head on over to his website to download the new version.

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The 22nd Winter Olympics start tonight in Sochi Russia. If you’re in the US you don’t have to miss any of the action if you’re a Windows 8 or Windows Phone 8 user! NBC has released the NBC Sports Live Extra app for both of our favorite platforms! The apps provide live, real-time video coverage, along with replays, and special short-form videos.

• Live Events: watch marquee NBC Olympics events LIVE!
• Video on Demand: access short-form video clips to preview upcoming events and check out highlights from past events
• Full Event Replays: relive all the great moments with full event replays
• Online coverage schedule: browse the online listings schedule and set event reminders

NBC Sports Live Extra for Windows 8

NBC Sports Live Extra for Windows Phone 8

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Amazon joins Netflix in the trend of video distribution networks offering original series. Certainly Amazon’s experimented with original content before, and Amazon premiered pilots for it two new comedies, Alpha House and Betas, back in April. Both series debut this month on Amazon Instant Video. Alpha House debuted on Friday, November 15, and Betas debuts on Friday, November 22. Both are half-hour comedies.

Alpha House is a comedy for sure, but this is no sitcom. There’s no laugh track and no live audience. And this is not a family show—they were dropping f-bombs about 20 words in. Think Netflix, HBO, or Showtime. But on Amazon. It’s a location-shot series with high-caliber stars, including John Goodman, Mark Consuelos, and cameos from the likes of Bill Murray and Cynthia Nixon.

What’s interesting about these new shows is Amazon’s premier schedule. Rather than Hulu’s week-by-week approach or Netflix’ tendency to let you binge on a whole season at once, Amazon has taken a somewhat different strategy. The first three episodes of each show are available on the premier date to all Amazon customers. After that, they’ll roll out a new episode each week, available exclusively for Amazon Prime subscribers through Amazon Prime Instant Video.

What the first three episodes of Alpha House at [amazon_link id=”B00CDURMD8″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Amazon Instant Video[/amazon_link].

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Stephanie’s new book:

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Do you use your SmartTV for streaming shows? If not, your in the minority. New data shows that 75% of people with Smart TVs have streamed shows using their set’s streaming software. We discuss. We also have a review of Gravity in IMAX 3D, and we look at Grand Theft Auto 5.

Blu-ray releases for Oct. 15.

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This week we take a look at three stories that all have a similar thread: the idea of moral right/wrong in the era of digital goods. Target’s new digital site kicks the discussion off, followed by a look at a California school district creating a form of anti-piracy curiculum, wrapped up with a story of cable and the responsibilities of apartment owners. We then take a look at World War Z, a movie seen by both our hosts, and Matt reviews GTAV.

Blu-ray releases for Oct. 1.

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We finally hit the big 1-5-0. Rather than just let the milestone pass by with just a normal show, Matt and Phil decide to open up a little bit about themselves. For this episode, you’ll learn about movies that make us cry, we’ll admit to our guilty pleasure movies, and finally we’ll wrap with a few of our face palm-type technology stories, including a DOOOZY from Matt. Fire up the Twitter, because we’re sure to get made fun of as we celebrate 150.

Blu-ray releases for Sept. 24.

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Back from our end of summer hiatus, we kick things off with a look at the dust up surrounding the Star Trek Into Darkness release, as well as a review of the disc. Matt also looks at the Nintendo 2DS, along with a look at Sony’s 4K movie service coming online. Oh yeah, Skype also decides to hate us right in the middle of this episode. Sorry about that. Come back next time for No. 150!!!!

Blu-ray releases for Sept. 17.

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It’s been almost a year since Xbox Music was launched as the official replacement for the Zune music service. The service has been a staple of Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, and the Xbox 360. Very early on Microsoft had stated that eventually the service would come to other platforms. Earlier this year they released a web client, but today they released apps for both iOS and Android. They’ve also made the web player free (with ads).

If you’re not familiar with the service, Xbox Music covers a wide area of music service features. Like Pandora it offers radio station-style playlists. Like Spotify it allows you to pick and choose exactly what songs and artists you want to listen to. If you have a Windows 8 PC it will even sync your music collection to the cloud making it easy to listen to your own music on all of your devices.  Some of this functionality, like cloud syncing and the web player, are free. If you’re willing to part with $9.99/month you can sign up for Microsoft’s Xbox Music Pass subscription service. This service allows you to listen to any track in their catalog whenever you want, on any device. On the Windows Phone app, and coming soon to the iOS and Android apps, you can download the music so that you don’t need to maintain an internet connection while listening. You can also stream the music in your living room through an Xbox 360 (that does require you to have an Xbox Live Gold subscription though.)

The iOS and Android apps can be downloaded for free today. The web app, at music.xbox.com, is currently free for everyone. In six months you’ll be limited to ten hours per month if you’re not an Xbox Music Pass subscriber. Look for more details, and a hands-on, in the coming days.

Source: Xbox News Wire

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No. 148 starts with a look at how Xbox Live Gold will control just how much you can do with your Xbox One. From there we talk about a new 300GB disc in development, look at the Madden 25 Sunday Ticket Online deal (buy it), and take a peek at how Comcast is being inventive about pirates. We also look at the full first half 2013 DEG sales numbers. Matt reviews Oblivion on Blu-ray and Pikmin 3 on Wii U.          

Blu-ray releases for August 6, 13.

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When Netflix finally announced that they would begin rolling out support for separate user profiles most of their customers rejoiced. My household is one that could really use that. My daughter loves to watch kids shows, like Tinkerbell and Super Why, but I like to watch dramas like House of Cards and Battlestar Galactica. That makes for messy preferences, and even worse, the possibility of a kid watching something they shouldn’t.

Being big Windows Media Center users, it’s the only way television is consumed in our house, we also greatly depend upon the Netflix plugin for it. The plugin is pretty well done, but it hasn’t seen any major updates in years. That’s why when profile support for Netflix was announced I just assumed the plugin would continue to work as it always had. Imagine our surprise when we went to turn on Wild Krats for our daughter and were greeted with the image above. The first feeling was one of excitement. That was quickly dashed however when the remote control couldn’t be used to select which profile should be used. To make matters worse, after selecting a profile we were confronted with this error message:

We tried both buttons on the dialog, and neither of them worked. Of course we have the computer directly connected to the television, so we can minimize Media Center and run Netflix from a web browser. That is a far less superior experience though, and it’s not one that will pass the family-acceptance test.

When issues have cropped up with the Netflix plugin for Windows Media Center in the past it has always become a pointing match between Microsoft and Netflix. This time around it looks like something Netflix is going to need to fix. One can hope that the issue is resolved soon. For more discussion on the problem check out this thread over at The Green Button.tv.

Updated: A workaround has been found. If all of the profiles except for the main one, which can’t be deleted, are removed then Windows Media Center will work the way it did before. You could call this a solution if the Netflix Windows Media Center plugin is the only way you consume Netflix, but if you’re looking to use the new profile support across multiple devices you’re still stuck.

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Comedy Central has released an app fox the Xbox 360 called CC: Stand Up. It offers over 6000 videos of stand up comedy from over 700 comedians. While the adults in your house are likely to find a few laughs in all that programming there probably won’t be much there that you’ll find suitable for the younger members of the household. That’s where the other announcement comes in. With the Nickelodeon app that has also been released the kids will have plenty to laugh at too. This new app, simply called Nick, offers full length episodes along with shorter clips from many of the most popular shows on the network. This includes shows such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Sanjay and Craig, and Spongebob.

Both of the apps are available today for free. They also feature full Kinect support, so you’ll be able to control them with your voice or gestures.

Source: Xbox Wire

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This week we start with a look at the just announced Google Chromecast streaming device, what is it, really? We also take time to look at the latest from way-too-expensive for us to buy Kaleidescape, look at the recent dust-up over Netflix (not really) cropping films and then talk Pacific Rim.         

Blu-ray releases for July 23, 30.

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Back again, this time with a normal show for the first time in a while after all the gaming news of the past month. We start out with a look at a Gizmodo article about why people pirate. We follow that with a look at Samsung’s Boxee purchase, and BBC quitting 3D along with ESPN. Matt reviews 42 on Blu-ray.        

Blu-ray releases for July 9, 16.

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March 2010. Avner Ronan shares his vision of TV’s future—over the Internet—to thousands at SXSW. He sits on stage, across from a pioneer of a different sort, Mark Cuban. It’s an arrogant debate of futures possible. At first, the crowd is clearly with Ronan.

Indeed, Avner Ronan’s Boxee software and set top boxes offer home entertainment consumers flexibility and choices that more traditional means—like cable, satellite, and networks—do not. But Cuban’s a business guy, and his argument is that the money is on cable. Free content over the Internet, he asserts, is a dead business model. Despite the hopes and ideals of the crowd, Cuban arguably wins this debate.

Fast forward to October 2012. By this time, Boxee has scrapped its free, downloadable software product, focusing largely on hardware. With a USB tuner already on the market, they now introduce a new, sleek set-top box with tuner and unlimited recording storage…through the cloud. It’s an ambitious project, and the cloud DVR concept catches the attention of the tech pundits and press as a new era for entertainment storage and access.

Today. It’s July 2013, and we learn that Samsung is purchasing Boxee. Interesting news. Samsung’s smart TV experience has been widely panned, so acquiring a third party that specializes in Internet and traditional content aggregation could be the boon they need.

And the possibility of TVs with built-in cloud DVR capabilities…now that could be interesting. Well forget it. The Boxee DVR service is dead. That’s not hyperbole. They’re killing it. With barely a week’s notice, Boxee is shutting down its DVR service. If you were lucky enough to be one of its beta users, after July 10, you will no longer have access to any of the unlimited content that you’ve recorded to watch later.

We don’t really know yet why Boxee’s cloud DVR service is going away. Adoption has been slow, and certainly unlimited cloud storage would be challenging to scale to the size of Samsung’s market.

Boxee’s announcement:

We’re pleased to announce that the Boxee team will be joining Samsung.

 

We started on this journey six years ago, and have been at the forefront of the changing TV and video landscape. We believe that over the next few years the video market will change even more than it has in the past few decades.

 

Joining Samsung means we will be able to work on products that marry the best hardware and software in the TV space, products that will be used by tens of millions of people and will help to shape the future of TV.

 

We are excited about the next chapter for our team.

 

For Boxee users, we’re working behind the scenes to ensure there’s minimal impact to your devices. However, the beta Cloud DVR functionality we provided to certain Boxee TV users will be discontinued on July 10th. You will not have access to your existing recordings after that date. We realize many of you loved the service, and we’re sorry it won’t be available moving forward.

 

We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built, and we want to thank you for being a part of our journey.

 

Sincerely,
Team Boxee

Perhaps more importantly, this is (another) good lesson about depending on cloud services. The tech community is so eager to push everything to the cloud. You may remember that To the Cloud was even one of Microsoft’s dreadful ad campaigns for its oft-rebranded Windows Live. But the cloud gives you less control over where, how, and when you can access your content than most companies would have you believe.

Online and cloud services come and go. Numerous photo sharing sites have shut down over the years. Even over the past weeks, we’ve lost several online services that people have come to depend on. Google just killed its RSS reader service and is screwing customers left and right by shoehorning chat users into Google+ Hangouts. Now we can add Boxee’s cloud DVR service to the list.

In what ways do you depend on the cloud? Do you have your cloud content available locally? Lets us know in the comments where you stand on all of this.

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The post The Movie Podcast #99 I WILL FIND HIM appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

As had been anticipated, today Microsoft took the wraps off Xbox Music for the Web. If you are a Xbox Music Pass subscriber, head to http://www.music.xbox.com/ and gain access to more than 22 million songs, and create playlists that will sync across all your Xbox Music devices (tablet, phone and PC).

From the screenshots that were shared, it looks like the service shares a nearly identical layout to the service offered on Windows 8. Without an Xbox Music Pass, you can’t do anything on the site currently, however, Microsoft is offering a 30-day trial if you want to check it out (though if you have previously used a trial on your account, you won’t be able to take advantage of the trial).

Also somewhat odd is that it seems the site doesn’t play nicely with touch since it uses mouse-over actions. Curious that as Microsoft tries to push a touch lifestyle they would introduce a new Web app that won’t play nice with touch. Perhaps it’s a way to force touchscreen devices to use the app versus the Web interface.

If you’ve tried out the service, let us know your thoughts in the comments.

The post Xbox Music Hits the Web appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

Live TV is a feature that has been available on the Xbox 360 from the system’s launch. Back then it could only be done via Windows Media Center. Then, a few years later Verizon released an app on the Xbox to allow FIOS TV subscribers the ability to watch about 30 channels live. Later, Comcast began offering similar features. Now Time Warner Cable, the second largest cable company in the country, has jumped into the game. This summer they will be releasing TWC TV.

Time Warner Cable’s new app will provide their customers with up to 300 live streaming channels right on the Xbox 360. As always, an Xbox Live Gold subscription will be required. You’ll also, obviously, need to be a Time Warner Cable subscriber. Time Warner’s jump into the live streaming TV space on the Xbox far eclipses the efforts of their rivals as they are offering a much larger quantity of channels. If you’re an Xbox Live Gold member and TWC subscriber make sure you let us know how you like the service once it’s released later this summer.

Source: Xbox Wire

The post Time Warner Brings 300 Live Streaming TV Channels to Xbox 360 appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

Watch ESPN requires cable service validation and offers live and on-demand viewing of programming from ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, and ESPNU. The validation process is much like it works on other devices and services, but it requires you to access the web through a browser, and it didn’t work on any mobile device we tried. That could have been a Verizon FiOS issue, but it’s something that needs to be fixed if this process is going to be necessary for every new companion service we see.

Sky News is available, even for U.S. customers, at no charge and without any registration. Qello and Crunchyroll, however, require that you register for their respective online services.

Each of these new services uses Apple TV’s newer layout and navigation model introduced earlier for Hulu Plus and the on-board TV and Movies sections. This common interface ensures that each new service is as simple as navigating around the Apple TV itself. It also minimizes the amount of annoying branding within the services (though you will see the service name and, quite unnecessarily, your provider’s branding subtly displayed on some screens).

Notably, none of these services offers à la carte content purchases, which would compete with Apple’s own iTunes Store. So while Showtime Anytime and MAX GO might show up on this platform at some point, it’s unlikely we’ll ever see VUDU or Amazon Instant Video.

To get the new services, you may need to check for updates under Settings.

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Here’s the rundown of this week’s show:

It was an interesting day, to say the least. Mere hours before we started recording this week’s show, and a week after our E3 show, and after several days of intense pressure from gamers, Microsoft went and did basically a complete reversal on its Xbox One DRM policies, essentially making gaming on the next-gen console exactly like it is today. We spend the bulk of the show on opposite ends of what Microsoft did. Family Share? Gone (though rumors swirled today that Family Share was going to be a glorified demo, we may never know). Full game library everywhere, not anymore. Trading and loaning games went back to current status. Was it all worth it? We discuss.

Matt also looks at the mind-bending Upside Down on Blu-ray.        

Blu-ray releases for June 25.

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The post The Movie Podcast #98: What Happened In This Movie? appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

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Here’s the rundown of this week’s show:

It’s time for our annual extended episode to talk about E3. This year was different than many previous shows, since both Sony and Microsoft had already had events to showcase their new consoles in the previous few months. Questions surrounding used games, connectivity, and many things were swirling leading up to the event, and that’s before we get to the games. We take the entire show this week to look at Microsoft, Sony, and to a smaller extent, Nintendo’s news coming from the biggest gaming conference. Be sure to jump back next week when Matt and I take a deeper dive at the whole idea of digital DRM. It’s sure to be fun.       

Blu-ray releases for June 11/18.

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Wrong. Digital Copy Plus is different from Digital Copy, but not significantly, and for the most part, not in a good way.

Disney debuted Digital Copy Plus with the [amazon_link id=”B00C7JFIRC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Oz: The Great and Powerful[/amazon_link] release. So how is it different? Let’s add up the plusses and minuses:

You don’t need to insert a disc to redeem Digital Copy Plus. This is nice, but it’s hardly a plus, since many studios had already moved from the model of including a digital copy on the packaged media and simply allow you to download a copy from iTunes.

You can redeem your “Magic Code” [ugh] on a mobile device. Arguably, this is a plus since you can then access the video in your chosen mobile format.

You redeem your code at a special web site—not in iTunes. This is a minus, not a plus. Consumers are used to going to one place (or in the case of UltraViolet one of two places) to redeem codes. Disney just added yet another place. Result: confusion. Many consumers will still try to redeem the codes in iTunes.

You can redeem a digital copy at iTunes, Amazon, or VUDU. While this adds flexibility, it’s actually more limited than what some other studios are offering. Paramount and Universal, for example, offer both an iTunes copy and an UltraViolet copy. And choosing a Digital Copy Plus format is like an exercise in hieroglyphics (see below). So plus…minus? This one’s a wash.

[one_half]

[/one_half][one_half_last]

[/one_half_last]

VUDU titles are not added to your UltraViolet library. Don’t be fooled by the fact that VUDU is one of the redemption options. Not all VUDU titles are created equal. Even if you only use VUDU for UltraViolet, Disney’s VUDU titles are only good in VUDU and will not show up in your UltraViolet library. This ultimately limits the portability of your VUDU titles—for example, you can’t play them offline on your iPad—and the devices on which you can play them. Even if you’re not a huge fan of UltraViolet, this is clearly a minus. If nothing else, it’s confusing since most other VUDU titles are UltraViolet-ready.

So…where’s the plus? Basically there is no plus. It’s more confusing than traditional digital copy, it’s less flexible than UltraViolet, and it’s not on par with what a lot of other studios are offering today. Disney’s new digital service might be more accurately labeled “Digital Copy Minus”—or at least something more honest like “Digital Copy Different” or “Disney Digital Copy” (harkening to Disney’s self-branded Blu-ray and DVD brands). Oh, but they can’t call it that since they’ve somehow also roped Dreamworks into this approach, too.

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It’s a day that many have been waiting a long time for. Microsoft finally unveiled the Xbox One, the successor to the Xbox 360. It hits on a lot of the things we hoped to see: Blu-ray drive, yup; upgraded hardware, yup; improved Kinect, sure; amazing entertainment capabilities, that’s there too. New partnerships were announced (NFL), exclusive content (EA, Call of Duty), and an other-worldly Kinect demo all tied together a very tight, one-hour show that in most ways was everything the Sony PS4 announcement wasn’t.

But (there’s always a but) there was one LARGE question that went unanswered, and in the hours following the show, led to rampant speculation, most of it likely incorrect, much of it fueled by mixed messages from Microsoft. And that is the state of used/shared games on the Xbox One. Is there a fee to play on another console? Yes. Wait, no. Wait, maybe? Used games. Yes, but in a way we’re not accustomed to today. Sharing games with friends, most likely not, but possibly. One thing we did find out after the show recorded is that family members will be able to play the same game with multiple accounts.

In this show, we spend a lot of time looking at the use cases that, as of Tuesday night just hours after the announcement, were the most murky. We do, of course, look at the rest of the event, which to be sure showed off an amazing new device with some very cool tricks. But certainly all eyes will be on E3 in a couple weeks, looking for Microsoft to clear up some of the question marks.

(Note, IGN had a good “What we do and don’t know” article Wednesday morning. I highly suggest taking a peek.)       

Blu-ray releases for May 28.

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Here’s the rundown of this week’s show:

Matt starts the show by reflecting on the lives of Ray Harryhausen and Roger Ebert. From there we shift into news that EA has gotten the nod for future LucasArts games. We update the rumor mill on the next Xbox, talk about how the new Ghostbusters 4K disc looks to have a new transfer, and finish with talk of how bad things are for Nintendo right now. Then we chat about Iron Man 3 to wrap things up.       

Blu-ray releases for May 14.

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Stitcher is available on the web and on iOS and Android as a free download. With Stitcher radio, you can sign in with your Facebook account and leave comments on any show. You can even give individual episodes a thumbs up or thumbs down, which helps us improve our shows!

TechCrunch named Stitcher Radio one of 2012’s best iOS and Android apps. If you’re tired of relying on iTunes and inferior aggregators to listen to your favorite podcasts, download Stitcher and give it a try. Then set up your DMZ podcast playlist!

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We kick things off with a discussion about a Kotaku article claiming the death of the TV. We talk about both the phyiscal TV set and TV as we know it. We then look at the latest with Aero, Netflix losing nearly 2,000 titles, and talk Q1 sales numbers. Matt then reviews Gangster Squad on Blu and Star Trek in gaming.      

Blu-ray releases for April 30, May 7.

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After a brief turn on the correction train about last week’s rumors of Panasonic killing plasma (our defense, it was still true when we recorded) we jump into analyst claims that Netflix still profits, heavily, from the DVD business. Elsewhere, UltraViolet exec does a Q&A with Home Media Magazine, we take a look. Finally we chat briefly about Comcast encrypting basic channels. Matt then reviews Django Unchained on Blu and in gaming, Injustice.     

Blu-ray releases for April 23.

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Here’s the rundown of this week’s show:

Lots to talk about in the news this week. First off, Panasonic acknowledges what we’ve feared for some time: they won’t develop any more plasma TVs. The 2013 line will mark the end of new development. Matt talks about his plasma woes, as well. Elsewhere, the new Xbox looks to be making a major living room play with a new cable box overlay. Sony prices its 4k wares, and JVC touts it’s new TV’s lack of smart features. Matt talks Jurassic Park 3D and recaps some BioShock Infinite.    

Blu-ray releases for April 9/16.

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For more information see VUDU’s FAQ here.

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Spotify makes waves this week by saying they want to enter the video streaming arena. Meanwhile, theories that physical disc rentals are dead don’t seem to hold up to recent studies. Elsewhere, Danny Boyle says 3D is a phase. We also look at Zero Dark Thirty on Blu and Matt reviews BioShock Infinite.   

Blu-ray releases for April 2.

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Here’s the rundown of this week’s show:

ABC made news this week when they revealed they are working on a new app that would deliver live TV. We look at the current landscape of network apps and what it means for the future of TV. Netflix, meanwhile, claims they’ll have 4k streaming in two years among other claims in a pretty interesting interview. We gloss over some new Xbox 720 rumors as well before Matt looks at The Hobbit in 3D.  

Blu-ray releases for March 26.

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TWC TV doesn’t make every channel available, though. Some premium stations that have their own apps on the platform (e.g., ESPN and HBO, among others) are not available, but based on your cable package, you can access as many as 300 or your channels through the app.

Now before you  go running out to replace all of your TWC set-top boxes with svelte, new Roku 3s, consider this: TWC TV is not a DVR and offers no DVR-like capabilities. Channels are presented as a series of network logo tiles showing no information about what’s showing on any channel until it’s in focus. And forget about trick-play features like pause, rewind, or fast forwarding through commercials. This is strictly live TV streaming. But don’t misunderstand…this is still a great thing, and it’s a likely, inexpensive alternative to having a clunky, old set-top box in a bedroom or kitchen.

We had the chance to play with the app firsthand at SXSW last week, and we talked with a TWC spokesperson at the event. He pointed out some of the nicer features of the app, including browsing favorites, finding movies, setting parental controls, and the ability to view all regions of specific sports networks—something you can’t even do on your Time Warner Cable DVR! He and TWC’s own product manager for the app have confirmed that they’re looking to roll out on-demand content at some point. And while it’s not a DVR now, one can speculate about the possibilities that cloud storage could enable in the future.

The interface itself is pretty snappy, but forget about channel surfing. It takes about 4 or 5 seconds to tune a channel once it’s selected, and the video quality, like Netflix and other online services, takes a few more seconds to refine. TWC may have taken the new discovery model a little too far, though. We couldn’t find any key combination on the Roku remote that allowed channel flipping—we had to go back to the channel tiles, stopping the active video playback, to choose another channel. And there’s nothing even remotely similar to a traditional guide that shows you at a glance what’s on now across multiple channels. We’re hoping these things are on the list of future product improvements.

TWC TV is available to Time Warner Cable customers with a standard cable subscription or higher, and it will work anywhere on your home network. You don’t technically even need to use TWC as your broadband provider, but it sounds like setup is a lot easier if you are. It’s available for the [amazon_link id=”B00BGGDVOO” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Roku 3[/amazon_link], and it will be available shortly for the [amazon_link id=”B005CLPP84″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Roku 2[/amazon_link], [amazon_link id=”B007KEZMX4″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Roku HD[/amazon_link], [amazon_link id=”B008R7EVE4″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Roku LT[/amazon_link], and the [amazon_link id=”B009CL6DUE” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Roku Streaming Stick[/amazon_link].

Find out how to get TWC TV in the Roku Channel Store.

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This week we kick off with what might be the worst game launch of all time, the SimCity launch. We look at all the issues. We also peek at Flixster’s at-home disc-to-digital beta and wonder aloud why in the world AMC would launch an online movie service. Matt then reviews Life of Pi on Blu-ray and Tomb Raider. 

Blu-ray releases for March 12/19.

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At SXSW, TMS is showing its relatively new OnConnect services, an API that gives application developers on-demand access to programming data without the need to download and maintain large datasets. This is ideal for second-screen applications that need provider-sourced programming information, as opposed to the sometimes inaccurate community-sourced alternatives. While large companies offering embedded or mobile entertainment applications might certainly be interested in services like this, what about the small “garage band” developers? TMS representatives at SXSW say they’re still discussing licensing models for developers with lighter data needs, and indeed their online licensing information still suggests a very individualized, hands-on sales and licensing model. Hopefully they’ll get to a point where smaller app developers can simply point-and-click their way through selecting and paying for their specific needs.

TMS’s own web-based demo app for OnConnect shows how the services exposing their programming data can be used to discover linear and on-demand content. Of particular note is a seemingly comprehensive list of online rental, purchase, and subscription viewing options, aggregated for comparison and direct access.

The post Tribune OnConnect Gives Developers Access to TV/Movie Meta Data appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

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Here’s the rundown of this week’s show:

Last week we spent most of the show talking about the PS4. This week, we look back at the week after, when more questions than answers appeared, and what we thought we knew about Sony’s new console was thrown up in the air. We also look at comments from a Sony exec on UltraViolet, and Phil recounts his recent experience with the digital format. His recap might surprise you. Finally, we review Best Picture winner Argo. 

Blu-ray releases for March 5.

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Here’s the rundown of this week’s show:

We look at the announcement of the PlayStation 4. What is, what we saw, what we didn’t see (the *#$% console) and what it all means in the end. Used games (Sony now says no prob). Backwards compatible (sort of)? Tech specs? Will the press conference EVER END? We go into it all in great depth. Matt then jumps up and talks about the latest in the Die Hard franchise and how it stacks up.  

And also, just because this is funny, the abridged version of the presser.

Blu-ray releases for Feb. 26.

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After an extended absence due to flu and travel nonsense, we come roaring back by looking at the best (and worst) Blu-rays and games of 2012. Take a peek at the full list at DoBlu.com. Enjoy! 

Blu-ray releases for Feb. 19.

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On stage, Mehdi, the man who heads up Microsoft’s interactive entertainment business, shared some interesting statistics:

• There are about 76 million [amazon_link id=”B003O6JKLC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Xbox 360[/amazon_link] units sold worldwide
• About 1/3 of those units have a [amazon_link id=”B002BSA298″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Kinect[/amazon_link] sensor attached
• Despite the frequency that the term “dudes” was thrown around in the conversation, 38% of Xbox users are women
• The majority of households with Xboxes have kids

On the Entertainment side, Mehdi highlighted that Xbox now has over 100 entertainment apps/partners, though Netflix clearly dominates in the device’s video entertainment use.

Microsoft’s next big push for Xbox entertainment will be in the area of interactive TV. Using voice and gestures, similar to the current Sesame Street app, or leveraging second-screen experiences, Microsoft intends to substantially expand its interactive offerings.

In addition to about 40 new entertainment partners in 2013, Microsoft is creating its own production shop, headed by Nancy Tellem, formerly from CBS. Their intent is to produce HBO- or cable-quality content, though what this might cost consumers is still unknown. When pressed on cost and Microsoft’s current model of charging consumers for a [amazon_link id=”B0029LJIFG” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]LIVE subscription[/amazon_link] to use the Xbox entertainment features (that they’re already paying for), Mehdi insisted that they believe they add value and that they’ll “continue to push that.”

On next-gen hardware, Mehdi intimated that Microsoft won’t be releasing a cheap box [think: Roku], but one that can deliver the high fidelity necessary for premium content.

Watch the interview here:

Source: All Things D

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Last year, the press scratched its collective head and the masses largely ignored Walmart’s in-store disc-to-digital conversion program. By taking packaged DVDs to a nearby Walmart, consumers could acquire a digital copy of each movie on VUDU for a nominal two dollar fee or upgrade to HD for five dollars a disc. As it turns out, VUDU may have been the best thing to happen to UltraViolet. VUDU’s ease of use combined with its extensive library of licensed content has made UltraViolet redemption easier, and Walmart brings that service to a broad customer base.

VUDU’s new beta program extends this service—in its entirety—to consumers’ homes. The prices are the same as Walmart’s in-store conversion service ($2 and $5, plus tax). HD conversions are provided in VUDU’s excellent 1080p HDX format, and unlike CinemaNow, VUDU also offers a $2 Blu-ray conversion option. All titles are automatically added to consumers’ UltraViolet libraries.

The VUDU team is currently sending invitations to this limited beta to VUDU customers. Participation requires downloading and installing an updated version of the VUDU To Go app to a PC with a DVD or Blu-ray drive (Blu-ray conversion obviously requires a Blu-ray drive). The updated application is not yet available for the Mac, even though it’s built on Adobe’s runtime platform, AIR, like the earlier version.

In our tests, the conversion process was flawless. We tried each combination—DVD to SD, DVD to HDX, and Blu-ray to HDX—without incident. With the first purchase, VUDU prompted us to go online and add credit card information to the account, and even that process was easier and more polished than in our CinemaNow test.

Shortly after we completed our purchases, all the titles properly appeared in our existing UltraViolet library (are you listening, Best Buy?), available to stream or download on TVs, set-top boxes, computers, Android and iOS devices, or on the Web.

Overall, our test of VUDU’s new at-home disc-to-digital conversion service was successful. With one hitch. Curiously, the one Warner Brothers title we converted, The Last Samurai, is not available for playback in Flixster—the UltraViolet retailer that Warner Brothers itself owns. And there’s the rub with UltraViolet or any cloud-based media service: the dirty, convoluted game of content licensing. So maybe UltraViolet is a decent solution for hosted digital video content…because at least we still have our discs to play when we want and where we want.

The post VUDU Bests CinemaNow’s At-home UltraViolet Digital Conversion appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

Amazon offers two methods of purchasing an Xbox Live Gold subscription. For those who simply must have the code immediately you can purchase a one-year subscription as a downloadable code for [amazon_link id=”B002VBWIP6″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=””]$39.99[/amazon_link]. If you can wait a couple of days, you can save $5 by purchasing a card that will be mailed to your house for only [amazon_link id=”B0029LJIFG” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]$34.99[/amazon_link]. Either option is a pretty great deal! We would just like to see these become the new permanent prices!

[amazon_enhanced asin=”B0029LJIFG” container=”” container_class=”” price=”New” background_color=”FFFFFF” link_color=”000000″ text_color=”0000FF” /] [amazon_enhanced asin=”B002VBWIP6″ container=”” container_class=”” price=”New” background_color=”FFFFFF” link_color=”000000″ text_color=”0000FF” /]

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Source: Microsoft

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Here’s the rundown of this week’s show:

We kick off with Phil talking about seeing The Hobbit in HFR 3D and his take on the new filming fad, we then chat about the USPS and Gamefly, Fox’s Blu-ray democracy, and finally in news a look at a story on Real Nerds Podcast that asks if the Internet is making us hate movies. Matt reviews Taken 2 and Devil May Cry. 

Blu-ray releases for Jan. 22.

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But in V-Cast, Verizon Wireless appears to have learned a valuable lesson: if you’re going to be the pipe, be the best pipe that you can be. At least that’s what Verizon’s latest OTT offering would seem to be targeting.

Viewdini, available to Android and iOS mobile users for tablets, phones, and other devices, is a new(ish) app that acts as an aggregated content discovery tool, offering universal browse and search across multiple online video services. It tells you where you can find the movies and shows that you’re looking for—across services, so you can decide where to watch and what (if anything) you’ll have to pay to watch it. Verizon doesn’t attempt to proxy the content in any way…it just launches the relevant third-party video apps on your device to play the chosen content.

The app is (ironically) currently optimized for Comcast xfinity customers, which perhaps suggests that Verizon is over its proprietary approach toward content and apps. A new version of the app demonstrated at CES adds optimizations for Time Warner Cable and FiOS customers. But anyone can use the app—these optimizations just help their service deliver more relevant results to you based on services from your provider and, possibly, other TV Everywhere offerings going forward.

The viewdini update demonstrated at CES also introduces some welcome cleanup to the user interface and the addition of new content partners. A notable exception to the partner list is any sign of UltraViolet retailers, which Verizon isn’t yet supporting.

After our brief demonstration in Verizon’s CES booth, we left wondering, “why haven’t we heard about this yet?” Viewdini brings universal search to mobile OTT content, letting customers choose the most economical viewing options.

See our complete coverage of CES 2013.

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Amazon just announced its new, free digital copy service for CD puchases, AutoRip. AutoRip is now included with many (but not all) CD purchases through Amazon. When you complete an eligible CD order, Amazon automatically adds the corresponding digital MP3 tracks to your Amazon Cloud Player library. Elegible titles are identified on product pages with a new AutoRip logo and messaging.

Perhaps more surprisingly, Amazon is also adding digital copies to your library for previously-purchased CDs. In our initial tests, loading the Amazon Cloud Player web page resulted in a delayed load and a message indicating that previous purchases were just added. Even CD albums and singles purchased many years ago now appeared in the library.

Of course, the big question is “Why?” Are there still enough consumers purchasing CDs for a service like this to make sense? The other oddity is the continued disparity between physical and digital pricing of similar content. You might expect CDs to cost the same or even slightly more than digital music tracks, but label-dictated digital pricing has created an unusual situation where it’s often cheaper to buy CDs. This hasn’t changed since the launch of Amazon’s new service, which suggests Amazon could be largely subsidizing AutoRip.

Visit Amazon’s AutoRip information page

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Here’s the rundown of this week’s show:

We kick of 2013 with our look at CES. UltraHD dominates the conversation, while we also look at new tech from Dish, Time Warner hooking up with Roku, Nvidia’s gaming portable, and a proof of concept from Microsoft turns your game room walls into a screen. 

Blu-ray releases for Jan. 8, 15.

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Another big name, Best Buy, joined the UltraViolet ecosystem this month with CinemaNow’s innovative, but buggy, new disc-to-digital conversion service. Tagged as a “limited participation beta,” Best Buy’s service attempts to one-up Walmart’s in-store disc-to-digital service where customers can take their DVD or Blu-ray discs to a local Walmart retail outlet to redeem UltraViolet digital copies in VUDU. With CinemaNow, a downloadable player reads and verifies ownership of your DVD movies using your computer’s optical drive, eliminating the need to tote a pile of your favorite movies to the store.

But that’s where CinemaNow’s advantage ends. The pricing is more or less the same as Walmart’s conversion service—$2 to convert a DVD to a standard definition digital copy or $5 to up-convert to HD. Unlike Walmart’s service, however, you cannot convert Blu-ray discs, so there’s no $2 Blu-ray to HD option.

Arguably, VUDU breathed some new life and utility into UltraViolet. VUDU brought customers’ UltraViolet movie collections to many devices, given the pervasiveness of VUDU apps on consumer electronics devices like TVs, Blu-ray players, streaming boxes, and mobile devices. One has to imagine the opposite is true with CinemaNow—that Best Buy is hoping UltraViolet may breathe new life into its less popular service.

Registration

Best Buy is going to need more than a largely reviled, industry-sponsored digital locker service to make CinemaNow a viable contender in the streaming video space. Our initial experience with CinemaNow’s new disc-to-digital/UltraViolet service has been problematic from the start.

Since CinemaNow is another, new “retailer” for UltraViolet, you have to create another account and link it to UltraViolet. This is a little easier if you already have a CinemaNow or bestbuy.com login. If not, expect to create your seventh or eighth account for UltraViolet—at this point we’ve lost count. In our test, we registered the account to a DC address, which uncovered a sophomoric bug—the District of Columbia isn’t listed as an available option in the registration form’s state code list [see: Web Form Development 101].

Software

After linking the account to UltraViolet and completing the registration, we installed the downloadable player. The CinemaNow Player for Mac is an AIR application that, if you’re running Mountain Lion, requires you to allow installations from unknown developers. The application itself is clean and simple, but limited. It only plays standard definition video, and it down-converts HD videos accordingly.

Our experience with the PC player has been much worse. The schizophrenically-named CinemaNow Player/Rovi Player is  terrible. It’s custom skinned, for no good reason; you can’t resize the height of the player smaller than your desktop (for no good reason); and it has an option to show a tray icon for no good reason because the app won’t run in the background and appears in the task bar whenever it’s running.

Unlike the Mac player, the PC player doesn’t show your library in the My Library tab—just those movies that you are downloading or have downloaded. And don’t try to close the app while it’s downloading…it will stop the download process (see won’t run in the background, above). Most disappointingly, you cannot control the player with your home theater remote—except for the Stop button. That works.

Oh, and this is the best part: every time you launch the PC player, it forcibly adds a shortcut to itself on your desktop. This application is amateurish crap that Best Buy should be ashamed to distribute.

Conversion

Initially our other UltraViolet titles didn’t show up in CinemaNow’s library, so we decided to test the disc-to-digital service. CinemaNow claims they can currently convert over 3500 different titles with this service. The conversion process couldn’t have been easier. Insert a disc, click a few buttons, choose your preferred video quality, and voila…an HD copy of Moon appeared in our new CinemaNow library, charged to the card on file.

Playback

CinemaNow playback on the Mac and PC is disappointing. It’s jerky, as if the video is improperly telecined, and the downloaded video quality on Windows is very disappointing. Our standard definition download of Moon showed numerous digital encoding error artifacts and interlacing issues, and the audio is limited to stereo. It’s worth noting that movies look fine when played online or on consumer electronics devices that have a CinemaNow app on board.

Library

One of the supposed advantages of UltraViolet is that (most of) the titles in your library should appear (if not play) in other UltraViolet retailer accounts you set up. But after a day or so, our other UltraViolet titles still didn’t appear in our CinemaNow library, and Moon wasn’t showing up on any other UltraViolet service, like VUDU.

In an attempt to remedy this, we unlinked CinemaNow from our UltraViolet account then re-linked the accounts. The first attempt failed because CinemaNow’s overzealous security policies had logged us out even though we could still navigate around on the site. Once we logged in again and reconnected to UltraViolet, our other library titles appeared, but Moon—the movie we just purchased—was gone. And it still didn’t show up in VUDU, Flixster, or any other UltraViolet library.

Also curious, the titles that now appear in our CinemaNow library differ depending on where we look. On cinemanow.com, our UltraViolet library has 13 titles. The CinemaNow app on a television used for testing shows 15 titles, and in the Mac application, the library contains 17—still none of them are Moon.

Support

With library inconsistencies and a $5 purchase down the drain, we decided to test out CinemaNow’s support channels. Several days have passed with email support going unanswered besides automated acknowledgements. Phone support was thorough but equally unhelpful. We called to find out what happened to the purchased movie and to get it back. At one point, the support representative asked what browser was being used—as if that would explain why one of the movies in the account had gone missing. The call ended with the representative explaining they’d escalate the issue and an email indicating we should expect a resolution within 24-48 hours. That was seven days ago.

Conclusion: It’s Not Beta…It’s Just Not Ready

It’s interesting to see more providers getting into UltraViolet, and CinemaNow’s at home disc-to-digital conversion theoretically offers some intriguing benefits. But like most other vendors that have stepped into this pile of streaming bits, Best Buy’s initiative is burdened with problems.

Best Buy wisely identifies CinemaNow’s new disc-to-digital service as a limited beta, but it’s CinemaNow’s web site, desktop applications, back-end services, and support infrastructure that seem like the weak spots—the disc identification and conversion process worked flawlessly. That’s pretty sad considering how long CinemaNow has been around and the investment Best Buy’s made in the service over the past two years.

For now, if you’re interested in moving your older physical media to the digital cloud, you may just want to put on your boots and brave the winter weather to take your discs to Walmart. Or you could wait it out and see if UltraViolet even survives the next year or two.

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Here’s the rundown of this week’s show:

It’s the end of the year and that can only mean one thing around the DMZ: The Digital Media Zone’s Holiday Spectacular. There were more people joining this show than we’ve ever had on one podcast! As crazy as that sounds we were able to keep it from getting too far out of control. As usual for our year-end show we took a look a back over the year that was 2012, and even a little peek into what we think we’re going to be talking about next year. For this show we had at least one person from every single podcast we offer at the DMZ, and for some reason we even brought Adam back. We all had a great time recording it, and we think you’ll have a fun time listening.

Blu-ray releases for Dec. 26.

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Here’s the rundown of this week’s show:

In our last full show before the holidays, we look at the Redbox Instant service now that pricing is out. We also talk about some UltraViolet stats and look at how Kalidescape is expanding with its own movie store. Our review tackles Men in Black 3. Join us this week for the Digital Media Zone Holiday Spectacular as we join a host of other hosts from the DMZ.

Blu-ray releases for Dec. 18.

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Here’s the rundown of this week’s show:

Short on news this week, we plow through a pair of Blu-ray reviews. Before that, however, we examine how the Netflix+Disney deal is so big for streaming, we also look at the first 4k content and how it’s being distributed. After all that fun, we head to a pair of reviews of Paranorman and The Dark Knight Rises.

Blu-ray releases for Dec. 11.

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We don’t often discuss the latest Blu-ray releases, but this week there is an abundance of great titles being released and discounted. First up, Disney is re-releasing [amazon_link id=”B00867GJYK” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Finding Nemo[/amazon_link]. I hate the way Disney selectively chooses when to make their movies available, but it’s the world we live in. If you don’t already own Finding Nemo then now is the time to pick it up. It looks absolutely fantastic on Blu-ray, and it’s a great family movie! If summer blockbusters are more your style then you can pick up one of the biggest movies of the summer, [amazon_link id=”B004LWZWGK” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Dark Knight Rises[/amazon_link]. Finally, if you, or someone you know, is a huge [amazon_link id=”B000NQRE9Q” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Indiana Jones[/amazon_link] fan you can pick up the complete collection on Blu-ray on sale this week.

All of these options would be great to own and great to give as gifts during the holiday season!

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Here’s the rundown of this week’s show:

Looks like a lot of you did some shopping last weekend, as retailers are touting HUGE Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales. It also looks like packaged media did really well. Elsewhere we look at the Wii Mini and the rumored Xbox TV. In review land, we talk about The Expendables 2 and the Wii U.

Blu-ray releases for Nov. 27, Dec. 4.

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It’s that time of year, time for our annual look at all the Black Friday 2012 gaming and home theater deals. This extended episode also features reviews of The Amazing Spider-Man on Blu-ray and COD Black Ops 2.

Blu-ray releases for Nov. 20.

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Here’s the rundown of this week’s show:

We’re short on news but heavy on reviews. We start out looking at CBS and their deal with Hulu, take a peek at FOX’s temporary setback in their campaign against Dish’s The Hopper, and quick hits on OLED and UltraViolet. We then examine Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter on Blu, Wreck It Ralph in theaters, and Halo 4 in gaming. Phew.

Blu-ray releases for Nov. 13.

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Here’s the rundown of this week’s show:

We start out with the big news that Disney has bought Lucasfilm and nearly everything that goes with it. What does this mean for the Star Wars legacy, along with other implications. Elsewhere, Warner shifts its home video delay strategy and signs a deal with Redbox, and we see some stats that might indicate 3D in the home is taking a small hold. We also get a reivew from Matt and Phil on Prometheus and Matt looks at Medal of Honor: Warfighter.

Blu-ray releases for Oct. 30/Nov. 6.

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If this sounds good to you, Amazon has a deal for you! You can get the series on Blu-ray for only [amazon_link id=”B001EN71CW” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]$18.49[/amazon_link]!

If you’re still concerned about the show not being wrapped up there is an answer for that too. In 2005 they created the movie [amazon_link id=”B001KOFH2G” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Serenity[/amazon_link] which essentially wraps up the TV show, and it’s a pretty great movie in its own right. You can get that on Blu-ray for only [amazon_link id=”B001KOFH2G” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]$9.85[/amazon_link].

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This week we take a look at a new FCC ruling that allows cable cos. to encrypt the basic tier of service, thus strinking the death knell for ClearQAM. At the same time, Boxee releases a new product that uses cloud-based storage for its DVR. Will this work with the end of ClearQAM coming? Finally we look at new 4k sets coming to market this spring, and Amazon’s creative deal with Epix.

Blu-ray releases for Oct. 16/23.

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Things kick off this week with a lengthy discussion about a panel at the Entertainment Merchant’s Assoc. Digital Pipeline event, including the idea that the glut of options might be one of the biggest issues facing digital. We also chat about MoviePass and its attempt the circumvent the theaters in a return. We then talk about Cabin in the Woods on Blu-ray.

Blu-ray releases for Oct. 9.

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Here’s the rundown of this week’s show:

We start the show with a look at the MuviChip, a new venture aimed to put movies on USB sticks. We wonder, is it enough of an idea to catch on? We also look at news that Netflix thinks Amazon Instant is a hot mess, and that streaming video is moving more and more away from the PC and toward the living room TV. We then take a long look at the Avengers, in both 2D and 3D.

Blu-ray releases for Oct. 2.

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