Amazon Unbox goes live

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1. Frank Nguyen
   

   September 7th, 2006 at 1:25 pm

   I wonder what this means for Guba. Amazon has 30 studios behind them, with a catalog that overshardows Guba’s. Pricing looks similar for purchases, but Guba still has a lower price point for rentals.

2. Jason L. Baptiste
   

   September 7th, 2006 at 1:39 pm

   I’ll wait for Apple’s announcement next week. Seems like MovieLink with an amazon logo on it.

   -JLB

3. Peter
   

   September 7th, 2006 at 1:57 pm

   Digg Story:

   http://digg.com/software/Amazo.....ies_and_TV

4. Matt
   

   September 7th, 2006 at 2:11 pm

   I saw somewhere that Apple’s “iTunes” (name is for music downloads) will have Disney films only. Thats good if you like pixar and the mouse. Amazon seems to have most of the large studios…

5. Boris Yankov
   

   September 7th, 2006 at 2:18 pm

   ‘Windows Only’ does not sound like too bad.
   Any .MOV file in H264 is practically ‘Mac Only’ since QuickTime for Windows is so slow playing these movies that you can’t play them on anything than a top-notch PC. Microsoft’s H264 plays about 3-4 times faster. It is clearly not the compression.

6. Jim Day
   

   September 7th, 2006 at 2:23 pm

   Can someone please explain why someone would pay $15 for a moive that they have to watch on their computer monitor instead of paying the same price (or less) on eBay for the DVD that they can watch anywhere?

7. Luke
   

   September 7th, 2006 at 2:31 pm

   I think that Amazon should do a deal where if you buy a DVD from them, that day (or maybe as soon as the order ships), you get a free rental of that movie via Unbox, viewable for maybe a single play within 24 hrs or something.

8. Marshall Kirkpatrick
   

   September 7th, 2006 at 2:31 pm

   Instant gratification. Movies *on demand* I’m into it and I think many more people will be too, when a viable price point is hit.

9. fuxjoey
   

   September 7th, 2006 at 2:35 pm

   ipod is not supported. shocking.

10. NeoTechie
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 2:45 pm

    Classical Web 2.0, sell on demand and we will buy more of you products.

11. Stephen
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 2:51 pm

    Why on earth would someone pay $10-$20(!!!) for a movie they A) can’t do much with B) only have 30 days to watch it? As Jim pointed out it makes way more sense to buy the actual DVD.

    They are mad, surely this will fail, too little too late.

12. vance
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 2:56 pm

    No mac support. No play. The site says that Unbox won’t play on a Mac because Apple owns the hardware and software rights. Pure B.S. MPEG4 is what we call an open standard and anybody can produce content in it. Also if they want to use a proprietary format they can build it for OS X, though they are right about the iPod. Amazon can just piss off.

13. BoardTracker
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 2:57 pm

    Looks good, except for this..

    “Usage: US customers only.”

    and this..

    “System Requirements: Requires Windows XP.”

    So it seems at the moment most of the world can’t download or watch anything. Shame.

14. leafar
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 3:02 pm

    Real Mass usage need time to the cross the chasm. And believe it or not, I think amazon is ready to wait and fight.
    There’s a lot to do … and that’s an alpha launch. Wait until Unbox is fully integrated in the system with easy affiliation.
    I may fall for the ZEn and get a 20$ test… yeah that’s expensive with 20$ i will not be addicted but worth trying.

15. Theo
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 3:07 pm

    I don’t like it because: 1. Lack of options [Windows only] 2. You need specialized desktop software to even view the movies. 3. Prices are much too high. 4. Lack of fun creative features.

16. Florian Cervenka
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 3:17 pm

    BoardTracker: but they do accept foreign credit cards. Itunes does not accept that for tv-shows.

    I’m giving it a try. If I rent a video at my rental it costs me a minimum of 1.60€ (thats about 2.10$) - and that if I keep the DVD for one night.

    About the format of the videos I’d prefer xvid or divx. But I figure it will take another century for the industry to figure out that limiting the user with DRM is costing them profit.

    Also what disturbes me is that I just ordered a rental, installed the player and it has some kind of problem. First thing it told me is that I have used up all my licenses for the selected movie and told me to purchase it. Also the item does not show up in the content list.

17. Seth
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 3:38 pm

    Way to go Amazon for not giving mac support. That’s why Apple’s video store will beat Amazon both Windows and Mac support and support for the number one portable video and audio player on the market.

18. andrew
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 3:38 pm

    Its interesting to note that AOL beat BOTH companies to the punch but gets no notice? aolvideo.com is providing the same content that all of these sites are with the same drm. Is it because they are AOL they get no nod?

19. Marshall Kirkpatrick
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 3:43 pm

    http://www.techcrunch.com/2006.....-big-guys/

    You’re right though

20. Andre
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 4:00 pm

    I tried Unbox. I bought a full season of “Prison Break”. I downloaded their program “Amazon Unbox”. And now, trying to download those 22 episodes, the only reply I get is “You have downloaded this video to all of your available clients” whereas I have bought this Season 5 minutes ago !!! I wonder how Amazon can guess I downloaded 22 episodes x 800 000 Mb in 5 minutes… So it seems to be less userfriendly then iTunes.

21. ToddW
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 4:08 pm

    This is something that is worth looking at! There will be some serious competition in this field within months if not less!

    I like the fact that you get DVD quality + portable file for same price.

22. blogsaic.com
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 4:08 pm

    if we all inhale then exhale, and wait till next week, I am sure Apple will be releasing something that is both a product and a service…and it will be beautiful…

    I am happy to wait a few days…and I doubt I would have downloaded every season of MacGyver from unbox by then…

23. Florian Cervenka
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 4:19 pm

    Andre: I just lost some money too. The unbox-software seems to have its problems.
    Once the client finally has connected to amazone it tells me that the video can’t be downloaded.
    Using the troubleshooting it told me that it can’t update the DRM.
    After trying to download it again told me that all licenses have been used up.

    imho they should have done some more testing before making this public.

24. Dave Notik
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 4:36 pm

    I think this was mentioned here.

    The iPod is not a supported device.

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/.....odeId=3782

    Bah, there are plenty of convertors for the more savvy downloader.

    Anyways, the fact that Apple has a seamless iPod/iTunes/store experience means they’re likely to kick Amazon’s ___.

    –D

25. NikR.
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 5:57 pm

    Enough with the MacWhining! No one twisted your arm to buy Macks [Hey! You can say “Windoze” so I can say “Macks”. Got it? Good! ;)] and owning one doesn’t make you “cool” but it seems to be something those with self-esteem issues seem to have to have

    Chill. I’m just f&ckin’ with yuz. [Why is it zealots never have a sense of humor?]

    If the Amazon thing works great. If not, Oh, well! It’s not the end of the world. Other services will come along. If it’s iTunes that’s OK to–just as long as the PC people are forced to download a whole bunch of bloatware just to get the iTunes….

    PC or Mac they’re JUST TOOLS. Grow TFU! Don’t be THEIR tool [Mac *OR* PC] by acting an idiot-zealot

26. Angel
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 6:00 pm

    @NikR - That has to be one of the most incoherent posts I’ve ever read.

27. Captain Stubing
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 7:24 pm

    Hello fellow downloaders! I have purchased every book I own from the great Amazon.com (I own 2 now - I’m saving for # 3)!!!! I think this service will be the cat’s pajamas. How could you guys not be excited about it. If you’re not excited about Amazon Unbox you should punch yourself in the face or seek the services of a mental health practitioner (I can recommend some good ones in your area).

    Anyway, I feel that you guys don’t realize that you will soon be watching all your filmed entertainment at UNBOX. You will be summarily forced to. All itunes and non-windows users will be rounded up and placed in work camps. I’m really concerned for those of you that don’t switch from DVDs and “Apple” products to Unbox and Windows soon. It might not end well for you. But hey! Don’t be scared - there’s still time to switch now before they find out you haven’t. See you at Unbox!!!

28. lex
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 8:28 pm

    i love it

29. Andrew
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 9:38 pm

    “Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing is $36.”

    It’s actually listed at $16, not $36.

30. Everett
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 9:41 pm

    “Way to go Amazon for not giving mac support.”

    Obviously Amazon would prefer to support every customer with every configuration. Not supporting Macs isn’t something anyone chose, it’s something the studios and Microsoft enforce. As long as Amazon uses Windows Media for the files and DRM, you’ll never see your Unbox videos on your ipod.

31. ac
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 9:49 pm

    this service sucks the cat’s pajamas is more like it (if that expression even makes sense)
    (1) most of the downloads are more expensive than their dvd counterparts
    (2) DRM fun + only viewable on PC used for downloading. Although you’re authorized to watch on a second PC, requires re-downloading!
    (3) Can’t conveniently watch on a TV. The faq has the temerity to suggest you drag a s-video cable from your PC to TV. Yeah right.
    (4) you probably hate it too, don’t you.

32. Alexa
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 9:55 pm

    Man, could this be *less* elegant?! What a ton of work just to watch a film. If it’s not plug ‘n play, it will never reach the volume needed. The fact that it’s not available on both Mac and PC is also a downfall. Will be interesting to see what Apple announces next week…….

33. Alexa
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 9:57 pm

    P.S. To ac #31…that is one of the funniest descriptions I’ve read in a while and so true

34. Jay
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 10:34 pm

    I have tried to use the site. Of course, it’s “available only for US residents”. US isolationism. I hate this kind of thing!

35. Cliff Spence
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 11:18 pm

    I just purchased a tv series from Amazon Unbox to check out the service.

    I downloaded the client app, but it’s apparently useless; just keeps giving me connection errors.

    I feel like perhaps I just wasted $20.

36. Charles
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 11:34 pm

    Andre & Florian, got same problem as you did!

37. Balthazar
    

    September 7th, 2006 at 11:44 pm

    People. Get the story straight. In order to get movies from Hollywood, you need to use DRM, right? For better or worse, that’s right and Apple knows it’s right. This is driven by the studios. So what DRM works on a Mac and on the iPod? Fairplay. Who owns Fairplay? Apple. Does Apple license Fairplay so other companies can sell digital content into the mac environment (lilke, say, Microsoft does)? No. Hmmm… Do you think that’s because other companies just don’t like Apple or have personal ill will toward Mac users? I very much doubt it. Could it be that Apple, Inc. wants to have a monopoly over the purchasing opportunities of people who buy Macs? Wait a second, that actually makes some sense.

    If you believe that Apple is not intentionaly duping people into a monopoly situation where only the only person they can buy from is Apple, then the marketing department at Apple should really pat themselves on the back. The milions they have spent on U2 have succesfully convinced you that Apple is “cool”, when in fact their goal, which they are pursuing very effectively, is to trap you in a digital monopoly.

    I mean it’s one thing if you reject both Microsoft and Apple and are Linux all the way, but don’t pretend that Apple’s not shutting everyone else out of the Apple market. If they could, Apple would happily prevent Mac users from going to Amazon at all.

38. Strange
    

    September 8th, 2006 at 2:16 am

    I just don’t understand this DRM - come on, if I rent a movie with NetFlix, I can easily rip it with any $20 software out there, burn it on CD/DVD & see it whenever I feel like it. This possibility didn’t seem to stop studios from supplying DVDs to Netflix, so why should renting through Unbox be any different?

    I think this service would be much more successful if Amazon sold a small device that plugs both into your network and TV - then movies would be downloaded there, you could then watch them either on your PC or TV…

    Actually - Xbox 360 could possibly do that already Microsoft, are you listening?

39. 10layers
    

    September 8th, 2006 at 3:10 am

    I believe the winner in the movie download space will be the player that allows for convenient viewing on PCs, mobile devices, and on your TV. Unbox does not appear to be the service that will provide this flexibility.
    On the positive side, Amazon is launching with an impressive array of content. Over 1,000 movies are available from Warner Bros., NBC Universal, 20th Century Fox, Paramount, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, and other content providers. Will be interesting to see if Apple will/can match this.

    My view is that for movie downloads to become mass market, the convenient integration with the TV must be in place. The question is, who will bring this to the market first, Microsoft with Zune/XBOX/Media Center or Apple with “one more thing” next week?

    We are also covering this in Amazon Unbox launched; pieces of the puzzle missing.

40. Stephan Tual - Terapad.com
    

    September 8th, 2006 at 4:46 am

    It’s so-so. I don’t particularly care for the WinXp only, but the US customers only service certainly is a let-down (and a very clear indicator that once they release a UK version the pricing will be a lot steeper, as usual).

    I also don’t see how the downloaded file could be ‘DVD quality’ - and having to play it in a proprietary piece of software is inconvenient. Add to this that the overall pricing isn’t fantastic either… I’m not sure we’re looking at a winner here, however they have Amazon.com support, so they should do half-decently regardless.

    Give me something were I can buy DRM-free xvid or real-DVD (yes, the 5 gig download) version of movies and you’ll count me as client. Until then, I’m not ready to pay 2 bucks per TV episode I’m already paying 80 pounds per month to watch on cable television.

41. Frank
    

    September 8th, 2006 at 9:45 am

    What’s more amusing is how Amazon is using a strange strategy to encourage infringement - their Unbox client installs vulnerable DRM software, so users can use doom9’s stripping program to convert the video into formats more favorable to transfer. All this, and since they use industry standard components, no one can call them on it! Lets give Amazon a round of applause for catering to the needs of the consumer, even if they can’t admit it

42. Dogtown
    

    September 8th, 2006 at 9:59 am

    Amazon had to hastily release this early so it could beat Apple to the punch on Tuesday. The video rental and purchase prices and video quality is what you can expect from Apple next week. Word is bond.

43. Ed
    

    September 8th, 2006 at 10:12 am

    I agree with 10layers. Alot of it is smart design -easy integration with a player. Not much thought-process, tinkering, etc. needed, just click and it’s easy viewing on your device of choice.

    Someone mentioned that Disney is only about the Mouse or Pixar. It’s actually more than that. It’s Touchstone, Miramax, Hollywood, movies produced by ESPN, ABC, Disney Channel (trust me, High School Musical was very popular among tweens), and Lifetime.

44. Mike
    

    September 8th, 2006 at 10:40 am

    It’s definately a nice system, but too bad that they only went with Windows support. It’s a good way to not only alienate non-Windows users from the Unbox service, but from the rest of their products as well.

45. Andre
    

    September 8th, 2006 at 3:52 pm

    KAFKA 2.0 should be the name of this new Amazon Unbox,
    as using Amazon Unbox is like being the hero of a Kafka Novel.
    After my first problem of videos wrongly marked as “already downloaded” (no more licence to have the right to download something you bought)…
    I now have a “not recognized” login on the software whereas my login+password work on the website… so I decided to Uninstall the software.
    But you they say you need to first login on the software to uninstall it… so if you have a login problem, you cannot Remove the software from your PC. I’m not sure it’s legal, and I truly don’t understand how Amazon is launching such full of big bugs service without saying it’s a Beta version.

46. J. Young
    

    September 8th, 2006 at 8:44 pm

    I really like the idea of being able to choose to either rent or download to own (however, this does not appear to be an option for all movies).

    For example, I could “Rent” Syriana 3 different times and it would still be cheaper than buying the permanent download. I’m primarily on Mac, so I sincerely hope that iTunes adopts this rent-OR-own paradigm for movies.

47. wordadmin
    

    February 6th, 2007 at 5:33 pm

    I like it.
    So pity it’s not free ))