We have to admit that when it comes to UltraViolet, we just don't get it. With most of the major studios involved (Disney is the holdout,) the idea is that instead of streaming or renting, a onetime purchase with the logo gives you a Blu-ray and regular DVD with a code that can be used to download on various UltraViolet enabled video devices like tablets, smartphones and PCs. Sign up at the site and up to six individuals get access. Go for a code only and you get to burn your own copy.
While the service only launched in mid-October and is still new with only a few titles available and no major retailers committed to the idea, the company feels that it can do to video what Apple and iTunes did for music. But when it comes right down to it, the fact is that you have to be on the Internet to use the service and burn a copy that many cannot or don't want to do makes it less appealing.
We so prefer renting or streaming to amassing more "stuff" and unless you have kids that can endlessly watch animated movies or you are sci-fi fanatic, we think the concept has a ways to go. Especially since if you look at a purchase for "Horrible Bosses" Blu-ray/DVD combination pack plus UltraViolet digital code that is a whopping $24.99.
In an obviously greedy move, the cost of a Redbox DVD is now at least two extra dimes. While Coinstar claims that the $1.00 to $1.20 increase is due to "operating expenses" including debit card fees, it also gives an option for merchants to apply surcharges. With this 20% price hike, you may soon find the red kiosks containing a different kind of product. Then again, Reed Hastings apologized and BOA listened (kind of) and that's a start. Take the hint, Coinstar.
Hulu has decided not to sell their company because of a conflict regarding future streaming rights on the Net. That ends the auction that began in June and was said to be of interest to Dish Network, Yahoo and Amazon. Hulu is owned by News Corp., which is made up of ABC, Disney and other media companies. Getting back to business, the company says,
"Our focus no rests solely on ensuring that our efforts as owners contribute in a meaningful way to the exciting future that lies ahead for Hulu."
We hope that includes the freebie shows and movies that we have grown to love from them.
Netflix's rate hike has cost them about a million subscribers. Considering the fact that they still have about 14 million DVD only and 22 million streaming customers, perhaps they are moving towards the latter to concentrate on. With online streaming perhaps due to become the sole source of content, you can finally turn your outdated TV into a mini-coffee table.
Note: Told ya so. In a letter to its customers, CEO Reed Hastings apologized not for raising the rates but for not explaining that he is separating both services, changing the name of the mail service to Qwikster.
Best Buy seems to be feeling the pinch in sales and will be concentration its efforts by improving its Marketplace. They have added several third party sellers to join them such as Buy.com, resulting in an "increased assortment of products, brands and price points."
You can bet that you will see a change as the holidays approach this year as they have promised about a third more products online.
What happens when obsession goes terribly wrong? Just ask George Lucas who never seems to get past 1977's Star Wars. His latest project, the upcoming Blu-ray release, will apparently have such improvements changes as a CGI Yoda, light saber effect adjustment and other audio and video tweaks. The new edition is available for pre-order for a September 16 release and although some of these "improvements" are rumors at this point, they seem to come from several sources and April 1 has already passed. So we just say "Stay the same you should, Yoda."
By the way, if you are a budding filmmaker, script writer or critic, you can participate in Amazon Studios, where you can screen test future films and vote on them. We are speaking some serious prize money for the winners of cash awards.
It seems that Netflix and Starz have come to a parting of the ways after the video provider wouldn't go along with the media company's demand. Apparently the millions were not enough for Starz as they wanted an additional fee tacked on for screenings. CEO Reed Hastings is keeping positive about the end of the negotiations and will invest in other companies. So those of you who stream those chick flicks and Disney films better get them in before the end of the February 28 contract expiration.
It's not like we would be the only site not to say that we will notice the absence of Steve Jobs, but we guess we just wanted to add our best wishes and hope he gets some well-deserved rest. And although he will still be the Chairman of the Board, his frequent presence will still be missed. At least we can think of him every time we use our iPhone, iPad or iMac.
Networking will soon be one step closer between physicians and their patients with a super-thin patch that is placed directly on the skin. Engineers at Northwestern University have found that these can be used for diagnostics, sensing and communications. Similar to a temporary tattoo, the device contains sensors, wireless power and communication modules. To prove their case further, they positioned one on a user's throat and spoken commands like up down, left and right can control the video game Sokoban.
Google has designs on Motorola Mobility, knowing that with the purchase of the company, they can better integrate cell phone usage with the Android applications. Motorola has been around for 80 years, and it certainly doesn't hurt that it was a founding member of the Open Handset Alliance. And then there is that little thing called competition, while Microsoft and Apple try to weaken Android, Google will try to make it a winner in the public's eye.
While most companies are concentrating on ways to make their smartphones more intelligent, capable and shinier, HTC CEO Peter Chou believes that concentrating on the sound is the way to go. With a 51% ownership of Beats, the two organizations are working to integrate for some new headsets this fall. And with a product as cool as Beats, we think they may just have something.
With all the fuss about Netflix's changing policy, many subscribers are complaining about that 60% rate increase. For those that received the dual mail/streaming rate must now decide if they want to pay the $15.98 to continue service for both, choose one or opt for another service.
The company itself doesn't seem too concerned although thousands have complained on its Facebook page and many have "de-subscribed," but the change will happen and we foresee some users dropping that second or third disc to adjust to the rate hike.
What is it about us humans that have a need to watch a train wreck in action? We watched the Casey Anthony case unfold via live feed and raced back to the site when the verdict was announced. We checked out YouTube, Facebook and Twitter to find the latest war news, complete with imagery of blood and violence.
We witnessed the endless comments of "awesome" when Mark Zuckerberg et al let us know we can instantly Skype on Facebook and even the President held a Town Hall Twitter event last week. In this day and age of immediate news, we are connected with everyone, every thing and that instant access makes it difficult to believe that there was ever any other way of networking.
Recently interviewed at the BOA Merrill Lynch 2011 Technology Conference in NY, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings commented that the recent deal his company made with Starz and Miramax is only the beginning. This is good news for those of us who do our watching online, as opposed to cable or satellite. He is looking for other movie studios and TV content, like HBO and Showtime, to join up when their pay-TV agreements expire, some as early as 2013. What the company will not do is invest in "adjacent markets" such as those with advertising, transactional VOD and video gaming.
UltraViolet Future of DVD?
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