04/03/2006, 3:40pm, EDT
Monday, April 3rd
MovieLink VOD deal leaves Mac users out
Mac users as well as users of older versions of Windows are greeted with an error message when visiting the website: "Sorry, but as of May 2, 2005, Movielink no longer supports Windows 98 and ME operating systems. Movielink also does not support Mac or Linux. In order to enjoy the Movielink service, you must use Windows 2000 or XP, which support certain technologies we utilize for downloading movies."
Touting its catalog, Movielink said it also offers other major 2006 DVD releases, including King Kong, Good Night, and Good Luck, Pride & Prejudice, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Get Rich or Die Tryin', and Walk the Line. Classic titles are also available to buy, including East of Eden, The Sting, To Kill a Mockingbird, Die Another Day, Office Space and Breakfast at Tiffany's.
"As a pioneer in this space, Movielink has consistently delivered an affordable, high quality and easy to use VOD service, so it is only fitting that Movielink is the first to offer this revolutionary expansion of consumer options, including the ability to buy major studio releases online day-and-date with DVDs," said Jim Ramo, CEO, Movielink. "We're committed to developing the Movielink service so our customers get the highest viewing value, more technological options, greater convenience, deeper selection of content, and availability of titles in earlier windows."
Rent or Buy options
Movielink has divided its Web site into two "stores," with a common home page. The two storefronts function just as the Movielink original "Rental Store" operated, but the license to view a movie obtained from the "Purchase Store" allows for unlimited viewing. The movie may be permanently stored on the hard drive to create a permanent archive, or burned to a disc in Windows Media format for backup or playback on up to two additional tethered computers. In addition, consumers can stream their copy of the movie to a TV set connected to a media center extender or Xbox when using a Media Center Edition PC.
"The studios are embracing the Internet as a viable distribution platform for their movies, and providing this service will also help to convert Internet pirates into legitimate customers," said Ramo. "Movielink has carved out a position in the broadband market as the place to come for high quality long form entertainment, and we intend to continue to expand consumer options as the Internet delivery of movies becomes a significant channel of distribution."
Filed under: industry
Other story tags: digital music/video
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Reminded them they lost a customer.
Reminded them that I'll just wait until iTunes sells movies and puts them out of business.
I suggest you all do the same.
Flash [swf] WMV [win media] JSP Pages [java]
and whatever else they are using on the "web" a Mac can access_
OPTI - by the way [no offense] but "DVD Quality" SUCKS !
What they are doing is using some system level code that detects your actual computer system [changing the User Agent of your browser to PC Windows doesn't work]
Their security stuff is most likely done thru Microsoft proprietary coding a little beyond me and for lack of better term]_ And so the ONLY way they can ensure their 24 hour downloads or 3 copy maximum or whatever is to run them thru the Win system level coding - 'cause the Mac wouldn't recognize the security lock outs [and they'd have to do a lot of extra work for the WMV Mac version - slackers]_
2 Final points - first - they do not have a huge selection as it is_ Just ran down a list of several major titles thru the years - couldn't find but a couple_
And second - does anyone see the IRONY here - of the titles they do have - I can find several that were made using Macintoshes_
Also - other options such as running the audio file thru sound editing software or creating a closed hardware loop from the Audio Out to the Audio In on your computer and rerecord - kinda like dubbing a cassette - back in the day except that this is direct and without much interference [except the type of audio cable you use]_
People have nothing better to do with their time other than bitch about nothing_ Amazing_
Like people bringing law suit against Apple for hearing damage from the sue of iPods_ 25 years ago people did the same damn thing against Sony when they first released the original Walkman_ I grew up using walkmans - tape player - AM/FM Stereo Radio - CD Players and I even have an iPod_
The hearing issue - comes down to one thing - can everyone say "USER STUPIDITY" - plain and simple_
People drive cars - many cars can very easily exceed the posted speed limit - but when someone gets a speeding ticket or hits another car - is anyone suing FORD or DODGE 'cause there is not a speed limiter permanantly built into the car or 'cause the speedometer goes over 45mph - the answer in a word - NO!
Like I said User Stupidity_
The point is that they are using a version of Windows Media DRM which does not work on the Macintosh. This has been pretty much true with the last version of Microsoft Windows Media Player for the Mac. Flip4Mac doesn't support any DRM period.
So even if one bypassed the web related checks, the media would be useless on a non-Windows 2000/XP system. Since newer versions of WMP DRM has yet to be fully cracked (several years running now), Hollywood/MPAA to some extent favors the Microsoft technology.
There are some custom DirectShow graphs created in GraphEdit that some folks use to capture DRM protected Windows Media streams (complex process). There are also techniques which utilize some hacked dll's and a rollback to WMP9 to strip the DRM license but only if you already have a valid license.
I guess that means Apple's lame video service is also doomed to failure, right?