Blockbuster embraces digital streaming!

http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/10/blockbuster-streaming-set-top-box-announcement-this-month/

It's happening sooner than you all think! If a big business like Blockbuster is ready to do it, and thinks that people will enbrace this new way to view media, then surely you have to admit maybe it's gonna happen sooner rather than later? Most nay sayers it's not gonna be the norm for at leat seven to ten years. Ever since I found http://www.vudu.com, I was ready to believe this was ready to happen, it just had to be presented to the masses in an acceptable way.

The popularity of digital stream at home, and digital downloads of movies STRAIGHT AT HOME, will surpass high definition like Blu Ray. Main reason: Cheaper price, and comfort. It's not hi def, but most people in the country don't have big screen hdtv, surround sound satellite speakers, or expensive receivers combined- to make use of what blu ray offers. TOO EXPENSIVE. Especially NOW during ECONOMIC CRUNCH.

Most importantly: Most home viewers just WANT TO WATCH THE MOVIE, not collect it (as a disc). Digital streaming/download videos will neither replace DVD nor Blu Ray, but it WILL CERTAINLY become as important as satellite, or cable receiver.

Amazon knows this, Netflix certainly knows this... now BLOCKBUSTER.

[Post edited by tylerdurden on Apr 11, 2008]

Steaming Quality has a long way to progress yet (and still won't ever equal 1080p disc media, IMO). I subscribe to PC World, and the recent issue (May), on pg 80 (for Apple TV: Take Two) stated -

In addition to providing access to YouTube videos and Flickr and .Mac photo streams, Apple's set-top box now brings video rentals from your iTunes to your TV. The movie selection is worse than that of your local video store, though the prices are similar - New high-definition (1280 by 720 resolution) movie rentals cost $5 and standard-definition movies cost $1 less ($4).

Once a movie is downloaded, you have 30 days to began watching it--and once you've started it, 24 hours to finish it. The HD video quality didn't compare to what the Dish Network beams to my home, and SD was sub-DVD quality (despite being the same resolution). The addition of downloadable movie rentals makes this device more compelling. But for now, you may want to keep renting flicks on disc. -[END]-

Uh... no thanks. I'll stick with Blu-ray, DVD, and HD-DVD.

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

[Post edited by Love Hendrix! on Apr 11, 2008]

Spoonard,

I really wish you'd stop banging the drug for downloading. Why? As I've said several times before, the infrastructure is simply not there. While you might get the actual movie downloaded for a "cheaper" price than buying the disc, the quality will not be as good (as LH says above) you don't get any extras you don't get any packaging you don't get the choice of burning the content to disc for yourself.

Moreover, downloading feature length films in HD quality does not happen with a snap of the fingers. Internet connections need to be quicker, homes need to have hard drive space and EVERYONE needs to be on high speed internet of some kind.

This isn't happening tomorrow or the next day. Logistics need to be hammered out and every company involved needs to be on board 1,000%.

Jason, sleeps with his packaged media

Quote:
Moreover, downloading feature length films in HD quality does not happen with a snap of the fingers. Internet connections need to be quicker, homes need to have hard drive space and EVERYONE needs to be on high speed internet of some kind.

Agreed. Its been pointed out that UK boffins have developed a method of increasing download speed. I can't remember how fast but it is easily capable of streaming HD content. The interesting thing is it utilities existing telephone infrastructure. They reckon it'll be ready within five years.

Quote:
Jason, sleeps with his packaged media

Does that not cause read errors? - sorry couldn't pass that one up.

Quote:
Agreed. Its been pointed out that UK boffins have developed a method of increasing download speed. I can't remember how fast but it is easily capable of streaming HD content. The interesting thing is it utilities existing telephone infrastructure. They reckon it'll be ready within five years.

It's Europe. They're always ten years ahead of us anyway.

For the sake of argument, even if we could stream HD content faster and better using what is currently available, the industry still needs to make a case to the public as to why this is better. They couldn't unite behind one high def format and they won't do it here.

Quote:
Does that not cause read errors? - sorry couldn't pass that one up.

The only read errors I get are when the discs don't get cleaned. I am very...anal about cleaning, though.

Jason, gutter thoughts are his specialty

I believe in digital download and I have a major collection of VHS, DVD, HD DVD movies. I like hard copy most but all my friends could care less about owning them. They all rent. Most people on this website own hard copies but that doesn't hold for the majority of consumers. Digital Download will succeed eventually. Blu Ray may do well for about five years but do you really think it will take much longer than that for DD to take over? Bravo to blockbuster. I'd love to have a membership where the movies look good as dvd or better by streaming. I don't want to own every movie I watch.

Wow, does this mean my broadband provider will stop traffic shaping soon?

Quote:
Wow, does this mean my broadband provider will stop traffic shaping soon?

Nope. It just means they have a new "service" to gouge us with all in the name of "convenience" and "customer service."

Jason, Comcast = the Anti-Christ

Quote:
Most importantly: Most home viewers just WANT TO WATCH THE MOVIE, not collect it (as a disc).

Proof please?