Amazon has a new movie download service in the works called AmazonUnbox and at first glance it appears to be pretty decent. Thanks to a post over on HackingNetflix, was able to take a look at this upcoming service from Amazon and get a feel for what it will mean for the consumer.
As it says on the main page, as pictured below, “For a limited time, get $1.99 off your first Digital Video purchase. Most television episodes on Amazon Digital Video are $1.99, but you don’t have to limit yourself to TV. We offer thousands of movies, life and learning videos, and international videos too. Just click the “Start Shopping Now” button below. When you download your first video, we’ll take $1.99 off the price, no strings attached.”
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So Tv episodes for the most part will be about $1.99, not too bad, but what about movies?
For movie downloads the prices run the gamut, with the “vaunted” Pluto Nash running at a cool $2.99 on the lower end of the scale, still overpriced in my opinion, and A Clockwork Orange at a cost of $29.99. Now why A Clockwork Orange costs so much is beyond me, its is Kubrick after all, but for 30 bucks you have to be kidding me.
The majority of movies on the Amazon site run at about $9.99 each, which is obviously comparable to a run-of-the-mill video store purchase. Though considering they have no packaging, distribution, or real merchandising expenditures to account for in the price, one could argue that $9.99 is exorbitant.
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As for what the player looks like, here’s a pic to give you a sneak peek.
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Considering the reach and the number of sales that Amazon has with its books and other retail goods, this could perhaps be an easy and trusted way for the masses to download movies over the internet.
Here’s a list of frequently asked questions from the Amazon site:
What is Amazon Digital Video?
Amazon Digital Video is your home for downloadable TV, movies, sports and more! Amazon’s digital video service allow you to buy or rent content and watch it on your computer, your TV and your portable devices. To get started, click here.
How do I start using the service?
You need to download and install the Amazon Digital Video desktop application. You can get it here. Once you have installed it, shop for content on Amazon as you normally would. It’s that easy!
What are my system requirements?
We recommend that you use a Window XP system and 128MB of memory. For exact system requirements, click here.
Can I install the desktop application on multiple computers?
Absolutely! You can install the application on as many computers as you like.
How do I find content?
Trust us, it’s really easy. Visit the Amazon Digital Video store, and browse your favorite TV shows by genre or category. If you prefer, search for content using our brand new refinement feature. Just select “Digital Video” in the Search drop-down, and type in your search string. For example, “Friends”.
How long will it take to download a video?
It really depends on the speed of your internet connection. If you are on a broadband connection, it will take you approximately 30 minutes to download a 22 minute TV episode. Click here for a quick reference chart to see approximate times to download different types of content.
What is the video quality?
The video quality is comparable to DVD quality. For you techie folks, here’s an encoding chart.
Can I burn a downloaded video to a DVD?
Yes, you can, but it will not be playable on a DVD player. This feature is not available at this time due to limitations of digital rights management.
I own a Creative Zen Vision: M. How do I transfer and watch my downloaded content on it?
Launch the desktop application, plug in your device, and if your device is on the list of supported devices, then it will appear under the “Devices” tab of the application. Once your device is detected, drag and drop the content onto the device.
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