Vudud 2.2 (rev 34051)

[tamanaco]

Re: Vudud 2.2 (rev 34051)

Its under the area wher you can archive movies off your hard drive to the cloud. It shows how much of your hard drive is consumed and by what type of movie (sd/hd/hdx).

I see it now... thanks... the remaining free storage is in Hours per Format. I only see two movies there... The Experience HDX 4 stars community and my rating... and QWYZZY HDX 4 stars community ratings and 4 1/2 stars my rating... I guess I gave it the extra half star for "useful" special effects.

[raaurora]

Re: Vudud 2.2 (rev 34051)

Ok I looked under MyMovies, but is not there. I guess I'll wait until tomorrow to see what happens when I rent a movie.

Its under the area wher you can archive movies off your hard drive to the cloud. It shows how much of your hard drive is consumed and by what type of movie (sd/hd/hdx).

[tamanaco]

Re: Vudud 2.2 (rev 34051)

The DRM is tied to a specific PC or Mobile device. You have to authorize each at Amazon.com and then the downloaded videos can only be played on those devices. However you can stream your content to any PC or Mac.

Thanks for the info... a couple more questions... How many PCs/Mobile devices can you authorize simultaneously? Which mobile devices are supported and what's the format of the mobile video? If one of the authorized devices fails or needs to be upgraded can you transfer the authorization from one PC/Mobile device to another? I ask because lots of folks update their mobile devices every year. I upgrade my laptop every other year and I'd hate to loose content I "bought" and stored in last years laptop next year.

Thanks again

[kikar]

Re: Vudud 2.2 (rev 34051)

Is the Windows DRM implementation tied to one "specific" PC (hardware), to a "specific" number of authorized PCs/Devices or is there some sort of mobile authorization token? Meaning... if I purchase a movie from Amazon and download it to my desktop can I "move" it to my laptop and still fullfil the copyright restrictions? I ask because I'd only buy DRM locked content if the locked content and its key can be move from one device to another.

The DRM is tied to a specific PC or Mobile device. You have to authorize each at Amazon.com and then the downloaded videos can only be played on those devices. However you can stream your content to any PC or Mac.

[NA9D]

Re: Vudud 2.2 (rev 34051)

Is the Windows DRM implementation tied to one "specific" PC (hardware), to a "specific" number of authorized PCs/Devices or is there some sort of mobile authorization token? Meaning... if I purchase a movie from Amazon and download it to my desktop can I "move" it to my laptop and still fullfil the copyright restrictions? I ask because I'd only buy DRM locked content if the locked content and its key can be move from one device to another.

I have no idea. I'm a Mac person. On my Mac, I can move content between authorized computers and devices. Content I own from iTunes can be on an unlimited number of portable devices tied to my library and on computers, I can have up to 5 Mac or Windows authorized devices. For rental content, I can transfer the rental between devices.

I don't know how Windows DRM works, but I assume it would be similar.

[tamanaco]

Re: Vudud 2.2 (rev 34051)

No. It uses Windows DRM.

Is the Windows DRM implementation tied to one "specific" PC (hardware), to a "specific" number of authorized PCs/Devices or is there some sort of mobile authorization token? Meaning... if I purchase a movie from Amazon and download it to my desktop can I "move" it to my laptop and still fullfil the copyright restrictions? I ask because I'd only buy DRM locked content if the locked content and its key can be move from one device to another.

[NA9D]

Re: Vudud 2.2 (rev 34051)

I see, but I'm still curious. I wonder if once the video is downloaded to one PC if it can be easily transferred to another PC and/or if it can be converted to formats suitable for mobile devices. I doubt that they're making it that simple and unsecured, but I've been wrong before. I was thinking that maybe you needed to download a plugin for WMP like those available from "secured adult content" sites in the net or that maybe you needed to download and use a proprietary player.

No. It uses Windows DRM.

[tamanaco]

Re: Vudud 2.2 (rev 34051)

As for portable devices, I'm not sure how that works. I think it tracks how many times you've downloaded it to a PC. But it only works that way on Windows machines and I primarily run Mac.

I see, but I'm still curious. I wonder if once the video is downloaded to one PC if it can be easily transferred to another PC and/or if it can be converted to formats suitable for mobile devices. I doubt that they're making it that simple and unsecured, but I've been wrong before. I was thinking that maybe you needed to download a plugin for WMP like those available from "secured adult content" sites in the net or that maybe you needed to download and use a proprietary player.

[NA9D]

Re: Vudud 2.2 (rev 34051)

Well, for you Tivo, you have to link your Tivo to your Amazon account. Therefore it knows how many Tivos you have linked and how many it is on. The material on the Tivo itself is flagged and you can't transfer it from one box to another nor can you download it from the box.

As for portable devices, I'm not sure how that works. I think it tracks how many times you've downloaded it to a PC. But it only works that way on Windows machines and I primarily run Mac.

[tamanaco]

Re: Vudud 2.2 (rev 34051)

You are correct, Dave.

This is one thing I don't understand about Vudu. Amazon allows me to store any video on their cloud and I can watch on both my Tivos. I think the rules are up to 3 devices can watch an Amazon title. Two of them can be Tivos. The third can be a PC, etc. So why does Vudu not allow cloud archival of everything (still can't figure that one out - I've mentioned the security aspects as a bonus many times), or allow me to watch content on multiple boxes?

The non-level DRM playing field is nuts...Not Vudu's fault, but the content owner's fault...

How does Amazon enforce the restriction to 3 devices? How do they make sure that you're playing it on an authorized PC, Tivo or Roku box? I think that we're all in agreement that at least for videos "purchased" via Vudu one should have the flexibility to play them in a few devices. Specially if stored in the Vudu cloud.

I think that one of the issues for any distributor is how to enforce the number of devices on which the video plays as specified by the content owner. Also how to identify authorized users before allow them to play the video. As it stands, it "appears" that Vudu purchased video can only play in the Vudu box from which it was purchased, but I have not seen an "official" document clarifying the restrictions. I understand that there are "business restrictions" specified by the content owners; but there is also a technology enabling component to enforce the "business restrictions".

Maybe Vudu has an Ace up their sleeves. Restricting the playing of rental videos to one box is fine, but having the same restriction for purchased videos is a business model doomed to failure... specially if other players in the arena (Amazon) do not have such restriction. I have to "assume" that Vudu is negotiating with the studios to remove these restrictions. The studios will come to the realization that if they can enabled increased revenues for Vudu that they in term will benefit from that increase. I know this new model conflicts with the Studios' DVD/BlueRay cash cow... but they see the writting on the wall. Like it or not... online distribution of video content is the future and the key to survival for some of these studios.

[NA9D]

Re: Vudud 2.2 (rev 34051)

Netflix doesn't do purchases. It's just unlimited streaming from a shifting and mostly older and/or indy library. Amazon VOD, by comparison, has always supported multiple devices. For example, I can watch purchased content from my library on PC, TiVo, or Roku box. Amazon will re-download the video from their servers to you if you don't already have it on a device. And I think you can store copies on two TiVo units simultaneously as another point of comparison. Although, Amazon VOD is all SD these days. I believe iTunes video is similar, but without a backup in Apple's cloud. If you buy a video, you can watch it on your computer, on your AppleTV or your iPhone and move it about.

You are correct, Dave.

This is one thing I don't understand about Vudu. Amazon allows me to store any video on their cloud and I can watch on both my Tivos. I think the rules are up to 3 devices can watch an Amazon title. Two of them can be Tivos. The third can be a PC, etc. So why does Vudu not allow cloud archival of everything (still can't figure that one out - I've mentioned the security aspects as a bonus many times), or allow me to watch content on multiple boxes?

The non-level DRM playing field is nuts...Not Vudu's fault, but the content owner's fault...

[davezatz]

Re: Vudud 2.2 (rev 34051)

If so, does it only work for "streamed" rental videos? Does it also work with "downloaded" purchased videos? If Netflix already allows rental and/or purchased videos to play outside the Roku box, then Vudu might be able to persuade its content suppliers to allow them to implement something similar. As I said before, I'm not familiar with the player, but if you have used it, can you also tell us how does the player secures the streamed video session with the Netflix/Amazon service?

Netflix doesn't do purchases. It's just unlimited streaming from a shifting and mostly older and/or indy library. Amazon VOD, by comparison, has always supported multiple devices. For example, I can watch purchased content from my library on PC, TiVo, or Roku box. Amazon will re-download the video from their servers to you if you don't already have it on a device. And I think you can store copies on two TiVo units simultaneously as another point of comparison. Although, Amazon VOD is all SD these days. I believe iTunes video is similar, but without a backup in Apple's cloud. If you buy a video, you can watch it on your computer, on your AppleTV or your iPhone and move it about.

[tamanaco]

Re: Vudud 2.2 (rev 34051)

I never got around to trying out the Netflix player on the PC.

Please let us know how it works and what you think... if and when you try it.

thanks....

[aaronwt]

Re: Vudud 2.2 (rev 34051)

I think that eventually Netflix and others in this arena will have to implement a similar model if they haven't already done so. Specially for purchased content. As you know, Netflix is already working on a "player" for computers. In another thread you mentioned that you were going to test the Netflix player. Did you test it? If so, does it only work for "streamed" rental videos? Does it also work with "downloaded" purchased videos? If Netflix already allows rental and/or purchased videos to play outside the Roku box, then Vudu might be able to persuade its content suppliers to allow them to implement something similar. As I said before, I'm not familiar with the player, but if you have used it, can you also tell us how does the player secures the streamed video session with the Netflix/Amazon service?

I never got around to trying out the Netflix player on the PC.

[tamanaco]

Re: Vudud 2.2 (rev 34051)

It should show up in MyMovies or wherever you see your list of content. It could have been taken out before release - I never know what the public release ends up being sometimes. So if it's not there, I'm sorry...

Ok I looked under MyMovies, but is not there. I guess I'll wait until tomorrow to see what happens when I rent a movie.

This is not new. This has been there for some time - at least since last fall.

First time I noticed it was today.

Btw, I rebooted the box twice already, to see if I could get my Wish List back. Not such luck. It only lists two movies the rest disappeared after the software update. Did anyone else experienced this?