New Vudu Users Check in Here!

[maciejj]

Re: New Vudu Users Check in Here!

I have not received my box yet, but according to the discussions I have some comments for the vudu team. You should not have to store a ?bought movie? on the box. You can just store the information that I have purchased the movie in your database and let me watch it whenever I wish. Also, you should not to give time limits to watch a rented movie. Let me watch when I wish, as many times as I wish, and cancel the rights to do it when I order a new one. More important for me is to have access to free movie trailers during browsing of your database. Preview pilots for ordered movies should be put on the box to allow quick access. If vudu wants to take advantage of its movie database they should consider bad video stores experience. Mostly they make money with the new releases. The old stuff is dead and mostly used only as decoration and a waste of space. The problem is with browsing. It is not possible to keep the entire inventory of old movies in a store and and those that are available are very hard to find. Also, you should pay more attention to movie stars. Movie business along with movie rental business is based primarily on them. With exception of certain movie stars, people actually don't remember their names but recognize their faces. This should be taken into consideration while building a new browsing interface.

[mbustin]

Re: New Vudu Users Check in Here!

Well, I have about 3 weeks left before I take advantage of the return policy....

I don't expect to see much change around here soon enough. I blame the studios... I just don't think I can take the frustration of seeing all the new releases on DVD at Blockbuster and having vudu lagging so far behind ... the whole point for me was instant access ...

I'll check in every 6 months to see if they can finally get timely access to movies. Then I'll re-buy, most likely the box will be available for $199.

Now if vudu would extend their return policy for another couple of months, that's a different story ...

[MaxH]

Re: New Vudu Users Check in Here!

My big hope is that, as the older channels start to be abandoned by consumers, the movie studios soon find themselves in the position in which the RIAA now finds itself -- actually losing money (although nearly not as much as they claim) due to their antiquated market strategy and rigid resistance to change. Once VUDU and other VOD channels become a larger proportion of their profits, they'll have to start prioritizing them more.

[Ender]

Re: New Vudu Users Check in Here!

As I explored Vudu, I kept thinking to myself, man the studios really just don't like this whole VOD concept do they? Each complaint I had gave me the feeling that the studios were attempting to hamstring the VOD products and only grudgingly supporting the effort. Sort a, "<sigh> Here you go Vudu....you can distribute these titles...but we're going to make sure there are a few little annoyances built into the user experience, just so everyone know's we don't really like what you're doing".

The irony is Vudu is enabling the studios to make more money. I'm paying to subcribe to HBO, Sho, etc AND choosing to pay separately to stream some of the same titles that are included in my $30/mo DirecTV upgrade package. A further irony...I imagine the studio's take on a $3.99 rental via my Vudo is greater than Vudu's take.

As mentioned earlier, this has been a major point of discussion. It seems as though the studios just don't understand the viewing habits these days. Hopefully Vudu can change their thinking and show how the studios could earn more by easing their restrictive ideas.

[rlauwereins]

Re: New Vudu Users Check in Here!

As mentioned earlier, this has been a major point of discussion. It seems as though the studios just don't understand the viewing habits these days. Hopefully Vudu can change their thinking and show how the studios could earn more by easing their restrictive ideas.

[kmulder]

Re: New Vudu Users Check in Here!

The 24hr countdown til deletion that gets invoked as soon as one rolls past the credits really irks me. IMO, that clause should be in effect after the EOF is reached on the movie. All the VOD services seem to have this restriction, so I don?t think it?s something Vudu will really be able to remedy. This seems like something the studios insist on.
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I also would like to have the rental period extended. 24 hours is really too short.

When I received the box on Friday I started to watch a movie a 5:30 pm.
Well then something came up and I had to go out.

Now my only option to watch the movie was to finish it late at night when I came home because I wouldn't be home on saturday during the day to view it before my window expired.

Also why is there a 30 day window for viewing the movie.

If I have paid for the rental what difference does it make if it sits on my hard drive for months before I view it?


Visit the 5 Star Cinema

[NA9D]

Re: New Vudu Users Check in Here!

Ender,

Thanks for the comments. Glad you are liking it so far.

The 24 hour viewing window is a headache and changing it is one of the most common feature requests made by just about everyone. It is a studio thing and you are correct in that VOD on cable has the same restriction. It's funny how I can rent a movie for several days and view it as many times as I want, but if I stream it, I have 24 hours. It would be nice to have say, a 3 or 5 day rental window where you can watch it as many times in that 3 or 5 day window and then it's gone. No need to have the "30 day" watch window really - just the 3 or 5 day window where I could watch it as much as I want and then it goes bye-bye after that...

Jon

[Ender]

Re: New Vudu Users Check in Here!

I received my Vudu on Friday. Setup was easy, my cat could have succeeded. The interface is great, and I?m pleased (enough) with the initial selection of movies. So far I?ve watched Fracture and Hot Fuzz. I was very impressed with the up-scaled picture quality at 720P.

I have only two real complaints at this point and I really doubt they can get addressed as I?m sure the studios aren?t going to budge on these anytime soon. These are:

I don?t have the best attention span. I tend to ?watch a movie? while performing various other activities (like posting on forums). After an hour or so I tend to want to get up and do something else. Sometimes I won?t come back to finish the last hour of a movie until later in the week. The 24hr countdown ?til deletion that gets invoked as soon as one rolls past the credits really irks me. IMO, that clause should be in effect after the EOF is reached on the movie. All the VOD services seem to have this restriction, so I don?t think it?s something Vudu will really be able to remedy. This seems like something the studios insist on.

My second observation, really a request, stems from the complaint above. Since I don?t tend to watch movies in one sitting I?d really like the option to re-rent at a discount during my 30dy window, perhaps even just a re-rent at $.99 within the first week would be a fair compromise. That or I could start taking Adderall.

As mentioned above, I like the content so far. Sure, it needs to be expanded, but it?s really not that bad a start. Personally, I?d be much more interested in seeing recent run HBO, Showtime, ABC/NBC/CBS series episodes available than I?d be to see more movies, but I don?t think this opinion would be shared by many.

[MaxH]

Re: New Vudu Users Check in Here!

Ken, have you tried clicking on "Similar Movies"? (Below the price, above the cast list.) I think it's got a lot of potential, although I'd like to see more selections, even if they are a stretch. Sometimes it only brings up 2 or 3 movies. But that's still better than nothing!

[mbustin]

Re: New Vudu Users Check in Here!

Database 1345 is old...

I forget if this was before or after the really big update...OK. It is after the really big update so updating to 1353 shouldn't be that bad. You'll need to leave the box alone in order for the updates to occur. They also occur at relatively slow speed (ie: 100kbps to 200kbps) so as to have minimal impact on network traffic.

You'll get more films with the newer database...

NA9D,

My database version is 1353 (I misquoted) - and 28 months later availability has been updated ... now I can buy it for 19.99, lucky me

[kmulder]

Re: New Vudu Users Check in Here!

I think I'll start talking about the positive side of this device.
I really want this to succeed and I don't want to discourage any future buyers.

I just see the possibility of this box to be great if they just change a few things.

Besides the great picture quality and the instant start of the movie, I love the interface and menus.

I like when you select the movie, on the left side it shows the actors names and a picture of them.

Then when you click on the actor it will show every movie that Vudu has with that actor in it. It also gives the actors birthday and where they were born.


Visit the 5 Star Cinema

[RonV]

Re: New Vudu Users Check in Here!

Mark,

I have just sent you a private message for some more information about your home network. Just send me a private message back....

Thanks for the advice. As soon as I restart the bridge, connecivity resumes. Perhaps in the future,some more useful info about the the state of updates would be helpful since I have no idea what database 14:1345 means ..

I love the product, interface, concept and I hope it suceeds. I hope the content count vastly exceeds 10,000 eventually and includes all TV, PBS, etc.

I won't gripe about content, or lack thereof anymore, I think the point has been made I just need to decide if I think the content situation improves within 3 weeks ...

-Mark

[NA9D]

Re: New Vudu Users Check in Here!

Thanks for the advice. As soon as I restart the bridge, connecivity resumes. Perhaps in the future,some more useful info about the the state of updates would be helpful since I have no idea what database 14:1345 means ..

Database 1345 is old...

I forget if this was before or after the really big update...OK. It is after the really big update so updating to 1353 shouldn't be that bad. You'll need to leave the box alone in order for the updates to occur. They also occur at relatively slow speed (ie: 100kbps to 200kbps) so as to have minimal impact on network traffic.

You'll get more films with the newer database...

[kmulder]

Re: New Vudu Users Check in Here!

I love the product, interface, concept and I hope it suceeds. I hope the content count vastly exceeds 10,000 eventually and includes all TV, PBS, etc.

I won't gripe about content, or lack thereof anymore, I think the point has been made I just need to decide if I think the content situation improves within 3 weeks ...

-Mark

Mark,
I agree with you 100%.


Visit the 5 Star Cinema

[mbustin]

Re: New Vudu Users Check in Here!

Thanks for the advice. As soon as I restart the bridge, connecivity resumes. Perhaps in the future,some more useful info about the the state of updates would be helpful since I have no idea what database 14:1345 means ..

I love the product, interface, concept and I hope it suceeds. I hope the content count vastly exceeds 10,000 eventually and includes all TV, PBS, etc.

I won't gripe about content, or lack thereof anymore, I think the point has been made I just need to decide if I think the content situation improves within 3 weeks ...

-Mark