Vudu BX100 not using downloaded files

[wstewart]

I was always able to rend HD and HDX movies and download them to the hard drive and then watch them to avoid streaming issues. Ever since the hard drive issue with these boxes and the related fix it shows that the files are being downloaded just fine.

The problem is that when you actually try to watch the movie it doesn't use the downloaded file but rather just streams it again. This makes this service unwatchable and defeats the purpose of having a hard drive and downloading the movie ahead of time.

If these boxes just aren't going to be supported I think that the company needs to just come out and let us know that this customer base has been abandoned.

[wstewart]

Re: Vudu BX100 not using downloaded files

Unplugged network cable and it offered to view movies in offline mode. Then a message displayed that no movies were available to view in offline mode ... even though 6 movies have been downloaded and are sitting on the box.

It a shame ... this service used to be first rate ... now it's embarrassing.

[canadien37]

Re: Vudu BX100 not using downloaded files

I was always able to rend HD and HDX movies and download them to the hard drive and then watch them to avoid streaming issues. Ever since the hard drive issue with these boxes and the related fix it shows that the files are being downloaded just fine.

The problem is that when you actually try to watch the movie it doesn't use the downloaded file but rather just streams it again. This makes this service unwatchable and defeats the purpose of having a hard drive and downloading the movie ahead of time.

If these boxes just aren't going to be supported I think that the company needs to just come out and let us know that this customer base has been abandoned.

I have a BX 100 box as well, I don't have rentals, but purchases downloaded to it......when I play a downloaded movie, it plays from the drive, it also plays in offline mode.... I don't know the exact date, but there was a cutoff for movies that could be played offline....I think it was October 2010, after that date, any downloaded movies need an internet connection, but do play from the hard drive.....Perhaps the situation is different with rentals......

[Guest]

Re: Vudu BX100 not using downloaded files

On the VBX and certain supported blu-ray players, the intended behavior is that all downloaded movies should be playable with a connection and without streaming. On the VBX only and without a connection (offline play) only "purchased to own" movies are currently allowed to be played. There is a distinction between earlier movies (before October) and more recent downloads, but this relates to how fast-forward, reverse, and seek/chapters are supported; they should all be playable. Earlier movies are not currently on the "Manage Downloads" page and cannot (currently) be deleted.

The various ancillary images to recent movies (such as chapter images and fast-forward images) may be fetched as you play so there may be some network traffic, however the movie itself should play from the disk.

There have been a couple instances (due to the decreased lead times and various other changes in processes) of movies being released in a technically sub-standard form and then quickly replaced on the servers with a corrected version. These issues are generally invisible on downloaded movies, but nevertheless if you unfortunately downloaded a version that has been recalled you will stream the new version despite your download.

If you have a downloaded movie that streams when you play it online, or a downloaded _owned_ movie that you cannot play offline, please report it as a defect in the appropriate forum. Reporting it right when it happens is a great aid in finding the correct logs, etc.

Thank you for buying a BX100!

[canadien37]

Re: Vudu BX100 not using downloaded files

On the VBX and certain supported blu-ray players, the intended behavior is that all downloaded movies should be playable with a connection and without streaming. On the VBX only and without a connection (offline play) only "purchased to own" movies are currently allowed to be played. There is a distinction between earlier movies (before October) and more recent downloads, but this relates to how fast-forward, reverse, and seek/chapters are supported; they should all be playable. Earlier movies are not currently on the "Manage Downloads" page and cannot (currently) be deleted.

The various ancillary images to recent movies (such as chapter images and fast-forward images) may be fetched as you play so there may be some network traffic, however the movie itself should play from the disk.

There have been a couple instances (due to the decreased lead times and various other changes in processes) of movies being released in a technically sub-standard form and then quickly replaced on the servers with a corrected version. These issues are generally invisible on downloaded movies, but nevertheless if you unfortunately downloaded a version that has been recalled you will stream the new version despite your download.

If you have a downloaded movie that streams when you play it online, or a downloaded _owned_ movie that you cannot play offline, please report it as a defect in the appropriate forum. Reporting it right when it happens is a great aid in finding the correct logs, etc.

Thank you for buying a BX100!

This is very interesting, David do you mean the ability to play purchased films offline that were downloaded after October does not involve a change in DRM?

[Guest]

Re: Vudu BX100 not using downloaded files

I'm unwilling to discuss DRM without an appropriate NDA and a compelling need to know.

However I'm happy to say that that the Vudu BX series has always been the most secure connected media platform in the industry. Offline play (available since launch) cannot be used to compromise this security.

[canadien37]

Re: Vudu BX100 not using downloaded files

I'm unwilling to discuss DRM without an appropriate NDA and a compelling need to know.

However I'm happy to say that that the Vudu BX series has always been the most secure connected media platform in the industry. Offline play (available since launch) cannot be used to compromise this security.

Sorry, David, I guess my question wasn't phrased correctly, I have no intention of trying to circumvent security....What I meant was purchased movies downloaded after October 2010 can or cannot be played offline? I remember when there was this capability during the time VUDU was P2P. It was my understanding that after October 2010, a connection is necessary to play purchased downloaded films......I apologize again for the misunderstanding, just a little confused about the first part of your post....Believe me, I know the security is top notch, the studios would not allow the flexibility we do have if it wasn't.....

[Guest]

Re: Vudu BX100 not using downloaded files

In studio lingo "Purchased" can refer to rentals, so we prefer to use "owned".

Owned movies 100% downloaded to disk, on a Vudu-brand set-top-box or rackmount with up-to-date (as of months ago) software, should be playable with no internet connection.

[canadien37]

Re: Vudu BX100 not using downloaded files

Thanks for the clarification, David......In the correct terms, I own over 200 movies with VUDU, it's nice to know there is that much flexibility with the box.....I'll need to check to see if my owned movies after October 2010 can be played offline....My only desire for this function was so that my films can be viewed in case there is an outage in internet service, etc......

[Guest]

Re: Vudu BX100 not using downloaded files

Happy to help!

[MaxH]

Re: Vudu BX100 not using downloaded files

David, do you work for Vudu? It's not clear from your user title.

[canadien37]

Re: Vudu BX100 not using downloaded files

I was curious about that too, Max...He certainly seem to know a lot of details of the box and service...

[Guest]

Re: Vudu BX100 not using downloaded files

I've been an employee since late 2005.

[canadien37]

Re: Vudu BX100 not using downloaded files

Cool, David, I currently having an issue with buffering with my BX100 that is making me go nuts.....I thought myself and the tech I am working with nipped this issue in the bud, but it reared it's ugly head again....Maybe you can point me in the right direction in terms of trouble shooting....I can give you my case number if you wish.....

It's been going on for about 2 weeks, I worked with D. Hatman( he's been great by the way) we tried everything in the book, I sent him traces, speed test results, etc, but can't seem to narrow this thing down.....It is not an issue with my network....I also have a Vizio TV that I very rarely view VUDU on...It has worked no problem and is on a wireless connection...Before the recent trouble the service has performed great.....Just for the heck of it, is it possible the box itself could be the culprit, maybe software or a faulty component on the board? I'm lost with this one.....

[Guest]

Re: Vudu BX100 not using downloaded files

I tracked down the cause of the downloaded files not being used and the fix is in the pipeline to be tested and deployed within a few weeks. It is most likely to happen if you are playing a downloaded HDX movie while downloading a different HDX movie. You can suspend downloads temporarily on the My Downloads page if that is your scenario.

If the problem is actually a hard-disk issue (use related degradation) then of course it will not be improved.

The same defect (especially coupled with uneven bandwidth) can cause unnecessary buffering, so perhaps your issue will also be fixed or reduced.

We've seen an increase in buffering recently that was directly related to the Level3-versus-Comcas conflict. Other ISPs and backbone providers are possibly interfering with traffic in a bid to gain negotiation leverage.