Gizmodo
Looks like Wal-Mart is looking for a slice of the movie download business. Starting next week it's launching its own movie store. The way it works is you buy a DVD at the store and then log onto the Wal-Mart website to get your download (each DVD will have a sticker with a URL and promo code that you punch in to get the process going). Then for $1.97 you can download a version of the movie that'll play on a portable media player or for $2.97 you can download a version for your PC/laptop. Cough up $3.97 and you have the right to play it on either of the two.
According to Wal-Mart, this gives buyers the freedom to choose what they want. Personally, I prefer to rip copies of any movie that I own and play them where I want, but that's just me. The service is kicking off with the Superman Returns DVD. Wal-Mart is also working on a more traditional download service, but those details are still under wraps.
Wal-Mart Launches Digital Movie Downloads [via CNNMoney]
Comments
So I have to pay for fair use of my DVD? Or is it just supposed to be a convenience factor? Either way, I won't be using this service.
So I can buy the DVD at walmart, then ebay the dvd download/promo code for a couple of bucks?
mmm, seems they have plenty of bandwidth for downloading movies then...
funny.
They didn't on Black Friday.
But they're not admitting to a DDOS, just 'higher traffic than expected'...
sure Walmart, sure.
This is the stupidest idea ever. Is it just the quality that affects how much something costs? Since my (AWESOME) Archos PMP won't be playing mp4s anytime soon...can I choose file type?
Oh wait a minute, it's a moot point because who buys movies anymore anyway?
So I can pay Wally 1.97 to do something for me that I can do myself cuz I already have the fucking DVD in my hands...why?
No thanks, I already paid for the movie when I bought the dvd.
It seems big business still hasn't figured out that the people who download movies *aren't* going out and buying DVDs in the first place. I'm also pretty sure that the majority of PMP and PC owners out there who do buy DVDs, are simply finding ways to rip their DVDs to their hard drives, etc.
Oh, well; I suppose it is a tiny step in the right direction. Paying $2 or $3 for a compressed file is a lot better than paying $10.
DVD - $15.00
Download DVD from Wal-Mart to play on my PC/Laptop - $ 2.97
Download DVD from Wal-Mart to play on my pmp - $ 1.97
Download Bittorrent and never go to Wal-Mart - PRICELESS
Combines the inconvenience of brick-and-mortar shopping with the restrictive DRM of online purchasing. Count me in!
If this doesn't work on an iPod I think they are really wasting their time. And it's pretty safe bet that it won't.
The question is how long the movie industry will continue down this path of collecting dollars for each version of the same license? At some point I would think the 'Rip and Return' crowd will break into their hefty profit margin and force them to think about reasonable licensing methods for their product.
Then again, maybe not.
Let me see...I can buy a movie at Wal Mart, and then buy it two more times.
Or....I could buy the DVD, watch it on my TV, rip it with Handbrake, watch it on my computer, put it in iTunes, copy it to my iPod, and keep my money.
What a crock of shit.
I think this is aimed more at the "Technologically Impaired/Retarded Walmart Junky that doesn't know much about this sorta thing! Easy money if they play their cards right! Just watch the news, if they dupe enough people, 50/50 chance they'll do a story either on how awesome this service is, or what a bombshell/ripoff it is! Walmart always seems to make the news :P
http://www.netflix.com/MovieDisplay?movieid=70040809&trkid...
The dark side to all this is that technically, ripping the movie yourself is *not* legal. Thus your only legal option is that $4 surcharge.
Ripping the movie is not legal? I believe copying a movie for your own use is legal..
I understand that it's not legal now, but it sure as hell used to be legal to copy media that you owned. Recent laws against breaking digital encryption were designed to force consumers to purchase as many copies of the same crap as possible.
I'll bet I could make it legal again if I owned some politicitans.
I'll bet that freakin' Jack Valenti is behind all this, somehow.
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