Amazon Launches Unbox Video Downloads

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.amazon.com/b/?&node=16261631' target='_blank'>http://www.amazon.com/b/?&node=16261631</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/amazon-unbox-logo.gif" /><br /><br />Amazon has just launched their online video ordering system, and it looks pretty slick - though, unfortunately, it's available to US-based customers only, so I can't actually order any videos. Prices are about what I'd expect: $1.99 for one-hour TV shows such as <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000HAEK40/ref=amb_link_3401662_4/102-0696570-7256951">24</a> (with a 20% discount for buying the whole season) and full-length movies range in price from $9.99 to $14.99. That seems a bit high to me, though the price is offset by the fact that the purchase price includes two versions: one DVD-quality download for playback on a PC, and one mobile-ready version for playback on a portable video device. Both downloads seem to be WMV and use Microsoft DRM, so iPods won't be compatible.<br /><br />Amazon has an impressive array of TV channels, including A&amp;E, Adult Swim, Animal Planet, BBC, The Biography Channel, Cartoon Network, CBS, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, E!, Fine Living, FOX, FX, MTV and others. Movie studios that have signed on so far: 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight, Paramount, Sony, Universal, and Warner Bros.<br /><br />Supported mobile devices include the Creative Zen Vision: M, Creative Zen Vision, Toshiba Gigabeat S, Archos AV 500, Archos AV 700 and the iRiver PMC (Portable Media Center). No word on other supported mobile devices, but given that PlaysForSure support is required, I'm inclined to think that Windows Mobile 5 devices will also work, but seeing as I can't order a movie, I have no way of testing this. Someone care to give it a try? Once the DRM authentication happens, Windows Media Player should offer to transcode the video file is necessary.<br /><br />The whole thing centres around the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/video/help/install-client.html/ref=atv_dp_faq_cdl/102-0696570-7256951">Amazon Unbox Video Player</a>, a Windows-based software application that serves as the central point for movie ordering and transfers. Unfortunately, this service <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=atv_dp_cs_tv/102-0696570-7256951?ie=UTF8&nodeId=3748#watch_tv">does not allow DVD burning</a> in a format that a DVD player can read. There's no mention of a Windows Media Center Edition 2005 plugin either, so I think the "TV" portion of this offering is a bit ridiculous. What do you think of what Amazon is offering? Is it compelling enough for you to try? They're offering a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/video/help/promohelp.html/ref=amb_link_3187542_1/102-0696570-7256951">$1.99 rebate</a> on your first purchase, so if you're in the USA, go grab a free TV show!

[Chris Gohlke]

The lack of burning capability kills this deal for me at the price, otherwise it seems well put together. I might consider using it for TV shows if I forgot to record something that I really wanted to see. If there is not going to be a burning option, I'd like to see them make the download free with the purchase of the DVD. You buy the DVD today and can download and watch it right now, but in a week or so you get the retail boxed DVD in the mail.

[Jason Dunn]

You buy the DVD today and can download and watch it right now, but in a week or so you get the retail boxed DVD in the mail.

That would be a cool concept if implemented properly. What interests me the most is the quality level of the TV shows - let's face it, cable TV isn't great for quality, so I'm interested to see how good the TV shows look, if they're really 720 x 480 and a nice fat bit rate, etc.

[Chris Gohlke]

"If your device is Plays for Sure compliant it may work"

I guess I was unclear on what "Plays for Sure" means. :P

[Jason Eaton]

I'll give it a try.

Seems easy enough so far, find what you want, buy, and then the player app installs. The player is around 4.5 megs and downloads fast enough.

One installed you log into the app with your Amazon account, your purchase item list is then shown. A status shows its current state and ownership rights. Right now I am downloading an episode of Fox's 24. The show lists for 42 minutes, and has a final size of 803mb.

Download speeds seem decent at 186kb for a 3 meg cable download.

I'll come back after the download, estimated at 33 minutes, and give some quick impressions. I'll be playing it on a tablet pc with a 1.20 ghz and a nVidia GeForce4 420 (32mb).

Any requests on things to look for?

[Jason Dunn]

Any requests on things to look for?

I'm curious about the resolution of the file, the bit rate, and how the mobile version works - is it a separate video download? Or do you have to transcode the file?

[Jason Eaton]

While waiting...

Another interesting feature is that the download contains additional information, pictures from the show, and a transcript from IMDb about the show.

On top of the AmazonUnbox app are three tabs;

'My Videos' (http://www.ratpile.net/coppermine/albums/userpics/myvideos.jpg)
'Player' (http://www.ratpile.net/coppermine/albums/userpics/player.jpg)
'Devices' (http://www.ratpile.net/coppermine/albums/userpics/devices.jpg)

Added - 'My Videos/24/Details' (http://www.ratpile.net/coppermine/albums/userpics/details.jpg)

From what I can tell you download the full version then convert. The app does tell you the estimated size for the mobile player. I may not be able to do that one as I do not have a WMV player, just a video iPod... :D

...tick...tock...tick...toc...

[Jason Eaton]

Alright, appears that streaming is also in...

Interesting news is that you do NOT need to play the show in the AmazonUnbox app. The file is stored in the my documents/videos/amazon folder and can be played in the windows media player. At first glance the amazon app is merely a wrapper to the media player, and anything you could do with windows media player before hand you can also do now.

The stats for the video are (easier to take a snapshot then retype)

Stats (http://www.ratpile.net/coppermine/albums/userpics/bitrate.jpg)

Now for a personal opinion. It looks okay... but there is some compression and banding in a few spots that was noticeable. I wouldn't call it a break through but a slow evolution. If you *NEED* it now, sure. If you can wait, get it on DVD.

I wasn't able to take a screen shot of the show in action as it seems the windows player layer is not tied to the player itself. Screenshots show up as black empty spots.

[sojourner753]

Alright, appears that streaming is also in...

Interesting news is that you do NOT need to play the show in the AmazonUnbox app.

Hmmm I wonder if this could be played in my SageTV setup. That would be killer.

[Jason Eaton]

Another Update:

It appears that Unbox downloads two files. One for the computer and one for the mobile. However the mobile one uses an amzn extentsion and can not be opened by windows media player.

It weighs in roughly at 193mb but I can't tell what the bitrate or other info is. I'll leave it on the PC for awhile but soon it shall be moving to the recycle bin.

[Jason Dunn]

It appears that Unbox downloads two files. One for the computer and one for the mobile. However the mobile one uses an amzn extentsion and can not be opened by windows media player.

Hmm. Interesting. 193 MB sounds right for a 320 x 240 WMV file at around 600 kbps...

[superrrguy]

Can someone please explain the logic behind the 24 hour rental.

I'd love to use one of these movie download services instead of trying to rip a DVD to a mobile format but if I travel, the rental doesn't even last for the trip.

Have they ever checked to see how many people rerent the same movie? If you fall asleep during the rental or you don't finish watching the rental in the 24 hour period, most will just wait until they catch the movie on one of the cable channels rather than pay another $5.

I figure the most I'd pay to own a downloaded movie with DRM is $6.00 since it's usually an additional $6 to the original price of the DVD which I probably own.

I'd love a download subscription service for about $20/month for up to three movies at a time ala Netflix.

[jlp]

Can someone please explain the logic behind the 24 hour rental.

....

I pretty much read diagonally, but it doesn't seem to be rental, but owning the file.

"24" refers to the TV series, you know the one starring Kiefer Sutherland :D.

[superrrguy]

Can someone please explain the logic behind the 24 hour rental.

....

I pretty much read diagonally, but it doesn't seem to be rental, but owning the file.

"24" refers to the TV series, you know the one starring Kiefer Sutherland :D.

:) Not the TV shows. They will also offer 24 hour rentals of some movies at $5.