BMW Films' "The Hire" Goes Away October 21

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.bmwfilms.com">http://www.bmwfilms.com</a><br /><br />The commercials known as "The Hire" from BMW Films, featuring Clive Owen, will be taken down after October 21, 2005. I guess the right to distribute the content from the original actors at a cost effective price is ending.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2005/20051017-thehire.jpg" /><br /><br />I think most films are available in the 320X240 Pocket PC format, which brings up a question. How do these look on a VGA device? The same, or is it only half the screen, or worse, does it pixel double like Pocket IE does with images? 8O Anyway, if you want the films, download them now, or better yet, order the DVD. I did that last summer. It was free. I only paid shipping and handling. Not sure if it is free to residents of all countries though.

[jonathanchoo]

For the UK, shipping/handling is US$7.75. The 'free' DVD would be in NTSC format.

Regarding the QVGA versions: In WMV 10 full screen 'anti-aliasing' zoom. Very crappy.

[Nurhisham Hussein]

Yes but TCPMP plays QVGA videos pretty well in full screen - a bit of color banding, but that's more from the source rather than the OS.

[Darius Wey]

I think most films are available in the 320X240 Pocket PC format, which brings up a question. How do these look on a VGA device? The same, or is it only half the screen, or worse, does it pixel double like Pocket IE does with images?

I haven't tried these particular media files, but 240 x 320 WMVs I've sampled in the past pixel double in Windows Media Player. You'll certainly get by without shedding a tear, but once you harness the full power of the VGA screen by playing back 480 x 640 videos, you'll never even bother with 240 x 320 and its pixel doubling again.

[jasondearyou]

can't I just download it online?

[farnold]

can't I just download it online?
Yep, just go for it...

Sad they go away... I particularly liked the STAR with Madonna being the arrogant bitch everyone thinks she must be - so funny!

[freitasm]

Sad, really sad, the movies are fun! By the way, I ordered two copies last year and paid only S&amp;H, to New Zealand.

[Ed Hansberry]

can't I just download it online?
Yes, for 3 more days, which was the point of my post. :wink: The DVD version just looks better on larger TVs than do the 80-90MB WMV files.

[sundown]

I love those mini-movies. Very very well done and Clive Owen is a cool.

If you like then, just get the DVD. The quality if far greater than what you'll download for larger screens.

[daS]

Thanks for the "heads up" Ed!

BTW: For BMW owners: if you register for their "Owner's Circle" web site, it appears that even shipping of the DVD is free! 8)

[Don't Panic!]

I just ordered the DVD. I'll be ripping episodes to 480X640 when I get it. THe 240X320 ones look fine on my X50v but it will be nice to be able to compare the difference with a VGA Rip.