Video Ezy to work with Apple on kiosk-style movie downloads?
By Nilay Patel 
posted Sep 20th 2007 4:07AM
posted Sep 20th 2007 4:07AM
It's not clear how much of this is optimistic name-dropping and how much is real, but Australian video retailer Video Ezy (they just bought Blockbuster Australia) has announced that it's in talks with Apple, as well as several other supppliers, on a kiosk-style movie delivery system that would allow customers to download up to 40 movies onto an iPod and then pay as they watch. The system, called eBox, would still require you to actually visit a retail location, a compromise Video Ezy says is required because broadband speeds still aren't high enough to support a pure download model. We can see why Apple would be an attractive partner -- download on your iPod, watch on your Apple TV certainly seems feasible -- but true to form, Apple Australia refused to comment. Looks like we won't know the truth until eBox launches in the second quarter of next year.
Ohhh... I think that would be nice.
Finally we will be able to get iTunes movies in australia.
i hear that!!
'Cept for the fact that Video Ezy is one of the worst rental stores in aus. What is it with apple and choosing terrible partners these days. ATT, O2 (since when has having 30% coverage been a selling point!?) etc.
eh, i love them.
They offer excellent service and the price is only a tad cheaper (50cents).
I can't see anything wrong with them...
Video Ezy in Australia offer fairly poor value for money. Blockbuster are far better but I believe Video Ezy has better store presence.
Can't say I'd make use of this service as Video Ezy will probably charge through the roof to use it.
Actually, there's only 100 (or less) more Video Ezy stores than there is Blockbuster stores. I have no idea why Video Ezy got this over BB.
Probably because Video Ezy now own, or are in the process of owning, blockbuster.
Well, it would help sell iPods and AppleTVs - since at the moment, we don't have any movies on iTunes. And yeah, broadband is incredibly slow in most places at the moment that don't have ADSL2+ or cable internet - I'm on 512kbps/128kbps at the moment, and that costs $50 a month AUD.
Umm, ditch Bigpond (To those of you playing at home, that's the Aussie equivalent of AOL) and go with iinet.
I hope this is true. I thought this was a great idea ever since Cringley suggested it on Feb. 26, 2006:
http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2006/pulpit_20060216_000884.html
Hopefully it makes it stateside.
Ha. Try to put in a date and get even that wrong. Feb. 16 not 26.
@ Deluxe
Who says he's using Bigpond (which I agree, if he is using them, ditch 'em). I get the same speed for the same price as Taylor, for this I get 20gb downloads per month, the same constant speed, all the time without bundling my phone!
In my experience iinet is VERY slow during any waking hours *rolls eyes*