How would you change the VUDU set-top-box?
In its current form, there's no denying that the limitations are stifling. Right out of the box, you're stuck with a smallish internal hard drive that fills up quickly if you prefer your material in high-definition, and even if you look to external HDDs to catch the overflow, you're still left with content that's hardly portable. Sure, the port selection is up to snuff, the interface is beyond acceptable and the design is at least moderately sexy, but the inability to transfer content to discs along with the relatively high prices of downloadable media really put a damper on things. Couple that with the expansion of HD VOD and it's easy to slip your $399 right back where it came from. Still, we're curious to see how you all would tweak the VUDU to make it a more formidable competitor. Granted, we've all ideas that the majority of the changes will involve a massive overhaul of DRM in general, but don't be scared to think outside of the proverbial box on this one.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Rob @ Jan 4th 2008 6:42PM
By not buying it. Come on, how many more boxes do I have to add to my tv? Let's start counting: cable box, TIVO, PS3, Xbox, DVD player for non HD titles, stereo. Apple wants me to make some room for their Apple TV too. Oh man. Now VUDU? This is giving me a headache.
Wayne @ Jan 4th 2008 9:14PM
If you dump Tivo and use your cable company's DVR, and if you upscale all your DVDs with a next-gen player, you'd cut out two of your excess boxes.
Rob @ Jan 4th 2008 9:33PM
I agree. However, none of the cable/satellite provider boxes can match Tivo. I don't want to use my PS3 for regular dvd's. That's why I keep a secondary upconverting DVD player. I guess it's a matter of preference. But, you're right too.
Anthony @ Jan 4th 2008 6:46PM
I would saying buying DRM movies isn't terrible (Apple might agree) but I would like to be able to bring over my current collection (a la Apple) in ISO or Video_TS form.
Wifi wouldn't even be necessary since (by their argument) I wouldn't have to import titles more than once.
Give it "sling" capabilities.
Not rip off the title. Seriously- I think Voodoo should have be upset by this name.
Sell a separate HDD in the same shape so I can stack & have it not look like a single box on top of another single box.
Make the remote not look like a shoe-horn (I know it's the rendering). Still looks odd.
Discount the price for "up front" buys (Sony Reader style).
Discount price for subscription.
Subscription (netflix prices, please).
That's it off the top of my head. & I'm not really interested.
Red Matt @ Jan 4th 2008 6:47PM
I'd like to see the incorporate something like the Hulu.com service - make streaming/add-supported shows available through their box. Right now there isn't much content available but once NBC and the like get more confident with online video, I could see this replacing broadcast TV for some people: why follow your cable company's broadcast schedule when you can watch your show over the 'net whenever you want?
Meltz @ Jan 4th 2008 7:01PM
What's with the spatula? Oh wait, thats the mouse thing
Adrian Williams @ Jan 4th 2008 7:19PM
How about Engadget give a couple away for free so we could offer our opinions
Michael LaFramboise @ Jan 4th 2008 7:24PM
Maybe add a vibrating function to that remote? For better feedback and such...
David Robinson @ Jan 4th 2008 7:32PM
I've had mine for about a month and I would suggest the following:
* Provide a way to delete content from the interface and provide for redownload if I want to view again later.
* Give me an IR interface also so I can integrate with my universal remote! I like the interface and he remote, but I need my precious (one remote to rule them all)
* Rental prices need to come down a little to make it more compelling than browsing Blockbuster.
* More HD content!
That' all. I think they have a really go thing going the only worry is if Apple will make AppleTV a VuDu killer. Currently it's not even close, but...
Lee Goldstein @ Jan 4th 2008 7:45PM
I have one - and I love it - but here's what needs to be changed:
- Lower the price of owned movies (most are $19.99!!)
- Longer than 24 hours on rentals (if you start watching a movie at 8pm, and fall asleep, and want to finish it the next day, you better finish it before 8pm....or its gone!)
- IR Remote interface - I love my universal.
- let it access your media on your network (music, pictures, etc - let it be an appletv-killer)
All that being said, its one INCREDIBLE interface, and the instant gratification of "instant-on" rental movies is really a killer app on the TV - if apple does add this to AppleTV, VuDu should be scared...
Henry Hayes @ Jan 4th 2008 7:50PM
All movies 1080p. No question.
Jahbuh Dahut @ Jan 4th 2008 8:08PM
Where do I start...
1. XBMC - any box that wants to sit on my TV must be open source and able to do things more than just download Movies
2. XBMC - Why recreate the wheel here; provide these guys with some dollars to speed up the project and incorporate it into your device.
3. XBMC - This is a no brainer; an open community creating feature for your box is how technology takes leaps not baby steps.
cupidpsyche @ Jan 4th 2008 8:13PM
Make it 19 inches wide.
Sleepy @ Jan 4th 2008 8:33PM
Increase the number of titles offered and make them all rentable. I really wish the LG/Netflix announcement had been a Vudu/Netflix announcement.
The box itself is pretty slick which is to say it does what it ought to do without undue hassle. Something I wish I could say about my cable operator's video on demand service.
Igor @ Jan 4th 2008 8:57PM
Enable the USB ports so that I can add storage, remove the stupid encryption with the smart card, and allow for 'managed' copies at the very least.
Ben Alexander @ Jan 4th 2008 9:59PM
We sell these where I work and while it is a solid piece of equipment with a great interface, the picture quality seemed a little sub-par to me. While the remote is very easy to use and rf is a plus, it is impossible to integrate into a home theater remote, so add IR input and or rs 232. Finally, like others said the ability to play stored media like pics and music would add some value to the box that is right now not worth it for most people.
Christopher Bibbs @ Jan 4th 2008 10:05PM
Nix the RF remote altogether. Switch to IR and let the Harmony remotes take control.
Broo @ Jan 4th 2008 10:12PM
The only way this will ever catch on is:
a. give the hardware away and offer rental prices competitive to a rental from BlockBuster
b. give the hardware away and offer an 'all you can eat' viewing (like NetFlix)
c. add additional functionality into the box. Maybe act as a media center extender; or DVD player; and Joost/YouTube support; possible web browser; maybe Skype; and a few games?
If I were to consider spending $400 on a movie download device, I would also seriously have to consider spending another $200 and getting a MacMini (and a DVD-HDMI cable) and just watch the stuff from the iTunes store- or DVDs- and have a LOT more functionality... (the new version of FrontRow is about the same as the AppleTV)
Pugsly @ Jan 4th 2008 10:25PM
I own this for 2 weeks now, part of the evangelist program, so $99 and $99 in free movies make it essentially free. I love the RF remote, it is simple and controls the awesome interface perfectly,
the movies available are a very good start, but more are needed, more HD!!!!!
I agree we need the option to delete the content from the box ourselves.
Movies are a bit pricey, not outragous, i think new releases need to be $12-$15 range and rentals more like $2.99 for most or even $2.49.
for mainstremm i think it needs to be priced about $99-$149 for it to really take off
it needs the ability to add more storage as needed, it would be nice to add a 750 or 1TB external drive.
streaming to other tv's would be a nice feature also.
Joseph James Frantz @ Jan 4th 2008 11:17PM
Well the first thing I would change is their website. I'm a DBA using the browser as a front end for many of our projects. As a result I finally turned off cookies for all sites but the ones I approve, because I was so fed up with having to search through innumerable cookies, just to find mine.
Their site requires cookies to even get basic information. Lot's of sites will tell you that 'we *require* cookies.' Technologically there is no reason for this requirement in cases like this. This type of behavior makes me less interested in viewing their product, since I have to jump through hoops.
m @ Jan 5th 2008 4:39AM
isn't this why they invented session cookies? if aren't using firefox, i suggest you download it and an extension such as Cookie Button.
Joseph James Frantz @ Jan 5th 2008 9:57AM
Doing web development of any kind, even when simply for intranets, almost requires FF. So yes I use it, exclusively. That's not really the point here though. I merely explained why I turned off cookies in the first place. This is a usability issue. If someone is in a place that they cannot use cookies, for whatever reason, the site is completely unusable. Not because technology prevents it from being usable. But because someone made the decision to, 1..use a cookie, and 2.. if that cookie could not be used, went through the extra trouble of forwarding to a page making the statement that cookies were required. Without that forward, the site would most likely be usable. I've found this so often on websites. When I bring it to their attention the typical response is, 'our site requires cookies to work'. Which is really wholly untrue. I simply then point them to a competitors website who doesnt have this ridiculous requirement.
Timothy @ Jan 4th 2008 11:32PM
I have one and we really like it. It has an incredible UI... my wife could use it after a couple minutes. The picture quality is amazing and that much better with the HD Bourne movies.
Improvements I'd like to see:
Too many movies are purchase only. Make them all rentable. (I'm sure this is partly a studio issue.)
Make it like Amazon Unbox - if the movie you've purchased gets deleted off the drive it can be streamed back down. This would get around the limited hard drive size.
Provide support for non-Vudu media.
Adam Hirsch @ Jan 4th 2008 11:56PM
I've been beta testing for a long time now and it's great (especially because mine was free). If they wanted to compete with Netflix though, they really have to drop the price. Of both the box and the rentals and "purchases". To spend $300 or $400 on a box and then to purchase a rental for $1.99 - $3.99 that is only available for 24 hours after you start the movie sucks. What sucks even more is that many new releases are available for purchase only (some temporary) for $20! That's a lot to purchase something you can only watch from one source. DVDs and even some HD/BR discs are cheaper by far. You can lend them to friends, you can watch them wherever and whenever.
Long story short, they need to cut their prices to make it for the masses or even half of the masses...
Enki @ Jan 5th 2008 3:08AM
I'd change the remote. For 300 to 400 bucks, I'd throw in a 500 GB hard drive, and try to make back the cash on a subscription service like tivo does.
Enki @ Jan 5th 2008 3:10AM
Sorry, I should have read the whole article before posting. I thought it was another DVR~ish set top box.
m @ Jan 5th 2008 4:26AM
i can't think of a single reason to buy this thing. it doesn't appear to do anything that you couldn't accomplish, for example, with a computer and amazon unboxed--which isn't saying much, in my experience, except that most of us already own the computer. (in fairness, though, amazon will let you delete and redownload purchased content at will, and their DRM is laughable.) with that $400, you could find a number of ways to attach a computer to a TV, and you'd have a lot more freedom, both for storage and in what to watch.
Jeff @ Jan 5th 2008 9:25AM
Make it look less stupid.
If it's going to play movies and such, I want it to match the rest of my A/V equipment. I'd rather not have a blob with a misshapen remote.
paulrus @ Jan 5th 2008 10:55AM
I've had one for a while now and it's fairly cool. They just started adding TV shows and they're apparently ready to unleash a ton of HD content as well as enabling the external storage port (I forget if it's USB 2.0, Firewire or ESATA). That'll pretty much take care of any storage issues.
When they say small hard drive, apparently the author isn't comparing it to AppleTV's tiny 40 gig drive. The VUDU has a 250 gig drive.
Also, my understanding from hanging out in the Vudu forums is that they're pushing for this thing to eventually be a media extender so things like Digg Nation, Tekzilla, etc., could be copied over.
I think the Vudu guys know very well what needs to happen. The biggest roadblock has been the movie studios which are apparently about as smart as the RIAA when it comes to understanding digital downloads...
Dhomas @ Jan 6th 2008 8:38AM
Make it available in Canada! I tried buying one only to be told that it is only available for U.S. residents. Until I can get my hands on one, I cannot give any more feedback.
Doug Lord @ Mar 28th 2008 2:51PM
Here is my ULTIMATE box (this idea is free MS).
Xbox 360 w/ digital coax input, HDMI 1.3 output, 250+ GB hard drive and Blueray. The 360 would also have a digital, HD capture card inside so it could act as an HD-DVR. The hardware would also be capable of ripping videos and music (you can already do music) from DVD/Blueray (ok the latter may not be possible due to DRM) to the hard drive in high-quality formats that most MP3 players and PVPs can handle. I also need to be able to transfer stuff to an external HD - cause I'm gonna fill up even 250 GB FAST!!! If DRM means I can only transfer it in some encrypted format and have to transfer it back on to the local HD to play it - fine. I really am just looking to do backups - not put stuff on bit torrent. Another alternative is MS could give me a few TB of online storage with some form of Xbox Live Platinum membership that would be needed to make all this work (say $10-$15 more than a Gold membership and we get some TiVo like service and some subscription music and video services).
Using enhanced Media Extender capabilities, the 360 would not only be capable of streaming content FROM a Windows Media PC, but it could stream its local content TO any Windows Media PC or 360 on the network (including potentially over the internet). Also, if I'm going to drop the kind of $$ I expect this box would cost to have 2 or 3 in the house, I want them to be able to coordinate so they esentially are sharing 1 500-750GB harddirve (eg I don't want them all full of duplicate DVR recordings).
The Xbox Software would gain 3 new "blades" (both XBox Live enabled). The first is where VUDU could maybe come in. I'm looking for a Vudu like interface for renting and buying movies, TV shows and music. MS really needs to work on both its interface and the amount of content avalible. The second blade would be a web browser capable of hooking up to stuff like netflix.com and hulu.com to stream stuff from the internet. The 3rd blade would be a cable channel guide for selecting what you wanted to watch/record as well as the place where you went to watch previously recorded stuff.
Now I know this would be expensive - but I would gladly spend as much for this box as I would for a new PC - say $1,500-$2,000. But it has to be the last box I need, and it all has to work seemlessly.
Thoughts?