Everybody's getting into the mobile movie sideload business --
just ask Samsung -- and following an
MWC unveiling earlier this year, Sony Ericsson is gearing up to launch movie content starting next month as part of its existing
PlayNow Arena service. Direct on-phone downloads over WiFi or 3G would be awesome, but as most of these services tend to operate, PlayNow Arena will require that users select and download movies on their PCs, cable up their phones, and transfer the media the old-fashioned way, at which point they'll be playable on the device for 90 days. You'll be able to select from about 15 movies at any given time with content being cycled monthly -- ridiculously meager, yes, but when you consider that the service is bundled with certain phones (up to 60 movies a year), it's hard to pitch a fit. Look for it to launch on the W995 slider in Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK in June; support for Sony Ericsson's newly-announced
Satio and
Aino (among others) is expected later in the year.
posted May 29th 2009 3:29AM
Why dont they offer a streaming service... streaming > downloading
I just read on the edge that Sony is bringing PS3 remote play(same as psp) to the aino. That's actually pretty awesome. Who cares if you have 4gb or 32gb on a phone when you can just stream from your 5tb collection at home.....
Also in these countries they don't have a lot of competition. E.g. iTunes only has video in the US.
Wait! So, I will buy a movie which I will only be able to see on Sony Ericsson devices with crappy screens? What a DRM-Raided deal!
I don't see how watching a movie on any small screen can be enjoyable (I get a sore neck after 20 minutes, let alone 90), so hopefully you can also watch the downloaded content on your computer. Mobile devices are awesome for TV shows and web clips though, so maybe Sony needs to look that way as well.
So is it fair to say people in countries that dont get the PlayNow Arena Movies service should avoid buying the new Sony Ericsson phones until the service is launched in their country? After all the movies probably come from Sony's own back catalogue so the rights issues should be easy to sort out.
DOA
Amazon Video on Demand is compatible on Nokia S60...its still the best video solution
Anyone know what Codecs they will be using?
Based on the ability to simply drag and drop the files onto the Phone, I am guessing you could drop any movie onto the phone as long as it uses a compatible codec.
Why doesn't Sony just use the video section of the PlayStation store for this? They could learn a thing or two from Apple and iTunes about integrating all of your software for purchasing online media into one product.
All these other countries as you say greenlight, well some if them do have iTunes video eg it's been running in the uk for over a year so I don't know what made youthink that only the USA had iTunes video service avaliable