Movies on Demand
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Miramax arrives on Lovefilm to let you relive the golden age of Weinsteins
Miramax has reached a deal with Lovefilm to get its back-catalog of award-winning films available on-demand in the UK and Germany. It's an unsurprising move given the company has similar deals in place with Netflix and Hulu to let you watch classics like Pulp Fiction, Clerks and Trainspotting whenever the urge takes you. While there was no official confirmation of a launch window, a cursory check of our own account reveals that some of the titles (including Kill Bill) are already popping up on the instant service.
New DirecTV Cinema Connection Kit hits FCC with wireless in tow
A new version of DirecTV's Cinema Connection kit has just sneakily hit the FCC filed under its OEM name of Wistron NeWeb Corporation. Unlike the current model which required a direct Ethernet connection to work, this unit can act as wireless receiver to connect your individual DirecTV DVRs or an entire whole-home network. That gives users the freedom to access the company's online CINEMAplus library of 4,000 movies and TV shows at no additional cost for the service (we're sure DirecTV will find someway to ding you at least for the kit though). To get a glimpse for yourself, check out the gallery below featuring internal and external beauty shots of the device included with the filing, along with key pages from the user manual. Otherwise, let's all give DirecTV a nice slow-clap for entering the world of wireless streaming at its own leisurely pace. %Gallery-115419%
Boxee names Viewster as first global VOD provider, still no word on Netflix
It looks like Boxee may be punting its deadline for Netflix integration again, but it did throw global users a small bone via a new partnership with Viewster to add "premium VOD content." If the Viewster brand doesn't ring a bell, don't worry, we didn't know much about it either. A little sleuthing on its parent company site, though, revealed the service provides access to hit movies and TV shows (some in 720p), as well as day-and-date releases and ad-supported content "wherever possible." The site also boasts the library has 5,000 plus titles, licensed from over 100 suppliers like iTunes, Hulu, Sony, and ironically Netflix -- but that includes short content clips too. Naturally, we wanted to check out available titles for ourselves, but quickly learned that the library can only be browsed on Viewster-compatible devices after registering and providing payment details upfront, which set our scheme sensors a ringin'. Specifics on when Viewster access will appear on Boxee or what pricing will be like is also unknown, so for now feel free to join us in being vaguely underwhelmed after reading the full PR below. [Thanks, PJ]
Netflix app hits the iPhone and iPod touch
Here's some great news for Netflix subscribers. The free Netflix app has finally made it to the iPhone and iPod touch. Netflix members on plans as low as US$8.99 a month can instantly watch movies and TV shows streamed from the Netflix servers. This has been an eagerly-awaited app (the iPad version was available at launch), and I downloaded it this morning to give it a test. It works fine on both 3G and WiFi, and the 3G feature is a bit of a surprise given AT&T's position of holding back on some streaming apps. Slingbox, for example, found dealing with AT&T tough sledding, but the company finally did get the app approved for 3G. My TUAW colleague Richard Gaywood points out that with many AT&T users no longer on unlimited data plans, the company may see apps like this as a profit center. The new Hulu Plus app also works over 3G. The new iPhone version has excellent image quality, supports fast forwarding and rewinding of the video stream, and like other incarnations of Netflix, allows you to pick up where you left off if you stop a movie and restart it. As Netflix members will appreciate, you can pause a movie you are watching on a Netflix device at home, and start the movie on the iPhone app and it will resume at the same place. %Gallery-100466%
TWC adds HD Movies on Demand in Staten Island, New York
Feelin' pretty good about all those new HD channels, are ya Staten Island? For those still not content, how's about a little HD Movie on Demand action? A friendly resident has just sent in a screenshot proving that the service has indeed launched on channel 700, even though he wasn't expecting it until June. Per usual, we've no idea how quickly slowly Time Warner Cable will spread the goods to other areas of New York, but with all of the systems transitioning to digital, we'd guess the wait shouldn't be too long. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks, UnnDunn]
VUDU XL: $999 for a bit more space
Granted, we did just ask you how you'd tweak the VUDU, but we're fairly certain none of you would recommend over doubling the price. Nevertheless, VUDU is apparently hoping that folks not quite ready to pull the trigger on its original set-top-box will be totally enthused about dropping a cool grand on the XL. Apparently, this one sports a fair bit more internal space (1TB to be exact) -- enough to hold 500 SD movies. If you're wondering if any films other than the Bourne trilogy will be available to take advantage of all this new space, VUDU is apparently aiming to unleash 70 of 'em later this month. Oh, and those high-definition films will run you $5.99 (new titles) / $3.99 ("HD classics) to rent, but hey, what's that after you've laid down $999 for the box itself? [Image courtesy of VUDU] Read - VUDU XL has 1TB of storage Read - 70 new HD films coming to VUDU %Gallery-12689%
How would you change the VUDU set-top-box?
This week's episode of "How would you change" over on Engadget Classic involves an item that's been quite the mainstay here at Engadget HD. We've already heard the lengthy list of pros and cons -- we're ready to learn how you would change it. Hop on over and take a peek, and drop in your two pennies while you're there, cool?
VUDU set-top-box gets proper unboxing
We know, the VUDU set-top-box has been covered up and down around here, and while you've already taken a look at the thing from all angles, there's just nothing like a proper unboxing on the world's unofficial unboxing day. All done with your presents? Hop on over to the read link and check out Mr. Zatz cracking open one of his own.
Dish Network's CEDIA booth tour
Dish Network came to CEDIA and left the gloves behind, as it proudly (and rightfully, at the moment) proclaimed to be "the leader in HD" while simultaneously disregarding that other company who'd likely disagree. Within the booth, however, there were a number of enticements, including a placard that stated that Dish On Demand HD would be "coming soon" to the ViP722. Additionally, a wide array of Dish STBs and DVRs were out on display, and one particular ViP722 was located above a sign which announced that "Dish Network IPTV" would be "combining satellite and internet-based entertainment" in the not-too-distant future. Finally, the firm had a demo of how Movies on Demand would be handled and also had a couple of its receivers hooked up to external HDDs, so make sure you peep the gallery for all the photographic minutiae.%Gallery-7066%
VUDU set-top-box goes on sale for $399
Although we're not exactly sure how many of you are rushing to bust out your wallet over this, VUDU's movies-on-demand STB is now on sale to those interested. The box itself will run customers a stiff $399 up front, and while you will have "instant access to 5,000 movies from major studios," you'll be paying between $0.99 and $3.99 for one-time rentals and $4.99 to $19.99 for movie purchases, "depending on the age" of the title. Of course, there's no activation or subscription charges once you fork out that $400, and while an exhaustive list of flicks doesn't look to be available, a few notables are 300, Dreamgirls, The Queen, Music and Lyrics, The Descent, The Last Mimzy, and Breach. Well, now you know, and for those pulling the trigger, expect it to arrive sometime near the month's end.
