Help
Post your comments for First Look: Zediva online movie rental service here
First Look: Zediva online movie rental service
#2
whitedog 
- Veteran
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 3,701
- Joined: 09-August 04
Posted 16 March 2011 - 02:48 AM
I would have expected the movie industry to strike with their lawyers to cut this service off in the cradle. Yet they allowed it to pass out of beta without a peep. Perhaps they're waiting to see if it succeeds before going to the effort and expense of trying to stop it, or, more likely, finding a way to cut themselves a piece of the action. What they are legally entitled to is anybody's guess. It's also interesting, given the dubious legal ground, that Zadiva was apparently able to raise startup capital to finance the project. I wish them well with their new idea.
#4
robertcoogan
- Member
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 81
- Joined: 29-October 08
Posted 16 March 2011 - 03:21 AM
Don't see this one succeeding. Netflix is so much cheaper, and my family streams a lot of children's films. That would cost a fortune under this model, under Netflix I pay a flat fee.
#5
Chillpill
- Newbie
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 16-March 11
Posted 16 March 2011 - 06:01 AM
This is like a service that hooks your iPhone to a robot that can dial a rotary phone for you.
I wonder if there's also a service that allows me, with a click of a button, to blow the dust off my DVD player and all the discs I own.
I wonder if there's also a service that allows me, with a click of a button, to blow the dust off my DVD player and all the discs I own.
#6
Jon Seff
- Advanced Member
-
- Group: Moderators
- Posts: 1,520
- Joined: 13-December 00
Posted 16 March 2011 - 06:10 AM
robertcoogan, on 16 March 2011 - 03:21 AM, said:
Don't see this one succeeding. Netflix is so much cheaper, and my family streams a lot of children's films. That would cost a fortune under this model, under Netflix I pay a flat fee.
But you're clearly not the customer they're going for. This is for people who want to watch movies as soon as they're available. You can't stream most just-released-to-DVD movies on Netflix because there's a big delay between when they can offer a DVD and a stream.
Jon Seff
Executive editor, Macworld
Executive editor, Macworld
#7
TACVT
- Newbie
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 16-March 11
Posted 16 March 2011 - 07:06 AM
What they need to do is set up a virtual DVD player to be accessed, manipulated and viewed by unlimited users - all with one physical DVD in the machine - through infinite loop buffering. That's like me saying hey, for $1, you can come over and watch my DVD on my DVD machine. What's wrong with that ? Or is that like Napster ?
#9
John
- Member
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 466
- Joined: 23-September 09
Posted 16 March 2011 - 09:47 AM
Sounds like this company was set up by the same geniuses who thought Psystar could get away it.
No way they could ever expect to get away with this dodge. ("Yes, we charge money, but since the content is streamed from a DVD inside a DVD player it doesn't relate with to the ubiquitous FBI warning on every disc.")
Sounds like a toddler with crumbs on his fingers trying to convince his mom he had stayed out of the cookie jar.
No way they could ever expect to get away with this dodge. ("Yes, we charge money, but since the content is streamed from a DVD inside a DVD player it doesn't relate with to the ubiquitous FBI warning on every disc.")
Sounds like a toddler with crumbs on his fingers trying to convince his mom he had stayed out of the cookie jar.
#10
ericole
- Member
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 630
- Joined: 25-March 01
Posted 16 March 2011 - 10:23 AM
robertcoogan, on 16 March 2011 - 03:21 AM, said:
Don't see this one succeeding. Netflix is so much cheaper, and my family streams a lot of children's films. That would cost a fortune under this model, under Netflix I pay a flat fee.
Maybe your children are spending too much time in front of the TV?
Eric
To an atheist, G. K. Chesterton somewhere remarked, the universe is the most exquisite mechanism ever constructed by nobody.
http://www.answersin...ntering-critics
To an atheist, G. K. Chesterton somewhere remarked, the universe is the most exquisite mechanism ever constructed by nobody.
http://www.answersin...ntering-critics
#11
mixedgeek
- Newbie
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 4
- Joined: 25-January 10
Posted 16 March 2011 - 11:44 AM
It's an interesting idea. But in the long run, I just don't see how they can keep up with Netflix. Yes, Netflix makes you wait for new releases, but with the flat rate NF charges, it's going to be difficult to compete. It's interesting that so many companies are looking to get into the film streaming biz. With this new player, and talks of Facebook trying it out. It seems to me, that many of them are trying to bite off more than they can chew.
#12
Deromax
- Member
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 210
- Joined: 30-August 04
Posted 16 March 2011 - 03:18 PM
This is so akward, I don't know where to begin!
This sounds like a service from the late 90s! Actual DVD players? Why not rip the discs onto some HDs. Second, imagine all the wasted processing power to real-time transcode the DVDs into Flash FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL PLAYBACK! I don't see how this can be legal, unless they are paying some royalties. If they do, why not getting the movies directly from the studios as files instead of DVDs. If Netflix is not able to offer the latest movies, it's surely because the studios won't allow it, so the same restriction will apply here!
This sounds like a service from the late 90s! Actual DVD players? Why not rip the discs onto some HDs. Second, imagine all the wasted processing power to real-time transcode the DVDs into Flash FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL PLAYBACK! I don't see how this can be legal, unless they are paying some royalties. If they do, why not getting the movies directly from the studios as files instead of DVDs. If Netflix is not able to offer the latest movies, it's surely because the studios won't allow it, so the same restriction will apply here!
#13
cameghino
- Newbie
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 4
- Joined: 23-June 08
Posted 16 March 2011 - 04:06 PM
Those of us outside the USA have very little in the way of streaming movie options. I would love access to Netflix and many others like it but alas they are not available. Zediva gives me access to the latest flicks and at a great price. The tech may be a bit old and not HD but for watching on a 20in monitor it's pretty good. As for the legalities of it... who cares!
#14
klahanas
- Veteran
-
- Group: Macworld Insiders
- Posts: 2,037
- Joined: 01-March 10
Posted 16 March 2011 - 05:42 PM
John, on 16 March 2011 - 09:47 AM, said:
Sounds like this company was set up by the same geniuses who thought Psystar could get away it.
No way they could ever expect to get away with this dodge. ("Yes, we charge money, but since the content is streamed from a DVD inside a DVD player it doesn't relate with to the ubiquitous FBI warning on every disc.")
Sounds like a toddler with crumbs on his fingers trying to convince his mom he had stayed out of the cookie jar.
No way they could ever expect to get away with this dodge. ("Yes, we charge money, but since the content is streamed from a DVD inside a DVD player it doesn't relate with to the ubiquitous FBI warning on every disc.")
Sounds like a toddler with crumbs on his fingers trying to convince his mom he had stayed out of the cookie jar.
The model sucks, but probably for good reason. They own the DVD, and any one disk is only viewable at any given time. Just like physically renting the disk. I see no difference in media access from a physical rental. There was a time when you could rent a VHS tape and a VCR from the video store. This isn't that different.
This post has been edited by klahanas: 16 March 2011 - 05:44 PM
"One likes to believe in the freedom of music,
But glittering prizes and endless compromises
Shatter the illusion of integrity."
-Rush
But glittering prizes and endless compromises
Shatter the illusion of integrity."
-Rush
