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My biggest issue with buying digital movies has always been the lock in factor. If I buy from Amazon, I can't watch it on my Chromecast, if I buy from Google, I

My biggest issue with buying digital movies has always been the lock in factor. If I buy from Amazon, I can't watch it on my Chromecast, if I buy from Google, I can't watch it on the Xbox, and if I buy from iTunes, I can't watch anywhere but an Apple device or iTunes. The only digital movies I've bought to date have been Disney movies because of the previous Disney-only version. I wonder how it works if a partner decides to leave. From what I understand, when Microsoft left the Disney program, Disney movies shared to your Microsoft account stuck around and Disney movies shared from your Microsoft were still available on the rest.

ringaroundthetx 9y ago
Playstation 4 + Chromecast The PS4 has Amazon Video, Netflix, and its own movie store. Chromecast for everything else. But did you notice yet that iTunes, Google Play, Amazon and the Playstation Store all stream from the exact same catalogue at the exact same prices. I mean sure, they are all attempting their exclusive content, but when you are looking for a blockbuster movie or old show its all the same selection and prices.
- bsharitt 9y ago
  >Playstation 4 + Chromecast But you see, that's the problem, I shouldn't be making device purchases based on who I've bought movies from.
- x2f10 9y ago
  >when you are looking for a blockbuster movie or old show its all the same selection and prices. Not always. Google has a smaller selection of 90s Nickelodeon shows than Apple (Kenan & Kel, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, etc). It's not a huge issue, but there are discrepancies between the catalogs.
- culturedsystems 9y ago
  The Playstation 4 also has YouTube, which has the same selection of films as Google Play movies (including giving you access to films you've bought on Google Play).
  - ringaroundthetx 9y ago
    thats right. the main rebuttal I get from people after that is just the cost of the ps4 vs a $30 chromecast. shrug
ocdtrekkie 9y ago
I always recommend buying physical Blu-rays. Due to wholesale/retail pricing you can almost always get them cheaper than digital, they usually come with digital copies, and you can always resell or loan out discs. That being said, this launch has been nice for letting my digital copies work with more apps, and it liberated a few titles I had stuck back in Google land. And yes, movies stay on both sides of a disconnection.
- bsharitt 9y ago
  I had routinely entered the Ultraviolet codes from DVDs/BluRays into Vudu, but never used it because the apps/website for the service always seemed so clunky to me(and since it was all disc codes, it was just easier to rip the disc and put it on Plex), but now all those movies are in much more useful Amazon and Google for formats for me, so it's a nice bonus.
  - ocdtrekkie 9y ago
    Heh, for me, Vudu is a preferred staple website these days. To each their own.
    - jsgo 9y ago
      I think you both are right: historically, Vudu was a bit of a mess to use, but eventually it became pretty good/decent. However, if you had that initial clunky experience, you may've never come back to find out that it is okay now.
- hendersoon 9y ago
  Looking into this earlier today, turns out there's a thriving aftermarket niche of sites reselling grey-market Ultraviolet codes. Unlike Steam code resellers these aren't primarily sourced from credit card fraud. Instead, collectors purchase Blu-rays for their own use and then resell the digital license, recouping some of their costs. There are also Redbox operators and the like reselling those codes. Anyway, long story short, you can generally purchase an Ultraviolet HD code for a movie you want to watch for approximately the same price as renting it, and you get to keep it forever. I can't vouch for any of these sites personally but there are various communities on Reddit and elsewhere that offer that function. And now with Movies Anywhere, if you link to both Vudu and iTunes, and it's one of the participating studios, you get a license for the 4k HDR movie too. Not too shabby.

ringaroundthetx 9y ago

Playstation 4 + Chromecast The PS4 has Amazon Video, Netflix, and its own movie store. Chromecast for everything else. But did you notice yet that iTunes, Google Play, Amazon and the Playstation Store all stream from the exact same catalogue at the exact same prices. I mean sure, they are all attempting their exclusive content, but when you are looking for a blockbuster movie or old show its all the same selection and prices.

bsharitt 9y ago
>Playstation 4 + Chromecast But you see, that's the problem, I shouldn't be making device purchases based on who I've bought movies from.
x2f10 9y ago
>when you are looking for a blockbuster movie or old show its all the same selection and prices. Not always. Google has a smaller selection of 90s Nickelodeon shows than Apple (Kenan & Kel, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, etc). It's not a huge issue, but there are discrepancies between the catalogs.
culturedsystems 9y ago
The Playstation 4 also has YouTube, which has the same selection of films as Google Play movies (including giving you access to films you've bought on Google Play).
- ringaroundthetx 9y ago
  thats right. the main rebuttal I get from people after that is just the cost of the ps4 vs a $30 chromecast. shrug

ocdtrekkie 9y ago

I always recommend buying physical Blu-rays. Due to wholesale/retail pricing you can almost always get them cheaper than digital, they usually come with digital copies, and you can always resell or loan out discs. That being said, this launch has been nice for letting my digital copies work with more apps, and it liberated a few titles I had stuck back in Google land. And yes, movies stay on both sides of a disconnection.

bsharitt 9y ago
I had routinely entered the Ultraviolet codes from DVDs/BluRays into Vudu, but never used it because the apps/website for the service always seemed so clunky to me(and since it was all disc codes, it was just easier to rip the disc and put it on Plex), but now all those movies are in much more useful Amazon and Google for formats for me, so it's a nice bonus.
- ocdtrekkie 9y ago
  Heh, for me, Vudu is a preferred staple website these days. To each their own.
  - jsgo 9y ago
    I think you both are right: historically, Vudu was a bit of a mess to use, but eventually it became pretty good/decent. However, if you had that initial clunky experience, you may've never come back to find out that it is okay now.
hendersoon 9y ago
Looking into this earlier today, turns out there's a thriving aftermarket niche of sites reselling grey-market Ultraviolet codes. Unlike Steam code resellers these aren't primarily sourced from credit card fraud. Instead, collectors purchase Blu-rays for their own use and then resell the digital license, recouping some of their costs. There are also Redbox operators and the like reselling those codes. Anyway, long story short, you can generally purchase an Ultraviolet HD code for a movie you want to watch for approximately the same price as renting it, and you get to keep it forever. I can't vouch for any of these sites personally but there are various communities on Reddit and elsewhere that offer that function. And now with Movies Anywhere, if you link to both Vudu and iTunes, and it's one of the participating studios, you get a license for the 4k HDR movie too. Not too shabby.