VUDU box is discounted to $295.00.  Rentals range from $0.99 to $3.99 for 24 hours.  Purchased movies range from $4.99 to $19.99.  No subscription or monthly fees.

New releases available soon after DVD release date.  Library of over 5,000 movies.  VUDU benefits from a distributed network model that ensures the fastest delivery of movies to each home. VUDU requires a minimum of 2.2 Mbps for instant movie start.  A 1.2 Mbps connection will start playing movies after a few minutes delay.  Supports High Definition.  Resolutions: 1080p/24 (HDMI), 1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i.  Dolby digital 5.1 audio from coax and optical outputs.  Easy to use RF remote.  Storage for 50 SD owned movies.  Two USB ports for near future external storage expansion.  One year warranty by manufacturer, Vudu, Inc.

XBOX 360 Live Video Marketplace offers movie and TV downloads through an internet connected Xbox 360.  A Gold membership (one month included with Xbox) gives you access to all features of Xbox Live, and points purchased can be traded for Movies (Rent only HD-$6, SD-$4), TV episodes (Buy only HD-$3, SD-$2), or game downloads.  The Xbox Live library is growing with 300+ movies (162  HD) and  300+ TV episodes (54 in HD).  The interface is easy to use with good speed and picture (1080p supported over HDMI).  The Xbox can function as an extender to transfer pictures, music and video from a media center PC to your entertainment center and TV.  The Xbox is a large unit with a somewhat noisy fan, compared to Apple TV or Vudu.

The 4 billion download gorilla in music downloads is going after the movie download market.  The latest version of Apple TV sells for $229 (40GB drive) to $329 (160GB).  No subscription.  iTunes movie rental= $3 to $4 (for the few new releases).  Movie purchase =$10 to $15 (for new releases).  Copy protected, but can share on iphone or ipod only.  Growing library of 1000 movies with some new releases, 100 in 720p HD.  New agreement with movie studios will allow Apple to release iTunes movies on same day as DVD release.   Does NOT support 1080p, yet.  Fast download and quick movie start over built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi or wired 10/100 BASE-T ethernet network.  Apple IR remote included.  HDMI, component video, and optical audio outputs.  Apple TV functions as a stand alone unit, but can also stream photos, music and internet media from PC or Mac through Apple TV to entertainment center.  Warranty is one year with 90 day phone support.  AppleCare Protection Plan for $49.00 extends warranty and phone support to 2 years.

You can Download Free iTunes software for PC or Mac to browse the iTunes library of Movies, TV, Music, and Games.

TiVo HD Series 2 or 3 can download movies over the internet from Amazon Unbox service.  Please see the Amazon Unbox Demo below.

DirecTV offers the most HD channels with more features and an easier remote for about the same price as Dish, when the same packages are compared.  The On Demand feature allows you to easily record movies and TV specials directly to your HD DVR over the internet.  The movie selection is good, including some free older HD movies and some new releases for a fee in HD.  The On Demand download times are slow, but, if you plan ahead, you can have a few standbys stored on the DVR for the times when there is nothing else on.  The HR21 HD DVR is a very slick piece of machinery, but it does NOT have over the air antenna input or tuner.  DirecTV says they left it out, because they include locals for "free."  Online scheduling of DVR recordings is very easy and cool, if you want to add a scheduled recording while you are away.  DirecTV products in development include a separate over the air ATSC tuner, a pro version of the HD DVR with a bigger hard drive, and a DirecTV tuner box to connect to your PC with USB, which would allow you to use your PC as a media server, watching shows around the house on Xbox as a media extender.  Very cool!  Let's hurry this one up, DirecTV!

Dish is comparable to DirecTV, but their HD DVR has a few advantages over DirecTV:

• FREE for new subscribers
• ATSC over the air HDTV antenna input and tuner
• Second room SD output and second remote from one HD DVR
• Monthly charge for one receiver for two rooms

 Amazon Unbox movies download at a very fast bitrate, up to 2.5 Mbps.  The movies and TV shows can be played on your PC, TiVo, or Compatible Portable Players.  Amazon Unbox Player software allows: redownload of previously purchased movies, make and restore DVD backups, and transfer compact portable versions to players.  Note- backup DVD's can only be played through the Amazon Unbox Player.  Rented movies and TV auto delete after 30 days or 24 hours after you begin to watch them, whichever happens first.

Download FREE iTunes software for PC or Mac.

Download FREE iTunes software for PC/Mac, then browse the iTunes store for Movies, TV Show, and Games to download.

The 4 billion download gorilla in music downloads is going after the movie download market, especially now with their recent deal with the major movie studios to allow iTunes to make movies available on the same day that the DVD's are released.  iTunes service has no subscription fees, and iTunes movie rental= $3 to $4 (for the few new releases).  Movie purchase =$10 to $15 (for new releases).  Copy protected, but can share on iphone or ipod only.  Growing library of 1000 movies with some new releases, 100 in 720p HD.  Does NOT support 1080p, yet.  Fast download and quick movie start over Wi-Fi or wired ethernet network.  Check Out the Apple TV, which can download movies and TV directly without the PC, or which can stream media files from your PC to your TV and entertainment center.

 Fast, Easy to use service with large movie inventory. Movies and TV Shows to rent or buy to watch on PC, burn to DVD to play in standartd player, or play on compatible portable devices or Xbox 360. Unlimited subscription for $9.99 per month consists of mainly older titles.

 Click ad below for FREE three day trial of the CinemaNow service.

If you can find a legitimate and legal Free or Unlimited Movie Download Site or Service, we would like to hear about it.  Most are rip offs where you pay $49.99 for free bittorrent peer-to-peer software, and then you are told to go get your movies "out there somewhere."  See the legal warning about US Copyright law, and how it affects peer-to-peer network file sharing.

Administrator

Blockbuster will be announcing soon their set-top movie download box to compete with Apple TV and the others.  The Blockbuster box will presumably incorporate Movielink, the movie download service started by Universal, Sony, MGM, Paramount and Warner with download rights to over 6000 movie titles.  Blockbuster purchased Movielink last year, and now is integrating the download service into Blockbuster.com.  Blockbuster is also rumored to be researching movie download kiosks for stores and downloads to portable devices, including cell phones.   We will continue to update here with the latest information available.

Check this link for the latest Blockbuster Box News.

Netflix has announced a partnership with LG Electronics to produce a set-top movie download box, which will access Netlix movies over the internet.  Rumors include a combined Blu ray DVD player, now that the high def DVD war is over.  If the new box includes more new releases and faster download and movie start than Netflix's current download service, it could be a hit.  Currently you must connect your PC directly to the TV to watch Netflix downloads on anything but your PC.  We will continue to update here with the latest information available.

*** Today,5/20/08, Netflix announced the release of their first movie box by Roku, an internet radio manufacturer.  The device will sell for $99, and has no hard drive, so the movies must be streamed from your PC over ethernet or Wi-Fi network.  The movies are sorted and downloaded to your PC first.  Their is no additional cost for movie downloads yet, and the library is not increased from the original 5000 older titles previously available for download from Netflix.  Eventually Netflix will need to make deals with movie studios for new releases at additional cost to compete with Apple TV.***  For more information check these links:  From NY Times:

Netflix Announces New Movie Box From Roku

Or this Review from PC Magazine:

Netflix Movie Box By Roku Review

More News About Netflix Downloads

 Apparently, Netflix intends to license their service on other set top boxes from LG and others.

   Download FREE iTunes software for PC or Mac.

Then browse the iTunes Store for Movies, TV, Music, and Games.

Apple iPod nano 8 GB Black (3rd Generation)

The 4 billion download gorilla in music downloads is going after the movie download market, especially now with their recent deal with the major movie studios to release iTunes movies on the SAME DAY as DVD releases.  Check out the Apple TV, which can download movies and TV directly without a PC, or which can stream media files from your PC to your TV and entertainment center.  iTunes service has no subscription fees, and iTunes movie rental= $3 to $4 (for the few new releases).  Movie purchase =$10 to $15 (for new releases).  Copy protected, but can share on iphone or ipod only.  Growing library of 1000 movies with some new releases, 100 in 720p HD.  Does NOT support 1080p, which is not a factor for the iPod or iPhone.  Fast download over Wi-Fi or wired ethernet network.  Easy transfer to iPod over USB.

   Download FREE iTunes software for PC or Mac.

Then browse the iTunes Store for Movies, TV, Music, and Games.

The 4 billion download gorilla in music downloads is going after the movie download market, especially now with their recent deal with the major movie studios to release iTunes movies on the SAME DAY as DVD releases.  Check out the Apple TV, which can download movies and TV directly without the PC, or which can stream media files from your PC to your TV and entertainment center.  iTunes service has no subscription fees, and iTunes movie rental= $3 to $4 (for the few new releases).  Movie purchase =$10 to $15 (for new releases).  Copy protected, but can share on iphone or ipod only.  Growing library of 1000 movies with some new releases, 100 in 720p HD.  Does NOT support 1080p, which is not a factor for the iPod or iPhone.  Fast download over Wi-Fi or wired ethernet network, and easy transfer to iPod over USB. 

The Unbox Video Player from Amazon on your PC shows connected portable devices and movies or other video you have downloaded to your PC.  Click and drag the videos to transfer, and a smaller portable video file is transferred to the portable device.  Easy.  Most "Plays For Sure" compatible devices should work. The devices pictured above have been tested to work with Amazon Unbox. Below, more approved devices (Hold your cursor over link for preview):
Archos 605 Wi-Fi Portable Media Player (160 GB)  Archos 605 30GB WiFi Multimedia PlayerArchos 604 30GB Wi-Fi, Ultra-Slim Portable Digital Media Player and Recorder (50872)  Creative Zen 16 GB (Black)  Creative Zen 8 GB MP3 Player (Black)  Creative Zen 4 GB MP3 Player (Black)  SanDisk Sansa View 32 GB Video MP3 Player  SanDisk Sansa View 16 GB Video MP3 Player (Black)  SanDisk Sansa View 8 GB Video MP3 Player (Black)

 Amazon Unbox movies download at a very fast bitrate, up to 2.5 Mbps.  The movies and TV shows can be played on your PC, TiVo, or Compatible Portable Players.  Amazon Unbox Player software allows: redownload of previously purchased movies, make and restore DVD backups, and transfer compact portable versions to players.  Note- backup DVD's can only be played through the Amazon Unbox Player.  Rented movies and TV auto delete after 30 days or 24 hours after you begin to watch them, whichever happens first.

Compatible Portable Devices:Samsung YP-P2JCB P2 8 GB Slim Portable Media Player (Black), Samsung YP-P2JAW P2 Widescreen Touch Screen MP3 and Video Player, Samsung YP-P2JAW P2 Widescreen Touch Screen MP3 and Video Player, Archos 605 Wi-Fi Portable Media Player (160 GB), Archos 405 2 GB Portable Media Player (Silver), Creative Zen 16 GB (Black), Creative Zen 8 GB MP3 Player (Black), Creative Zen 4 GB MP3 Player (Black), >Toshiba MES60VK Gigabeat 60 GB Portable Media Player (Black), Toshiba MES30VW Gigabeat 30 GB Portable Media Player (White).

Samsung LCD flat panel HDTV's in 52", 46" and 40" break new ground with:

•  LED backlight, local dimming for enhanced color, deeper blacks

• Fast 120Hz refresh rate to eliminate motion blur, 1080/24p multiple

• 1920 x 1080p/24/30/60

• HDMI input x three

• QAM tuner, ATSC tuner, Cable card compatible

Sony will be bringing video and TV show downloads to the Playstation 3 (PS3) in the near future. The PS3 will download full-length TV shows and movies (and games) over the PLAYSTATION Network using the  video on demand iPlayer service. Please check back for more details, as they become available.

The PS3 is a fast, capable Blu ray DVD player, especially with the recent addition of:

Blu-ray Disc Profile 2.0 (BD-LIVE), connect to the Internet while playing discs that support this format so you can obtain additional features.  Wi-fi internal for easy firmware updates.

Blu ray DVD and upconvert standard DVD to 1080/24p or 1080/60p video output

HD Audio formats: Dolby Digital HD and DTS Master Audio over multi-channel PCM

Blu ray disc remote available (much easier to use than game controller). Note 40GB PS3 does NOT support PS2 or earlier games, but the 60GB and 80GB do play older games.

Legally Make Copies of your DVD's for your own use.

***Read First-Copyright Warning***

If you plan to download movies for FREE, or if you plan to download unlimited movies for a small fee, then you are probably going to be violating federal copyright law.  Read for yourself:

US Copyright Office FAQ about digital files

US Copyright Office on peer to peer networks

US Copyright Office main page 

 

 

Sony PSP is a very capable machine for game, network games, photos, music, internet and video, when paired with a PC, a Wi-Fi network, a Sony Location Free TV box, or a TiVo.

How it works:  (Memory Stick Duo required in 8GB, 4GB, or 2GB sizes)

• Directly download music and video over the Wi-Fi network
• Download music and video to your PC, then convert files and load onto PSP with PSP Media Manager or Max Media Manager Pro for PlayStation Portable (MP4 or H.264/MPEG4-AAC video files supported)
• Sony Location Free TV Base Station Sony LF-V30 LocationFree Base Station)can transmit any video output connected from the base station to the PSP over Wi-Fi, in the home or out at a Wi-Fi hotspot.
• Play UMD video discs directly on PSP
• TiVo-to-Go service, an option with a series 2 or 3 TiVo, allows you to transfer video from the TiVo to your PC, and then to your PSP (Check our TiVo reviews category)

PSP is available in three models from Amazon: Black, Silver, or White (Hold cursor over for preview). 

Place shifting with the Slingbox is just what you need to add to your DVR with time shifting capability.

CinemaNow movies on your PC can be transferred to compatible portable devices.  Most "Plays For Sure" compatible devices should work. The devices pictured above have been tested to work with CinemaNow. Below, more approved devices (Hold your cursor over link for preview):
Archos 605 Wi-Fi Portable Media Player (160 GB)  Archos 605 30GB WiFi Multimedia PlayerArchos 604 30GB Wi-Fi, Ultra-Slim Portable Digital Media Player and Recorder (50872)  Creative Zen 16 GB (Black)  Creative Zen 8 GB MP3 Player (Black)  Creative Zen 4 GB MP3 Player (Black)  SanDisk Sansa View 32 GB Video MP3 Player  SanDisk Sansa View 16 GB Video MP3 Player (Black)  SanDisk Sansa View 8 GB Video MP3 Player (Black)

Check for or post reviews of CinemaNow in the PC Based Movie Download Section.
Click ad below for FREE three day trial of CinemaNow