19.12.07

Unbox, Unfriendly to mac, ipod and iphones

Currently Unbox is using a WMV file format, and under it's license agreement to use it's service doesn't allow you to convert the video to the MP4 format. Apple products don't use a widespread codec package and are limited to using MP4 format, meaning that if you want to download movies that can be transfered to you're iphone,ipod touch or ipod family, you'll need to get a converter.

That being said, it seems that it might be cheaper in some cases to pickup the DVD at Best Buy, etc.. as Box prices seem to better than the streaming Unbox format.. and TV episode pricing is averaging 1.99, Or stick to iTunes, which we know will play correctly on you're device.

Amazon Unbox is falling into the pricing issues seen at other online movie companies, they can't seem to update there competitive pricing with box store pricing promo's.

If you're an Iphone user, sticking to iTunes or DVD boxed copies and converting them to play seems to be the best pricing option right now.

It's going to be interesting to see how Amazon Unbox shakes out. I truely believe that Legal Digital Media Stream will unfold as decent price points, maybe at lower quality video to maintain HD and DVD box sales. We've seen this lately with a Radiohead experiment. They posted a lower quality CD for sale on their website, only to move to iTunes to sell a better quality afterwards.

Maybe selling low resolution media files, playable only on lower resolution devices at a reduced price might actually get multiple sales! Meaning you might purchase the same movie twice, one for you're portable and a dvd or hd copy for you're collection.

If you're a Iphone user, stick to what you've already been doing! Amazon Unbox isn't the answer for you right now. Maybe in 2008.. ???

Since the Creative Zen player supports the WMV format and the DRM Unbox is using, Unbox video plays on the portable. WMV is the Window Media Player file format, and is the reason the Amazon Unbox Player is windows only. It seems to be based off of the media player code library. I could be wrong.. I'm only making an observation.


Unbox Compatiblile Devices

1 comment:

  1. Unbox doesn't support the Zune, only a handful of players (namely the Creative Zens). Check their compatible video players page before downloading.

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