Gadget and Techno Updates
Posts tagged rentals
Vudu drops some rentals to $2 to fight Apple, Netflix
Oct 18th
Posted by admin in Techno Updates
Vudu tonight launched an aggressive campaign [link active soon] to corner the movie rental space by slashing the prices down well below average. The company’s Movies On Sale section is charging just $ 2 for about 4,000 “top films” and is giving 48 hours to finish watching after playback starts. The deal lasts until the end of the year.
Lower prices should apply both to those who still use a Vudu Box as well as the TVs and Blu-ray players that have streaming support, such as those from LG, Samsung and Vizio.
The company didn’t immediately give an explanation for the More >
Warner Bros. holds out on iTunes show rentals
Sep 17th
Posted by admin in Techno Updates
Apple TV switches to streaming, gains 99-cent HDTV rentals
Sep 2nd
Apple today exposed a major overhaul of the Apple TV, long the company’s neglected “hobby” product. The new set-top is roughly a quarter the size of the original, and all black. It includes HDMI, USB, Ethernet and optical audio connections, as well as 802.11n Wi-Fi. In terms of interface it continues to use a button-based remote, and the firmware resembles earlier versions. Inside, however, there is no longer any option of permanent storage.
The device is now entirely based around streaming, mostly in the form of HD rentals. Movies can be rented from Apple for $ 5, while TV shows can More >
Amazon follows Apple with 99-cent TV rentals of its own
Sep 2nd
Posted by admin in Techno Updates
Amazon today revealed that Apple’s 99-cent iTunes TV rentals weren’t an exclusive by offering 99-cent Amazon VOD rentals of its own. As with Apple’s plans, Amazon has both ABC and Fox providing shows, although the online retailer’s ability to rival iTunes is mixed. Amazon VOD can play on the web and on multiple set-top boxes like the TiVo, but only some of its shows are in HD where Apple promises 720p.
The company has been one of Apple’s closer competitors in recent years. Apple only attacked Amazon’s core business more directly when it launched the iPad and the iBookstore in More >
Apple reportedly in talks with networks for 99 cent TV show rentals
Aug 24th
We’ve already heard rumors that Apple was working to convince networks to offer 99 cent TV show rentals on iTunes — and possibly on a forthcoming Apple TV / iTV as well — and it looks like things might now be starting to firm up a bit. According to Bloomberg, “three people familiar with the plan” say that Apple is now in “advanced talks” with News Corp about offering Fox TV show rentals for 99 cents apiece, and it’s reportedly talking with CBS and ABC-parent company Disney as well, although the state of those talks apparently aren’t as clear. No More >