Nice comparison. Didn't know most of those existed.
However, I belive Vongo (subscription movie service by Starz) deserves a mention, because it's a different business model. Unlimited access to old catalog, pay-per-view (few $$) for new/high demand movies:
I did try to look at Vongo, but could not get access to the site as I'm based in the UK. They actually use geo-blocking based on a user's IP address, so that you aren't even allowed to look. Pretty useless for getting an idea of what's on offer.
As a Mac user with a PowerMac G5, I have no easy way to use any of these Windows-only services. If Hollywood insists on DRM for their products, they should choose a standard that's available on ALL computer platforms. Why should I have to run a particular OS just to watch a movie? It's greed and proprietary DRM that creates more pirates than they prevent every single day.
Foo
· 2 years ago
what about http://thepiratebay.org/ ? worldwide, no drm, any platform, free. seems to be the best of the bunch
Tyler
· 2 years ago
I could have read all this on wikipedia. There is nothing being compared here and no point being made.
Peter
· 2 years ago
I also find that the Azureus Vuze service works pretty well, for both free content and buying/renting. It's simple and easy to use, and there are sometimes files for free that you would normally have to pay for. The only problem is that the paying service is windows-only, so I need to use parallels to watch rented or bought stuff. DRM sucks.
Alex
· 2 years ago
As a linux user most of these programs screw me over or leave me with next to no library to choose from. The studios need to get over themselves and realize what is going to sell to the masses. No DRM. If we pay for something then we can do what we want with it, it's ours. That would only happen in a perfect world though, so here's to holding our breath!
Paul
· 2 years ago
So how's MVLib? From what I can tell, it's AllofMP3 for movies. They're both basedin Russia, they both give you a choice of bitrates/formats, and they both give aportion of the money to a Russian media oprganization that supposedly pays back the artists, so they're technically legal. I don't want to give them my credit card (I guess I could just buy a Visa gift card). Do you know what kind of payment they accept? By the way, I'm also a Linux user.
Evan
· 2 years ago
HungryFlix supports Mac and Linux. DRM-free MPEG4 files.
Sean
· 2 years ago
Do any of these besides the Xbox 360 service have HD material?
charles
· 2 years ago
Sean, vuze.com has the largest library of HD content on the web. Tons of free HD content, and HD indie films for sale as well.
wireboss
· 2 years ago
Ummm, Netflix's service should be in this list too... 17 hours of downloadables WITH the usual DVD mail service for $17
Daveed
· 2 years ago
I never before realized how ridiculous all these options are.
DRM filled. Expensive for no physical content or product.
If new (non special sets) DVD's are selling for roughly $20, then a relatively low quality download should be approximately 9.99, especially if it's restricted to only playing on my computer (can't be burned). The price then should go down as the movie gets older.
They will just continue driving people to pirating until they give people a better option.
Jamie
· 2 years ago
Jaman supports both Windows and Mac.
Bryan H. Bell
· 2 years ago
Thanks for the mention of my web site listing all the HD content available on Xbox Live Video Marketplace. I originally put together the list for my own use to avoid ordering Netflix movies on DVD that I could get in HD using my Xbox 360. Judging by the hits to my pages, however, others must be finding the list useful. I have since purchased an HD-DVD player for my Xbox 360 so now I can get some HD titles from Netflix. However, Xbox Live Video Marketplace still has much HD content not available on HD-DVD (or Blu-Ray either).
An important note about your Xbox Live Video Marketplace entry: although some downloaded titles may be kept and replayed indefinitely, most may only be kept for 14 days after purchase and 24 hours after first playing them. I must admit that those restrictions discourage me from downloading very much. Also, as my web site indicates, most titles are only available for download for a limited time before they are removed from the service.
Steve O'Hear (editor)
· 2 years ago
@Bryan
Thanks for the info Bryan! I've updated the post with the correct XBox Live info.
Jeremy
· 2 years ago
This is a pointless article.
The main point of comparison should be whether or not it plays on an iPod not whether or not the client is Windows based.
Most people who are into portable video use iPods. Large numbers of these sites use files that can not be played on an iPod, but some sites files can be.
How the heck can you do any kind of comparison without saying if the product being sold can be played on the most popular portable player?
There is tons of other info left out also. This is more of a (breezy) "review" and not really a comparison at all.
David Mackey
· 2 years ago
Wasn't familiar with Jaman. Don't use CinemaNow because of their heavy adult focus. I like Movielink. You failed to mention Vongo which is another good choice.
James
· 2 years ago
There's loads more sites, especially amongst the illegal P2P market, some of which have been mentioned. What many of you don't appreciate is the reasons that most of these services don't offer a Mac platform. It's because Apple have a closed operating system when it comes to DRM. Despite the original sharing ethos of Apple, it has to come from iTunes! The studios realize this, which is why they all embraced Microsoft DRM in the first place. It's why the BBC here in the UK have gone the same way.... in the knowledge that when Microsoft's Silverlight player platform beds-in, it'll be Mac compatible anyway. Personally my favourite is www.channelfilms.com... but then I would as it's ours!
thepiratebay.org software does not work of Mac. Would be nice to actually find something that does. Everyone on the internet has site they love but unfortunately they do not always seem to know if it runs on PC's only or both PC and Mac.
Since our childhood we live in rooms with TV sets, home theatres, computers and so on. You can even watch video and TV in the car! If anyone heard this in last century, he would not believe it. Could anyone from the past imagine Internet? Now you can find there anything you want.
Movie lovers, your time has come! In Internet you can even find lists of the best world movies that you can “watch and die”. Those films are really worth to watch, but we strongly recommend you not to die, otherwise you won’t get an opportunity to watch even better films.
Several years ago you could order new films in Internet stores and get them delivered to your home on CDs or DVDs. You had to wait days or even weeks to receive your wanted film copy.
Forget about this turtle service and enjoy new technologies reducing the process of getting the movie to several minutes and saving your nerves.
With the advent of Internet, now you can have all the favorite movies and TV shows delivered right to your Computer. There are numerous online movie sites providing cheap movie downloads. We suggest only downloading DVD quality movies from the legally approved safe and secured sites, for example http://themoviesland.com.
Join the Internet revolution and start download full length movies and more with http://themoviesland.com. This online full movie site is definitely the best and receives our top rating.
Here you can find greatest collection of different genres films - comedy, drama, romance, musical, action, adventure, fantasy, history, war, western and a lot more for you and your family members. Your children will love the great cartoon films and serials.
You’ll surely appreciate friendly interface – it is well designed and very organized. Customer support of this service is excellent.
This is not our personal observation but in fact the direct user experiences from various forums and discussion groups. Have a look at movie library of themoviesland.com. This network offers a lot of movies that you can't find anywhere else.
Themoviesland.com is known for its consistency in getting a good database of brand new titles to old classics. This legal DVD movies download site has no restrictions in bandwidth or content or download limits. It offers a life long unlimited access 24 hours/7days a week.
You will never be asked to download or install any additional software. Just use programs you always use, like your favorite browser or download manager. No rentals, you own what you download. The complete movie is only from $1.99 to $4.99.
Watch movies on home video player with your family or friends. Plunge into the movie world through world-films.org site.
http://themoviesland.com - online purchase of films of different genres. Genres beginning from War and finishing Crime
I hear verizon is rolling out a new way to view online movies however, with all the competition, it is going to be hard to get much market penetration but we are talking about a huge tele co. also. We'll just have to see how well it's received. Bri http://newonlinemovies.com
define
· 1 year ago
I did try to look at Vongo, but could not get access to the site as I’m based in the UK. They actually use geo-blocking based on a user’s IP address, so that you aren’t even allowed to look. Pretty useless for getting an idea of what’s on offer.
All Comments
However, I belive Vongo (subscription movie service by Starz) deserves a mention, because it's a different business model. Unlimited access to old catalog, pay-per-view (few $$) for new/high demand movies:
http://www.vongo.com/
I did try to look at Vongo, but could not get access to the site as I'm based in the UK. They actually use geo-blocking based on a user's IP address, so that you aren't even allowed to look. Pretty useless for getting an idea of what's on offer.
DRM filled. Expensive for no physical content or product.
If new (non special sets) DVD's are selling for roughly $20, then a relatively low quality download should be approximately 9.99, especially if it's restricted to only playing on my computer (can't be burned). The price then should go down as the movie gets older.
They will just continue driving people to pirating until they give people a better option.
An important note about your Xbox Live Video Marketplace entry: although some downloaded titles may be kept and replayed indefinitely, most may only be kept for 14 days after purchase and 24 hours after first playing them. I must admit that those restrictions discourage me from downloading very much. Also, as my web site indicates, most titles are only available for download for a limited time before they are removed from the service.
Thanks for the info Bryan! I've updated the post with the correct XBox Live info.
The main point of comparison should be whether or not it plays on an iPod not whether or not the client is Windows based.
Most people who are into portable video use iPods. Large numbers of these sites use files that can not be played on an iPod, but some sites files can be.
How the heck can you do any kind of comparison without saying if the product being sold can be played on the most popular portable player?
There is tons of other info left out also. This is more of a (breezy) "review" and not really a comparison at all.
It's why the BBC here in the UK have gone the same way.... in the knowledge that when Microsoft's Silverlight player platform beds-in, it'll be Mac compatible anyway.
Personally my favourite is www.channelfilms.com... but then I would as it's ours!
thepiratebay.org software does not work of Mac. Would be nice to actually find something that does. Everyone on the internet has site they love but unfortunately they do not always seem to know if it runs on PC's only or both PC and Mac.
More info please.
Movie lovers, your time has come! In Internet you can even find lists of the best world movies that you can “watch and die”. Those films are really worth to watch, but we strongly recommend you not to die, otherwise you won’t get an opportunity to watch even better films.
Several years ago you could order new films in Internet stores and get them delivered to your home on CDs or DVDs. You had to wait days or even weeks to receive your wanted film copy.
Forget about this turtle service and enjoy new technologies reducing the process of getting the movie to several minutes and saving your nerves.
With the advent of Internet, now you can have all the favorite movies and TV shows delivered right to your Computer. There are numerous online movie sites providing cheap movie downloads. We suggest only downloading DVD quality movies from the legally approved safe and secured sites, for example http://themoviesland.com.
Join the Internet revolution and start download full length movies and more with http://themoviesland.com. This online full movie site is definitely the best and receives our top rating.
Here you can find greatest collection of different genres films - comedy, drama, romance, musical, action, adventure, fantasy, history, war, western and a lot more for you and your family members. Your children will love the great cartoon films and serials.
You’ll surely appreciate friendly interface – it is well designed and very organized. Customer support of this service is excellent.
This is not our personal observation but in fact the direct user experiences from various forums and discussion groups.
Have a look at movie library of themoviesland.com. This network offers a lot of movies that you can't find anywhere else.
Themoviesland.com is known for its consistency in getting a good database of brand new titles to old classics. This legal DVD movies download site has no restrictions in bandwidth or content or download limits. It offers a life long unlimited access 24 hours/7days a week.
You will never be asked to download or install any additional software. Just use programs you always use, like your favorite browser or download manager. No rentals, you own what you download. The complete movie is only from $1.99 to $4.99.
Watch movies on home video player with your family or friends. Plunge into the movie world through world-films.org site.
http://themoviesland.com - online purchase of films of different genres. Genres beginning from War and finishing Crime
Every hour update!
PS
Preved konkurenty :)
I'm author of the blog with Direct links to download movies
And I''ll be glad to see you here.
It's the largest movie library I think. I find here many my favorite movies with good quality.
And to Foo, mentioning The Pirate Bay here is not appropriate.