Loss of HP puts end to Wal-Mart's video download store

By Ed Oswald | Published December 28, 2007, 12:10 PM

The retailer decided to silently walk away from its planned video download service after HP ended its participation.

HP was providing the back end to the service, but apparently the company felt it was not getting enough of a return and decided to stop offering it. From there, Wal-Mart just decided to end the service altogether.

While exact figures on video downloads from Wal-Mart's offering were not available, from the sudden closure of the service December 21, it's fairly clear they weren't substantial.

Wal-Mart used a feature from HP that was intended to help retailers set up online video stores. However, HP said that the market did not perform "as expected," and the decision was made to end the offering.

Other than Wal-Mart, some 30 other content providers are now left out in the cold. These companies signed agreements in October that made their content available through HP's service.

Anyone who purchased content from the online store will be able to continue to view their videos, however they will not be able to remove them from the computer they used to originally download them.

Comments

Too many players already just merge and build a fast network to support all the downloads and the lawsuits from RIAA.

Score: 0

|

Score: 0

|

Spammer!

Score: 0

|

That is what happens when you charge the same price for a lesser quality digital download as the same movie on a DVD. This business model will NEVER succeed.

Score: 0

|

First Google and now HP/Wal-Mart....

Does anyone still think DRM for video downloads really is a good idea?

Score: 0

|

Or more to the point, is using any kind of service provided by attention deficit disorder HP a good idea?

Score: 0

|

IMHO DRM is not a good idea whether it is applied to video or music. Apparently my opinion isn't worth much since those philistines that ally themselves with the MPAA and RIAA still insist on using it. Walmart isn't much better....serves them that HP pulled out on em.

Score: 0

|

The fact is, the majority of those folks who do not intend to try to redistribute them don't care.

The only ones who care are trying to get something for free.

After all, if you buy them, what do you care????

Score: 0

|

So because I don't like DRM that automatically makes me a criminal eh? Why thank you condemning me for wanting to use what ever codec I want (which happens to be ogg for my music), play my music and movies on what ever player I want and what ever OS I want.

Score: 0

|

Before it can tackle Windows, Chrome must leave Safari in the dust

It's a little browser with dreams of becoming a bigger operating system some day. But while it's chasing Microsoft's dreams, Chrome's tail is being chased by Apple.

Silverlight 3 goes live on Microsoft's servers

Microsoft's answer to Adobe's Flash is (unofficially) here, with prospects of higher-speed, higher-resolution video and for the first time, 3D.

Best Buy-brand TVs to get TiVo

A new alliance will place the retailer's own brand alongide the manufacturers, and could also lead to future partnerships on services.

Three Android phones on the way from T-Mobile in 2009

T-Mobile's myTouch 3G, launched Wednesday, will be followed by two more Android phones later this year, but neither of them will be HTC's Hero.

LTE still lacks a voice

The 4G Wireless standard that Verizon hopes to show off before this year is out is still at a loss for (spoken) words.

T-Mobile's strategy to combat Apple's iPhone with Android

With a trio of Android phones now in the pipeline for 2009, T-Mobile hopes to break the iPhone's emerging stranglehold.

EC's Reding: Government should act as broker for media downloads

If Internet media services don't step up and build an attractive way for users to start paying for downloads, a commissioner says, government may do the job instead.

Sony TVs get Netflix, still no PS3

Though it's coming in behind LG, Samsung, and Microsoft, Sony will begin to offer Netflix streaming, too.

Google Chrome OS: Too little, too early

Carmi Levy: Wide Angle Zoom Don't start the revolution just yet, says Carmi, who isn't so certain Chrome OS will be the "Windows Killer."

GAO pen test brings the hammer down on federal rent-a-cops

But are the computers to blame for the contract-guard fiasco at FPS?

What's Next: Chrome OS will have at least some friends in high places

Also: South Korea takes another round of DDoS abuse, and Neelie Kroes and Steve Ballmer may shake hands before she exits stage left.

Data sharing among online advertisers: Is sanity in sight?

Lockdown with Angela Gunn In the middle of a 15-page plea not to get regulated, a spark of smart thinking.

PST Recovery Software 12.0

July 9 - 11:34 PM ET

Unistal Data Recovery 12.08.06

July 9 - 11:09 PM ET

BKF Repair 3.0

July 9 - 10:54 PM ET

Vuze for Windows 4.2.0.4

July 9 - 6:26 PM ET

UltraVNC 1.0.6.4

July 9 - 6:05 PM ET

WildBit Viewer 5.5 Beta 3.0

July 9 - 5:44 PM ET