RSSMSN Debuts Portable Video Downloads
By Nate Mook | Published March 30, 2005, 10:44 AM
Microsoft on Wednesday launched a new video download service designed for Windows Mobile-based devices, including Portable Media Centers, smartphones and Pocket PCs. The subscription service offers programming from over 10 partners, including MSNBC, iFilm and MTV.
Windows Mobile users can pay a yearly fee of $19.95 USD for MSN Video Downloads, or access a limited amount of content for free. Specific programming can be scheduled to download each day, with an automatic deleting feature to avoid a backlog of clips.
The downloadable videos add to content already available under Microsoft's PlayForSure program. TiVo plans to make recordings available for transfer to Portable Media Centers via its TiVoToGo service. SnapStream offers similar functionality with its Beyond TV personal video recorder.
"With content from some of the most recognized brands in entertainment, MSN Video Downloads helps bring this vision to life, allowing people to take their favorite television shows with them whether they are on the train, waiting for a doctor's appointment, or keeping the kids occupied in the back seat of the car," said John Pollard, director of Windows Mobile Applications.
MSN Video Downloads was initially previewed in January at CES. Since that time, Microsoft has added new content providers and forged a deal with CinemaNow to offer hundreds of movie titles formatted for viewing on Portable Media Centers.
*hooks up his vcr to his pc and makes a pay site offering old movies, all you want for a mere 18.99 USD thereby underselling ms :)
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Sounds like a great idea but someone forgot to tell the programers that there are folks out there running Windows 2000 and XP is not installed on every PC as the O/S. WMP-10 will not install, you need WMP-10 to even join up as a member... bummer. Here I was already to sign up.
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sounds like a cool idea, hope it works, we'll see how it goes.
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This is a terrible idea and I'll tell you exactly why: Microsoft is doing it. I mean really. Have you been to their music site? Uggggggggg. Can they not at least COPY Apple to make their site look palatable?
Terrible, Terrible, Terrible. And you just know the content will be crap. They won't offer anything worth watching.
What's the saying? A sucker and his money are soon parted.
Go ahead give your money to bill if you like.....I think I will wait until Apple develops a real solution to this problem.
Peace
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...you haven't even seen it yet, and you're already calling specific parts of it crap? Try posting when you aren't blinded by your bias.
One thing I found interesting... you pay $19.95 to access content for free? *scratches head* (yes, I get it).
I noticed they didn't say anything at all about the actual content. Are they offering movies, TV series, or what? It will be interesting to see what this turns out to be.
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sounds like a good idea. could be a good idea.
programming cost is very cheap in my opinion.
they offer tv shows, movies, news, sports, music videos..all sorts of things.
could care less if its microsoft,apple, or any other vendor for that matter. just do it and do it right, listen to customers and hopefully implement their ideas into a working, viable package.
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