Jason Unger

If Redbox is This Bad, It's Got to Be Good

Posted by junger - 12/09/09 at 07:12:04 am

I love Redbox.

It's the most convenient way to watch a movie, on a whim, without getting into any long-term contracts or recurring fees and at a great price. They even have an iPhone app for reserving movies before you go to pick them up.

Unfortunately, the movie studios hate Redbox. It's too cheap. We don't make any money off of it. It makes DVDs worth less.

Just how bad is Redbox for the movie studios? It's going to destroy the entertainment industry, says a new report (via NewTeeVee).

This loss in revenue will lead to a slowdown in movie production, crops will wilt, the earth will turn to salt, etc. The study says that Redbox is disrupting the home video industry in four ways:

• DVD sales are cannibalized
• Customers will want lower rental prices from other outlets
• The perceived value of movies will be harmed
• Redbox’s sale of discs into the aftermarket conflicts with other retail channels

Redbox’s kiosks also will send shock waves throughout the industry and could lead to the loss of 9,280 jobs, $35.4 million in contributions to health and welfare funds being cut, and a reduction of $30 million in tax revenue.

What a load of bullshit. I'm not even going to explain why these accusations are totally off-base. The real story here is that, time and time again, the entertainment industry is too busy fighting the last fight and looking for a scapegoat for its problems.

There's a reason why Redbox is so popular — it's cheap and convenient. But it's a business model that will only last for so long. Look at Netflix; they know that DVDs will become the minority and Internet streaming will become the norm.

Netflix is looking to the future. Redbox, I'm sure, is too. So why are the movie studios always stuck in the past?

Digital Distribution Isn't Important, If It's Still Locked Down

Posted by junger - 12/05/08 at 01:12:33 pm

I'm amazed at the progress the technology and entertainment community has made when it comes to the restrictions on digital music.

Instead of locking everything down like they used to, labels are starting to open up to DRM-free music. A visit to the Amazon MP3 store shows that tons of huge artists are making their music available without digital right management. It's a huge leap from where it was even 3 years ago.

But we're falling into the pattern again — this time, with digital video. Services like the iTunes store and VUDU are offering up some great video, but it's all locked down.

What's frustrating is that we, as consumers, seem fixated by the distribution method these services are using — and not that we're repeating the battle for digital rights. It's not like digital distribution is new; cable has been offering up a crappy selection of content for on-demand viewing forever.

The 'next' format war isn't downloads vs. discs; it's locked down video vs. DRM-free.

The promise of digital media is the freedom that you have to use it. The distribution method is a nice bonus, but it's not the most important aspect.

Complete story: Why Digital Copies (Not Downloads) Really Matter

Looking For: iTunes Movie Server, Streaming Capabilities

Posted by junger - 11/13/08 at 11:11:47 pm

I need your help.

Here's what I want to do:

• Setup a NAS or "home server"-type product to store all of my movies, maybe managed through iTunes?
• Stream them to clients throughout the house — probably Apple TVs, so podcasts can come through too
• Not use my iMac as the server

What's the best way to set this up?

I was thinking Drobo, since it can run an iTunes server – but it looks like it can only do music, not movies.

I like the idea of an Apple TV because I can watch my podcasts (at least the HD ones) on the plasma.

But, I'm open to all suggestions.

Little help?

Top 10 Quotes from Airplane!

Posted by junger - 05/08/08 at 11:05:20 am

10
Hanging Lady: Nervous?
Ted Striker: Yes.
Hanging Lady: First time?
Ted Striker: No, I've been nervous lots of times.

9
Elaine Dickinson: There's no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you'll enjoy the rest of your flight. By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?

8
Ted Striker: I flew single engine fighters in the Air Force, but this plane has four engines. It's an entirely different kind of flying altogether.
Rumack, Randy: [together] It's an entirely different kind of flying.

7
Rumack: What was it we had for dinner tonight?
Elaine Dickinson: Well, we had a choice of steak or fish.
Rumack: Yes, yes, I remember, I had lasagna.

6
Elaine Dickinson: Would you like something to read?
Hanging Lady: Do you have anything light?
Elaine Dickinson: How about this leaflet, "Famous Jewish Sports Legends?"

5
Captain Oveur: You ever been in a cockpit before?
Joey: No sir, I've never been up in a plane before.
Captain Oveur: You ever seen a grown man naked?

4
Joey: Wait a minute. I know you. You're Kareem Abdul-Jabar. You play basketball for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Roger Murdock: I'm sorry son, but you must have me confused with someone else. My name is Roger Murdock. I'm the co-pilot.
Joey: You are Kareem. I've seen you play. My dad's got season tickets.
Roger Murdock: I think you should go back to your seat now Joey. Right Clarence?
Captain Oveur: Nahhhhhh, he's not bothering anyone, let him stay here.
Roger Murdock: But just remember, my name is ROGER MURDOCK. I'm an airline pilot.
Joey: I think you're the greatest, but my dad says you don't work hard enough on defense. And he says that lots of times, you don't even run down court. And that you don't really try… except during the playoffs.
Roger Murdock: The hell I don't. LISTEN KID. I've been hearing that crap ever since I was at UCLA. I'm out there busting my buns every night. Tell your old man to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes.

3
Steve McCroskey: Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit drinking.
Steve McCroskey: Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit smoking.
Steve McCroskey: Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.
Steve McCroskey: Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit amphetamines

2
Rumack: You'd better tell the Captain we've got to land as soon as we can. This woman has to be gotten to a hospital.
Elaine Dickinson: A hospital? What is it?
Rumack: It's a big building with patients, but that's not important right now.

1
Ted Striker: Surely you can't be serious.
Rumack: I am serious… and don't call me Shirley.

BONUS
Man in Taxi: Well, I'll give him another twenty minutes; but that's it!

(via IMDB)

24 Prequel Movie Coming Fall 2008

Posted by junger - 03/07/08 at 05:03:35 pm

"24" will be getting a two-hour movie that prequels Season 7 this fall, the Hollywood Reporter is reporting.

The movie, designed to bridge the two-year gap between Seasons 6 and 7, is targeted to air in the fall, leading to the January return of the real-time drama. On Wednesday, "24" producers began securing the show's core cast members for the film.

I guess Fox didn't listen to my idea for National 24 day, but this is pretty big news.

So, now that there is SOME news, let the speculation begin…

- Will it be a two-hour "real-time" affair? Or will it stray from 24's standard time model?
- Is this the 24 movie that was supposed to come out? Or is that still happening?
- What will the prequel bring that we don't already know about Season 7? Most of the times, the prequels on the DVDs don't do much at all for the season.

Don't get me wrong, I'm absolutely looking forward to it. But is this just a way to "apologize" to fans for the lack of Jack Bauer in 2008? Or will it actually mean something to the show?