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Comments: 156 +- Entertainment: Hollywood Backs Swedish Movie Streaming Site on Thursday November 12, @05:24AM
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samzenpus
on Thursday November 12, @05:24AM
from the take-a-peek dept.
from the take-a-peek dept.
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movies
paulraps writes "Forget Spotify and Skype: the latest strangely-named-but-hey-it's-free service from Sweden offers users streamed on-demand movies free of charge, has deals with two major Hollywood studios, and is called Voddler. Since its launch two weeks ago, the service has signed up a quarter of a million users and has almost the same number queuing for an invitation. After signing deals with Disney and Paramount, the company provides access to thousands of films, which are shown uninterrupted after a barrage of ads. The target is the file-sharing generation: 'Our customers can be sure that Voddler is totally legal, secure, and that there are no risks of computer viruses infecting their machines from downloaded files,' says executive vice president Zoran Slavic."
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Free movies (Score:2)
The "free" movies from Comcast on-demand suck and I would imagine those costs are somehow worked into your Comcast bill. I can't imagine free movies would be that great if they are only ad supported. Hollywood wouldn't give the rights to any movie actually worth seeing unless you pay the expensive royalties.
I'm a beta tester of voddler (Score:5, Informative)
Browsing the few movies they have at the moment is fairly easy (only about 500 movies or so). First I get a commercial and then the movie plays nicely on just 10-12Mbit adsl line. I have heard that there was commercial breaks in the movies, but I haven't seen any commercial in a movie so far, just the commercial just before the movie starts which can be 10 minutes long or so.
For a beta I think it's a nice product which works quite well for me. Especially since the last update on the client which allows you to go into windowed mode which I forgot to mention further up in my text.
I believe that Voddler can be great once the new movies pop in and the beta goes into full product. The client has only crashed on me once and when I started it up again and found my movie I was looking at I could start where it ended.
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Re: (Score:2)
I have been using voddler as a beta tester for a few weeks now and it works quite ok after the last client upgrade.
Be sure to let us know when the client gets hacked and the streaming movies can be saved to your HD.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
That hole is plugged, but there could be more which hasn't been discovered yet.
Re: (Score:2)
Be sure to let us know when the client gets hacked and the streaming movies can be saved to your HD.
It's easier and faster by going to The Pirate Bay. That also doesn't require registration.
Re: (Score:3)
It requires their own client? Wow, that was brave of you. Does the Linux version come in both 32 bit and 64 bit versions? If I would have to run THEIR client, I'd want to do so ONLY on a SAFE computer (that rules out all of Windows and I don't have a Mac).
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Technical requirements for Voddler.
> A computer with a minimum of 1000 megahertz (MHz) or higher, memory 512 MB and 13 GB available space on your hard drive.
> Operating system of Windows Vista or Windows XP. In time for the official release, Voddler will also be available on Mac.
> Internet connection of a minimum of 2,5Mbit.
> UPnP enabled router or an open Internet connection
> 3G mobile broadband is NOT supported at this stage.
> Voddler recommends an ATI/AMD, Intel, or NVIDIA graphics controller that supports OpenGL 2.0 to fully experience the slick Voddler graphical interface. Please also make sure you have the latest graphics device drivers installed on your system.
> ATI Radeon R420 (X800) or newer supported, ATI Radeon R700 (HD 4000) or newer recommended.
> Intel GMA 950 (945G) or newer supported, Intel GMA X4500HD (G45) or newer recommended.
> NVIDIA GeForce 6-Series and newer supported, GeForce 8-Series and newer recommended.
They haven't updated the FAQ or requirements about support of Mac yet. Linux is not supported, not sure if it runs in Wine though.
What scares me is that you need to have UPnP fully opened for all incoming calls in your router/firewall.
Re: (Score:2)
ONLY on a SAFE computer? My god MAN, get off the internet NOW!
Re: forced shutdown (Score:2)
I believe that [Command-Option-Esc] will get you a "kill task" dialog most of the time, even when a program has taken the Mac hostage in full-screen.
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Anyone skim the summary and read (Score:5, Informative)
uninterrupted barrage of ads
Why, oh why do they insist on this selling point of "no risks of computer viruses".
I'm always concerned that "legitimate" sources will contain a dodgy driver or a rootkit. No such concerns with the latest aXXo rip.
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barrage of ads; been to the theater lately? (Score:5, Insightful)
One of the reasons I stopped going to theaters to watch movies was that after I paid to get in, I was sitting through commercials (not just trailers, but commercials). I decided that I might as well stay home and wait for the movies on non-premium cable.
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One of the reasons I stopped going to theaters to watch movies was that after I paid to get in, I was sitting through commercials (not just trailers, but commercials). I decided that I might as well stay home and wait for the movies on non-premium cable.
Same here. The funny thing is they blame piracy for their own failure.
Re: (Score:2)
Well thats probably the case if you go to movies to only watch a movie. I never do just that, but it's nice to sometimes go out with a girlfriend and on the way or after go eat at a restaurant too. In that case the ads dont really bother that much. But if I just want to watch a movie, yeah I rather do it home from my more comfortable bed naked drinking beer.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Well thats probably the case if you go to movies to only watch a movie. I never do just that, but it's nice to sometimes go out with a girlfriend and on the way or after go eat at a restaurant too. In that case the ads dont really bother that much. But if I just want to watch a movie, yeah I rather do it home from my more comfortable bed naked drinking beer.
I don't know what do you do with you girlfriend, but watching adds together is not on my list.
You turn up at the time they say the film starts? (Score:2)
First week: 20 minutes late
Second week: 15 minutes late
Third week: 10 minutes late
If it's been out longer than 3 weeks, I can wait for the DVD ( which I can skip the You wouldn't steal a policeman's helmet! [youtube.com] adverts and trailers through VLC )
You don't have to go to the theater, buy blu-ray (Score:2)
I still think one of the reasons Blu Ray won in the end is because HD required the movie start when you loaded the DvD. My Disney produced Blu Ray discs are loaded with nearly a dozen ads and such before the movie selection screen pops.
Its a constant pushing of "Next Chapter" after loading many Blu Ray titles. If they going to stream them over the net for free after a barrage of ads the least they could do is reduce the price of Blu Ray discs. Fortunately I haven't had a problem with skipping the ads, bu
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
As far as I can tell, the only thing you're paying to use Voddler is the bandwith and the time to watch the adverts.
Why is it bad to have your movies paid by watching ads? Yes, on paid cable and theatres ads are fucking annoying as I've already paid for admission. Here, the ads ARE my payment of admission.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
I'm not going to excuse the ads, I hate them too, but you do realize that most (if not all) of the money that you paid to get into the movie went right back to the movie studios? Why do you think that popcorn and a soda cost to much at the movies? They need to pay their employees and run the entire facility on popcorn sales. When those didn
Re: (Score:2)
That works fine several days after the movie first comes out. Before then, you have to be early to get a better seat.
Re:barrage of ads; been to the theater lately? (Score:4, Insightful)
Do I sound picky? Perhaps. I have a nice TV at home, and renting movies is very cheap. It is up to the theater to give me a reason to not just stay home.
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How about downloading? (Score:2)
Videos that contain viruses? (Score:2)
Finally! The amount of times I've had viruses from video-files have been... Erm... Ohwait.
What video files containing viruses -are- they talking about?,br>
With software they might at least have a point, but I've never seen a video file with a virus.
Re: (Score:2)
What about http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120458/ [imdb.com] ?
While waiting for the major studios to join in (Score:2)
They probably have the look alikes and the wannabee movies. Like a Swedish Steven Seagal that kicks arse and gets all the Swedish chicks...and he runs outta chicks...
Depends on definition of virus, (Score:5, Informative)
When installed it takes root access (in beta? how can that be safe?), and the server part never shuts down. That's right, when you're not watching a movie, you're still uploading. When you're out and about with your laptop and on a 3G tether, just checking your email and paying for data transfer, you're still uploading. When you have some real uploading to do (for work or whatever), the only way to turn off the Voddler sharing is to uninstall the server part, and then the client and player stops working.
No thanks.
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That's what you get when you let some company, even one that claims to be free, safe, and secure, take over your computer. You've already been 0wn3d! Some of us have safe computers, safely configured, based on safe operating systems we compile ourselves, using safe compilers. The music and movie industries already know we won't be 0wn3d and so they've already counted us out of their target market (although they still lie to the government and pretend as though they tried to actually have us as part of th
Re:Depends on definition of virus, (Score:5, Informative)
That's already fixed. Doesn't run as root and you now have the option of turning the P2P stuff off and on as you wish.
Voddler on Mac [voddler.com]
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Finally... (Score:2)
Hey, maybe Hollywood is finally starting to get it? We'll see how badly they try to screw the customers in the long term, but this is at least a step in the right direction.
Yeah right... (Score:3, Insightful)
...that argument works, because your customers can't tell data formats (like MKV or AVI) from executable files.
Unfortunately, I say FUCK streaming! I'm not falling for that "you actually don't own shit" strategy!
Either I own the unencrypted file on my hard drive, of you can just right GTFO.
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It asks you for your name and email address, then will send you an invitation when the beta ends. Unless you mistook "email address" for "bank details", that hardly qualifies as phishing in my book.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Here's what happens when you access their site.
First you are presented with a very sparse page with a couple areas you can put your name and email address to "register".
Next, if you are so inclined, you enter your email address and name.
Then it says "Thanks for your interest in Voddler!"
Then you receive an email informing you that actually you didn't actually register since the site isn't actually open yet.
I suppose it was a good idea to use a throwaway account for this.
You're an idiot. This is not a phising site, this is a completely legit site, and those who are with the ISP "Bredbandsbolaget" can already use the service. It's the same type of business model that spotify uses. And frankly, if you ever get your fat ass out of the US you'll see how many services aren't available for the rest of us. Not everything comes instantly, jackass.
Re:Um.. Can someone tag this "phishing"? (Score:5, Funny)
But how many Ingmar Bergman films can anyone watch?
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Re:Um.. Can someone tag this "phishing"? (Score:5, Insightful)
Well he is also calling it a phishing site, which is just to troll and throw this articles comments offtopic. Even the summary notes that theres tons of people waiting for invitation, so its kind of stupid to think you're just gonna get account like that from their main site.
But interesting note from About Voddler site is "Finally an alternative to illegal downloading is available on the Swedish market.", which makes me think if Voddler is available elsewhere too (atleast nordic and european countries like Spotify has). It might even be that this is specifically developed for Swedish market (at least first), since so large percent of people, specially young, pirate movies and music.
That being said, if this anything close to "Spotify for Movies" I'm really interested. It's been an year that I've used only Spotify for my music listening and it's even more convenience than downloading mp3's and everyone I know is the same thing. Been a premium member for months too.
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Re:Um.. Can someone tag this "phishing"? (Score:5, Insightful)
Welcome to the rest of the world.
It's often that us non US-people only get a sparse page with a few fields to enter your data in, only to find out that the service you thought you were registering for doesn't work yet in your country.
Call it phishing if you like, but it's par for the course. It's just that you US-ians don't notice it as often.
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Re:Um.. Can someone tag this "phishing"? (Score:5, Funny)
Welcome to the rest of the world.
What is this rest of the world you speak of? Do you mean Mexico and Canada? Is Sweden a Canadian state? I think I've heard of those places. Do they get the internet there?
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Re:Um.. Can someone tag this "phishing"? (Score:5, Insightful)
And the AC answering with "you're an idiot' and "jackass" is informative... that is more of a flamebait I think...
It's not an insult to say a dead man is dead.
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Phishing? (and where is your analogy?) (Score:2)
HTF is that phishing? Wikipedia sez:
And no analogy in your comment. Perhaps consider renaming yourself to inane first post guy?
Re:Um.. Can someone tag this "phishing"? (Score:4, Informative)
It is not phishing.
I got an invitation via my ISP Bredbandsbolaget.
Voddler works fine, but has currenly only budget movies to show. But that will change now with the Hollywood deals :).
It also works as advertised; see a few commercials (time to pop the popcorn), and the movie is played without interruption... as long as your network connection is ok :-).
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Re: (Score:2)
What, you thought Hollywood would back a streaming site that showed first run blockbusters?
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It's not phishing, you're added to the queue. But it's a pretty long queue.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
How exactly pirating movies will boost business?
I know there's lots of people on slashdot who like to justify their pirating with all these "open", "bad bad record labels" etc bullshit, but truth is that people just want stuff for free and conveniently. As surprising it is after all the years of fighting from industry, it was really surprising that Spotify actually offers legit service that is a lot better than downloading warez. And with both free and paid, all-you-can-eat models. Spotify really changed th
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Free isn't the big issue. Convenient is.
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Yeah I agree on that tho. I buy pretty much all games from Steam too because its just so much more convenient than walking to store, and comes with extra features like friends lists, community stuff and the ability to always download the game again when you need to.
Free model is a plus in this.
Re: (Score:2)
I have no interest in pirating. I am willing to pay for movies. I do know it takes money to make them.
However, if the movie industry has already counted me out of their market, then how is it that downloading the movie from a pirate location results in any loss of money on their part for my one download? Sure, I do know that there are people that are actually in the movie industry's target market who are trying to cheat the system and not pay, by using such piracy places. But do NOT assume that everyone
Re: (Score:2)
"The nature of our business is both IT and media related and we are developing software solutions based on the Microsoft platform. "
"The nature of our business is to ignore all the users that use BSD, Linux, or Solaris, because we don't want their money. We only care about Windows users (and maybe some day, Mac users)."
There, fixed it for ... them. And yea, I took that "solutions" buzzword out to help them not look so much like a bunch of clueless pinheads.
Re:Interesting story (Score:4, Informative)
A Swede was caught and fined for speeding on the autobahn.
As Americans, we sometimes willfully ignore facts, as most Americans believe the Autobahn to be this magical road where speed limits don't exist and every can drive as fast as they want.
They are. Just not ALL of them...
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Re:Interesting story (Score:5, Informative)
Do I need to pay for Voddler? You will have the choice of advertised movies and pay per view. In the beta version only advertised movies are available.
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