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Netflix believes the DVD by mail movie rental business will be antiquated within 5 years. They’ve commissioned a streaming player from Roku. Blockbuster is planning in-store kiosks for downloads. If you haven’t seen The Onion’s take on Blockbuster, I mentioned it during the show and the video is here:
Historic 2018Blockbuster2019 Store Offers Glimpse Of How Movies Were Rented In The Past
The AMEX RM-mp1 is a beautiful presentation remote made for Windows Media Center. It includes a laser pointer, a media remote, and a wireless touchpad mouse. It’s wireless USB.
Two words: Bacon Salt.
Cam-Trax is a patented application that uses any Web cam to manipulate objects on a PC. They’re looking for serious beta testers now.
My promo code CALIBUNDLE lets you skip the rebate and get your discount immediately.
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May 29th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Cali – Excellent show and content as always. However, I have a couple of suggestions/onservations if resolved would make this show perfect. I was distracted by the studio light stands visible during the shoot. Also, I heard a lot of echo esp. when you were speaking up. Thanks Cali.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
I totally agree with the traditional DVD business going extinct, but I’m not sure that I agree with the timeline.
Could it be possible that we might be jumping the gun a little bit on this one? I mean of course we are the early adopter crowd, the crowd that will pay 200$ more an an Iphone because we got it a couple of months earlier, and not even bat an eye about it.
But what about the other 95% of the population who aren’t geeks like us. The people who don’t know what a RickRoll is, or who have never been pwned. Most of these people probably only recently got rid of their VCRs, and adpoted DVD as a standard.
I tried to explain the idea of a set top box downloading movies straight from the Net to my mom, and it gave her a headache!
In my opnion I still see the traditional DVD rental business going strong for at least another 10+ years, perhaps with Blu-Ray increasing in sales when more people move over to Hight Definition TV’s.
I just think (and I’m guilty myself of this too) that us Geeks think too far ahead, and tend to forget about our low tech friends around us who still can’t even program a VCR!
May 29th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Not sure that mail order DVD’s is going to be extinct that soon…though as a Netflix subscriber since 1999….I’ve been neglecting my subscription for some time. I had two selections that were sent to me last year (finally watched one on Monday)… And, there is so much stuff in my queue, and I’m always shuffling around based on what I think I’m in the mood for.
But, then when Sunday rolls around and I have my selections…(assuming I have time) I might not be in the mood for any of them. These days I spending a lot of time search for new video podcasts to fill my TiVo with and watch those….
So, movie downloads might be the future (I have used Amazon Unbox, and such, to get shows that I missed due to annoying schedule shifts or DVR failures….in addition to being a big ReplayTV user)….but the ISPs have to catch up….these download caps on their unlimited service and throttling transfers…don’t work well for on-demand downloading.
While I haven’t experienced it, a friend tells me he used to use a movie download service…but it was like download one movie, and then his internet would be down for 2 days…and then he could download another movie….and then his service would be down for 2 days. He now uses DSL.
I don’t know what my cap is…but I monitor my usage, and out of concern I switched my TiVoHD to use my DSL.
Plus I’d want HD or HD like….might tolerate full DVD, not sure….might be spoiled by my upconversion DVD player.
But, I am working on a plan to get a NetFlix player…and upgrade my DSL…. Hmmm, just noticed my NetFlix queue has an instant tab….27 of my selection are available this way….most are TV shows I want to watch, but not sure if I’ll ever get to renting (they are at the bottom of my DVD queue)….
May 30th, 2008 at 6:00 am
your laugh was hilarious! great show, keep it up.
May 30th, 2008 at 7:13 am
We love your commentary on “Buster’s!” :)
While Buster’s is musing their future in terms of putting download kiosks in their retail locations, gasoline is at four dollars a gallon, Netflix and iTunes are making movies available for instant viewing or download.
Thanks for another excellent brief!
Happy Friday!
May 30th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Just a little note on DVD vending machines, we use one called RedBox http://www.redbox.com they are in our local grocery stores and rentals are just $1 a day up to 24 days then it is yours . Great email integration with rental and return confirmation as well as receipts.
Great Show!
May 31st, 2008 at 2:47 pm
@ Santiago, I’ve a friend in Reno who uses the RedBox at her favorite supermarket, “I’ve rented ten DVDs from that and was always happy :)” ^-^~
@Cali, you know you’ve got a loyal Web2.0 community here when people use their REAL names. ^-^~
May 31st, 2008 at 2:52 pm
@Robert – haha! Good point, I like it! :)
June 1st, 2008 at 12:22 am
Bacon Salt sounded so good so I looked it up on the site and found out a store right down the road from me carries it. I got the original seasoning flavor and wow it is awsome! Get your taste buds ready you are both in for a treat!
June 4th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Just a comment on the Bacon Salt. It does claim to be kosher, as you said, but its certifier (Square-K Kosher Services) is suspect, so many people who keep kosher won’t use it right now (like with Hebrew National hot dogs, which are certified by the suspect Triangle-K kosher certifier). That being said, I have read somewhere that they are trying to get certified by the more widely accepted Kof-K certifier. It just demonstrates that on some products (such as food), you have to do your research on what works or is acceptable and not rely solely upon the manufacturer.
June 8th, 2008 at 11:32 am
I ordered the Bacon Salt (mesquite flavored)…WOW…that is some good stuff!! Tried it on eggs, baked potatoes, and burgers…in the immortal words of Rachael Ray…YUMMO!
June 8th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Wow from DVD Rentals to Bacon salt. You guys are all over the place! I love it!!! lol