MS Launches Video Download Service

renderhead writes "According to ZDNet and many other sources, Microsoft has launched a new video download service for playing back television content on Windows Mobile devices. Partners include CinemaNow, MSNBC.com, and TiVo. According to another article from ployer.com, the service will require Windows XP, Internet Explorer 5 or higher, and Windows Media Player 10 or higher."

Comments

Tried it

[BoldAC]

Here the link:
http://www.msnvideodownloads.com/

If it's anything like their current web-based service, each free 2-3 minute clip will be preceded by 1 30 minute commerical and 10 seconds of Microsoft ad space.

Plus, it looks like you'll have to sign in with passport.

If you sign-up for the free service, you'll have to agree to "INSTALL THE MSN MUSIC ASSISTANT"

To download videos from MSN Video Downloads, you need to install the Microsoft Music Assistant (the same technology that the MSN Music Service uses), which will download video content and automatically put it into the My Video folder on your computer.
This will take about 20 seconds on broadband, or several minutes by modem. When you click Install, an installation dialog will appear. Click Yes to accept the MSN Music Assistant and proceed.

To download videos from MSN Video Downloads, you need to install the Microsoft Music Assistant (the same technology that the MSN Music Service uses), which will download video content and automatically put it into the My Video folder on your computer.
This will take about 20 seconds on broadband, or several minutes by modem. When you click Install, an installation dialog will appear. Click Yes to accept the MSN Music Assistant and proceed.

On the positive side, it does look like it will have a bunch of stuff from FOOD TV. The more Alton Brown I can get, the better!

Re:Tried it

[BoldAC]

preceded by 1 30 SECOND commerical... sorry...

Re:Tried it

[Trelane]

Step 1 Build mythtv box Step 2 Record a show (manually or automatically) Step 3 Use nuvtranscode (or whatever the name is; my box died a quite while ago) to export to divx/mpeg2/mpeg4/whatever Step 4 Place final video on SD/CF/whatever card (or on your webserver) Step 5 Enjoy videos on your palm, laptop, or whatever, without commercials (if you've removed 'em) or drm crap to get in your way Step 6 Try to get momentum behind a mythfrontend port/server version to make steps 3-5 reduce to "5) Attach your webserver (with proper auth, natch) to your mythtv server and enjoy your shows wherever you go without commercials (if you've {auto,}removed them) or drm crap to get in your way"

backed by a trustworthy brand name

[sdMMk]

Sounds great - where can I sign up?

The Mask Comes Off

[Doc Ruby]

Now we see the truth behind all the corporate assurances that MS ownerships in MSNBC, ComCast cable and other media holdings is "just financial investment", or "just funding innovators". This is the beginning of MS leveraging a truly mass market monopoly. Combined with their DRM ubiquity in new DVD players, the MS octopus can now begin to squeeze the entire broadcast industry, and the world that depends on it for information, from its Internet lair.

Re:The Mask Comes Off

[bigtallmofo]

Have you seen the ratings on MSNBC? Microsoft definitely is a monopolist on the computer desktop, but their cable news network is best described as an unmitigated disaster.

Weird.

[bigtallmofo]

I gave it a spin but the only thing I could see was some insane bald man screaming, "DEVELOPERS! DEVELOPERS! DEVELOPERS!"

Anti-trust bait?

[J Barnes]

Why do they persue and advertise these as minimum requirements? Microsoft Windows XP required, Microsoft IE required, Microsoft Media Player 10 required...what no Microsoft stock requirements?

Microsoft needs content now.

[LaughingLinuxMan]

A delivery system without decent content is an empty bowl. Microsoft should spend some of those billions for a content firm like Viacom or Time Warner. LLM

I use MythTV

[drewzhrodague]

MythTV is great -- plays shows I record, DVDs, and even plays TV shows downloaded from the Internet (via mPlayer, which still blows my mind). KnoppMyth is easy to setup and install, and works with even old misengineered equipment.

I say this becasue I don't do Windows anymore, and my life is easier for it!

Re:Philosophical question

[BridgeBum]

I think there isn't enough information to answer that. If you put *all* technical issues aside...that is, no OS restrictions, no DRM restrictions, etc...then it would depend on the content and the price. Give me the right content for a reasonable price, and sure, I'd buy it from Microsoft.

The catch is that the technical restrictions are part of the heart of the issue. If MS can force other decisions on you if you want to use their system, then that's part of the cost. The cost could be freedom, purchasing MS OSes at $100-200 a pop, and so forth. You can't separate the technical issues here and give a reasonable answer.

Why God? Why??

[M.C. Hampster]

From the ZDNet article:

Microsoft said subscribers will be able to select content such as sports clips, news headlines and music videos from the MSN Video Downloads Web site

Is there some rule that states any mobile video must consist of sports clips, news clips and music videos? (Verizon, I'm looking at you with "VCast"). Seriously, everytime legal downloads of video content are discussed on cell phones or from the internet, these three are always mentioned. Well, I don't watch any of that. Does anyone really want to just watch sports clips on their mobile device? I enjoy sports an all, but I don't want to pay just to see a few clips. And music videos? I guess that's to cater to the teen crowd.

When will I be able to legally download an episode of 24? Or some other show that I actually watch? I don't want snippets of video here and there. I want to watch a freakin' show. I guess I'll stick to torrents when I forget to program my VCR.

Potentially worthwhile

[jackDuhRipper]

From the summary and the concept, this could be a worthwhile service.

Yes, it will be DRM-encumbered and feature at least its fair share of shite: either get over it or don't avail of the service.

More signal, please, and less noise.

I've spent less time with MSFT products than most (OS/2 -> BeOS/Linux -> FreeBSD and now predominantly OS X [with GNU tools all along for the past ~10 years]) and am no apologist, but give the friggin service a chance - OR DON'T - but having a way to easily* pay for, download and play worthwhile video content could very well be ... worthwhile.

Peace, lux, and thanks -

* - "easily" meaning I don't spend hours / days / weeks building, tweaking and searching for content i can "steal" / use without paying for / however you feel good about stating it.