Vongo: Starz $9.95 per Month Unlimited Movies [Updated]
The New York Times is reporting on the announcement of a new unlimited movie download service from Starz Entertainment. The $9.95 a month subscription service called Vongo will allow users to download movies from the Internet for use on their computers, portable video players and TVs.
Starz had previously offered a movie download subscription through RealNetworks but has now switched over to Microsoft. Microsoft will be heavily promoting Vongo in an upcoming release of its Windows Media Player software and as content for their Portable Media Player devices.
The service is available at Vongo.com and currently offers 800 movies for download at $9.95 a month. Users are allowed unlimited downloads. Movies are in Windows Media Player format, widescreen aspect ratio and approximately 600MB in size. (Example Specs: The Incredibles comes in a 700Kbps bitrate, Windows Media 9, 64Kbps stereo WMA9 audio, and 680x368 resolution.)
Movies are playable on up to 3 computers or portable media players.
According to the article, Starz has not been able to work out an arrangement for Vongo to work on the iPod. As well, at present time the service does not work on Macs, but according to their website:
This service was previously rumored. Apple has been generating a lot of press with the early success of their Video sales on the iTunes Music Store. At this time, however, Apple is only offering television show content, music videos and Pixar shorts.
Update: Macworld reports that Vongo has been in contact with Apple, but are still waiting to hear back regarding Apple's interest.
Starz had previously offered a movie download subscription through RealNetworks but has now switched over to Microsoft. Microsoft will be heavily promoting Vongo in an upcoming release of its Windows Media Player software and as content for their Portable Media Player devices.
The service is available at Vongo.com and currently offers 800 movies for download at $9.95 a month. Users are allowed unlimited downloads. Movies are in Windows Media Player format, widescreen aspect ratio and approximately 600MB in size. (Example Specs: The Incredibles comes in a 700Kbps bitrate, Windows Media 9, 64Kbps stereo WMA9 audio, and 680x368 resolution.)
Movies are playable on up to 3 computers or portable media players.
According to the article, Starz has not been able to work out an arrangement for Vongo to work on the iPod. As well, at present time the service does not work on Macs, but according to their website:
Vongo is currently PC based, but will soon be Mac compatible (really!)
This service was previously rumored. Apple has been generating a lot of press with the early success of their Video sales on the iTunes Music Store. At this time, however, Apple is only offering television show content, music videos and Pixar shorts.
Update: Macworld reports that Vongo has been in contact with Apple, but are still waiting to hear back regarding Apple's interest.
Top Rated Comments
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80 months ago
Interesting.....This looks like the Apple vs. Microsoft war will be quite heated this year and will be fought on many many levels. This in my opinion is a direct attack on iTunes and iPod Video....
80 months ago
I see this as M$ trying to beat Apple to something... Too bad apple service will actually work/succeed
JRHONE... sure post something basic to just be first...then go back and add to it... i see how you are... :0)
JRHONE... sure post something basic to just be first...then go back and add to it... i see how you are... :0)
80 months ago
This is great news...competition is always a good thing. This will push Apple to introduce something similiar. When the two compete, we as consumers win.
80 months ago
Seriously, once Apple gets their own movie download service, I predict the death of the DVD :D
Now we just need to wait for the hackers to remove the encryption :)
No wonder their site requires Windows.. they use VBScript! :eek:
Now we just need to wait for the hackers to remove the encryption :)
No wonder their site requires Windows.. they use VBScript! :eek:
80 months ago
I went on Virtual PC and checked out the website -- what a totally crappy system. It doesn't work on the video iPod or the PSP, only devices that support some kind of MS portable Windows Media player. Dead on arrival.
The battle for portable video is coming down to PSP vs. iPod ... Sony has the better movie player but is clueless how to exploit it. But it still may win because it's ridiculously easy to rip a DVD and format it for PSP. (Equally true for iPod, but the first generation screen can't compete with PSP.) Once dual processors and huge HDs become the norm, everyone's going to be ripping their DVDs and putting time shifted TV onto PSPs and iPods and Hollywood is going to be in full panic.
So rip any DVD you want and keep it forever or pay $9.99 a month, buy an awful dedicated Windows Media player and watch crappy Starz movies. Easy choice. Let's see if Apple can come up with a better third option.
EDIT: The NY Times story notes that Starz will offer the same content to Sony Connect, which means it will be available for PSP in another manner. Sony Connect is such an awful music service, I can't imagine that it's video offerings are going to be any better. I'm tempted to say that a company so big with so many smart people has to get something right some day, but given the horrible and expensive UMD format, the incredibly expensive and unwatchable LocationFree player and the user unfriendly way videos are saved on the PSP, I think BYO content is Sony's best option.
The battle for portable video is coming down to PSP vs. iPod ... Sony has the better movie player but is clueless how to exploit it. But it still may win because it's ridiculously easy to rip a DVD and format it for PSP. (Equally true for iPod, but the first generation screen can't compete with PSP.) Once dual processors and huge HDs become the norm, everyone's going to be ripping their DVDs and putting time shifted TV onto PSPs and iPods and Hollywood is going to be in full panic.
So rip any DVD you want and keep it forever or pay $9.99 a month, buy an awful dedicated Windows Media player and watch crappy Starz movies. Easy choice. Let's see if Apple can come up with a better third option.
EDIT: The NY Times story notes that Starz will offer the same content to Sony Connect, which means it will be available for PSP in another manner. Sony Connect is such an awful music service, I can't imagine that it's video offerings are going to be any better. I'm tempted to say that a company so big with so many smart people has to get something right some day, but given the horrible and expensive UMD format, the incredibly expensive and unwatchable LocationFree player and the user unfriendly way videos are saved on the PSP, I think BYO content is Sony's best option.
80 months ago
In Safari, if you change your user agent (via Debug menu) to Windows MSIE 6, you can view the page here: http://www.vongo.com/vongoweb/pages/homePage.jsp?hostVar= (Click on Step 2 then vongo.com)
80 months ago
This is great news...competition is always a good thing. This will push Apple to introduce something similiar. When the two compete, we as consumers win.
I agree. If it starts to gain significant momentum, Apple will have to compete and will do something (hopefully) better. Of course if Vongo (or another site) works well and is Mac compatible, I'll use it. It's not like I think Apple is the only company that can do anything right.
I went to the site and put my email in to be notified when a Mac version is ready. I figure that will help tell them that Mac support is important.
80 months ago
No wonder their site requires Windows.. they use VBScript! :eek:
Where do they get these names? Vongo? WTF is that?
An iPod version is never coming, let's be honest. I doubt the mac version will even make it. (Unless they introduce a new IE that is required to run it.)
But if people crack the DRM on this like they did with Napster, I would definitely sign up and download a bunch of movies non-stop for a couple months.
80 months ago
Without the iPod, Vongo will fail, most likely. Ease of use will be very important, as well as portability of the video downloads.
I'd like to see something like this offered by Apple, since they have the foundation in place to make this happen.
I'd like to see something like this offered by Apple, since they have the foundation in place to make this happen.
80 months ago
Where do they get these names? Vongo? WTF is that?
An iPod version is never coming, let's be honest. I doubt the mac version will even make it. (Unless they introduce a new IE that is required to run it.)
But if people crack the DRM on this like they did with Napster, I would definitely sign up and download a bunch of movies non-stop for a couple months.
I'm assuming Vongo means Video on the go. V=video, on, go. Still stupid.
Fishes,
narco.
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