A recently purchased Microsoft Points Card package (manufactured in Ireland) confirms the impending launch of
Xbox Live Video Marketplace in Europe, apparently limited to the UK, Ireland, France, and Germany. The packaging also suggests that users will be able to rent "great movies" (in high-def), but does not mention the possible availability of television content.
Microsoft has loosely targeted a year-end release for Video Marketplace in parts of Europe (and Canada), and with this new evidence, we should expect Tuesday's
Dashboard Update to include the service in all relevant territories.
[Thanks, RazorD]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chris @ Nov 28th 2007 12:06PM
Whats the need of a hd-dvd/blu-ray when you have this? But im sure sky movies will have the movie(s) in a few months or so. although I'd like to download some oldies especially in HD
Ten Dolla Bill @ Nov 28th 2007 12:27PM
The easiest answer is that the movies you'll download off the service are compressed so their visual quality won't be quite as good as if you were to watch the same movie directly off a BD or HDDVD.
Most people probably won't notice or care about the difference but the fact of the matter is that there is a different in quality and that warrans the highdef movie player industry's existence.
charleytony @ Nov 28th 2007 12:40PM
one more thing is that the movie downloads dont include special features that are common on the new disc formats. I dont know for sure but my guess is that they dont have other languages than the one you rent them as and that subtitles are only available in that language too. That would explain how small the download is compared to what size it is as a disc.
Bloo @ Nov 28th 2007 12:56PM
1080p, less compression, up to 7.1 lossless sound, bonus features...
Draco @ Nov 28th 2007 1:26PM
think of it this way, if you can download a movie for under 5 gigs, yet it costs 15-30 gigs on HDDVD, or 25-50 on Blu-Ray, you are missing something, you may never know what it is, but its there... or not there I guess is more the case.
I think 360 bitrate is something like 7mbps, cable gives you between 12 and 24 (depending on line quality), and blu-ray (I don't have HDDVD) give just over 25.
Ben Hobbs @ Nov 28th 2007 3:43PM
Err... watching the movie instantly instead of having to wait 4 hours for it to download... A collection of more than 10 movies ... Being able to play it on more than one device, all over the home ... Better picture quality ... Extras ... Not having it disappear off your hard drive ... Resale ... Lending it to friends ... Portability ... Ripping it to media centre ...
Karen @ Nov 28th 2007 12:14PM
Top Gear in HD from the BBC available everywhere please!
gonk @ Nov 28th 2007 12:40PM
I feel the need, the need for speed!
kinshadow @ Nov 28th 2007 12:53PM
No, boys. There's two "O"s in Goose.
fuliano626@psn @ Nov 28th 2007 12:19PM
will they get different content then whats available in the us or the same
CharleyTony @ Nov 28th 2007 12:36PM
I still cant believe that the US video marketplace wasnt available in Canada last year. Come on what are they waiting for to make it official that we will get it this year ? And I find it really stupid that they dont tell their customers in advance what will be in the fall update, are they really still working on it ? Come on !
x silence x @ Nov 28th 2007 12:44PM
Canada will have the video marketplace by the years end. I have a MS guy on my XBL friends list who works in that area. When I asked him about the comments that Canada would be getting this service by the years end he replied... (We Still have 6 more weeks!!!) Take it for what it's worth. It sounds like its right around the corner to me.
CharleyTony @ Nov 28th 2007 12:59PM
I dont get why they seem to have trouble with content providers when it comes to other countries. Sure they have to pay for the rights to movies and stuff but when it comes to promotionnal gamerpics and themes for movies coming out all over the world... what gives ?
Silent Xenocide @ Nov 28th 2007 12:45PM
So. Will Trailer Park Boys be available in the Canada marketplace?
TwilightWolf 77 @ Nov 28th 2007 12:58PM
Fecking Zing!
x silence x @ Nov 28th 2007 1:05PM
@CharleyTony
1 word.... Lawyers!
ssuk @ Nov 28th 2007 1:31PM
About bloody time...
LilCo187 @ Nov 28th 2007 1:55PM
What's it like to live in Not America?
Penguin Warlord @ Nov 28th 2007 4:48PM
Calm, peacful, happy knowing that we are not despised by all other countries. It's to have someone incharge who's not an idiot, we just have a PM who's a douchebag who doesn't care about the majority of the population (those of us in citys). But otherwise living in Canada is fine.
x silence x @ Nov 28th 2007 2:00PM
Peaceful
SmokestormX @ Nov 29th 2007 6:16AM
If they get the pricing right they could rake it in , I have a feeling their gonna fck it up.
-fingers crossed.