The Special Edition DVD of “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” and other DVDs from Warner Bros. include something they call “Digital Copy” which is a Windows Media-compatible copy of a movie which can be quickly and legally transferred from a purchased DVD to a Windows PC or “PlaysForSure” portable media device.
MacDailyNews Take: If you are a Mac and/or iPod user, it seems highly likely that you are paying Warner Bros. for this useless feature.
Warner Bros. Websites states that to use Digital Copy, you will need a PC running Windows XP or Windows Vista, Windows Media Player 10 or above, a DVD-ROM drive, Internet Explorer, version 6 or higher, and an Internet connection. No downloading is required but you’ll need to connect to the Internet the first time you run the disc to enter a special code to get your copy of the movie.
Warner Bros. is interested in hearing feedback regarding “Digital Copy.” You can rate your Digital Copy experience, let Warner know if you’d like this feature on other DVDs, and share any additional comments you might have here.
Well, I just sent them my response. As a Mac user, I will not buy the special edition but will rent from Netflix and rip a copy for my personal use.
We’ll see where that goes.
As the dinosaurs roam the earth, a big meteor with an Apple logo on it is hauling through space aiming at their little kingdom.
H A N D B R A K E !
http://handbrake.m0k.org/
I say rip it if they’re not going to provide an iPod/iPhone/Apple TV compatible version or provide a discount to those not using “Plays For Sure” devices.
I quote”
You make your system compatible with a product that is useless.
iPod, Mac products are easy to use. I THREW OUT EVERY PC I owned this year. Who’s idea was this…Wiley E. Coyote?
@Penelope
I said pretty much the same, then added, since you will not sell to me, its easier just to Bittorent
Funny, I bought every single Harry Potter movie to date, but will not be buying this one on principle. I left feedback.
Look! Up in the sky, is it a bird, is it a plane? no its Mac The Ripper, and his faithful sidekick Handbrake!
Left a little Holiday Hostility in their comments box.
they’re dumb, they’re so dumb. they just don’t realize it yet. *sigh*
This could also mean that the rumored iTunes rental deal is in the works and therefore, Macs, iPods are not supported with the physical media version.
Maybe we should ask Apple to work with these companies so they can make a Fairplay version for iPod+iTunes. I doubt Apple would do this as it would provide competition for the iTunes Store.
To Penelope: that’s stealing. You should buy the disc and then rip a copy for personal use.
I sent them a little note as well.
I honestly think this is a great idea, if they would just get over the anti-Apple mindset. For the masses, things like Handbrake aren’t as accessible, but this is… or could be.
I am longing for iTunes rentals.
Plays for sure excludes the zune also. I don’t get catering to the 1 percent of the market. That is how you drum up business, right?
MW “large”, as in large dummies
Send them this four or five times:
As one of of over 20 million Mac users in the USA, I will not buy the special edition but will rent from Netflix and rip a copy for my personal use.
Bitchy feedback left.
I told them not to make criminals out of their customers and to provide support for it to the iPods.
I am a big fan of bundling a legal digital version with the physical DVD purchase, but not supporting iPods is just INSANE. It’s the #1 video player on the planet!
They can argue that this will work for people’s PCs, but no one wants digital content there — they want it on their TV or their portable device (a.k.a. iPod). If someone wants to watch it on their PC, they can just pop in the DVD (which works on any computer instead of just Windows machines)!
I wrote them:
Since it does not work on Macs or iPods, it is utterly useless. I had planned to buy the new Harry Potter DVD, but I’m not paying extra for this kind useless stuff. Now I will wait six months until the disc is in the clearance bin at Wal-Mart to buy.
You have killed a great idea.
A better solution: talk to Apple and include a code with the DVD that will allow the user to download the movie for free off of iTunes. That would be far more popular — you could probably sell the DVD at a premium, too. I’d know I’d pay a few dollars more.
I’m sure whoever is reviewing the incoming mailbox (or database) at Warner, is deleting all the bitchy, nasty comments before compiling the rest for the bosses. Bitchy/nasty comments will be disregarded. What we need to do is write comments that make sense. They all already know Mac heads are a cult and they scream bloody murder at anything anti-Mac. Therefore, if we wrote comments pretending to be Windows users and iPod owners (I know it’s a bit of a stretch, but it’s worth it), we would then come across as representatives of a mainstream (for now) majority. They would not ignore that.
This is not about neglecting Mac (everyone does that). For Warner, someone could argue that it’s not worth catering to the Mac crowd. However, 100 million iPod owners is not the same as 20 million Mac owners. That would make a statement.
Having said all this, Warner only has two realistic choices: either ignore iPod owners, or ignore everyone and just pull this content. Apple will never release FairPlay to others. Warner absolutely wants DRM on these files. Since PlayForSure is the only thing out there that will do what Warner wants, it was the only choice. Let’s see how short-lived this initiative will be.
Basically this “Special Edition” DVD works only for people who want to watch the movie on their Windows PCs. Sure, I can transfer it to a PlaysForSure device, but who the hell has one of those? Are there any which play movies?
And can any be described without using the word “beleaguered”?
@JimO (and others)
Have you thought for a second that perhaps Apple does not want a Fairplay version to be included on physical discs because (as mentioned above,) it would be direct competition to the iTunes store.
For all we know Warner approached Apple and could’ve been given a big fat NO WAY by Jobs. It doesn’t seem like an Apple move.
Furthermore, if Apple is indeed working with the major studios for an iTunes rental service, there is no way he’d want iTunes friendly formats to be included in physical discs.
Steve wants physical media dead.
zmarc:
That’s probably the best solution (why didn’t I think of that!). Make it available on iTunes (for free with the coupon)!
We should all write something like that. Put a bit more pressure on studios to understand that Apple is their only salvation.
@Predrag,
Actually, I can’t see zmarc’s idea working at all.. Could you imagine music CD’s coming with a coupon to download a free copy on iTunes? Of course not! Why? Because Apple wants you to buy music directly from the iTunes store.. Just like they want you to purchase/rent movies directly from the iTunes store.
There’s a lot of slamming Warner going on for this move, but It just makes no sense for Apple/Jobs to contribute in any way towards the purchasing of physical media.
Guys – I wouldn’t send any company a message saying you would be ripping their DVD content without buying said article. Because you may be getting a visit from our friends at the MPAA or whatever it’s called.
“When I first heard of this technology I was quite interested, and was looking forward to viewing purchased DVD’s on my home computer and portable devices. However, upon further inspection, your “Digital Copy” technology requires Microsoft Windows and a “Plays for Sure” device. Too bad, because I guarantee that I would have purchased Harry Potter this holiday season otherwise. I can’t use your “Digital Copy” service because, like ~100 million other people, I have a Mac and an iPod. Instead of purchasing your product, I’ll be boycotting Warner Brothers products this holiday season, and encouraging everyone else I know to do the same. It won’t be hard either; the vast majority of people I know own iPods too. Try again WB, ignoring the largest installed base of media players on the planet can’t be that good for business.”
–mAc
Well said mAc-warrior
I sent similar feedback.
If they would simply use H264 it would work for everyone…I imagine there is more to this then we will ever know. It makes no sense for WB to support WMV unless there is some kind of motivation coming from somewhere.
I’m curious whether Flip4Mac would allow you to play that file.
Otherwise, just don’t buy the Special Edition DVD. Or wait till it shows up used and cheap at Movie Stop. Hollywood must hate that store. I buy virtually all my movies there for $10 or less.
doesn’t work on my macbook or ipod, i sometimes watch videos on the subway and i watch movies on my macbook. my girlfriend has a pc with vista and its compitable with that?! thats dumb. nobody likes vista, ive used windows since i was 11. and i hate vista, its why i went to mac. now u want to hold back technology to one system?! i bought the movie for this very feature. now im returning it for its flaws, even if i only get store credit.
i posted that to wb.
ill be honest. only maybe 1% that is true.
ive used windows since 11, true.
i hate vista, true.
nobody likes vista…opinion.
@MikeK
You are right on. There’s not a chance Apple would allow a free coupon or include a fairplay file with the purchase of a physical DVD.
Why would Apple want to strengthen the value of physical media sales when Apple’s future plans are clearly dependent on digital media.
Most of you are directing your anger towards the wrong source. Apple’s philosophy with the iTunes store is a replacement to physical media not “in addition to.”
Who wants to buy Harry Potter anyways? You’ve seen it once, you’ve seen it a thousand times. Plus, a new one will be out every 6 months for the next 6 years…I found this list of failed Harry Potter movie titles…pretty funny
http://listbums.com/view_profile.php?uid=44&list_id=944
I’m kinda bored with this whole Harry Potter thing. Even the kids are getting tired of it. They need to step up the action a notch for these series. How Harry Potter VS Mecha Godzilla. Or Harry Potter meets Pee Wee Herman And All Hells Breaks Loose. Better yet, make it rated R, Harry Potter in 9 1/2 Weeks with Boy George erotic thriller…. on second thought, I feel dirty and need a shower. ahaha
Shared my feelings.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />
Me too – thanks for the heads up.
I like mAc-warrior’s comment best but one edit would help. “I have a Mac and an iPod” should read– like ~100 million other people, I use an iPod with iTunes.
I don’t get why we need to get a “legal” digital version. If I buy the DVD (aka license), I should be able to watch it ANYWHERE and on ANY DEVICE.
It is AMAZING to me how this only works in one direction. How many times have I purchased Star Wars. I bought the VHS version, the VHS Collectors edition set, the upgraded version on VHS, and the DVD set. Same thing with the Indiana Jones movies. And after all this, they tell me it’s illegal to rip it to a digital device! HA!
I’m getting the boxed set in Blu-ray, so I can’t encode it either with a Mac or PC. Still, you’d think with Apple rising so high in the financial markets, the suits at Warner would look up from the feeding trough long enough to notice.
Are most of the posters here not in the U.S.?
Can you say Class Action or in this case because we are Mac users Classy Action???
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
Where does everybody keep getting this idea that Apple’s future depends on digital media. It doesn’t. The iTunes music store started as a way to make sure that there was content for mac and iPod users. They barely make enough money to cover the costs on iTunes and if any, it is paltry compared to the millions they make off of the hardware sales. No, Apple doesn’t need to sell the media, there is no real money in that for them, but they need the content to be available one way or another. My preference: Handbrake. I bought it, I own it, I’ll copy it to whatever I damn well please.
@Mwalk
True, there is more money in hardware sales. However, Apple has said they make approximately 10 cents per track.. To date, they’ve sold approximately 3 billion songs.. Do the math.. The iTunes store makes a hell of a lot of money..
Also remember, digital sales still only account for approximately 15% of all music sold.. The iTunes store will become a cash cow once online sales reach the 70-80% range..
If this is a WMV, then hello iSquint. No?
It’s not just the Harry Potter movie. the latest Die Hard movie is the same deal too. Stupid.
Left the feedback. Told them it is a waste of their time and my money, so I’ll just keep my money.
Seems like they weren’t getting good enough reviews. So, they changed the URL.
Here’s the new one: http://digitalcopy.warnerbros.com/support/feedback-form.aspx
MW: cases, as in “they’re a bunch of nut cases for not supporting Apple”
What the fuck is it with these studios that seem to think its their duty to try to dismantle a growing iTunes empire and cater to Windows users that are nothing but lemmings? There are zillions of iPods out there, and not everyone knows how to use DVD rippers like Handbrake, so why ignore them?
Sooner or later it will piss off consumers on a grand scale.
@Ferf
“There are zillions of iPods out there, and not everyone knows how to use DVD rippers like Handbrake, so why ignore them?”
Because more than likely, Apple would not allow fairplay files to be bundled with DVD’s.
http://digitalcopy.warnerbros.com/support/index.html
Then choose the feedback link. they are trying to keep people from hotlinking to the feedback page.
I told them to eat their humble pie, and head on back to iTunes, and get some money again, while *gasp* making people happy.
Well, give them a change but guide their way. I left this feedback:
“I would be highly interested in your Digital Copy but it is useless as long as it doesn’t run on iTunes (Windows or Mac) or is Mac compatible as well. The easiest for you would really be to make it available as an AAC protected file (in agreement with Apple, I guess). You could still have it distributed on your DVD but the consumer would have to have his copy unlocked on iTunes. This would really be a simple way.”
As a codec, WMV blows (even though much of it was stolen from Quicktime). Whenever I try to play a file using Windows Media Player that I got with Mac Office 2004, it pretty much never works. Streaming blows. Perhaps it’s Microsoft’s sabotage but it certainly doesn’t endear me to their little scheme one bit. Quicktime’s been multiplatform for years now, they could have used .mov or they could do H.264 (my preference) or other superior codecs that are open. That means it’s either all about money, they feel that locking out potential customers is a wise financial move, just selling to Windows users, majority though they be, is a formula for instant success, they’re on the take from Microsoft to keep pushing it’s DRM scheme, or well I could probably come up with more but most aren’t too nice. At any rate, they certainly screwed up. That much is a given.
Here’s my response:
“You left out iPod compatibility? The largest installed base of media players in the history of the world? And have you heard that Microsoft totally screwed the last batch of “Plays For Sure” partners with Zune? Seriously, are you new? How are you going to hide this little adventure from your stockholders?”
@ predrag:
“I’m sure whoever is reviewing the incoming mailbox (or database) at Warner, is deleting all the bitchy, nasty comments before compiling the rest for the bosses…What we need to do is write comments that make sense…They would not ignore that.
Agreed.
What the Mac community forgets is that you don’t have to wear your Macintosh on your sleeve. Simply stick to the key issues and neglect to mention that you’re also a Mac user. For example, if it works on the iPod, your Mac is covered
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
Thus, my comment was KISS:
“Incompatible with iPod
Incompatible with Fair Use”
This sends the message that they screwed up on their audience (iPod) and sends a clear message about my consumer values (Fair Use).
-hh
It’s quite simple really & the Entertainment industry are playing everyone. They already know sales will be high, but they’ll project sales at a hugh amount & the lower % of the market they get, they can then claim that ‘Piracy’ is the real reason that sales for a blockbuster movie have been so bad.
This is the active link:
http://digitalcopy.warnerbros.com/support/feedback-form.aspx
Hello all. To make my message go through, I even wrote “please” in there.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
Well it’s hard to resist the pressure tactics of the borg. They are encouraging potential “partners” to view iTS as the enemy and the borg as a friend. It only works for clueless executives, but the borg are prepared to sweeten a deal with their only asset: monopoly money…lots of it. My question is: is it all above the table?
http://digitalcopy.warnerbros.com/feedback/
This address now returns a 404 Not Found Error. They’re no longer interested in your opinion. What assholes.
But you gotta love the MS flavored message on so many default 404 pages:
The page cannot be found
The page you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.
Please try the following:
Make sure that the Web site address displayed in the address bar of your browser is spelled and formatted correctly.
If you reached this page by clicking a link, contact the Web site administrator to alert them that the link is incorrectly formatted.
Click the Back button to try another link.
HTTP Error 404 – File or directory not found.
Internet Information Services (IIS)
Technical Information (for support personnel)
Go to Microsoft Product Support Services and perform a title search for the words HTTP and 404.
Open IIS Help, which is accessible in IIS Manager (inetmgr), and search for topics titled Web Site Setup, Common Administrative Tasks, and About Custom Error Messages.
http://digitalcopy.warnerbros.com/support/feedback-form.aspx
P.S. That address forwards to http://digitalcopy.warnerbros.com/feedback/ and still returns a 404 error.
Mac fans pwned the form.
“Warner Bros. Websites states that to use Digital Copy, you will need a PC running Windows XP or Windows Vista, Windows Media Player 10 or above, a DVD-ROM drive, Internet Explorer, version 6 or higher,”
Wow, just wow. Those specs transport me back to 2001. Can anyone say archaic?
That’s brilliant, supply a DRM infested file to people using a virus prone OS, and malware vulnerable browser, but don’t make it available on ipods, or Microsoft’s new large screen Zune players.
Absolute Genius !!!!! (not)
There’s always the Ripper and DVD2one to bring a movie to a Mac near you. Rent it, rip it, return it!
Not that I condone such behaviour!
Buahaha!
Wait, they leave out dozens of Zune owners? Are they crazy?
“Digital Copy” is a funny name, given that the main copy of the movie on every DVD is already digital.
This is really just a copy (probably at lower resolution) with Windows-based DRM instead of DVD player DRM (CSS). Yawn.
well, that link is no longer working….they must have gotten an earful…
Their comments site is current down. Maybe their Windows server crashed. :p
Here’s what I left them:
Incompatible with iPod.
Incompatible with the world.
Please do not exclude the world’s largest installed base of digital media players with your next release.
I don’t mind that you want to include DRM in your products, I mind that you have given me no option to include these films in my digital collection. As a parent with small children, it is important to me that I be able to have digital copies of my content as it is then impossible for little fingerprints to have an adventure with content on physical media that is increasingly more expensive. Want to charge more (like you are already doing for the privilege)? Fine, but make sure that the world can use it. H.264 is a standard, WMV IS NOT.
Torrents are free ‘cept for a little wear ‘n tear on your hd, time and electricity.
Oh and no extra plastic cluttering the planet either.
Before we dump all over Warner we should ask, Who’s fault is this? If I am Warner, how DO I make it iTunes/iPod compatible. Yes, I know, we all hate DRM. But in this case did Warner really want to ignore ipods or were they just unwilling to remove DRM to get there?
Really suspect this one is Apple’s fault–they need to make enabling technology available to the studios.
And they better, if they give Windows Media an opening in video, they’ll be serious blowback to music and players.
Correct me if I misunderstand this.
If this uproar continues, then Warner will eventually have to support Mac, iTunes, and the iPod in its Digital Copy program. I’m pretty sure the same thing happened to Fox after it released “Live Free or Die Hard” with a Windows-only Digital Copy version, so it announced a collaboration with iTunes for future Digital Copy releases.
Wow that is a great news that for Harry Potter Movie there is a special Edition of DVD. I will definitely purchase that and i think this will increase the Screen Resollution and the Pixels would be much Clearer.
Transfer iPod/iPhone/iTouch stuff to computer or recover lost or missing music, backup and restore all of iPod/iPhone/iTouch content I recommend you Cucusoft iPhone/iTouch/iPod to Computer Transfer. This software can keep your iPod/iPhone safety.
http://www.dvd-video-converters.com/ipodconverter/ipod–itouch-iphone-transfer.html
I would not mind so much because I live in Australia where we are allowed to make a digital copy of a DVD we OWN.
What bugs me is that it says “not compatible with iTunes” on the outside which to me does not mean “will not work on a Mac or iPod all together”
I have been a convert for 7 months now and this is the first thing that I can’t get around and it is frustrating me just to know that my precious computer can’t do something 🙁
So now I will have to rip and compress it to watch it on my phone.
here is a step on how to [url=”http://www.ipod-copy-transfer.com/
“]copy ipod[/url] to computer.Please connect me.
here is a step on how to copy ipod to computer.Please connect me.
http://www.ipod-copy-transfer.com/
I downloaded two movies with this so called digital copy. Then transfered the files to my Mac and played it with VLC and tried to transfer to Itunes the piece of junk files dont play.. Im in the process of converting them but it might be easier to just handbrake the actual movies.
mac dvd ripper,rip mac dvd
shttp://www.macdvdconverter.com/mac-dvd-ripper.html
Mac dvd ripper
here is a free dvd ripper.it can help you convert dvd to the formats what you need.
http://www.freedvdripper.org/
Good staff to share. Also, i have something great to share with you too: Driver Robot. Believe it or not, it’s the best driver updater i’ve elve used.
eh… eh… you guys all sound like your lost on island.. since when has MAC provided for PC’S???? its the same on both sides.. I too have thrown out as many pc’s as possible this year only to hold on to one laptop for field support reasons. Both parties need to shut the hell up.. and work for both sides.. this crap sound like the political arena in america..”no one cares until it hits home” good grief !!! IDIOT’S on both isles is ya ask me.