Tsutaya offers high-definition movie downloads

Friday 06th June, 07:13 AM JST

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10 Comments

movieguy at 09:48 AM JST - 6th June

735 Yen for a rental movie?!?! They've gotta be out of their minds!!! I LOVE movies, but there's no way I'm that lazy.
nisegaijin at 10:11 AM JST - 6th June

Yeah,I don't get what drives the extremely high prices. I just can't wait until somebody hacks the time limit.
electric2004 at 12:46 PM JST - 6th June

Probably it is not a simple downloadable file, but a stream, which is protected by an encryption algorithm.
Mr.Ken at 02:17 PM JST - 6th June

735 Yen is expensive plus you need to get the fiber-optic internet service, then I guess you'll need to buy a decoder o video player from Tsutaya and who knows what else, probable an annual membership fee? All those Japanese companies are always adding ways to offer service that you can't avoid and get more money from you.
zanza123 at 02:47 PM JST - 6th June

download the program on my computer = 0 yen, having the program on my computer, hooking it up to a plasma screen and watching it widescreen = priceless. Although, considering what their movie prices in theatres are already AND how much it is to (Godforbid) BUY a DVD here, I disagree on the viewpoint that 735 yen is expensive. Have you guys checked out the prices of DVDs nowadays. A crappy old movie easily goes up to the 2000 yen mark.
asdfghjkl at 04:51 PM JST - 6th June

just a bit on the expensive side!
electric2004 at 08:04 PM JST - 6th June

zanza123:

"older movie at Yamada denki": In the order of 1000 Yen. Also one can get used (already rented out) DVDs.

One day renting at Tsutaya: 100 Yen or so. Well.
Taka313 at 03:33 PM JST - 7th June

Electric2004, I agree. But, with a large computer screen, Final Cut Pro software (or Adobe Premiere or Avid) and a good digital video camera, a person could easily make copies that could be burned to DVD.

Taka
Taka313 at 03:33 PM JST - 7th June

addendum: Not that I would do that. That would be piracy. I'm just saying, the technology exists and doesn't require a great deal of know-how.

Taka
borscht at 07:32 AM JST - 12th June

Downloading movies direct from Tsutaya thereby eliminating the need to leave your house... hmmm.

This is going to destroy the 'rent-a-DVD date' I've seen wherein a couple jump in their SUV complete with car navi, go to Tsutaya, and rent a DVD for one day. Then watch it in their SUV in the parking lot with the engine running and, in the summer, the air conditioning on. While they are free to smoke up a storm if they wish. (I've actually seen a family of four, each watching their own TV screen, do this.)

Hmm. Maybe this is a good idea. Saves on gas.