Digital Copies
#1
DVD Talk Limited Edition
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Digital Copies
OK, this may be a stupid question. But I've been seeing the term "Digital Copy" more and more lately and have no idea what it is. Can anyone explain?
#3
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That's correct. While some DVDs are a bit harder to encode (i.e. most Universal DVDs have sync issues), it's just a simple process of using Mod note: s/w that will not be discussed here . Taking up a whole disc is kind of pointless considering a 2-hour film takes up about 750 MB in a high quality encode.
Last edited by nemein; 04-04-08 at 02:35 PM.
#4
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
It's a separate disc that comes with the original DVD. They provide you with a code and it allows you to transfer the content onto your computer for either iTunes or another similar program. I have a few movies that came with the digital copy, but haven't used 'em yet to see if they work well or not. I see no real use for them, because I have a program that rips and converts movies already, but I guess if you don't have one of those these discs can come in handy.
#6
Moderator
Mod note: For now I'll allow this thread (whether another mods/admin cuts off the conversation is up to them). Please remember though we have a strict rule against "Posting requests for copies of copyrighted material, or "how-to-get/make bootleg material" instructions". So if the conversation starts to go in that direction this may get closed down.
Thanks
Thanks
Last edited by nemein; 04-04-08 at 02:36 PM.
#7
DVD Talk Special Edition
Originally Posted by PatrickMcCart
Taking up a whole disc is kind of pointless considering a 2-hour film takes up about 750 MB in a high quality encode.
-jason
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I was wondering which Digital Copies work with iTunes? I know the Digital Copy versions of Live Free or Die Hard and Order of the Phoenix only work with Windows.
The main reason I was interested in these was the possibility of being able to put them on my iPod.
The main reason I was interested in these was the possibility of being able to put them on my iPod.
#9
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
I just don't get the current love affair of compressing things to death, which yields absolutely abysmal quality... A good rule of thumb for "digital" copies is :
MPEG-2 video= 8 Gigabytes for 2 hours of video (720x480)
MPEG-4 video= 3-4 GB for 2 hours (640x480 or 352x480)
The whole *idea* of youtube's absolutely terrible limitations (320x240 and max bitrate less than 500 kbits/sec) makes it useless when quality is even a fleeting concern...
With 10 Mbits / sec cable internet connections common now in the US, the problem is obviously not in the fault of the broadband infrastructure...
MPEG-2 video= 8 Gigabytes for 2 hours of video (720x480)
MPEG-4 video= 3-4 GB for 2 hours (640x480 or 352x480)
The whole *idea* of youtube's absolutely terrible limitations (320x240 and max bitrate less than 500 kbits/sec) makes it useless when quality is even a fleeting concern...
With 10 Mbits / sec cable internet connections common now in the US, the problem is obviously not in the fault of the broadband infrastructure...
Last edited by zyzzle; 04-04-08 at 07:38 PM.
#11
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it's kind of annoying that you're paying more for the digital copy when it's added in a 2-disc edition, particularly if that's the only thing that it's adding. you already bought the movie, shouldn't the digital version be the same?
i know in some cases, the 2nd disc has additional special features on it (like with juno, i believe) but why not just put a piece of paper with a link to go to a site to download it instead of making a whole new disc just to house the digital copy? seems wasteful to me.
i know in some cases, the 2nd disc has additional special features on it (like with juno, i believe) but why not just put a piece of paper with a link to go to a site to download it instead of making a whole new disc just to house the digital copy? seems wasteful to me.
#12
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by animatedude
can i play the disc in a dvd player?
#13
Sorry, but I don't want David Lynch cussing me out no more.
#14
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by shyguy1083
i know in some cases, the 2nd disc has additional special features on it (like with juno, i believe) but why not just put a piece of paper with a link to go to a site to download it instead of making a whole new disc just to house the digital copy? seems wasteful to me.
#15
I don't get it. Live Free or Die Hard had a 2 hour documentary, plus additional features on Disc 2 AND the digital copy. Why, now, are we including ONLY the digital copy on the second disc of various Fox DVDs? Seems like a total rip-off.
#16
DVD Talk Limited Edition
I got one with Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest. I was surprsed that it was on an entire separate disc with nothing else.
For me, it's just a novelty, as I don't watch movies on a 2 inch screen, or at my PC. I suppose, if you have a laptop, and were to go on a long trip, it would be nice to have legal back-ups of several movies from which to choose right there on your HDD.
For me, it's just a novelty, as I don't watch movies on a 2 inch screen, or at my PC. I suppose, if you have a laptop, and were to go on a long trip, it would be nice to have legal back-ups of several movies from which to choose right there on your HDD.
#17
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally Posted by shyguy1083
but why not just put a piece of paper with a link to go to a site to download it instead of making a whole new disc just to house the digital copy? seems wasteful to me.
#18
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Originally Posted by Mister Peepers
Because it's only going to be available at the site for a limited time, at best they'll have it up for a year. If you have a physical copy you can use it 5 years from now.
I plan to always use disc based media, but it is looking that that may well change. In 5 years, we may all have 100 terabyte hard drives in our home computers, home theater systems, and cell phones, and our movie collections will be all digital based.
#19
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Originally Posted by fuzzbox
Maybe a high-quality encode to be viewed on an iPod screen, but you're crazy if you think that a 2-hour film taking up 750 MB will look even DECENT on a 32" or bigger TV...
-jason
-jason
#20
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I transferred my digital copy of 'Family Guy: Blue Harvest' onto my iPod and everything looks fine to me. The reason behind me having that and probably any others that are downloadable onto iTunes is to pass the time at work if necessary.
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Originally Posted by acdcrocks1980
I was wondering how "big" size wise are the Digital Copies? 500MB for a 2 hour movie?
I Am Legend_PC - 1.11 GB
I Am Legend_Port - 413 MB
Live Free or Die Hard - 1.46 GB
Resident Evil Extintion - 939 MB
I've downloaded a few of them to my laptop already. I am wondering if the movie is actually on the dvd, or if it is a link to a website that downloads it to your computer, and the # that is in the case registers it, which means you can only download it once. I've tried to download a few to a computer I have connnected to my tv. I thought I would be able to, but it says the registration key has already been used. It says that it is only available for dowload for a limited time, which means the website will be shut down eventually. I haven't tried transferring the movies from my computer to a portable hardrive or player, such as an IPod, but I Am Legend had two copies of the movie downloaded, one of which was for portable devices. I think it is a pretty cool idea to be able to purchase a legal digital copy of the movie along with the dvd, I just hope that the movie can be transferred to another hardrive because the video card on my desktop is much better than my laptop. I guess I should have just downloaded it to my desktop. I'm sure we'll be seeing more and more of these, but they should increase the download window or have some way to verify ownership in case a person's computer crashes, and the movies need to be re-downloaded.
I'd be interested to hear if anyone has been successful in transferring a movie that was downloaded legitmately. I'm not trying to figure out how to burn it or copy it endlessly onto other computers, I just wonder if there is some way to transfer it since I made the mistake of downloading it to my laptop. I haven't downloaded American Gangster yet, but I'll be dowloading that one to my desktop.
#25
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by DVDMagic
I transferred my digital copy of 'Family Guy: Blue Harvest' onto my iPod and everything looks fine to me. The reason behind me having that and probably any others that are downloadable onto iTunes is to pass the time at work if necessary.