Content tagged with [amazon] on DuncanMackenzie.net

Have you tried Amazon Unbox?

Duncan Mackenzie — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 16:48:00 GMT

I was interested, and I guess I still am, but I'm not sure yet...

For one, they seem to be WMV files... protected with our standard DRM, but yet they don't use Windows Media Player to play them back? I'm not sure why this is, but if they supported playback in a normal video player then I'm pretty sure these videos would work through Media Center (and therefore my Xbox 360) without any hassle. As is, I think I'd be limited to watching them on my computer screen (which holds absolutely no interest to me) or perhaps on my iRiver portable media center (which they list as compatible, but yet it doesn't support any other DRM'd video content that I know of, unlike newer PMC's like the Toshiba Gigabeat).

My second concern is the price... $14.99 for a digital download of Casino Royale when I can get the DVD for $15.99 ... and (despite the complexity and questionable legality of this process), I can rip that DVD to a WMV that will play everywhere (including my Zune). It seems to me that a digital download that is limited to a certain number of devices and doesn't include any of the packaging of the DVD should be a lot more than just one dollar off the DVD price.

Your thoughts?

Amazon Unbox on Tivo...

Duncan Mackenzie — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 20:40:00 GMT

I like this idea... I'd like it more on a Media Center box, but I still like the idea

Amazon Web Services talk in Winnipeg

Duncan Mackenzie — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 19:25:00 GMT

I love Winnipeg, but it doesn't normally get all that many developer focused talks... so if you live there and you are interested in .NET based web development, you should really get down to this event.

Winnipeg .NET User Group

Winnipeg, Canada
October 5, 2006 "Bleeding Edge Web Services"
Come hear AWS evangelist Mike Culver showcase some thought-provoking new directions into which Web Services are headed. The presentation will provide an overview of Amazon Web Services, and feature a code demonstration showing how .NET developers are able to easily build managed clients for these services.