At the moment, I’m obsessed with buying HD video online. My Xbox 360 lured me in, with HD movies and TV shows available to rent or buy. And Apple TV has got me so excited, I’m un-unwiring my house.
When news broke this morning that Wal-Mart was entering this market, I thought it could be pretty cool. I went to their website and checked the FAQ. The first thing my eyes caught was the compatibility with Windows Media Extender. But then I read “Technical Specification: 640 X 480 maximum resolution” and it all fell apart for me; that’s even lower resolution than a DVD. So until Wal-Mart catches up with the movies I can get on Xbox Live Marketplace (up to 720p and higher in some cases) and Apple TV (720p max), I can’t see why I’d want to buy movies that will look horrible on my TV. There’s been a lot of skepticism about the prospects of video downloads, and I think it’s all justified until you start talking about HD. Given the limited line-up of HD channels in my area, I am very hungry for high-def content. It’s a big opportunity for whoever can sign up lots of studios.