UltraViolet - download or stream movies

Downloading or streaming your movies wherever you happen to be

Downloading and streaming music is now common place and it's been widely accepted that movie viewing would soon enough go the same way. Step forward UltraViolet.

When I was 10 years old my parents bought a VHS player. A top loading beast with buttons you needed to employ Stallone to press! How things have changed in my SHORT lifetime. DVD, BluRay, 3D BluRay, what's next?

A consortium of more than 50 companies including Sony, Microsoft, BSkyB, Panasonic and Samsung (Apple are notably absent from the list I saw) have got together and developed UltraViolet, a new digital content distribution system. In essence it allows a household account to be created whereby you can purchase the right to view a film on an UltraViolet enabled device whether that be a computer, TV, or mobile phone. Downloading or streaming your film wherever you happen to be.

Your UltraViolet account can include up to six people you define as your household. You may have kids away at school, or other relatives living with you or elsewhere. As long as they’re registered as your Household Account members, they can access your UltraViolet collection. You will also be required to register up to twelve devices that can view your media which can be anything from a PC, mobile phone, BluRay player. Generally, if it has Internet access and a screen, it can stream content from your UltraViolet collection. If it’s an UltraViolet device, it can download copies to play without remaining network connected.

The plan is that most media will be purchased via the usual online sources, but there will also be the option to go to your local HMV and buy a BluRay disk compatible with UltraViolet and get the best of both worlds – the quality provided by the disk and the convenience from being able to access that film wherever you are from the internet.

Of course parental controls will be included allowing parents to filter the content available to young children.

The great thing is, this isn’t some result of a recent brainstorm in a corporate boardroom. This is actually happening. The US will launch mid 2011 with a rollout to Europe before the end of the year... that’s THIS year.