Online video stores and subscription services

Since online video stores are a relatively new area, we're seeing a variety of approaches by the companies now providing video downloads. Due to major movie studios' well-aired concerns about piracy, some offerings have been a bit restricted.

Also, most online video stores--even Google's--restrict their offerings to DRM-protected files, meaning that they'll play only on your computer(s) and compatible devices and usually can't be burned to DVD. Since there's no way that copyright owners would have released their digital films without DRM protection, many consider these requirements to be a necessary part of the equation.

Apple's iTunes Store
Apple's iTunes Store found success when it began selling TV shows, music videos, and short films for a flat $1.99. It's now taken steps into the movie market, as well, selling films from Disney (including Pixar, naturally), Paramount, Touchstone, and Miramax. Apple ensures device compatibility by creating the device itself: the fifth generation iPod with video. Of course, if you don't have one, you can also watch the videos on your computer. To see what Apple has in their library, download iTunes and click the Music Store link in the left column; you'll see links for Movies, TV shows, and music videos.

Google Video
Google Video didn't really take the online world by storm, and now that Google has purchased YouTube, we're waiting for the day when Google Video is quietly shelved. There's little commercial video on Google, but the abundance of free content makes it a fun place to browse. Its search tool even turns up YouTube content. You can watch purchased Google videos only on a Windows computer, but the free stuff transfers to most PVPs. Check it out for yourself at video.google.com.

CinemaNow and Movielink
CinemaNow and Movielink CinemaNow and Movielink are the two oldest online video stores, and both feel like browsing through a local DVD rental shop. CinemaNow recently launched its Burn to DVD feature, which lets you burn select movies to DVD and play them on standard DVD players. These burned DVDs are complete with extras, and you can even download the cover art. CinemaNow is the only store to offer this service. Movielink plans to launch a similar feature soon, but for now, it lets you only view movies on authorized computers.

Guba
Take the homemade and user-driven sensibilities of a YouTube and add the feature-film pedigree of a Movielink, and you have Guba.com. Guba is a good one-stop shop if you're getting into online video as it offers lots of free clips as well as a small but growing list of purchaseable and rentable movies. Recently, Warner Brothers and Sony Pictures have agreed to sell movies on Guba.

YouTube
YouTube is the posterchild of the user-driven video Web site. Content and traffic has grown exponentially, and the site's strengths lie with good organization of video, community, and easy self-publishing. While you won't find any premium content here (meaning stuff you have to pay for), you will become addicted to YouTube's massive library of short, personal, and completely free videos.

Vongo
Between the new and old schools is Vongo, which has a modest catalog but offers the first all-you-can-watch subscription plan for major-studio releases. It allows transfers to portables--although currently only a couple of Toshiba devices are certified to work with it.

Amazon Unbox and Wal-Mart Video Downloads
These two major retailers are new to the online video market, but they both have the marketing muscle to make a big impression. Using Amazon Unbox requires downloading special player software. Wal-Mart Video Downloads is still in beta and is the first service to offer movie purchases from all six major studios.

Convenience, price, and variety will decide which stores are left standing as consumers adopt warm up to this new method for acquiring videos. But for now, we hope many other companies with fresh, new ideas on the issue join the race. Everyone involved, from film and video creators to technology innovators, to the movie-watching public, stands to benefit a great deal from better online video distribution. Just don't expect your neighborhood Blockbuster franchisee to be too happy about it.

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