Universal Demos Evan Almighty' "U-Shop" Functionality

[jed]

Just posted:
http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/news/show/1032

Universal Studio gave reporters a sneak peak at their latest web-enabled innovation on Tuesday.

Called "U-Shop," the upcoming 'Evan Almighty' HD DVD will be the first next-gen title to allow complete online transactions via a customized web browser. (As previously reported, Warner's earlier '300' HD DVD included the ability to send a text message to cellphones with links to purchase ringtones and wallpaper.)

Tying into the environmental theme of 'Evan Almighty,' items for sale via the disc will include a solar radio, a spinning composter, toilet paper made from recycled materials. More traditional film memorabilia (including an 'Evan Almighty' t-shirt) will also be made available.

Universal says it's not viewing the functionality as a new revenue stream, but rather as a demonstration of the format's interactive capabilities.

According to Universal VP (and HD DVD Promo Group Chair) Ken Graffeo, web-enabled features have already proven popular with consumers. Graffeo says that 40% of those who bought the 'Heroes: Season One' HD DVD registered to access the title’s Web offerings.

As we've previously reported, Universal recently launched a companion website for its web-enabled offerings. The studio says consumers will be able to create U-Shop accounts via a normal internet connection, but final product purchases must be made from the HD DVD.

'Evan Almighty' is due to hit HD DVD next Tuesday, October 9th. In addition to the "U-Shop" functionality, the title is also set to include a series of more traditional extras from the standard-def DVD, plus an HD DVD-exclusive picture-in-picture video commentary and two trivia tracks.

[Dead Pixel]

Originally Posted by jed

Just posted:

That's pretty sweet but I'll wait a bit for a few transaction by other to let all the bugs come out (Please don't let there be that many. But a great way to buy Movie Merch for favorite movies.

[ChrisInCali]

Wow, that's completely useless, and actually a little offensive. What's the future going to be like? Forced ads of things you can, "Press play now to buy exclusive junk merch!" before the movie?

[nexpos]

I think the ringtone fad ended some time ago, and wallpapers can be retrieved at images.google.com.

I must say, completely unexciting.

[Jimbo976]

ROFLMAO - that's so sad that it's hilarious!!!!

The format war is over with this annoucement.

[Dead Pixel]

Originally Posted by ChrisInCali

Wow, that's completely useless, and actually a little offensive. What's the future going to be like? Forced ads of things you can, "Press play now to buy exclusive junk merch!" before the movie?

Ringtones are a Horrible idea but Exclusive Merch is awesome. My city has almost NO stores that sell movie related items and I do most of my shopping online to pick up Shirts/Posters for some of my more favorite movies. So for me this is a wicked idea.

[Tcarcio]

You bluafiles are so full of it, if this was on blu lay blu lay.com would be saying it is the second coming and be saying why this is just another reason blu lay is better. Sooooooooooooooooooooo Jealous. You guys are pitifull.....

[johnnyd1]

Lol

[nexpos]

Originally Posted by Tcarcio

You bluafiles are so full of it, if this was on blu lay blu lay.com would be saying it is the second coming and be saying why this is just another reason blu lay is better. Sooooooooooooooooooooo Jealous. You guys are pitifull.....

You sound like a little kid. It's just not an interesting feature at all. I'm waiting on HD DVD to somehow blow me away and convince me to buy both, but this does not.

I sometimes wonder how many little kids are on this site.

And ps - learn how to spell Soundworks.

[Dead Pixel]

Originally Posted by nexpos

I sometimes wonder how many little kids are on this site.

And ps - learn how to spell Soundworks.

I think those last two statements answered your question.

[Tcarcio]

I am responding to all you little kids that cry all the time when HD comes out with something new that BD doesn't have. I just try to put it in a way you would understand it.

[DAMNSAM77]

Originally Posted by Dead Pixel

Ringtones are a Horrible idea but Exclusive Merch is awesome. My city has almost NO stores that sell movie related items and I do most of my shopping online to pick up Shirts/Posters for some of my more favorite movies. So for me this is a wicked idea.

Wow you're definitely one of a kind then! I don't know when is the last time I saw someone wearing a "Movie shirt"...please dont take any offense, I am actually not being sarcastic at all...

[Dead Pixel]

Originally Posted by DAMNSAM77

Wow you're definitely one of a kind then! I don't know when is the last time I saw someone wearing a "Movie shirt"...please dont take any offense, I am actually not being sarcastic at all...

No prob. I actually love wearing old tv/movie shirts. Wear them under blazers, vests, sweater jackets. Some of these babies go for 40 to 50 bucks at Hot Topic and Urban Outfitters (mostly Faux retro movie shirts) . Then again I like to think I dress to impress

[cubedone]

So 40% of people that bought Heroes have used the web capabilities. Sounds like a lot, but I wonder how many people actually bought the season of Heroes?

[DAMNSAM77]

Originally Posted by Tcarcio

You bluafiles are so full of it, if this was on blu lay blu lay.com would be saying it is the second coming and be saying why this is just another reason blu lay is better. Sooooooooooooooooooooo Jealous. You guys are pitifull.....

Dude you are the one who is soooo full of it! I would rip so hard on the BLURAY if this feature was even ever suggested! Web content in general is cool, but buying ringtones, movie exclusive merchandise via a DVD player is RETARDED when you have a perfectly good computer at home, work, office that can do the same online purchases securely.

What's more ridiculous, you already are on your computer and on the internet posting messages left and right, so you tell me, you would rather turn off the computer which is always online, and use the your Toshiba remote to make purchases via your HDDVD player? How crazy does that sound? Are you a 70 yr old grandma who doesnt know how to launch a browser and use they keyboard and mouse? c'mon dude this is not even about a format...its the stupidest feature I have ever heard of, HDDVD were always on the forefront of interactivity, no one is denying that....but this is TOTALLY RIDICULOUS!!!