To Vuze or Not to Vuze, Zat is Ze Queszion
I have been trying out Vuze in the last week or so. Azureus bittorent client, which is a basis of Vuze, is something I have been enjoying for a very long time now. However, their venture into legal DRM’d downloads definitely needs a more work…
As you log into Vuze, you are greeted by a nice Guide, which attempts to seamlessly integrate Top Choice/Featured titles, yet still gives you the flexibility to navigate to specific channel or choose shows that are Shorter or Longer, for example.
Only very small amount of paid content is offered right now, but I hope this changes in the future once Vuze is out of beta and big content providers become more comfortable with the service.
If you do decide to purchase or rent something, the Vuze software acquires the license for you. It also does something that it calls ‘verifying that content can play on your system’, which in my case proved to be non-sense.
The paid media that I selected was downloaded without a hitch, but when it came time to play — no such luck. The DRM’d media requires Windows Media Player and apparently the version that I had (or something) on there wasn’t compatible.
But, overall, Vuze service is recommended. Just be sure to try it first with inexpensive or free DRM’d media (most paid shows offer first episode as a Free preview) before purchasing more, to confirm that it will work on your system.
How is this PVRs related, you ask? As promised, I really see increasing convergence of digital video, whether over the Web, via Cable, over Satellite and other means. Software like Vuze gives you the choice of getting the shows You want to watch delivered to your TV, that is if your Media Center is hooked up to your TV, like mine is. I haven’t tried this personally yet, but Vuze DRM’d media should have no problems playing on Media Center PC and on Media Center Extender, such as XBox 360, for example. And last but most important, there is plenty of High Definition content, most in 720p and some even in 1080p. Just make sure your computer is powerful enough to play it back without hiccups and Enjoy!
Vuze, Media Center, Media Player, Xbox 360, Media Extenders
August 17th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
[...] got a grand redesign and I use it for my High Definition video viewing on the Internet (along with Vuze, of [...]
May 16th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
I can’t wait until the business world updates its business practices and refrains from requiring Digital Restriction Measures (DRM) on its customers. If only they would offer their purchas to be free of DRM or not. I will not use a system that requires me to allow someone else how to use property I purchase. Demand more of your suppliers. You wouldn’t allow a grocer to tell you how to drink your milk… don’t allow the same from people trying to hold onto outdated business practices.