On Demand is an interactive service that is available exclusively with digital cable services. Movies on demand are cheaper alternatives than a family night out at the movies. On Demand is also more convenient, letting cable customers pick up the remote and choose movies and TV shows they want to watch from a large menu of choices. Rather than airing the movie, your cable company is basically hand-delivering each customer a copy for themselves for 24-hour viewing pleasure. No one else is seeing the same thing at the same time, unless the neighbor just so happens to select the same exact movie.

Renting movies on demand gives you access to hundreds of movies instantly, from new releases to classics, all at the touch of a button and right from the comfort of your own home.

Movie on demand works with the VCR or dvd player but only with digital cable subscribers who have this available in their area. On demand maintains a library of both movies and TV shows, all of which are readily available for your choosing, at your convenience. This library is actually a large digital storage system made up of video servers and various telecommunications networking technologies. Many of the on-demand movies are available on a pay-per-view basis at a cost that is equivalent to renting from either the video store or from online rentals. The rental fee is simply charged to your monthly cable bill. And for some on demand choices, there’s no charge at all. On demand also offers “subscription on demand,” allowing subscribing viewers of channels like Starz, HBO, or Showtime to watch both movies and shows from those networks in an on-demand fashion as well.

Available through your digital cable provider, you can use your remote to access the movies-on-demand channel found on the same digital cable on-screen program guide that displays all of your TV channels and schedules. From there, simply scroll through the movie listings (normally sorted by genre), make your selection, and that’s it. You’re done. There is no driving involved or any late fees to worry about. There isn’t any waiting for movies to arrive or the need for downloading; you access your movie through your cable box as soon as your selection has been made. A press of the ‘play’ button starts the movie. You’ll have access to your chosen movie for a full 24 hours, and you can watch the movie as much as you like within that 24-hour viewing period. You can even pause, rewind, and fast forward as you watch it just as you would for other movie rentals.

On Demand is growing fast. With movies on demand, you have the power to watch the movies and other programs you want to see, when you want to see them. There is also a parental control feature that allows you to place locks on the ratings, channels, and titles of your choice simply by using your remote control. With On Demand, you’re in control. It’s never been easier to relax and enjoy a movie. No more waiting for lengthy movie downloads, for dvds to arrive in the mail, or long lines at the video stores. Gone, too, are the days of video store shelves, wading through a wallet for a membership card, and late fees. Instead of renting a movie from the video store, online, or from movie downloading services, more and more people are opting for movies through On Demand cable services.

-By: Nikki Phipps

This article was written by Nikki Phipps and sponsored by Compare Best dvd Rentals Website [http://www.compare-best-dvd.com] where you can compare the features of many different dvd rental companies. Reproductions of this article are encouraged but must include a live link back to [http://www.compare-best-dvd.com].

Why most Americans rent movies today – how you can save money on movie rentals online.

Rent movies online and save yourself time and money if renting on a monthly basis.

So how do you think most Americans entertain themselves these days? Some of the most celebrated weekend activities include shopping, going to the movies renting movies or having dinner with friends. When it comes to daily entertainment, many people enjoy their spare time and low cost of recreational choices like viewing television, playing video games, and renting movies online.

Why Rent Movies?

People rent movies for many incomparable reasons. One of the most popular departments at your local video store is the new movie releases section. This is where people go to find the most recent films available. It”s a good way to catch up on all the the flicks you missed in the theater. It”s also a magnificent way to save money. Before watching a movie at the theaters, many people decide to wait for it to come out on dvd. Several films are ready for rent within months of their theatrical debut.

Some people rent titles to preview them for their dvd collections. While the cost of dvds has declined in recent years, most people still don’t want to add a movie to their compilation until they know that they enjoy the movie and will watch it again. A dvd rental club is often the best choice for movie buffs. Normally these clubs offer incentives for people who rent dvds several times a month.

Whether you’re a cinema buff, or just rent movies on occasions, there are many excellent video stores and websites devoted to serving you. The local store is an excellent choice for last minute rentals. The online services are also a great way of renting without the hassles of traveling. They also offer very competitive prices if you rent more than a few times a month. With a little bit of planning you’ll always have a reserve of quality dvds. There are no late fees, no shipping fees, and at just $20 a month, these sites pay for themselves after just three or four rentals. Netflix, Blockbuster Online, and Intelliflix are just a few in the business that can be worth their weight in gold in the long run.

-By: John Hinkley

The #1 Rated Online movie rental Club Review Guide. Expert Reviews, Offers, Articles, Movies, and Theatre Releases. [http://www.movierentalclubguide.com/go.php?c=asp

If you think your valued collection of dvd movies will last a lifetime, think again – some are already starting to wear away while others are falling apart.

Unofficial estimates put the number of affected dvds at between 1 and 10%. Yet some of the main distributors for Hollywood Studios are accused of rejecting to accept the problem exists and replace defective products.

The technology, sold as a replacement for VHS, with added interactive contents, is now five years old and the dvd industry claims it is the most triumphant packaged media in consumer electronics history. The failures are a combination of corrosion – known as “dvd rot” – and delamination, where the layers of the disc separate.

Last year Australians spent $398 million buying 13.3 million dvd movie titles – a three-fold increase on the 4.3 million sold in 2001, according to research firm GFK.

Symptoms of the rot include picture break-up and freezing at a specific place on the dvd. The major cause is believed to be poorly planned cases. Delamination shows up as a coffee-like stain that inhibits the disc from playing. Among those worst affected are video movie rental stores, which buy millions of titles per year.

Rohan Byrnes, 34-year-old science fiction fanatic who owns 350 dvd movies, has spent a lot of time glaring at dvd rot. He works as a failure analysis engineer, with access to an optical microscope.

Mr Byrnes has studied five cases of dvd rot – four in his own compilation – and suspects the microscopic decay spots on the aluminium layer inside the disc could be caused by a “chemical attack”, possibly linked to the glue used.

“Some stores have reported they only get two or three rentals from a dvd before it’s unplayable,” said Ross Walden, director of the Australian Video Retailers Association. Distributors “are washing their hands of it”, he said. “Once a dvd has been rented out [distributors] will not take them back.”

One dvd movie website lists 18 titles known to have at least one bad batch, among them Planet of the Apes (1968), Men in Black: Collectors Edition , Independence Day and the Alien Legacy box set.

Mr Byrnes returned his discs to the distributors, 20th Century Fox and Columbia TriStar, including his analysis, and got replacements, but other victims were not so fortunate. Peter Longworth, a dvd collector in Newcastle, had an identical problem with Planet of the Apes two years after buying it.

However, 20th Century Fox declined to replace it as it was out of the 90-day warranty.

“The company declined to accept that there was a manufacturing setback,” he said. Mr Longworth wrote to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in November, but the movie rental watchdog does not act on consumer warranty problems.

Meanwhile, 20th Century Fox refused to comment on the subject. A spokesman said only: “We always fully compensate our customers for any manufacturing liability found.” Warner Home Video’s managing director, Stephen Nickerson, said: “If a customer has trouble with a disc and it is obviously a manufacturing problem we will replace it. The question is whether it is caused by a manufacturing problem or consumer abuse.”

-By: John Hinkley

Unbiased Expert Reviews on the Top movie rental Clubs located in the US. [http://MovieRentalClubGuide.com/reviews.php]

The popularity of fast-food dollar menus has extended to include dvd movie rentals. Combine the two and you have a match made for your thinning pocketbook. Redbox gives you access to the latest movie titles, in genres ranging from War to Comedy, from conveniently located, red-colored kiosks. Best of all, a one-night rental of any available title is only $1 (plus tax).

Where to Find Redbox

Perhaps you’ve noticed a Redbox as you drive through McDonalds or pick up prescriptions at Walgreens; in the grocery store or at WalMart. With more than 12,000 locations, you’re sure to find one near you–whether you’re at home, on vacation or traveling for business. Enter an address or zip code on the Redbox site to see what’s nearby.

Look to see if the location you choose is inside or outside a store or restaurant. If it’s an indoor kiosk, you’ll need to pick up and return your movie during store hours. Some stores may be open 24 hours a day, and outdoor kiosks are always accessible.

How it Works

The easy-to-find, easy-to-access Redboxes also are easy to use. If you’re planning ahead, visit the web site where you can create an account, pick a movie, pick a kiosk and reserve your preferred title. You’ll be charged $1 plus applicable tax at the time of your reservation, and your reservation only lasts until 9 p.m. After that, your reserved title becomes available to anyone, and you could be out a buck.

Unlike mail-based rental services or membership driven stores, you can also easily rent movies at the spur of the moment with Redbox. All you need is a credit card. Also provide your email address during the transaction if you want a receipt or confirmation as to when the dvd was returned.

You can return Redbox rentals to any Redbox kiosk anywhere. With the exception of the upfront $1 (plus tax) you pay to reserve and rent a title using the web site, all Redbox fees are charged when dvds get returned. To keep your costs to about a $1, return your movie by 9 p.m. on the day following the rental. Redbox doesn’t believe in “late” fees, so if you don’t return the movie you’ll simply pay an additional $1 for each additional day you keep it. Keep it for 25 days, and Redbox will charge you $25 plus tax, giving you ownership of the dvd.

Deals and Discounts

Noobies should know that Redbox offers first-time users a free movie rental. Go to thesignup page and enter your email address for the free code. As a result, you’ll also start receiving weekly email messages from Redbox. You may enjoy the movie reviews, new release announcements and other e-mail content in the Redbox newsletters, or you can simply choose the unsubscribe option available at the bottom of each newsletter.

Redbox also gives you the option to receive news and discounts on your cell phone. To subscribe, join the “SMS Network” by entering your cell phone number and selecting your service carrier, such as Verizon or AT

A few weeks ago the local Hollywood Video shop announced it was shutting its doors for good. I was pretty surprised by the news considering it was the only walk-in dvd rental store in the vicinity. The closing made me think about where people are going for their dvd fixes these days.

There are other options in the neighborhood still available for movie rentals. Red Box has three vending machines nearby, all within a few hundred feet of each other. There are the online rental options too. I finally opened a Netflix account after hearing the high remarks about their service from friends. So far, I have been pretty happy with them.

The local Hollywood Video closing was the result of a recent bankruptcy filed by its parent company, Movie Gallery. Announced in February, the massive chain planned to close 805 stores across the U.S. That amounts to about one-third of the company’s total outlets. It was the second bankruptcy filed in the past three years by the video retailer.

Price competition has caused consumers to migrate to cheaper and more convenient resources. Hollywood Video offers a five-day rental on new releases for roughly five dollars. Compare that to Red Box and their $1 per night charge and it’s a no brainer. Netflix offers a subscription service starting at $8.99 per month. The package includes an unlimited number of rentals, exchanging one dvd per mail delivery. It also features unlimited access to their online library. Better yet, there are no dreaded late fees.

The closing of Hollywood Video is more than a by-product of economics. It represents the inevitable passing of another entertainment medium, the dvd. The ‘digital video disc’ has experienced a glorious, but short lifespan in the commercial entertainment industry. Introduced to the U.S. in 1997, the dvd successfully replaced the now archaic VHS cassette tape.

dvd movie rentals and sales still dominate the media market, but for how long? Netflix, along with other distributors, have proven that the movie viewing experience can be achieved through Internet streaming technology. Faster broadband connections enable consumers to watch their favorite movies on their HDTV, laptop, or smartphone.

Where will these developments ultimately leave the dvd movie? One word. Nostalgia. You can soon add your impressive dvd movie collection to the list of outdated media. In my lifetime I have witnessed the passing of vinyl records, 8-track tapes, audio cassettes, VHS, Betamax, and Laserdisc. The compact disc is well on its way to joining the group.

Some of these media had minimal industry impact or consumer popularity. Others, like vinyl, were monumental in the commercial entertainment business. The nostalgia associated with vinyl still resonates today. There’s something mystical about that scratchy pop of a needle across wax. Just listen to hip-hop songs these days for validation.

There’s something else vinyl LP’s had that you don’t see anymore, album artwork. I recently discovered a wonderful collection of LP’s for sale at a flea market, priced no more than five dollars apiece. There were hundreds of them, prominent rock bands from the 70s and 80s all with beautiful album artwork. Boston, Rush, Triumph, and Styx to name a few. It was somewhat saddening to think that brilliant album cover art would never be tangible in the form of a digital download.

Vinyl albums represent nostalgia, and the dvd is on its way there as well. The experience of visiting a retail dvd rental store is often underappreciated. For a movie connoisseur like myself, there is no greater joy than thumbing through aisles of dvd releases. Those numerous times that you struck a conversation with the person next to you with “That was pretty good, I’d recommend that one for sure” were genuine moments of interaction. You might still have those conversations in the future, but they’ll be at your local used-dvd store.

Those used-media stores will be the final destination for many dvd’s and CD’s. About two years ago, I decided to convert my entire CD collection, several hundred of them, to digital format. They were occupying living space in my apartment. I sold them to a buy-and-sell-used shop for decent money. It wasn’t easy to part ways with them. I still remember the first compact disc album I ever bought, Aerosmith’s P.U.M.P. People get attached to a lot of different things over time. For me, it was my compact disc collection.

I can’t imagine parting with my dvd collection anytime soon. I have some personal gems that I have watched many times over. When I struggled for cash and made frequent trips to the pawnshop, the dvd’s were never part of the exchanges. I figured if I ever got evicted, at least I had my movie collection

Down the road, I am sure that attachment will also come to pass. Right now, a typical two-hour flick will eat up several gigabytes of hard drive space in digital format. That is valuable space I can’t afford to give up. Compression technology will improve, making it possible to ‘rip’ movies into compact files, with exceptional audio and visual quality, and with minimal storage space. Plus, the storage cabinet I recently purchased is already full. I bet I’ll make a good buck on that sale.

Visit http://bravenewmediablog.com

-By: Mark Hixenbaugh

This article was written by Mark Hixenbaugh. If you are interested in new media developments, trends, and technology… then visit my blog: http://bravenewmediablog.com

Sony has got the answer for those that can’t get enough of games and movies: a pay-per-download movie rental service for PS3 users. However, some analysts are worried that this will signal the end of traditional online dvd rental.

New Way to Rent Films

After a successful run in the USA, Sony has now brought movie downloads over to Europe, with the service being launched earlier this week in the UK, France, Germany and Spain.

The service has finally arrived in Europe after a successful launch in the USA.

Prices start from

I thought it would be fun to put together a list of the top 10 technology gadgets I would like for Christmas. When viewing this list, keep a couple of things in mind. For starters, I already have a bunch of cool technology gadgets like TiVo and a Flip video camera so this list isn’t necessarily what I think are the top 10 technology gifts this holiday season. Rather, it’s a list of the gadgets I would like to have that I don’t already have.

Also, I’m not really this material of a person or at least I try not to be. Love and happiness for my family would top my real Christmas list. But I thought some of my readers might get a kick out of seeing what a techie like me would put on his technology gadget Christmas list. So, without further ado, here is my list.

Top 10 Technology Gadgets on Mr. Noobie’s Christmas List:

10. Blu-ray dvd player – I’m not 100% sold on Blu-ray or even convinced it is going to survive but I think it would be fun to watch some of my favorite action movies in full 1080p resolution.

9. Slingbox Pro-HD – I’ve help other people set up a Slingbox but I’d love to have one of my own so I could watch my TiVo recordings anywhere.

8. Kindle – The Kindle would be closer to the top of the list if it just looked cooler. I still say Amazon should have let Apple design the Kindle. Either way, I’d like to get my hands on one just to try it out.

7. iPhone 3G – I was an early adopter of the original iPhone buying it the day it was released. Now all of my friends have the new cool 3G one.

6. MacBook Pro – Apple makes some fantastic looking laptops and this one is no exception. Too bad they cost so much.

5. Apple TV – High definition movie rentals downloaded straight to my television. Awesome.

4. Flat panel television with full 1080p resolution – Again, I was an early adopter and at the time, full 1080p resolution wasn’t available in the screen size I wanted. Now it is.

3. Digital picture frame – Oddly enough, I don’t have one of these. Just never got around to getting one.

2. Rock Band for the Wii – I played this at my sister’s house over Thanksgiving and instantly fell in love. And my singing voice could use a little practice.

1. Digital SLR – I’m ready to make the leap to a digital SLR. Once you’ve seen the pictures these cameras take you may never want another point-and-shoot again.

Santa, are you listening?

-By: Patric Welch

Patric Welch, also known as “Mr. Noobie,” empowers people to confidently approach technology and use it to enhance their lives. He has a passion for understanding and answering your technology challenges. You can find Mr. Noobie on the web at http://www.noobie.com

In 1999 Netflix came up with the brilliant and simple concept of online movie rentals delivered to your door. Rather than pay per rental, you could pay a flat monthly fee and walk to your mailbox instead of drive to your local Blockbuster or movie rental store. You could choose up an up to eight disc at a time plan and pick your movies on their website right from your laptop.

Your movies arrived in an envelope that was also a prepaid return envelope and you put the movie right back in and mailed it right back out. You could keep your movies as long as you wanted and return them whenever you wanted. Late fees were a thing of the past!

As Netflix rose in popularity, the leading brick and mortar movie rental retailer, Blockbuster, began to suffer from the new competition. First Blockbuster adopted a no late fees policy. Then in 2004 it decided to jump into the online movie rental sphere itself to offer direct competition.

So how do Netflix and Blockbuster stack up? Let’s compare feature by feature.

1) Cost.

Netflix has eight plans. The prices range from 9.99 for one movie at a time to 47.99 for 8 movies out at any gives time. Blockbuster has four plans, again starting at 9.99 for one movie out at a time and going up to 23.99 for 4 dvdS out at a time.

Verdict: Netflix has a wider selection of plans available, however for the plans Blockbuster does have, the pricing is on par.

2) Selection.

Netflix has 65,000 titles available, and Blockbuster more than 60,000. Both have tv shows and unrated movies.

Verdict: Tie.

3) Special Features.

Netflix allows accounts to have up to 5 separate queues (good for families or roommates), and they have a community where you can see what your friends are watching and share movie recommendations.

Blockbuster users can rent a certain number of in store rentals per month as part of their plan, and return movies to their local Blockbuster as well.

Conclusion: For the younger, social online crowd, Netflix is a better choice, while those who have a Blockbuster nearby or who don’t want to take advantage of the social aspect of Netflix may prefer Blockbuster.

-By: Emily Thomson

You can learn a bit more about Netflix at http://ilovemovies7.wordpress.com/.

Ahh movie night… I remember the days when I would go out with my dad on a Friday night, follow my dad through those Blockbuster doors, and enter a world of movie heaven. Search the sections for any new releases and check the old ones just in case I had missed an old favorite. I would then grab some popcorn and then we’d be off to home. Going to the store back then used to be part of watching a movie, almost like walking in to the cinema theatre, once you entered Blockbuster, you knew you were in the beginning of watching a movie. However, that feeling or introduction may soon be missing from many people’s lives.

Blockbuster, the biggest movie rental company in America, may be closing its doors. While Blockbuster had been successful since its iteration back in 1985, times have not been too kind to the movie rental chain. While video rental chains had enjoyed a long prosperous history, it seems that the days of renting movies may become a thing of the past. Now I know what most of you are thinking, mainly, “Well, will Blockbuster really cease to exist? And, if so, how will it affect other store chains or even other movie rental delivery systems?”

With the advent of the internet, downloading movies has become more and more commonplace. Many companies have realized this and seized the opportunity by opening different online businesses to rent movie via the internet. The recent release of the blu-ray disc, while certainly a jump in the quality of video shown in screen, has admittedly not helped the retail chain as was hoped. Although this may come as a surprise to some, Blockbuster has been losing money steadily since 2002, and as of 2005 had a market value of $500 million. On a more optimistic note, Blockbuster has recognized the need for an online delivery system and has created an online store called simply Blockbuster Online, mostly to compete with Netflix.

Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes has stated to his shareholders that Blockbuster may not complete a deal to amend its credit facilities. Now you may be asking yourself what exactly are credit facilities? Well, put simply those are loans made in a business context. Blockbuster had recently reached an agreement with creditors to restructure a $40 million loan due by August.

Blockbuster operates around 7,400 stores globally and has amassed a debt of $780.9 million under its credit facilities. As people left and right try to figure out how best to make use of new technology and communication, it seems that video rentals have fallen off quite a bit as more and more people enjoy picking and watching a movie within minutes as opposed to picking movies out at rental stores. As for the question as to whether or not Blockbuster will go bankrupt, it definitely might, but it won’t do it without a fight. The fall of the biggest video rental chain would surely be a devastating, but not completely surprising, event.

-By: Kevin Hutto

Kevin Hutto is an entrepreneur and internet business owner from Atlanta. He has been writing articles online for several years now. You can also check out his latest website on airsoft shotguns which reviews and lists metal airsoft shotgun [http://airsoftshotguns.net/Metal_Airsoft_Shotgun.html] from the best manufacturers.

Most of us have seen the alarming studies out there. For the first time in history, the life expectancy of the next generation is lower then their parents. I was so upset when I saw these findings, upset but not surprised. Just look around you. In today’s society, it is the norm for parents to be ‘too busy’ to cook healthy meals. Children are being raised on processed foods laden with hydrogenated fats and chemical preservatives. ‘French fries’ are the #1 vegetable eaten in the United States (they call that a vegetable?!).

Meals are being eaten on the run. Fast food is commonplace and ‘going out to play’ has been replaced with video games and movie rentals. Is it any wonder we are in this situation? Most adults would rather not deal with it, it is easier to pretend everything is all right and just put some chicken nuggets in the microwave and call it dinner. It’s easier to let the kids stare at a movie than to take them outside to a park.

Change needs to happen and it needs to start at home with nourishing food and physical activity. So where do we begin? Let’s talk about feeding our kids. What is healthy for kids is basically what is healthy for all of us. A diet rich in nutrients from whole grains, vegetables, fruits, lean proteins and a healthy amount of fat. A goal is to feed your children ‘real’ food for the majority of the time (a pop-tart is NOT real food!). You want to choose foods as close to their natural state as possible. Fruits and vegetables are an obvious choice.

Have you ever noticed the way kids will eat fruit and raw vegetables when they are sitting in front of them all cut up? Keep some around and watch what happens. Breakfast is very important! Serve whole grain cereals instead of sugary ones, a bagel with peanut butter or oatmeal. Use skim milk versus whole. When eating meat, choose chicken and fish over beef and pork. Make sure that the meat is not the center of the meal, but more of an accompaniment served with vegetables and a whole grain pasta or rice. Serve a salad with dinner to really boost the nutrition of the meal. Choose vinaigrette type dressings over creamy ones. When using lunch meat, choose turkey and avoid the processed meats like salami or bologna and avoid white bread.

One very big step in the right direction is to clean out the home environment. If there are cookies and ice cream in the house, the kids are going to eat it. Now, I’m not saying that you and your kids should never have a treat like cookies or ice cream, but there is no reason for unhealthy, sugary and fatty foods to be in the house on a regular basis. There are many better choices out there, like yogurt, whole grain pretzels, whole grain bagel or celery with peanut butter, air popped popcorn, baked tortilla chips and salsa, frozen yogurt, fruit dipped in cool whip just to name a very few. Use the changes you make in the kitchen as a learning experience for the whole family. Educate your kids on the difference between healthy food and empty calories (junk food). Teach them how to read food labels and what to look for. Get them involved and make it fun! Kids love to learn and this is a lesson that they will take with them and use throughout their lifetime.

Remember that you are your child’s role model. They hear what you say and they watch what you do. Set the example you wish for them to follow.

-By: Barry Lovelace

Barry Lovelace is an internationally recognized fitness professional specializing in the functional training of athletes. Barry trains athletes in his area and all over the country. He is a member of Team Mens Fitness, the owner of FitQuest Fitness in Allentown Pa, fitness expert for LifeScape magazine and the creator of several products Get great health and fitness info on his website