New App Could Be Hollywood’s Napster

[NickNitro]

Popcorn Time

Fifteen years ago, Napster devastated the music business by making song stealing easy. Is it Hollywood’s turn now?

The new free app Popcorn Time looks a lot like a Napster for movies, or maybe Netflix (NFLX). The open-source software runs on almost any computer -- Windows, Mac or Linux -- and acts as an easy-to-use front end to the vast stash of pirated movies and TV shows sloshing around on the Internet.

The pirated videos, often uploaded from copies given out by Hollywood studios, end up online via BitTorrent, a huge but somewhat disorganized network of people sharing files on the Internet. It wasn’t easy to find any particular title until an unknown group of programmers, who say only that they live in Buenos Aires, created Popcorn Time.

There was plenty of stolen music on the Internet before Napster but it was hard to find. It’s the same with movies today. The most pirated titles include all the major hits but finding those movies and then downloading them is a complex process. And sometimes a 20-minute download ends up with a corrupted or poor quality file.

Popcorn Time makes it as easy to find an illegal copy of American Hustle as it would be to search for a movie on Netflix or Hulu. And it also lets the user watch the movie streaming, without having to wait for the whole file to download.

The software also creates a free alternative to popular streaming services like Hulu and Netflix, which has been cutting back sharply on its library of classic and hit movies.

Still, there is at least one major practical hurdle preventing Popcorn Time from Napsterizing movies. The software runs only on desktop and laptop computers. That means it doesn’t run on big screen TVs, which most people prefer at home, or tablets, the top platform for watching on the go.



http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/dail...-be-hollywood-s-napster-moment-140252677.html

 

[Teelie]

It's already been removed from the Mega website that was hosting it but it's out there.

Popcorn Time, the torrent-enabled Netflix-style streaming app all over the news this week, is currently unavailable for download. Previously hosted by Kim Dotcom's Mega, the company has now removed the controversial software. Is a rumored MPAA lawsuit really on the way, or will Popcorn Time live to see another day?

 

[NickNitro]

Why...why do you ruin my life.

 

[Hyde]

Did Justin Timberlake make this one too?

 

[DarkSovereignty]

Yeah, it used to be called THE popcorn time, but then he took over.

 

[Motown Marvel]

very cool app....needs way more movies though.

 

[Teelie]

Why...why do you ruin my life.

I didn't do it, the MPAA did.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

It's super easy to download off of torrents and I can stream it while it downloads with utorrent. Then I can beam anything I want from my computer to my big screen with chromecast. Sorry to say but I'm not all that excited by this new app

 

[enterthemadness]

This app needs to be destroyed. The direct to dvd market (at least action wise) is already literally bleeding the **** out.

 

[Teelie]

The app is a response to the ineptitude and backward thinking of the MPAA and their greed. If they had these kinds of legal alternatives instead of trying to force DMCA and expensive rentals on people then these apps wouldn't be necessary.

 

[Steyin]

It wasn’t easy to find any particular title until an unknown group of programmers, who say only that they live in Buenos Aires, created Popcorn Time.

There was plenty of stolen music on the Internet before Napster but it was hard to find. It’s the same with movies today. The most pirated titles include all the major hits but finding those movies and then downloading them is a complex process. And sometimes a 20-minute download ends up with a corrupted or poor quality file.

These guys aren't very experienced pirates if they have trouble finding things, or at least they don't have the right connections.

 

[Alex_Spider]

I love this. Searching though various sites and waiting for a movie to download is a bit tiresome process.
Goes to show how innovative groups and individuals are producing free and open source projects, without the backup of a profit driven corporation.
Kudos to them.

 

[Alex_Spider]

This app needs to be destroyed. The direct to dvd market (at least action wise) is already literally bleeding the **** out.

You cannot stop progress and innovation...That's just the nature and the beauty of the Internet. And there are still rich people who go to the cinema and buy dvd anyways. But the average Joe? How in the hell is he supposed to buy all the movies and the songs that come out while he strives to earn a living? So what, if the studios have a a few million drop on their sales? They are still gonna produce stuff, at least for a lot years to come. In any case, I think we can live safely in a world where no more hollywood movies are being made.

 

[dark_b]

There was plenty of stolen music on the Internet before Napster but it was hard to find. It’s the same with movies today.

i am insulted. what in in the name of g.... is this f. th..... ??????

all parts from Man of Steel are on youtube.

 

[Superwoman Prime]

All you need is a torrent client, search engine, and active proxy database.

 

[Superwoman Prime]

There's also streaming sites for the latest movies if you can stomach a few pop-ups and trust your anti-virus. Those are really easy to find.

 

[Teelie]

I hate that Netflix is slowly being reduced so greedy movie companies can start their own streaming services, which cost as much as Netflix so you have to pay several times over for what used to be a single, consolidated site and price.

 

[KevanG]

They're browbeating Netflix because it's so much better than what they have. I hate that it's happening because no one will stop it. It's one of the reasons I got rid of my Netflix, I just didn't have anything I wanted to watch on it.

 

[jonathancrane]

You cannot stop progress and innovation...That's just the nature and the beauty of the Internet. And there are still rich people who go to the cinema and buy dvd anyways. But the average Joe? How in the hell is he supposed to buy all the movies and the songs that come out while he strives to earn a living? So what, if the studios have a a few million drop on their sales? They are still gonna produce stuff, at least for a lot years to come. In any case, I think we can live safely in a world where no more hollywood movies are being made.

It is not beneficial progress, but advancements in thievery. There is no justification for stealing.

 

[TheBat812]

It is not beneficial progress, but advancements in thievery. There is no justification for stealing.

Agreed. It devalues the art you seek for entertainment as well. If fewer and fewer people continue paying for it, you're really hurting the people trying to make these things.

 

[Superwoman Prime]

Well, plenty of bands make the bulk of their libraries available free on MySpace or YouTube. Most people, if able, will support their favorites bands regardless.

As for movies? By big studios? I. . . I don't care.

And I consider anyone who complains about NetFlix's "limited options" to be a spoiled little brat. There are movies and television series on there to keep me entertained indefinitely, and there's a good cycle going.

 

[Quasimod0]

The only time I watch movies online is if it is an older movie. Like I recently watched Anchorman.

 

[KevanG]

And I consider anyone who complains about NetFlix's "limited options" to be a spoiled little brat. There are movies and television series on there to keep me entertained indefinitely, and there's a good cycle going.

Well I was paying $10/month for something I rarely used then I'd flip through the options for 30 mins or so then go watch some old Doctor Who on my laptop.

 

[enterthemadness]

You cannot stop progress and innovation...That's just the nature and the beauty of the Internet. And there are still rich people who go to the cinema and buy dvd anyways. But the average Joe? How in the hell is he supposed to buy all the movies and the songs that come out while he strives to earn a living? So what, if the studios have a a few million drop on their sales? They are still gonna produce stuff, at least for a lot years to come. In any case, I think we can live safely in a world where no more hollywood movies are being made.

I'm 100% serious, these people earn a living. I'm not talking about studios, but the people it hurts. The crews, the hard working actors, etc. I don't illegal DL movies. I did go to sites that had streaming up for Highlander 5 and UniSol: Regenration, but I ended up buying the dvd or blu ray first week to make up for it. So it evened out.

Hell, I'm seeing Need for Speed twice. Tonight and Sun or Sat. Why? I know I am gonna like it (all I want is fast cars and action) and I want it to succeed.

That being said, the future of direct to dvd is *ding dong* legal streaming. Netflix, Hulu, Crackle, some new legal site, etc.

 

[enterthemadness]

I hate that Netflix is slowly being reduced so greedy movie companies can start their own streaming services, which cost as much as Netflix so you have to pay several times over for what used to be a single, consolidated site and price.

Gonna guess that is why Netflix is making it's own tv shows...