Star Trek: The Movie on USB Stick
I like this far more than Blu-Ray and yet there are a few usability issues that can be improved.
Today I saw something I'd been hoping to see for some time now: a movie released on USB stick. Specifically, the latest Star Trek movie in a limited-edition USB stick shaped like a Communicator.
Unboxing The Precious
You can watch my unboxing of it, above, to see that they really did put some care into the packaging. Unfortunately, the same care didn't seem to go into the software side of it (e.g., when you plug it into your Mac, it shows up as "NO NAME" – quite a large oversight.)
Watching the movie: DivX VOD
To watch the movie, you have to download the DivX player, get a DivX account, and activate the movie online using the activation code in the package and your email address.
The first time I did this, I got an error telling me that I wasn't licensed to view the movie. What I missed (and it's easy to miss) was this tiny little link in Step 3 of the activation process instructing me to download a .tix file with my license in it.
Needless to say, this is a huge usability FAIL that the Star Trek folks need to address. Center that baby, make it 30pt or something and heck, add an icon for good measure so no one can possibly miss it.
Once you download the license file, double click it to launch it and you should be up and running with the movie in the DivX player.
You can apparently play the film in up to 7 devices, including your PS3.
Watching the movie on a PS3
To get it up and running on the PS3, you need to register for an account with DivX and download the DivX player, as mentioned above. Then, on your PS3, go to Settings → System Settings → DivX VOD Registration Code and note down the code displayed on that screen.
Finally, in the DivX player on your computer, go to VOD → Register a DivX Certified Device… → and enter the DivX VOD Registration Code you noted from the PS3.
The DivX player should tell you that you need to download a registration video and play it back on your PS3 to complete the registration process.
This is where the Star Trek USB key comes in handy. Download the registration video and copy it on to your USB key. Then plug that into the PS3 and navigate to Video → USB Device (Flash Disk) from the main menu.
Do not enter the USB Device (Flash Disk) option using the "X" button the controller as you will see a message alerting you that "there are no titles" (usability FAIL). Instead, use the green triangle button to bring up the Options screen and then select the highlighted Display All option.
Now, you should see the PS3 DivX activation movie and the Star Trek movie. Play the DivX activation movie and you should see a screen telling you that your PS3 has now been activated. You should now be set up to watch DivX VOD movies on your PS3. Of course, you can test this right away by watching your new Star Trek movie in glorious HD.
USB to the Future
I have to say, this feels far more like the future than Blu-Ray. Me likes. And yet the usability can be improved and the process simplified. If anyone from Sony/DivX/etc. is reading this, feel free to get in touch with me as I'd love to work with you on improving the flow.
The Star Trek: The Movie on USB Stick article by Aral Balkan, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 2.0 UK: England License.
its amazing how long it took for a film to be released this way.
I’ve tried to push this concept onto a few bands ive done web work for. its a tough sale for now but items like this hopefully make it more of a mainstream thought.
The fact that most USB keys are tossed at you with company logo’s and other BS that are afterthoughts to the original design make this trekker shaped case all the more impressive.
Greetings,
Do you have any idea why this media is being sold exclusively in the UK?
Thank you,
RT
[...] You can see the plugin at work on my Star Trek: The Movie on USB Stick post. [...]
Looks typically overpackaged.
How does the quality compare to Blu-Ray?
Although I’m totally digging this way of distributing content, I think there are a few thing which I’m totally not agreeing with.
For starters: Activating your movie online? Only being able to watch it on 7 devices at home? Are you kidding me? It’s my movie. I bought it. I paid money for it. That’s what I’m supposed to do before I go home and just _enjoy my movie_.
I shouldn’t be jumping through more hoops in order to enjoy what I paid for. If anything: I want to be able to watch my video in less steps than before using DVD/Blu-ray.
Installing DivX player? Again, why would I care about that piece of software? I don’t want to install a separate player for every movie I buy (because let’s face it: the industry has a nag for not doing things the same altogether). I want to play it in a player of my choice, without having to install a custom player chosen by them.
Why Divx? Why not a DVD-image/Blu-ray image? They should really try to stick to _1_ standard. I’m really not looking forward to seeing every movie to be distributed this way, using a different codec.
And last but not least: Did you ever consider what your ‘bluetooth movies collection’ will look like if every movie gets released on a differently shaped USB stick?
Again, I’m really digging this, because let’s face it: it looks great/awesome/cool! But I think in the long run it will be more an annoying thing because every release will be a different USB-stick, and you can’t really organize them anymore (in a DVD-like shelve etc…)
And something else I’m wondering: Why USB stick? Why not SD cards? (okay, USB is way more universal, but most hardware has an SD reader these days): It’s faster, smaller, and you can easily fit it INSIDE a special shaped something for the big fans. People who don’t care (enough) about the packaging can just get rid of it, and still organize their movies (and safe LOTS of space)
It’s really an interesting topic, and I’m wondering how the industry will react/move on to this way of distributing (if they actually would like to go there).
@Ronnie nope. Even though you paid for the movie on the USB, it’s not yours. Same with software. You agree to the TOS, which usually tells you it’s illegal to distribute, etc. but also illegal to modify/hack/change. It seems strange that you could pay hundreds or thousands (coughing at Adobe) and the software still isn’t yours. It’s your license.
Where did you buy the stick? Cant locate it in US so far. Please advise where I can get this.
Thanks,
JL
@Alan: Yea, you’re right. The software is about licensing, and actually I’m okay with that. But if I buy a movie in a store, I expect to get home and be able to do with it what I want (put it in my DVD player and watch it). And if I’m an extremely rich dude with 20 DVD players, I want to watch my movie in every single one of them :p
Running software on max 3 computers is something different than watching your favorite movie *at home*. Whatever that term means…. I think it’s too much of a limitation.
I have just bought this usb film, tried the steps you have given (along with those on the usb and on the divx site) and nothing will work. I can’t return the usb as it’s excluded from the 30 day money back guarantee but I have tried everything I know! Help!!
I was one of the key software developers at Divx who worked on making the Star Trek USB available (there were many, many developers behind this project). First, I want to thank your critique — it was both positive and useful. Second, your usability points have been noted and we are working on improving the flow.
There were actually two movies launched by Paramount in this format. The Star Trek one is my favorite. There are plans to release more, and more companies are making Divx compatible players available.
Feel free to contact me. This is my personal email address.
Hi!
What resolution did the movie have? And in what format is the sound “quality”?
Hi, Aral, I’ve seen this post before but never commented on this, now however, I feel like it… so…… here I go.
I must say, it’s a wonderful example of geeky-ness, combining technology (real tech that is) with such an iconic object from the Star Trek universe.
Unfortunately it isn’t generally available, to my knowledge it’s only available in the UK and US. And from few the online-stores / sites that do sell it only have credit card as the more broader payment option….. and, you guessed it, I don’t have a credit card…
So, it’s a shame… iI must let this collectible pass by me…
With regards, Dave.
La solita cagata, ho chiesto e mi hanno risposto:
“Al momento i film sono visibili solo utilizzando
Windows Media Player 9 o superiore”
Quindi l’ennesima dimostrazione che sia una cosa TOTALMENTE INUTILE