Free Movies!!! 

Free Movies!!!

This must be the longest week for me ever! I don't really know why but it felt like the days are just going by very slowly. I'm just glad it's Friday and I have the weekend to recharge and refresh myself.

One positive note about the week though is that I've discovered how to use the cable and VOD (video on demand to the uninitiated) that's available in my room. (yeah after 2 full months!!!)

It's based on the network (ethernet) and video is played-out with a Windows-based set-top box (STB). And since there is only one cable and no hub, I can't watch and surf at the same time... bummer.. :-(



The STB looks like a VCR without the tape feed. I'll take a look what's inside one of these days. My guess is it's an XScale or Via based embedded box.

There's a basic 'free' cable package comprising of channels like espn, MTV, Animax, a news channel and a few others (7 or 9 in all, I forgot). But they're all in Japanese. The premium package includes programs like Bloomberg, Cartoon Network, some movie channel and of course adult programming. They all cost 3000 yen per month each. Crazy... it's likely I won't find myself paying to watch MORE TV. It's interesting to know though that they all cost the same. I would have expected adult programming to get premium pricing.

CORRECTION I learned that the JPY 3000 monthly fee includes all premium channels - which makes more sense. (2005/01/24)



The main menu.

About the VOD, it's really cool. It's just what I had been thinking about setting up before. STB to allow the user to search through movies and play them anytime, on demand. It even has pause, rewind and fast-forward - just like having a VHS or DVD player sans trips to the local video rental store. Movies costs 300 - 500 yen and is available to be viewed as many times as yoiu want within 3-5 days. I've never tried renting yet. I don't know if I will though... rather use my time to study.

Payments are via prepaid cards you buy either online (using the STB) with a credit card or from convenience stores (Family Mart, AMPM, Lawson, etc.).

I found out they have free VOD movies (3 selctions) about every 10 days. I was able to watch 'The Last Samurai' 2 days ago and 'South Park' tonight. Luckily the limited options offered something that suited my interest. They're all in English by the way and with Japanese subtitles. I hope the selections remain interesting.