LOVEFiLM.com on Sony HDTVs

DaveF327

Hi All,

I recently splashed out on a Sony Bravia EX403 TV with HD tuner and built in internet connection which can access various internet TV / video clips.

To be brutal, most of the online offerings are paltry, but I quite fancy the online HD movies offered by www.lovefilm.com but you need to be a member of their postal DVD rental service to watch their streamed content on Sony (and Samsung) TVs.

Now for the moneysaving question! :money:

Has any member of this service been able to activate a device that isn't at their home address? I believe you're allowed to activate a maximum of two devices on a member account, but I'm thinking of using someone else's membership (with their permission, of course) for this purpose. Are checks made on the registered address of internet connection or can you literally access someone's unused online TV quota from anywhere else in the country?

Any advice appreciated

KillerWatt

It is not feasible to tie a house/flat address to an IP address because not everybody has a static IP, so if your friend is happy for you to use their account to register a second "device" at another address then fill ya boots.

DaveF327

KillerWatt wrote: »

It is not feasible to tie a house/flat address to an IP address because not everybody has a static IP

It does have a MAC address which I presume can be tied to a serial number. I recently sent off the registration forms to claim the free 5 year guarantee, so is it realistic to expect that LoveFilm would cross-check Sony's database?

scotsbob

DaveF327 wrote: »

It does have a MAC address which I presume can be tied to a serial number. I recently sent off the registration forms to claim the free 5 year guarantee, so is it realistic to expect that LoveFilm would cross-check Sony's database?

Surely not if the Sony database was held in the UK because that would infringe the data protection act.

KillerWatt

DaveF327 wrote: »

It does have a MAC address which I presume can be tied to a serial number. I recently sent off the registration forms to claim the free 5 year guarantee, so is it realistic to expect that LoveFilm would cross-check Sony's database?

I doubt for one minute that Lovefilm even bother going to the trouble of storing a MAC address for their registered users as there is no useful info to be gleaned by doing so.

However if they did work on that basis, then what happens when the registered user decides to replace (or upgrade) their modem/router?

DaveF327

Sounds good, then

Thanks for all the replies. I hope more people share unused benefits of their accounts; think of the money saved! :money:

a27

DaveF327 wrote: »

Hi All,

I recently splashed out on a Sony Bravia EX403 TV with HD tuner and built in internet connection which can access various internet TV / video clips.

To be brutal, most of the online offerings are paltry, but I quite fancy the online HD movies offered by www.lovefilm.com but you need to be a member of their postal DVD rental service to watch their streamed content on Sony (and Samsung) TVs.

Now for the moneysaving question! :money:

Has any member of this service been able to activate a device that isn't at their home address? I believe you're allowed to activate a maximum of two devices on a member account, but I'm thinking of using someone else's membership (with their permission, of course) for this purpose. Are checks made on the registered address of internet connection or can you literally access someone's unused online TV quota from anywhere else in the country?

Any advice appreciated

I am in a similar (but not same) boat.
I'm thinking of buying a Bravia and one thing I want is to try the LoveFilm streaming.

I think you can try it on one of their free trials. You can register your own account rather than use someone else's.

1 month with free £20 Amazon voucher
http://www.vouchercloud.com/lovefilm-promotional-offers/9670/exclusive-30-day-free-trial-plus-free-20-amazoncouk-voucher-promotional-offer

2 months
http://www.avforums.com/forums/movie-music-bargains-discount-codes/1240696-lovefilm-2-months-free-trial-offer.html

On AVForums, some people manage to move from free trial to free trial without ever paying.

I did read this though

Lovefilm content is utterly sh oi te down to licensing apparently - havnt got it to work yet because have been promised and havnt got a firmware update but the films on the tv streaming is different licensing from the website ui so be prepared to be disappointed

Think a few hundred rather than the thousands they claim

I also read this

I received the NX503 (40 inch) yesterday as a present (yes someone loves me). Exceptional quality, though the very glossy front panel does reflect a considerable amount of light when viewed at an angle; however turning off the ambient sensor (which adjusts for ambient room light) removes this problem.
Youtube feeds via internet- no interruptions (it takes a few seconds to buffer, barely noticeable, but this prevents breaks in picture flow).
Lovefilm- you must activate an account on the my essentials sony website (based in the US), to register the key provided by the 'activate enhanced features' widget. However when I provided the registration details, an 'internal error' message appeared. Disappointing as I am looking forward to streaming movies from my lovefilm account. I believe this service should already be up and running?!.
BBC iplayer I am told is also available via internet video but did not appear on my menu list.
Has anyone managed to register on sony my essentials?

http://www.avforums.com/forums/lcd-led-lcd-tvs/1217997-sony-bravia-ex503-vs-nx503.html

Please let me know how it goes as I'm considering going your way.

DaveF327

a27 wrote: »

I think you can try it on one of their free trials. You can register your own account rather than use someone else's
.... some people manage to move from free trial to free trial without ever paying.

Only problem is, I refuse to give out my credit card details for a "free" trial. If they offered direct debit, I may consider it as DDs are far easier to cancel.

I'd much prefer to use someone else's account if they're not using an extra feature of it.

Regarding the other online content, though.. I'm rather disappointed that I can't access BBC iPlayer. I can access youtube and Demand 5, but who actually watches channel 5? The only shows I ever really watch (and want to catch up on) are on the BBC.

a27

DaveF327 wrote: »

Only problem is, I refuse to give out my credit card details for a "free" trial. If they offered direct debit, I may consider it as DDs are far easier to cancel.

I'd much prefer to use someone else's account if they're not using an extra feature of it.

Regarding the other online content, though.. I'm rather disappointed that I can't access BBC iPlayer. I can access youtube and Demand 5, but who actually watches channel 5? The only shows I ever really watch (and want to catch up on) are on the BBC.

I did use the 1 month free trial and successfully cancelled.
The way they can get you is that if you call to cancel on the last day, your account will become "pending cancelled" but not cancelled until they receive all their discs from you.

The way out is to cancel with enough time left so that they receive their discs before (or on) the last day of the trial.

Also, even though there's an option to cancel online, when you click on it, it gives you the phone number to call for cancellation.


What happens when you try iPlayer?

ceefor_2

you can you cancel online after 10pm