Fighting with Blinkbox support

[pinky6225]

So got the below e-mail yesterday from blinkbox (movie and tv series streaming/download site)

 

 

 

We’re sorry. When we sent this email earlier today, we didn’t list the right version of Windows, which might have caused some confusion. We’ve now corrected this to make sure things are really clear, but if you’ve any more questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch by replying to this email.

We’re writing to you because we’ve identified that you use blinkbox with your PC running Windows 7 and need to let you know that we’ll be discontinuing support for downloading movies to watch offline on Tuesday 14th July 2015. You’ll still be able to stream movies on your PC and use blinkbox on all of our other devices.

We take the decision to discontinue support for devices very seriously and always consider the consequences of our action. Unfortunately, Microsoft have announced plans to stop supporting Windows Media DRM, the technology we use to download movies on your PC, which means we’ve been forced to stop supporting watch offline on your device.

Microsoft have announced that Windows 7 customers will get a free upgrade to Windows 10 when it’s released later this year, so you’ll be able to choose to upgrade and use the blinkbox app to Watch Offline instead. There’s more information about this switch off program, our app for Windows 10 and other ways to watch offline here.

Thanks,

The blinkbox team

 

 

Which is a bit shit as i'm happy enough with windows 7 and dont fancy being a unwilling windows 10 beta tester so e-mailed them back

 

Hello

I signed up to and purchased from your site on the understanding i would be able to watch offline

As i’m sure you know the adoption rate for Microsoft Windows is incredibly slow as we have all learnt not to use a release as soon as it comes out from past experience (which is why Microsoft made such a big deal about no longer supporting WinXP)

Since you are changing the terms under which i purchased i take it that I am eligible to remove the content i have on my PC and acquire a refund for everything i have purchased from yourself?

Please send me the details on how to acquire the refund

Thanks

 

 

 

Which seems fairly reasonable to me - i signed up to a site i could download stuff from and watch offline on the rare occasions my ISP is being shitty and then promptly got back...

 

 

 

Thanks for getting in touch with us and sorry for trouble.

Just to inform you that unfortunately, this is a Microsoft change and as such, it's out of our control. You'll still be able to stream content to your Windows 8 device.

However if you want to watch your content offline after 14 July 2015 then you need to upgrade to Windows 8.1 and need to download blinkbox app.

Just to let you know, we've a dedicated blinkbox app for Windows 8.1 PCs. Please have a look on our support article for more information on Our app for Windows PCs and tablets article.

On the 14th July 2015, Microsoft will switch off Windows Media DRM, the encryption technology we use on a number of our older devices and for download to PC. The Windows Media DRM switch off will mean you need to change the way you download content to your PC, using the free blinkbox Movies app rather than downloading content.

As there’s no change to streaming, which will still work as normal.

In line with the information on our support site, you'll still be able to stream movies on your Windows Vista computer, but you won't be able to download them to watch offline anymore as this change has been brought about by a change in technology, rather than as the result of a blinkbox decision.

For that reason, and because this change has been made in line with the terms and conditions we agreed, I'm afraid I won't be able to consider a request for refund due to this change, but we're always here to help you get started with our new Watch Offline options.

Please have a look on our support article for more information Windows Media DRM switch off.

Sorry for any disappointment this may cause. If you’ve got any other questions, don’t hesitate to let me know.

Thanks,

 

 

Okay thats not what i want, when my internet is good and i can stream i generally want to play a game so still being able to stream on windows 7 while nice isn't what i want so then went back to them with

 

 

Hello

 

I’ve looked at the attached URL and the relevant part for myself is...

 

PCs running Windows 7

The Windows Media DRM switch off will mean you can no longer use certain blinkbox features on your device.

• From 14th July 2015, you won’t be able to use our download to PC feature
• Content you’ve downloaded to your PC will stop playing within 30 days
• There’s no change to streaming, which will still work as normal

For PCs running Windows Vista, XP or below, we’ll no longer be able to offer our previously available download to PC functionality. This is because the feature relied on Windows Media DRM, and we’ve focused our efforts on developing watch offline for newer versions of the Windows operating system that are still supported for consumer use by Microsoft.

However, you’ll be able to use our new watch offline service by upgrading to Windows 10, which will be offered as a free upgrade for one year after it’s launched by Microsoft later this year or is available for free as an insider preview at this page. We’re not able to support you with any issues you might have as a result of upgrading Windows

 

I joined your service in 2013 with a purchase of Star Trek into Darkness (attached e-mail) and as you can see it says watch forever – no time limit and no where in that receipt is there a requirement that i have a particular operating system

 

Now while i understand you are offering the option to upgrade to windows 10 in the very same support page you also accept no responsibility for any lose incurred after upgrading to windows 10 (paragraph from question “Why are you not finding an alternative solution”)

 

Microsoft are offering a free upgrade to Windows 10 to all current Windows 7 users for the first year after its launch later this year. There’s more information about Windows 10 on the Microsoft website, though we’re not able to support you with any issues you might have as a result of upgrading Windows.

 

 

So ignoring the fact that I as the customer should be able to choose which operating system i use (and as I’ve had a PC since the days of 386’s i have plenty of experience with windows from windows 3.1 to the current windows 8) their are numerous issues of compatibility and data lose just from upgrading which you are not offering to support with.

 

While i also accept you are allowed to alter the terms and conditions this is not a small change but a fundamental change to how your service is being delivered, the reason i purchase video’s and download them is so that when their are internet connection issues i am able to access media and have something to watch, this was possible under the terms and conditions under which i made my purchases

 

I feel it is perfectly reasonable to expect you to find a way to support offline content via a media player (i don’t particular care whether its windows media player) as this was circumstances under which i made my purchases so please find a better alternative to the one you are currently suggesting for windows 7 users or give me back a refund (minus a reasonable amount for the time that i have had the license) so that i can go and purchase from another website that will support my purchasing habits which you are no longer doing.

 

Thanks

 

 

Anyone want to give me odds of actually ever getting anywhere with them?

[Ashkandii]

bah i get this sorta thing too, cant watch downloaded movies which are downloaded from them blu-ray download codes i had for interstellar, said copyright issues when it was my own copy looked on the sight fount out that it cant be downloaded onto windows 7 and ill refuse to use any future windows if they keep that god awful design.