Blu-Ray discs just got put on notice.  A new and better format is out.  Even better, there is less packaging (almost none) than DVD’s and Blu-rays.

Vudu just released the first widely available “Movie Card”.  Better yet, you can now buy movie cards in all Walmarts!

Some people are asking “How is this better than simply logging into Vudu from your PS3 or computer and buying the movie there?”.  The simple answer is that this allows for “Gifts” and for special store discounts and promotions.

Collectors will love it as it still gives them a “Physical” object to collect and will be better on the environment and lower production costs.

Lastly, a movie card doesn’t stop working just because it got “Scratched” or dirty.

The first movie available is “Battle: Los Angeles” but with a distribution network the size of Walmart you can expect a lot more by the fall shopping season.

Roku is now available from Walmart (link)

This is HUGE for Roku because being in Walmart means that you have the potential of selling SO many more products than you normally would.

The Online TV plot thickens though!  Seeing as how Walmart “OWNS” Vudu, it would naturally make sense for the Roku to offer a “Vudu” channel. Well, that might be in the works.

The above device is just a photoshopped mock up but there’s no way Walmart would let the Roku into its stores unless they were either getting them for a HUGE discount or they plan to “Upsell” everybody who buys one by selling and renting them Vudu movies.

Should Redbox and Netflix worry?

Vudu just announced that it shows from ABC, AMC, CW, Fox, ShowTime, Starz and more are available for immediate rental.  Just some of the shows available are GLEE, MODERN FAMILY, NURSE JACKIE, WEEDS, BONES and THE WALKING DEAD.

If you forgot to set your DVR or found about a series after it started and don’t want to wait for the reruns a lot of the shows are available the day after their original air date.

You can rent or buy them and watch them on Vudu individually or get the whole series.

Sometimes they are even cheaper than iTunes or Blu-Ray!

We love that Vudu is brining Online TV one step closer to mainstream.

VUDU is now available on PC.  Before you could only watch on certain BluRay players, certain HD TVs and other equipment that included the PS3.

Now, you can watch, buy and rent any and all of the movies VUDU has to offer.

For now it is only a 480p resolution as they battle it out of licensing  with the big move companies.  480p though is still better than basic television and pretty darn sharp on PCs.  Furthermore, we assume that when the licensing is all worked out, any movie purchased will be available in higher resolution for no added cost.

Lastly, VUDU is putting a lot of push behind putting VUDU on iPad, Android and other smart phones.  VUDU general manager is quoted saying that they want to make VUDU available “…as many places as possible”.

We recently wrote an article about “Vudu”.  Vudu.com is a website/application that allows people to buy and rent movies then watch them on their TV or computer.

This is different than NetFlix.  NetFlix does “DVDs” and older movies online.  They do this as a monthly subscription where Vudu only charges you for what you watch.

Rumor has it that NetFlix has been trying to figure out how to fold this into their business model.  NetFlix has allegedly been taking their time because there is no competition.

However, Amazon recently just announced Music and more importantly MOVIES over the cloud. (article)

By the “Cloud” Amazon means that you can download the music and move any time that you want to.  Previously with Amazon, you could only download the file once and then had to rebuy it if wanted to do so again.  If your hard drive crashed without a backup you’d be out of luck and possibly out of hundreds or thousands of dollars of music, movies and tv shows.  The Amazon Cloud fixes all of this.

“Amazon Cloud” is a lot like what Vudu is already doing when you buy a movie.  “NetFlix” is very similar to what Vudu is doing when you rent a movie.  If either were to buy Vudu, they would have intant leverage over the other.

While Amazon’s Cloud has to also compete with iTunes and Android’s future cloud store, only one thing is nearly certain.  “BLOCKBUSTER CAN’T AFFORD TO COMPETE”

Furthermore with cable companies offering more and more “On Demand” content, Vudu is looking more and more desirable to the entire online TV market.

You can now watch movies online and on your TV just like NetFlix but without the wait.

Vudu is a merge between OnDemand movies and the Internet.  Many new BluRay players can even connect to the internet and play movies.

Unlike Netflix you can watch new movies on VUDU immediately and there is no need to wait for a DVD to arrive in the mail.  Also unlike Netflix you can “Buy” movies from VUDU and watch them over and over with no cost.  With Netflix you need to wait 28 days after the DVD has been released in order to be able to get it.  Also, if you want to watch it online/streaming you may have to wait several years.

VUDU is cool and you often get your very first movie for free.

Check out VUDU.com for more info.