Downloadable videos are now availabile
After announcing some additions to the Google Video service at CES, Google has finally followed through on at least part of their plan. You are now able to download videos from Google and watch them on Google Video Player.
There is no word yet as to when you will be able to purchase videos, but screenshots have been found on a Google webpage which show what the "pay" service will look like.
Currently on any Google Video playback page, you can now find a "Download" button that when clicked will prompt you to save a "gvp" file -- pretty much identical to the file I discovered last week:
# download the free Google Video Player from http://video.google.com/
gvp_version:1.1
url:http://vp.video.google.com/videodownload?
version=0&secureurl=hAAAALI8lX3OmcC1RUdRaogAaop
XtBQRC1s9sTtprY0Y9B54kYjyQS4wLBGVL2m6YJPTQ_
wb0QW7HL9lVVUTiyn0xZGtUWMvPsNL9DuKcvxAUV3H3K
2LKdhhfGt_AL69Wtpouhe8hBwF7JaP062P52Q7FZgIbTK3
mbHsztXDKelOpFx6moHVNEA5vKh0ybhy7EeysQ&begin=
0&len=16033
docid:1775983120224943095
duration:16033
title:Cool Experiment
description:cool science project
Not only have they enabled the ability to download videos, but they have also included a couple other new features too. "More from user" allows searchers to find more videos uploaded by the same person who contributed the video you are currently watching. The second feature, "Put on site", gives users HTML code that will plug-in to any website.
Update:
At least one video is available for purchase -- the movie "Waterborne". Unfortunately, I'm from Canada and am unable to purchase this film -- which sounds very interesting by the way. With a contaminated water source, Los Angeles is cast into turmoil. And with a shortage of vital resources, how far with the average person go to ensure their own survival?
Google is using "Google Purchses" as the method of payment for the service. Here is the terms of service for buyers found in the purchase frame. I am disappointed that it is not available to Canadians (or any other country for that matter), but I'm sure it will come with time.
Update:
Now the main Google Video page features a range of videos to purchse from Survivor to MacGyver. Most videos are between $.99 to $5.99 -- but as I mentioned earlier, they are only available to the US.