TECH SUPPORT
ONLINE RENTALS
BLU-RAY DISCS
ONLINE RENTALS
1. What are the minimum system requirements for watching films online?
PC
- Windows XP with Service Pack 2, or Windows Vista
- Internet Explorer 6.0, Firefox 2.0, Safari 3.0
- 1.2 GHz processor
- 512 MB RAM
Mac
- Intel-based Mac with OS 10.4.8
- Firefox 2.0, Safari 3.0
- Intel Core Duo 1.83 GHz processor
- 1 GB RAM
General
- 4 GB free space on hard drive
- Broadband internet connection
- Adobe Flash Player 9.0 or higher
- JavaScript and cookies enabled
(back to top)
2. How long does it take to begin watching a film online?
On average, it will take about 30 seconds for the film to begin playing, but it depends on the speed of your internet connection. It is normal for the "beach ball" to briefly appear on Macs while the film is loading, but we are always working on improving the online viewing experience.
(back to top)
3. Do I have to be connected to the internet while I'm watching an online rental?
Yes. In 2009, we expect to make films available for viewing offline as well.
(back to top)
4. How do I know if my computer will be able to play back films without any problems?
Click
here to watch the current Criterion-curated free online film festival on The Auteurs. If these films play back acceptably, you should have no problem playing the films on criterion.com.
(back to top)
5. Can I do other things online while the film is loading?
Yes. Depending on your internet connection speed, it should not affect the downloading of the film. For the best results, however, close all other windows and applications before beginning to watch the film.
(back to top)
6. Can I watch online films on my television?
Yes. You will need a video cable to connect your computer to your television. The correct video cable depends on the output connections on your computer and the input connections on your television. For example, if you have a computer with a DVI output and an HDTV with HDMI inputs, you can use a DVI to HDMI cable to watch online films on your television.
(back to top)
7. Can I start playback in the middle of the film?
Not right now, but we are making improvements to our player all the time. A film will load into your browser from the beginning each time you start watching it. If the film you are watching has been loaded into your browser previously, however, it may load more quickly on subsequent viewings.
(back to top)
8. Can I adjust the size of the video in the browser?
The sizes available for viewing the film in the browser are limited to the default size and full-screen.
(back to top)
9. Can I watch the same film on more than one computer?
Yes. As long as you are logged in to your account, you can watch any active rentals.
(back to top)
10. How far away should I sit from my monitor when watching films online?
For the best viewing experience, the distance you sit from your monitor should be about twice the width of the monitor (e.g., with a 15-inch laptop screen, you should sit 30 inches away).
(back to top)
BLU-RAY DISCS
11. What do I need to watch Blu-ray disc movies?
You need an HDTV and a compatible Blu-ray player.
(back to top)
12. Will DVDs play in my Blu-ray player?
Yes. Blu-ray players are fully backward compatible with DVDs.
(back to top)
13. Will Blu-ray discs play in my DVD player?
No.
(back to top)
14. Does Criterion sell its Blu-ray discs outside the United States? And what regions do they play in?
We only publish Blu-ray discs for the North American market, and our Blu-ray discs are encoded Region A.
(back to top)
15. What audio codec does Criterion use on their Blu-ray discs?
We encode mono and stereo sources using PCM, and we encode surround-sound sources using DTS-HD MA.
(back to top)
16. Do Criterion Blu-ray discs play in all Blu-ray players?
No. Some of the first-generation Blu-ray players will not play Criterion Blu-ray discs. A known example is the Samsung BD-P1200. Additionally, the following players exhibit initial loading times of 2 to 3 minutes: Samsung BD-P1400, Sharp BD-HP20U, and Panasonic DMP BD10. This is normal for these players.
(back to top)
17. What should I know about handling Blu-ray discs?
Blu-ray discs are extremely sensitive to dirt and fingerprints, so be sure to handle them carefully and avoid getting fingerprints on the playback surface. Even a small, partial fingerprint has been known to cause problems.
If you do need to clean a Blu-ray disc, here are some helpful tips: Be sure to wash, rinse, and dry your hands thoroughly before cleaning the disc. Hold the Blu-ray disc under cool running water (don't use soap on the disc!) and use your thumb or fingertip to clean the surface by gently rubbing from the center outward. Don't use a back-and-forth motion or rub the disc in circles (the motion should be like rays extending from the sun, not like the hands of a clock). After washing, it is important to dry the disc thoroughly, or it will gather lint. Sandwich the disc between several layers of good-quality paper towel and very gently pat dry until all the water has been absorbed from the surface. Do not rub the disc with a paper towel!
(back to top)