Other fail.

Yesterday I bought the bluray copy of 'Total Recall'. On the pack it stated it was a 'triple play' copy i.e. in the pack there was a bluray disk, a DVD and a code to download a digital copy. Nice. Anyway, in the past the films I've seen that do this have simply given you a download code for iTunes. That's been something I'm happy to deal with. This one.. was not. This one requires the following

1) Download an app to my mac from the studio's web site. This app seems to have no function other than to download digital copies from the studio's web site. Note : It will not play the files it has downloaded.
2) Input the code in the pack. The software would then ask me what device I was downloading for. It would then download the relevant file for that device. Note: you only get one choice.
3) Then I need to download another app onto the device in question.
4) Start the app while on the same wifi network as my mac at which point the iOS app will copy the file over to it's own library from the mac, as long as the app is running on the mac at the time. Note the standard iOS 'videos' app will not play this file.
5) You can then play the film through the app. At least on iOS, the app reviews are full of complaints about the quality of the playback, it doesn't support airplay, and the average review is one star out of five.

Can I play this digital copy on the Mac Mini I use as a media player in my living room? No. Can I play this digital copy on both my iPhone and my iPad? No (see point 2). Can I back this movie up with all my other data? No. Well, yes, but it's utterly pointless to do so. Hollywood, this is your alternative to me just ripping the DVD/Bluray then is it? Really? Well done.

Jon

Not only have customs delayed my item, I'm being charged £20 for the privilege

Screw that. Rip the DVD and make your own digital copy!

What is it with your browser crashing when you've got a couple of tabs open that'll require full-on search history exploration?

Regulator for the offside driver's window on my freelander just gone. 14 months after it was replaced and the warranty is only twelve months.

Starting to believe the reputation for unreliability on these things. Had it fifteen months and replaced window regulator (twice), door lock solenoid, alternator and crankcase breather filter.

Makes my Alfa seem like a paragon of virtue in the reliability department.

Should have bought a Toyota

I think I'm probably buying a Toyota tomorrow . I was actually considering a Freelander 2 but the test drive kind of put me off. I'd really like a new Disco but they're just too expensive.

Jon

My father has an 807 (about 40k€ new).
In the first 5 years the engine block split, the suspension went, the onboard computer went. That cost nearly 15k to fix, the salesperson said that was "normal maintenance work" on a large car. Riiight.
and that's on top of the 500€ bill for a set of tire.

Friend of my fathers bought a new Renault estate thing.
One of the spark plugs disintegrated into the cylinder, and he had the devil's own job to get Renault to do any work to it under warranty, as the spark plugs were 'normal wear items'.
Yes, that's right, a spark plug shedding ceramic and aluminium into a cylinder bore is a 'normal wear issue'.

TBH that is regular maintenance for a Peugeot. By the end of 5 years I would have expected the electrics to have died as well.

Tyres are never cheap. It's about £650 for a set of tyres for my little car.

£160 a corner? Top-end superfat low profiles?

Oh they have, don't worry. And the door handle is a bit intermittent.

That's the sort of thing they're always going to try it on with. Bastards.

Really? Last time I paid £170 for the fronts with some decent Falken rubber

I get brand new tyres for my 406 for £20 each (second hand and top quality) I do strongly believe they may be nicked.