How-To: Bypass The Dreaded iTunes "You must insert your Digital Copy DVD into your computer in order to redeem this code." Error Message.

Don't you hate it when a family member or a friend gives you a code redeemable for an iTunes copy of a movie, only to get the following error message - "You must insert your Digital Copy DVD into your computer in order to redeem this code."?


DON'T PANIC!

These types of movie redemption codes are commonly referred to as "disc based" or "XML based" digital copy redemptions, and are rarely seen with newer codes. In fact many "disc based" or "XML based" codes will have an expiration date that has passed (ie: expired) and yet many of those codes will still work, albeit for an SD version of the movie.

There are workarounds for both PC and MAC, with the files and easy to follow instructions posted generously @ Blu-Ray.com Forum: No longer need XML files for iTunes Digital Copies!  

I have personally used those instructions to redeem dozens of disc based iTunes movies without the required discs!

Also, if you aren't lucky enough to have generous family members or friends, there are places to get "disc based" or "XML based based iTunes movies on the cheap (for details check my previous How-To "How-To: Get Movies And Television Seasons For Streaming On Your Htpc On The Cheap!.

This is the second of two How-To guides brought to you by HTPC Central...thank you for visiting!

[PRICE DROP] "Plex" App FREE* On iTunes {Price Effective: August 10, 2015}

{Price Drop: August 10, 2015 - Normally $4.99!}

<<CLICK HERE>> to download "Plex" from iTunes.

If viewing on Flipboard, when prompted, press 'OPEN' and you will be directed to iTunes to complete your download...Thank You!

"Plex organizes all of your video, music, TV, and photo collections, and streams them to all of your screens. With the free Plex Media Server on your home computer and Plex for iOS, you can watch and listen to all of your personal media on your iOS device and share it with friends and family. Enjoy unlimited use of free features of this app, and unlock its full functionality with a Plex Pass subscription -OR- a small one-time in-app purchase (see below).

Here are some ways that Plex makes your media experience awesome:
• Makes your media beautiful with artwork, descriptions, and more
• Automatically converts your media on-the-fly to play on any device
• Makes sharing your media with friends and family simple and easy
• Lets you browse, fling, and control your media on most Plex apps
• Gives you access to a wide range of online channels such as TED Talks, Revision3, and TWiT
• Enables you to queue online videos from sites like Vimeo and YouTube and then Watch Later on any device"

<<CLICK HERE>> to download "Plex" from iTunes.

*app is FREE to download, additional content may be available via In-App Purchases

cover art and description courtesy of iTunes
https://www.apple.com/itunes/

pricing current at time of posting, subject to change
iTunes account required for purchasing and download
not responsible for errors or omissions

Tuneskit All-In-One iTunes DRM Media Converter for Windows - Three Months Later (A Review).

I love movies and television, and I love my iPhone and my iPad - however I believe in technology as a tool, so I do use a variety of platforms and devices on a daily basis.

And since I love my iDevices, I have been purchasing content from iTunes for years, and now have a huge library of movies and TV shows in iTunes that are 'locked' to Apple devices due to DRM (Digital Rights Management).

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING >>

Staples iTunes Gift Card Sale - Buy 1 Get 2nd 30% - Limit 3 offers/Customer - Ends Today (6/6/15)!

Stock Up Time for iTunes Gift Cards!

Staples is currently offering a deal on iTunes Gift cards, buy 1 and get a 2nd at 30% off.
Limit 3 offers/Customer - Ends Today (6/6/15)

Buy 1 Get 2nd 30% off with code 71294

<<CLICK HERE>> to see the offer on Staples.com

If viewing on Flipboard, when prompted, press 'OPEN' and you will be directed to Staples to complete your order...Thank You!

This works out to an effective discount of just under 15% on two cards due to Staples added Secure Shipping Fee.

There is an additional $1.99 fee added to each card for "Included in the gift card purchase price is a $1.99 Secure Shipping Fee. This covers trackableshipping through the US Post Office, to ensure safe arrival" (Staples.com). To mitigate the impact of the $1.99 fee purchase the highest value cards that you can afford.

This is not the best deal on iTunes Gift Cards but when combined with sales (like this sale for Hairspray [1988] for $4.99 - an additional 15% off makes it $4.24!) can really have an impact on the overall costs of your iTunes purchases!

New Digital Copy Codes: Seventh Son (5/26/15)

New Releases 5/26/2015 - Seventh Son

In a time of enchantments when legends and magic collide, the sole remaining warrior of a mystical order (Oscar® winner Jeff Bridges) travels to find a prophesized hero born with incredible powers, the last Seventh Son (Ben Barnes). Torn from his quiet life as a farmhand, the unlikely young hero embarks on a daring adventure with his battle-hardened mentor to vanquish a dark queen (Julianne Moore) and the army of supernatural assassins she has dispatched against their kingdom.

The Blu-ray release of "Seventh Son" became available today (5/26/15) - so digital copy codes should begin to show up for sale on the Buy, Sell, Trade Thread @Blu-ray.com today. These are digital copy codes only, no physical media, and availability on a specific service (iTunes, UltraViolet, Google Play) will vary depending on the studio. For those wanting to purchase digital copies directly from iTunes or Vudu  or physical media from Amazon I've included links below for your convenience.

• "Seventh Son" on digital @ iTunes
• "Seventh Son" on digital @ Vudu
• "Seventh Son" on Blu-ray, DVD + Digital HD @ Amazon

cover art and synopsis courtesy of iTunes

not responsible for errors or omissions

New Digital Copy Codes: The Loft (5/26/15)

New Releases - The Loft

Karl Urban (Star Trek Into Darkness) and James Marsden (2 Guns) star in the tense psychological thriller THE LOFT, the story of five guys who conspire to secretly share a penthouse loft in the city--a place where they can indulge in their deepest fantasies. But the fantasy becomes a nightmare when they discover the dead body of an unknown woman in the loft, and they realize one of the group must be involved. Paranoia seizes them as everyone begins to suspect one another. Friendships are tested, loyalties are questioned and marriages crumble as the group is consumed by fear, suspicion and murder in this relentless thriller.

The Blu-ray release of "The Loft" became available today (5/26/15) - so digital copy codes should begin to show up for sale on the Buy, Sell, Trade Thread @Blu-ray.com today. These are digital copy codes only, no physical media, and availability on a specific service (UltraViolet / iTunes) will vary depending on the studio. For those wanting to purchase digital copies directly from iTunes or Vudu  or physical media from Amazon I've included links below for your convenience.

• "The Loft" on digital @ iTunes
• "The Loft" on digital @ Vudu
• "The Loft" on Blu-ray, DVD + Digital HD @ Amazon

cover art and synopsis courtesy of iTunes

not responsible for errors or omissions

Off Topic Alert! - IDrive Unlimited Mobile Backup Deal From iPhone Life Deals

Now this post is going a little off topic (maybe quite a bit off topic actually); however I wanted to post for anyone interested, as this is a limited time offer kind of deal.

The magazine iPhone Life Magazine runs a site similar to Groupon for tech called iPhone Life Deals. 

I don't post much that is not HTPC related; however iPhone Life Deals has a deal for the next couple of days, where you can get an Lifetime Subscription to IDrive Unlimited Mobile Backup for only $10.00 (that's 80% off the normal price).

IDrive Unlimited Mobile Backup Benefits & Features - 

• 256-bit AES encryption with an optional user defined key
• Back up your iOS device and restore it to your Android and vice versa
• Access backed up files from any mobile device, or through the web
• Share your files with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, and email
• Facebook & Instagram backup
• Apps for Android, iOS and Windows devices.

However, it is important to note that there are some limitations - 

• This if for Mobile Backup only, Desktop Backup is a separate and more expensive service.
• There is a limit of 5 devices over the life of the account (concurrent or consecutive).
• Once added, a device can not be 'swapped' out for another device.
• I'm assuming that, if at some point iDrive 'goes away' your stored content could be gone for good as well.
• Not all media types are supported, but those important vacation photos and videos can be.
• Frequent up-graders, this deal may not be for you.

Read on to see why I purchased a subscription and why I think this is a good deal.

Despite the limitations above, it occurred to me that could be an amazing deal for anyone that retains their devices over a long period of time, especially if you have one or two primary devices to back up, and if you tend to retain your devices for a long period of time. For example, if you backup a single device, with each device lasting two years, it would be conceivable to get ten years of service out of a single $10 subscription. It should also be possible to load important files to your supported mobile device(s) from your desktop and effectively backup those files indirectly from your mobile device(s) without subscribing directly to the desktop service itself. And although I haven't tested it yet, I'm also proposing that it should be possible to re-purpose a mobile device, either after replacing it at some future date, or by possibly re-purposing a device you already have, to use as a dedicated hub to upload files to iDrive and get even more mileage out of that $10 investment.

I realize that I have made some assumptions, and unfortunately I have not been able to test any of those assumptions as of yet.

If you are keen to checkout the iDrive deal for yourself CLICK HERE to go to Phone Life Deals while the deal is still live!

PS - iDrive was highly rated in this PCMag.com review.

Movie Price Drop: What's in a Name? (Le prénom) only $4.99

Movie Price Drop: What's in a Name? (Le prénom) only $4.99

Buy " What's in a Name? (Le prénom)" - was $19.99 currently $4.99

...save $15.00!

Vincent (Patrick Bruel), a successful forty-something, is about to become a father for the first time. He is invited to dinner at the charming apartment of his sister, Elisabeth (Valérie Benguigui), and brother-in-law, Pierre (Charles Berling), where he catches up with his childhood friend, Claude (Guillaume de Tonquédec). Whilst waiting for Anna (Judith El Zein), his younger spouse who is always running late, his fellow guests happily bombard him with questions on his fast approaching fatherhood... But when his hosts ask Vincent what name he has chosen for his future offspring, his response plunges the family into chaos. Released December 13, 2013 *description courtesy of iTunes

Price subject to change, current as of 5/19/15  

Movie Price Drop: War of the Buttons (La Guerre des Boutons) only $4.99

Movie Price Drop: War of the Buttons (La Guerre des Boutons)

Buy "War of the Buttons (La Guerre des Boutons)" - was $12.99 currently $4.99

A village in the South of France, 1960. A band of country boys aged 7 to 14, led by fearless young Lebrac, wages an uncompromising battle against their sworn rivals, the kids from the neighboring village. A war of honor and allegiance that's been kept alive for generations, in which humiliation is the most fearsome defeat and no tactic is too extreme, including attacking the enemy stark naked! With their newest recruit, the brave and ingenious tomboy called Lanterne, victory is a skipping stone's throw away. But it's not easy to be an army of half-pints and not get into trouble with Mom and Dad after coming home from battle with torn clothes and missing buttons!
Released January 02, 2012 *description courtesy of iTunes

Price subject to change, current as of 5/19/15 

New Digital Copy Codes: Blachhat (5/12/15)

New Digital Copy Codes: Blackhat

The Blu-ray release of Blackhat became available last week (5/12/15) with digital copy codes. This title is still readily available on the Buy, Sell, Trade Thread @Blu-ray.com for reasonable prices from a multitude of sellers. These are digital copy codes only, no physical media, and availability on a specific service (UltraViolet / iTunes) will vary depending on the studio. For those wanting to purchase directly from iTunes I've included links below.

• Blackhat - iTunes | Vudu

New Digital Copy Codes: Black Sea, Fifty Shades of Grey & Selma (5/5/15)

New Digital Copy Codes: Black Sea, Fifty Shades of Grey & Selma

Blu-ray releases of Black Sea, Fifty Shades of Grey and Selma became available last week (5/5/15) with digital copy codes. Many of these titles are still readily available on the Buy, Sell, Trade Thread @Blu-ray.com for reasonable prices from a multitude of sellers. These are digital copy codes only, no physical media, and availability on a specific service (UltraViolet / iTunes) will vary depending on the studio. For those wanting to purchase directly from iTunes or Vudu I've included links below.

• Black Sea - iTunes | Vudu
• Fifty Shades of Grey - iTunes | Vudu
• Selma - iTunes | Vudu

Limited Time Offer - Download The Full James And The Giant Peach Cast Album For Free!

For a limited time you can download the full James and the Giant Peach Cast Album for FREE!

*email address required - one download per email address - offer valid as of this posting.

Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach features a captivatingly boisterous score by Tony-nominated songwriters Justin Paul and Benj Pasek (Edges, A Christmas Story the Musical) and a book by award-winning playwright Timothy Allen McDonald.

The album includes Broadway stars Megan Hilty, Christian Borle, Skylar Astin, Brian d’Arcy James, Jackie Hoffman, Mary Testa, Luca Padovan, Marc Kudisch, Daniel Breaker, and Sarah Stiles.The show is based on the beloved book by Roald Dahl about a young boy who escapes his conniving aunts via a magical giant peach and discovers adventure, friendship, and the true nature of family along the way.

(text and link originally found on SlickDeals.net posted by moviefan8)

Google Play Store has various 'Live at Google' MP3 Digital Album Downloads for Free (GP account required).

Google Play Store has Live at Google MP3 Digital Album Downloads for Free.

Note, must be logged into your account to "purchase" - price current at time of post.

• Matt Nathanson
• Quadron
• Pepper Rabbit
• Meklit Hadero
• Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
• Thao & Mirah
• Martin Luther
• Latyrx
• Dumpstaphunk

Link To List Of Available Albums

Originally posted on SlickDeals.net

How-To: Get Movies And Television Seasons For Streaming On Your Htpc On The Cheap!

Do you like to stream movies and television shows to your HTPC but balk at the outrageous prices the Hollywood studios charge, which are often as much or even more than the physical media?

There is a dirty little secret that Hollywood Studios does not want you to know -- READ MORE >>

Welcome to 'HTPC Central - the Blogger Edition'!

Hello readers,

Welcome to 'HTPC Central - the Blogger Edition', the companion blog to the Flipboard magazine:

HTPC CENTRAL - HOME THEATER PC NEWS

At HTPC Central we discuss everything related to Home Theater PC's; including HTPC software, ready made units, custom builds, home/hobby builds and more!