I have just posted LLVJ-17 in the store. You can find it here.

It is about 2/3 complete with an interview and portrait of Jay Maisel; a short travel piece featuring elephants in a S. African game reserve and a half hour chat with Ray Maxwell - colour scientist & colour management guru.
I will be posting a half hour interview with Jeff Schewe in a couple of days and then the Antarctica '05 travelogue in about three weeks.

If you converted your DVD subscription to Download and have coupons, download away!

There will also be a High Definition version available shortly - priced at $14.95
I have updated the Video FAQ to cover some of the more obvious questions regarding this High Definition product

Chris S

I forget. How does the subscription thing work for this again? And can I put my subscription towards the high def version?

I think I found the email with my codes.

The coupon codes will work only with the Standard Definition product - they will not work with the High Def product - sorry

Chris

So I can't buy up? Okay. So get to issue 22 already so I can see what the high def product looks like.

I think the fairest way to handle outstanding 'Standard Def' coupons is for subscribers to 'hand back' these regular coupons and exchange them for HD coupons on a 2:1 basis.

Chris S

SCWWEEEET

I feel like a junkie who just got told his 'fix' was coming

Woops - I made an error on the HD version product - now corrected...

Part 2 of the Maisel piece pointed at the wrong file

Now it is correct

Chris S

Chris

I am still seeing 17H_Maisel1of2.mp4.zip twice and that is what I get when I try to download

Tom

I have issued coupons to those who ordered the HD version of LLVJ-17 with the wrong file assignation. You should by now have received an email with a coupon for 're-purchase'

My apologies - too much tiny type for tired eyes

CS

You rock!

Hi Chris

I don't want to be a pain about this but....

Each coupon was valued at $11.45 when we swapped over from the DVD subscription. The value of the HD content is $14.95. If you follow the 1 for 2 swap that you suggest then this means that it will cost me $22.90 to purchase a $14.95 LLVJ. I am not sure that is fair.

I can imagine that this is a tough one for the LL team and that you don't want to create too much overhead. Surely a better way would be to multiply the total number of remaining coupons one has by $11.45 (the value of the coupon) and then divide it by $14.95 and that is how many HD coupons one should receive.

Using me as an example; I have 7 coupons at $11.45 each = $80.15

Divide $80.15 by $14.95 (cost of HD download) = 5.36. Therefore I should get 5 HD coupons.

To me this would be fairer. Under your proposal I would only get 3 coupons for my 7.

What do you think?

I agree. I'm in the same situation and 5 for 7 seems more fair. Otherwise the price of this HD
downloads become very expensive for those of us that have supported the site and paid for
a lot of subscriptions in advance.

Customer support will be in touch directly with anyone that writes to them about this, but here's the explanation.

The new High Def product is in fact just that, it's a NEW product. It is premium priced (even though the content is the same as the standard def product) because the files are significantly larger and therefore our bandwidth costs on each download are higher.

The deal that was offered to DVD subscribers was a two for one swap – download coupons for DVD issues. That offer is still good for the product that it was offered for. As I just wrote, the Hi Def product is a new product and therefore not part of the original offer.

Now - it's possible to look at this and say, boy these guys are cheap! Why don't they just give us the Hi Def product since there's only $2.50 difference. Or, just charge me the $2.50 difference.

We wish it was that easy. Firstly, we're not being cheap. The coupon is really worth $9.95. For some people in Canada it appears to be worth $11.45 because we have had to build in taxes. For everyone else in the world that's not the case and the actual worth is $9.95 - the cost of our standard def download. There's a big differential between $10 and $15, and as stated, higher costs included in delivering the new product.

Also, it's simply not possible for us to charge the $2.50 (or $5) difference because of credit card handling and transaction processing costs. It costs a lot to handle credit cards online, and on purchases under $10 the percentage is outrageously high.

So after much thought, and considering all of the options open to us, we have no choice but to leave things the way they are; those with DVD to download coupons get two download issues of our standard definition product for each DVD paid for previously.

Hope this helps explain why we're doing what we're doing.

Michael

Is there a special deal for participants in the Antarctica '05 expedition?

Paul,

Not to put too fine a point on it, but how much cheaper than $9.95 can it get?

Not....

I will start buying the HD versions when my coupons are gone.
So don't stop making them

Are there HD versions planned for any of the older episodes? I'd purchase the Clyde Butcher episode again to get it in HD. (And probably that 7 parks in the rockies thing with the Kossack.)

The shows have been recorded in HD for a while now, right?

Thanks for the response Michael.

While I might not like it, I do see your point.

BTW, I hope to see you in Sydney! It's a shame you aren't coming to Brisbane. If I can get down to Sydney on the day I will come along.

Hi Chris

Thanks for getting LLVJ-17 up. My sub is the "standard" version. Could make a short sample HD file available to see if my system will cope with the HD format?

Thanks again.

Bob Nicholson
Carlisle UK

Hi Chris,

I have a subscription up to and incl. LLVJ #17, but my account shows only up to nr 16. Am I doing sth wrong here? How can I download it using my subscription/ coupons...
Thanks and regards from holland!
Giedo

Wow, Jay's a really fascinating person shown in an interesting environment. I also enjoyed his pictures very much and would like to see more of his work.

This is why I love LLJV. You don't see this geeky stuff on TV. Well done!

Thank you all again so much for doing the VJ - it's one of things I look most forward to viewing, besides a fresh print coming off the printer!

I'm inclined to purchase "belt AND suspenders," i.e. both the "hard copy" DVD and the HD download later when I'm properly equipped. Since I'm a major fan of Jay Maisel, I'd like to know - will all of the material featuring him be included on the DVD?

Yes - but not in HD

Hi Mike & Chris,

First thanks for yet another great production on the LLVJ!! As always I enjoyed this one (at least so far) very much!

I have one odd issue with the download files. The HD version of the elephant episode is not playable for me. The other segments/episodes play just fine so I don't think it's something "Vista related".

I have Windows Vista and am using Apple Quicktime to view each episode. I've even tried VLC Media Player and it too cannot successfully play the elephant segment/episode.

I have even tried it on my laptop (it also is running Vista) with no success.

Again the other segments/episodes play just fine on both computers so I don't think it's something "Vista related". Is anyone else experiencing this???

It plays ok for me on XP using QT 7.4 - are you up to date?

I would try Vista for you - but my HD with Vista just self destructed. Oh well, no loss other than the drive! LOL

Jay Maisel will always be HD
I just finished watching the interview and all I can say is WOW! I've been a admirer of his work since the seventies, and this was one of the best interviews of him that I've seen since the old American Photographer artical back then. Great work Michael and Chris!
Now when are you going to meet up with Pete Turner for a one on one?

It sounds as if the download is corrupted or incomplete. My suggestion is to go back to the download page of your account and try again.

It's not about the $9.95, Michael. It's about the promise made in the expedition announcement:
Before I click on the store link to buy LLVJ #17, I just want to know what your plans are. If this promise is going to be fulfilled by sending out copies of LLVJ #17, then it would be silly of me to also buy a copy.

I've experienced a problem purchasing the HD download. It didn't matter as I had 5 coupons remaining on my subscription. However there is only one spot for a coupon on purchasing the HD download instead of 2. So when I entered the single coupon, it rejected it. However when I entered the same coupon into the regular download it worked instantly. No big deal as I was going to get stuck using a single coupon once anyway but for future issues this problem should be cleared up.

The way to do it is to send the unused coupons to customer support and ask to get them exchanged for coupons for the HD version. I did and got a fast reply and new coupons. Very good service!

And the HD is worth the extra cost IMHO. And the content is good, thank you Michael an Chris!

Looking forward to thew Antarctica segments!

Sorry Paul. I'd forgotten about that. It's been a few years.

Please drop a note to customer support and mention that you were a member of the expedition and they will provide you with a coupon for a free download or DVD. Your choice.

Copy this in your email so that they know what this is about.

Regards,

Michael

I'm having the same problem (Vista 64-bit with Quicktime). Never had it before and have downloaded everything there is. There are two MAC files there in the zip file and it says there's already a file with that name when I am extracting and to rename it but there is no way to do so that I can see.

Please let us know what to try (I know, I know...switch to a Mac but not possible at the moment!).

Thanks!
Phil

Occasionally in some Windows environments, unzipping the download file will leave a tiny file with the same name as the real video file. This is due to the original having been compressed on a Mac. It is quite safe to trash, erase or overwrite the tiny file. ...this is mentioned on the FAQ...

I tried opening the zip folder and deleting the file and the folder and it wouldn't do it. I'll try downloading again and renaming one of them, then extracting. After the error message, the file showed in green instead of black, and would open with no video, skipping sound and then a buffer error. Very weird as it's the *only* LL download file I've ever had an issue with, all with the software and computer.

Thanks,
Phil

Chris - As an update, the other files do not have the _MACOS file and folder, therefore there is no problem with the extraction. The Elephants zip does and I cannot find a way to delete, rename or otherwise get around them, making the extraction impossible.

I do not know if it can be reposted without those files but unless someone has a workaround, those of us with Vista are SOL. As none of the other files have these, it shouldn't be a problem to repost the file to match the others that do work.

Thanks for your help Chris, sorry to be a bother.
Phil

Hmmm - strange since yours is the only reported problem. But I will replace the file and will let you know when I have. (It takes me an age to upload with a satellite connection)

Thanks Chris and I do very much appreciate your assistance. I'll let you know how it works and again, sorry to put you through more work!

Phil

I run vista64 and does not have the problem.
Just select all the files and let it extract to HERE.
It will ask to overwrite and say yes.

OK, so it is now uploaded again. I have not changed the video file, it is simply recompressed. Let me know...

Chris - It worked like a champ...thanks! I cannot imagine why those _MACOS files did what they did but with the new upload and every other LL download, I've never had this issue come up.

Anyway, thanks again for being so helpful and responsive. I've learned a tremendous amount from the LL site and the videos and your efforts (and Michael's of course) are not unappreciated!

Best regards,
Phil

No problem - Stuffit has never been the same since Smith Micro....

Chris, Michael,

is there a date for the dvd to start getting sent out ?




cheers John

No, but my guess is in about 4 weeks - I am still waiting for the music to be completed fr the Antarctica piece

Cheap? Never. An excellent value, yes.

The Introduction to LLVJ-17 Download HD is now available

Now you're just toying with us.

Where's my burrito*?!?
Where's my burrito?!?
Where's my burrito?!?
Where's my burrito?!?
Where's my burrito?!?

(* antarctic segment.)

Thank you for the update. Just one segment left?

The final music is being sent to me in the next 24 hours - after that I will spend a couple of days doing the final mix and then the encode - should be up sometime this coming weekend

I just want to complement Chris on the introduction to LLVJ-17. Using the drive-in screen to showcase the segments of the journal was very clever. Well done!

Thanks Geoff - I had a little fun there. No point in having a blank screen