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To: Species8472
Couldn't sleep tonight, so here is some late night compulsiveness ...

 

I want to watch this series, and in fact I think I will buy the discs and watch, but am dismayed because the link you cited leads to Google, log in required.

I DO use streaming services, but avoid some of them. I really would rather avoid having to be logged into Google (which I avoid) to watch things -- so I would rather buy discs in this case.

NOTE that the 8 episode DVD or Blu-ray DISCS look like a better option, buying them directly off of VidAngel's store setup.

Here is a link to buying the DISCS:  https://studios.vidangel.com/the-chosen/multi/season-1-disc\

 

Maybe it is OK tp use their streaming anyway, and would serve to set an example to these people that there is a market for good content like this -- and I am not criticizing anyone who uses their googlish streaming method to access it.  also think I would like VidAngel to be more successful.

 

However, just for discussion about this kind of thing, some other observations:

 

The Chosen link does not lead to "The Chosen," really, but to "VidAngel", a well-intentioned company that produced it. VidAngel has had a lot of issues related to them originally being a company that offered filtering (by forms of editing or selective playing) of the "bad" sections of movies (I think on discs and even tapes). (They would sell you discs (and IIRC tapes) and maybe later streaming with cuss words and sex scenes removed, and are still being sued over it but the "artists" who just could not bear their art not have the bad stuff glossed over.

They apparently have a "new model" for services, seems like maybe they want to be a way for users to link to some items in "bad" services without having to subscribe. That model still rewards bad guys some, but not as much, and you can still watch the material without a wash for your eyes/ears/brain. Therefore, for example (maybe -- I am reading between the lines) you could use VidAngel to view ONE certain HBO movie that is "a good one" (as opposed to an edited one), and not have to ooutright subscribe to HBO (a bad company). Here is a link to VidAngel's financial reorganization which mentions their new model: https://blog.vidangel.com/chapter11/

However, VidAngel on this series in turn requires you to log in on, of all things, GOOGLE, in order to download the app. Or Apple, not as bad, see below.

It's probably a branded Google app via that route.

It might "phone home" to Google even if you use Apps on iPhone or Roku, etc. Not clear. Sounds like the content may be stored on Google Play servers though.

And yet Friends don't let Friends Use Google !!!

I guess you are stuck if you want to use Android products with it.

Maybe the Apple Store version leaves Google out. Apple is liberal for sure, but Apple is far more privacy friendly than Google.

VidAngel cites via that link their aggressive / invasive privacy & terms of service policies, things like this, leaving the "open questions" of Google and Facebook fingers on your devices:

"You may choose to create an account in the App, or if you choose to use the Site, depending on the method of login credentials provided, we may receive your email or phone number and we may send you emails or texts for notices regarding updates to the Platform, new features, promotions, or other marketing and informational material related to The Chosen television series (the “Series”). In other instances, you may create an account by logging in using Google or Facebook login credentials. When using Google or Facebook login credentials, we will ask for permission to: (i) access and collect your basic information (this includes your name, profile picture, gender, networks, user IDs, list of friends, date of birth, email address, and any other information you have you have set to public on your account); (ii) send you email; (iii) post to your wall; (iv) access posts in your news feed; and (v) access your Facebook or Google data at any time even if you are not using these services. Please note, if you allow VidAngel to have access to this information, then VidAngel will have access to this information even if you have chosen not to make that information public.

For information about how Facebook or Google may disclose your information, including any information you make public, please consult each service’s privacy policy. We have no control over how Facebook or Google uses or discloses the personal information you provide to it. We store the information that we receive from Facebook or Google along with other information that we collect from you or receive about you."

I think since VidAngel does not sell the movie directly on Apple's movies store (would be iTunes basically) they are probably using their Apple Apps (? branded Google Play app?) to stream from the Google Play servers, not great, but maybe not as bad as using a Google account directly. If it works differently who knows, they don't explain much at all on their sites. However, even from Apple they link to the same exact Google/Facebook-centric Privacy/TOC, not good.

Here is the present web link to the Apple Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-chosen/id1473663873

 

Sounds like a great series, worth getting the discs, wish VidAngel could also protect our privacy and security and keep us out of the garden of Facebook and Google in their new models. I hope they fight free from whatever is going on in their business and succeed as a company in their Christian goals.

 

5 posted on 05/16/2020 1:15:57 AM PDT by Weirdad (Orthodox Americanism: It's what's good for the world! (Not communofascism!))
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To: Weirdad
the link you cited leads to Google, log in required.

The log-in alows three options: Google, Facebook, or email.

I never use Google or Facebook to log in to a site. It worked just fine setting up an account with email+password.

I also downloaded the ios app. Works well and knows how to use my smart TV. Well done app.

14 posted on 05/16/2020 11:24:12 PM PDT by newberger (Put not your trust in princes, in sons of men in whom there is no salvation.)
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