As the world mourns the loss of one of its greatest comedians and actors, Internet users from around the globe have been revisiting the genius of Robin Williams. Ever since news broke of the stars untimely death, classics including Dead Poets Society, Good Morning Vietnam and Mrs Doubtfire have seen download increases of up to 49,000%. The day before news of Williams' death broke, approximately 100 users worldwide were sharing this 1989 classic on public networks. Yesterday, out of nowhere, it received more than 50,000 downloads. At the time of writing, a 'YIFY' version of Dead Poets Society sits one place ahead of the Liam Neeson movie Non-Stop in The Pirate Bay's Top 100 most downloaded chart.
In second place, both on Amazon and on public BitTorrent networks, is the 1993 comedy Mrs Doubtfire. The most popular copy is a 'YIFY' rip of the Blu-ray edition of the movie that was first uploaded back in September 2012. Again, activity on this release has gone through the roof in the last 36 hours.
Finally and also of interest is how the legal market has adapted and is better able to cope with surprise demand. During similar events in the past, sites like Amazon have completely sold out of DVDs and Blu-rays, much as they have with the more popular Williams titles today. However, many of the currently "sold out" movies are also available to watch online, meaning that no one has to miss out.
(Score: 5, Informative) by tynin on Wednesday August 13 2014, @02:42PM
So I found out that YIFY is a release group that is known for quality releases in a small download. Sharing in case others were also without a clue.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 13 2014, @03:43PM
YIFY has decent video, but horrible audio. It's never more than 2-channel AAC, and often missing the center channel altogether. They're popular among those who listen through Beats headphones, but nothing you'd want to play on a TV of any kind.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 13 2014, @04:52PM
Except the kind that only supports two channels, I guess.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 13 2014, @05:57PM
You'll never make friends here if you go around puncturing the self-important assertions of the denizens.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 13 2014, @05:20PM
Yea, they're fairly well known, and have their own tracker site [www.yts.re].
Not fantastic quality, but especially if you're grabbing something over a VPN that you're not sure about, and just want it fast (or have bandwidth restrictions to worry about), it's a worthwhile resource. For those who care more about seeing every pixel and heaving every frequency in 5 channel surround sound, you're best looking elsewhere, but personally, I prefer watching movies that have more to be focused on than the pixels anyway...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 13 2014, @06:01PM
thanks a lot. now YIFY releases will be tackled by authorities.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by tynin on Wednesday August 13 2014, @02:48PM
This was shared by an AC in yesterdays post about the lose of Robin Williams. Sharing again because it was wonderful to read him being so candid with random folks. It made both my wife and I smile and slightly tear up in spots.
http://www.reddit.com/comments/1n41x1 [reddit.com]
I also was considering watching some of his movies last night, till I read his comment saying that Dr. Strangelove was the greatest dark comedy ever made, so I opted to rewatch that instead.
(Score: 2, Funny) by mvar on Wednesday August 13 2014, @03:30PM
Many thanks dude, i suggest everyone spend some time and read some Q&A in this link, his responses are frickin hilarious
Q: Who is your favorite celebrity to impersonate?
A: Oh my god, Jack Nicholson. He once was with me at a benefit and leaned over and said "even oysters have enemies." In a very intense voice. I responded with "Increase your dosage."
also the best tribute i've read so far:
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/08/12/cardboard-children-jumanji/ [rockpapershotgun.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 13 2014, @04:56PM
"However, many of the currently "sold out" movies are also available to watch online, meaning that no one has to miss out."
So Linux users are no one? Or does Amazon now also support playback on Linux?
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 13 2014, @05:01PM
Amazon uses flash/html5, not silverlight like netflix forces you to. I've been able to watch amazon video even 5 years ago on Linux.
(Score: 2) by maxwell demon on Thursday August 14 2014, @07:54PM
In Germany, Amazon definitely uses Silverlight (well, at least they list Silverlight on their requirements page, and the stuff won't play on Linux).
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 2) by Tork on Wednesday August 13 2014, @05:27PM
Statistically speaking, yes. So I have to ask: Why does having Linux on your machine prevent you from watching Amazon videos on your game console, smart phone, modern blu-ray player, or Roku/Chromecast? Are these devices averse to body odor or something?
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 3, Interesting) by mrider on Wednesday August 13 2014, @05:43PM
I know this wasn't aimed at me, so I apologize for butting in, but:
Doctor: "Do you hear voices?"
Me: "Only when my bluetooth is charged."
(Score: 2) by Tork on Wednesday August 13 2014, @09:20PM
You're somewhere between free and $35 to not only get Netflix but view it in a more ideal environment. You'll pardon me for not having a lot of sympathy for your cries of "poor me I'm suffering the consequences of using a niche OS!" Nobody cried for me when I said I wanted animated wallpapers on my iPhone. Well... they did, but it wasn't in support of me.
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 2) by Hairyfeet on Wednesday August 13 2014, @09:43PM
And how exactly is this the fault of Amazon? Amazon has a list of devices and OSes they support and Linux isn't one, period the end. So you can vote with your wallet and go to somewhere else or you buy a device that IS supported. Seems pretty simple to me.
ACs are never seen so don't bother. Always ready to show SJWs for the racists they are.
(Score: 1) by Nollij on Thursday August 14 2014, @12:38PM
Refine your firewall rules. Your Blu-Ray isn't going to be getting an update from Amazon or Netflix.
Even if that wasn't an option, Amazon's supported device list [amazon.com] is very long. The comparison is to buying/renting retail; would you have complained that you don't have a DVD player?
(Score: 2) by mrider on Friday August 15 2014, @05:46PM
I am replying to your comment, but in fact this reply is aimed at the other two posts above yours as well.
To be clear - I'm not complaining about anything at all. Frankly, I don't give a shit one way or another what O.S. or devices Amazon supports, I wouldn't stream from them even if they supported development for a GNU video client with their own money. That wasn't my point.
The point is that the first reply popped up a list of supported devices, and I countered with reasons why that laundry list might not work for everyone. I know I'm odd - but I don't think I'm all that odd in these specific cases.
Doctor: "Do you hear voices?"
Me: "Only when my bluetooth is charged."
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Wednesday August 13 2014, @05:48PM
Why does nobody mention this flick?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081353/ [imdb.com]
(Score: 2, Funny) by saracoth on Wednesday August 13 2014, @06:20PM
It is what it is.
(Score: 2) by fliptop on Wednesday August 13 2014, @11:28PM
Because Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl gave me nightmares?
Seriously, what about the lack of love for Mork from Ork? [wikipedia.org] I remember some of the later eposides w/ Jonathan Winters as being quite funny. Also, anyone remember Mork's cameo on Happy Days? [eonline.com] In those days he wasn't quite as creative as Andy Kaufman but it was still enjoyable.
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.