SteepEdge

Website FAQs

 

What size is a typical film download?

The file size of film downloads varies a lot depending on the length of the movie and the bitrate used to encode the film. The bit rate helps to determine the quality of a film and increases from a standard definition (SD) to a high definition (HD) film. As the size and bitrate increases, it takes longer to download, and faster Internet connections and more powerful computers are required to view the films. The size of the bitrate and hence quality is a compromise to give the best quality for the size and time to download. It is this reason why we offer SD and HD versions of the same film. Typically a one hour film delivered in SD at 4:3 at 1500 Kbps quality would be 1GB in size. A HD 16:9 film at 3000 Kbps would be 1.5 - 2 GB.

How do I get the best quality when streaming?

If the films are being streamed, the size, bitrate and Internet speed are all factors that affect the success of streaming. That is why we deliver Adaptive Streaming, which automatically senses the speed of the Internet connection. Internet speeds vary from place to place and also at different times of the day. At lower speeds, it will deliver the film at lower bitrates (and lower quality) to help the film be viewed without interruption or buffering. As and when Internet speeds increase, then the bitrate will be increased (and quality).

 

Does going to 'full screen' on the player alter streaming?

When you go to full screen mode on the player it has an effect on streaming. The film would typically change from 480 x 360 pixels at 512 Kbps to 1280 x 960 pixels at 1.8 Mbps. Crucially, to enable a successful stream at full screen resolution the film must be less than 70% of the detected bandwidth. In this example a broadband speed of 731 Kbps is fine for the small screen player but when you go to full screen you require at least 2.58 Mbps, otherwise quality will be reduced and interruption or buffering could occur.

 

How long does it take to download a purchased film?

The amount of time that it takes to download your purchase will vary according to the film file size, your Internet connection speed and your geographic location. We strive to offer fast downloads worldwide. A broadband connection is usually required for making film purchases or rentals. Customers downloading from UK, Europe and North America can expect download times ranging anywhere from 30 seconds to one hour depending on the title purchased. Customers in remote locations can expect longer times.

If you want to know your Internet download speed / bandwidth, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can help, or you can use one of the many free services found on the Internet such as  CNET's Bandwidth Meter.

All films have an approximate size in their specifications on the website. Measure your download speed and use the chart below to roughly calculate download times.

 

Length and type of media	Approximate size	Approximate download speed
		Broadband
		5 Mbit/s	1 Mbit/s
4 minute song	4 MB	5 seconds	25 seconds
15 minute SD fiilm	200 MB	3 - 5 minutes	15 - 20 minutes
20 minute HD film	600 MB	10 - 15 minutes	45 - 60 minutes
1 hour SD film	1 - 1.5 GB	20 - 30 minutes	1.5 - 2 hours
1 hour HD film	1.5 - 2 GB	30 - 40 minutes	2 - 3 hours

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How do I download or stream the films I have purchased?

After purchasing a film as a download or rental, you will receive a confirmation email as a receipt of purchase and a link to the My Film Library section of the website so that you can access your purchase. There will be a 7 day limit on the film rental link being active. There is no limit to the number of times this can be accessed during that time.

When purchasing a film to own, the download will be available for 7 days. There will be a streaming link available as long as you remain a member of SteepEdge. You can also manually access purchased videos from My Film Library when you have logged into your membership. 

The download is controlled by your browsers and it is most likely that the file will be saved into the folder where the browser has been set up to save downloaded files (you can change this.)  If you switch off the computer, the download will stop. It will not pause, and on re-starting the download it will start at the beginning again. Depending on the computer setup, you may have to go to My Film Library and re-start manually.

 

Can I re-download my purchase(s)?

With a modern computer and a reliable Internet broadband service, the great majority of downloads are successful. However on the rare occasion of a failure to download you are given 7 day period. This is in case of download failure due to interrupted Internet service, computer shut down, hard disc or operating system problems.

We can identify download failures and once you have successfully downloaded a film, it is your responsibility to maintain the file. Computer and hard disc failures should be protected by your own backup system. Generally we do not allow for the films to be re-downloaded over and over again. Occasionally we do make exceptions. Please e-mail admin@steepedge.com and explain why you need to re-download your purchase.

 

What should I do if my download failed part way through?

The commonest cause of download failure is your computer 'falling asleep' during the download. Downloads may take over an hour and if your computer 'goes to sleep' during the download, it may well abort. This is usually not a problem on Macs, but on PCs it can occur. The period that a computer is idle before it goes to sleep is set in Preferences / Control Panel and in particular in Power Options / Energy Savings. When downloading long files it is worth turning the computer's sleep mode off. Note that display sleep (and the appearance of screensaver) should not abort the download.

Closing your browser will also stop downloading. Keeping it running in the background.

Other causes of download failure are interrupted Internet connection; exceeding the download allowance with your ISP; computer closure due to power failure or battery supply or not enough storage space free on your computer. Firewalls and other such software can block downloads especially within commercial organisations and business networks.

 

Are the films suitable for viewing by all ages?

The vast majority of films have content viewable by all age groups. However, many of the films have not been broadcast or shown in the public arena and have therefore not been certified. We have not edited the films presented to us by the film makers, so there may be scenes unsuitable for children. For example, some films include 'strong language.' It is for this reason that we insist on you becoming a member of SteepEdge and agreeing to the 'Terms of Use.'  Within these terms it states that you cannot become a member under the age of 16. It is then up to the individual to monitor the viewing of content they deem unsuitable for those under 16 years of age.

 

Why must I become a member to download and stream films?

Membership allows you to watch the films that you have paid for. It allows you to download to your computer to own and then also to access these same films to stream when you are away from your computer but have if you have access to the Internet or 3G network. It also allows you to stream films that you have purchased to rent.

 

Why should I subscribe to the SteepEdge Newsletter?

We recommend that when you sign up for SteepEdge membership, you opt to receive our regular emailed Newsletter. This gives details of new releases, special offers, discounts and news items.

 

How do I amend my account details?

You can amend your password and details within the My Details section of the website. This is accessible by logging into your account.

 

What should I do if I have forgotten my password?

If you forget your password, there is an option on the log-in tab which links you through to a page where you can enter your email address and the password can then be sent to you.

 

How do I delete my SteepEdge account?

If you want to cancel your SteepEdge membership, please email admin@steepedge.com with the subject title 'Cancel Membership.' An administrator will then delete your details and remove you from the Newsletter circulation. You will receive confirmation by email. It is important that you use the same email details in your membership. Please note that when you cancel your membership you will be unable to log in and watch any streamed content that you have purchased. This will be permanent and your actions irreversible.

But before you leave us though please let us know if there is anything we're doing wrong on the site, or tell us about any problems that we could solve - we'd like you to stay!

 

Are my payment details secure?

SteepEdge and our payment systems, SagePay or PayPal, do not hold any of your payment details. You are transferred via a secure link to Barclays worldwide payment system which has the highest levels of security. It is for this reason why you enter your credit card details for each transaction.

 

What are the computer system requirements for downloading?

Most computers built in the last 5 years will download, stream and play standard definition (SD) films. More recent and powerful systems are typically needed to play them in high definition (HD). Please ensure that you have up to date versions of all your software by updating them online. Here are a few guidelines.

Computer Hardware:

• Standard definition films - minimum requirements
• PCs: Intel Pentium 4 2.33GHz processor with 512 MB of RAM
• Macs: Intel, PowerPC G5 or 1 GHz G4 or faster with 512 of RAM 
• High definition films - minimum requirements
• PCs: 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or faster with at least 1 GB RAM   
• Macs: 2.0 GHz Intel 2 Duo or faster with at least 1 GB RAM
• At least 10 GB of spare disk space
• Screen resolution of 1024 x 768 or greater
   

Playing films also requires a minimum of video RAM of 16MB with 64 MB recommended.
 

Software:    

• Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later, 32-bit editions of Windows Vista or Windows 7
• Mac OS X or later
• The latest versions of Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari
• QuickTime Player – available for Mac and Windows as free a download from http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/
• iTunes – available for Mac and Windows as a free download from http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
   

Internet Connection:

• Broadband Internet connection with minimum recommended connection speed of 1 Mbits/sec. Above 5 Mbits/s is recommended for streaming.

 

Are the downloaded films DRM free. 

Yes they are Digital Rights Management free and should play on most computers and media players including Macs, PCs, Linux ?BSD (using m player)

 

Can I burn my downloaded purchase(s) to DVD-Video to watch on a DVD player?

Legally no, practically yes.  Films purchased from SteepeEdge are not licensed for DVD-Video burning.

 

Can I watch SteepEdge films on iTunes?

One of the best and simplest ways to watch your downloaded films is to drag the download file into iTunes Movies.
You can now use this powerful application to view the film in a number of different ways. However you may have to create an iTunes version by going iTunes > Advanced > Create iPad or Apple TV Version

 

How do I watch my film download?

On your computer there are two easy methods:

1.  Navigate to where you placed the Movie file after download e.g. Desktop or your Movie Folder.
Double left click the Movie file which will be the Name.mov and it should open as a Quicktime window which can be adjusted to the size of your screen. Hit play. Otherwise right click and choose to open with the Quicktime Player.

2.  Open iTunes and drag the .mov file into the Movies Library at the top left hand side of the screen. Alternatively in iTunes, click Open File and choose Add to Library, and navigate to where the .mov file is stored. The Movie file will be copied to your iTunes Library. You can now watch the downloaded film from iTunes. It will also be conveniently stored there.

The big advantage of using iTunes is that you can now transfer films to your iPhone, iPod or iPad when synching. On an iPhone, choose iPod app, then Videos. Download iTunes for free from http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

 

What has made film downloading so popular?

All that is needed to download films is a computer with an Internet connection. It is a fast and convenient way to obtain films. You simply start the download and after a couple of hours you have a full-length DVD or HD quality film ready to watch without leaving your home. This has been made possible by the development of more advanced video/audio technologies that allow the films to be compressed to much smaller sizes than before. Also, the popularity of broadband Internet connections has made it possible to download films faster than ever before. 

 

Do I need special computer programs to play film downloads?

All that is needed to play film downloads is a Quicktime Media Player installed on your computer. You can download it for free for PC or Mac from http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/

 

When I connect my laptop to my TV the picture ratio is wrong.

The solution varies according to the laptop's video adaptor and driver, and whether it is a PC or Mac.

For a PC, you should be able to fix it by right clicking on the desktop, select Personalise > Display Settings. Click Advanced Settings > Properties and there should be an option for independently setting the resolution and aspect ratio of your external monitor or TV. On some machines this utility may be found in Control Panel on the Start menu, or a warning message with the option to specify, fix or 'clone' the laptop and TV picture size and shape settings may appear if you switch on TV when it is connected to the laptop.

For a Mac, go to System Preferences > Display. When connected to the TV with a VGA lead, the Mac will show the TV and you can adjust the ratio accordingly.

 

I have a problem or question not covered by FAQ

Please contact admin@steepedge.com and describe the problem as succinctly as possible and we will endeavour to resolve the issue.