My back and fourth so far:
ME:
Hello,
I am currently unable to download any videos even though I am able to watch them streamed. The download button just isn't there.
Did I hit a download cap halfway through my last download? It seems strange to me if that's the case as I have a 2 year subscription. I travel for work and have to deal with horrible download speeds in hotels, so to watch anything it has to be downloaded. This effectively makes the site unusable to me and any help would be appreciated
VRB:
Hello,
Thank you for getting in touch. The video download functionality has been moved from the website to the PLAY'a app. Make sure to download the PLAY'a app to continue enjoying video downloads with the enhanced features of PLAY'a.
We understand that this change might be disappointing for some who prefer downloading files. However, based on a thorough analysis of our website data and logs, which revealed that less than 10% of members use the download function through browsers, we have decided to remove this function from the website.
This change will help reduce server load, improve speed, enhance streaming quality, and ultimately enhance the quality of our future content.
We recognize that some of you still prefer downloading files, so we have kept the option to download videos through the free PLAY'a app. The app also offers a wide range of functions not available in the browser, as well as many video adjustments, hotkeys, and much more.
To download a video in the Free PLAY'a app, please follow these steps:
- Open the PLAY'a app.
- Add vrbangers.com and log in to your account.
- Choose the video you want to download and click on it.
- Click "Download Video" and choose the video quality.
​
We assure you that the process is straightforward and easy to follow. You can find more information about the app at https://vrbangers.com/app/
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ME: (changed supports name cause they didn't make this decision but are getting ALL the blowback)
VRB,
I know this wasn't your decision, but that is one of the dumbest things I have heard...
Just so I understand correctly, the only way I can download a video is if I download it to the headset and am actively using and wearing it?
Please let me know if I am misunderstanding.
If not, why? What harm was done by leaving a download button on the website?
I don't know who made that decision but they are a twat.
VRB:
Hello,
Thank you for your understanding. The downloads are exclusively available in the PLAY'a app, which is compatible with various devices. I can provide you with more information about how to use the PLYA'a if you provide me with the type of your device.
We understand that switching to the app might not be convenient for everyone. To better understand your needs and improve our services, we would love to hear your thoughts on the following:
- Why do you prefer using the website over the app?
- What specific challenges or inconveniences do you face when using our app?
- What features or improvements would make the app more appealing and useful for you?
- Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are committed to making adjustments based on your input. Please feel free to share any additional comments or suggestions.
Some reasons for removing this feature from the website are that most of our users prefer streaming videos, it requires additional resources to support, and it helps prevent the illegal distribution of our content.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
ME:
"I can provide you with more information about how to use the PLYA'a if you provide me with the type of your device. "
I'm familiar with how the app works and already use it when it's appropriate for me to do so.
Why do you prefer using the website over the app?
I travel for work, so I stay in hotels mostly and hotels almost always have a download speed of 15Mbps or less, which will stutter on a 2k video.
What specific challenges or inconveniences do you face when using our app?
None, I use the app when it is convenient, at home. Though the poor controls for the handy are less than ideal and leaves me using 3rd party apps like heresphere.
What features or improvements would make the app more appealing and useful for you?
Being honest, the app is very simple with clunky controls. For instance, using the thumbsticks to move the center of vision instead of just grabbing and moving with a trigger or grip and moving the hand. The lack of ability to manually sync the handy is also a big turn off to it. It's just nowhere near as feature heavy nor intuitive as many other competitors. But that's fine cause I didnt subscribe for the app, I subscribed for the content. And now the content has been effectively taken away from me unless i go home and download the videos onto my headset (which requires I wear it the whole time to do so). Then I need to copy the files out of my head set to an external drive cause the headset can only hold a few videos worth of content before the drive is full.
Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are committed to making adjustments based on your input. Please feel free to share any additional comments or suggestions.
Just please include the download button. It REALLY inconveniences me and makes your service near useless where as if people really still want to pirate it they can. Just it takes more effort, but someone going through the steps to make the content available to pirate is obviously going to do this extra bit. So nothing solved, your site saves a couple bucks cause now no one has to put a download button on a website, and your content has become borderline useless to me and anyone without an amazing internet connection capable of streaming high resolution 8k content.
I really just don't get how this wasn't a foreseeable issue for end users and I will be very surprised if this doesn't heavily impact subscriptions in the future. If it stays this way, I know for certain that I won't renew.
