Sony Entertainment and Universal are partnering in the UK to roll out the "PoP Instant Entertainment 24/7," which, in addition to sounding like something out of the movie Total Recall, is a vending machine for PS3 games, Blu-ray Disc movies, and digital music/movie distribution. Unveiled at Stuff Magazine's Stuff Live Expo, the machine features a touch-screen interface and slots for various flash media formats. Users can purchase music or movies in purely digital format, then transfer them to the media of their choosing. The more intriguing aspect, though, is packaged-product vending; choose a game or Blu-ray movie from inventory, swipe your credit card, and out pops a shrink-wrapped copy – just like in this demonstration video.
There's no word yet on plans to introduce the machines outside of the UK, but given a global, insatiable appetite for media and the introduction of similar units that vend DVD rentals and music players in the US, we wouldn't be all that surprised to see these in malls and supermarkets sooner rather than later.
[Via Engadget]
