Epix is a video service co-owned by the MGM, Lionsgate, and Paramount movie studios. It consists of two components: a cable TV channel (similar to HBO or AMC) that shows movies (like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Iron Man) in the weeks before they hit DVD, and a website that streams those same movies at resolutions up to 720p high definition.

Both the TV channel and the website are free for you and they have no ads. Here's how that works: cable companies (or companies that work with similar technologies) that offer both TV channel packages and internet access pay Epix for access to the service. You don't see the cost on your bill; it's something the cable companies buy into to differentiate themselves from one another.

If you're a subscriber to both the TV channel package and the internet service, you're given access to EpixHD.com, which supposedly puts you two clicks away from on-demand viewing of any of the movies currently showing on the TV channel.

Movie quality is adjusted on the fly to match your connection speed, and ranges from cell phone-quality video to 720p. The service is currently in an invite-only beta, with no official public roll out date named. Of course, such a date would depend on your provider.