When we last caught up with Vudu, the company was cutting its set-top box 1080p player price in half, down to an attractive $150. The latest how-do-ya-like-me-now move from Vudu is to give you more than a rental option for your HD flicks—it will offer high-def downloadable movies to own.

Out of the company’s impressive 1,400-plus HD movie library, it’s starting with a collection of more than 50 that you can rent or own. Prices will be between $13.99 and $23.99 for the films, which will be offered in Vudu’s 1080p HDX format.

It’s culling from independent studios FirstLook, Kino and Magnolia for the first batch of films to buy, including 2009 Oscar winner “Man on Wire,” which was honored as top documentary.

You can download and store the titles on the Vudu box itself, which has a 250-GB hard drive that Vudu says can hold 50 purchased movies. Or you can keep them i the Vudu vault, which is a free online storage area that you can access anytime.

Vudu says it’ll offer every release from the first three studios as a purchase the day they’re offered as DVD releases, and we’ll certainly be awaiting word on any other studios that hop on board.

Arlen Schweiger - Managing editor of Electronic House Magazine

Arlen contributes product news items to electronichouse.com along with his role on the print publication. Got a tip? Send it along!