Rentals Evidence In iTunes 7.5?

MacRumors · 11:23 PM

One user has discovered that iTunes 7.5 carries resources indicative of forthcoming movie rental and video on demand functionality.

Quote:

rental-content
rental-bag
rbsync
source-rental-info
dest-rental-info
getvodaccountselectionlist
GET VOD ACCOUNT SELECTION LIST
supportsRentals

While MacRumors can certify that the strings specified are indeed new as of iTunes 7.5, the jury is still out as to whether they mean anything significant. Previous resource string discoveries have indicated native iPhone and AppleTV games, neither of which have come true (yet?).

Perhaps the most promising sign that resource strings may hold value is when iTunes 7.0.1 resources indicated increased mobile phone functionality within a couple months of the release of the iPhone (though the strings did not specifically mention the iPhone).

Nonetheless, an incident occurred in September where Apple's iTunes problem reporting system revealed movie rental options. Apple has been rumored to have been in talks with Hollywood studios in regards to an online service that would launch this fall.

Article Link

longofest · Nov 10, 2007, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macrumors

Previous resource string discoveries have indicated native iPhone and AppleTV games, neither of which have come true (yet?).

And no, you can't pick on that statement... the hacks don't count

puckhead193 · Nov 10, 2007, 11:04 PM

i would love a rental service. I wouldn't mind paying like 2-4 bucks for a rental. Cost is about similar to blockbuster and i don't even have to rewind....

Epicurus · Nov 10, 2007, 11:12 PM

This would be about the only way Apple could get me to use the Movie section on iTunes. Convenience of instant access/downloads, price of a rental, pumped straight to the TV via my trusty

TV. Sounds like a good idea, if it pans out...

shen · Nov 10, 2007, 11:15 PM

how can they tell what is in 7.5? it is usable?

i have tried it on my mini, emac, and ibook, and it locks the entire system on all 3 if i try to use it at all......

first major problem with any Apple software ever, and it kills all 3 machines.

glad timemachine works, just roll it back!

jackc · Nov 10, 2007, 11:16 PM

Sounds like a potential Macworld announcement

caliguy · Nov 10, 2007, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shen

how can they tell what is in 7.5? it is usable?

i have tried it on my mini, emac, and ibook, and it locks the entire system on all 3 if i try to use it at all......

first major problem with any Apple software ever, and it kills all 3 machines.

glad timemachine works, just roll it back!

It isn't usable yet, but it's there so that Apple could use it in the future if they start selling movie rentals.

You have to go to the iTunes icon, control-click then "Show Package Contents" to Contents to Mac OS, then control-click iTunes and open w/ Text Edit.

Cloud9 · Nov 10, 2007, 11:40 PM

I would go on strike too if I could get a cut of itunes movie rentals.

aswitcher · Nov 10, 2007, 11:40 PM

Smells like USA only to me...

basesloaded190 · Nov 10, 2007, 11:43 PM

sounds interesting to me...i would love to see apple increase their movie selection and improve upon that within itunes but only time will tell

nagromme · Nov 10, 2007, 11:53 PM

Yes, please!

No movie purchases for me, and no subscriptions. But RENTALS - yes!

And then get the selection to match Netflix please

Sol · Nov 10, 2007, 11:55 PM

Rentals on iTunes would make a lot more sense than purchasing videos. The price of iTunes films does not compare well with the price of DVDs. If the price of rentals is low enough and Apple offers HD content even DVD collectors will have incentive to rent these films.

bdkennedy1 · Nov 10, 2007, 11:58 PM

Well, they didn't put the strings in there just for fun.

I hope this is a feature they plan to add to the practically abandoned Apple TV.

ironring2006 · Nov 11, 2007, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackc

Sounds like a potential Macworld announcement

Sure does, and I bet the first movie they offer is "Across the Universe", along with making that album exclusively available on iTunes, along with the Beatles catalog finally available online. Apple + Apple finally come together. Sosumi.

celloman · Nov 11, 2007, 12:01 AM

this would be sweeettt. but wouldnt people be able to hack it and get like, 5 copies for the price of 1?

iTeen · Nov 11, 2007, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puckhead193

...don't even have to rewind....

rewind???as in vhs???lol i haven't seen a vhs forever!!!

samh004 · Nov 11, 2007, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by celloman

this would be sweeettt. but wouldnt people be able to hack it and get like, 5 copies for the price of 1?

They wouldn't be able to hack the iTunes store, but they might be able to strip the rental of it's copy protection... however most savvy computer users and even some not-so-savvy users can rip a DVD rental...

I hope if this happens that it lets you rent the movie for a period of days, not views. One view before it self destructs is useless, however it's likely to be the path Apple follows.

jecapaga · Nov 11, 2007, 12:21 AM

HD content would be killer. I'd finally have a use for my appletv beyond just using it for music currently. One can hope...

Decrepit · Nov 11, 2007, 12:26 AM

The continual discovery of strings in Apple software means one of two things.

1: The designers should be beaten with a stick for putting information into their application early.

Or, more likely,

2: They are a fantastic source of hype and conversation.

Either way, this might be the way that I rent a movie for the first time in at least 10 years.

ingenious · Nov 11, 2007, 12:26 AM

Movie rentals are a good idea for movies that I only want to see once or am not sure if i'll like.

they need to create an upgrade path, so if you've rented it, purchasing it is the original price-cost of rental.

ingenious · Nov 11, 2007, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jecapaga

HD content would be killer. I'd finally have a use for my appletv beyond just using it for music currently. One can hope...

I would love HD content...

(now to get an HDTV...

)

twoodcc · Nov 11, 2007, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackc

Sounds like a potential Macworld announcement

yes it does. even though i like the idea of rentals though

hotshotharry · Nov 11, 2007, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ingenious

Movie rentals are a good idea for movies that I only want to see once or am not sure if i'll like.

they need to create an upgrade path, so if you've rented it, purchasing it is the original price-cost of rental.

Now thats something i would bite at ! specially if they were good prices ! 10 bucks for a full movie ! :-) I'm in haha

ivan1234 · Nov 11, 2007, 12:51 AM

This is very good news! I hope rentals will be available outside the US soon after its initial introduction.

chasemac · Nov 11, 2007, 12:51 AM

Rentals with a .mac account sounds like the way Apple would want to go with an option to buy of course.

Nov 10, 2007, 11:04 PM	#3
puckhead193 macrumors 601 Join Date: May 2004 Location: NY	i would love a rental service. I wouldn't mind paying like 2-4 bucks for a rental. Cost is about similar to blockbuster and i don't even have to rewind.... __________________ 20" iMac C2D - 2.33GHz, 3 GB ram, ATI X1600 256 MB VRAM 15" pb 1.5 GHZ Rev. C 30 gig ipod 3rd gen, 60 gig 5g ipod ~ white, silver 2GB nano, 64 gig iPod Touch

Nov 10, 2007, 11:12 PM	#4
Epicurus macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Minneapolis, MN	This would be about the only way Apple could get me to use the Movie section on iTunes. Convenience of instant access/downloads, price of a rental, pumped straight to the TV via my trusty TV. Sounds like a good idea, if it pans out... __________________ Mac:: 13" MacBook Air; 20" iMac Core Duo; 15" PowerBook G4 iPod:: 16GB (4G nano); 60GB (5G); 20GB (3G) iPhone:: 32GB (3GS); 8GB (EDGE)

Nov 10, 2007, 11:15 PM	#5
shen macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2003	in 7.5?!? how can they tell what is in 7.5? it is usable? i have tried it on my mini, emac, and ibook, and it locks the entire system on all 3 if i try to use it at all...... first major problem with any Apple software ever, and it kills all 3 machines. glad timemachine works, just roll it back! __________________ OS X, cause making unix user friendly is easier than debugging Windows.....

Nov 10, 2007, 11:40 PM	#9
aswitcher macrumors 601 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Sydney OZ	Smells like USA only to me... __________________ Never underestimate the Geekfactor Switcher since June '04 iPhone 3G \| 24" Alu iMac \| 15" MacBookPro \| Elgato EyeTV/IceTV \| SecuritySpy User

Nov 10, 2007, 11:43 PM	#10
basesloaded190 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Wisconsin	sounds interesting to me...i would love to see apple increase their movie selection and improve upon that within itunes but only time will tell __________________ Macbook 2.16 120GB 2GB Ram; Ipod Touch 16GB; Etymotic ER-4p; Iphone 3GS 32GB Twitter

Nov 10, 2007, 11:16 PM	#6
jackc macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2003	Sounds like a potential Macworld announcement

Nov 10, 2007, 11:40 PM	#8
Cloud9 macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: between flesh and thought	I would go on strike too if I could get a cut of itunes movie rentals.

Nov 10, 2007, 11:53 PM	#11
nagromme macrumors 601 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Blinking blue dot	Yes, please! No movie purchases for me, and no subscriptions. But RENTALS - yes! And then get the selection to match Netflix please __________________ nagromme Would you like a treatment?

Nov 10, 2007, 11:55 PM	#12
Sol macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Australia	Rentals on iTunes would make a lot more sense than purchasing videos. The price of iTunes films does not compare well with the price of DVDs. If the price of rentals is low enough and Apple offers HD content even DVD collectors will have incentive to rent these films. __________________ DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER

Nov 10, 2007, 11:58 PM	#13
bdkennedy1 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Dec 2003	Well, they didn't put the strings in there just for fun. I hope this is a feature they plan to add to the practically abandoned Apple TV.

Nov 11, 2007, 12:01 AM	#15
celloman macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2007	this would be sweeettt. but wouldnt people be able to hack it and get like, 5 copies for the price of 1? __________________ MacBook, 2.2 GHz Santa Rosa, 4 GB of RAM!!! yessssss!!!!!

Nov 11, 2007, 12:21 AM	#18
jecapaga macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Southern California	HD content would be killer. I'd finally have a use for my appletv beyond just using it for music currently. One can hope...

Nov 11, 2007, 12:26 AM	#19
Decrepit macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Corn Country, USA	The continual discovery of strings in Apple software means one of two things. 1: The designers should be beaten with a stick for putting information into their application early. Or, more likely, 2: They are a fantastic source of hype and conversation. Either way, this might be the way that I rent a movie for the first time in at least 10 years. __________________ Mac Mini 2009, 2.26 GHz, 4GB Mac Mini 2007, 1.83 GHz, 1GB Mac Mini 2005, 1.42 GHz, 1GB iPhone 3Gs

Nov 11, 2007, 12:26 AM	#20
ingenious macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kansas, United States	Movie rentals are a good idea for movies that I only want to see once or am not sure if i'll like. they need to create an upgrade path, so if you've rented it, purchasing it is the original price-cost of rental. __________________ Unibody 15.4" MacBook Pro 2.8 GHz, 4 GB RAM 20" iMac G5 2 GHz, 2 GB RAM 1G iPod touch 32 GB, OS 3 blog \| Twitter \| No tea for me.

Nov 11, 2007, 12:51 AM	#24
ivan1234 macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2007	This is very good news! I hope rentals will be available outside the US soon after its initial introduction.

Nov 11, 2007, 12:51 AM	#25
chasemac macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In a house.	Rentals with a .mac account sounds like the way Apple would want to go with an option to buy of course.

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