Apple Announces Release of HD Movie Sales and Rentals via iTunes

MacRumors · 05:18 PM

Apple today announced that they are now offering high-definition movie sales and rentals through the iTunes Store.

Quote:

Starting today, movie fans can purchase box office blockbusters for download in HD for $19.99 from iTunes, and films will be available as iTunes Movie Rentals in HD for $4.99 within 30 days after release. Customers can enjoy these films in HD on their Mac or PC and on their widescreen TV with Apple TV, as well as in standard definition on their iPhone or iPod with video.

A dedicated HD Movies page has been added to the iTunes Store [iTunes] to highlight the new content. Pre-orders for the James Bond movie "Quantum of Solace" and the thriller "Twilight" are currently being featured, with additional movies already available.

Previously, Apple had only offered high-definition movie rentals through the Apple TV in January 2008 and added support for high-definition TV shows via iTunes in September 2008.

Article Link: Apple Announces Release of HD Movie Sales and Rentals via iTunes

iMacmatician · Mar 19, 2009, 05:14 PM

Good news! And are these around 1920x1080 or around 1280x720?

Kilamite · Mar 19, 2009, 05:15 PM

About time!

gothamm · Mar 19, 2009, 05:15 PM

"HD"...haha

OneMike · Mar 19, 2009, 05:15 PM

this is pretty cool

dongmin · Mar 19, 2009, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iMacmatician

Good news! And these are 1920x1080 (or so)?

dream on...

Tofaha · Mar 19, 2009, 05:16 PM

if i had

tv ..then maybe

dalvin200 · Mar 19, 2009, 05:18 PM

wasnt this already available

jonovitch · Mar 19, 2009, 05:19 PM

I'd say Twilight was more of a teenage girl crush drama.

Jon

dimensiondvdrob · Mar 19, 2009, 05:19 PM

I wonder if they will eventually allow people to replace their movies they bought in SD with the HD version for a small upgrade price like DRM-free music.

NT1440 · Mar 19, 2009, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iMacmatician

Good news! And are these around 1920x1080 or around 1280x720?

Most deffinatly 720.

Which of course, is still HD.

TuffLuffJimmy · Mar 19, 2009, 05:20 PM

that's practically the price of a bluray...

... Why would you pay for a hi-def download when you could get a better quality DVD?

iOrlando · Mar 19, 2009, 05:21 PM

so exciting....

oh wait..i been doing this for months already on apple tv..
ho hum

Tallest Skil · Mar 19, 2009, 05:21 PM

I'm waiting for the Apple TV update when Apple switches from 720p to 1080p before I waste my money on these.

I'm not paying an HD "upgrade" price.

Quote:

Originally Posted by iOrlando

so exciting....

oh wait..i been doing this for months already on apple tv..
ho hum

You haven't been owning them. Cut the smugness.

jaw04005 · Mar 19, 2009, 05:22 PM

Good luck storing and backing them up. It's time for Apple to adopt the Amazon VOD model of letting you re-download purchased content.

Mr_Ed · Mar 19, 2009, 05:22 PM

Great news! It makes the Mac Mini even more attractive now. I was considering one to hook up to my TV and easily be able to use other media center apps like boxee or XMBC along with iTunes but the idea that I could not rent HD without an AppleTV didn't sit right with me. Not that I was looking at iTunes as my main media app, but I wanted the option of iTunes HD.

Sky Blue · Mar 19, 2009, 05:22 PM

The iTunes store and the picture in the OP say Bond is $14.99, but the page for the movie says $19.99

sneezymarble · Mar 19, 2009, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TuffLuffJimmy

that's practically the price of a bluray...

... Why would you pay for a hi-def download when you could get a better quality DVD?

So you don't have to get off the couch.

theBigD23 · Mar 19, 2009, 05:22 PM

$20 to purchase a movie? Sounds expensive to me. I won't be buying ever, but will rent for $5.

NT1440 · Mar 19, 2009, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TuffLuffJimmy

that's practically the price of a bluray...

... Why would you pay for a hi-def download when you could get a better quality DVD?

Theres plenty of people that simply dont want to deal with physical (optical to be precise) media anymore.

williedigital · Mar 19, 2009, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TuffLuffJimmy

that's practically the price of a bluray...

... Why would you pay for a hi-def download when you could get a better quality DVD?

1. Don't own Blu-ray player
2. Don't own high def television (but do have nice computer)
3. Convenience
4. Format neutrality

That said, those aren't compelling reasons to me either.

Mr_Ed · Mar 19, 2009, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dalvin200

wasnt this already available

Not really. You could only rent HD content through AppleTV. iTunes on your Mac only allowed you to rent SD content (until now).

myca · Mar 19, 2009, 05:28 PM

I'm guessing it'll only work with HDCP compliant monitors/tvs/gpus, will have to wait and see on that one.

Cynicalone · Mar 19, 2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dimensiondvdrob

I wonder if they will eventually allow people to replace their movies they bought in SD with the HD version for a small upgrade price like DRM-free music.

I doubt it, they still don't allow this for TV Shows.

iOrlando · Mar 19, 2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tallest Skil

I'm waiting for the Apple TV update when Apple switches from 720p to 1080p before I waste my money on these.

I'm not paying an HD "upgrade" price.

You haven't been owning them. Cut the smugness.

why would i even want to own them? Watch them once and im through with it...why own....

Mar 19, 2009, 05:14 PM	#2
iMacmatician macrumors 68040 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The world of Macmatics, flying with my calculator…	Good news! And are these around 1920x1080 or around 1280x720? __________________ babyj: "One day, all Apple products will be running the iPhone OS …"

Mar 19, 2009, 05:15 PM	#3
Kilamite macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scotland	About time! __________________ - MacBook Pro Unibody 15" 2.8GHz 'anti-glare' - Apple TV 1TB (work in progress) - iPhone 3G 8GB - MobileMe // OS X 10.6.2

Mar 19, 2009, 05:18 PM	#8
dalvin200 macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Nottingham, UK	wasnt this already available __________________ 24" iMac "Penryn"; 2.8GHz, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, 8800GS I luuurrvvveee my iPhone 3G 16GB Search before you post: MRoogle

Mar 19, 2009, 05:19 PM	#9
jonovitch macrumors newbie Join Date: Mar 2009	Thriller? I'd say Twilight was more of a teenage girl crush drama. Jon

Mar 19, 2009, 05:20 PM	#12
TuffLuffJimmy macrumors 601 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Portland, OR	that's practically the price of a bluray... ... Why would you pay for a hi-def download when you could get a better quality DVD? __________________ "Next PM I get from you about this, and it gets posted as my signature." --LTD

Mar 19, 2009, 05:15 PM	#4
gothamm macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2007	"HD"...haha

Mar 19, 2009, 05:15 PM	#5
OneMike macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2005	this is pretty cool

Mar 19, 2009, 05:16 PM	#7
Tofaha macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: MI	if i had tv ..then maybe

Mar 19, 2009, 05:19 PM	#10
dimensiondvdrob macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2007	I wonder if they will eventually allow people to replace their movies they bought in SD with the HD version for a small upgrade price like DRM-free music.

Mar 19, 2009, 05:21 PM	#13
iOrlando macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Miami Beach, Florida	so exciting.... oh wait..i been doing this for months already on apple tv.. ho hum

Mar 19, 2009, 05:22 PM	#15
jaw04005 macrumors 68030 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: AR	Good luck storing and backing them up. It's time for Apple to adopt the Amazon VOD model of letting you re-download purchased content.

Mar 19, 2009, 05:22 PM	#16
Mr_Ed macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: North and east of Mickeyland	Great news! It makes the Mac Mini even more attractive now. I was considering one to hook up to my TV and easily be able to use other media center apps like boxee or XMBC along with iTunes but the idea that I could not rent HD without an AppleTV didn't sit right with me. Not that I was looking at iTunes as my main media app, but I wanted the option of iTunes HD. __________________ ____ MacPro[2x2.66 GHz,4GB RAM, 2x500GB, Radeon 4870, 30 in. Cinema Display], PowerMac G4 [2x1GHz, 1GB RAM, 80GB+120GB+320GB, 17 in. Cinema Display]

Mar 19, 2009, 05:22 PM	#17
Sky Blue macrumors 68040 Join Date: Jan 2005	The iTunes store and the picture in the OP say Bond is $14.99, but the page for the movie says $19.99 __________________ "The case is so square that it easily stands at attention as if begging for treats."

Mar 19, 2009, 05:22 PM	#19
theBigD23 macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2008	$20 to purchase a movie? Sounds expensive to me. I won't be buying ever, but will rent for $5.

Mar 19, 2009, 05:28 PM	#23
myca macrumors 6502 Join Date: Oct 2005	I'm guessing it'll only work with HDCP compliant monitors/tvs/gpus, will have to wait and see on that one. __________________ G3 iMac 500mhz, eMac G4 800mhz 2G 10GB iPod, Powermac Dual 2.0 MacBook (Santa Rosa), Quad core Q6700 @3.3Ghz eFix Hackintosh iPhone 3Gs 16GB

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