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4K iTunes Content Limited to Streaming Only, No Downloads
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This is really an iTunes complaint, though. You could download 4k movies from wherever allows such a thing (?) and stream them to an ATV just the same. Granted, if that's the only reason you wanted it then some other device might accomplish this task the same or better.
That's a whole lot of conjecture from one line. I pay for my media and dont plan to steal a single kilobyte.
Say what you will from your imagined high horse, but human behavior is influenced by these things. If the goal is to make a profit, then studios have to provide a value proposition. Because consumers will always find a way if the activation energy is favorable compared to the cost.
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Like I said above, I pay for my media. I'm just speaking to the reality, if there's going to be massive hurdles to 4k people will start going through back doors.
But then there's people like you who thing of obscure ideas, like the war on drugs working, etc.
At a minimum it will stream in HD.
However, until we get iOS 11.2 with auto native format match, then I'm not sure resolution can be determined. I have 4K files in my iTunes folder which I have been able to stream via Home Sharing, but since the ATV 4K outputs whatever resolution is manually set, I have no idea if the file is being streamed in HD, or if the full 4K resolution is being streamed. When set to 4K HDR, the resulting streamed file does not look 4K HDR to my eye. But I have no way to verify that.
Given 4K UHD Blu-Ray protection has been supposedly broken not too long ago, I don't know how it would matter if the encrypted files were available locally as no one would bother to try and break a lower quality source like iTunes. What it does do is punishes all those people who bought a nice expensive iMac 5K or bought a 4K monitor or TV for their Mac. No 4K movies for you!!! Of course, they did the same thing for years with 720p and 1080p rentals with older AppleTV models. Who knows, maybe 5-10 years from now, Apple will allow Mac and PC users to watch movies in 4K on their computers....... 
Given 4K UHD Blu-Ray protection has been supposedly broken not too long ago, I don't know how it would matter if the encrypted files were available locally as no one would bother to try and break a lower quality source like iTunes. What it does do is punishes all those people who bought a nice expensive iMac 5K or bought a 4K monitor or TV for their Mac. No 4K movies for you!!! Of course, they did the same thing for years with 720p and 1080p rentals with older AppleTV models. Who knows, maybe 5-10 years from now, Apple will allow Mac and PC users to watch movies in 4K on their computers.......
These Hollywood sexually harassing schmucks keep The Pirate Bay in business so stupidly. Sure quality there is shoddy, but you can still sometimes find things they will not let you even buy in a digital format that you can play on your Mac or PC right to a 4K or 5K display effortlessly and own it forever. When will they get it?
Steve Jobs was eventually able to explain this concept to the record company execs, but apparently Timmy doesn't have that skill set with the Weinsteins of the world.
"Apple is providing 4K content at the same price as HD content". In the UK they raised prices for rentals from ~3-5GBP to now 5-8GBP and purchase prices also went up. So while true HD and 4K cost the same - they did increase prices! (in theUK store).
Apple has updated its iTunes Store on iOS devices and the Apple TV with plenty of 4K movies ahead of the launch of the Apple TV 4K, but as made clear in a recent support document, 4K content from Apple can be streamed, but not downloaded directly on a device.
According to Apple, customers can download a local copy of an HD movie, and on occasion, HD movies that support HDR and Dolby Vision, but 4K movies are not available for download and thus can't be watched without an internet connection.That means customers who have had their previously-purchased iTunes movies upgraded from HD to 4K at no cost can stream those movies in 4K, but can only download HD versions. Newly purchased content is also restricted from download.
It's not clear why Apple is not allowing customers to download 4K content onto their devices, but it could potentially be a licensing issue. Apple is providing 4K content at the same price as HD content, though movie studios were rumored to want to charge more. It's also possible it's a local storage issue, as 4K movies have large file sizes.
To stream 4K content to the new Apple TV 4K, Apple recommends a minimum speed of 25Mb/s, according to the support document. If an internet connection isn't fast enough, Apple will downscale the video quality.
In addition to the download restriction, one other major negative surfaced today -- the 4K Apple TV does not support 4K content from YouTube at this time. YouTube streams its 4K content using a VP9 video format, a codec the Apple TV does not support. The 4K Apple TV is limited to H.264, HEVC (H.265), and MP4.
Netflix and 4K content from other streaming services is supported, however, and Apple has promised 4K content from Amazon Prime Video will be available when the app launches later this year.
The first Apple TV 4K orders will begin arriving to customers on Friday, September 22, the official launch date of the device.
Article Link: 4K iTunes Content Limited to Streaming Only, No Downloads
Do you have examples of price increases? Looking in the UK store now while some rentals have been raised to £5.49 the latest releases to purchase are £13.99 as they've always been. Do you have an example of an £8 rental?
Get what? That stealing can be easily be justified by entitled minded people?
No, that you can make more money selling something that there is a demand for than by wasting your time trying to throttle people providing that product because you aren’t. Supply and Demand. People prefer to buy legally but will buy illegally if that’s the only option. Look at cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, even music, books, pictures and anything else a company or a country has tried to prevent people from seeing or hearing or using.
Hi, the 8GBP example is a false memory on my behalf - since I usually convert prices in my head to EUR.
My "price increase" impression comes from the circumstance Apple removed the SD option (in rentals as well as purchases) - I made frequent use of it a few years ago when I scan my purchases (from back until 2012). So with the HD version being the only option - it translates to a price increase in that regard. Rentals used to be usually at 3,49 but this has become less the case for new releases where it hovers at the 5,49GBP - this also translates to an increase in most cases (which in my head results in a ca. 7-8EUR purchase before Brexit exchange ratios)
My "price increase" impression comes from the circumstance Apple removed the SD option (in rentals as well as purchases) - I made frequent use of it a few years ago when I scan my purchases (from back until 2012). So with the HD version being the only option - it translates to a price increase in that regard. Rentals used to be usually at 3,49 but this has become less the case for new releases where it hovers at the 5,49GBP - this also translates to an increase in most cases (which in my head results in a ca. 7-8EUR purchase before Brexit exchange ratios)
You do realise the UK economy bombed on the Brexit vote yeah?
So true. But of course, people are blaming Apple for Brexit. Classic!