Apple Announces iTunes Movie Rentals

[zweigand]

It's been talked about many times. Say you have kids and a life and can't watch an entire movie in one sitting.

These two don't make sense together. If you watch most movies in the theater, then you don't have "new things" to see either.

I DO have kids ...and I watch movies after they go to bed. If there was some sort of emergency that caused me to miss my 24hr window ...$3-$4 isn't going to break the bank for me.

I only see one or two movies in the theatre a year ...my comment above was simply to illustrate that I don't really care that they are going to be out a month later than the DVD. That's where I'll give some business back to the brick-n-mortar stores if I need it then.

Sure, it would be great if the rentals lasted for 5 days. But 1 day isn't going to drive me away from the service ...I guess the execs figure if you had 5 days you might call friends over within the next day or so to re-watch the movie with you.

 

[zweigand]

It's been confirmed. No HD Movies without AppleTV, check out Gruber's analysis of the *updated* iTunes Terms of Service:

"(aa) Movies are viewable only on your Mac or Windows computer (using iTunes 7.6 or later), iPhone, video-enabled iPod (iPod touch, iPod nano (3rd generation), or iPod classic), or on TVs using your Apple TV. Movies in high definition resolution (HD) are viewable only on TVs using your Apple TV and must be downloaded directly to your Apple TV. Movies are viewable only on one device at a time."

http://daringfireball.net/2008/01/itunes_movie_rental_tos

Man, that does suck.

w00master

BOO!! I hope this is because they don't want the strain of all the HD downloads on their network and not because they just want to push AppleTVs. Bah humbug!

 

[swingerofbirch]

I would imagine that the reason you can't DL movies in HD to a Mac is that they wouldn't work with iPod/iPhones. Apple probably thinks it would confuse the consumer to have some videos on iTunes that could transfer to their iPod/iPhone and others that couldn't. Unfortunately, this is going to slow the adoption and demand for HD. Apple needs a technology that quickly makes HD movies palatable to an iPhone/iPod. Of course you could make a technology on the iPhone/iPod that allowed it to render the HD in 640X480, but then you're wasting valuable disc space on the device.

 

[bilbo--baggins]

Yawn.

Nothing in the UK still...

 

[Cowinacape]

God by the time this rolls out here we'll all have forgotten
And oh, the obligatory price rise compared to all of Europe and the US :/
Still, it's here

Not to worry, your is not the only country screwed over in this deal. I don't see anything for Canada either. Nice work Apple! Between this and the 8800 fiasco (so far at least) you are batting 1000!!

 

[BritinNC]

Netflix vs iTunes - A Hybrid approach

Having read through a couple of the posts here about AppleTV vs Netflix I would suggest that I will probably take a hybrid approach.

I currently have the 4 at a time plan with Netflix and have had this for some time. I basically use it during the summer and other periods when there is basically nothing new on TV. When I use it I find that 4 at a time is not enough and frequently don't have anything I want to watch available at home because they are all in transit to or from Netflix (this particularly occurs if dvds are returned around the weekend or holidays). Some months I never watch anything from Netflix.

I agree with the Pogue comment about 27 hour rentals. People who don't experience this problem probably don't have kids or are students. As much as I hate it I often have to watch things over multiple nights in a 27 hour period. I also often watch stuff on my iPhone while I'm exercising (especially things my wife isn't interested in and I don't have a chance to watch at any other time). For that I have to transfer the DVD to the iPhone and I delete it after watching it (don't see the point in wasting hard drive space for something I'm never going to watch again). The only movies I consider buying are for the kids who seem to enjoy watching them endlessly.

So having said all that I think my solution is a hybrid. Downgrade my Netflix to 2 at a time and use the savings to rent the occasional iTunes movie when I'm out of options and need something to watch. Right now, neither model works perfectly for me, but I think a judicious use of both will be just the ticket!

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Will English subtitles or closed-captioning be available for the iTunes rentals?

 

[w00master]

I would imagine that the reason you can't DL movies in HD to a Mac is that they wouldn't work with iPod/iPhones. Apple probably thinks it would confuse the consumer to have some videos on iTunes that could transfer to their iPod/iPhone and others that couldn't. Unfortunately, this is going to slow the adoption and demand for HD. Apple needs a technology that quickly makes HD movies palatable to an iPhone/iPod. Of course you could make a technology on the iPhone/iPod that allowed it to render the HD in 640X480, but then you're wasting valuable disc space on the device.

Perhaps, but lets be honest here, the real reason really is to push AppleTV. I don't necessarily blame Apple for that (they are a business after all), but with Apple selling 30" displays, people using their Mac Mini's as a HTPC, it really sucks for them.

However, those peeps probably compose a very small segment of the Mac market. Still, it sucks.

w00master

 

[czachorski]

It's been confirmed. No HD Movies without AppleTV, check out Gruber's analysis of the *updated* iTunes Terms of Service:

"(aa) Movies are viewable only on your Mac or Windows computer (using iTunes 7.6 or later), iPhone, video-enabled iPod (iPod touch, iPod nano (3rd generation), or iPod classic), or on TVs using your Apple TV. Movies in high definition resolution (HD) are viewable only on TVs using your Apple TV and must be downloaded directly to your Apple TV. Movies are viewable only on one device at a time."

http://daringfireball.net/2008/01/itunes_movie_rental_tos

Man, that does suck.

w00master

Absolute and total BS. Oh well - it's off to PPV from cable or other solutions for me. I can't believe they would leave front row or users of their mini-DVI ports to TV out in the cold.

 

[pulazzo]

I would imagine that the reason you can't DL movies in HD to a Mac is that they wouldn't work with iPod/iPhones. Apple probably thinks it would confuse the consumer to have some videos on iTunes that could transfer to their iPod/iPhone and others that couldn't. Unfortunately, this is going to slow the adoption and demand for HD. Apple needs a technology that quickly makes HD movies palatable to an iPhone/iPod. Of course you could make a technology on the iPhone/iPod that allowed it to render the HD in 640X480, but then you're wasting valuable disc space on the device.

I think the real reason is lack of HDCP. The Apple TV has HDMI but none of their computers do. It's kinda like how Vista will downgrade video if it doesn't go across a secure channel. Apple won't even sell it to you, which I guess is better than selling it to you and then downgrading it, but it's still pretty lame. Not their fault probably but definitely lame.

I don't even own a TV. Just a MacBook Pro at 1920x1200 connected to an external display. Both can do 1080p. Oh well...

 

[Astro8973]

so will fox also be selling movies for purchase as well, or are these movies just available for rental?

 

[confirmed]

I think the real reason is lack of HDCP. The Apple TV has HDMI but none of their computers do. It's kinda like how Vista will downgrade video if it doesn't go across a secure channel. Apple won't even sell it to you, which I guess is better than selling it to you and then downgrading it, but it's still pretty lame. Not their fault probably but definitely lame.

I don't even own a TV. Just a MacBook Pro at 1920x1200 connected to an external display. Both can do 1080p. Oh well...

but at least when Vista downgrades the video, you can view it on your computer. currently, i can choose to buy one version, which i can watch on my computer, ipod, iphone, or appletv. or i can spend a dollar more and watch it only on my appletv. can't we at least get the lower res version downloaded along with the HD version? i'm slightly considering buying an AppleTV just for HD rentals, but not if i can't also use my iPhone with those same rentals.

 

[peestandingup]

Uhg, this kinda sucks. Basically, Apple is using the old worn out Blockbuster model of renting movies with overpriced single/keep for 24 hours rules, but just in digital form. Yes, the same Blockbuster thats going bankrupt & getting their asses handed to them by Netflix's rental model & then reluctantly started using the same model to rent movies.

But actually this is worse because you have to use a proprietary device (AppleTV) to enjoy them on your TV. And there are no TV shows, just movies. No thanks.

 

[ladeer]

where is this rental thing??? i updated all of my devices and still not seeing anywhere to rent! i want to access the rental service! i want to rent! rent! rent! rent! rent! rent! rent! rent! rent! rent! rent! rent! rent! rent! rent! rent! rent! rent! rent! rent! rent! rent! rent! rent! rent! help me!!

 

[Qubits]

Whats up? I really wanted to download a rental and watch it on my iPod Touch tonight. As far as I can see there is no rental section on iTunes.

1. Has anyone been able to rent a movie today for either the ATV, iPhone, Touch or a Mac?

2. Is this like when I tell my boss I will have the project done Today! -- meaning I will email it to him at 11:59 PM ?

As far as the comparison to NetFlix, how much easier is it to click, download and watch within 10 to 15 minutes - rather than Que a movie online at NetFlix, wait a week or more to see the movie arrive, not the right day so it sits. Then eventually the family comes together to watch a movie.

NetFlix = Movie/interruptus .

It is much more spontaneous to use ATV. We all know spontaneous is sexy!

 

[GravityEyes]

Yeah - what i thought was brilliant 4 hours ago, is now rubbish.

I have had a Mini as part of my home entertainment center since they released the Intel version.

This sucks ... I want an option for HD content. F**kers ... I need another box?

Oh my .... well, I have a feeling this is the studios fault - the same bastards who made my HD-DVD player obsolete a few days ago.

Ok - I raise my middle finger in revolt! I have an answer to this conundrum ... BitTorrent. Screw 'em.

 

[Detlev]

The iTunes webpage shows the Transformers movie poster as a potential rentable movie. Searching the iTunes store does not return a result for said movie. Also, there is no information in the Help menu or Preferences the specifically say rent. I assume there will be another update or there is a glitch in the update system. This afternoon there were warning windows popping up here saying the connection to the update servers had failures.

2. Is this like when I tell my boss I will have the project done Today! -- meaning I will email it to him at 11:59 PM ?

Ha, I'm not the only one who does it! She'll not hear the end of this one.

 

[rstansby]

If you average just over one movie a month (meaning, there are more months when you watch 2 movies than there are when you watch 0 movies), then Netflix is the exact same price ($4.99/month) as Apple's low-grade HD option.

Netflix Pros:

1. You can take as long to watch a movie as you need, even if that is a few months. It doesn't evaporate 24 hours after you start watching it.

1. 
   If you take two months to watch it you are effectively paying for it twice in your comparison.
   

   TV Pros:
   

   1. You can get a movie started in minute, instead of waiting for the next day's mail
   2. Net app instead of web page interface for finding movies.

   
   Anything I missed?

   Good luck getting a movie from Netflix 1 day after you ordered it, especially if you have to return another movie. Unless you leave your queue empty you will have to wait 3 days for a movie after deciding to add it to your queue.
   Also with AppleTV you don't have to deal with scratched disks. If you rent kids movies you know how common this problem is.

 

[bsheridan]

If they are rentals then what happens when I put it on my ipod?

Does it get wiped off next time I plug my ipod into itunes?

Coz if thats the case, all I do is rent movie, put on ipod, then on another mac/pc with ipod rip installed just copy it over to the library no?

 

[Detlev]

Slightly off topic here but all you who claim to get Netflix movies the next day, what are these older movies? I've never received a new release the day of release. I've been on a waiting lists for several weeks for some new titles. Is there a trick?

 

[diamond.g]

Slightly off topic here but all you who claim to get Netflix movies the next day, what are these older movies? I've never received a new release the day of release. I've been on a waiting lists for several weeks for some new titles. Is there a trick?

Yeah, the trick is move close to either Richmond,VA or some place in California. That is where at least my in-laws movies come from. They can send back a movie and have a new one the next night.

 

[Glial]

If they are rentals then what happens when I put it on my ipod?

Does it get wiped off next time I plug my ipod into itunes?

Coz if thats the case, all I do is rent movie, put on ipod, then on another mac/pc with ipod rip installed just copy it over to the library no?

Yeah, I'm sure they never thought of that one...

 

[skiwhitman]

Am I reading this right? The movie will have been in Blockbuster and on Netflix for an entire MONTH before I can access it w/ an Apple TV?

This doesn't bother me too much. I am not usually chomping-at-the-bit to rent a movie when it first comes out. Plus, most movies are released on DVD on Tuesday's. I usually wait until the weekend to watch them and can wait the extra month. If I have to see it, I'll go and buy it. But that's rarely the case.

I'm very happy with Apple making the upgrade free to ATV users! I was sure that I was going to have to buy the ATV2!!! Kudos, Apple!

 

[TechnoPagan]

OT but

If I return a DVD today (Tuesday), it'll arrive at Netflix tomorrow (Wednesday). They'll send out the next one in my queue tomorrow (Wednesday), and I'll receive it on Thursday. Of course, I live in the same city as a distribution center. And a major post office.

The trick is to constantly have movies coming in and out--kinda like juggling. Don't stay still.

 

[rstansby]

Yeah, I'm sure they never thought of that one...

Well that same process can be used to transfer songs directly from an iPod to a computer it isn't paired with. Apple knows it can be done but hasn't prevented it.