Pretty cool that they finally have full length material available. Now if they would only offer content that someone would actually BUY!
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Apple Offering Full Length Movie on iTunes
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This whole thing is like books,... the really good ones you want to buy a hardbound one and savor it. Many others you are curious and want to experience but the paperback is enough. iTunes is the kind of the Paperback distributor of music, tv & movies.
I, for one, realize the challenge that the is presented right now with getting 500MB downloaded and think those wanting DVD-quality are being totally unrealistic. These iTunes downloads are intended for the iPod, but actually are certainly watchable on a computer display. My LOST episodes look decent on my 23" Cinema Display.
I am of the mindset that I will download itunes video that my Tivo somehow missed for me or for stuff that I am curious about. That goes for movies too, when they become available. Perhaps a movie I want for a plane trip that I've been wanting to see but haven't had a chance. Those other types of movies or TV shows that I truly covet (Sopranos, Lord of the Rings, King Kong) -- those I will go out and spend the appropriate amount for so I can watch it as it as clearly as it was intended for home use on DVD.
KIDS
Well, for those of you who ask "who would watch a movie on a 4" screen?" :: 6G iPods hopefully soon :: I say that millions of these things will be bought and handed to KIDS for trips or other times when littler ones need a distraction.
I for one, wouldn't mind handing my daughter a 6G ipod ("please, don't drop it, honey") and letting her get her JO JO's CIRCUS "on" while we travel. Or LITTLE EINSTEIN'S ... there are so many great cartoons, programs and learning shows that content will not be a factor for a huge slice that Apple could sell to with Disney content that aren't even a part of their regular high-budget, most coveted movies that they let out for a limited time only.
Also, the question is not IF but WHEN a special Pixar/Disney iPod will be introduced with some sort of special logo etched on the back and exclusive Pixar stuff loaded on.
God only knows how well those will sell during the holidays!
I, for one, realize the challenge that the is presented right now with getting 500MB downloaded and think those wanting DVD-quality are being totally unrealistic. These iTunes downloads are intended for the iPod, but actually are certainly watchable on a computer display. My LOST episodes look decent on my 23" Cinema Display.
I am of the mindset that I will download itunes video that my Tivo somehow missed for me or for stuff that I am curious about. That goes for movies too, when they become available. Perhaps a movie I want for a plane trip that I've been wanting to see but haven't had a chance. Those other types of movies or TV shows that I truly covet (Sopranos, Lord of the Rings, King Kong) -- those I will go out and spend the appropriate amount for so I can watch it as it as clearly as it was intended for home use on DVD.
KIDS
Well, for those of you who ask "who would watch a movie on a 4" screen?" :: 6G iPods hopefully soon :: I say that millions of these things will be bought and handed to KIDS for trips or other times when littler ones need a distraction.
I for one, wouldn't mind handing my daughter a 6G ipod ("please, don't drop it, honey") and letting her get her JO JO's CIRCUS "on" while we travel. Or LITTLE EINSTEIN'S ... there are so many great cartoons, programs and learning shows that content will not be a factor for a huge slice that Apple could sell to with Disney content that aren't even a part of their regular high-budget, most coveted movies that they let out for a limited time only.
Also, the question is not IF but WHEN a special Pixar/Disney iPod will be introduced with some sort of special logo etched on the back and exclusive Pixar stuff loaded on.
God only knows how well those will sell during the holidays!
JGowan said:
Well, probably not loaded ON. Apple has never done that. Problems with DRM-encoding them after and possibly having an iTunes-sync wipe them out prevent that. But a coupon in the box to download, a la the U2 iPod, would probably happen.
JGowan said:
dejo said:
While we don't know all the legal reasons why the U2 songs weren't on Apple's special edition U2 ipod, it's easy to surmise that perhaps the record label would only allow certain distribution or perhaps Apple didn't want to test the BEATLES anymore with the "Apple" name connected with music content sold and wanted to stick with downloading from the "iTunes" name.
In my mind, it's easy to speculate that perhaps with Steve on the inside with Disney now as the largest individual stockholder, it's certainly feasible to see Pixar/Disney content loaded on and sold at Disney and Apple stores all over the nation/world.
Don't forget, content HAS been added to special edition ipods before... The complete Harry Potter book collection was (is?) available on the IPOD.
JGowan said:
Sorry, that's wrong. The Harry Potter iPod was the audiobook box set that came bundled with the special iPod.
http://www.apple.com/itunes/harrypotter/
Any other examples?
The biggest problem, as I eluded to earlier, is that whatever is loaded onto the iPod will need to be DRM-encoded with the account of the purchaser. This is something that iTunes does, not the iPod.
C
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I can see how people hope that feature films will be released, but I don't think this is a step. It is just sideways movement. I guess the only purpose it serves is for Apple to find out the longest tolerable DL times for people (it appears their target audience is 12yo girls).boncellis said:
Finding movies in Baltimore after 10pm? Impossible - other than people looking for bars or people to rob, there is really nothing to do. Definately nothing to buy...unlike UT, there is no 24 hour walmart or Food 4 Less. Where would have gone to school in Laurel? All we have here is PGCC - unless you go to UM a few miles down the road.
How is SLC by the way? I almost went to law school back there. OK, it would have been BYU. More importantly, how's the weather? We're heading out there next week for spring break.
Look very, very closely at what Apple is doing with the Movie Trailers section of Front Row. They are streaming good quality movie trailers (lots better than iPod quality) in real time using a new technology they've developed. This is the pilot program for selling and streaming movies.dejo said:
I believe they will let us buy movies, and let us stream them so we can view them instantly as we buy. And, I believe they will let us optionally save that stream on our disks in a DRM'ed file, much like the music and TV shows we buy.
They've got the technology all there right now and it's all running right now. I believe they are just waiting to 1) make decent deals with movie companies 2) scale up their streaming facilities (did you notice they just bought a HUGE, VAST new data center?) and 3) the release of new "real" video products. It won't be long now.
dernhelm said:
Yea, you can say that again... Apple needs to get some good movie/video/tv content on iTunes. Right now it's just a bunch of junk, except for Saturday Night Live - most of which is way over priced if you ask me. I bought a Dave Chappelle show, a beavis & butthead, a Lost episode, and a couple others... and they are all crap. Wish I could return them and get my few buck$ back. But oh well... just hope they put some good stuff on there one of these days... like...
The Family Guys
The Simpsons
Discovery Channel
Modern Marvels
History Channel
Good movies selection, etc.
They've got the technology all there right now and it's all running right now. I believe they are just waiting to 1) make decent deals with movie companies 2) scale up their streaming facilities (did you notice they just bought a HUGE, VAST new data center?) and 3) the release of new "real" video products. It won't be long now.[/QUOTE]
They may have all the technology/systems in place but this depends on the ability of users to get access in real-time to the content. I'm not sure that there are enough users out there that can wait 2 hours to download a movie...i could get to the store and back with the DVD. Although at $1.99 i might be willing to wait.
They may have all the technology/systems in place but this depends on the ability of users to get access in real-time to the content. I'm not sure that there are enough users out there that can wait 2 hours to download a movie...i could get to the store and back with the DVD. Although at $1.99 i might be willing to wait.
More then just one moive!?!
A search of iTunes revealed that there is more then one movie from the Disney Channel available, and Ebert and roper. I found it interesting that the Ebert and roper episode is not available to US customers.
Macrumors said:
Now that Apple is offering Music Videos, Short Films and TV shows for download on their iTunes Music Store, the transition to selling full length movies is not a technical issue, but more of a marketing / licensing issue.
It appears Apple is now offering the first full-length movie for sale on the iTunes Music Store.
High School Musical (iTunes Link) is a 1 hour 39 minute Disney Channel original TV movie that is available on iTunes. The movie is 487MB and costs $1.99 - the same as all other videos on the iTunes Music Store.
This movie, however, does not appear to be linked from the main iTunes Store.
Apple has been rumored to be working on a distribution deal with the major movie studios, and is expected to launch a full-movie service alongside a Video iPod in the coming weeks.
A search of iTunes revealed that there is more then one movie from the Disney Channel available, and Ebert and roper. I found it interesting that the Ebert and roper episode is not available to US customers.
That its not labeled as Movie, its labeled as "video".
I think when they finally release Movie content they will offer it as Movies to separate it from the video stuff they offer as TV episodes and other content.
Anyways its nice to see that a larger content is available.
I think when they finally release Movie content they will offer it as Movies to separate it from the video stuff they offer as TV episodes and other content.
Anyways its nice to see that a larger content is available.
not far off
Macpredict members were only about 2 Weeks Off on this one, not bad considering the predictions started 6 months ago...
Macpredict members were only about 2 Weeks Off on this one, not bad considering the predictions started 6 months ago...
To help MacRumors find info concerning Apple related stuff in their time of need:
http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/14/whining-macbook-pro-youre-not-alone/#comments
http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/14/whining-macbook-pro-youre-not-alone/#comments
I bought the movie
I bought it. It's 465.3 MB, 1 hour and 40 minutes in length, and took about 20 minutes to download to my work. 320x240 AAC and AVC0 (I believe also known as H.264), 650 kbps data rate.
Obviously at 100% looks great, but small. Zooming 200% to 640x480 is borderline watchable normal distance to my screen....meaning you can notice blockiness and it is a bit distracting. Zooming further to fullscreen on my 17" Powerbook and moving back about 4 feet from the screen, it looks like a normal television signal.
To clarify, the resolution of the movie file is only one variable in the equation. The distance you are to the screen is another. This would hold true if you're trying to watch it on a 40" TV in your living room as well, obviously....I don't know how far back you need to be for it to appear "normal". It's definitely not intended to be high-definition, but those of you salivating over 1080p ought to look at the system requirements necessary to playback at that data rate! (dual 2Ghz anyone? leaves out the majority of the Mac population)
I subscribe to Blockbuster Online (like Netflix), and Apple knows there are a lot of people like me....meaning I'm paying $16 a month to consume movies. At $2 per, that represents 8 per month. Yeah, $1.99 feels about right for movies on demand at this resolution through iTunes. (And no, you don't HAVE to watch them through iTunes....just open up in Quicktime Player....or now in Front Row!)
killuminati said:
I bought it. It's 465.3 MB, 1 hour and 40 minutes in length, and took about 20 minutes to download to my work. 320x240 AAC and AVC0 (I believe also known as H.264), 650 kbps data rate.
Obviously at 100% looks great, but small. Zooming 200% to 640x480 is borderline watchable normal distance to my screen....meaning you can notice blockiness and it is a bit distracting. Zooming further to fullscreen on my 17" Powerbook and moving back about 4 feet from the screen, it looks like a normal television signal.
To clarify, the resolution of the movie file is only one variable in the equation. The distance you are to the screen is another. This would hold true if you're trying to watch it on a 40" TV in your living room as well, obviously....I don't know how far back you need to be for it to appear "normal". It's definitely not intended to be high-definition, but those of you salivating over 1080p ought to look at the system requirements necessary to playback at that data rate! (dual 2Ghz anyone? leaves out the majority of the Mac population)
I subscribe to Blockbuster Online (like Netflix), and Apple knows there are a lot of people like me....meaning I'm paying $16 a month to consume movies. At $2 per, that represents 8 per month. Yeah, $1.99 feels about right for movies on demand at this resolution through iTunes. (And no, you don't HAVE to watch them through iTunes....just open up in Quicktime Player....or now in Front Row!)
nbs2 said:
IT is finally warming up. I just went for a drive and was finally able to open my sunroof and get a little bit of air! The tulips are coming up at temple square and if spring break happens to be in about two weeks it will be a great vacation for you!
PS - I hope you are coming to ski our resorts are loving their AWESOME snow pack!
popular choice to kick things off
High School Musical is in the top ten list for the soundtrack and three music videos (at 3 or so minutes long) from the movie are in the top 15 of that category - so it seems a natural extension to make the full movie available for download.
Of course Apple needs to create a separate category for Movies and ramp up the content but this would appear imminent on the basis of today's revelations...
...now there's that one remaining issue of video content for the non-US stores...
High School Musical is in the top ten list for the soundtrack and three music videos (at 3 or so minutes long) from the movie are in the top 15 of that category - so it seems a natural extension to make the full movie available for download.
Of course Apple needs to create a separate category for Movies and ramp up the content but this would appear imminent on the basis of today's revelations...
...now there's that one remaining issue of video content for the non-US stores...
LosJackal said:
Not necessarily: Reader report: 1080p 24fps playback on Mac mini Core Duo plays fine
nicksoper said:
This is a low risk test case. Likely seeing how their servers work and testing out the relationship between Apple and Disney. And to see if people willreally watch low res
movies on an iPod or if the market demends DVD quality
I have a 7 year old daughter and this is the kind of thing she likes and kids that age will watch the same movie eight times in a two week period. So for two bucks a kid's movie is a great entertainment value She has a full collection of Hillery Duff CDs too and is hapy to play the same three CDs for months on end. Kid's stuff has great value and I'm actually liley to buy it.. Nothing wrong with making stuff for 2nd graders
I would not be surprized if the first round of movies is like this, made for cable and maed for pre-teens. There is a huge market and the studios might feel comfortable releasing their B-grade, no C-grade product as a low risk way to test the waters.
ChrisA said:
I think Apple wants to make a splash with some big-name titles as a way to get the service out there (if this does end up happening as predicted), but I would not be surprised if you end up being correct. Some distribution companies and studios will be a little wary of the novelty, and may limit offerings to, as you described it, "B-grade" content. It seems safe.
Even safer would be to make some classic films available. That would almost be a no risk scenario since the revenue has all but ceased for some of them. If you take it one step further, why not do the same for TV shows that are no longer on the air? Newsradio? Seinfeld? I can just imagine the clamoring there would have been for Family Guy if the iTMS had offered TV shows while it was briefly off the air.
I am keeping my expectations low on this front for Apple's 30th.
If this does not happen, who will be to blame ??
The Studios, red tape profit monsters!!
If this does not happen, who will be to blame ??
The Studios, red tape profit monsters!!
Yep, I think this is just the beginning of something big. Atleast I suspect they will be able to easily put on Disney/Pixar movies. I doubt the other companies will be willing to release movies at that price, the supscription model isn't bad, but if we could buy full length movies a lot cheaper than DVDs, then it would be a hoot.