Apple's Movie Plans? Talks with Disney?

[Doctor Q]

Steve should be talking to Warner Bros. and getting rights to all the Looney Tunes cartoons.

Apple may indeed be talking to other content owners, as they did for music distribution. Everyone is talking about Apple-Disney discussions, but perhaps Apple has just been quieter about other talks already in progress.

 

[zelman]

I'd like to see a video ipod that was all touch screen in front.

it could switch between ipod mode where the bottom half of the (portrait) screen became a clickwheel, and movie mode where it would go landscape.

just a thought.

 

[rendezvouscp]

After you pay $600 for the device. After Apple figures out how to sell TV shows. After you go online and pay for all your favorite stuff (again) and download it. After a half hour wait.. between paying for it actually being able to watch the movie.

Then, someone who is riding on a bus or plane... could watch it on a 4" screen.

They could download a news video, pay for it and DL at nite, watch it the next morning.. and skip the $0.35 up-to-date paper.

They could watch an episode of Friends... as the bus rounds corners and makes stops. You'll have headphones and and you'll be focused on this tiny screen... completely depriving your senses...and four blocks past your stop the show will end.

A video ipod would work for someone who has absoluetly nothing else to do... for the next 30-300 minutes. I'll give you that much.

But there are people like that. I went on a trip to Australia last summer when this sort of thing would've been useful. No, I'm not talking about consuming a few episodes of Family Guy as we drive across the beautiful eastern coastline, I'm talking about those times when we're out in the middle of fields of sugar cane and all there is is sugar cane for miles upon miles. Or what about when I was with a home-stay family and we had a couple hours to kill and wanted to watch Family Guy. A friend had a portable DVD player, but was it easy to hook up to the TV? Not particularly.

It's sad to see teenagers rot their eyes out on screens, but there are practical uses.

I do some short films for fun once in a while, and as the editor, I like to make rough cuts and then get people's reactions. It'd be particularly handy if I could say "hey, let's meet over at so-and-so's house and I'll show you the latest I have." Before, I'd have to give an hour or two before I went to make sure I could get a copy on DVD and test it on DVD. But with the iPod video, I can just load the latest copy on the iPod and bam, it works. This is especially handy for my house, since we have an old DVD player that refuses to play DVDs from my PowerMac.

And tell me, why can't Apple figure out how to effectively allow people to rip their own DVDs? The only thing holding them back is the bloody encryption on the current DVDs that's easier to get through than the first two piggie's homes. Perhaps Apple could work something out to transfer that encryption, who knows?

I trust that Apple is willing to go on a limb and make things happen. It's why they Think Different.
-Chase

 

[biohazard6969]

i think this video pod is going to become3 available verryrrrrrrrry soon. as there become more and more rumors, each more definitive than the last, that means we have to be coming close

 

[SiliconAddict]

After you pay $600 for the device. After Apple figures out how to sell TV shows. After you go online and pay for all your favorite stuff (again) and download it. After a half hour wait.. between paying for it actually being able to watch the movie.

Then, someone who is riding on a bus or plane... could watch it on a 4" screen.

They could download a news video, pay for it and DL at nite, watch it the next morning.. and skip the $0.35 up-to-date paper.

They could watch an episode of Friends... as the bus rounds corners and makes stops. You'll have headphones and and you'll be focused on this tiny screen... completely depriving your senses...and four blocks past your stop the show will end.

A video ipod would work for someone who has absoluetly nothing else to do... for the next 30-300 minutes. I'll give you that much.

You obviously have never ridden a bus. Unless you are stupid its pretty freaking hard to miss a stop esp if you do it all the time. I can take a nap on the light rail and wake up before I hit my stop and do you think everyone takes 10 minute bus trips. Some of us are sitting around for at least an hour. But I totally agree with you on the plane flight. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve missed my stop and ended up in Southeast Brazil. Stupid Attention Deficit Disorder. 🙄 ^ 10
And your examples of how "hard" it will be to do video are ludicrous. A half hour to download a movie for viewing. Yah. Your point? Who cares. The point of a movie is to WATCH it not take a few minutes here to watch it. A few minutes there. Oh got a few minutes over there. Downloading a movie is just like going out and renting one which isn’t always spontaneous. And sometimes it is. The point is if someone wants to kill some time especially hours worth they can do it with an iPod Video or they can sit there and twiddle their thumbs, maybe count busted headlights out the window while they listen to music. Music is great when you can add it to other activties but its boring as hell when all you are doing is just sitting there doing NOTHING.
Also you are making huge assumptions that Apple doesn’t know what they are doing. Do you really think that if they roll this out it won’t be stupidly, insanely easy?

 

[Trowaman]

I hope Ives is not an idiot like Eisner was.

I suppose it will be something like Jobs gets disney content for iTunes, Disney gets Pixar back mostly in thanks to the moderation of Roy Disney who is NOW BACK ON DISNEY'S BOARD!!!! 😀

On a small note of roy he has shut down savedisney.com in exchange for being brought back on to Disney. Roy has publicly endorsed Jobs and the vision he has on several fronts, computer and movies.

 

[jayscheuerle]

He could just be trying to get Pixar movies from Disney. Disney still owns the distribution rights for Pixar's backcatalog of movies

What he's got is leverage. He can allow Disney to have the distribution piece of the Pixar films (like they've had up to now) in exchange for Disney making their catalog of films available on the iTVS (iTunes Video Store).

Disney would LOVE to have a continued association with Pixar as Pixar has provided Disney's only "hits" in years. Now they have something to offer back...

Could be interesting!

 

[savar]

Remember the Eisner/Jobs feud?

I believe they had a falling out over Pixar's relationship to Disney. Shortly thereafter Eisner receives a vote of no-confidence. Now Apple is in talks with the new cheese at Disney. Coincidence?

 

[cr2sh]

The point is if someone wants to kill some time especially hours worth they can do it with an iPod Video or they can sit there and twiddle their thumbs, maybe count busted headlights out the window while they listen to music.

Also you are making huge assumptions that Apple doesn’t know what they are doing. Do you really think that if they roll this out it won’t be stupidly, insanely easy?

Alright... we agree. A video iPod would be great for someone who has hours to kill. I know I don't have time like this. Most of my friends don't have time like this. I'd argue that most of the productive, workers/students in this world, don't have hours of free time to kill everyday. Certainly not enough to necesitate the purchase of such a device.

So why make one? Why solve all the technology problems... for such a small minority of daily travelers? There is not a market for such a device. Someone said it was "the logical next step" but this si business... and I don't see any reason to do it other than to fulfill some tech-nerds fantasies.

My assumption is that Apple DOES KNOW what they're doing.. as as such, this product will never see the light of day! I'm not arguing for this thing... I'm arguing against it. I'm saying its a pipe-dream. Not going to happen!

And on the off chance it does get released... it'll be a flop.

 

[jayscheuerle]

Alright... we agree. A video iPod would be great for someone who has hours to kill. I know I don't have time like this. Most of my friends don't have time like this. I'd argue that most of the productive, workers/students in this world, don't have hours of free time to kill everyday. Certainly not enough to necesitate the purchase of such a device.

So why make one? Why solve all the technology problems... for such a small minority of daily travelers? There is not a market for such a device. Someone said it was "the logical next step" but this si business... and I don't see any reason to do it other than to fulfill some tech-nerds fantasies.

My assumption is that Apple DOES KNOW what they're doing.. as as such, this product will never see the light of day! I'm not arguing for this thing... I'm arguing against it. I'm saying its a pipe-dream. Not going to happen!

And on the off chance it does get released... it'll be a flop.

Right. Video iPod may be a half-baked idea, but an iTVS that works in concert with a box that hooks up to your TV would be intriguing..

 

[iDM]

This probably is going to go against the grain of most MacRumors people but I'd like a video iPod, however I just don't think the square screen even at any resolution is going to be upto par to warrant watch videos even if they are movie videos.

One question I have is how will/would this work with the whole Disney-Pixar relations, I thought they had some issues with one another?!?

 

[HumanJHawkins]

I like the idea of downloading movies from iTunes and watching them on my computer or streaming them to my TV, but I can't see myself putting them on my iPod.

Not everyone who uses an iPod for music uses earbuds either... I think the idea for most people would be an iPod with a really big hard drive that you might have a dozen or more movies on. When you want to play them, you dock it to your TV and eliminate the VCR or DVD player.

I.e. Same home movie experience, different delivery mechinism.

 

[HumanJHawkins]

It's kind of like how the iPod photo flopped. People just didn't need or want to carry around and look at their photos on it, it was just a gimmick. <CUT>My point being, people like watching movies on TVs - movies to-go will be fun for a week and then erased from the iPod because they'll eat up too much storage space.

You are missing the point... The video iPod will be a replacement for DVD players. You will still watch the movies on TV except for a few people who want to take them around. You will just dock the video iPod to the TV instead of renting a DVD.

Photos are a different story. People are used to easily accessable albums and don't want to have to plug their iPod into a TV and navigate around to look at pictures of the kids. However, with video, people are used to having to drive to a video rental place twice (pick up and drop off), and put the disk in a player and sit down to watch. The video iPod will offer a compelling alternative to this that will only get better as bandwidth increases.

Plus, how many times have you been disappointed to find that a movie is not available at the store, or for really old movies, the tape is worn? Because of the lack of a physical store and the lack of "wear and tear", Apple will be able to offer a huge selection of movies in generally high quality.

If they can pull it off, this is going to be a huge hit.

 

[blueflame]

Few things

So, I would love a video ipod. but, it does have to have a video store. I also think this could be a huge hit, if doen well. my little fantasy of this is: imagine the ipod all white, removable battery. like the ibooks. same size as current ipod, but the entire face is a screen. then the itunes video store, you download a 1 gig movie file, h.264, you have it in your movie library. you can sync it to your ipod at an automatic resolution you choose. your ipod can be charged and can transmit using airport express AV to a system if wanted. or svid, or composite.
also, can someone make a poll, like, find out how many people would want a video ipod?
thanks
Andreas

 

[MacBram]

...To me, the best way to make this system work is looking at it the same way you look at the iTMS. You download movies at a much better price point then if you were to go out and get the DVD or renting.

Don't know what Blockbuster's does in the States. In the UK you can walk into the shop and rent a DVD for 2 nights £3.95. BUT there is now also an online subscription model whereby you pay £14.99 or something/month and you can have any 4 DVD's out at a time for as long as you want in the month - you pop them back in their envelope and they send you out another 4.

While we all agree with ITMS that we want to buy our music and not rent it like with Napster et al, it might be that people would be happy with a subscription model for Movies. I own a few of my very favorite movies on DVD, but don't want every one that I watch. I have even rented DVD's for £3.95 at Blockbusters, when I could have bought them there for perhaps £5.99 - £7.99 on sale. Just no point in filling up the house with them, when I only want to watch them a couple of times.

I realize that having them on my harddrive isn't filling up physical shelf space, but the principle of watching a movie once or twice vs listening to a song many times sort of still applies.

Rip

 

[5300cs]

If they did make a video playing iPod, would you seriously pull it out on the train/subway/bus and start watching movies?

Call me paranoid but uhhh, ATTENTION ALL THIEVES

 

[beatle888]

read the two quotes below and tell me you don't agree....
this is typical MacRumors chatter...

Steve should be talking to Warner Bros. and getting rights to all the Looney Tunes cartoons.

.

Apple may indeed be talking to other content owners, as they did for music distribution. Everyone is talking about Apple-Disney discussions, but perhaps Apple has just been quieter about other talks already in progress.

ok first off, no offense to Doctor Q. We have all posted such useless reply's (including this one....mine) but i just have to point out how most of the posts here at macrumors seem to be stating the most obvious in the most stuck up fashion. Of COURSE the original poster must of thought of that but it took Doctor Q to state it in a very pompose tone to illustrate the obvious.



anyway, sorry for the feelings hurt....but it's true....and we ALL do it...but WHY? Did Doctor Q really think that Thanatoast was in the dark about such a possibility just because Thanatoast mentioned how he would like it if Apple talked to Warner Bros.? It just seems unwarrented and an obvious display of someone seeing a chance to express how they were aware of something that someone else missed...kind of like my own post right now.

 

[beatle888]

If they did make a video playing iPod, would you seriously pull it out on the train/subway/bus and start watching movies?

Call me paranoid but uhhh, ATTENTION ALL THIEVES

after thinking about it i see your point. but you dont have to make what your doing obvious to others. If you live in a particularly shady area (which in this case i would suggest you move) you would be fine to just do it on the DL. You don't have to be flashy...for all the theif knows you could be checking your email or playing some Brick Braker game. iPods already have a reputation for attracting the unattractive but you CAN take precautions. It makes sense to go forward than to be held back by fear.

 

[Stella]

If they did make a video playing iPod, would you seriously pull it out on the train/subway/bus and start watching movies?

Call me paranoid but uhhh, ATTENTION ALL THIEVES

How is that different from playing PSP, say?

Obviously your careful about it, depending on where you live. If you live in a dodgy area, you wouldn't use it when there are little people about.

Innovation shouldn't be held back by low life scum.

 

[TheMasin9]

King Steve

This is kind of ironic, Steve pretty much single handidly demolished the once invincible disney powerhouse. As soon as "Cars" comes out i believe the disney/pixar contract is up, and disney is pretty much sunk when it comes to animation. Darn good they have some pretty good actors on contracts.

 

[modernpixel]

You are missing the point... The video iPod will be a replacement for DVD players.

That was actually part of my point, not that it would replace DVD players per se, but that Apple would move into a home entertainment unit of some kind that will act as a hub for dynamically retrieving content. Whether it would be in an iPod form is debatable - I don't perceive a general need for portable DVD players (so much easier just to bring the disc over to a friends house, and cheaper too!) Whereas the iPod came on after the portable digital music industry had started, there is no valuable portable DVD/movie player market And, as someone else pointed out, except for those traveling long distances or those with lots of free time, portable full length video is kind of useless.

Apple will also have strong competition from Netflix, which is bargaining with TV to make it's library available on demand. Netflix's library is enormous - and I for one will go out and buy the first Tivo player that has this function (provided it isn't ridiculously priced and that Apple hasn't come out with a better one first.)

I agree with the poster that said video clips like comedy monologues and music videos will be hot if video is added to the iPod. And, although Apple won't get involved in it directly -- the porn industry will no doubt make a fortune selling scenes from their movies.

Now, when the first holographic storage iPod comes out, then we'll talk about it replacing the DVD player / DVR. 🙂

 

[walkingmac]

I own a few of my very favorite movies on DVD, but don't want every one that I watch. I have even rented DVD's for £3.95 at Blockbusters, when I could have bought them there for perhaps £5.99 - £7.99 on sale. Just no point in filling up the house with them, when I only want to watch them a couple of times.

I think this is the key point. There are just different people out there. Like with music, there are people who have walls filled with physical media of music. Most of them moved all their content to their computers/iPods. There are people who LOVE their music and can't imagine their life without their music. Then there are people who enjoy music and want it when they are in the mood and have a nice small collection. Then there are people who just have a few songs. Some people could care less and listen to talk radio. Look at the variety of iPods out there and you can see this and how there is an iPod for almost anyone.

Now with movies, it's kinda the same. There are people who might watch a few movies a month, if that. Some who don't get out enough to catch anything new and just watch whats on TV. Then some who have their favorites and have bought them on DVD and such. However there are lots of people out there (like me) who are HUGE movie buffs. I have over 300 DVDs in my collection. I love getting mine used from blockbuster. I have some pretty odd tastes at times too, so some are hard to find.

The point? There are people (especially the younger generation) who are all about movies. Look at the illegal downloads of movies and you can see there is a market for it, and by very nature is highly profitable. If such offerings were made available, i can name off dozens of people who I know closely who would love it. What does it mean? It is all tied into the technology needed and hence, more macs and mac accessories (Video iPods, Hard Drives, SuperDrives, Top Boxs, etc..) sold. Not to mention a higher price point then music.

If anyone can do it with the kind of integration needed it is Apple and it is only a matter of time for it to be introduced.

(not to mention a great integration to capture and move to DVD TV programs) 🙄

 

[kzin]

You are missing the point... The video iPod will be a replacement for DVD players. You will still watch the movies on TV except for a few people who want to take them around. You will just dock the video iPod to the TV instead of renting a DVD.

Or you could call it a "smart video casette" -- you're just using the Video iPod as a smarter-than-a-casette-or-dvd storage container for your movies.

On the hardware side, all it would need is an extra port (for video out) and an adaptor that converts from its video out to RCA video, and an adaptor for converting from headphone jack to RCA left and right (those adaptors are out there already, IIRC).

OR a dock that has those on it.

OR a super-dock/set-top-box that ads in some extra features, such as a remote control for controlling it like any other movie player. And the part I would hope for: the set top box would have full DVR capabilities. Possibly this could be a Mac Mini based product. You might also have this box be used a direct-to-ITVS station (and then the video ipod becomes a means of taking your movie to your friend's house).


On the software side, you'd need a 'rental' mode for the movies (as others have pointed out, for a lot of people it's not going to be like music that you buy once and listed to a lot, there's going to be far more people who want to rent them, or a netflix like subscription model, or even both). I think a netflix like mode would be great here: for a monthly fee, you get any 1-5 movies you want, and can swap them around for other movies whenever you want.

And you'll need something other than the current "authorize 5 computers to watch this" model. Something like "I can watch my movies on these 3 computers OR anywhere my iPod is hooked up, as long as the movie is stored on my iPod". Though, you only need this if you use a set-top-box model. If it's a video port that gets added to the iPod (the first hardware thing I mention), then you don't need this part.


But, the short version is: I don't see a Video iPod as being a portable movie watching box, I see it as a smarter movie storage box that lets you put more movies in it, lets you have a strong UI for managing its content, and uses some form of DRM to protect the content on behalf of the movie industry. I'm sure it will LET you watch a movie on the 2" screen, but I sincerely doubt that that will be its primary "video" purpose, if "video" includes movies.

 

[sweetaction]

are you kidding me?

I didn't know Disney owned NBC....in fact, I'm pretty sure it doesn't (it owns ABC, though.)

Considering my Athlon 64 can't decode h264 and the dual g5 at work struggles mightily with it, I doubt iPods will have much luck in that department, either. If iPods ever do video with h264, they will need new hardware. Very new hardware specifically designed for this function.

If the video store allowed for iPods not only to play video (on what I hope would be a much larger screen) but also to plug into tvs and play movies from there (in standard definition, of course--HD is just too big and processor intensive) then that would be sweet.

But that would probably be such an intense work out for the iPod's battery, processor (even if it had hardware decoding), and hard drive, that I doubt it will happen any time soon, if at all.

I can't see the appeal of paying to watch movies on a 2'' screen. Even if I were interested, I'd just get a PSP. The video quality and quality of its screen are AMAZING and Sony doesn't care about profit margins for those since they make money of the movies and games, so they can make a better product much cheaper. (Although I wouldn't use a PSP for music.)

what the heck is wrong with your hardware son? I encode and I run media into H.264 with my imac g5 and powerbook g4 12inch. no prob.

 

[MrSugar]

A few of my thoughts on the whole movie download and ipod video idea.

First, there needs to be extremely good compression for downloading movies. Downloading movies is no joke in comparison to songs, in order to achieve a realistic number of purchases the system of downloading and playing would have to be simple and fast.

Second, a large number of people I know that use an iPod, don't buy songs. They get the CD, or they already owned the CD, and then they put it in their iTunes library via import. If it was possible to do this with DVD movies, then I could see it appealing to a much larger portion of the community. You don't just have to download the movies, but you can also import them onto your iPod if you already own them. Make the iPod easy to hook up to a TV, and bang, you have an instant market of people who want to carry their movie collection around with them.

Anyway, that's my two cents.