Rentals Evidence In iTunes 7.5?

[MacRumors]

One user has discovered that iTunes 7.5 carries resources indicative of forthcoming movie rental and video on demand functionality.

rental-content
rental-bag
rbsync
source-rental-info
dest-rental-info
getvodaccountselectionlist
GET VOD ACCOUNT SELECTION LIST
supportsRentals

While MacRumors can certify that the strings specified are indeed new as of iTunes 7.5, the jury is still out as to whether they mean anything significant. Previous resource string discoveries have indicated native iPhone and AppleTV games, neither of which have come true (yet?).

Perhaps the most promising sign that resource strings may hold value is when iTunes 7.0.1 resources indicated increased mobile phone functionality within a couple months of the release of the iPhone (though the strings did not specifically mention the iPhone).

Nonetheless, an incident occurred in September where Apple's iTunes problem reporting system revealed movie rental options. Apple has been rumored to have been in talks with Hollywood studios in regards to an online service that would launch this fall.

Article Link

 

[longofest]

Previous resource string discoveries have indicated native iPhone and AppleTV games, neither of which have come true (yet?).

And no, you can't pick on that statement... the hacks don't count

 

[puckhead193]

i would love a rental service. I wouldn't mind paying like 2-4 bucks for a rental. Cost is about similar to blockbuster and i don't even have to rewind....

 

[Epicurus]

This would be about the only way Apple could get me to use the Movie section on iTunes. Convenience of instant access/downloads, price of a rental, pumped straight to the TV via my trusty TV. Sounds like a good idea, if it pans out...

 

[shen]

in 7.5?!?

how can they tell what is in 7.5? it is usable?

i have tried it on my mini, emac, and ibook, and it locks the entire system on all 3 if i try to use it at all......

first major problem with any Apple software ever, and it kills all 3 machines.

glad timemachine works, just roll it back!

 

[jackc]

Sounds like a potential Macworld announcement

 

[caliguy]

how can they tell what is in 7.5? it is usable?

i have tried it on my mini, emac, and ibook, and it locks the entire system on all 3 if i try to use it at all......

first major problem with any Apple software ever, and it kills all 3 machines.

glad timemachine works, just roll it back!

It isn't usable yet, but it's there so that Apple could use it in the future if they start selling movie rentals.

You have to go to the iTunes icon, control-click then "Show Package Contents" to Contents to Mac OS, then control-click iTunes and open w/ Text Edit.

 

[Cloud9]

I would go on strike too if I could get a cut of itunes movie rentals.

 

[aswitcher]

Smells like USA only to me...

 

[basesloaded190]

sounds interesting to me...i would love to see apple increase their movie selection and improve upon that within itunes but only time will tell

 

[nagromme]

Yes, please!

No movie purchases for me, and no subscriptions. But RENTALS - yes!

And then get the selection to match Netflix please

 

[Sol]

Rentals on iTunes would make a lot more sense than purchasing videos. The price of iTunes films does not compare well with the price of DVDs. If the price of rentals is low enough and Apple offers HD content even DVD collectors will have incentive to rent these films.

 

[bdkennedy1]

Well, they didn't put the strings in there just for fun.

I hope this is a feature they plan to add to the practically abandoned Apple TV.

 

[ironring2006]

Sounds like a potential Macworld announcement

Sure does, and I bet the first movie they offer is "Across the Universe", along with making that album exclusively available on iTunes, along with the Beatles catalog finally available online. Apple + Apple finally come together. Sosumi.

 

[celloman]

this would be sweeettt. but wouldnt people be able to hack it and get like, 5 copies for the price of 1?

 

[iTeen]

...don't even have to rewind....

rewind???as in vhs???lol i haven't seen a vhs forever!!!

 

[samh004]

this would be sweeettt. but wouldnt people be able to hack it and get like, 5 copies for the price of 1?

They wouldn't be able to hack the iTunes store, but they might be able to strip the rental of it's copy protection... however most savvy computer users and even some not-so-savvy users can rip a DVD rental...

I hope if this happens that it lets you rent the movie for a period of days, not views. One view before it self destructs is useless, however it's likely to be the path Apple follows.

 

[jecapaga]

HD content would be killer. I'd finally have a use for my appletv beyond just using it for music currently. One can hope...

 

[Decrepit]

The continual discovery of strings in Apple software means one of two things.

1: The designers should be beaten with a stick for putting information into their application early.

Or, more likely,

2: They are a fantastic source of hype and conversation.

Either way, this might be the way that I rent a movie for the first time in at least 10 years.

 

[ingenious]

Movie rentals are a good idea for movies that I only want to see once or am not sure if i'll like.

they need to create an upgrade path, so if you've rented it, purchasing it is the original price-cost of rental.

 

[ingenious]

HD content would be killer. I'd finally have a use for my appletv beyond just using it for music currently. One can hope...

I would love HD content...

(now to get an HDTV... )

 

[twoodcc]

Sounds like a potential Macworld announcement

yes it does. even though i like the idea of rentals though

 

[hotshotharry]

Movie rentals are a good idea for movies that I only want to see once or am not sure if i'll like.

they need to create an upgrade path, so if you've rented it, purchasing it is the original price-cost of rental.

Now thats something i would bite at ! specially if they were good prices ! 10 bucks for a full movie ! I'm in haha

 

[ivan1234]

This is very good news! I hope rentals will be available outside the US soon after its initial introduction.

 

[chasemac]

Rentals with a .mac account sounds like the way Apple would want to go with an option to buy of course.