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Rentals Evidence In iTunes 7.5?
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is really taking the world over, in doggy-styleWould be a good idea, though I already have rentals on my TiVo with Amazon Unbox. What will Apple's service offer above Unbox? The only thing that would be compelling would be 720p HD content - something unbox doesn't offer. Of course, with H.264 at its disposal, Apple is in a better position to offer HD than Amazon (though HD TiVos have the hardware to decode H.264, they don't seem to have that turned on, and HD MPEG 2 files are like 4GB for an hour show, if not more).
I'd hope that we see upgrades in the AppleTV at the same time as offering iTunes rentals. Still.. I'm in Oz so iTunes rentals are unlikely to appear here for a while.
And I think everyone is right that HD makes sense (though I'd hope for an option for SD too - since I don't have a HDTV and it'd save bandwidth, and perhaps good for my iPod classic?)
Software or hardware upgrade? I suppose they could use a slightly more modern CPU and GPU for h264 decoding and upgrade it to 1080/30p from 720.
That does seem like something they would do given the current ability to upgrade song(s) to full albums, and to plus versions...
perhaps this will never happen (or perhaps it should), but i think it would be great if there was an option to watch "new" movies thru iTunes... sure the big screen experience is way better than the small screen, but i'm sure a 24 hour rental of a new, in-theaters-now movie for $9.99 would work for lots of people, and could further legitimize the Apple TV.
You really think an additional $99.95 a year for a .Mac account will help launch a rental store ? Also, .Mac's features are mainly found on the Mac, I'd imagine a lot of Windows users use iTunes, so where would the benefit of a .Mac account be for them ?
It's something that could happen in the future, however I don't see it any time soon, unless Apple can convince and follow through to show the movie studios they wont lose revenues this way, but in fact make more money, it's not likely to change from the traditional cinema any time soon.
Not to sound like an arrogant ass, but why is this on the front page? This is hardly news... and I'm also confused as to why people are so amazed by it. What makes rentals so much more appealing than buying the movie? 1 or 2 views for a few bucks vs. having it for good and paying a few bucks more... seems strange to get excited about rentals.
When the iTunes Radio rumor hit, my assumption was a subscription service. This would seem to dovetail with that.
How big are these HD files everyone seems so eager to get? Seems to me we're a ways away from being able to take feature length HD downloads mainstream. I've bought a couple features from iTMS and even at standard def they downloads took a good long while.
I don't have the fastest speeds around (1.5MBps) but I'd guess that's around average, not to mention the data throttling the big ISPs have started implementing.
And, as long as the topic has come up again, I'll renew my pitch for $4 to own. Kill off Blockbuster et. al, and let the studios keep the revenue per viewer rather than selling one disc to a rental store for life.
How big are these HD files everyone seems so eager to get? Seems to me we're a ways away from being able to take feature length HD downloads mainstream. I've bought a couple features from iTMS and even at standard def they downloads took a good long while.
I don't have the fastest speeds around (1.5MBps) but I'd guess that's around average, not to mention the data throttling the big ISPs have started implementing.
And, as long as the topic has come up again, I'll renew my pitch for $4 to own. Kill off Blockbuster et. al, and let the studios keep the revenue per viewer rather than selling one disc to a rental store for life.
i'd be all in for an itunes movie rental service if it happens. Being able to download a rental to my mac or apple tv would be sweet, or even port it to the iphone/itough/ipod interface and then after it expires, sync it back and have it autodelete... let's launch it steve-o
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....
Its probably going to be $2.99 at the minimum.....
that would be really cool! i hope they dont lock out all non-americans
(i wanna use it in germany, too! )
(i wanna use it in germany, too!
)There were two properties that I found particularly intriguing.
I know this can't be true, but how cool would it be to allow the users to rent out the videos they have purchased ? Seems silly at first, but let's say I buy a video from the iTunes store at $15 and my friend at work wants to "borrow" it. Maybe he can do it legally for 30 days and for about $2. If you could make money by renting out the videos you bought on iTunes, wouldn't you be more likely to buy iTunes movies? (I'm sure this is impossible legally, but still something to make you go "hmmm")
I know this can't be true, but how cool would it be to allow the users to rent out the videos they have purchased ? Seems silly at first, but let's say I buy a video from the iTunes store at $15 and my friend at work wants to "borrow" it. Maybe he can do it legally for 30 days and for about $2. If you could make money by renting out the videos you bought on iTunes, wouldn't you be more likely to buy iTunes movies? (I'm sure this is impossible legally, but still something to make you go "hmmm")
Rentals are a great idea, but they need to come with HD and better Surround Sound...this might help calm the problems with the Movie Studios...
The Apple TV itself needs other updates (how about the cool new Picture Screen Savers that are in Leopard!)...like lyrics, iTunes store, Remote Use with iPhone/iPod Touch, wireless Streaming to iPhone/iPod Touch, just to name a few.
I love my Apple TV, but it needs a software update desperately...I am thinking Macworld '08. I also get the feeling iTunes '08 will be coming there as well.
The Apple TV itself needs other updates (how about the cool new Picture Screen Savers that are in Leopard!)...like lyrics, iTunes store, Remote Use with iPhone/iPod Touch, wireless Streaming to iPhone/iPod Touch, just to name a few.
I love my Apple TV, but it needs a software update desperately...I am thinking Macworld '08. I also get the feeling iTunes '08 will be coming there as well.
as long as HD-DVD/Blueray burners are expensive like this days the files are tooooo big for letting them sleep on HDDs. think about having bought 20 HD-movies. where are you going to store them?
if i have the choice ill pick the standard DVD version.
if i have the choice ill pick the standard DVD version.
Cost is about similar to blockbuster and i don't even have to rewind....
Thats why I bought myself a couple of these.
This would most likely be related to the ability to view rented movies on another device, such as an iPod Touch, iPhone, or even AppleTV, if there's still no ability to buy/rent content from the iTS on the AppleTV itself.
Steve has called the AppleTV a "hobby" project for Apple. I wish I'd known that before plunking down the cash for one, day one. It feels a little more like an orphaned and/or abandoned child at this point. Of all the Apple gear I've bought in the past two years, it's been the only device that's actually disappointed me and caused me to think was this purchase a mistake?
Far cheaper alternatives are available to do what the AppleTV does for me: send music to my stereo, look at pictures on the HDTV, and watch standard-def videos.
A rental scheme from iTunes that comes close to DVD quality and makes Netflix obsolete would be a welcome announcement at Macworld.