How much faith do you have Apple will upgrade HD films to 4K?

[VOODOO]

I’ve just recently started building a digital library on iTunes and I’m than a little concerned that Apple won’t upgrade HD films to 4K in the future.

Is it worth buying films in HD at this point in the hopes they will someday be upgraded to 4K or should one just buy 4K titles to be on the safe side?

[Greyman]

Originally Posted by VOODOO

I’ve just recently started building a digital library on iTunes and I’m than a little concerned that Apple won’t upgrade HD films to 4K in the future.

Is it worth buying films in HD at this point in the hopes they will someday be upgraded to 4K or should one just buy 4K titles to be on the safe side?

In general not every single movie ever made will get a 4K upgrade, but I have zero expectation that Apple will start charging extra for 4K (other than the slim possibility of Disney, if Apple ever adds Disney 4K).

[ManOfTheForest]

Originally Posted by VOODOO

I’ve just recently started building a digital library on iTunes and I’m than a little concerned that Apple won’t upgrade HD films to 4K in the future.

Is it worth buying films in HD at this point in the hopes they will someday be upgraded to 4K or should one just buy 4K titles to be on the safe side?

Apple is not responsible for making a movie 4K, the Extras, etc.

iTunes is just a shop - it is the studios/distributotrs who own the movies that decide what gets 4.

And as Greyman says above not every film will get a 4K upgrade anyway.

[solarrdadd]

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by VOODOO

I’ve just recently started building a digital library on iTunes and I’m than a little concerned that Apple won’t upgrade HD films to 4K in the future.

Is it worth buying films in HD at this point in the hopes they will someday be upgraded to 4K or should one just buy 4K titles to be on the safe side?

Buying a film in 4K on iTunes gives you 4K rights on MA (if you're in the U.S.), so there's something to be said for waiting if you think the film may some day be upgraded to 4K by the studio.

[-Gonzo-]

I wouldn’t be buying HD movies in the hope they’ll be upgraded to 4K down the line as sometimes movies just get relisted.
If it’s a movie you like then buy because you like it, if it turns 4K then that’s a bonus in my book.
If all you’re interested in is 4K movies then just wait and buy as and when they appear.

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by -Gonzo-

I wouldn’t be buying HD movies in the hope they’ll be upgraded to 4K down the line as sometimes movies just get relisted.
If it’s a movie you like then buy because you like it, if it turns 4K then that’s a bonus in my book.
If all you’re interested in is 4K movies then just wait and buy as and when they appear.

There are some films I'd like to have in 4K that have 4K/6K/8K masters, so I'm holding off buying or converting them.

If it's a favorite film that you've seen before, possibly own on physical disc, I don't see the point in rushing to get it when you can get 4K rights on both iTunes and MA (assuming one lives in the U.S.).

It doesn't necessarily mean one is just interested in 4K movies.

[cleeve]

I think that Apple has made it clear that their entire philosophy behind their movie content is that they aren’t going nickel-and-dime you for 4K versions of films. I don’t think there’s any way they’re going to back out of that at this point as it would be a PR shitstorm.

[VOODOO]

Originally Posted by -Gonzo-

I wouldn’t be buying HD movies in the hope they’ll be upgraded to 4K down the line as sometimes movies just get relisted.
If it’s a movie you like then buy because you like it, if it turns 4K then that’s a bonus in my book.
If all you’re interested in is 4K movies then just wait and buy as and when they appear.

I hear what you are saying, but going forward owning HD copies of films is going to be very dated. I notice a significant difference between the HD and 4K films I stream on Apple TV.

I just want to be sure that Apple is going to stick to its word and upgrade rather than being stuck with HD versions of films.

It’s a tough call. For example I was considering buying Superman II in HD, but what if Apple only upgrades the Donner version of the film? Same issue with Aliens. What if for some reason Apple only upgrades the theatrical cut rather than the extended cut?

Right now there are two versions of Blade Runner on iTunes. Only one of the two (the final cut) was upgraded to 4K..I’d happily buy the films, but I don’t want to get stuck in a situation like this.

[-Gonzo-]

Originally Posted by VOODOO

It’s a tough call. For example I was considering buying Superman II in HD, but what if Apple only upgrades the Donner version of the film? Same issue with Aliens. What if for some reason Apple only upgrades the theatrical cut rather than the extended cut?

That’s exactly what happened with Alien, the previous Directors Cut version that was available to buy which has the Theatrical as an iTunes Extra didn’t get the upgrade only the Theatrical version with the Directors cut that’s an iTunes Extra got the 4K upgrade for both versions..

[VOODOO]

Originally Posted by -Gonzo-

That’s exactly what happened with Alien, the previous Directors Cut version that was available to buy which has the Theatrical as an iTunes Extra didn’t get the upgrade only the Theatrical version with the Directors cut that’s an iTunes Extra got the 4K upgrade for both versions..

Thanks for passing that info along. I was going to buy Aliens, but I’ve decided to pass. I think I’m going to just hold out and wait until the films I want appear in 4K...I wish physical media wasn’t dying. It was so much simpler and I didn’t have to fear my purchases going away because of some rights dispute.

[-Gonzo-]

Originally Posted by VOODOO

Thanks for passing that info along. I was going to buy Aliens, but I’ve decided to pass. I think I’m going to just hold out and wait until the films I want appear in 4K...I wish physical media wasn’t dying. It was so much simpler and I didn’t have to fear my purchases going away because of some rights dispute.

That’s a bit of a contradiction Lol, earlier you were concerned that if you buy a HD movie it might not get the 4K upgrade so could face the possibility of having to buy again yet physical media was so much simpler which if you wanted the upgrade you would indeed have to buy again.
I do get your concerns about rights etc but in all the years I’ve been buying from iTunes I’ve not lost one purchase from my library that’s no longer available to buy or had change in distributor.