Apple to offer HD movie rentals

[Blubaru]

Originally Posted by tylen01

Come on Apple! Give us a blu-ray drive!!!!

I looks like Apple is taking the m$ route and giving up on the idea of having optical storage in the future.

If they believed that optical storage was viable and believed in Blu-ray they would have at least mentioned Blu-ray.

I guess they will leave it to the 3rd party developers to make the external and internal Blu-ray drives for their computers.

[AllanUSC]

Originally Posted by bda4life

Nice annoucement from Apple, but I seriously doubt that the movies will be 1080P and inlcude a lossless audio track.

The specs for Apple TV indicate that the maximum resolution is 1280 by 720 so DEFINATELY NOT full 1080p.

[Patranus]

Anyone think that it might have been Microsoft/HD-DVD and Apple/Blu-Ray at the table and Fox/WB chose Apple/Blu-Ray?

[ESUNintel]

It'll be a pretty nice feature to have. I rarely rent, but when I do I usually end up buying the movie if I like the rental.

[WickyWoo]

No, it's simply the usual "form over function" mantra. Just like "a user replaceable battery on Ipod/Phone means ugly lines! Oh yeah, and you have to give us $80 every time it dies, we really like that" In this case, it's the silly obcession with thinness, and you can't make an optical drive that thin. I'm sure they're very happy with the whole "ipod version" that'll be on new blus (as am I, because it removes an excuse for ripping). I won't be shocked if there's a deck by the end of the year that has a USB port for secure transfer of these besides PS3.

[blu-backer]

Originally Posted by reiella

Christmas and the day after are usually such fun days for iTunes.

I remember setting up an iPod and iTunes account on Christmas a few years back [the old 2Gs admittantly].

That was a fun exercise in cursing at apple.

Unpossible. Apples products never have problems. </sarcasm>

[camper]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Were they ever not?
Seriously. Apple and MS are one and the same. Their giant corporations with proprietary boxes they want other people's content to go into becuase they own none of their own, and they want to be the gatekeeper skimming a quarter, 50 cents or more off that transaction.

Thank you! Sheesh, someone gets it

Seriously, someone said Apple was pushing Rentals, which makes it OK because renting is not buying. So you mean to tell me that Apple will not offer the same 'rental' item as a product for sale? Or that Microsoft will only offer movies for sale and not offer it as a Rental? You're downloading the exact same product afterall, be it rental or sale. The difference is in how long you get to use it.

Come on, the mindset that one company is evil and heartless while the other is daisies and lolipops is rediculous. At the risk of evoking Godwin's Law, it's like comparing Hitler to Stalin.

Both Microsoft and Apple want nothing more than for you to empty your pockets completely into theirs. Both are willing to do whatever it takes to do so, and neither will stop until they're the biggest dog in the park.

The ultimate goal for MS & Apple with digital downloads is to sell more servers, sell more OS's, sell more systems, and get a piece of each and every cherry in the pie.

If BD (or HD-DVD) was an impedence in that process, they would drop it faster than ugly chick would drop her boyfriend if Brad Pitt suddenly took an interest in her.

~Camper

[camper]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

I'm sure they're very happy with the whole "ipod version" that'll be on new blus (as am I, because it removes an excuse for ripping).

They're going to be putting a portable version of the film on new BD's? Oh that is awesome news! I hadn't heard that yet, I know SD-DVD had a few that did (New Potter & Live Free/Die Hard).

~Camper

[LynxFX]

Originally Posted by Mote

I bet you it doesn't.

You are probably right, there won't be enough people using it.

[davidPS3]

This was on NPR radio last night as well. The story is that down-loading is the wave of the future, but it is still along ways off, especially with the average consumer no up to speed on the technology.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by bda4life

Nice annoucement from Apple, but I seriously doubt that the movies will be 1080P and inlcude a lossless audio track. The announcement does not state what sort of video quality is associated with the HD titles, but it does state DD 5.1.

I for one will stick with Blu-Ray for the 1080P and unmatched audio quality.

really im sure the downloads will be like on xbox 360 where it says HD movie download only the download size is 4.2-4.8 gb deff not HD.

[cartier]

Originally Posted by camper

Thank you! Sheesh, someone gets it

So you mean to tell me that Apple will not offer the same 'rental' item as a product for sale?

~Camper

Yes! That is what I am saying, it is also what Apple is saying. First, the videos you can buy via Apple are at "near DVD quality", enough said. Second, the only way Apple could sell HD movies is if the studios let them, which clearly they are not. The fact that Apple can only rent new releases 30 days after the DVD is released is also important.

Originally Posted by camper

The difference is in how long you get to use it.

~Camper

No, the difference is in ownership. There is a huge difference between renting and owning and most people understand that difference.

[UltimateFighter]

Looks like Apple's Rental service isn't that great after all:

It wasn't exactly crystal clear during Steve's keynote today, but apparently, there's a fair bit of red tape attached to these movie rentals. First off, since the Apple TV hardware is remaining the same, users can still only expect 1,280 by 720 resolution on the high-end, and although 100 HD movies are reportedly ready to be viewed, not a single TV show can say the same. Furthermore, a note at the bottom of the Apple TV's revised tech specs points out that "Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound is not available with all HD rentals," so there's that. We've also learned that HD movie rentals will be available exclusively through the Apple TV, and considering that only rentals made from iTunes can be moved to other devices, any downloads originating from the Apple TV (including everything in high-definition) won't be making their way onto your iPod, iTunes library, etc. Depressing, we know.

[reiella]

Originally Posted by blu-backer

Unpossible. Apples products never have problems. </sarcasm>

Just since I feel like throwing some rotten apples around.

Here's a link I think you'll get a kick out of THE UNPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE

[Mr. Hanky]

Digital downloads are not the "enemy", imo. It is a foregone conclusion that it is in the future, afterall. I don't even have a problem with Sony getting their own DD up and running. DD is simply an alternative way to get content. As long as it is simply an alternate option, that is fine.

It's when it is being foisted as a replacement for physical media that holds the ground for premium quality pq/sq, that I would protest. MS's strategy to stalemate hdvd/br as a viable medium in order to plug DD is something I protest. Sony's strategy to offer br and DD as complementary options is a good thing, imo. Same thing with Apple (if my presumption is correct that they still support br as a relevant physical medium for movie content alongside their DD initiatives).

[blu-backer]

Originally Posted by reiella

Just since I feel like throwing some rotten apples around.

Here's a link I think you'll get a kick out of THE UNPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE

No way. </even more sarcasm>

[SmilesLots]

No problems here with Leopard on six Macs.

[reiella]

Originally Posted by SmilesLots

No problems here with Leopard on six Macs.

Heh, and I have no problem with Vista on the 4 PCs I have installed it on. Just somewhat amusing all around.

[Psiweaver]

Ugh does this thread really have to be an apple/micro$oft war. Its about yet another service providing HD downloads. Which is good for the industry and helps drive consumers towards adopting HD TV's this is a good thing for everyone. In addition while not all Apple products work perfectly they make some very nice things that work well. There is a reason they are picked by most graphic designers, artists etc. Micro$oft is good for gaming/enterprise type stuff. Different focuses different results. I can tell you though that I hate hate hate vista especially in comparison to Leopard. XP is way better than vista.

[JasonS]

This is by no means a replacement for Blu-ray. It's been confirmed that their HD videos top out at 720p and can ONLY be played from an Apple TV ($230 - $330 device). That's it. Nothing more than an alternative to HD-On Demand through Dish or Comcast.