I think rentals need to be restricted as surely you could just keep an original copy elsewhere on your drive and keep adding it to the library each time you wanted to watch it. And I'm sure there were some heavy restrictions on multiple device usage.
I think may have to do with the size and resolution of the HD movie rentals. If they are in your iTunes account then they can be copied to your iDevices. These devices can have as little as 4GB capacity and would require your iDevice's processor to work exceptionally hard to display these. presumably, 720p videos on an iDevice. I dont even think they could handle such a large file, but if they could it would surely drain your battery quite a bit faster.
Apple could allow you to watch HD video on your Mac or PC but then prevent them from copying to your iDevices but that might upset more than a few people. It makes sense to limit keep HD videos to your AppleTV which is most likely hooked up to an HDTV.
You can't use this service with a 5th gen video ipod it appears. If that's correct, it seems like kind of a stupid move on Apple's part. How many potential customers are they excluding from the rental process right off the bat. I'd like to play, but I'm not buying a new ipod just for the pleasure of doing so. Oh well.
The current generation of iPods output video through the dock connector, and Apple's new AV cables have authentication chips in them. This was most likely a demand of the movie studios.
My issue is with the 24 hour time limit. It usually takes me 2 or 3 days to watch a movie because I usually fall asleep and restart the movie the next day from the point I last remember.
I'm right there with you. I'm a student and use movies as study breaks - 2+ hour study breaks are too long. I often watch something in 30-40 minute increments.
I will certainly use this rental service occasionally, but week-long rentals would suit me much, much better. (What's it to them, really? Do they need their bytes back?)
When this eventually comes to canada I'm definitely gonna be interested in using this service to rent movies I don't care about watching the special features for (obscure movies, flops, random things out of boredom or maybe I'm home sick), but I still have mad love for optical media and all the big name movies I gotta rent for real.
Like someone else pointed out what about subtitles, I'm not hard of hearing or anything but unless I'm watching something all alone or with head phones I almost always use them, the people I watch movies with never shut up (neither do I sometimes) or the phone is always ringing or what have you.
???? Your computer doesn't have any cables but you can still watch movies via iTune or front row. iTunes would simply need an yet another upgrade. Please explain.
Just like with Blu-Ray or HD-DVD, the highest resolution HD is only playable through certified players through HDMI cables. This prevents you from copying the video without DRM.
Your computer is certainly physically capable of playing HD movies, but the movie industry doesn't it want them playing on anything other than locked down hardware through HDMI cables. Thus you can watch downloadable HD movies on AppleTV, but not through iTunes on your computer.
Too Expensive for a Download! This Pricing structure wont work for the general public... it should be,"I mean... RENTAL? Cmon!" 99 cents for Standard Quality,$1.99 for hd!
Movie studios are asking a given amount for every rental. With apple asking 2.99/3.99, do you really think the studios are getting less than .99/1.99 of that?
And if that truly is expensive for a download, who is offering downloads cheaper?
Quote:
Originally Posted by johnmcboston
Agreed. Look at the lines at the 'red box' in the grocery store for 99 cents a night. There's only so much to pay for convenience.
Just convenience? How about selection? How many movies does redbox have to choose from? iTunes is supposed to be up to 1000 rental options within a month, do I have that many options from redbox? And are they all always guaranteed to be in stock?
Quote:
Originally Posted by bambuhiphop
I agree with you to a point. I am sure they are as low as they can go but the fact remains that this pricing is not very competitive in the current market. They can price where ever they want. Its their product. As with all things some people will use these and for others it does not work and won't use it but I think if Apple did it a little different they could get more business.
"They can price where ever they want?" The studios are demanding a certain price per download (wholesale). Obviously, apple can't price any lower than that, right? If it's not competitive, what other download options are cheaper? Amazon charges exactly the same. Most pay per view is even more expensive (with less selection). ANY company getting into the download business can only go so low since they have to give the studio their cut.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Galley
The current generation of iPods output video through the dock connector, and Apple's new AV cables have authentication chips in them. This was most likely a demand of the movie studios.
Those chips are only for iPod compatibility verification, I haven't seen anything saying that they are DRM chips. Moot point anyway since I don't think any of the iPods can play back HD files.
All services will strengthen it's market position (I think it still leads in the dedicated media extender market). I would say not needing a computer is a big draw but configuring broadband without one? How does that work?
Here's a question...(not directed at you, I just happened to glom onto your point about configuring broadband)
Why on earth would you *have* broadband if you didn't have a computer?
So now that argument gets even more ridiculous.
"you don't even need a computer to utilize aTV!'
"Oh? How do I get movies then?"
"Well, you buy it, bring it home and plug it into your broadband connection"
"My what?"
"Your broadband connection..."
"So I now have to sign up for broadband access just so I can get this thing I paid money for to work so I can pay more money to actually see anything on it?"
Come on. That's completely indefensible.
Someone's gotta suggest that they glom onto an open connection where they live
So:
aTV - $229
Broadband - $30 - $40 per month (just a guess, YMMV, mine's $31)
Comments
Jobs said during the Keynote, and I quote, "...1000 films by the end of February.." and "...rolling it out in the US starting today..."
thanks for clarifying that...Haven't seen the keynote.
I think rentals need to be restricted as surely you could just keep an original copy elsewhere on your drive and keep adding it to the library each time you wanted to watch it. And I'm sure there were some heavy restrictions on multiple device usage.
I think may have to do with the size and resolution of the HD movie rentals. If they are in your iTunes account then they can be copied to your iDevices. These devices can have as little as 4GB capacity and would require your iDevice's processor to work exceptionally hard to display these. presumably, 720p videos on an iDevice. I dont even think they could handle such a large file, but if they could it would surely drain your battery quite a bit faster.
Apple could allow you to watch HD video on your Mac or PC but then prevent them from copying to your iDevices but that might upset more than a few people. It makes sense to limit keep HD videos to your AppleTV which is most likely hooked up to an HDTV.
You can't use this service with a 5th gen video ipod it appears. If that's correct, it seems like kind of a stupid move on Apple's part. How many potential customers are they excluding from the rental process right off the bat. I'd like to play, but I'm not buying a new ipod just for the pleasure of doing so. Oh well.
The current generation of iPods output video through the dock connector, and Apple's new AV cables have authentication chips in them. This was most likely a demand of the movie studios.
My issue is with the 24 hour time limit. It usually takes me 2 or 3 days to watch a movie because I usually fall asleep and restart the movie the next day from the point I last remember.
I'm right there with you. I'm a student and use movies as study breaks - 2+ hour study breaks are too long. I often watch something in 30-40 minute increments.
I will certainly use this rental service occasionally, but week-long rentals would suit me much, much better. (What's it to them, really? Do they need their bytes back?)
Like someone else pointed out what about subtitles, I'm not hard of hearing or anything but unless I'm watching something all alone or with head phones I almost always use them, the people I watch movies with never shut up (neither do I sometimes) or the phone is always ringing or what have you.
It's said "Do not disconnect" all night long... and I can't bootup my iMac when the iPod is connected.
You'd think Apple would have their techs working overtime to fix this problem.
I'm not really impressed by this news... Heck, the latest update to iTunes has apparently broken my iPod.
It's said "Do not disconnect" all night long... and I can't bootup my iMac when the iPod is connected.
You'd think Apple would have their techs working overtime to fix this problem.
Strange. I updated three machines at home tonight and have had no problems with them, or the two iPods here.
???? Your computer doesn't have any cables but you can still watch movies via iTune or front row. iTunes would simply need an yet another upgrade. Please explain.
Just like with Blu-Ray or HD-DVD, the highest resolution HD is only playable through certified players through HDMI cables. This prevents you from copying the video without DRM.
Your computer is certainly physically capable of playing HD movies, but the movie industry doesn't it want them playing on anything other than locked down hardware through HDMI cables. Thus you can watch downloadable HD movies on AppleTV, but not through iTunes on your computer.
Too Expensive for a Download! This Pricing structure wont work for the general public... it should be,"I mean... RENTAL? Cmon!" 99 cents for Standard Quality,$1.99 for hd!
Movie studios are asking a given amount for every rental. With apple asking 2.99/3.99, do you really think the studios are getting less than .99/1.99 of that?
And if that truly is expensive for a download, who is offering downloads cheaper?
Agreed. Look at the lines at the 'red box' in the grocery store for 99 cents a night. There's only so much to pay for convenience.
Just convenience? How about selection? How many movies does redbox have to choose from? iTunes is supposed to be up to 1000 rental options within a month, do I have that many options from redbox? And are they all always guaranteed to be in stock?
I agree with you to a point. I am sure they are as low as they can go but the fact remains that this pricing is not very competitive in the current market. They can price where ever they want. Its their product. As with all things some people will use these and for others it does not work and won't use it but I think if Apple did it a little different they could get more business.
"They can price where ever they want?" The studios are demanding a certain price per download (wholesale). Obviously, apple can't price any lower than that, right? If it's not competitive, what other download options are cheaper? Amazon charges exactly the same. Most pay per view is even more expensive (with less selection). ANY company getting into the download business can only go so low since they have to give the studio their cut.
The current generation of iPods output video through the dock connector, and Apple's new AV cables have authentication chips in them. This was most likely a demand of the movie studios.
Those chips are only for iPod compatibility verification, I haven't seen anything saying that they are DRM chips. Moot point anyway since I don't think any of the iPods can play back HD files.
All services will strengthen it's market position (I think it still leads in the dedicated media extender market). I would say not needing a computer is a big draw but configuring broadband without one? How does that work?
Here's a question...(not directed at you, I just happened to glom onto your point about configuring broadband)
Why on earth would you *have* broadband if you didn't have a computer?
So now that argument gets even more ridiculous.
"you don't even need a computer to utilize aTV!'
"Oh? How do I get movies then?"
"Well, you buy it, bring it home and plug it into your broadband connection"
"My what?"
"Your broadband connection..."
"So I now have to sign up for broadband access just so I can get this thing I paid money for to work so I can pay more money to actually see anything on it?"
Come on. That's completely indefensible.
Someone's gotta suggest that they glom onto an open connection where they live
So:
aTV - $229
Broadband - $30 - $40 per month (just a guess, YMMV, mine's $31)
Content - $1.99 - $3.99 a pop