Comments on: Why Apple should launch iTunes movie rentals now

Rumors are abound that Apple will release a movie rental service on iTunes. And as Don Reisinger points out, the company should do it as soon as possible.

[bgavinw]

Can't forget to mention the Vudu, which is basically a movie-rental-only box that can do HD and has a great interface (a la Apple TV). The Apple TV could smoke the Vudu if Apple would just allow movie rentals. A hardware update to the AppleTV to add cheap storage (or even allow USB external) would also make it on par with the Vudu (which I think has a 300gb drive). Basically, if Apple doesn't move, then Vudu will grab up the market of people who want on-demand rentals (w/ HD capabilities) over broadband. Apple has the leg up in that they can extend that to their whole universe (Mac, PC, iPod, iPhone, TV) versus a Vudu box (just TV).

[john55440]

I have no idea if Apple will or won't rent movies in the future, but content providers are no longer interested in complying with Steve Jobs demand that he unilaterally dictate terms and conditions.

As AmazonMP3 demonstrates, Apple/iTunes isn't the only game in town. I suspect that content providers will continue to seek out alternatives to Apple.

[halesgarcia]

Amazon's MP3 downloads is occurring because of Apple's success, not in spite of them. As much as Steve Jobs had a hand in that, he should be commended.

Steve Jobs, contrary to the Microsoft horde's claims, has always been honest about the download business: it's primarily a way to sell iPods. iTunes has always handled open file formats and allowed you rip CDs. The DRM thing was a necessary evil imposed on Apple by the music industry.

Notice who's conspicuously missing? Microsoft. If Microsoft had had its way, we'd forever be subservient to Microsoft, it's DRM, and the media moguls. Let's hope this open era ushered in by Apple continues to prosper for everyone's sake.

[Astinsan]

Maybe there isn't a cheap enough delivery system to handle movies yet. (eh emm .. bittorrent filtering)

Then there is the movie companies that are in competition with apple's counterpart.

Then there is the worries about IP and protecting it.

To much to expedite this to itunes.

[rsgregor]

I am all for Apple introducing movie downloads...providing they offer HD as well. With the Apple TV having HDMI, this would seem like the next logical step. Let's face it, the quality of the movies on iTunes right now is horrendous. If Xbox Live can offer me HD movie downloads, I know Apple can make this technology work as well. I know it isn't "true HD," but for a movie that downloads in a relatively short time, the quality on Xbox Live is still pretty good. Let's hope this comes sooner than later.

[lantzn]

"Let's face it, the quality of the movies on iTunes right now is horrendous."

Horrendous? I just watched The Prestige on my Sony 32" Bravia 1080p HDTV using an Apple TV. My wife and I thought it was great. HD it's not, but it was better then some of the DirectTV programs we've watch and not much different then many of our standard DVDs. We just got our TV/ATV setup but haven't switched to HD yet. Horrendous is an over-exaggeration unless you're spoiled on an all HD diet.

[Tim.b]

Although Tivo user numbers aren't massive either, they've already successfully launched Amazon's UNBOX rental/purchase service available to ANY Tivo S2/S3/HD box user with a broadband connection. The prices are right too, all the way down to .99 weekend offers. And, it WORKS! --- I wouldn't be surprised to see HD come along either.

[Faztang]

i wish apple, amazon, microsoft, or walmart would figure out a way to get video rentals to work on an mp3 player. only way to get videos on them now through these sites (except microsoft) is to purchase which is a waste.

[aintrabar]

I thought the Apple TV was an interesting concept. But it misses the mark on so many levals. Basically theres no way I'm touching the thing till it does HD. And rentals would be genius for it!. Heck they could in a single blow end the entire Bluray-HD dvd fight if you could get a single box that does movies (purchase or rental) With no concerns on what format.

[skellener]

AppleTV COULD have made hug strides this year....it didn't. I wish it had.

XBOX 360 offers HD content NOW. 360 offers rentals NOW. With Connect 360 you have access to all of your media on your Mac (pics, movies, music, HD Podcasts) NOW. 360 offers DVD and HD-DVD playback (great when partnered with Netflix) NOW. Plus in addition you can play Halo 3 and Portal. I doubt AppleTV can keep up at this point.

[lantzn]

I read an article about a indie movie director who put his HD movie onto an Apple TV and uses it to connect to the movie theater's system for playback. He said it was a kit easier then carrying around a tape setup with a bunch of different connectors. From the sounds of it the Apple TV can handle HD even though Apple might not be offering HD at their store.

[JonathonStriker]

Hope you don't get fired for calling the movie studios stupid, although I very much agree.
You'd think by now they would have learned from the whole music issue, not to mention the whole Windows OS issue alone, that when you tell people you don't want them to do something, and that you've done something to prevent that from happening, you simply lit the spark and it's going to occur anyway. But I understand that with the new DVD recorders which are easier to use now, and better quality than VHS, are part of the issue. That's not to mention jusst simply decoding and converting the videos, stripping the DRM off of them.
While I could care less for movie rentals online, I still think it would be a good move to make. I'd rather have a way to rip my current DVDs to my iPod without going through a couple of programs to rip and convert my collection.

[lantzn]

Handbrake is a single program that will do all of that for you. I wish Apple would buy Handbrake and incorporate it into iTunes. I know the movie studios wouldn't stand for it. Even if they made Apple add DRM to the Handbrake feature I would still use it. Hit import button in iTunes and my DVD could be played on my Apple TV, nice.

[Wiz Zee]

It all comes back to rental windows. If Apple can bully the studios into letting iTunes rent movies as soon as they are released for sale/rental as DVDs, good for Apple and good for consumers.

Otherwise, its a big snore. I can spend few hundred bucks to buy another box to attach to my TV that lets me do the exact same thing as cable/sattelite PPV? Doesn't really seem worth it...

[skellener]

> Why Apple should launch iTunes movie rentals now

That statement is about a year too late. It should have happened with the debut of the AppleTV along with HD content.

This is an easy one. No rentals or HD content on iTunes by MacWorld and the AppleTV is dead.

[MetaWoody]

Why not use the on-demand movie via your cable set-top box for rentals rentals. It's typically $4. Pretty cheap. No waiting for a download and it starts immediately. It's here today. No need for Apple and a long download.

Call me crazy ... that seems like a no-brainer.

[Jesse Chan]

It's time for introducing this feature. Bandwidth costs are falling and people are moving online more and more. The economics look good: http://fishtrain.com/2007/09/23/itunes-movie-rentals-and-old-media/

[vio1234]

Do not overlook the fact that the iphone can now be connected to a TV to share downloaded movies and videos on your TV via a very easy to use adapter. This is a great option allowing me to rent movies to watch durin gmy lunch break, on an airplane, or share with my family on a Friday night.

[lantzn]

Apple TV plug-in for movie rentals released.

http://www.appletvhacks.net/2007/11/29/jaman-player-beta-10-now-available/

[Thal3s]

I own an Apple notebook and like all Mac owners, I love the company itself, but movie rentals? Common.

How would this work for the 95% of the population without a Mac or AppleTV? It wont. They cant watch movies with Apple's DRM.

Therefore it's a dumb idea.

[larryennis18466]

Yes, Apple should start rentals and use the Apple TV as it's platform. Also for these rental prices to be set at around $3.00 or $4.00. But the very first step is to give the "hobby of Steve's" a major upgrade with keeping the price @ $299 or lower. First, the downloads should be done from and directly to your AppleTV without a Mac or PC 'bridge". Keep it simple. Still there is people out there that does not have a computer in their house or wants to download it on their computer first then upload it to the device. Let it have both 802.11n and gigabit networking. If there is a person out there without the network or wireless, all they need is a Cable or DSL modem to connect it to. Apple could sell this service as well. Second, get rid of the remote and have a remote that can do all the functions it needs in a simple design. Third, support HD content for people who has high def. Fourth, add a composite video connection for the other people that still have the older TVs. Apple has to give a little something to every consumer to make this device attractive to everyone the way they done it with the iPod.

[heller.bob]

Has anyone used the xbox 360 movie rental service? It's fantastic. The interface is smooth and easy to navigate. Xbox's service also offers the option to rent the movie in standard def and hd (prices are more expensive for hd, but in line with offerings from your cable box). You can also buy tv shows just like on itunes. It's a great system. And, for 100 dollars more than an apple tv, it does basically everything an iTV does (i'm not certain on apple tv's features) and it is a high definition gaming console. Seems to me that xbox 360 has the clear edge here. I should add that I wouldn't be such a microsoft fanboy if apple would offer subscription music like the zune, and movie rentals like the xbox. I would go back to an Ipod in a second if the zune subscription service wasn't such a better value than itunes (I have both an ipod video and a 30g microsoft zune).

[Scott Gardener]

One additional thing to fix, and Vudu brings up the point: high definition. Right now, iTunes downloads are 480p and 2 channel stereo audio. To be competitive in the long run, we need to see support for 5.1 (or better) audio, as well as at the very least 720p or 1080i. (though preferably 1080p as well) For some reason, Apple TV has an HDMI connector that asks for either 720p or 1080i on setup, which is odd, given that its content right now is neither.

[Seasol]

The equipments you launch still are awesome, I would like to see your new range keep it man! great going.

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Seasol

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[Seasol]

The equipments you launch still are awesome, I would like to see your new range keep it man! great going.

========================================

Seasol

Homes in Albany, GA at www.BestInAlbany.com: is the site to begin your search for real estate, buying or selling a home or property.

[url="http://www.bestinalbany.com"]Homes for sale and homes for rent in Albany, GA[/url]