iTunes Movie downloads, the future is now?

Nelson Au · 01-15-2008, 03:10 PM

I would have started a thread in the movie software section, but I somehow thought the interest may be limited. This news of downloads for rentals of films and the support of so many studios in interesting.

Will it mark the eventual move to downloads as the primary means to acquire all forms of media. No more DVD's, or HDM?

I'm not a renter, but this may get me in. I prefer to buy what I know I want to own. I am not fully up on the specs, but I think I read the films are at 720 resolution. I think I'd still prefer 1080, since I am so used to it. But for a rental, I can see this being acceptable. One could always buy the HDM version later if they like the film.

**HTF Ads**

JohnS · 01-15-2008, 03:20 PM

As a recent owner of an ITouch, I think it's a great idea to have Itunes movie rentals. Now I can have fast and HD movie rentals.(and on the go!)

Hopefully I can download "Shot Em Up" and take it with me while at work

Plus with the recent news of Itune copies of movies on DVD copies.
First copy to have this feature is Family Guy Blue Harvest.

Some fantastic ITunes news this week!

Garrett Lundy · 01-15-2008, 04:44 PM

OK, who's gonna be the 1st one to sample Apple's rental fare? And four questions for when you do....

1. Are movies cropped to fill the widescreen? (If so, what do they do about 4:3 material)

2. Do all the movies have 5.1 Dolby surround, or just the HD movies?

3. Concerning the HD movies; Are they all films currently available on HD-DVD/BRD, or is Apple offering some exclusive titles not available on disk yet?

4. Any lagging or picture jitter during the movie? Did you have any other issues the forum should know about? (audio drop-out, pixelation, ghosting, etc etc)

JohnS · 01-15-2008, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garrett Lundy

OK, who's gonna be the 1st one to sample Apple's rental fare? And four questions for when you do....

1. Are movies cropped to fill the widescreen? (If so, what do they do about 4:3 material)

2. Do all the movies have 5.1 Dolby surround, or just the HD movies?

3. Concerning the HD movies; Are they all films currently available on HD-DVD/BRD, or is Apple offering some exclusive titles not available on disk yet?

4. Any lagging or picture jitter during the movie? Did you have any other issues the forum should know about? (audio drop-out, pixelation, ghosting, etc etc)

It shouldn't be any differen't than the TV show downloads.
Like Lost that's filmed in HD.
Lost looks great on my Itouch.
No jitters, audio drops outs, pixelation
of course there's no 5.1, it's an I touch, not your home theater.

I'm downloading Ipod's 1.1.3 update now to get Movie rentals

Eric M Jones · 01-15-2008, 06:47 PM

It appears that 720p content is being restricted to the AppleTV only. This is a major let down if you ask me. I have a Mac Mini HTPC and would pay for HD content through iTunes. I will not however pay for yet another device. I guess I'll be sticking with Netflix for a while longer.

-EJ

Garrett Lundy · 01-15-2008, 07:42 PM

Huh, I just downloaded the latest iTunes update, and I'm not seeing the rental option in the store, only the buy option.

Ken Chan · 01-15-2008, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Are movies cropped to fill the widescreen?

If it's like the stuff you buy, it will be 640 wide by however many pixels tall to be the correct aspect ratio. 4:3 will fill the 640x480 frame. Similarly, HD stuff will be 1280 wide; 16:9 will be 720 tall, while wider-screen movies will be shorter. No cropping.

JohnS · 01-15-2008, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garrett Lundy

Huh, I just downloaded the latest iTunes update, and I'm not seeing the rental option in the store, only the buy option.

Yeah, I've updated both my ITouch and my Itunes to the correct versions and I can't see the rental store(area) either

UPDATE!!!

They don't have their rent page up yet.
but do a search for the movies "300" and "Blades of Glory" and you can rent it.

BUT!!!!

Either they have it mislabeled or they are only offering a FULLSCREEN version of it.

I'm SHOCKED!!
I would have never thought they would give you a FULLSCREEN version

Brian L · 01-16-2008, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnS

Yeah, I've updated both my ITouch and my Itunes to the correct versions and I can't see the rental store(area) either

UPDATE!!!

They don't have their rent page up yet.
but do a search for the movies "300" and "Blades of Glory" and you can rent it.

BUT!!!!

Either they have it mislabeled or they are only offering a FULLSCREEN version of it.

I'm SHOCKED!!
I would have never thought they would give you a FULLSCREEN version

I suspect that is not the HD version.

There was a post elsewhere that said that HD rentals would only be for Apple TV, and since they have not shipped the Take 2 version or made the upgrade available yet, perhaps they are holding back.

I suspect that when they have HD content available for rental, they will not hide the fact;-)

Brian

Eric M Jones · 01-16-2008, 11:54 AM

Rentals are up now. There is a "Top Movies" list and a "Top Rentals" list in the Movie section. I find it interesting that not all movies have rental and purchase options. For example "Shooter" has a "buy it now" button but no rental option. Whereas "Live Free or Die Hard" has a "rent now" button but no buy option. And yes no HD available through iTunes. Lets hope they rethink that one.

-EJ

Yumbo · 01-16-2008, 12:53 PM

Only the initial studios have Widescreen.
New ones are ALL FULLSCREEN.

Craig S · 01-17-2008, 10:34 AM

Quote:

BUT!!!!

Either they have it mislabeled or they are only offering a FULLSCREEN version of it.

I'm SHOCKED!!
I would have never thought they would give you a FULLSCREEN version

Everyone put your panic and outrage away. This appears to be a labeling issue.

I sacrificied 3 of my hard-earned dollars and rented Moulin Rouge, one of the Fox catalog titles marked as "Fullscreen". I can happily report it plays at the proper OAR of 2:35.1.

I also think we need to consider that when we're dealing with a system (Apple TV) which is aimed EXCLUSIVELY at widescreen HDTVs, the term "Fullscreen" may not mean what we're all used to it meaning (Pan & Scanned for 4:3 sets).