According to this article in the New York Times (see below), Apple and the movie studios are currently in talks to provide films digitally to consumers via the iTunes Music (and Video) Store.
I'm looking forward to this... legal digital delivery of movies is long overdue.
A Coming Attraction: Movies on iTunes - New York Times
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-
The Geek Code desperately needs updating, but in any case here's mine (as of 2010-02-28):
-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version: 3.12
GIT/MU d+(-) s:+>: a C++> ULXB++++$ L+++ M++ w--() !O !V P+ E---
W+++ N o++ K? PS PE++ Y+ PGP t !5 X- R- tv+@ b++ DI++++ D--- e*++
h--- r+++ y+++ G+
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------
If you really care about knowing what that all means, you either know the code already, or you can get it decoded for you here.
5 comments:
I believe there was a segment on diggnation about this a month or so ago... Kevin had a good point, which is also mentioned in the article:
"The TV programs and music videos sold on iTunes are low-resolution videos appropriate for viewing on the iPod. But they offer inadequate display quality when viewed on a Macintosh computer [or comparable larger display]."
1). I'm all for movies being portable and cheap, but not when the display causes you headaches and eyestrain with the ipod's 2.5" screen... I prefer my movies with full 5.1 digital surround sound on my large tv... Such a small form factor is best left up to vodcasts and the occasional 22 minute long tv show...
2). $9.99 is WAY too much for a compressed, butchered down version of a hollywood blockbuster... I believe Kevin also mentioned that he would fork over $4 a movie... I would agree, but that price needs to be lowered to $2.25 - $3.75 (depending on the movie)
"one person involved said, a price of $9.99 for a movie would undercut the price Wal-Mart charges for DVD's."
- It's called business Wal-Mart, adapt...
Oh, and btw, good article Brad :)
I'm hoping that the cut-down quality won't be a necessity. According to this article at Mac OS Rumors, OSX 10.5 "Leopard" will include a system-level file-sharing client (something like BitTorrent, but proprietary) that will give users the option to "'donate' upstream Internet bandwidth for things like pushing Software Update packages to Leopard users, delivering iTunes Store content, and just about any purpose to which Apple puts its bandwidth."
I think the main reason for the reduced resolution is file size and bandwidth issues, and the "this is meant for the iPod screen" line is just a smoke and mirrors act so they don't have to push out the giant files that would be necessary if they went at a more reasonable level of detail. The built-in file sharing for Apple content would allow then to dramatically decrease the amount of bandwidth they would have to provide and therefore allow them to offer full-res (at least NTSC) video over the iTMS.
I think a $9.99 movie download would be reasonable if I could get it with the same quality as standard-definition DVD.
well said, $9.99 to download a full resolution dvd quality movie would be worth the effort / price... however, that would be with the ability to play that dvd movie anywhere i want, just like a 'regular' purchased dvd...
online retailers are looking around a bit torrent solution for their movie downloads... now, if i'm already paying for a digital movie with drm attached, there is no way i am donating my upload bandwidth to help them distribute... now, to help the community with necessary kernel / system updates, i would be more than willing to assist...
oh, and i was looking at the rovertv... now i know that since you're such a hard core mac user, you'll shoot it down with a few ipod / tunes comparisons; but this is the coolest thing i have seen in a long time :)
That rovertv thing is pretty cool... to be honest, I don't know what they hype is over the iPod with video. I can keep plenty of music and podcasts with me on my 2GB nano using a collection of continuously-updated Smart Playlists, which I listen to mostly in my car.
I can't listen to any of my albums straight through whenever I want, but I've always got a few full-album static playlists of my current favorites. And, as you say, who wants to watch video on a tiny screen? I watch videos by hooking my Powerbook up to the TV screen.
Speaking of videos... did you see the latest antics of Kevin & Alex (or as you like to call them, "Kevin and the other guy;" or as Lauren likes to call them, "Alex and the other guy") in Episode 50? Good stories, plus the new intro video rocked! I'm looking forward to Digg v3... maybe I'll actually start using it more if it becomes credible for more types of news than just technology.
there are other types of news other than technology?.. do tell...
"the other guy" would have a name if he would allow Kevin to talk once in a while... there hasn't been an episode yet where Kevin hasn't been interrupted in the middle of a sentence by a mr. crazy hair's clever anecdote... let the man speak! he is responsible for one of the top websites available, so you know he has something interesting to say...
eargerly awaiting your next news story...
Post a Comment