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Apple to Announce iTunes Movie Rentals?
An anonymous reader writes "Think Secret is reporting that the next Apple Worldwide Developer's Conference may be the company's platform to announce movie rentals via iTunes. The files would probably have a built-in shutoff timer, or only allow a certain number of viewings." From the article: "Apple is said to have ironed out agreements with Walt Disney, Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, and Warner Bros., and is currently in talks with other major movie studios as well. It's unknown to what extent content will be available come the August 7 announcement, or whether Apple will announce all of its studio deals at that time ... Apple had been trying for months to persuade the movie studios that the a-la-carte model of buying individual titles, as the iTunes Music Store offers with music, was the way to go. The studios, however, have been fixed on offering only a subscription or rental-based model."
From the article: It is not known exactly how the coding system will work, but industry experts tell Think Secret that the software would likely either limit the number of playbacks or provide unlimited viewing for a period of time, after which the movie will be "turned off" and no longer available.
So now I can pay to spend an ungodly amount of time and energy to get some 320x240 jittery so-so contrast version of some big screen movie. And I'll have to watch it in a certain time period or lose it? Or, they'll restrict the number of times I can watch it? Somebody pinch me, I must be dreaming. Could life really be this good?
Somebody stop the Earth, I'd like to get off.
If the consuming public goes for this, it only brings the lie that is the new generation is "tech savvy", cuz if they were tech savvy, they'd know they're being sold a bill of goods and what's being offered is dumbed down, diluted quality, highly compressed pap.
(An aside, also from the article: " The subscription business makes sense for everybody. We'll all make money. " WTF? The subscription business makes sense for everybody? We'll all make money? Wow, I've always known the whole point of offering services, creating companies, etc., has been about making money.... It just becomes a little more obscenely transparent each day. I remember the good old days when companies at least pretended to want to please the customer.)
(Also, couple of questions:
- How LONG will the movie
stay around?
- How MUCH is this going to cost?
- What OTHER
viewing options besides the iPod screen?
- How MANY viewings
before expiration?
)Oh, now you're attacking me personally? How very grown up.