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Why There's No iTunes For Movies

Posted by timothy on from the farhad-tells-all dept.

theodp writes "Slate's Farhad Manjoo would gladly pay a hefty monthly fee for immediate access to recent movies and TV shows — if someone would just take his money. In reality, he pays nothing because no company sells such a plan, and instead resorts to getting his programming from the friendly BitTorrent network.

20 of 474 comments (clear)

  1. Actually, there is an iTunes for movies by Richmeister · · Score: 5, Informative

    It's under 'Movies' in the iTunes Store.

    1. Re:Actually, there is an iTunes for movies by psychodelicacy · · Score: 4, Informative

      Technically, you're right. But it doesn't work like iTunes - it has a very limited range of movies on offer and the prices are often not at all competitive. If you're outside the US, the range of stuff on offer is even worse, and the prices are much more prohibitive. So although it runs out of the iTunes store, it's very far from being an iTunes for movies in anything but name.

      --
      A closed mouth gathers no foot.
    2. Re:Actually, there is an iTunes for movies by mspohr · · Score: 4, Informative
      If you would RTFA (or had actually used iTunes movies), you would know about the very limited selection and restrictions on use from iTunes (and other 'services') due to the Byzantine industry contracts.

      It sounds like a hopeless situation and it looks like the best option is to use the ubiquitous peer to peer sources which offer free convenient downloads of just about anything you could want.

      --
      I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
    3. Re:Actually, there is an iTunes for movies by Nerdfest · · Score: 4, Informative

      I tend to boycott Apple MP3 players mainly because of their proprietary formats and hardware lock-in. I's like a device I can just drop files on and play, without installing some bloated management software. There's people worse than me as well. I have a friend who was car shopping and rejected one car because it had an iPod connector. Having a custom connector is not even that bad if it can be used free by others, but the iPod connector is definitely not like that. I've recently removed QuickTime from my remaining Windows box because of their pushy update strategy.

    4. Re:Actually, there is an iTunes for movies by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

      I tend to boycott Apple MP3 players mainly because of their proprietary formats and hardware lock-in. I's like a device I can just drop files on and play, without installing some bloated management software.

      In fact, you can do that. Plug the ipod into a PC without itunes and it appears to be a usb drive.

      There's people worse than me as well. I have a friend who was car shopping and rejected one car because it had an iPod connector.

      Well, your friend is going to have a hard time buying a car. Just about all of them have radios with ipod connectors (unless you buy a cheap shitbox vehicle). On the other hand, just buy an aftermarket radio, rip out the stock radio, and sell it on ebay.

    5. Re:Actually, there is an iTunes for movies by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      The iTunes formats aren't proprietary. That's a myth. The only truly proprietary format for music is Windows Media. The rest are all open standards, which is what Apple uses.

    6. Re:Actually, there is an iTunes for movies by Jezza · · Score: 4, Informative

      AAC? My new Nintendo plays that! You don't need iTunes (as others have commented on) but for me at least it's a nice "one stop shop" for media files. As for "hardware lock-in" well there are plenty of after market widgets for iPod; I don't need to get my charger from Apple, I can buy speakers from almost anyone, most iPods work with any headphones (even the new Shuffle if you have a widget to replicate the control buttons).

      I see no more "lock-in" than any other popular make of "MP3 Player".

      Now the studios are letting Apple remove their DRM I can even convert iTunes bought Music to another format.

      On the subject of the "Shuffle" it's not like I'm going to be trapped by my purchase - if I decide I want to use something else in the future I can just convert the music and bin the player (it's cheap enough).

    7. Re:Actually, there is an iTunes for movies by UnknowingFool · · Score: 4, Informative

      I tend to boycott Apple MP3 players mainly because of their proprietary formats and hardware lock-in. I's like a device I can just drop files on and play, without installing some bloated management software. There's people worse than me as well. I have a friend who was car shopping and rejected one car because it had an iPod connector. Having a custom connector is not even that bad if it can be used free by others, but the iPod connector is definitely not like that. I've recently removed QuickTime from my remaining Windows box because of their pushy update strategy.

      You do understand that you can use iPods (as well as many other players) without having to use their proprietary formats, right? iPod will play the standard format MP3s as well its apparent successor, AAC. As for hardware lock-in, you get that with any MP3 player. Wanna use your Sansa case with an iRiver? Nope. Not going to fit. As for managing music goes, I once had a device where I had to drop and drag. Here's the problem with that: It got extremely cumbersome after a dozen songs. You may think you want "control" but when you have to manage 10,000 songs manually, it's a pain.

      As for your friend, I think it's rather short-sighted to reject a car worth tens of thousands of dollars because it has an optional feature he didn't want that could be replaced for hundreds of dollars or better yet, simply just not used.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    8. Re:Actually, there is an iTunes for movies by Jezza · · Score: 2, Informative

      What about Songbird - looks pretty good? Then you can use an iPod with Linux, probably that a "better" solution than iTunes for Linux (which I'm sure wouldn't be acceptable for a large number of Linux users anyway - being "closed source").

      Honestly, is it only me that thinks: "meh" - I mean I put up with a lot worse to get the damn GPU to run under Linux (binary drivers). I'm not sure a music player is worth getting your panties in a bunch over (perhaps I'd feel differently if I were a pro musician, or even an amateur musician)!

    9. Re:Actually, there is an iTunes for movies by icebraining · · Score: 3, Informative

      "In fact, you can do that. Plug the ipod into a PC without itunes and it appears to be a usb drive."

      But then you can't play the mp3's you copy to it. He depends on a "internal database" which is generated by iTunes.

      --
      Dilbert RSS feed
    10. Re:Actually, there is an iTunes for movies by cthellis · · Score: 2, Informative

      I did just that. Right now. (Classic. Not sure about Touch.)

      Just so long as you put them in the right place, the iPod can read off the ID3 tags. Not all features will work without the internal databasing (like playlists, favorite tracking, Genius listing and whatnot; things that are iTunes-specific features), but general song playing works.

    11. Re:Actually, there is an iTunes for movies by cthellis · · Score: 2, Informative

      Put files in the music storage directories (which are hidden, so you have to show those first) and you can. iPods support drag-and-drop in that fashion, as they read generic data off the ID3 tags.

      Some features will be broken without the iTunes link, but obviously since some other programs like Winamp can be made to sync to your iPod, there are more options. And for anyone just looking for "generic song playing," they'll work just fine. (I'm pretty sure drag-and-drop playlist management would be a PITA to do, though, so you're likely still going to need a control program for that. Unless you're satisfied doing it the "on the fly" way on the iPod itself, which tends to be irritating.)

    12. Re:Actually, there is an iTunes for movies by Otto · · Score: 2, Informative

      a) MOV is not a video format. It's a standard container format. Specs for it are available and free.

      b) No argument there, but opinion is not fact.

      c) Having certain options turned on by default in the installation program is not the same thing as forcing you to leave them enabled. Also, Quicktime is available without iTunes, which prevents it from installing anything even vaguely iPod related.

      d) Installing software to watch videos? Madness!

      --
      - Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set him on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
    13. Re:Actually, there is an iTunes for movies by cthellis · · Score: 4, Informative

      They are. Also, their formats are not "proprietary," just the Fairplay DRM. (While, amusingly, MP3 is a proprietary format. Just the de-facto standard.) And since Apple was basically instrumental in getting the RIAA to back off music DRM everywhere (short of subscription rentals, of course), I'm not sure why people continue to have a stick up their butt on what was inherently RIAA-demanded DRM, and the problems that surrounded that and their licensing and distribution model.

    14. Re:Actually, there is an iTunes for movies by Aranykai · · Score: 2, Informative

      I do pretty much all of that via winamp and my zen. Winamp generates my playlists based on listening habits, automatically syncs new content to my zen every time its connected(via a usb mini cable you can obtain anywhere for a few dollars instead of a proprietary POS connector, I might add).

      Another feature Zen's have over the competition is recording from FM radio. I attend conventions regularly and I can record a clean copy off their FM transmission, avoiding any noise/gain issues with a mic. Lets see an iPod pull that off.

      --
      If sharing a song makes you a pirate, what do I have to share to be a ninja?
    15. Re:Actually, there is an iTunes for movies by spire3661 · · Score: 2, Informative

      THey most certainly are not the 'best' on many levels. THe ONLY real advantage Apple had this late inthe game was the Itunes DRM. Now thats gone, ther eis no reason not to pick up a MUCH more user friendly pplayer. Ipods only allow you to do things in VERY presrcibed ways and its utter bullshit. Ill list a few

      Cant use it cross platform, if you want to transfer songs from a PC and your ipod is mac formatted you are fucked, which is jsut plain retarded.

      Cant just drag and drop files on it like almost any other good MP3 player. The battery is non removable and expensive to have the OEM replace it. ( i know there are after market kits but they take a level of technical knowledge)

      Its expensive. It costs quite a bit more then most of the players out there and does less for MY usage.

      Ipod is a decent product and it has its place, but it most certainly not the 'best' from both a technical and universal access point of view.

      --
      Good-bye
    16. Re:Actually, there is an iTunes for movies by Nerdfest · · Score: 2, Informative

      Check the moderation on the parent post, and the one that follows it (mine). Both have been as high as at least +4, and keep being modded down as well. Expressing an opinion is strongly discouraged.

  2. Itunes pricing is already segmented. by tpgp · · Score: 3, Informative

    Itunes pricing is already segmented. Amazon's digital offering is region locked. As are all the other players.

    I'm not sure your point holds.

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    My pics.
  3. Amazon has a service where you can purchase movies by Marrow · · Score: 4, Informative

    They even have their own download client. Search on Video on Demand.

  4. Re:Segmentation by digitalchinky · · Score: 4, Informative

    They aren't making much money from the Philippines then. The most expensive movie you can see here is around $10 USD, and that's for a world wide hyped movie on opening night at the posh end of town. On average it's about $4 in a good cinema. They are competing against piracy though, a single pirated movie is about $1, $2 will get you a disc containing anywhere up to 32 movies. 12 is about average though, any more than that and the compression makes them look worse than the phone cam in the cinema kind. Now an original movie purchased from a store in shrink wrap with hologram stickers, that'll set you back 1 to 2 bucks as well. They are well and truly in competition with the pirates now. Arrrrr. Most people can't be arsed to go to the mall and buy the originals though. Pirated stuff lives closer to home, and it has the adverts stripped out.

    So aside from geographic IP mapping which is trivially defeated with proxies, or charging a single price for world wide distribution, people are just going to flock to the cheapest and most convenient source. I figure if they can still turn a profit at 2 bucks for an original movie on DVD, they aren't hurting so bad after all.