We’ve received many questions about Apple’s new iTunes Movie Rentals, so here’s the deal in a nutshell. Apple’s U.S. iTunes Store now offers movies you can rent. You can play rented movies in iTunes on a Mac or Windows PC, on your iPod or iPhone, or using Apple TV (once the new Apple TV software arrives. It will be available as a free automatic download to all Apple TV customers later this month).
Users with broadband connections will be able to begin watching rentals within 30 seconds of initiating the rental download. Standard definition DVD-quality iTunes Movie Rentals are priced at US$2.99 for library titles and $3.99 for new releases.
According to Apple’s iTunes 7.6 Help page “Renting Movies from the iTunes Store,” Standard definition DVD-quality movies downloaded via iTunes on a Mac or PC can be transferred to an iPod, iPhone, or Apple TV. Either device remembers where you stopped watching on your computer and picks up right where you left off. After the movie downloads to your computer, to transfer the rental to an iPod, iPhone, or Apple TV, connect the device, select it in iTunes, click the Movies tab, select the movie, and then click Move. After you transfer a rental, it is removed from your iTunes library.
To rent movies from the iTunes Store:
1. In iTunes, click iTunes Store.
2. Select the movie you wish to rent.
3. Click Rent Movie.
Movies downloaded directly via Apple TV are only playable on Apple TV. If you plan to watch a rented movie using Apple TV, you’ll get the best-quality video by renting it via Apple TV. High Definition (720p) movies with 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound will be downloadable later this month only via Apple TV and will cost $3.99 for library titles and $4.99 for new releases. Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound is not available with all HD rentals. Standard definition DVD-quality iTunes Movie Rentals will also be available for Apple TV and will be priced at US$2.99 for library titles and $3.99 for new releases.
Use the included Apple TV remote to browse rentals by Top Movies, Genres, and All HD. Or search for what you want to watch. Apple TV displays a movie poster for every rental. When you find a movie you like, click it to view a detail screen with a plot summary and a list of cast and crew. Choose your rental by quality and/or price and sit back and enjoy.
A rented movie expires 30 days after you rent it or 24 hours after you begin playing it, whichever comes first. Movie rentals disappear when they expire, so they won’t take up storage space.
@hedgehogfrenzy:
Former Mac User wrote: “So, Apple is going to somehow dupe people into believing their iTunes 1.3 Mbps H.264 MPEG-4 based 720p 30-fps video stream is HD?”
I was just being sarcastic when I used “duped” in reference to 720p TVs. So thanks for making my sarcasm clear.
It’s amazing how many people keep ignorantly complaining about less-than-1080p digital downloads…
Correction regarding moving to iPods:
Movies RENTED on iTunes (computer) can be moved to AppleTV, Macs, PCs, current iPods (Nano, Classic, Touch), iPhones, but note you cannot rent HD movies on iTunes.
HD movies RENTED on AppleTV can only play on AppleTV. Other lower-quality movies RENTED on AppleTV can be moved to Macs, PCs, current iPods (Nano, Classic, Touch), iPhones.
Anything (TV shows, videos, music, movies) BOUGHT on AppleTV can be moved to Macs, PCs, iPods (current and older), iPhones, but note you cannot buy HD movies (only rent) on AppleTV.
So is the reason rentals can’t be moved to older iPods have something to do with the new authenticating video out port on the current iPod/iPhone generation? Because otherwise, it seems a software upgrade should make it work for older iPods, as the movies are not higher quality and don’t require additional processing power.
So is this once again the studios inflicting DRM? And is this why Universal is back in for movie rentals?
Usually decent at sarcasm…missed yours.
I agree with Falkirk.
The terms must be set by the studios. The 30 day/24 hour limits are imposed by them, and them alone. I mean if Apple had it their way, the terms would be much more liberal, which pleases consumers, and leads to more satisfaction with Apple.
just seems like common sense ….
YO…worried about the time limits on the new rentals..HA. check this out ladies and germs.
http://machinist.salon.com/
This little “clock” trick has worked in several different contexts in the past..say Adobe’s Lightroom Demo 30 day limit…just kick back the clock and fire it up…continued use- for months after the demo was supposed to expire. In this case…set your clock FORWARD to a time in the future…rent a film..Then set your clock BACK to the actual time…FLUX CAPACITOR anyone? Ah, but I figure the ladies and germs at our beloved ( Fiji, Gala, Granny Smith…what sort of apple is Apple?) company will close this loophole very soon.