Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Thursday, 14 August 2008 09:15
Opinion and Analysis
Page 2 of 3
Given that movies can be both rented and purchased, Apple’s terms of rental will be of great interest to users.
Originally, US movie rentals through iTunes were
limited to a 24 hour window. But Apple says this window is now 48 hours
– giving you plenty of time to make up for interruptions, or even watch
a movie multiple times, if so desired.
This is a common sense improvement to the rental process – I can
definitely remember frustrated renters in the US who complained that 24
hours simply wasn’t enough time once you’d started watching a movie
because life sometimes got in the way.
In addition, users get a 30 day window in which to actually start
watching a movie, so if you decide to rent it, and don’t have time to
start watching immediately.
Indeed, you could put it off until next week, or the week after that,
or for two more weeks before you will find the rental window closes,
and that too is a generous capability.
You can also download a movie directly to the Apple TV box, making it a
true movie delivery service and far more greatly cementing the Apple
TV’s usefulness in the Australian and NZ markets.
But to access and watch HD downlaods, an Apple Australia representative
has advised that you must be using an Apple TV device - any movie
downloads or rentals via iTunes on PCs and Macs are only done in
standard definition (SD).
So, while there are over 100 titles in
“stunning” HD, the "catch" is that you'll need - for now - an Apple TV
as well. Looks like a clever way to boost Apple TV sales if you ask me,
although some consumers with full HD capable 30-inch screens on their
Macs will wonder why they can't access HD downloads, too.
And, whether you are buying SD or HD versions, users will be best
off with an ISP that offers a LARGE download limit, or like iiNet
doesn't count iTunes downloads towards the monthly download limit.
It’s something more ISPs should seriously consider implementing,
especially to better compete with Telstra’s BigPond, which doesn't
charge its own members for downloads of music, movies and TV Shows
through the BigPond TV, Bigpond Music and BigPond Movies.
So, what about the price? Well, they do say that if you have to ask,
you can’t afford it, but that wouldn’t be true in Apple’s case – the
pricing looks pretty good, and New Zealanders are actually getting a
better deal than Australians for movie purchases but pay more for
rentals.
Please read on to page 3.
