new iTunes and iPods

[Izuno]

http://www.apple.com/itunes/overview

New iTunes 7

Now you can buy movies for computer and mobile viewing.

Now you can buy games for use on iPod video.

New nanos in new colors and larger capacity.

Enjoy!

[Minos]

I can live without that.

[Thrik]

This could have some serious implications on the film industry, similarly to how their music stuff changed the music industry. I mean, have you seen those prices? Brand new DVD releases are $13 (about £6.50) and they come out at the same time as the DVDs themselves.

Considering DVDs are more like triple that at least in shops here, well, need I go on?

[twiz]

This could have some serious implications on the film industry, similarly to how their music stuff changed the music industry. I mean, have you seen those prices? Brand new DVD releases are $13 (about £6.50) and they come out at the same time as the DVDs themselves.

Considering DVDs are more like triple that at least in shops here, well, need I go on?

Damn, you guys get ripped off for movies. New releases in the states are around $25USD. Most DVDs are under $20. Unless you're buying a season of TV shows, then its anywhere from $35-$70.

I think they should be happy about this. I'm sure they're making close to the same ammount on a downloaded movie as they do on a DVD sale. You cut out all the production costs, shipping costs, packaging costs and design, and probably production/editing of all of the 'extras'. Sure Apple has to pony up the cash for the server, but I don't think the cost per movie download will be anything close to the cost of production of a DVD.

Also, the downloaded movies will likely be of lesser quality for faster downloads.. well here is a quote from their site:

"When you download movies from iTunes, you get near DVD-quality, 640-by-480-pixel video(1) perfect for watching on your computer and positively brilliant for syncing to your iPod."

I run at 1280x1024 on my monitor, so that is a quarter of the size... so to watch it at "near DVD quality" I'd be watching on the equivalent of a 8.5" monitor? And they don't even mention sound. I don't know about you, but when I'm watching a really good movie, sound is almost more important than video quality. I can deal with a little lack of sharpness, but if the audio is flat and static-y, man that gets annoying fast.

I mean, I'm sure the quality isn't bad. But its not going to be widescreen tv DVD quality, at least not yet. I only buy movies I REALLY like, and I'd certainly pay double or triple to be able to watch them at the best quality on a TV, not on my monitor. Maybe if I have a hankering to watch Old School or some other cheap(as in not epic, cinematic, oscar worthy, etc) flick, I'd go with iTunes. If I want to watch Saving Private Ryan, anything Kubrick, American Beauty, American History X, The Usual Suspects, American Psycho, Shawshank Redemption, or others of that caliber or even close to it I'll spring for the DVD.

But then again I'm sure most of you have a nicer computer setup than I do, so you may be more inclined to watch on your comp. For me, race car vids, game previews, and porn is all the video that plays on my comp.

[Fletch]

I don't think they're trying to replace DVDs, merely provide an alternative. If I was constantly traveling or in situations where I needed a good time killer, I would be on board iPod video so fast. But I don't realy have a need right now. I like my 4th Generation 40GB with photo capability. When it dies, I'll get one of the sexier new ones. 80GB does sound mighty appealing, though.

[mikezilla]

A DvD is 720x480, so it is NEAR dvd quality... although resolution isn't the factor as much as compression I bet. The tv shows I saw off itunes before were more heavily compressed than I can really deal with.

They need an HD ipod, and the internet to deliver it.

[Bic-B@ll]

iInternet

[Fletch]

iTubes

[Pericolos0]

so it is only possible to wtach downloaded videos on itunes? I dont know how this could have serious implications on the film industry then..

[skdr]

new ipod shuffle is awesome.

[Izuno]

I've had a 60 gig video ipod since January, and since I have been travelling a lot it is essential. It's really cool to just watch a show or a movie when waiting around in airports and such, or a waiting room. Plus 60 gigs is nice storage space for moving big files.

A few points...

1) Ripping my DVD collection has been easy. I use PQ DVD which cost me $15 but the compression isn't too bad and a 2 hour movie takes less than an hour to rip a highest quality. Not as good as using Handbrake on a Mac, but supposedly Handbrake will have a free windows version soon that is better than anything else on market. Oh, a 2 hour movie takes less than a gig of space.

2) Watching those little movies on my iPod isn't bad, but outputting it to a TV (which is very easy) doesn't look as good of course, and I don't recommend that. sometimes it's okay for certain things, but in no way does my iPod replace my need for DVDs and my theatre system.

3) I think buying movies under new iTunes plan isn't a bad idea, but not sure if i'll be doing that unless...(go to point 4)

4) I'd really like to see the higher capacity iPods move away from miny hard drive technology and to super high capacity flash memory. supposedly there is this Korean company working on terrabyte sized flash memory systems smaller than iPod harddrives. Whether that's coming soon or not the point is this: eventually we'll have iPods with enough capacity to store movies in HD formats with little to no compression that can output to theatre systems, as well as have HD format screens on the iPods themselves with high enough resolution and enough screen real estate and a good interface...THEN I be glad to pack my DVDs in storage and never by physical media again and go 100% digital distribution. The hardware just isn't there...yet.

5) Five years ago I was still buying CDs. Now i prefer to get all my music digitally, and yes I buy music online and I don't steal it. I'd be happy to pay for DVD content the same way.

6) Games...yeah i'd be willing to play a game on my video iPod if something caught my interest, though i would like to be able to try for a couple days free before buying for get a free demo of the first level, sort of like on Xbox Live Arcade.

Anyway, I foresee a bright futrue for Apple...

[Ginger Lord]

Ah, a new Ipod shuffle thats even easier to nick.

Excellent.

[dissonance]

I can live without that.

/agree

This could have some serious implications on the film industry, similarly to how their music stuff changed the music industry.

i, for one, would /much/ rather go to a theater to watch a movie than see it on some shitty-small screen.

[Thrik]

Erm, I was clearly talking about the post-cinema side of things for personal viewing. iTunes movies go up at the same time as the DVD releases, not the cinema releases.

Obviously nothing compares to going to the cinema.

[Izuno]

Erm, I was clearly talking about the post-cinema side of things for personal viewing. iTunes movies go up at the same time as the DVD releases, not the cinema releases.

Obviously nothing compares to going to the cinema.

exactly. if i want a full movie experience...i go to the movies. if i want a solid home theatre experience, i'll load it up on my DVD system. I think a lof people here missinterpret the real intention of iTunes and most common use of video content offered. It's not intended to replace anything...it's really a supplement to offer new viewing opportunities not previously available. That said, you may have no use for watching movies on a tiny screen while waiting in an airport or sitting at 34,000 feet above Nebraska on your way to a client meeting in New York. So, video ipod isn't for you.

Sorry for rant...just want to clear up the "itunes will destroy cinema" idea that has been indirectly sort of but not really alluded to here. iTunes is not going to disrupt the movie industry.

Eventually, it or something similar will eliminate our need for wasteful DVDs, just like 8-tracks, cassettes, vynal, laser discs and every Sony format were all made obsolete for practical use (regardless of superiority of whatever)