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32 Comments
- Quix, on 10/12/2007, -4/+21So this is why the studios shunned Apple and mated with Amazon instead? To go after that killer 10% of the market? I expect after more reports like this start to bubble up, Mr. Jobs will be getting some interesting phone calls from studio heads.
"Hi Steve, about that Amazon thing....yeah, we were just kidding with that. Seriously. We're still friends, right?"
Why can't Hollywood recognize the future and get on board already? Pitiful.
P.S. Steve - rental downloads would be nice... - WiseWeasel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Imagine how many sales they'd have if only they allowed us to burn video downloads to standard DVD format...
- Antialias, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9I'm betting it's the studios that don't want this. If Apple had their way you would be able to burn dvd's and probably rip dvd movies to your iTunes library as well.
- WiseWeasel, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6I don't care why they chose to cripple it. I'm just stating my reason for not using this service, and the same reason probably applies to many more potential customers. Clearly, the usage rights they give Video Store customers are unacceptable, since there's no way to play the content on standard playback devices.
- aurrea, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5"paid video downloads" = .01% of video downloads.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5For busy people that want a legal way to download episodes of TV shows without commercials, iTunes is perfect. It's not about wasting money, it's about convenience.
- node3, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Step one, chill. You're getting seriously worked up over something that will probably never affect you in any way whatsoever.
Step two, realize the world moves on. The old model may have made sense before the advent of the internet, but things have changed. Those that stand in our way will become road-kill.
I've never heard *anyone* claim they had a "god given right" to bittorrent. That's a silly notion. What we have is modern technology, and we are *going* to take advantage of it. If the media companies want our money, they will have to live up to the potential the internet brings (the way Apple has done quite well, even if imperfectly). If not, they *will* be left behind, and people *will* download their products whether god wants us to or not.
The days of physical media distribution are numbered. It's inefficient and irrational in the information age. - Zidul, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Key word, "paid"
- maxfact, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2It is good to see iTunes leading the (admittedly small) pack. I've been using it and like the direction it's going. I'm a big fan of the flat pricing structure (except when the video is only 4 minutes, then it makes no sense to me why it should cost two bucks like the hour-long videos).
The quality and selection are good enough for me...I watch on my 17 inch portable display and it's good.
I wish there weren't DRM on the content, but it really has not been an inconvenience for me. The way Apple does it has let me use the content on up to five different computers which is a limit I've never hit. Over time I hope that the entertainment industry learns that DRM lowers the value of their product rather than increases it. Let's hope that as this new corner of the industry matures that more rational heads will prevail in the policy-making department. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2...
- foxhoundadmin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1in other news, bittorrent delivers 90 percent of PIRATED video downloads! :D
- WiseWeasel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Don't get me wrong, I love Apple hardware and MacOS X. That still doesn't mean that it's as standard or ubiquitous as DVD players though. It's great that you have an iTV and video iPod, but what do you do when you want to play the content elsewhere? What about people that don't own a Video iPod or iTV? You have no method of converting to the format you want for the hardware you want. Want to convert the video for playback on a PSP? DS? Wii? 360? Well, that's too bad, Apple won't let you. If you buy a DVD, you can rip it to a file that will play in iTunes if you want, or anywhere else you choose. Personally, I don't care about having a particular movie *right away*. I rent from Netflix, and buy DVDs if I want to keep it. Sometimes, if I want immediate satisfaction, I go down to Hollywood Video and pick up the movie I want. Takes less time than to download the movie, and it's cheaper for something I don't need to own.
The point is that if I'm BUYING media, not renting it, I require the ability to use the content how I see fit, on the devices of my choosing. No vendor is going to dictate where I can enjoy the content I purchase. - moofer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The FCC should finally pass the legislation that requires cable providers to charge prisoners, I mean customers, only for the channels they watch.
I guaran-damn-tee you that programming would get about 200% better overnight, and when customers speak with their wallets, you'll see all of these lame channels die a horrible horrible death.
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_theswamp/2006/02/fcc_give_cable_.html - node3, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Weasel, there's really no problem. Apple products are not expensive to me (and I am *not* wealthy). They provide value, and for all intents and purposes, I can play an iTunes purchase in every single possible situation for which I want to. Anywhere there's a TV, I can play my purchases. Anywhere there's a stereo, I can listen to my music. Why *wouldn't* I use a system by which, for less than the cost of a trip to the theatre, I can watch a movie, instantly, at the click of a button? A system by which I can *very* easily watch a movie absolutely *anywhere* I want to? A system which can fit dozens of movies in a package smaller than a deck of cards?
What's the difference in playing a DRM'd movie anywhere I want through an iPod vs playing a DRM'd movie on any DVD player? - adragons, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Thats 90% of PAID downloads. Doesn't mean 90% of all video downloads. While apple might have a large market in this area, that 90% might only account for 1% in the video market, and the other 99% gets their videos for free.
- node3, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2"there's no way to play the content on standard playback devices"
Computer (Mac & PC), iPod, and TV (soon, to be much easier than it is now). All three of which are the most standard playback devices of all in their categories. Of course, it doesn't playback via a DVD player, but really, who cares? The point is to get it to show on the TV, not to get it to play on the DVD player. I'd much rather have all my iTunes purchases show up on an easy to navigate menu on my TV than to have to burn a disc, and swap them in and out of a DVD player to watch different shows/movies/videos/podcasts/etc.
Let DVD (and Blu-ray and HD-DVD) go the way of VHS. I want all my media accessed over the network. - chroko, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I have - I don't have cable. I wouldn't watch TV at all - except I ***** *need* Battlestar Galactica. And if you only watch a few shows, it's far cheaper on iTunes than pay for cable (and you avoid advertising!) The math is:
* Basic cable: $30/month = $360 per year, (up to $90 per month with the expensive packages).
* iTunes: $1.99 per episode, between $14 and $40 for an entire season, let's say an average of $36.
So if you watch less than 10 seasons of any ~20-episode shows in a year - it's cheaper to buy them on iTunes. The catch is the shows you watch every day or live - news, weather, late night talkshows. Although MSNBC has a free daily video news podcast on iTunes, which is pretty good.
Cable TV providers: this is what happens when you refuse to sell channels a-la-carte - you become obsolete when the internet allows the consumer to bypass you.
(..and I'm assuming you have broadband internet for iTunes - that's another expense in it's own right). - heyitsme23, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2the reason its so big is because of the tv shows, its very handy. Also, even though us geeks don't like the video quality/lack of burning to dvd, its hard to convince a non-tech user those drawbacks, especially if they have an ipod video.
(oops, responded to wrong post) - dyvbond, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Oh..heh, I thought it meant that 90% of videos bought through iTunes were delivered...ehh...misleading title...
- node3, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1RationalBiker...
The leeches wear suits and profit from creations of others. As for thieves, you'll first need to show me what's been stolen (hint: nothing).
For an atheist, you sure seem to be in a fervor over something entirely imaginary. And you call yourself "Rational"!
If you want rational, then align your morals with reality. Technology has moved on. How rational is it to remain in the dark ages? - arthurbarnhouse, on 10/12/2007, -6/+5"In other news, it was recently discovered that OPEC represented 90% of oil sales."
- uptown, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2Every time I turn on my TV I'm paying for video downloads ... unless someone's found a way around their cable bill.
- WiseWeasel, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1@node3: That's fine if you want to limit yourself to Apple products and proprietary solutions. Some of us like to have the choice of where we want to play our media. With iTunes Movie Store downloads, you can only play them on your computer if you have iTunes installed. Note that iTunes doesn't run in Linux, or classic MacOS, or Windows 98, or a great number of computers people might like to use. You can play them on your iPod, but what about your Creative or Archos whatever, or MS Zune? Cell phone? PDA? Why should you be restricted to only your iPod? For TV playback, all we've got is the (unreleased) iTV (whatever it'll be named). What if I want to use some other device? What if I need to bring it to a friend's house, but they don't have an iTV or a video iPod?
With a DVD, I know I can play it pretty much anywhere there's a TV or computer screen. With an iTMS download, however, the playback options are much more limited. Why the hell would would anyone spend their hard-earned cash buying media that's completely tied to some very limited and expensive hardware, when they could just buy a DVD or download a torrent, and use the content however they want? If you buy a DVD, you can rip it, and convert the content for use on your iPod, or your Zune, or your cell phone, or PSP, or whatever you want to do with it. With an iTunes Movie download, you can't do anything with it. Same applies to all those other stores selling locked-down DRM-infested downloads with no option to burn to DVD. Just say no to the lock-down! - moofer, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0"Let DVD (and Blu-ray and HD-DVD) go the way of VHS. I want all my media accessed over the network."
Amen brother. As soon as movies can be delivered in 720p or 1080p resolutions over the internet, I will not be buying any more DVD/BR/HD-DVD's. - And0, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2%90 of 100 per month is how many?...
- foolfromhell, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1Just a question. Do iTunes movies have DRM? I saw a iTunes movie file, didnt have that lock symbol on it.
- missingdigits, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1Look people, all of you that think that you have a god given right to free video/audio content are mere stupid children. It's not free nor never was. Say what yo will about the RIAA/MPAA being evil, it doesn't mean that you should get everything for free. My GOD, the kids of today are spoiled little Napster brats. I hate the overpriced cd's/DVD's as much as the next guy, but I am so tired of little newbies pissing and moaning about how it should all be free. These yong idiots don't have a clue what it was like before the internet(s). They are merely regurgitating slogans that they know nothing about. You don't like the current model? Change it. That's great. Bt don't procalim to have some kind of God given right to you bittorrent filesharing. I am more than certain al but a handfull of people will agree with me, but I just had to say it.
- zeroMPHfallover, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1Slightly misleading title!
Comes as no surprise though... - madoublet, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1Percents mean absolutely nothing without qualifying totals. And, when you leave out two major competitors in the sample, the problems with this statement become even worse.
- And0, on 10/12/2007, -6/+2The other 100,000% of us will go back to our torrent clients.
- AhmedB, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1% are nice, but lets see some real numbers to put things into perspective, if 100 video downloads have occurred in the past month and 90 of which were from Apple, this number doesn't mean anything but if 10,000,000 have occurred, then numbers start translating into real profit $$
- geekee, on 10/12/2007, -12/+2Apple users like to waste money. Who else would pay for tv shows they already get through other means? People are more interested in renting video than buying it anyway. When netflix uploads video to you, Apple's share will be very low.
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