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Apple Movie Store Details? Disney Movies First?

With the new Mac mini and iMac updates released today, it appears Apple will focus on their Movie initiative during their September 12th media event. Variety provides some details of the upcoming announcement.

As reported elsewhere, Variety expects Apple to provide movies for $9.99/download for older movies and $14.99 for new releases. This price range is reportedly a concession to movie studios who want variable pricing. Apple has long been a proponent of a one-price model. As a result, only Disney is said to be definitely on board with the initial launch with the other studios potentially joining in the next year.

In contrast, Amazon is also launching a movie store later this week, and they are expected to have all major movie studios signed on. Amazon's pricing will be in line with current movie download services ($9.99-$19.99).

An Associated Press report offers a similar perspective on the ongoing negotiations between Apple and the movie studios:

...substantial disagreements between studios and Apple remain to be resolved and Apple's movie service could launch with a limited number of films, according to two studio executives who asked to remain anonymous because talks were still ongoing.

Top Rated Comments

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71 months ago
Bring It On!

But hopefully these are a better resolution than the current TV show on Itunes. It should be at least DVD quality, If not these price model will bomb IMHO.
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71 months ago
Does anyone else think that Apple really really needs a rental model for the movie store? I'm against it with music but it's not the same a movies. I don't want my harddrive full of these things. I would be nice to rent one for much less, watch it and delete it. I don't see it being very successful if it is for purchase only.
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71 months ago
it will be interesting to see the technology behind this...what size of movies, types of movies, quality of..etc..etc.. and will it be frickin' available in any country other than just the us of a.... :)

last poster had a good point...files need to be of high quality for this price range. that means that 14.99 USD will be about 18 CDN..i would go to the theatre for that price.

BUT, i will add that regardless of the features, this is an exciting and interesting time in the evolution of entertainment. isn't it just nuts to think we can dload movies to our house and watch them at our leisure? just think of that. WOW! :)

cheers,
keebler
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71 months ago
For 10 to 15 bucks these videos better be a higher quality than their current videos in the iTunes Music Store.


I was hoping they'd be releasing a Mac Media Center to compliment this movie service, but after today's iMac update that seems unlikely (the 24" iMac would have been the perfect all-in-one media mac).


As for Disney and Apple, who would have thought! :eek: ;) :p
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71 months ago
this surely is good news. but i wont be watching movies on my current 'pod...the window is too small. all this being dependent on wether or not it's gonna be available in the UK. it's a real bummer not to be able to download TV shows i love like you americans can!

S
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71 months ago
I like the rental idea for movies, but it seems Steve is not very excite about that model.
Anyway, I still have hope for the Event next week a piece of hardware will come along with the Movie Store.
Either the Ipod Video, Airport Video or the Media Center.
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71 months ago
Personally, I wouldn't want to DL a large movie file without the option of being able to burn it to DVD so I can have that tangible hard copy that makes me feel safe and warm. Then I wouldn't have a problem deleting it off of my hard drive.

I could be wrong, but I don't see them dealing with rentals. Most people still don't have fast enough connections to warrant downloading a big movie file when they can just have it delivered to their door via Netflix or they can head down to their local Blockbuster and have it right away. Same goes for purchases. I like having the retail box. It just makes me a little bit happier. :) Now, if they offered HD downloads, I'd definitely be interested in that, even if it is a super big file.
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71 months ago
High quality and the ability to burn them is at the top of my list. I would also like to see a reduction of time it takes for a movie to go from the big screen to my laptop screen.

If Apple and the Entertainment Indudstry are able to do that, they will have a hit on their hands.
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71 months ago
can they just announce the new MBPs already??

who cares about the movie store....OooH wow~! $10 movies, you can go to best buy and get a physical copy for just a little bit more. I sure hope this service will let you burn the movies to dvd otherwise it's dead to me.
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71 months ago
It costs me nothing to walk into town (about 10 minutes) or bike (5) and pick up a DVD at the municipal library for £1.50. Occasionally I'll copy it to my hard disk if I didn't have the time I thought I would have to watch it and watch it later, then delete it.

Unlike music, you rarely watch a movie twice. Why buy or store these on your hard disk for longer than it takes to view it?

I've not bought a movie since 1995 on VHS. It's was just kind of silly having them litter up your shelves then and your hard disk now.
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