Universal Studios' Movies Now Available on iCloud

Saturday April 7, 2012 12:46 pm PDT by Arnold Kim
Several readers have noticed that Universal Studios' movies are now available for re-download through Apple's iCloud service. In March we reported that both Fox and Universal were not yet participating in iCloud video streaming due to contractual obligations with HBO. HBO was reportedly working with both Fox and Universal to loosen these restrictions.
HBO agreed to loosen its arrangement with Warner Bros., which is working with iCloud, and also is in talks with Universal and Fox to do the same, the spokesman added.
When searching for movies in iTunes, Universal movies no longer contain a warning that the movies are not available through iCloud, while Fox's movies retain the warning:

Universal Studios (left) vs 20th Century Fox (right)

Another reader was able to confirm he was able to re-download 40 Year Old Virgin. Previous movie purchases from Universal should now be available for redownload in your previous purchased menu on iTunes.

Fox is also said to be in negotiations with expectations that their movies would also become available through iCloud in the near future.

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arn
102 months ago

Forget it, no way. I won't buy any movie in iCloud. I buy the movie and 2 years from now when Apple and a movie studio start bickering, the studio pulls the movie from iCloud and I get screwed.


not sure you understand how iCloud works.

You buy the movie, it gets downloaded to your device/machine.
If you later want to redownload it you can in iCloud (if available).

There is no "buying a movie in iCloud". There's "buying a movie" and it happens to be available later to redownload (or not).

arn
Rating: 24 Votes
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frunkis54
102 months ago

I would also like to be able to download the 1080p versions, not 720p.


You can. go to itunes preferences and change it to 1080p and redownload.
Rating: 9 Votes
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lordofthereef
102 months ago
The prices of these movies is preposterous, IMO. A lot of this stuff can be had for so much cheaper on bluray. I don't think I have paid more than an average of about $15 per film (Disney Films excluded). If this was more affordable and licensing wasn't as stupid as it is, I would certainly be more open to the idea of going all digital.
Rating: 6 Votes
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bommai
102 months ago
Too expensive

I still can't believe the prices. I can get Bluray versions of several of these movies for $10 or less and I can rent them as part of Blockbuster or Netflix. Why are they so expensive? I have never bought or rented from iTunes store for that reason. Plus I am spoiled by the lossless audio on the Bluray movies.
Rating: 5 Votes
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Mr. Gates
102 months ago
If a movie is over 5 years old it should be .99
Rating: 5 Votes
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LaWally
102 months ago

Forget it, no way. I won't buy any movie in iCloud. I buy the movie and 2 years from now when Apple and a movie studio start bickering, the studio pulls the movie from iCloud and I get screwed.


Well, you could always save a copy of all purchased iTunes content locally. I'm sure you backup your critical data just in case "two years from now you might have a hard drive failure". I don't see any difference.
Rating: 4 Votes
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Moonjumper
102 months ago

Maybe we'll eventually see all movies available for purchase in HD, not just SD as well.


I would also like to be able to download the 1080p versions, not 720p.
Rating: 4 Votes
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macmastersam
102 months ago

Forget it, no way. I won't buy any movie in iCloud. I buy the movie and 2 years from now when Apple and a movie studio start bickering, the studio pulls the movie from iCloud and I get screwed.


if you don't want to buy it on iCloud, then just sync your iDevice up to your computer the old fashioned way by using the usb cable, if you feel safer that way. nothing wrong with that.
Rating: 4 Votes
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Mr. Gates
102 months ago
But who in their right mind would pay $10.00 for a file ?

Titan A.D. ????

It bombed in the Box Office

Saw it in the 3.99 bin at the Grocery store. Even then it's a hard sell.

Greed, Greed and more Greed

For less than $10.00 you can get Netflix for a month :/
Rating: 3 Votes
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Bubba Satori
102 months ago

Vinyl LPs/8Trk Cassette/2Trk Cassette/LaserDisc/CDs/DVDs.......R.I.P.

You can add in physical Books & Magazines.....

No more bulky heavy players and closets full of physical media/old books/etc.

During the phase out of all physical media the concept of "ownership" will still exist as people keep their media on their private drives in digital form. This will mostly be the older folks. The younger ones will consider not having physical media...the way it has "always been". They are already trained.

Eventually everything will exist only on "cloud" servers and when we "buy" media content, it just means you will be able to stream it to any device. Devices memories will be reduced to being able to hold a movie, a song, and a book (e.g. Apple TV). And that is all. External drives will phase out as the market shrinks driving prices up. In the end they will be too expensive for the masses.

So the bulk of all devices in the future will be just media "players" with very limited storage capabilities. Machines with more storage/power for creative music/video work will become more and more expensive as demand for these types of devices shrinks along with all associated peripherals.

The net result is that media companies will once again be "in control" of their content. This is the "end game" and it is the driving force behind the "cloud".

We will be completely dependent on the servers and delivery infrastructure to be having a "good day" if we want to listen to music, watch a movie, or read a book. God forbid the power ever goes out for humanity.:eek:


Bingo.

You've lost all control of your media, have to deal with substandard quality,
absurdly expensive contracts to access it and data caps that restrict how much you can use.

Magic. :apple:
Rating: 3 Votes

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