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iTunes Movie Downloads Review
- UK
- USA
- Worldwide
- Titles available will depend on location
- Movie Rentals
- Standard Definition library titles: $2.99
- Hi-Def library titles: $3.99
- Standard Definition new release titles: $3.99
- Hi-Def new release titles: $4.99
- Movies to keep
- Feature Movies: $9.99 and up
- Short films: $1.99
- Mac or PC
- Free iTunes software
- Download short films for as little as $1.99
- Rent movies directly from your TV with Apple TV
- Moves from every major Hollywood studio
- Watch movies on your iPod or iPhone
- 30 days to watch any rented movie
- Select DVDs now come with a bonus iTunes version
- Live online chat support
- Hi definition downloads
- Parental controls
- Slick and stylish user interface
- Download movies to keep
- Control movie playback remotely from iPhone or iPod touch
- Download current episodes of TV shows
- Give gift certificates
- Callback telephone support (U.S and Canada only)
Apple's movie download offering through iTunes is as slick as you would expect from the pioneer of stylish computing. However, it lacks the substance to put it nearer the top of our top ten list at the moment. Read on to find out why.
>From its website to its products to its software Apple clearly does things with style. Even arriving at the web site to download the necessary iTunes software you are greeted with a clean and elegant layout providing all the information you need. After downloading the software, which is compatible with either PC or Mac, and signing up for an iTunes store account you are ready to begin downloading movies.
If you have never used iTunes before you will be impressed at how easy it makes buying, organising and watching the multimedia content on your computer. Currently it is in version 8 which provides all the jazzy effects for browsing your collections that you may have seen advertised. Some expert users complain because the software isn't very compatible with other applications out there, but if you only plan on using one media manager iTunes is a pretty safe bet.
Downloading movies through iTunes is very similar to downloading any of the other different varieties of content the iTunes store offers. You simply start up iTunes, navigate to the store tab, select your movie, provide your account details and start downloading. You can begin watching the movie before it's fully downloaded but we recommend giving it a few minutes before starting so that you don't experience any jerky playback.
A neat feature of the iTunes software is that you can control media playback from your iPod Touch or iPhone. So if your Mum calls in the middle of a movie you don't even have to get up to pause it. This is just a gimmick really but it's a cool thing to be able to do to impress your friends!
If you don't want to be bothered with your computer each time you want to download a movie you can do it directly through your TV using AppleTV. This is a device which connects directly to your TV and the internet to allow you to download movies without ever leaving your couch. It's pretty expensive but again is a very stylish addition to your home entertainment set up.
You can pick the quality of movie you want to download for renting. Standard definition gives a resolution of 640 x480 px while Hi-Definition gives 1280 x 720. You pay slightly more for the Hi-Def versions but as Apple is one of the only providers offering a Hi-Def service you might just have to put up with it. Movies you download to keep are all provided at near standard definition which is almost DVD quality but not quite.
With respect to DRM movies your downloads are protected by Apple's patented DRM mechanism. This means you will only be able to watch them through iTunes or other Apple branded products. On the plus side it does make them easily compatible with iPhones and iPods. When you download a movie you can move it around between devices as much as you like, but when you move from one device to another it will disappear from the old device. This essentially means you can have the movie on only one device at a time.
The prices Apple offers for it's downloads are pretty standard at $2.99 for renting older movies and $3.99 for newer ones. If you want to pay a dollar extra per rental you can get Hi-Definition copies of most movies. Movies to keep vary depending on title, but new releases tend to be $14.99 and upwards.
Apple certainly provides a useful movie download service and a very stylish, easy to use one. However, the limitations of Apple's DRM protection and the relatively small collection of titles to choose from bring it down in our estimation. However, if you are after an elegant movie download service that provides a lot of new release movies and is compatible with your iPod you won't go far wrong here.
>> Visit iTunes.com
or
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