iTunes Movie Releases Trying to Kill the DVD

[admin]

Today Apple announced a deal with Fox, Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal, Sony Pictures, Lionsgate and New Line to release movies into the iTunes store simultaneously with DVD releases. iTunes has already experimented with what is being referred to as "day and date release" titles with such films as Juno. MGM was noticeably absent, but smaller studios like Magnolia and Image Entertainment were included. This announcement follows Apple's recent announcement that it inked deals with all of the major studios to provide 30-day rental access to films for $3 - $4 each and also provide "download/purchases" for around $15.


Discuss "iTunes Movie Releases Trying to Kill the DVD" here. Read the article.

[westcott]

Other than the problems I have with downloads from NetFlix and their "watch it now" program, how big, or small, depending on how you look at it are these files compared to the DVD originals?

I am skeptical that they are full downloads with the original quality!!!!

[gliz]

there are not enough folks with high speed internet to have this take over DVD's, at least not yet. even if there were I still like to have something in my had for my dollars. I have been in IT for 10 years, that is why I like my HT gear, never have to reboot an AVR! ! we were talking about compression from Comcast in other threads, well brother, these are even MORE compressed.

Chris

[Wayde Robson]

I completely agree with the above two statements, except that from time to time you do have to reboot AV gear But not nearly like a computer.

I've said it before in posts and articles that compression and quality is going to be sacrificed for the scalability of digital movie/TV-show downloads.

I got blasted by people folks who believed the market will bear full quality 1080P lossless 5.1 surround tracks on par with DTS HD MA.... I'll believe it when I see it.

Digital downloads have a long way to go before it catches up with physical media.

[allargon]

People who download stuff are willing to live with the reduced quality for the convenience. Some of them do so in order to avoid paying for it. Most just do it for the convenience.

I have a buddy that went on a rant about people who actually still buy CD's. I told him CD's sound way better than MP3's. He said you needed a high end system. I thought he needed better ears, since I can tell in my car with ease. He told me that he downloaded Mission Impossible 3. I laughed at him and told him he could've borrowed my HD DVD. No fricking way would I watch a movie on a tiny window on my monitor when I have a 57" 1080P. (He has a 50" 1080p Panny plasma that is used for upconverting children's cartoons most of the time. )

[usfscaptain14]

I have some questions. If someone would help me out i would appreciate it.

1. Is Apple tv able to download HD movies?
2. Do all downloaded movies give up quality for digital?
3. Is Itunes and Apple tv DRM?
4. what is DRM?

Thanks!
Jason

[tomd51]

1. Is Apple tv able to download HD movies?
Yes. Apple offers quite a few HD (720P/5.1, IIRC) releases. Their SD movies are usually a dollar or two cheaper than the HD downloads.
2. Do all downloaded movies give up quality for digital?
Not sure I understand the question. If you could clarify, please do.
3. Is Itunes and Apple tv DRM?
The Apple iTunes Store is attempting to phase out DRM in their audio downloads, however I believe it is still part of their movie downloads. You can likely find the answers to this on their site.
4. what is DRM?
Digital Rights Management, similar to copyright protection for electronic-based files, but much more restrictive, here's a good explanation for it.

[tomd51]

I've been using a utility called Handbrake to convert a good portion of my DVDs to stream from my Mac to the Apple TV. Surprisingly, using a quality codec such as H.264 or MPEG-4 with a decent average bitrate (~3,500kbps) produces a good quality picture. Is it HD? Seeing how the source is only 480P, obviously not. But the difference between the same movie on standard DVD is minimal, particularly so on my 42" plasma. On my 61" RPTV, probably slightly more noticable, which stands to reason with the screen size increase.

There obviously is going to be a small amount of compression, but using a high quality encoder and minimalizing the amount of compression, quite often you can produce a quality picture in a portable format... -TD

[bandphan]

Ive said before, and again IMO most if not all physical media will be dead. May not be soon, but within a resonable time, especialy with the next level of broadband speeds and the grid on the way.

[10010011]

Downloads kill the DVD? Someday maybe, but not today, or next year, or in the next five years.

With more and more rumblings in the ISP arena of moving to a per byte billing model and monthly download caps. I doubt this will ever become more than a novelty. Providers like Comcast make a lot of money off of their On Demand service. They are not going to let internet download services take that away from them, least not for very long.