Gadgets and Gizmos

Watch Movies on Apple iPods

It looks like Apple movie-rental service is ready for its close-up. Cupertino the technology giant unveils its much-awaited iTunes Movie Rentals. By linking major movie studios with its popular iTunes store and a revived version of its Apple TV device, the company is aiming to get films on to consumers’ computers, television sets and iPods hoping to make movies as universal and portable as digital music.

The six major Hollywood studios are supporting Apple’s new movie-download service, which began Tuesday in the United States and will be rolled out internationally later this year. Users can keep the movie for 30 days but have 24 hours to finish watching it once they start. Apple said it would offer than 1,000 movies for rent online by the end of February.

Pachter added that Apple’s iPod is a portable device, on which people may download movies to watch on their commute to work or on an airplane flight, but they probably won’t use the service to watch movies in their living rooms.’

With the new Apple TV and iTunes Movie Rentals, movie lovers can rent DVD-quality or stunning HD movies from their couch with just a click of a button,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “No more driving to the video store or waiting for DVDs to arrive in the mail.” Should Netflix be worried or does Apple stand a change against the internet movie rental king that ended Blockbuster’s reign on the market?
Although iTunes has proved very successful in the sales of video and music, its new rental division may have more trouble becoming as popular.

Not only because Apple has sold millions more iPods than AppleTV devices, but also due to the static pricing rates Apple is set to implement for the new service. DVD-quality movie rental on iTunes will reportedly sell at $2.99 for library titles and $3.99 for new releases, while the high-definition versions will be priced slightly higher at $3.99 for library titles and new releases at $4.99. Once a movie has been started customers have 24 hours to finish it or watch it multiple times.”