Apple video rental service coming in autumn?

Apple is back in the news this morning with more salacious tattle. This time, it's none other than the lady in pink herself -- London's Financial Times -- wagging her tongue about a supposed video rental service due out this autumn from Apple. One studio exec is quoted by the FT as saying that the service would "compete against cable companies and anyone else offering VOD into the home." The $2.99 downloads would be viewable for 30 days and playable on at least one other device like an iPod or iPhone. No mention of AT&T's involvement with the service. Nevertheless, we were already wondering what we'd do with all the capacity on Apple's recently updated, 160GB Apple TV. Maybe, just maybe, we'll hear a little somethin' somethin' about this during Steve-o's keynote later on today. Stay tuned, as they say.

[Via MacRumors]

[James Mack @ Jun 11th 2007 2:02AM]

Sweet!

[LegendZ28 @ Jun 11th 2007 8:35AM]

After using Netflix for the last year and a half, I'm going to find it very hard to get used to the idea of paying PER DVD rental and also having the content expire, although 30 days should be plenty of time to watch a movie.

I also know that no one at Apple will even consider having a flat fee, with all-you-can-watch service, it's just not the way they do things.

[Fatima @ Jun 11th 2007 2:06AM]

iPhone is rumored to have a 8GB/16GB capacity bump before release on 29th.

[Todd Long @ Jun 11th 2007 11:04AM]

I'd prefer integrated GPS as an added bonus =) But hey that's just wishful thinking.

[Kevin @ Jun 11th 2007 2:27AM]

T3H GermanZ leekd da Keynote!! OMG!!! ZOMG!

[Deezee @ Jun 11th 2007 2:29AM]

"Apple's back in the news" lol.

LIKE THEY EVER LEAVE THE NEWS. They're the gadget version of Paris Hilton.

[david @ Jun 11th 2007 11:38AM]

Who? LOL

[brendan Sheehan jnr @ Jun 11th 2007 11:45AM]

Accept she deserves to be in jail.

[mike @ Jun 11th 2007 2:59AM]

LIKE THEY EVER LEAVE THE NEWS. They're the gadget version of Paris Hilton.
--

Yeah, except, they BELONG in the News. Where would the tech industry be without Apple.

(looks at the Foleo.. and the Gandolf...)

*ahem

[Matteo @ Jun 11th 2007 3:50AM]

I really wish this service will be available outside the US as well. As people would really rent movies here in Europe! The "on demand" market is currently not as developed as the one in the US, hence there's less competition. Of course the market is also much more fragmented (legislation wise as well as language wise and "carrier wise"). So many negotiations would have to be undertaken, but it would undoubtedly nevertheless be a great market to be into from early on.

[zoara @ Jun 11th 2007 8:05AM]

I second the 'bring it to Europe' thought. $2.99 is a piddly quid fifty, which is cheaper than the rental shops, even in the bargain bin (and you get to keep it for longer).

At home, we watch all our films on the laptop anyway (got no TV) so as long as this is roughly DVD quality, the only differences we'd see between this and DVD rental is that we pay less, keep it for much longer, and don't have to bother about going out to pick 'em up or drop 'em off. And I bet that browsing will be a much nicer experience; trailers and reviews right there will stop my girlfriend bringing home some of the crap she sometimes comes back with because the case looked good.

But even if it's true (and I bet it isn't), I'd put money on it not arriving anywhere outside the US for a long, long time.

[Mark Bowness @ Jun 11th 2007 5:14AM]

That could be quite good, if its a proper quality service. Look forward to this.

Mark Bowness

[Geoffrey Sperl @ Jun 11th 2007 8:21AM]

It's unlikely that Steve will mention it today - even if it is ready to mention. This is the developer's conference, not a consumer event. Today will be about the OS, tools (maybe .Mac), apps, and hardware (computers, not iPods or Apple TVs).

If you are the type to really enjoy previews of an upcoming OS, today's the day for you. If you are looking for new iPods and info about the iTMS, then it won't be today (unless Steve really breaks with all convention).

[Roberto @ Jun 11th 2007 8:42AM]

Very nice, and should give the ATV a shot in the arm. But to truly be fantastic one should be able to rent the movie through the ATV interface.

[Alex @ Jun 11th 2007 9:20AM]

Now, if they offer the same movies in HD version (1080i/p) and we get to keep it, I'm willing to ~$10 for a newly-released movie.

[Jeff @ Jun 11th 2007 9:47AM]

"After using Netflix for the last year and a half, I'm going to find it very hard to get used to the idea of paying PER DVD rental and also having the content expire, although 30 days should be plenty of time to watch a movie."

Seriously - what century are these guys living in? And why do they continue to think that crap like this will fly when every other online movie rental house has tried the *exact same thing* (set-top box and all) with nothing but utter and abject failure?

[Bob @ Jun 11th 2007 10:17AM]

Boo!! Give me a $10-15 a month subscription service that will stream the movies the way the movie trailers do while downloading in the background for place shifting to an iPod or iPhone.

[Todd Long @ Jun 11th 2007 11:00AM]

I'd prefer integrated GPS as an added bonus =) But hey that's just wishful thinking.

[Todd Long @ Jun 11th 2007 11:03AM]

This reply was @Fatima about the iPhone, I don't believe there would be much need for integrated GPS for the apple tv (maybe for a car pc).

[haggis @ Jun 12th 2007 12:52PM]

i found this shit in portable video what, this fits in ur pocket and plays stuff on its own..................... sure it does its made by apple. its all portable! hmm!