iTunes Store slip-up reveals future rental movie options?

Movie rentals could be coming to the iTunes Store, if an apparent slip-up by Apple is any indication. Mac developer David Watanabe uploaded a screenshot depicting an iTunes problem reporting system which has options for requesting a refund due to non-delivery of rental movies. The other options for reporting issues with the as yet unannounced -- but rumored -- rental movie options on the iTunes Store include accidental purchase, poor content quality, duplicate purchase, wrong version, bad metadata, and "other." The same possible complaints are available for every other content type on iTunes. We verified that these options are still viewable on a US iTunes Store account: see for yourself by viewing your account purchase history, clicking report problem, and then clicking on an individual purchase.

[Thanks, Josh]

[Gav @ Sep 8th 2007 9:38AM]

If this is true, its certainly a feature I'd be interested in.

But wait. We don't even have Movie downloads in the UK yet... HMPH

[RazorD @ Sep 8th 2007 9:46AM]

Yeh.. I'd settle for just movies in the UK.. Heres hoping Microsoft beat Apple out of the gate with their movies on live for the UK

[Tim @ Sep 8th 2007 11:38AM]

Makes complete sense, seeing Apple TV has been in dire need of it since it launched and most of the iPod lineup can handle movies now.

The big question for this, though, will be if their library can compete with the likes of NetFlix/Blockbuster.

I'm wondering if this will be the last announcement before the holidays, because the timing is right - something tells me we'll hear about it in October.

[SteveJ @ Sep 8th 2007 12:15PM]

If movie rentals are made available, I'll be renting. I have absolutely zero interest in buying videos of low resolution that only play on iPods, Apple TVs and computers, but for renting? Absolutely! I like to watch movies on the train to/from work. Currently I use netflix, but I'd be even happier to rent a video that loads right onto my iPod (touch come the end of the month!) That would be awesome. One thing, though, there had better not be some ridiculous short limit on time within which I have to watch the movie, because I don't always get to a movie immediately, and even when I do I'm watching it in one or two 30 minute segments each day. I doubt this will replace Netflix as Netflix is bound to have a much better library, but as a suplement it will be fantastic. Surely Apple isn't going to miss such an opportunity. It's coming, even if this particular screenshot is a hoax.

[SteveJ @ Sep 8th 2007 12:17PM]

Will I be able to download them via the iTunes wifi store directly to my coming at the end of the month iPod touch?

[lumisota @ Sep 8th 2007 3:06PM]

It's called the "iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store" - which specifically indicates that movie content will not be downloadable.

[mentalsticks @ Sep 8th 2007 9:51AM]

How about 'wrong version'? Doesn't that hint at HD movies or something? Just as significant, I daresay.

[soul7963 @ Sep 8th 2007 10:05AM]

Could be language version

[Max @ Sep 8th 2007 9:55AM]

Just tested it myself - it's true

[Tim Kirkwood @ Sep 8th 2007 10:11AM]

I wonder if these will be geared towards Apple tv only or if they will be formatted correctly for iPods as well?

[John Sinshack @ Sep 8th 2007 10:23AM]

There's no way they'd only sell to a small portion of iTunes Store customers, they'll definately sell iPod formatted movies.

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Sep 8th 2007 11:45AM]

I'm telling you guys.. 320 x 240 resolution is going to change. I can not stand to watch any music videos or TV shows for a period longer than 30 minutes on the iPod. So, how can I watch any 1-2 hour movies then without getting a headache?

One of these days, we're gonna see a huge bump in screen resolution for the iPods. And maybe in the distant future, we'll see "HD iPods". Until then, I won't stop dreaming about this, because right now it's still a bit of a concern for me.

[Macinjosh @ Sep 8th 2007 1:05PM]

"I'm telling you guys.. 320 x 240 resolution is going to change."

You're right. iTunes has been using 640 x 480 for some time now.

[Karan @ Sep 8th 2007 10:05AM]

go go Apple Bug test team!

[crash31 @ Sep 8th 2007 10:24AM]

now imagine this....renting movies from your iPhone or iPod touch's iTunes Wifi Store on the go and being able to just see them right there....anywhere....niiiiiiiceeeeeeeee

[Mike @ Sep 8th 2007 10:54AM]

i dont get it, are they gonna be competing with netflix or are they doing digital downloads (due to "metadata" reference cause those options imply both (thats it)

Carry on,
-Mike-

[John Doe @ Sep 8th 2007 10:55AM]

Meh. Unless its an all you can eat scheme, I'll pass. My Blockbuster online rentals keep me well fed with movies along with the free in store rentals.

[DJ @ Sep 8th 2007 11:03AM]

Given that every iPod, except the shuttle, now has video capabilities, did anyone NOT see this happening? The only question is, now that Apple and NBC/Universal have seemingly shot each other in the back, will Universal (or it's affliates) produced movies be available on iTunes?

[Lewis @ Sep 8th 2007 11:18AM]

its not a slip-up at all... apple does this to grab peoples attention and it works so very well.

[Antony_256 @ Sep 8th 2007 11:42AM]

You don't say.

[Meridimus @ Sep 8th 2007 2:30PM]

People love to be sarcy on these comments. I love Apple bum bum bum

[Maxwell Scott-Slade @ Sep 8th 2007 11:36AM]

I'm sorry but this is hardly news. Yawn.

[Dave @ Sep 8th 2007 12:49PM]

How is this hardly news? You're a fucking moron if you think this isn't news just because it doesn't pertain to you or you have no interest in it. I wish I could ban people for using certain terms.... like... "first post" or "this isn't news" or "this is old".

[Meridimus @ Sep 8th 2007 2:28PM]

I'd call it news when Apple releases a movie rental service on iTunes. But when in the 'Report a problem' section, I'd call it development. It's like, "Wow, now I can post a problem report about that movie I DIDN'T download for ipod video."

Thanks for listening turd.

[Luigi193 @ Sep 8th 2007 11:38AM]

One, how is this hardly news Maxwell?

And two, it is down. When you click report a problem you get a iTunes can't process your request error.
I think they can do that without updating because the store is like a website, correct?

[Steve @ Sep 8th 2007 11:40AM]

I don't think it's something Apple planned... that seems more like a big configuration error... If you look the title name, that seems clearly to be some 'key' that is used for localization.
So I think that all the good recent news about the iPod, iPhone is just the beginning of some other cool stuff from Apple. I don't have an Apple TV yet, but if they're bringing movie rental with a nice collections of movie, then I know where my $100 coupon is going to be used for.

Steve
http://inewsonly.com
The first ZUI news aggregator for iPhone and iPod touch

[aaronbareford @ Sep 8th 2007 12:51PM]

This would make buying an Apple Tv / iPod Classic a definate purchase for me :)
TV shows just anounced to the UK, sweet - All video iPods, sweet - If this is true i will definiately be getting either Apple TV or iPod classic with component cable :)

Woot!

[Reader @ Sep 8th 2007 4:39PM]

If I could rent any dvd quality movie from itunes and play it on the apple tv, I would actually consider buying one.

[envirog @ Sep 9th 2007 11:24AM]

The report a problem feature now seems to have been disabled. So at this moment I can't pull the same results to verify that the cancellation feature was listed on that menu.

[mail @ Sep 10th 2007 7:14PM]

Excellent. Movie rentals would mean I get to put my AppleTV to good use. Hopefully they'll also add the ability to download directly to the AppleTV box, rather than having to download to PC and then sync to AppleTV.

[HR @ Nov 2nd 2007 10:26AM]

Let's hope they don't try to rip us off. I used to rent movies for 3 to 4 euros or less. Since I am the one paying for the downloading of the movie (through my ISP), the total amount of money that I spend (iTunes store rental + downloading through my ISP) must not be higher than what I previously paid.

That would be in an ideal world (since they are saving huge amount of money by not having to deliver the movies phisically and there are less intermediates). But, knowing how those bastards of the movie studios are, I bet the price will be equal or higher to what you would pay for a physical movie rental.