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iTunes and Apple TV rentals and purchases: what you can (and can't) do


Oh dear lord is there a lot of confusion about iTunes movie rentals, and how they differ from movie and TV purchases -- and how the Apple TV and iTunes computer-driven downloads aren't the same either. Granted, real world scenario won't be too complicated for most people, but the nerds around these parts will probably want to check out our handy, aptly confusing chart to know exactly what's in store. Hey, don't look at us, we just parse the data.



  • Green indicates goodness, or the general perception of awesomeness.

  • Red indicates badness, or not-goodness (but not including inherent lameness due to DRM).

  • The columns (iTunes / Apple TV) represent the point of purchase / rental. The Apple TV column assumes AFTER the Take 2 update.


iTunes (desktop)

Apple TV (PC-free)

Comments / notes

Buy show: in SD

Yes - $1.99

Yes - $1.99

Buy shows: HD

No

No

Rent show: in SD

No

No

Rent show: in HD

No

No

Buy movie: in SD

Yes - up to $15

Yes - up to $15

Buy movie: in HD

No

No


Rent movie: in SD

Yes - $2.99 / 3.99

Yes - $2.99 / 3.99

Library / new

Rent movie: in HD

No

Yes - $3.99 / 4.99

Library / new

Play purchased: on previous-gen iPods

Yes

Yes


Play rentals: on previous-gen iPods

No

No

Play purchased: on current-gen iPods

Yes

Yes


Play rentals: on current-gen iPods

Yes

No

Transfer anything: ATV to any iPod / iPhone (without PC)

--

Hells no

Transfer anything: to non-Apple devices

Um, no

Are you high?

Transfer purchase: computer to ATV

Yes

--

SD (shows, movies) only right now

Transfer purchase: to previous-gen iPod

Yes

Yes

Only video-enabled iPods (duh); for ATV - by way of sync to PC, only

Transfer purchase: to current-gen iPod / iPhone

Yes

Yes

For ATV - by way of sync to PC, only

Transfer purchase: ATV to computer

--

Yes

SD (shows, movies) only right now

Transfer rental: to ATV

--

Yes

SD (shows, movies) only right now

Transfer rental: to previous-gen iPod

No

No


Transfer rental: to current-gen iPod / iPhone

Yes

No


So, what'd we miss?