If you actually visit the XBox page describing the pictures available from Disney, you'll find that they are more of the "Meet the Deedles" variety than classic Disney fare. Also, no Pixar movies to be seen.

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"What's wrong with this picture?"

Poor research before reporting?

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Let's think about this: XBOX 360 users most likely have their boxes hooked up to a nice big TV, and there's a good chance it's an HD set, too.

Most iTunes users don't have their computers hooked up to anything other than their iPod.

If you were in the game of distributing content, which would you work to put out first? Jobs might be the biggest Disney shareholder, but he's no idiot.

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i too find it strange that apple still can't get it together...but this is a good thing because this puts pressure on apple and in the end everyone will get some great quailty flicks to watch...competition is a great thing. think if MS didn't push this type of content in the face of apple it wouldn't force there hand as much. I hope that apple wakes up soon because i hate the quality of itunes videos with only a few exceptions they are all really made for the ipod, right? is that the underlying problem here, ipod support?? apple may just be putting it off so that they can prepare the servers for HD content since it is quite a bit more in terms of size..and time.

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What native formats are the HD masters in, compared to the formats 360 and iTunes support?

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Oh the injustice!

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Pez -- What about all those AppleTV users? I'm pretty sure they have their AppleTV hooked up to a HDTV. Downloadable video is not primarily for iPod users, but for AppleTV users, at least not any more.

The whole point of an AppleTV is to use it with your HDTV and to get your content from iTunes. AppleTV in it's current form supports up to 720p.

So, I agree with the author of the post, if Xbox 360 users can get 720p content from Disney, Apple better get with it and start providing their AppleTV customers with the same.

I expect an AppleTV announcement is imminent.

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Umm..
I hate to break it to you guys, but the XBox people have been able to watch videos, in HD, for a good long while now. We've also been able to rent them, rent TV shows, and other such things

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I believe this is about revenue stream for Disney, and Microsoft it is damage control because of their Billion dollar recall/repair charge don't worry about your console thing.

I'd only worry if they turned up on the Zune marketplace.

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I think it's a bandwidth issue. there's only about 7 million subscribers to xbox marketplace (figure cited by MSFT so i wouldn't be surprised if it's a little inflated. or alot inflated). Compared to 300 million copies of itunes out there, apple probably just doesn't have the infrastructure right now to host HD content to that many potential buyers.

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Maybe they are comming to iTunes too, along with iPods updates. Quicktime /iTunes just got updated too, right?

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Yet another reason why the 360 is more flexible than the Apple TV. Currently, the only thing I can't do with it that the Apple TV can is play iTunes purchases, and that's not a problem.

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THe updates are coming with Leopard when they introduce BLu-Ray HD-DVD support in the new MBP's and IMac's comingout.

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It should be noted these are rentals. Xbox live only allows them to play once or for 24 hours.

That is what is behind the decision - money.

Disney likes to squeak these releases out so be prepared for the digital Disney vault to drip not flow.

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Yeah, and my PS3 can download 1080p movie and game trailers. C'mon, Apple. Give me some HD content and I'l buy an Apple TV or two.

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The iPod is always the excuse when it comes to HD on iTunes.

1) Most computer monitors are some variety of HD
2) The AppleTV supports 720p

Apple doesn't really have much of an excuse anymore. My prediction: they are waiting to release new iPods which WILL support HD file formats, at which point they launch the "HD" iTunes Store to support the AppleTV and the new iPods. HD downloads will work sort of like iTunes+ tracks in that they will cost a bit more. You heard it here first.

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360 Users are only allowed to RENT HD movies, we cannot BUY them. They expire aka disappear after the alloted time. So, that is the reason iTunes users don't get HD disney movies, we (360 users) don't buy them, we rent them. We can only buy Standard Definition movies.

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"Currently, the only thing I can't do with it that the Apple TV can) is play iTunes purchases, and that's not a problem."

Well, that's kind of true, but I own and use both the 360 and the AppleTV and I find the AppleTV is much more elegant and fun for playing video, as long as my iTunes library is organized. It has an attractive menu system showing cover art for my files with a nice little description for everything as opposed to a big long list of all my files with no image or description, or even any indication of whether or not the files will play. I use a Mac for streaming, though, so maybe it's better with a 360/Windows set-up. The 360 plays HD WMVs better than my modded AppleTV, though.

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for all we know, steve-o said no, at least for now. iTunes might now be able to carry the weightor maybe their working on some crazy p2p solution for dowloading the large files.

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Why does Microsoft use that ridiculous points system? Just a tactic to confuse the customer into paying more than they normally would?

For instance, the HD (720p) movie rentals are $6 each. With no physical disc to package, ship, store in inventory.

Rip. Off.

I'll stick with far-cheaper 480p physical media through Netflix for now, thanks.

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