We heard a while back that Apple and the movie studios were in negotiations over movie rentals, and there were mentions of iPod compatible movie files being shipped with DVDs. Of course, to be able to legitimately import DVDs (without resorting to Handbrake) has been a pipe dream for consumers. But not for much longer, it would appear -- that is, if you're a buyer of a particular Fox TV animated series on DVD.Tipster Stewart sent us a note saying he'd received a Family Guy (Blue Harvest) DVD ahead of the January 15th release (coincidence?) and that an iPod-compatible version, branded as a "Fox Digital Copy file," was included on the disc. The only downside was that the disc "requires iTunes version 7.6." We were both sceptical and interested, naturally, and he was gracious enough to send over two shots of the offending article, possibly lifting the lid on some of the iTunes news we can expect next Tuesday.
Check the shots out after the jump, keeping your eyes peeled for the (over-zealous) "serial number" that appears to be required to access this digital copy as with existing Fox titles.
Thanks Stewart!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
1-08-2008 @ 12:10PM
Heckie said...
cool… buy DVD, copy to itunes, sell DVD on ebay!! cheap movies-r-us!!
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1-08-2008 @ 12:22PM
David Chartier said...
I bet it wouldn't quite work like that. The iTunes copies could get bound to one's iTunes account, barring the new DVD owners from using the files at all.
1-08-2008 @ 3:40PM
Toby said...
You've waited for this news to do that?
1-08-2008 @ 5:15PM
Heckie said...
Yeah, I'm a cheapo. :P
1-08-2008 @ 6:41PM
John Coxon said...
You can already do that, though...
1-08-2008 @ 12:12PM
Grzegorz Kazulak said...
this looks like a pre-step to iTunes rentals
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1-08-2008 @ 12:21PM
David Chartier said...
This got around a few weeks ago with the original "confirmations" from the likes of the New York Times. It was stated that iTunes-compatible movies will get distributed on DVDs as part of a deal to raise wholesale movie prices in the iTunes Store, which will help bring more studios on board.
It also perhaps marks the first time that iTunes media will get distributed outside the store itself.
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1-08-2008 @ 12:21PM
Wii-Maniak said...
This is so much better then buying movies on iTunes.
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1-08-2008 @ 12:27PM
KiltBear said...
A quick guess on how it might go down...
DVD has associated serial number (like an iTunes Gift Card). You use the serial number in iTunes to tie the copy of the media from the DVD to your iTunes account. Now you have a DRM wrapped copy of the video. You've just avoided having to wait for the download.
Oddly, if it works this way, it may incline more folks to keep their DVDs rather than use things like peerflix.com to trade their DVDs.
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1-08-2008 @ 12:41PM
Mo said...
Like it says on the box:
http://foxdigitalcopy.com/
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1-08-2008 @ 12:41PM
nate said...
If you go to the website listed, foxdigitalcopy.com, it looks like this is functionality that Fox already has been using, but only with WM PlaysForSure. Pretty cool that they're adding (or switching?) to iTunes compatibility!
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1-08-2008 @ 12:41PM
Scott said...
As long as they're DVD quality and not this "near DVD quality" crap. That's the only thing that has kept me from buying movies on iTunes. If I'm paying the same amount as I would on a DVD, it should look as good as a DVD.
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1-08-2008 @ 12:59PM
Bender Bending Rodriguez said...
They don't need to be DVD quality. They are meant to be used on your portable iDevices.
Plus, Apple chose 640x480 because it made the most sense for keeping the CPU taxation down, not because they were trying to screwing you out of 80 pixels.
1-08-2008 @ 1:11PM
Scott said...
For these Fox DVD files, you're right. They are meant to be viewed on the go. I was mainly talking about movies sold on iTunes (a digression...I apologize)
The AppleTV isn't a portable device and is marketed as a way of streaming content to an HDTV. That's my issue with the lower resolution stuff and that's one problem the device has faced. If they sell the movies as iPod versions for less than the price of a DVD, that's one thing. But they're marketing them as alternatives to DVDs for a similar price.
1-08-2008 @ 5:50PM
Andrew Timson said...
The problem with the current iTMS files isn't the 80 pixels; the problem is the crappy overcompression. I'm not interested in paying for macroblocks.
1-08-2008 @ 12:56PM
Bender Bending Rodriguez said...
Hey Nik,
• What is the resolution of these files?
• Can we get a confirmation that it's H.264?
• Is there any metadata that is worth noting?
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1-08-2008 @ 12:58PM
Louis sansano said...
It comes out the 15th? I saw it on sale in Kims Video on St. Marks Place, NYC 2 days ago. I might get it just to see what the deal is.
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1-08-2008 @ 12:58PM
pentumforever said...
Judging from the second shot it's H.264@ 1,5 Mbps. Seems like the same stuff you get from the iTunes Store. However since I'll get that in addition to the DVDs it is just fine with me.
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1-08-2008 @ 1:14PM
Dan said...
Does this mean Apple will see revenue from DVD sales?
I realize there is no cost to download or maintain the files in the Itune's Music store since the content comes on the dvd.
But I don't see where apple benefit's other than more Ipod sales unless they get a cut of the dvd sale and I don't see the studio's going for that.
All this does is take the movie sales away from the IMS.
1-08-2008 @ 12:59PM
Alex said...
Scott your getting it for free with the DVD anyways so whats the big deal, it says right on the box 1.5mbps H.264 so you know its only near DVD quality, and its probably optimized for the resolution of the iPod touch and not the 720 x whatever of the original dvd.
I wish they'd do the same with blurays, albeit with an iPod track and an HD track for playing back on my computer or HD TV. I fear if they don't annouce HD movies on the 15th...I guess most people still don't have HDTV's, but if you do, well, I just wish I could download my movies and watch em in high def on my TV and comes with an iPod file too...I'd never have to buy another bluray! I'm guessing they could get an HD download to about 5gig...
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