News Corp reportedly holding back iTunes rentals
With all of the speculation flying around about tomorrow, a few people are poopooing any idea that Apple will mention the iTV at all. The invitation doesn't say anything about it being "show time." Images like the guitar are usually reserved for iLife and the iPod, and it's unlikely that Apple will put a brand new iTV into that somewhat crowded mix. But there's something about the iTV that makes me think we'll see it after all, and it's the persistent rumor that Apple is chasing down TV deals for iTunes. News Corp is reportedly the latest holdout, but we've heard for a while now that Apple is running around trying to quickly hammer out deals for 99-cent TV rentals in iTunes (a system that will supposedly compete with the ever popular Netflix and Hulu services).
None of this has been officially confirmed -- not by Apple or by any of the media companies that it's supposedly negotiating with. And of course, nothing is true until we see Steve talking about it on stage tomorrow. It's totally possible that he'll simply show off an updated iPod touch or a new version of iLife and then bid us good day.
But I'm standing by my predictions! I think the time for a new iTV is now, and even if Apple goes on stage tomorrow and says that it's currently got deals with just a few companies, and there are more to come, a foot in consumers' doors is certainly better than nothing.
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With all of the speculation flying around about tomorrow, a few people are poopooing any idea that Apple will mention the iTV at all. The...
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And that's the fourth sign of the Apocalypse, people.
Joanna D, despite derision, was completely and I mean 100% completely ... right.
Time to start praying!
And it ought to be said, good call Joanna D! (On this occasion at least.)
Well, I think that, if given the option to have a Season Pass for no more than $10 for my favourite TV series on right now (Castle), and possibly one for Big Bang Theory, I'd probably bite. While Hulu is free, I'd rather use an Apple product to get the same episodes for free, even if iAds were in the TV shows.
Reason being is the "television" ads everywhere else on the Net are totally intrusive and while Hulu has made some steps in the right direction, Apple could blow them out of the water with one hand tied behind the back of one of Steve Jobs's famous turtlenecks.
And if I can watch episodes of The Price is Right for free on any device I wanted to watch them on, including some unobtrusive iAds, I'd LOVE that, believe me. CBS's ad system is truly intrusive and unrealistically bad for consumers.
BJ
It will be iTV for the rest of the world, and xTV for the U.K. ---- prior use didn't stop gmail from having gmail.com email accounts, then subsequently gogglemail.com accounts --- and now after a settlement gmail.com for U.K. Users too . Not that I agree with it, but that will probably be what happens -- the use, not the settlement, I don't see iTV settling quietly even though they suck. (Apple won't give a damn like Google didn't give a damn).
August 31 2010 at 6:59 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThis is a big issue for you, huh? Were you going nuts about the Iphone 4G as well?
Time to get a girlfriend, dude.
Am I the only one that thinks that $1 per episode TV rentals are still absurdly expensive, especially considering, um, Hulu?
August 31 2010 at 5:29 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHulu has ads, has lower quality, and for the monthly price, may be higher than some people will want to pay ( for example - lets say you're interested in only 1 show, weekly -- that show will cost you $4 per month. You're not subsidizing all the other shows you're not interested in. But, yes, I agree, if you're interested in more than a few shows, and willing to put up with the (few) ads and lower quality, hulu is a better deal.
August 31 2010 at 6:56 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyCan't watch Hulu on an airplane, as there's likely no internet (unless you're on a Gogo equipped flight). You can rent from iTunes and still watch it though.
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TUAW (or The Unofficial Apple Weblog) is a website devoted to tips, reviews, news, analysis and opinion on everything Apple.
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