As Macworld has reported, Apple has failed to meet their target of 1000 standard definition rentals and 100 HD rentals, that they claimed would be available by the end of February. While the number of HD titles available via Apple TV is pretty close to the promised figure, 91 according to Macworld, not all of these films offer DD 5.1, which was one of the hyped HD features.

As for regular rentals, by Macworld's calculations, around 400 titles are available (my own calculations show 417), which isn't a substantial increase from my own calculations back in January. The total number of available films, for rent or purchase, available via iTunes is teetering around 800 by my calculations. Clearly, this is well short of 1000 titles.

So the question becomes, why is there a delay? Some of the editorials that have appeared online seem to take the position that Apple failed to meet predictions in part because of delays with the Apple TV software. While I could see how that might affect the number of available HD titles (and remember, HD titles are much closer to meeting expectations than regular rentals), this just seems too convenient.

It has also been inevitable that parallels be drawn between the number of available movie rentals and the delays with the iPhone SDK, as if there is some sort of pattern in Apple not meeting expectations. To me, this makes absolutely no sense. As far as I can tell (and granted, I'm no expert), the iPhone SDK is wholly unrelated to iTunes and the iTunes rentals. The fact that both systems have had logistical problems with roll out is unfortunate, but I can't see how they are either related or indicative of a trend.

So what's the real story? While I doubt we will ever get a definitive answer, I think Ars Technica has the most plausible theory: licensing issues with the movie studios. It's no secret that the studios have been reticent to fully embrace digital distribution. Personally, I think the fear that digital rental sales could cannibalize home video sales is understandable. Home video attributes for a huge amount of the studios return on investment and embracing one model at the risk of another must be scary.

Plus, it is clear that Apple had to cede to the studio demands just to get the rental agreements in the first place. True, all the major studios are represented, but certain production companies still have the right to refuse to appear on iTunes. Apple also conceded to flexible pricing and a 30-day exclusive DVD window (if the studio chooses to invoke it). Apple does not possess the power they have in music sales in the video space, as such, I find it more than plausible to believe that they are more at the studio's mercy for when films will be available and on what terms.

Undoubtedly a large library was one of the keys to iTunes' success in music. It is crucial that Apple achieve something similar if they want rentals to succeed. It's easy to blame Apple for dropping the ball, but in this case, I really think this is something that is out of their control.

[via Ars]

Brian A. sent a tip to say he called his FedEx delivery manager in Huntsville, AL, and they told him that they were backed up with Leopard deliveries. Apparently, they weren't able to make the 10:30 AM deadline in some areas, and though delivery is still scheduled for sometime this afternoon, they'll be showing up late. How late? We're not sure, but hopefully not too late for Apple stores to receive their copies. Hopefully, this is just a hiccup in shipping, and not the start of a widespread delay.

In other news, reader Don also had a problem with his Leopard delivery-- when checking his tracking number with FedEx online, he noticed to his dismay that someone named "Ramirez" had already signed for his package (and he doesn't know anyone named Ramirez). He called Apple and they blamed FedEx, saying that FedEx was reusing tracking numbers, and the signature Don was seeing was for a different package.

And even if you have your copy, you may still be having problems-- Paul got his copy in Australia last night, but says Software Update has been zerged to death. With so many people trying to sign on and get their new apps, it may be a rough road for installers this weekend. Good luck out there.

Update: We've also heard about a delay out of Indy. If you were expecting Leopard in the US by 10:30am, odds are you don't have it yet.

Apple's announcement that Leopard has been delayed until October was quite the shocker, especially since we apparently have the iPhone to thank. This of course elicited nearly every response you can think of from every walk of life, but we don't often hear from what I feel is one of the most important building blocks of the Mac OS X community: 3rd party developers. Sure, developers blog about stuff like this on their own, but not everyone is down for sifting through posts about the inner workings of Mac OS X for the insightful opinion pieces on what things like a Leopard delay mean to Apple and its users. And that isn't a bad thing, especially since it inspired me to bring the developers' thoughts to you in an interview series with some of Mac OS X's biggest hitters, including Wil Shipley (co-founder of Omni Group and Delicious Monster), Paul Kafasis (CEO of Rogue Amoeba), Gus Mueller (of Flying Meat software) and Allan Odgaard (of Macromates).

I wanted to get their thoughts on Leopard, the iPhone and where Apple is headed as a company in light of Mac OS X delays and Apple's gadgets which would (or should) make great venues for their products. Thankfully, all the developers responded positively and offered some great insight on these issues. These guys have a unique perspective on the state of Apple and its products, and I'm thankful that they all took the time to lay it down as only a Mac OS X developer can.

First up (only because he was the first to reply) is Brent Simmons of NewsGator fame. Read on for thoughts from the man who brought RSS and blogging to the Mac masses with NetNewsWire and MarsEdit (which was acquired recently by Red Sweater Software).

Our sister blog Blogging Stocks reports that rumors "are swirling" that the iPhone may be delayed by quality problems. Website LoopRumors relays rumors from the always controversial but occasionally correct Smarthouse that say that insiders at Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn/Han Hai are concerned about the iPhone's battery and it's talk time. They suggest that Apple may not meet its June 11 date.

Apple has just issued a press release statement announcing that Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard has been delayed until October. The reason? iPhone: "we had to borrow some key software engineering and QA resources from our Mac OS X team, and as a result we will not be able to release Leopard at our Worldwide Developers Conference in early June as planned." However, Apple will still be displaying a "feature complete" version of Leopard at June's WWDC event, and will be giving beta versions for developers to take home and help put the finishing touches on.

This is a pretty significant announcement, especially considering that Apple has fallen under criticism as of late for dropping 'Computer' from their name and seemingly shifting their focus from computers to consumer devices such as the iPod, Apple TV and now Mac OS X-delaying iPhone. In a way though, I'm not surprised either, as a number of Mac OS X developers have expressed disbelief that Apple was going to hit a June release with Leopard in its currently buggy and fairly unfinished state.

On the bright side, this hopefully can be taken as a sign that Apple is still committed to releasing quality software, even if slightly late this time around. The company could simply have shipped in June and issued 'Service Pack 1' later to patch all the gaping holes their customers found. But that wouldn't be very Apple, would it?

[Update: Still nothing at apple.com/pr, but it has been posted to Apple's Hot News site: http://www.apple.com/hotnews/]