01/15/2008, 3:10pm, EST
Tuesday, January 15thfrom: www.electronista.com
Apple, Fox offer digital versions of DVDs
Both Apple and Twentieth Century Fox today unveiled Digital Copy for iTunes, providing customers who purchase a DVD with an additional Digital Copy of the movie. The Digital Copy is exactly like movies purchased from the iTunes Store, and is transferable to iTunes for viewing on a Mac or PC, an iPod, an iPhone, or an Apple TV set top box. The first DVD to make its debut with iTunes Digital Copy is the Special Edition DVD premiere of the Family Guy 'Star Wars' parody, 'Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest,' which is being released in stores today. Fox and Apple said they are planning to deliver many more DVDs with iTunes Digital Copy this year.
"One of the most requested features DVD buyers have been asking for is the ability to get the movies they bought into their iTunes library," said Jim Gianopulos, chairman and CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment. "We're thrilled to offer such an incredibly simple way for our customers to get even more out of their DVD purchase, and we look forward to releasing many more DVDs this year with iTunes Digital Copy."
The new iTunes Digital Copy provides DVD shoppers with an easy way to transfer a DVD purchase to an iTunes library. Once a DVD is purchased, users can insert the disc into their computer and enter a unique code into iTunes to automatically make copies the movie to the iTunes library in minutes. Customers own the iTunes Digital Copy of the movie, and the Digital Copy offers all of the same viewing options as other iTunes Store video content. The digital versions of movies play on computers, iPods with video, iPhones, and Apple TV devices. Each DVD will only transfer its iTunes Digital Copy to one iTunes library, however.
"Now movie fans can easily transfer a free copy of the movie they purchase on DVD into iTunes," said Apple CEO Steve Jobs. "DVDs containing an iTunes Digital Copy allow movie fans to get a copy of their movie which can be viewed on a computer, iPod, iPhone or on Apple TV."
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And I love the fox exec. "People wanted an easy way to add it to iTunes!". Why not just add the ability to convert it straight, rather then dealing with copy protections and limitations. Oh, right, we need to keep that DRM (and make sure it's all tied to Apple's hardware/software).
I guess Jobs hasn't decided that DRM in videos is evil yet.
AND all of this is sacrificed for a quarter of an inch in appearance, which undoubtedly only makes the machine hotter too!
It is time for a change at Apple -- a change at the top. Job's anorexic fixations are becoming a liability. So far Apple's stock is down over $10 on this. I have no doubt that the iTV/video announcements will bounces it back and more, but the Macbook Air is a public relations disaster waiting to happen.
testudo, DRM is pushed by the labels & studios, not Apple. Apple is looking to get AppleTV into the hands of as many as possible, I would think they would be all for DRM free as that would send hardware sales for iPod/iPhone & AppleTV up.