Apple fails to deliver 1,000 movies in Feb
updated 07:20 pm EST, Mon March 3, 2008
Apple fails to deliver
Apple promised the world in mid-January that 1,000 iTunes movie rentals would arrive at the company's iTunes Store by the end of February, but those rentals were still missing in action on the last day of last month. Macworld quotes Apple's statement during the Macworld Expo in San Francisco earlier this year: "iTunes Movie Rentals launches today and will offer over 1,000 titles by the end of February, including over 100 titles in stunning high definition video with 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound which users can rent directly from their widescreen TV using Apple TV."
The Cupertino-based company nearly achieved its promise of 100 HD movie rentals, with iTunes high-definition movie rentals totaling 91 on February 29th. Choosing 'All Movies' on an Apple TV however revealed just 351 titles for rent on the same date, while only 378 titles appeared when selecting 'All Rentals.'
"Happy as I am with the selection of movies I can currently rent from my Apple TV or computer, I'm hoping that, similar to the iPhone SDK, Apple's other February promise becomes reality in early March," Macworld's Christopher Breen wrote.
that does it
03/03, 07:35pm reply
I'm switching to windows. I can't take the strain and the heartbreak any more.
Glasspusher
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Joined: Oct 2000
Oh please...
03/03, 07:48pm reply
Since the SDK was late, they couldn't use the iPhone to RIP the DVDs.
Guest
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Joined: Nov 1999
Studio's Fault?
03/03, 07:56pm reply
Maybe. That's where the movies come from...
Eriamjh
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Joined: Oct 2001
Don't change the trend
03/03, 08:01pm reply
Though I'd prefer Apple stick to the deliver-more-than-is-promised scheme, to the usual delight of users, I can see where this came out wrong on the part of the studios.
We know the vids are coming. The only real negative reaction to the fact could be that investors won't have the supreme trust that Apple will at least do as much as they say, if not more. On that note, It's not hard to deliver more than is expected when you don't tell 'em what to expect ;-).
danviento
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Joined: Dec 2005
inconsequential
03/03, 11:14pm reply
This is such a non-issue it's surprising that it even made the news today.
It's not like people have already seen all 300+ movies there and have nothing else to see on iTunes Store...
For what it's worth, this is surely entirely studios' fault.
vasic
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Joined: May 2005
re: inconsequential
03/03, 11:45pm reply
It didn't make the news. It made Macnn/iPodnn. You can think of Macnn/iPodnn more like the tabloids or the NY Times. You shouldn't come here looking for news; it's the forum responses that keep me coming back.
jameshays
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Typical Apple now
03/04, 01:28am reply
This is no longer abnormal. Apple keeps promising things by a certain date and failing to deliver. The stockholders need to demand answers.
Buran
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Joined: May 2000
Re: inconsequential
03/04, 08:09am reply
I guess if you actually want to see all 300+ c*** movies currently in the system, then sure, you're right. But some people have varying or specific tastes, and so that 300+ movies is more like just 10 or 12.
testudo
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Joined: Aug 2001
Re: typical apple now
03/04, 09:28am reply
Actually, this could all be intentional. Apple knows it has a scapegoat when it comes to the iTMS (be it the RIAA or the studios or whoever). So they make wild promises, knowing they won't deliver, and then when they don't, everyone of course blames the content owners! This then helps apple by putting pressure on the content owners to deliver what Steve promised, even if the studios never concurred with the promise!
Of course, what is also typical Apple here is the complete and utter silence from the company. No "We're trying, but..." statements. No "Oops, sorry" statements. Nothing.
Maybe they live by that ol' standard "If you've got nothing good to say, be quiet and hope no one notices."
testudo
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Joined: Aug 2001
Re: typical apple now
03/04, 10:31am reply
Oh please. The average stockholder doesn't care about the long term success of a company - they just want to make money fast and don't care what they do to businesses to do it.
If anything corporations should be less responsible to shareholders and more to their customers.
hayesk
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