Apple founder and CEO kicked off MacWorld with new product and service announcements. Though the new MacBook Air, an ultrathin (.75" thick) notebook, will probably get the most airtime, a key development in digital movie delivery should make us take note.New release movies will now be available for on demand download through iTunes.
Consumers will be able to start renting movies through the company's iTunes store by the end of February, Jobs said. The company will send out a software update to Apple TV products in two weeks that will make it compatible with the new service, he said.
At launch, the rental service will offer 1,000 movies, including 100 that will be available in high definition. Movies will be available 30 days after they come out on DVD. Apple will charge $3.99 for a new movie and $2.99 for older ones - and $1 extra each for high-definition versions.
How well this service will do is up for grabs. It is Apple's second attempt with its TV top box called Apple TV. What is important is Jobs got all the movie studios to agree to sign on, something that has never been accomplished before. This signifies the last barrier to on demand movie downloads using the Internet as the delivery mechanism.
We're not there yet, and we may not be there very soon, but today's announcement suggests Hollywood finally "gets" their movie delivery system is going to change. This is great news for movie fans.
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