iTunes 1080p Content Updates

[kepardue]

Is there any meta site that lists when Apple adds or updates one of its shows to 1080p? Just downloaded the new 1080p Star Trek and it's like night and day compared to the 720p on my 27" iMac. Absolutely stunning.

Unfortunately, the Planet Earth series I have still appears to only be available in 720p, which at this point looks kinda blah. If I were Apple, I'd be pushing to have Planet Earth updated to 1080p and featured in iTunes. That's easily the most beautiful HD footage I've ever seen.

Man, if Netflix weren't around that'd surely be how I got my entertainment. If Apple were to dump the SD versions and charge the SD price for HD content, it might still be how I get my entertainment. Just hard to justify ~$2 cheaper than a Bluray without any extras content.

I've bought myself to purchase two other Star Trek movies, my favorites, Star Trek 2 and Star Trek 6. Both of which are available for purchase in 1080p. As it happens these appear to be the only two HD Star Trek movies available for HD download, wonder why? Another reason for asking about a site that tracks iTunes content.

 

[elmo151]

same problem; same complaint

 

[Michael CM1]

Yup, Blu-ray blows away digital downloads in the Extras department. The picture has almost caught up, but the sound is also lacking if you have a good setup.

"The Universe" is an awesome TV series to watch in HD. I have all five seasons available on BD, and it's just awesome. I have seen episodes of Planet Earth and agree that it would be another good showcase.

 

[S.B.G]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone 4S: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9B179 Safari/7534.48.3)

Finished Star Trek (movie 2009), and I can honestly say that the quality of the streaming video from iTunes on the ATV3, was so good that I would be hard-pressed to distinguish the difference between that and a Blu-ray. Good job Apple.

 

[darster]

The only streaming that comes close to BD is Vudu IMO. They require at least a DL speed of 9 Mbs. The others are just marginal and really is obvious on a large screen 60+ inches, as it's easy to see compression and banding. Streaming has a long way to go. For movies I don't buy, streaming is ok. But for movies I want in my library, BD is the only way to go.

 

[CrzyP]

I usually rent from vudu if I'm too lazy to go to redbox. Now that I have an ATV3, I'll be renting from iTunes on the lazy days. HDX 1080p on vudu is a dollar more than iTunes 1080p.

Anyone else not able to upgrade digital copies to 1080p from the cloud?

 

[kepardue]

I'm okay with the quality. Very minor occasional banding is noticeable only on the iMac. Looks fine on the TV. I'd be fine with purchasing more HD content from iTunes. Unfortunately, that iTunes now has its content in 1080p only highlights how much content on iTunes isn't in HD at all. Lord of the Rings, Citizen Kane, Gone with the Wind, 2001, half of the older Star Trek movies, not to mention the Star Trek: TOS remastered series. Also, I know Lucas is a greedy so-and-so and all, but why the heck isn't Star Wars on iTunes at all?

 

[Michael CM1]

The only streaming that comes close to BD is Vudu IMO. They require at least a DL speed of 9 Mbs. The others are just marginal and really is obvious on a large screen 60+ inches, as it's easy to see compression and banding. Streaming has a long way to go. For movies I don't buy, streaming is ok. But for movies I want in my library, BD is the only way to go.

I'm the same way. Netflix HD is fine for those you rent. But when I want to shell out money for something to watch over and over again, I want the best. I also am way more likely to want special features, which you're lucky to get on any iTunes download.

Part of me wonders why Apple hasn't built some Mac mini-esque Apple TV/BD player that would frackin' rule the home entertainment world. Embrace the fact that you live with discs instead of ignoring them.