Movie Rental question

[clayk]

I just rented a movie from the iTunes store (on my laptop). I was thinking I could watch it on my ATV but apparently you cannot do that yet. I see no way to sync this movie. I thought the new software would allow me to rent from the ATV and not have to use another computer. I did not think it was required to play a movie rented and transferred.

Am I missing something.

Clay

 

[FreeState]

I just rented a movie from the iTunes store (on my laptop). I was thinking I could watch it on my ATV but apparently you cannot do that yet. I see no way to sync this movie. I thought the new software would allow me to rent from the ATV and not have to use another computer. I did not think it was required to play a movie rented and transferred.

Am I missing something.

Clay

You need to wait for the update to move the rental to the AppleTV - just another week or so if you want to wait or watch it on your iPod/Laptop now.

 

[mechamac]

You're missing the new TV software, which isn't out yet. Once it is you'll be able to rent directly from TV and transfer iTunes rentals to TV.

If you email iTunes and explain your confusion/frustration they may refund you for the rental.

 

[clayk]

Thanks. I guess I will see if the update comes before the 30 days are up. If not, I'll just watch it on the computer. Live and learn

Clay

 

[pdpfilms]

Also, keep in mind you can't transfer rentals from Mac to Mac. That one got me.

 

[sandman42]

You need to wait for the update to move the rental to the AppleTV...

You're Once it is you'll be able to ... transfer iTunes rentals to TV.

Also, keep in mind you can't transfer rentals from Mac to Mac.

I thought movies rented on the TV are viewable only on it, and movies rented on your computer are only viewable on your computer or iPod, with no transferring of rentals between computer and TV either direction (though I can't find anything to back that up at the moment). I think there's some DRM issue that prevented Apple from allowing you to sync rentals either way between computer and TV.

 

[zedsdead]

Also, keep in mind you can't transfer rentals from Mac to Mac. That one got me.

You would think through Back to My Mac you would, but no. You can however transfer the rental to an iPod/iPhone and then transfer it to the other mac without issue (just make sure you hit "Cancel" not "Erase and Sync").

 

[FreeState]

I thought movies rented on the TV are viewable only on it, and movies rented on your computer are only viewable on your computer or iPod, with no transferring of rentals between computer and TV either direction (though I can't find anything to back that up at the moment). I think there's some DRM issue that prevented Apple from allowing you to sync rentals either way between computer and TV.

The iTunes help file says you can transfer a rented movie from your computer to the AppleTV:

"Renting movies from the iTunes Store
The iTunes Store offers movies you can rent. You can play rented movies in iTunes, on your iPod or iPhone, or using Apple TV.

NOTE: If you plan to watch a rented movie using Apple TV, you'll get the best-quality video by renting it using your Apple TV."

You can not rent from the AppleTV and transfer it to anything though - I think this has more to do with the files being incompatible with iPods and issues with playing a HiDef movie on all computers (most people's computers probably would have a had time playing them unless the computer is newer - there are a lot of people out there on old windows boxs unfortunately).

 

[sandman42]

The iTunes help file says you can transfer a rented movie from your computer to the AppleTV:




You can not rent from the AppleTV and transfer it to anything though - I think this has more to do with the files being incompatible with iPods and issues with playing a HiDef movie on all computers (most people's computers probably would have a had time playing them unless the computer is newer - there are a lot of people out there on old windows boxs unfortunately).

Hmmm, that 'note' is news to me. Hopefully I'm wrong. I've looked carefully at all the documentation on Apple's movie rental web site, it says things like:

"rent your favorite movies from the iTunes Store and play them on your computer, iPod, or iPhone — or rent movies directly from Apple TV"

I've read everything they've published that I can find (though I hadn't seen the stuff you quoted), and watched the guided tour, and they seem to be very careful not to say that you can transfer movies rented in iTunes to your TV, only to your iPod or iPhone. They seem to treat movies rentals on TV as a completely independent function. I know you can transfer purchased movies to your TV, though.

Hopefully I'm wrong, but from what I've read (including non-Apple reviews and previews that specifically say it does work this way), it looks like this is how it's going to be. I don't think Apple would want it this way, and I suspect it's some kind of misguided concession to the movie studios. We should know for sure in a few days!

 

[mechamac]

The iTunes Movie Rental FAQ says you can transfer from iTunes to Apple TV. It's probably a process like transferring a rental to your iPod: the movie goes away on you computer and then exists only on Apple TV.

"Can I play my rental on more than one device?
If you download a rented movie on your computer, you can transfer it to your Apple TV, iPod, or iPhone. Once you move the movie from your computer to a device, the movie will disappear from your computer's iTunes library. You can move the movie between devices as many times as you wish during the rental period, but the movie can only be viewed on one device at a time. If you rent the movie on your Apple TV, it is not transferable to any other device and you must watch it on your Apple TV."

 

[sandman42]

The iTunes Movie Rental FAQ says you can transfer from iTunes to Apple TV. It's probably a process like transferring a rental to your iPod: the movie goes away on you computer and then exists only on Apple TV.

"Can I play my rental on more than one device?
If you download a rented movie on your computer, you can transfer it to your Apple TV, iPod, or iPhone. Once you move the movie from your computer to a device, the movie will disappear from your computer's iTunes library. You can move the movie between devices as many times as you wish during the rental period, but the movie can only be viewed on one device at a time. If you rent the movie on your Apple TV, it is not transferable to any other device and you must watch it on your Apple TV."

Well, that settles it! Thanks!

 

[mechamac]

Glad to. The info is a bit too tucked away on Apple's site, if you ask me. Maybe that'll change once the AppleTV update finally shows up.