OK, so I may have jumped the gun and rented a couple titles off iTunes. Is there anyway to get them to my AppleTV now or do I have to wait for the new update? Hope it is released before my rentals expire.
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Watching Rented Movies
- Thread starter Foxer
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Unfortunately I don't think you will ever get them there. For rentals the apple tv is closed off from itunes. if you rent from itunes you cannot transfer to the apple tv and vice versa.
This is how i interpreted it from everything i have read, i would love to find out i am wrong and someone point it out. I don't see any real issue with them at least letting us transfer from itunes to apple tv.
This is how i interpreted it from everything i have read, i would love to find out i am wrong and someone point it out. I don't see any real issue with them at least letting us transfer from itunes to apple tv.
i think if you email apple they will give you a couple of free rentals if you tell them you thought you could use it on your 
tv straight away
tv straight awayiTunes Rentals can be transferred to a updated AppleTV (2.0). However, this will not work the other way around.
My understanding is you can only DL the HD Rentals from the Apple TV Box and it will put them on that big, previously unused HD inside the Apple TV. Regular SD Rentals I thought could be put on the ATV.
Just don't start to watch them.That way you have the 30-day window.Apple will have released the new Apple TV software before then.
Apple says you can sync purchased media back and forth.
They better fix this because people are going to be confused...
What if you buy on
TV, and want to watch it on a laptop a week after purchase?
Apple says you can sync purchased media back and forth.
They better fix this because people are going to be confused...
What if you buy on
I think you can only rent movies through Apple TV, not buy. You can buy music through Apple TV and sync back. But rentals only on Apple TV. Though it doesn't quite make sense, what if you rent it through Apple TV, watch 1/2 on your big screen but need to finish it on your iPhone/iPod or laptop the next day on the way to work or travelling..,,
Apple says you can sync purchased media back and forth.
They better fix this because people are going to be confused...
What if you buy on
It will not sync back...if purchased on iTunes, it can go anywhere, but if on Apple TV, then the file is stuck (which I feel is VERY stupid).
Engadget put together a nice grid outlining what you can and cannot do.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/itunes-and-apple-tv-rentals-and-purchases-what-you-can-and-can/
I believe it is consistent with what I have read.
CAN:
Rent DVD and HD quality movies on Apple TV
Rent Near DVD quality movies on iTunes for Computer, iPod, iPhone
Transfer purchased movies/TV Shows from computer to Apple TV
Transfer purchased TV Shows from Apple TV to computer (can't tell if you can buy movies on Apple TV, so far looks like no)
CANNOT:
Transfer rental from Apple TV to computer
Transfer rental from computer to Apple TV (though I think they should allow this)
Buy movies on Apple TV (not totally sure about this one)
http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/itunes-and-apple-tv-rentals-and-purchases-what-you-can-and-can/
I believe it is consistent with what I have read.
CAN:
Rent DVD and HD quality movies on Apple TV
Rent Near DVD quality movies on iTunes for Computer, iPod, iPhone
Transfer purchased movies/TV Shows from computer to Apple TV
Transfer purchased TV Shows from Apple TV to computer (can't tell if you can buy movies on Apple TV, so far looks like no)
CANNOT:
Transfer rental from Apple TV to computer
Transfer rental from computer to Apple TV (though I think they should allow this)
Buy movies on Apple TV (not totally sure about this one)
This is just not true, according to both Jobs and the CEO of Fox. They both flat out say that people want to have as many options as possible about where to buy and watch their movies. Then they go to say that you can watch rented movies from the
TV on your Mac or PC, current generation iPods and iPhone.So whomever is saying they can not be transfered is wrong. Jobs said at the beginning when he started about
TV that it no longer requires a computer. He then, immediately says, it will still sync beautifully with your Mac or PC if that is what you want.Why are people confused?
Purchased media gets synced back, not rentals. I don't know why they have this limitation, but according to all of the online sources that I came across this limitation does exist. Where is the confusion?So whomever is saying they can not be transfered is wrong. Jobs said at the beginning when he started about
Why are people confused?
I think the problem they might run into is that if you sync a Movie rental from the tv to your computer and you have not started watching it, it is too hard for them to maintain the 24 viewing clock when you do start watching it.
ie. if you sync it back and then disconnect your computer from the network and take it with you, theoretically you have 30 days to watch it. If you watch it on yourtv, you could then have it still on your computer for 30 days to watch a second time as long as the 2 don't re-sync to tell eachother what's up. Personally I think they should have gone with a 48 or 72 window. 24 hrs is too short. What if you start a movie one night but can't finish it till a later time the follow evening or even the day after that, then your window is up. You should also have the right to watch it as many times as you want in that time period.
tv to your computer and you have not started watching it, it is too hard for them to maintain the 24 viewing clock when you do start watching it.ie. if you sync it back and then disconnect your computer from the network and take it with you, theoretically you have 30 days to watch it. If you watch it on your
tv, you could then have it still on your computer for 30 days to watch a second time as long as the 2 don't re-sync to tell eachother what's up. Personally I think they should have gone with a 48 or 72 window. 24 hrs is too short. What if you start a movie one night but can't finish it till a later time the follow evening or even the day after that, then your window is up. You should also have the right to watch it as many times as you want in that time period.
There seems to be alot of miss information on this. Yes you can rent a movie in iTunes and transfer it to the AppleTV according to iTunes help file:
As long as the rental was purchased on your computer using iTunes, you can sync the rental to Apple TV.
If you rent a movie on Apple TV, you cannot sync it back (whether it's SD or HD) to iTunes.
HD rentals are ONLY available using the Apple TV directly.
It's not that complicated.
If you rent a movie on Apple TV, you cannot sync it back (whether it's SD or HD) to iTunes.
HD rentals are ONLY available using the Apple TV directly.
It's not that complicated.
Nope its not that complicated - however the SD video if rented on AppleTV is higher quality than the SD movies available via iTunes - per Apples help file anyway
. [edit: Im not too sure if they are implying that SD is better quality or that the HD is higher quality - it could be taken either way.]
Nope its not that complicated - however the SD video if rented on AppleTV is higher quality than the SD movies available via iTunes - per Apples help file anyway
No, that is TRUE!! The SD rentals on Apple TV are DVD quality!!! 720x480, if widescreen, whereas iTunes is lower quality for widescreen. They aren't giving that quality on iTunes because iPods can't play it.
Very cool though, at least I think!
DVD quality and HD quality = finally acceptable Of course, it's a little silly in that people (some at least like me) would be willing to purchase DVD or HD quality movies. It was the iTunes quality that we never purchased!
I think the real problem is the lack of freedom iTunes users have in choosing a quality of video. Regardless of using TV or not, you should be able to choose between a lesser quality video for your iPod/iPhone/etc. or an HD quality video to play on an iMac, MacBook, etc.
Besides, even if Apple only offered an HD quality video that's not meant to be played on an iPod or iPhone, it's not that hard for the user to convert it.
TV or not, you should be able to choose between a lesser quality video for your iPod/iPhone/etc. or an HD quality video to play on an iMac, MacBook, etc.Besides, even if Apple only offered an HD quality video that's not meant to be played on an iPod or iPhone, it's not that hard for the user to convert it.
No, that is TRUE!! The SD rentals on Apple TV are DVD quality!!! 720x480, if widescreen, whereas iTunes is lower quality for widescreen. They aren't giving that quality on iTunes because iPods can't play it.
Very cool though, at least I think!
Of course, it's a little silly in that people (some at least like me) would be willing to purchase DVD or HD quality movies. It was the iTunes quality that we never purchased!
This isn't totally true either...try renting Simpsons or Die Hard...the files are 853x432. They are DVD quality. The iPhone and iPod specs have been increased even further than their 720x480 limitation and they now support some sort of Anamorphic setting. The Handbrake people are figuring it out now.
I think the real problem is the lack of freedom iTunes users have in choosing a quality of video. Regardless of using
Besides, even if Apple only offered an HD quality video that's not meant to be played on an iPod or iPhone, it's not that hard for the user to convert it.
I think its quite fair. If you own an appletv you get the luxury of having better quality rentals and purchases. I think its nice. I think it gives people a good incentive to buy an appletv. Plus, you don't need perfect quality if you're watching it on your iPod or computer screen.
My MacPro has a 27inch HDTV as its monitor and I watch plenty of DVDs on it. The monitor is also attached to a DVD Up-converter and TVmax. I do have a larger HDTV in the Media room for my Blu-ray, DVDs and Comcast cable. At this time Apple TV would be a bit redundant but when I get rid of cable TV in 6 months I may think about it. I rented 'Grosse Point Blank' on Wednesday and apple gave me 46 hours to watch, not 24. It may have been a programming error, but it was nice.