Marking the first time they have ever done so, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced that the two-disc DVD and Blu-ray offerings of the comedy Pineapple Express will include a free digital copy of the film downloadable from iTunes in addition to the digital copy that can playback on PCs and the Sony handheld PSP.
Previous Sony digital copies had not been compatible with Apple devices such as the iPod or iPhone nor on Mac computers.
Sony says it will offer iTunes downloads on a “select basis” for now on.
“SPHE is thrilled to expand the value and convenience of our digital copy program to the iTunes community,” said Lexine Wong, senior VP of worldwide marketing at Sony. “Consumers can enjoy Pineapple Express where and how they like—whether with the full home entertainment experience of Blu-ray high def or DVD or on the go with their laptop, PSP or iPod.”
Result for: itunes download
Norway’s Consumer Ombudsman Bjoern Erik Thon is keeping his pledge to put more pressure on Apple to cut the DRM tie between its iPod models and music downloads from the iTunes download store. The consumer mediator gave Apple a November 3rd deadline back in September this year, and now that the deadline has passed without Apple making enough effort (in the Ombudsman’s opinion), it may face being brought before a government agency.
“iTunes has shown a lacking will to comply with our demand and we are now preparing to try this case in the Market Council,” Consumer Ombudsman Bjoern Erik Thon said in a statement. Back in 2006, Norway was among the world’s first countries to take issue with Apple’s FairPlay DRM, which while protecting music, also created a tie between hardware made by Apple and digital downloads it sells.
Apple responded to the pressure by providing certain information to its customers including a workaround that includes burning copy protected music to a CD with iTunes and then ripping to standard unprotected digital audio, which will work with pretty much all MP3 players on the market.
“iTunes maintains its previous views in its response to the Consumer Ombudsman. The company is in other words unwilling to make changes to make music in the iTunes Store available to all music players,” the agency said in its statement. Whether or not Apple will cave to the pressure remains to be seen.
Result for: itunes download
Apple has announced that they will now be making movies available for sale and rental on iTunes Canada.
Apple has signed the deal with major film studios 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Studios, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM), Sony Pictures Television International and Lionsgate and Maple Pictures to make the movies available on the iTunes platform in Canada.
The company says there will be 1200 movies available rent or purchase and that 200 are available in HD resolutions.
“Canadians have made iTunes the most popular place to find and buy music and TV shows online,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes. “We’re thrilled to give iTunes customers access to over 1,200 movies from major studios to rent or purchase, whether to enjoy at home on their widescreen TV with Apple TV or on-the-go on their iPod.”
As with its American counterpart, customers have 30 days after downloading to begin watching and then 48 hours to view as many times as they like. Catalog titles will cost $9.99 CAD, $14.99 CAD for recent releases and $19.99 CAD for new releases. Each rental will cost $3.99 for library titles and $4.99 for new releases. All HD titles are $5.99 to rent.
