With the Macworld conference in full effect at the Moscone Center in San Fancisco, our network blog last100 has been keeping tabs on all the juicy tid-bits to emerge from Apple’s annual party. While we already know about the big announcements to come out of Macworld — like the Apple TV 2, iTunes movie rentals, and the Macbook Air — last100 has been busy pumping out a lot of great coverage and analysis to keep you up-to-date on the other goings on at Macworld and what it all means for you.
Content, pricing and convenience. How do movie rentals on iTunes fare?
“Overall, pricing on iTunes is inline with traditional DVD rentals from bricks-and-mortar stores such as Blockbuster, as well as directly comparable online offerings. Movie rentals are priced at $2.99 for library titles and $3.99 for new releases, with High Definition versions costing one dollar more. However, when compared to subscription packages such as the eat-all-you-want service from Netflix, Apples prices soon add up, for all but the most casual movie watcher. Not offering a subscription option seems like a missed opportunity by Apple.”
iPhone, iPod touch updates are incremental, welcomed, and point to future
“Todays software updates for the iPhone and iPod touch are welcomed refinements from Apple. Are they earth-shattering? No. Theyre incremental, carefully thought out, and point to what we can expect in the future.
“Its a platform that competitors are no where near duplicating. By the time competing manufacturers introduce their versions of the iPhone (many of which may use Googles open mobile operating system Android), Apple will unveil even more refinements as well as introduce iPhone 2.0.”
AppleTV 2 breaks free from the PC, remains under Apples lock and key
“With AppleTV “take 2,” the chains are off so to speak. No longer does the device require the use of a computer to download and manage content (although it can still access media stored on a PC), and is instead capable of fetching content directly from the Internet — movie rentals; film, TV and music purchases; podcasts; and photos.
“But aside from Apple-sanctioned access: the companys own iTunes Store and .Mac service, podcasts, Flickr and YouTube — the AppleTV remains under lock and key, closed to third-party developers and web services, and subsequently unable to pull in additional content from elsewhere on the net.”
Reading between the lines of Jobs comments on Kindle, Android
“What does Steve-o really mean when he says, “It doesnt matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people dont read anymore”? And: “The whole conception is flawed at the top because people dont ready anymore”?”
BBC tech chief: iPlayer on iTunes now a possibility
“Movie rentals on iTunes could pave the way for content from the BBCs catch-up service, iPlayer, being offered on Apples platform, according to the broadcasters Future Media and Technology Director, Ashley Highfield.”
Be sure to check out more great digital life coverage every day at last100.
