Apple goes to the movies
2006-09-13 07:16
San Francisco - Apple said it began selling Walt Disney Company movies at its iTunes online store on Tuesday.
"Today we are making more than 75 films available online and we will be adding more every month," Apple chief executive officer Steve Jobs said during a press event in a San Francisco theatre.
The offerings include recent releases including Pirates of the Caribbean and Cars, Jobs said.
The films were from Disney, Pixar, Touchstone and Miramax film studios, Jobs said.
New films would be available online for $12.99 the same day of their release in DVD format, Jobs said. The price would rise to $14.99 after the first week.
Library films would sell for $9.99 each.
"These are great films," Jobs said as he showed clips on a screen behind him. "iTunes now has movies integrated on the home page."
Jobs also did something usual for Apple by giving a "sneak preview" of a device they plan to release early next year to complete the home entertainment picture.
"There is one last thing," Jobs said, eliciting chuckles for his trademark move to save something sensational for the end of a presentation.
"We usually keep things pretty corralled, but in this case we think it completes the story."
Jobs then previewed a computer box code named "iTV" that plugs into a television connecting wirelessly to a computer in the house.
'It's playing now on a computer near you...'
Pictures, music, television programmes or movies downloaded onto a computer would be routed into television or stereo systems connected via "iTV".
"Pretty much whatever kind of setup you've got, iTV fits in," Jobs said. "Now, you can get great content online. It's playing now on a computer near you. You can play it on an iPod near you and it is coming to a TV near you."
"We are here today to take the next step," Disney chief executive officer Bob Iger told the audience. "People love to watch movies on the big screen. We also know people love to watch movies at home."
"Now, we are making movies available on a new platform; giving people a new place to buy and watch movies. We are very thankful for the chance to work with Apple."
Jobs, who joined the Disney board of directors when the Hollywood icon bought Pixar this year, kicked off the presentation by unveiling new iPod, Nano and Shuffle MP3 players with upgraded performance and lower prices.
Apple's new iPod would feature 60% brighter screens, battery life of as long as three and a half hours, games and software that eliminates gaps between songs intended to be played back-to-back.
"We are going to make it affordable and accessible to even more people," Jobs said, pointing out iPod price tags were being lowered while features enhanced.
Jobs showed off "a whole new Nano designed from the ground up, made of aluminium and even thinner" than its predecessor.
"It's beautiful," said Jobs. "We are bringing back colours now that we have aluminium."
The new Nano and iPod models were improved with instant search and quick scrolling functions as well as upgraded headphones, Jobs said.
Nanos were available in two, four and eight gigabyte models, according to Apple.
Jobs whipped from his pocket a shrunken Shuffle that begged comparison to a postage stamp with a headset.
Jobs also gave the audience a tour of the new generation iTunes Seven online store software, which was tailored to more easily find shows, movies and songs.
- AFP