Martyn Drake's Blog

.. but make no provision that it’s ONLY available for iPad and Apple TV. Similarly, the iTunes UK store does not mention that HD films available for iPad and Apple TV are NOT available for computer playback. There is no FAQ on the iTunes support pages. One assumes that if you buy a film that has HD mentioned, you’d be able to play it back through iTunes/Quicktime on the PCs and Macs that your iTunes account is authorised to use.

Apple have mentioned in their emails to me that these films are optimised in HD for those devices only . They have not given any sensible reason whatsoever (legal or technical) why HD films are not available for playback through iTunes on the computer itself. Apple also state that HD films must be purchased through the relevant iTunes Store on the device (i.e. through the iTunes store app on iPad or Apple TV).

Here’s what the live Terms of Service (captured full PDF version here) has to say on High Definition content on iTunes UK. This is valid as of the 29th June, 2010:

4. System Requirements. Use of the Service requires a device such as a computer with the iTunes application installed, Internet access (fees may apply), and certain software (fees may apply), and may require obtaining updates or upgrades from time to time. Because use of the Service involves hardware, software, and Internet access, your ability to use the Service may be affected by the performance of these factors. High speed Internet access is strongly recommended (and is required for Film Rentals). Content in high definition resolution (HD) is viewable only on computers or TVs using your Apple TV and must be downloaded directly to your computer or Apple TV. You acknowledge and agree that such system requirements, which may be changed from time to time, are your responsibility. The Service is not part of any other product or offering, and no purchase or rental (as applicable) or obtaining of any other product shall be construed to represent or guarantee you access to the Service.

and

(xv) Film Rentals:

(aa) Films are viewable only on your Mac or Windows computer (using iTunes 7.6 or later), iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, iPod nano (3rd or 4th generation), iPod classic, or on TVs using Apple TV. Films in high definition resolution (HD) are viewable only on your Mac or Windows computer, iPad, or TVs using your Apple TV. Films are viewable on only one device at a time.

and

HIGH DEFINITION PRODUCTS

Products in high definition resolution (HD) are viewable only on computers, iPad, or TVs using your Apple TV; however, HD Products purchased also include a standard definition version delivered to your computer that may be transferred to your iPod or iPhone.

So if the terms of service for iTunes UK state that HD products (which I assume covers both movies and TV) are viewable on computers, iPad or TVs using Apple TV – why are Apple NOT providing a computer download of their HD movie content? This is what you’ll see when buying a movie with HD content:

Also Available in HD implies, to me, that HD is available for all formats including iPad and Apple TV and NOT JUST iPad and Apple TV. Apple have yet to give me a satisfactory response to that. They simply re-iterate that HD movies are not available to play on computers. That’s it.

I’m passing all this information onto the relevant trading standards to see what they have to say about it.

To say that I’m now truly fed up with Apple’s dicking about with consumers after five years of using their products (one iBook, one Mac Mini G4, one Mac Mini Intel, one iMac Intel Core Duo, two Macbooks, three Macbook Pros, multiple iPods through three different generations..) I’ve had it. I can live with FairPlay DRM. I can even now live with Apple’s closed development for iPhone, iPod and iPad applications, but not giving HD content to your computer when it is only available for their expensive products when I already using their services on a device that is more than capable of HD playback is bloody ridiculous. I cannot afford to spend £500 each and every time Steve Jobs sneezes a new product into existence.