Archive notice: This article was originally published on April 17, 2009. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
The German iTunes Store offering launches with more than 500 Hollywood and German film productions, including “Quantum of Solace,” “The Dark Knight,” “Pineapple Express,” “High School Musical 3: Senior Year,” “Eagle Eye,” “The Counterfeiters,” “Rabbit Without Ears,” and “Aimée & Jaguar.”
The German iTunes Store provides the familiar iTunes interface, intended to make discovering and watching films as straightforward as buying music through iTunes. Films are available to purchase in the iTunes Store on the day of their DVD release and can be watched on any video-capable iPod, iPhone, Mac, or PC, or on a widescreen television through Apple TV.
When a film is rented, it is downloaded immediately from the iTunes Store either into the iTunes library or onto the Apple TV hard drive. Users with a fast internet connection can begin watching within seconds of starting the download. A rented film must be started within 30 days of download. Once started, it must be finished within 48 hours and may be watched repeatedly during that period. iTunes also offers more than 100 films for rent in HD, intended for viewing on a widescreen television through Apple TV.
Alongside movie rental and purchase, the iTunes Store includes podcast support, lets customers complete previously purchased songs into albums at a reduced price, and integrates with iPod and iPhone. It provides Mac and PC users with a legal service for discovering, purchasing, and downloading music, video, television programmes, and films online.