Good news, film fanatics — Apple just released a new version of iTunes Extras along with long-awaited support for the Apple TV.
iTunes Extras are digital versions of the extra features you get on a DVD or Blu-ray. These include featurettes, behind-the-scenes commentary and deleted scenes.
Apple has supported iTunes Extras since 2009 — but the new version offers all-new extras for HD movies. The bigger news, for Apple TV fans, is that the company's $99 set-top box will now deliver the premium content.
The lack of Apple TV support for this content has never made sense, so we're glad to see Apple finally make it right.
iTunes Extras are included as part of the iTunes 11.3 update, available today from Apple.com or the Mac App Store. You can also update your Apple TV to get support. This fall, iTunes Extras support will come to iOS 8.
Because the new version of Extras is cloud-based, Apple says it will allow studios to update and add new content to Extras packages over time. That's a great incentive for users to purchase a movie on iTunes — and for studios, it could offer an easy way to promote their upcoming theatrical or home video release.
Apple has worked with its studio partners to offer up Extras for a variety of film titles, including The LEGO Movie, Mean Girls, The Dark Knight Rises, Ghostbusters, Frozen and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Fox Home Entertainment is one of the studios working with Apple on the new iTunes Extras, and it offered screenshots of some of the new iTunes Extras that come with The Grand Budapest Hotel.
The Grand Budapest Hotel
IMAGE: APPLE
iTunes Extras has a new Scenes feature that lets users access favorite scenes without scrolling (rather like DVD chapters). Photo gallery Extras can now have up to 4K resolution.
4K photos aren't quite as exciting as 4K video, but hey, it's a start.
Giving incentives to purchase over stream
I'm a huge fan of extra features for digital or physical media. They're one of the main reasons I still buy Blu-ray discs to this day, quality aside.
I've spent more than $30,000 on optical media since 1999, and I'm not entirely joking when I describe my DVD collection as my children. That said, I would love to shift to buying more purchases on digital platforms.
These iTunes Extras — paired with iCloud support for all my movie and TV show purchases — could allow users like me to take the leap.
For normal consumers (the kind who haven't spent the price of a mid-sized sedan on plastic discs), the right kind of extra content might even be enough to get people to buy home movies again, rather than renting or waiting for it to come to Netflix.
What still needs to enter the mix: commentary tracks from directors and actors. If Apple can add those, we'll be left with almost no reason to buy discs.
The new iTunes Extras are available now in iTunes and on Apple TV.
iTunes Extras are digital versions of the extra features you get on a DVD or Blu-ray. These include featurettes, behind-the-scenes commentary and deleted scenes.
Apple has supported iTunes Extras since 2009 — but the new version offers all-new extras for HD movies. The bigger news, for Apple TV fans, is that the company's $99 set-top box will now deliver the premium content.
The lack of Apple TV support for this content has never made sense, so we're glad to see Apple finally make it right.
iTunes Extras are included as part of the iTunes 11.3 update, available today from Apple.com or the Mac App Store. You can also update your Apple TV to get support. This fall, iTunes Extras support will come to iOS 8.
Because the new version of Extras is cloud-based, Apple says it will allow studios to update and add new content to Extras packages over time. That's a great incentive for users to purchase a movie on iTunes — and for studios, it could offer an easy way to promote their upcoming theatrical or home video release.
Apple has worked with its studio partners to offer up Extras for a variety of film titles, including The LEGO Movie, Mean Girls, The Dark Knight Rises, Ghostbusters, Frozen and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Fox Home Entertainment is one of the studios working with Apple on the new iTunes Extras, and it offered screenshots of some of the new iTunes Extras that come with The Grand Budapest Hotel.
The Grand Budapest Hotel
IMAGE: APPLE
iTunes Extras has a new Scenes feature that lets users access favorite scenes without scrolling (rather like DVD chapters). Photo gallery Extras can now have up to 4K resolution.
4K photos aren't quite as exciting as 4K video, but hey, it's a start.
Giving incentives to purchase over stream
I'm a huge fan of extra features for digital or physical media. They're one of the main reasons I still buy Blu-ray discs to this day, quality aside.
I've spent more than $30,000 on optical media since 1999, and I'm not entirely joking when I describe my DVD collection as my children. That said, I would love to shift to buying more purchases on digital platforms.
These iTunes Extras — paired with iCloud support for all my movie and TV show purchases — could allow users like me to take the leap.
For normal consumers (the kind who haven't spent the price of a mid-sized sedan on plastic discs), the right kind of extra content might even be enough to get people to buy home movies again, rather than renting or waiting for it to come to Netflix.
What still needs to enter the mix: commentary tracks from directors and actors. If Apple can add those, we'll be left with almost no reason to buy discs.
The new iTunes Extras are available now in iTunes and on Apple TV.
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