Unfortunately, due to my heavy workload, I haven't had much opportunity to post any blogs lately. Well, I'm always willing to take a few minutes out of the day to discuss my favorite tech gadget and living room centerpiece, the AppleTV! The short and stout device has been on the receiving end of a bit of attention lately, as movie studio support looks to be getting stronger. The first sign of such, came when Apple made a press release stating that they will begin providing digital downloads of new movies from a slew of major studios, on the same day as their DVD release. This is obviously good news for Apple, whose iTunes store has had scarce offerings from their movie section, typically consisting of flicks from Disney and Paramount. This is also good news for us consumers, because it shows that the movie studios are finally seeing the light and embracing digital formats as a serious form of content distribution.
Where the AppleTV comes in the equation, is that movies are now available for purchase right from the set-top box. Now that you can rent and purchase movies, as well as television shows, from the comfort of your living rooms, will this change the game for traditional retail stores? Are the end of days for brick-and-mortar stores coming sooner than later? One could imagine that Walmart is taking notice, seeing as how Apple has already begun to eat their lunch in the music side of the business. I wouldn't put it past Walmart if they started focusing more attention on digital downloads. Expect other big retailers, such as Target and Best Buy to do the same.
Alright, confession time! I wasn't aware that you couldn't previously buy movies from the AppleTV, seeing as how I have never attempted to acquire one. Despite the major influx of studio support, consumers (such as I) may still be discouraged by the included DRM and high prices that match their physical counterparts. Why pay 15 dollars for a heavily restricted digital download, when for a couple bucks more, you can own the easily cracked physical copy that includes special features? We can only hope that studios begin realizing that DRM only hurts the honest consumers, and too much of it encourages us to seek our inner-pirates. Be it baby steps that the studios are taking, they at least seem to be moving in the right direction. I look forward to the day where I never have to see another shiny disc again.
