A closer look at iTunes 8.0: iTunes HD

For a lot of Canadians, the iTunes Store has revolutionized the way we watch TV. Whether we do it on our iPod's, on our computers, or on AppleTV, a lot of us are catching up on our favorite shows courtesy of Apple. The next big step that many of us had been waiting for? HD content. Now that it's finally here, what do we think?

Slow down there, Charlie. As often happens in Canada we've put the cart before the horse and just assumed that what's available to our southern neighbours would also available to us. Not so in the case of iTunes HD.

Chances are it's merely a licensing issue -- in situations like this it usually is. The HD content available in the US has the rights held to it by one company, while the same programming has a different right-holder in Canada. Digital media distribution can sometimes be a messy business, and often it means we get the short end of the stick.

But should we be jealous? Here's the good and the bad of what's being offered on iTunes HD;

HD shows will cost $2.99 ($1.00 more than SD), but come with a free iPod ready version.
HD content is only available for viewing on your Mac/PC. If you have AppleTV you're out of luck.
1 hour of programming will be a hefty download, weighing in at well over 1 gig.

While I like that you're getting an iPod ready version with every purchase and the pricing is fair, the lack of AppleTV support really gets under my skin. I had considered purchasing AppleTV, but a number of Mac-fanatics assured me that Apple had swept the system under the rug mere days after it had come out. Failing to provide some basic support like HD content through the service that AppleTV already uses only reinforces this.

When I want to see HD content, I want to see it on my HDTV. Until Apple can figure out how to make that happen, I'm not going to lose any sleep over iTunes HD not being in Canada.

TAGS: Apple Tv, Canada, Hd, Hdtv, Itunes, Itunes 80, Reviews
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