Comments on: Why iTunes movie rentals won't play on most video iPods

By: dr burke, north pole, ak

dr burke, north pole, ak — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 01:10:57 +0000

I think Apple has blacklisted older MacMini's from watching movies on iTunes. My Apple ATV won't play movies anymore. Says I don't have enough 'video credits', even though I use a credit card to pay for movies and it comes back with an error code, 1008. Try to tell Apple about this; they either don't care or don't want my business. Haven't heard anything from them. Now, I'm stuck with a useless ATV and iTunes for movie downloads. Even the Apple store guy said it was an Apple problem, but couldn't refer it out, customer had to do that! By email!!!! I'm not impressed with Apple anymore. Don't know if they are a phone or computer company and who to serve. They release new 3G iPhone, that has half the talk time of the old iPhone and a plastic back, that won't block out RFI from wiping your iPhone clean and destroying data, in store check out line. No other physical upgrades. I think Apple is on the downhill side and customer service is a thing of the past.

roaeja2@mac.com

If anyone know what video credits are and why I keep getting an 1008 error for movie downloads, let me know.

thanks

By: macdisser,bronx,n.y.

macdisser,bronx,n.y. — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:00:57 +0000

dont worry Jim T pretty soon a hacker like me will find a way to circumvent the time restriction and sell you i-pod compatible video. If you cant wait try videora. I love apple itards.

By: Tony, Hot Springs, AR

Tony, Hot Springs, AR — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:36:47 +0000

Jim T,

It's called "Handbrake", and if it takes you three days to set it up, you have bigger problems than watching video on your iPod. Also, the movies you own are considered those bought from iTunes.

By: DV, Atlanta, GA

DV, Atlanta, GA — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:49:34 +0000

It's amazing how all of these Apple fanboys will just eat up anything Steve Jobs throws at them. iPods could give you cancer, and these people will say that it's part of Jobs' master plan and keep on buying.

(For the record, I own an iPod. … and a Zune too.)

By: Abe, Brooklyn, NY

Abe, Brooklyn, NY — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:47:11 +0000

New day, same ole…Elmer, Elmer, Elmer…if they don't get the studios on board, you bash 'em…when they do get the studios on board, you bash 'em. Why don't you just call your column "I hate Apple for not giving me payola, like Microsoft does"? It's really getting tired and anyone who is ranting has clearly "just" entered the "world" of technology…all companies release too early, build in obsolescence, bow to partnership pressures…it's called Capitalism, with a "cap"-ital "C"…so, are you saying Elmer, that you want socialist, government regulation of Apple's egregious attempt to make a profit…so you won't bash 'em for "guidance"???? Give us all a fricken break from the FUD, FUD, FUD, FUD mantra….oye!

By: jsk, Willits, CA

jsk, Willits, CA — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:34:53 +0000

There's a problem with the logic of those of you who keep saying "Apple didn't offer RENTALs when you bought your iPod, so there's no reason to expect your iPod to be capable of this new feature at a later date." 5G/5.5G iPods CAN play these files, without any problem at all, using the firmware they have right now! It's called the PURCHASED version of the movie!

This is a sleazy MBAnus "business" decision that has absolutely nothing to do with the technological capabilities of the hardware.

P.S. I love my 5G iPod (would love a iPod Touch with an 80GB HD, by the way), but would never rent a download version of a movie for more than a buck (DVD rentals are cheaper, better quality, and far more convenient where I live); so, whether or not my iPod can play $4 rentals in irrelevant to me.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:14:17 +0000

I am a 5th generation iPod owner who rented a movie before I read the fine print. I emailed iTunes promptly and voiced my dissatisfaction. I said I never would have rented the movie had I known. I didn't ask for anything though. The next day I had an email from iTunes crediting me with two $1.99 video credits. I thought that was very customer oriented and I appreciated it. Wish I could rent movies but at least they gave me a credit.

By: Keith, Buffalo, NY

Keith, Buffalo, NY — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:43:16 +0000

The easiest way to avoid compatibility problems is to stop buying Apple products, get up off your butt and go socialize with your friends at the nearest pub.

By: Todd, St. Louis, MO

Todd, St. Louis, MO — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:55:57 +0000

Jeeeezzzzz, People! Who gives a rats behind! $3.99 so you can have a crummy compressed version on tape or CDR? A quick trip to doom9 will get you a lot more combined with $8/month using Netflix. I have no doubt the Studios prompted this, but Apple should have repected and represented their users. Wake up, the file sharing alternatives still exist so the people opting to use Itunes have said I don't want to steal from artists. It's about time they were given a little credit and not treated like criminals. Apple can go suck a lemon!

By: Jim T, Galveston, TX

Jim T, Galveston, TX — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:34:17 +0000

The bigger issue is that Apple does not support I-pod Video users converting their DvDs to a format that the I-pod will play.

Nice marketing -> it clearly says I can play all the movies I currently own. But the software doesn't allow for this to happen.

An Apple employee at an Apple store told me that he was not allowed to tell me how to do this, but if I went and googled it, I could find some free-ware that could get it to work. Of course, it takes 3 pieces of free-ware and several days to set it up and hope that the I-Pod video will play it (I am running about a 10% success rate).

Expect an FTC complaint before the end of next week.