Apple Computer today unveiled iTunes 6, an update to its jukebox and online music store software. But the most-lauded new features don’t have anything to do with music: instead, Apple has started selling downloadable video.
iTunes 6 lets both Mac and Windows users purchase and download from a library of more than 2,000 music videos, six short films from Steve Jobs’ “other” company Pixar Animation Studios, and in an first-of-its-kind deal with Disney, iTunes is also offering ad-free current and recent episodes from ABC hits Desperate Housewives and Lost, the new Frank Spotnitz drama Night Stalker, as well as the Disney Channel shows That’s So Raven and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. The price? iTunes-simple: $1.99 per video, film, or episode. Although information isn’t available at this writing, licensing restrictions may restrict video purchase to U.S. citizens with credit cards; hopefully, Apple will soon post information about international availability.
Video content can be played in the iTunes application on the Mac or PC, and (of course) synced to Apple’s new fifth-generation video-capable iPods. Like music purchased from the iTunes Music Store, the videos are controlled using Apple’s FairPlay digital rights management software: videos can be transferred to other authorized computers and devices, but cannot be burned to CD or DVD.
Also new in iTunes 6 is expanding gift-giving options, including “gifting:” the capability to purchase iTunes content for anyone with an email address
