Vudu/Walmart Gets Avatar HD Streaming Exclusive

A day or two ago, almost every comment/review at the top of the comments list on the iTunes Avatar page was talking about the lack of HD. Today, they all seem to be gone. (They're sorted by "most helpful" as opposed to by date, so this isn't just because a new batch of reviews were posted.) Stupid exclusivity deals...

Hmm. I don't know if iTunes streams movies. I've never bought a movie from iTunes so I don't know.

If iTunes never gets Avatar in HD then that really sucks. I still have a feeling it will come.

Wow, this is just sad:

Sigh. There is MUCH more to Avatar then just 3D. I can't believe some people. If all this person sees in Avatar is 3D, then they need to wake up. GTFO here.

If all they saw was the 3D, then they wouldn't be here.

Just so you know, I was quoting the article that was linked.

I don't think iTunes streams movies -- I've never bought one there so I don't know either, but as far as I know, everything's download-only. The article seems to indicate that WalMart has exclusive rights to all digital HD versions of Avatar, though, which means that Apple can't sell the HD version. Hopefully those exclusivity rights won't last...

Agreed. The 3D is a nice feature of theatres, but I don't think it really has anything to do with Avatar's effect.

Amen, amen, amen, amen, and an A-MEN!


As for iTunes, never had it; never will. Never got an iPod or an MP3 player either. My computer is my best friend, so all this talk about whether iTunes has the HD version or not makes no nevermind to me.

To heck with iPods -- I just don't have a Blu-Ray drive! iTunes HD is apparently 720p, so that's my best option (my parents don't think I need a copy of Avatar -- "just wait for Netflix to get it" -- so I don't think I'll be able to convince them to buy me a Blu-Ray movie *and* a drive...).

I don't use itunes, but IIRC they sell downloads rather than streaming. I also heard that their version of avatar is HD, just only 720p and not full HD.

As in, the version of Avatar on sale right now in the iTunes store is actually HD? That crossed my mind.

Ok, who's first to buy it to see if it is HD?

Actually, come to think of it, I think iTunes might stream movies to the Apple TV, which might have something to do with why they'd be affected by this.

I do know that they sell movies labeled as "HD," and I think those are 720p. They don't sell anything that's full HD, though. (Do you know of any way to get a full HD version of Avatar without buying a Blu-Ray drive?) Their copy of Avatar is 2.34 GB, while their HD version of a shorter movie (Star Trek) is 3.95 GB, so I'm guessing their version of Avatar isn't much better than DVD quality...

It might stream movies to the Apple TV from your computer, but I think you still have to fully download the movie.

I guess it's a matter of when. Come on Apple!



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I just looked it up online and you're right -- I didn't know the thing streamed from your local computer. I guess they don't want to get on video-on-demand companies' turf. Either way, they really need to hurry up! I don't know how much longer I can hold out...

Wow there is a lot of misunderstanding about iTunes videos.

1) Avatar is currently available for Rent in HD on iTunes via AppleTV only.
2) iTunes doesn't exactly stream. It would be more accurate to say it will start playing early. iTunes always downloads the video but as soon as enough video has been downloaded so that it will finish before you finish watching it will start playing. So you need about 1.5Mbits to watch instantly in Standard Def or about 4-5Mbits to stream HD content instantly.
3) iTunes uses H.264 which is 2-3 times as efficient as Mpeg 2.
4) iTunes uses 5.1 Dolby Digital audio
5) iTunes HD is 24 fps @ upto 720p. Most videos are not actually 16:9 exactly so 720p defines the outter bounds. Basically it will deliver 1280x??? depending on actual video ratio. For example T2 HD is 1280x540 and T2 SD is 853 x 360.

Blu-ray has the quality edge but iTunes looks great and can be used on many devices, making it my preference. I can legally have a movie like Avatar on my computer (and up to 4 others) an unlimited number of AppleTV's connected to those computers and an unlimited number of iPod, iPad, iPhones connected to those computers. All for 1 price.

I'm just trying to clear the air.

Hehe, I knew all that.

Also, it says Avatar is also available in HD on iPad as well.

More people have computers than Apple TV's I think, so Apple should allow all movies to be purchased in HD from a computer. Also, for some people, their computer screen might be the only High Def screen they have! Another reason Apple should not restrict most HD movie purchases to Apple TV's.

Apple want to restrict everything that can. The last thing they want is people able to use content they purchased whereever and however they like.