Open Salon blogger, Kwame Jones had reported last week that he had stumbled upon a new iTunes Store user interface for downloading movies and TV shows directly on the iPhone, including support for movie rentals via an advertisement in the new ad supported version of iPhone app - Twitterfon.
I didn’t take the rumor seriously at that time, but now AppleInsider is also claiming that “people familiar with Apple's training program” have told them that Apple has started training AppleCare agents with features of iPhone OS 3.0 which covers the ability to directly download movies and TV shows to the iPhone.
AppleInsider claims:
AppleInsider has learned from people familiar with Apple's training program that new self-guided training materials being distributed to familiarize AppleCare agents with the features of iPhone 3.0 software "definitely covered" the ability to directly download movies and TV shows on the device itself, rather than just syncing video content through iTunes.
Those people noted that the advanced training was unique, saying that "Apple never puts out product training this far ahead of a product launch." This training material is roughly 6 weeks early, they said, having arrived in the form of a single training module on Tuesday.
Kwame Jones had also posted screenshots of the new iTunes Store iPhone App’s user interface for downloading movies and TV shows.
Apple already allows users to download songs, podcasts and iPhone apps over the air using iPhone’s data connection if the file size is less than 10mb, if the file size is more than 10mb, users have to download it only over Wi-Fi.
In my opinion, even if Apple allows download of movies and TV shows, it will allow it only over Wi-Fi and not over iPhone’s data connection, especially since carriers like AT&T has already restricted iPhone apps like SlingPlayer Mobile to work only over Wi-Fi due to concerns of bandwidth consumption.
In fact, in this case I won’t be too disappointed as, unless there is significant increase in the mobile download speeds, downloading movies and TV shows would be a time consuming process and wouldn’t be a killer feature for me.
But having said that, allowing wireless download of movies and TV shows on the iPhone rather than syncing video content through iTunes would be a step in the right direction by Apple. It will get me closer to my dream where I can download everything (of any size) directly on the iPhone (ideally over its data connection).
And that might be few years away as AT&T recently announced plans to upgrade its network to deliver even faster 3G mobile broadband speeds. A screenshot from iPhone OS 3.0 beta has already indicated that Apple might lift the 10 MB download limit on podcasts that is currently applicable if you are trying to download them via cellular networks, and it might just be the beginning.
What do you think about downloading movies and TV shows over the air? Please add your thoughts in the comments section below.
[via AppleInsider, Kwame Jones’s blog]
wi-fi on the iPhone is so slow. It will be painful to download anything over 100mb
That's a good point.
Apple's New iPhone is expected to support faster Wi-Fi so guess it would make a lot more sense for those who buy that one.
iPhoneHacks: good news, there's a new posting on Gizmodo (it's near the top page of Digg, too) about some leaked images of the new iPhone, including interface shots. No word on reliability other than what Gizmodo says in the piece, but I figured you could do some hotlinking to the images along with your own thoughts.
Cheers!
Hey TJ,
Thanks for the tip, appreciate it.
We will cover it soon!
Updated: The pics were taken by none other than a Mister Blurrycam!
Engadget also ran a piece, albeit with only 2 pics, but they're fairly hi-res and detailed.
I have already been downloading movies over 3g and even edge using my jailbroken iphone. But I think it will be great that apple is starting to open the doors with all the new features I might not have to jailbrak when the new OS comes out.
I read about a wireless device, about the size of a credit card, that is supposed to create a wireless internet bubble around it like a router. The portable device runs on batteries and allows you to share an internet connection with all wireless internet devices including the iphone. This might be a good option for downloading larger files on the go although it limits your usage to 5gb a month max just like other data cards.