11/28/2005, 7:45am, EST

Monday, November 28th

Disney supports iPods, but not Macs

While Disney has decided to the support the iPod, Mac users are again out in the cold. Circumventing the iTunes-iPod system, Walt Disney Co will let consumers watch full-screen video directly on PCs and the new Apple video iPods starting with its upcoming movie release, "Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe." Macworld UK reports that while Mac users can watch the clips online using QuickTime, and can watch/listen to a variety of Disney podcasts, some video clips use software which does not support Macs. "The software needs to be downloaded to unlock the full suite of multimedia assets, including desktop wallpaper and more. It automatically downloads new content and even supplies news on special ticket deals. It's ironic, because Apple makes both the iPod and the Mac, and Apple CEO Steve Jobs has an existing relationship with Disney." Bypassing iTunes, the Maven software for Windows will let users automatically download and synchronize trailers and clips directly to video-enabled iPods, according to DM News.

Filed under: industry
Other story tags: digital music/video

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l008com

Yeah

11/28, 8:09am, EST

I'm sure an iPod firmware update will disable that somehow, to force them to go through iTunes.

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ibugv4

Disney v Apple

11/28, 9:35am, EST

In this case, I can see Apple really, really winning big. They can easily, easily threaten with Pixar. again. Anyone else notice CARS missed it's 2005 debut to become a Summer 2006 film?

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pueblomi

Completely understandable

11/28, 11:13am, EST

It's just more of the good business sense of Disney - left over from the reign of Eisner:
We wouldn't want any income from Mac owners, now would we?

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ATPTourFan

Just another...

11/28, 11:42am, EST

...reason to hate Disney.

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hayesk

Re: Disney vs. Apple

11/28, 12:02pm, EST

Cars was postponed to 2006 a long time ago. Early 2005, I believe.

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ibugv4

Re Disney v Apple

11/28, 2:50pm, EST

And If I'm not mistaken, Pixar's contract was to ende 5/05 -- when CARS was to come out. Now it's been extended. Contracts don't just extend themselves without reason. Given Pixar's track record, Disney-Apple had a REASON to postpone that film, because by angered at Eisner Job's wouldn't care if the film was done or not if the contract was set to expire to get back at the nasty iTunes statements Eisner made circa 2001.

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adrian_milliner

Badly worded...

11/28, 3:12pm, EST

l008com: if you read the linked story you'll see that it isn't blocking iTunes, but iTMS. In fact it requires iTunes to copy the files across.

There is nothing new here. We've been able to transfer mpeg4 / h264 media to the video iPod since it came out... all Disney is doing is making it available in an iPod friendly format.

"The software needs to be downloaded to unlock the full suite of multimedia assets, including desktop wallpaper and more. It automatically downloads new content and even supplies news on special ticket deals."

This, in my opinion, is good for the Mac - if you have a Windows machine, you're opening yourself up to spyware/adware and all sorts of rubbish you probably don't want.

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adrian_milliner

...more.

11/28, 3:15pm, EST

In fact it's not blocking anything. Just not using iTMS. Again, a good thing. iTMS video is expensive and low resolution... hopefully Disney, and others, will provide better quality video.

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gor3don

Re Disney v Apple

11/28, 4:31pm, EST

Cars was delayed until Summer 2006 so they can take advantage of Christmas Holiday DVD sales. The Incredibles did poorly (compared to the other Pixar/Disney DVD sales), so it was decided to delay, even though Pixar's bottom line took a hit for Fiscal 2005.

It didn't really have anything to do with Eisner or their relationship. The contract has not been extended in the sense that they are doing more films together. At least not yet. The contract is based on the number of films, not the calendar year. Films can and do get delayed all the time.

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