Thursday, May 11, 2006

Front Row 1.2.2 update tells of iTunes Movie Store?


Apple has released an update for its Front Row product. Updates include:


Bugs fixed in 1.2.2 include:
- Addresses bugs that prevented song shuffling within playlists
- Front row no longer says the server was not found when its waiting for a large movie trailer or long shared video to load
- Corrects bugs that prevented authorized Audible Audiobooks from playing
- Fixes a variety of DVD compatibility issues
- Purchased movies located in the Movies folder are now correctly recognized
- Includes a variety of fixes for VoiceOver accessibility
- Fixes a bug that prevented Front Row from reconnecting to shared video libraries after wake from sleep


The key feature here is: "Purchased movies located in the Movies folder are now correctly recognized"

What does this mean exactly you ask? One may see it as a mere meaning that a purchased movie will be located in the movies folder. However, where do these purchased movies come from? The iTunes Movie store. Apple has been expected to release a true Video iPod for quite some time now and to release a true Video iPod, Apple would like to have movies available for purchase to open up a whole new market. With Disney's recent acquisition of Pixar, Steve Jobs is now a board member at a well-known movie company with a plethora of titles and Disney also now has Pixar under its belt. Steve Jobs is the largest shareholder at Disney right now and should be able to flick his finger to get some movies on iTunes.

This recent Front Row update should be an indication of putting all the pieces together until a dual-launch of a true video iPod and iTunes Movie (or media) Store.

Steve Jobs was able to do it before when he convinced ABC (parent company - Disney) to put TV shows on iTunes. This was a huge gamble at the time and most likely Steve Jobs used his Pixar strength to muscle Disney into doing so. At the time Disney was the distributor of Pixar's movies and made enormous profits on Pixar's successes. Let's just say that Disney wanted to make the big guy happy.

This could easily happen again and expect to see movies for purchase in the near future as well as a new Video iPod.

*P.S. the picture is a fake so don't go berzerk on me.

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