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can I watch rented movies on multiple devices?

Is it possible to rent a movie thru iTunes and watch on multiple authorized devices. There was a Apple TV update and hoping this is included. I have Apple TV and various laptops.

Boot Camp-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Sep 29, 2012 7:44 AM

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Posted on Sep 29, 2012 7:55 AM

iTunes Store Movie Rental FAQ. - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1657

17 replies

Sep 29, 2012 9:08 AM in response to Limnos

So I shouldn't download to my Apple TV if I want to share it? Can authorized computers watch the movie even if they are miles away?




If you download a rented movie on your computer: You can transfer it to a device such as your Apple TV (1st generation), iPhone, iPad, or iPod if it’s a standard-definition film (movies in HD can only be watched on your computer, iPad, iPhone 4 or later, iPod touch (4th generation or later), or Apple TV). Once you move the movie from your computer to a device, the movie will disappear from your computer's iTunes library. You can move the movie between devices as many times as you wish during the rental period, but the movie can only exist on one device at a time.

Sep 29, 2012 9:32 AM in response to MKB1234

The rental can only be viewed from the device it is currently on. If it is on your iPad another authorized device let's say your iPhone cannot play the content unless the content is transferred to that device.


Once you start viewing you have 24-48 hours to watch the content before it deletes. The 24-48 hours is dependent from which iTS you purchased the rental from.


MJ

Oct 7, 2012 8:06 AM in response to Mike Johnson12

"To transfer a rental from your iTunes library to iPod, iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV:

Connect your device to your computer."

So these movies don't really exist in the Cloud? Apple makes a claim that I can seamlessly watch my movies from one device to the other (and remembers where I left off) yet this tells me I must go back to the computer which the movie was originally downloaded to and sync it with that. This is not what Apple claims.

Oct 7, 2012 8:35 AM in response to MKB1234

It would be good to see the actual web page link with the claim you state Apple makes. Are you sure it is with reference to rentals? In addition, "seamless" has no absolute meaning. You can seamlessly go from Chicago to Los Angeles these days. You still have to go to the airport, wait in line, maybe transfer somewhere in between, pick up your luggage, get from LAX to wherever you are going, essentially taking a whole day. That is seamless -- compared to taking train and stage coach 200 years ago.


The FAQ I linked earlier says, "If you download a rented movie on your computer: You can transfer it to a device such as your Apple TV (1st generation), iPhone, iPad, or iPod if it’s a standard-definition film (movies in HD can only be watched on your computer, iPad, iPhone 4 or later, iPod touch (4th generation or later), or Apple TV). Once you move the movie from your computer to a device, the movie will disappear from your computer's iTunes library. You can move the movie between devices as many times as you wish during the rental period, but the movie can only exist on one device at a time."


A movie isn't stored a file in your personal space in the Cloud like, say, a personal photo. If you wish to download a rental or music purchase from the Cloud it is using a central master copy. If you want to "transfer" using the Cloud it would really involve deleting the item on the first device, and downloading it a second time from the central reference file on the Cloud. However, I don't think rentals can be downloaded twice (vs. purchases, in some countries). In transferring movies using iTunes all the exchange is being done with the original download file where it is being copied from the device drive to the computer drive to the other device drive. I guess in doing so it is also transferring the actual play information. If you started watching a movie on your iPod cut off from the Internet, then wanted to continue to watch it on your iPad and it had to use a fresh download, it would have no way to keep track of where you were in the movie, nor if you had gone outside your 24 or 48 hour permitted time.

Oct 7, 2012 9:41 AM in response to MKB1234

Paragraph 2:


"To see the movies you've already purchased that qualify:"


With Apple (as in pretty much any company) you have to read each statement carefully and analyze it word for word. That includes does it specifically allow something? The only mention I can see of rentals is, "For owners of Apple TV (2nd generation and later), it also means your movie selection has just substantially increased: you can now browse movies for purchase as well as rental." That to me just says you can now also make purchases through AppleTV. Nowhere does it specifically say you can download rentals twice and that is what would be required to get them onto a mobile device without using iTunes.


There is an Apple document on re-downloading but it only mentions purchases:


Downloading (using iOS or computer) past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2519 - enabled with iTunes 10.3 and newer; not all media formats are available in all countries (see: iTunes in the Cloud and iTunes Match Availability by Country - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5085); apps, books (not audiobooks), music, t.v. shows, and movies (some - not all studios have permitted this). Downloading previously purchased movies and TV shows requires iTunes 10.6 or later. Discontinued items not available. For items not included in the iCloud list (e.g., ringtones, audiobooks), or locations or computer systems where iCloud is not (yet?) available, you only get one download per fee paid.

Oct 7, 2012 9:52 AM in response to Limnos

Well, after much time spent searching the internet for an answer this must be the reasoning. Unfortunately, Apple made a claim that only works in very specific cases. At the keynote speech Tim Cook laid claim to the seamless streaming statement :

(picked up and reported in various news feeds e.g.>>"In addition, iCloud is now linked in directly to the updated iTunes. We know what you’re thinking — wasn’t it already? Well, apparently it wasn’t because now if you pause the movie you’re watching in your computer’s iTunes, you can pick up directly where you left off through iCloud when accessed on your iPhone 5, or vice versa. Also of note is the fact that Apple CEO Tim Cook demonstrated this feature with a clip from ‘The Avengers‘ where the Hulk attacks Loki!")

("The last big item is the inclusion of the Apple iPad and iPhone alongside the iMac and other Apple computers to allow for seamless watching, meaning that you can start and stop a movie or TV show on one device and pick up where you left off on another. This what last week's news of the Apple "Connected TV" was all about. ")



Thanks for taking the time and trouble to answer my question and set me straight!

Mar 17, 2013 8:07 PM in response to MKB1234

It's true - this is coming off to many people as deceptive and disingenuous because when you rent a movie you *purchase* the rental. A rental is still a purchase. If this applies only to movies purchased *to own* and specifically not to rentals, then this should be clearly mentioned everywhere. Also, if you paid for the rental then I don't see what the problem is if you decide to watch it on one of your other itunes registered devices. What difference does it make? You paid in good faith to see the movie; you should be able to view it on any one of your itunes registered devices you choose.


We were bit by this today too:


Rented movie via AppleTV.

Taking a flight tomorrow, hey lets download it to the iPad and start it so we can watch it on the plane.

Does not show up on iPad for download or even as rented.

Plug into Macbook, does not show up as rented or available there either.

Throw up hands in defeat and try to rent it again over iPad.

"You have already rented this movie - are you sure you want to rent it again?"

...sigh...so itunes *does know* we rented the move?!?!

...give up, say yes and get double ganked on the rental fee.


Maybe we missed something but could see no way to view the media anywhere but on AppleTV we purchased it on.


It's to the point we are just buying regular old books now. At least we know we can read them wherever we want, whenever we want.

Apr 21, 2013 10:30 AM in response to MKB1234

So I have a similar question.... I have rented and "successfully" transferred 3 movies from my PC to my iPhone by plugging my device in and clicking "move" On my computer it says they are in "Tara's iPhone", but I don't see them on my phone anywhere..... Where should I be looking? I don't see them in downloads, or in purchases.... Help..:)??

can I watch rented movies on multiple devices?

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