Apple adding movie streaming to iCloud
iCloud has only just launched as part of iOS 5 but Apple may already be trying to extend its functionality by adding movie streaming. The Wall Street Journal and the LA Times are both reporting rumours that Apple is negotiating with Hollywood studios to license films for streaming from iCloud.
Major Hollywood studios are involved in a service call Ultraviolet, which provides streaming copies of movies to customers who also by that movie on DVD or Blu-Ray – the idea being to prevent viewers making illegal copies in order to format-shift in order to watch on their mobile devices.
Apple (along with Disney) is one of the last major companies to not sign up for the scheme – leading to speculation that it may be working on its own system. Industry pundits have speculated that Apple may yet allow iOS users access to Ultraviolet content via an App, while still giving customers the chance to stream iTunes exclusives that do not make it to Ultraviolet.
Streaming via iCloud should mean that you can watch on any or all of your iDevices rather than just the one used to purchase a film. Apple is said to want to allow films to be sent to any compatible device. This would include the iPhone and iPad 3 but might also include Apple TV so that you can easily watch your streamed movie on a flat screen.
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