$0.99 TV Rentals Coming to the iPad?
Speculation is rampant on what Apple will do with its next generation of video services. Seems there are two major changes around the corner for iTunes and the Apple TV.
According to NewTeeVee, Apple is negotiating with TV programmers to get TV rentals for $0.99. Users are already able to purchase standard definition TV shows on iTunes for $1.99 and high definition TV episodes for $2.99. The upcoming TV rental service will share many of the same characteristics of Apple’s current movie rental business. Users can select a TV show to rent and then have 30 days to begin watching the show. Once a user begins watching a rental, they have 24 hours to finish the show before it expires.
Apple is also rumored to be working on a major overhaul of the Apple TV. The new device will share much of the same hardware as the iPad and run the same iOS used on the iPad and iPhone. The new Apple TV will lack a hard drive and video content will supposedly be streamed from a new cloud based iTunes service. A cloud based iTunes service would allow users to watch a wide range of movie and TV content over WiFi and 3G similar to services provided by Netflix and Hulu for the iPad.
If the speculation proves to be true, iPad users are sure to benefit from the new TV and cloud based iTunes services. Unveiling of the new device and service is rumored to be in time for the 2010 holiday shopping season.