A few days ago, a report surfaced indicating that Apple is interested in the prospect of bringing movies to iTunes while they’re still playing in theaters. While new movies don’t typically show up on iTunes until a period of at least three months has passed, the report relays that movie studios are contemplating the idea of carving out an exception for Apple, assuming of course that the price is right.
While negotiations are reportedly still in the early stages, it’s believed that renting a new-release movie on iTunes might cost consumers anywhere from $25-$30 a pop. What’s particularly interesting about this report, aside of course from iTunes becoming a hub for catching the latest blockbusters coming out of Hollywood, is the fact that Steve Jobs actually predicted that this is where the industry was headed more than six years ago.
Originally spotted by Abdel Ibrahim over at AppAdvice, the clip in questions comes to us from Jobs’ appearance at the D8 conference back in 2010.
“I even think that there’s going to be a way,” Jobs said enthusiastically, “to watch a first-run movie at home before it comes out on DVD if you’re willing to spend a bunch of money.”
When Walt Mossberg, who was moderating the discussion along with Kara Fisher, clarified Jobs’ remarks by asking,”a bunch of money?”, Jobs drove the point home, stating emphatically once again, “a bunch of money.”
Now whether or not Apple can ultimately reach a mutually amicable deal with Hollywood studios remains to be seen, but the larger takeaway here is that Steve Jobs’ ability to understand how the technological landscape was poised to shift was truly without parallel.
Citing just one more example of Jobs’ uncanny ability to see where the tech world was headed, here’s what Jobs said about computing all the way back in 1985: “The most compelling reason for most people to buy a computer for the home will be to link it into a nationwide communications network. We’re just in the beginning stages of what will be a truly remarkable breakthrough for most people, as remarkable as the telephone.”
