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Upgrade To iTunes 7.7 Before Buying iPhone 3G

The "App Store" upgrade from iTunes 7.6 to iTunes 7.7 is now available via Software Update.

In retrospect, it's obvious that iTunes 7.7 would be released before Apple shipped the iPhone 3G, as Apple's own instructions on upgrading from 2G to 3G require you to sync and backup your existing phone's settings, and then use that backup to "restore" your new 3G phone's settings.

And for that to work, you're going to need new software.

So if you're planning on moving up to a new 3G phone tomorrow you need to run, don't walk, to your Apple menu. From there run Software Update and then download iTunes 7.7. With that under your belt, you'll be set to install the iPhone 2.0 software update when it's released later today.

Install 2.0, then do your backup and you'll be ready to sync up your new iPhone 3G tomorrow.

It's unfortunate that Apple didn't allow more time between the release of 7.7 and 2.0 and the July 11th iPhone release date, but they didn't, so start downloading NOW.

One can only hope Apple's servers are up to the load...

[UPDATE] They weren't...

iTunes, HBO, and Variable Pricing

Once upon a time, content pricing on iTunes was strict and unwavering. Every song was $0.99, no less, no more, and the music labels went along. They screamed and complained and cried... but they went along.

After all, it was Jobs way or the highway.

But in full deal-making mode, Apple just announced that HBO has joined the iTunes universe, with programs from some series priced at the "standard" $1.99 TV rate, and others a buck higher at $2.99.

And now, some pundits proclaim, the floodgates are open, with anyone and everyone now about to demand special dispensation.

But will they? And even if they do, will Apple grant it?

New iTunes Synchronization Features For iPhone

With iTunes 7.6 you now have several new ways to sync music, movies, and TV shows to your iPhone.

First, you can now turn syncing off.

That's right, now you can finally manage everything by hand, dragging songs, playlists, and individual video files directly to the iPhone icon. Just check the "Manually manage music and videos" checkbox on the iTunes summary page for your phone.

Second, in addition to the venerable sync "X most recent unwatched" options they've added the ability to sync the least recent unwatched episodes.

Why would you want this?

Quick Tip: Set Download Priorities In iTunes 7.6

Purchased a couple of movies and TV shows and some music all at the same time?

And now you're waiting with nothing to do?

In iTunes 7.6 that's no problem. Just drag the songs to the top of the Downloads list and they'll be done first. Rearrange the movies and shows to your liking too.

Then you can listen to your new music while you wait.

Apple Nabbed Studios For iTunes RENTALS

Much has been made of the fact that Apple managed to get all of the major movie studios onboard the iTunes rental gravy train.

According to the press release, signed up are 20th Century Fox, Disney, Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal Studios, Sony, MGM, Lionsgate, and New Line Cinema.

And much was made of the pricing, $2.99 for "library" titles, $3.99 for first-run titles, and HD titles a dollar more.

But no mention whatsoever has been made of any changes to the pricing structure for iTunes movie purchases. This despite the fact that the current fixed-pricing scheme has been a notorious sticking point in previous studio negotiations.

Which leads us to our question: Will you be able to buy titles from everyone involved, or are these agreements strictly for iTunes rentals?

And if you can buy them, has the iTunes store pricing structure changed?

Either way, the answers will tell us some interesting things about the industries' relationship with Apple.

[via Apple]

Do We Need A Portable Media Format?

One of the contracts Apple is signing with select studios allows for the addition of a "portable media file" to DVDs.

This is a smaller "pre-ripped" file designed to be quickly copied to iPods and iPhones and other digital media devices, allowing them to play the content legitimately.

But do we really need such a thing?

Do we even want such a thing?

What Wal-Mart Can Teach Apple

As you may or may not know, the end of 2007 also saw the end of Wal-Mart's video download business.

I put it in those terms because their online store closed with little-to-no fanfare. One day it was there, the next—poof. There was a closed-for-business sign hanging forlornly on the front page.

I also suspect that many of you didn't know they even had a download business to close.

So why did it fail? How could the world's largest retailer blow such a major opportunity in a still-emerging market?

And what lessons, if any, can we and Apple learn from poking and prodding around in the ashes?

Movie Rentals: Coming Soon To A Mac Near You?

Over on Roughly Drafted, Daniel is proposing a new subscription-based video rental system for iTunes, much like a NetFlix "five-out-at-a-time" plan.

Using his solution, you pay a monthly subscription fee to have several slots that can be filled with movies or TV shows. Selected movies are downloaded to your computer, and from there can be "checked out" to your iPhone or iPod or Apple TV.

Like NetFlix, you can keep your rental as long as you like, and watch it as many times as you like. When done, you check everything back in and select the next movie to be downloaded.

This fixes several problems with existing movie rental schemes, and solves one major issue that I believe is holding back digital video purchases.

Higher Prices On iTunes? It's About Time!

In yesterday's NBC-Universal story we concluded that a discussion of iTunes pricing model was long overdue.

Today, it appears that we were right on the money, as rumors have spread that 20th Century Fox is in negotiations with Apple to bring its content to iTunes.

One condition of the deal, however, is that Apple raise the average selling price of a movie.

Don't worry folks. This is a good thing.

NBC Programming Vanishes From iTunes

Apparently forgoing any last-minute late-night contract negotiations with Apple, NBC has packed up its things and slipped away in the night.

This means that all NBC-Universal channels have all been dropped from the iTunes store, including Bravo, mun2, NBC, NBC News, CNBC, NBC Sports, Sci Fi, Sleuth, Telemundo, and the USA Network.

Goodbye to The Office, Battlestar Galactica, and of course, Heroes.