5 ms·

Can you play those downloaded movies outside of Apple hardware/software?

CharlesW 4y ago
Yes. A bunch of non-Apple devices have an Apple TV app now¹, and you can also play movies to any device that supports AirPlay 2¹. ¹ https://www.apple.com/apple-tv-app/devices/ https://www.apple.com/apple-tv-app/devices/
- JohnTHaller 4y ago
  That's still Apple hardware/software. If you can't play it outside of the locked down Apple ecosystem which is checking your license, then you don't own it.
  - scarface74 4y ago
    If your movie is from any of the five participating studios you buy the movie once and it works across all of the major video platforms if you use Movies Anywhere https://help.moviesanywhere.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004576826-Studios-currently-participating-in-Movies-Anywhere https://help.moviesanywhere.com/hc/en-us/articles/1150045768... Blu ray players are also locked down and the embedded keys are subject to revocation
    - rthomas6 4y ago
      If you buy blu-rays from those five participating studios, they also give you the same Movies Anywhere digital copy.
      - FalconSensei 4y ago
        US only though, so if you move you are out of luck.
    - password4321 4y ago
      Movies Anywhere App Launches with Joint Studio Backing https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15456800 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15456800 (2017)
  - ezfe 4y ago
    > If you can't play it outside of the locked down Apple ecosystem which is checking your license, then you don't own it. The DRM does not require being online to verify once it's been set up
  - CharlesW 4y ago
    > That's still Apple hardware/software. Incorrect, Apple did not build the software for all of the listed devices. Apple licenses the protocols and provides reference implementations through their MFi program.
- Mindwipe 4y ago
  You couldn't play a downloaded title on a non-Apple Apple TV device or via AirPlay 2 tbf. In both scenarios the playback support is that the file just gives the credentials for the device with the Apple TV app or Airplay 2 to go and stream it from Apple's servers. No transfer of the video from a local download occurs.
  - CharlesW 4y ago
    > You couldn't play a downloaded title on a non-Apple Apple TV device or via AirPlay 2 tbf. You absolutely can.
scarface74 4y ago
Others have mentioned that the AppleTV app is ubiquitous across every major streaming platform - Roku, Amazon, Samsung Smart TVs, etc. A little known service in the US is “Movies Anywhere”. Four of the major studios participate in as well as does Apple, Amazon, Google, Vudu and other platforms. You link all of your accounts and a movie bought on one, automatically is credited to the other accounts as a purchase. https://help.moviesanywhere.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004576826-Studios-currently-participating-in-Movies-Anywhere https://help.moviesanywhere.com/hc/en-us/articles/1150045768...
WorldMaker 4y ago
iTunes is a Movies Anywhere partner and if you connect your Movies Anywhere account you can download iTunes purchased Movies Anywhere films (most but not all studios today) in other Movies Anywhere partnered apps. I don't think any of the other Movies Anywhere apps support sharing/playing the exact same downloaded file, but cross-app downloads are supported (buy on iTunes and download on Xbox Movies or Vudu or whatever).

Yes. A bunch of non-Apple devices have an Apple TV app now¹, and you can also play movies to any device that supports AirPlay 2¹. ¹ https://www.apple.com/apple-tv-app/devices/ https://www.apple.com/apple-tv-app/devices/

JohnTHaller 4y ago
That's still Apple hardware/software. If you can't play it outside of the locked down Apple ecosystem which is checking your license, then you don't own it.
- scarface74 4y ago
  If your movie is from any of the five participating studios you buy the movie once and it works across all of the major video platforms if you use Movies Anywhere https://help.moviesanywhere.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004576826-Studios-currently-participating-in-Movies-Anywhere https://help.moviesanywhere.com/hc/en-us/articles/1150045768... Blu ray players are also locked down and the embedded keys are subject to revocation
  - rthomas6 4y ago
    If you buy blu-rays from those five participating studios, they also give you the same Movies Anywhere digital copy.
    - FalconSensei 4y ago
      US only though, so if you move you are out of luck.
  - password4321 4y ago
    Movies Anywhere App Launches with Joint Studio Backing https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15456800 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15456800 (2017)
- ezfe 4y ago
  > If you can't play it outside of the locked down Apple ecosystem which is checking your license, then you don't own it. The DRM does not require being online to verify once it's been set up
- CharlesW 4y ago
  > That's still Apple hardware/software. Incorrect, Apple did not build the software for all of the listed devices. Apple licenses the protocols and provides reference implementations through their MFi program.
Mindwipe 4y ago
You couldn't play a downloaded title on a non-Apple Apple TV device or via AirPlay 2 tbf. In both scenarios the playback support is that the file just gives the credentials for the device with the Apple TV app or Airplay 2 to go and stream it from Apple's servers. No transfer of the video from a local download occurs.
- CharlesW 4y ago
  > You couldn't play a downloaded title on a non-Apple Apple TV device or via AirPlay 2 tbf. You absolutely can.

scarface74 4y ago

Others have mentioned that the AppleTV app is ubiquitous across every major streaming platform - Roku, Amazon, Samsung Smart TVs, etc. A little known service in the US is “Movies Anywhere”. Four of the major studios participate in as well as does Apple, Amazon, Google, Vudu and other platforms. You link all of your accounts and a movie bought on one, automatically is credited to the other accounts as a purchase. https://help.moviesanywhere.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004576826-Studios-currently-participating-in-Movies-Anywhere https://help.moviesanywhere.com/hc/en-us/articles/1150045768...

WorldMaker 4y ago

iTunes is a Movies Anywhere partner and if you connect your Movies Anywhere account you can download iTunes purchased Movies Anywhere films (most but not all studios today) in other Movies Anywhere partnered apps. I don't think any of the other Movies Anywhere apps support sharing/playing the exact same downloaded file, but cross-app downloads are supported (buy on iTunes and download on Xbox Movies or Vudu or whatever).