iTunes Review | Price, Features and Content

Hard to believe, but it has been thirteen years since Apple first began selling music on iTunes and changed the music industry forever. CD sales collapsed almost overnight, record labels struggled to cope with the change in distribution and iTunes became one of the largest entertainment stores in the world. Today iTunes offers much more than music. Read on to find out about its movie and TV service, and how it might work for you.

Price and packages

Unlike most online streaming services, with iTunes you don’t sign up for a package or a deal – instead you pay to rent or own specific movies or shows. The average price to buy a film is £9.99, which does mean that if you watch a lot of movies or TV shows then iTunes could end up being far more expensive than a subscription streaming service would be.

What devices is iTunes compatible with?

iTunes is optimised for Apple devices, including the iPod, iPad, iPhone, Mac and Apple TV, and there is also a Windows version of the software. If you buy a new Apple product iTunes will automatically be installed on the device and, assuming you have an Apple ID, you’ll be free to begin downloading content immediately. Unfortunately, iTunes is not available on Android phones or tablets, game consoles or smart TV’s.

Top picks on iTunes

How do I sign up to iTunes?

When you buy a new Apple device or download iTunes, you’ll be asked to create an Apple ID. You can use this Apple ID to make purchases on iTunes, using either your credit card or iTunes gift cards.

iTunes pros and cons

Verdict

If you’re using an Apple device and are looking for a place to get the occasional movie or TV show then iTunes is ideal, but if you’re looking for a way to regularly watch TV and movies, then you might be better served by a subscription service.

Frequently asked questions

• Can I watch the latest releases?

  Yes, Apple and iTunes has deals in place that are constantly bringing new and exclusive content to iTunes so you can expect to have access to plenty of new releases in film and TV.

• Can I watch live TV on iTunes?

  No. iTunes is a download only service, so you pay for what you want to watch and download it on to your device.

• How long does it take to download a movie with iTunes?

  This will depend on the speed of your internet connection, but as a rough guide it typically takes 20 minutes and 2 hours to download a 2 hour movie. This will be quicker if you’re using high speed broadband.