Our neighbors across the Atlantic Ocean are all smiles today, as the iTunes movie rental service launches. The major studios, 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Studios, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM), Sony Pictures Television International and Lionsgate UK will all have movies available to rent.

Apple is estimating that around 700 movies will be available to rent from the outset. Eddy Cue, VP of iTunes had this to say about the service, “We think customers in the UK are going to love being able to enjoy their favorite movies on their iPod, iPhone or on a widescreen TV with Apple TV”

Here is a list of different prices for the rentals: iTunes movies are available at £6.99 for library title purchases and £10.99 for new releases. iTunes Movie Rentals are £2.49 for library title rentals and £3.49 for new releases.

The movie portion of the iTune’s store just a got a significant update to its movie section. It was announced by Apple today that new releases would be launching “same-day” as their dvd counterparts. This news definitely looks to bolster the credibility of purchasing and renting movies from iTunes.

In a press release, iTunes announced that most of the major studios and some independents are signed on, 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Lionsgate, Image Entertainment and First Look Studios.

Eddy Cue, the Vice President of iTunes shared his thoughts on the announcement, “We’re thrilled to bring iTunes Store customers new films for purchase day-and-date with the DVD release”, “We think movie fans will love being able to buy their favorites from major and independent studios”.

Here is the pricing structure of films you can download on iTunes:
$9.99 (US) – Library Title Purchases
$14.99 (US) – New Releases
$2.99 (US) – Library Title Rentals
$3.99 (US) – New Release Rentals
$3.99 (US) – HD Library Title Rentals
$4.99 (US) – HD New Release Rentals

As music downloads become more popular, companies are scrambling to cash in on the excitement. Wal-Mart and iTunes have been going toe-to-toe like a re-iteration of Ali vs. Frasier. Up until earlier this year, Wal-Mart had been the Ali, always staying ahead and claiming the #1 spot.

According to a NPD report, it looks as though this could be shifting. iTunes looks to be floating like a butterfly, as a report in January puts them atop the chart with a 19% stake in music sold. Wal-Mart followed in second place with 15%, and Best Buy in third with 13%. While this report only shows iTunes up in the month of January, they are predicting an outright change sometime in 08.

Talk about an online news fiasco. It was reported a couple of days ago by Financial Times, that Apple was in talks with major record labels to bring an “all-you-can-download” plan to iPod buyers. The plan would come bundled with iPod hardware, which would cost more, but no subscription fee would be necessary. A certain premium would then be paid by Apple to the record labels, so everyone would be happy, right?

Well it’s come out now, according to BusinessWeek, that all the rumors appear to be false. BusinessWeek claims that the idea of an unlimited download service has only be mentioned, and no concrete plan has been laid out. According to BusinessWeek, Apple reps, and music label reps all denied comment.

So the question comes down to, is who do you believe? Well to throw even more fuel to the fire, CEO of eMusic has come out with his opinion through his blog on the supposed unlimited download plan, “Apple’s reported plan to bundle unlimited iTunes music store access with iPods could bring antitrust allegations similar to those faced by Microsoft for its bundling of Internet Explorer with Windows, according to David Pakman, CEO of iTunes competitor eMusic”

Whatever the truth is, this kind of press can’t be good for Apple. If their reps had just come out and denied the claim, or said that the idea had been thought about, but not doing it, then all would be peachy. But pleading the fifth more times than not in the consumer courtroom means that you’re guilty. So only time will tell as to which rumor turns out to be true.

So what do you all think of the situation? Feel free to leave your thoughts

It was reported by a slew of news site (mostly Apple news) that the Beatle’s songs were going to finally be available for download on iTunes. It is looking like the information is false, as of now.

Sony/ATV Music Publishing, a company owned by Sony and Michael Jackson has denied the reports that the Beatles songs would be coming to iTunes. The reports on the deal was substantiated by three major British newspapers, therefore many sites (this one included) was reporting the good news of the deal.

It is now being reported by CNET that the newspapers’ findings were not true. According to the CNET report, they got in contact with a spokewoman of Sony/ATV Music Publishing who said that they and Apple have had no dialogue on any Beatles deal.

I apologize for getting any Beatle’s fans and iTunes fans excited about the deal. Let’s hope that even though the report turned out to be false, this might get the ball rolling, and maybe talks between these two companies will commence.

It was released by Apple, that iTune was the #2 music retailer in the US. Any sports fan knows that #2′s are never remembered, as people can barely remember the loser of the Superbowl the year prior. While iTunes may have been beaten out by Wal-Mart in 2007, analysts are predicting a different outcome in 2008.

iTunes as of now has over 50 million customers, and has sold over four billion songs. As the dispersal of music is changing, from physical CDs to downloads it’s only looking like clear blue skies for Apple in the coming year. The president of NPD’s music division has made the prediction that iTunes will easily surpass Wal-Mart this year. Russ Crupnick comments on the state of music media, “Digital sales were up close to 50 percent and CD sales were down 20 percent last year”.

A full report from the NPD can be viewed here.