While iTunes has hosted high definition television shows for some time, Apple's digital store is just now adding HD movies.
Blockbusters such as "Quantum of Solace" and "Twilight" will cost $19.99 to purchase, compared to $14.99 for just the standard definition version. HD Movies can also be rented within a month of release for $4.99. There are only a dozen selections available now, but Apple said in a press release that it will be adding "more HD movies soon."
Looking a few of the options available, it seems the high definition offerings are about twice the size of their standard definition versions, floating around 3.5 GB. All HD movies also include a standard definition version for viewing on a portable media player.
Aside from the news itself, there are two takeaways for subtext here. The first is that Apple and film studios must have reached some sort of agreement on digital distribution of HD movies. Previously, Apple TV offered high definition movies, but for rental only. Ars Technica suggests that licensing issues prevented wider availability for Mac and PC users. If those issues are no more, hopefully Apple TV's HD offerings will come to iTunes in due time.
Second, ContentAgenda calls the move a serious blow to Blu-ray, noting that Steve Jobs once referred to the format as "just a bag of hurt" because of licensing costs and compexities, and that Apple has yet to support Blu-ray on any of its devices.
