[Superchicken]

http://www.helixent.com/iflicks/download/notice.html

I saw this when I went to look at it. I was thinkin of buying it becuase well, I found a utility that will let me convert my divx stuff to stuff quicktime understands and what not. So I was thinking, hmmm lets actually use an App that will be great. Not to mention I feel a bit bad about not supporting many... or any third party devs since nearly all my software is either Apple, Adobe, or Macromedia made. Or free. So yah... but now I can't even get it... hmmm...

Wonder if Apple did a buy out? I know the guys at Panic were nearly bought out by Apple with the intro of iTunes but didn't want to. Perhaps these guys were smarter. Though if that's the case, then why wasn't something said at MWSF? Are we thinking iLife 06 with this?

[electric monk]

I doubt Apple will launch a movie store right away, but the message left on the website is oddly similar to the one left on Soundjam's website when Apple bought them.

If Apple does do iFlicks then iLife '06 would seem the logical place at first glance, but iFlicks would probably be similar to iTunes as a free download in of itself and most likely on the Windows side too. Therefore any time they can get the content (which is the essential part of course) they will launch it.

Own the movie or TV show (and be able to have it on say three computers total, and be able to redownload it if you want to but not beyond three computers at the same time (could check on startup)), or subscribe to the service and have expiring movies that you cannot due anything with of course.

If you choose to watch TV with commercials or a movie with previews you could discounts. If you rate the commercials/previews you get advertising that gradually adjusts to the products that you would actually buy. Toss in DVD extra features free if you buy, slight additional fee if you subscribe.

So...

Workable?

[Krypton]

Someone suggested that it was due to their interface being identical to that of iTunes.

[Person Man]

Originally posted by Superchicken:
I know the guys at Panic were nearly bought out by Apple with the intro of iTunes but didn't want to.

It's not that they didn't want to, but they were in talks with AOL as well, and wanted to see what became of those negotiations, too. AOL dragged their feet too long, and Apple apparently got tired of waiting, so they went elsewhere.

[Superchicken]

I read the history... people always make themselves sound smarter in retrospect... when in reality we're dumber. Anyone who would wait for AOL for that sorta thing... is dumb.

[OAW]

Originally posted by Krypton:
Someone suggested that it was due to their interface being identical to that of iTunes.

That's my guess as well. This app is essentially "iTunes for movies". The interface is nearly identical. I imagine the developer received a "cease and desist" order from Apple. Another possibility is that someone else already has the name "iFlicks" trademarked. I found several other software programs on the net with that name.

OAW

[-Q-]

It probably is more of a legal 'cease and desist' rather than a purchase from Apple (or another company). I'm only basing this on the final sentence of the notice:

Unfortunately, the situation at hand has forced us to make this very disappointing decision.

This doesn't sound like a group of people who had something good happen to them.

[bewebste]

I very much doubt Apple bought iFlicks or anything like they did with SoundJam. I used the program, and it was OK and all, but it was hardly anything revolutionary. Apple could probably make 90% of iFlicks just by piecing together code that already exists in iTunes, iPhoto, and Quicktime Player. My best bet is that it was the name that was the problem, although the interface was close enough that it could have been too close for Apple's legal comfort. There's also a possibility that Netflix had something to do with it, since iFlicks did have some features that utilized Netflix.