iTunes in the Cloud got way cooler with the launch of the new iPad last month, when Apple announced that movies could now be re-downloaded from any device using your iCloud account. Unfortunately, HBO restrictions held Universal Pictures and 20th Century Fox back from joining the party -- but progress is finally being made.
AppleInsider reported over the weekend that feature films released from Universal Pictures have quietly become part of iTunes in the Cloud's new ability to re-download from any device logged into a user's iCloud account. That leaves 20th Century Fox as the only major studio sitting on the sidelines, despite a recent report that HBO restrictions preventing the studio from participating have been lifted.
"Universal and Fox were initially absent from iCloud as a result of content deals with premium cable network HBO, though those issues were resolved last month," the report reveals. "Universal Pictures films became available this weekend on iCloud, and users who have previously purchased the films from iTunes can re-download them at no cost.
"While Universal's films are now available through iCloud, customers looking to re-download 20th Century Fox must still wait for that content, even though HBO was said last month to have reached an agreement," the report continues. "The Wall Street Journal said at the time that Fox expected to have its content on iCloud 'within weeks,' suggesting it may not be a much longer wait."
iTunes in the Cloud allows users to not only re-download movies they have purchased from iTunes, but also Digital Copy content from iTunes which is included with many Blu-ray and DVD discs these days. Rather than having to store gigabyte-plus files on your local hard drive, iTunes users can simply delete the file after viewing and have the ability to download it again later, from either iTunes on a Mac or PC or any iOS device running iOS 5 or later.
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