Apparently the new Movie Rentals feature is exclusive to newer hardware like the iPod Touch, iPhone, 3G Nano and iPod Classic. Does that mean the 5 and 5.5G iPod videos are out in the cold?

Yep.

I went back and rewatched the keynote and Steve-O did say it was for “current generation iPods”, but just once, and quickly. It’s one of those things that you hear, but is so unbelievable in the back of your mind you go, Nooo, that can’t be true, he must be kidding, so you gloss it over and pretend you didn’t hear it. That must have been Steve’s plan all along.

TUAW speculates that this is being done to prevent easy and casual piracy (as in jack it out via the video cable to a recorder, and boom, there goes the neighborhood), and I see where they’re coming from. But still, man. Millions will be up in arms.

I was about to tell my brother, who’s got a 5G, the good news (though he owns an iPod he’s a die-hard Windows guy and not a rabid Mac fanboy like me - must’ve been adopted - and doesn’t keep up with keynote addresses), but I think I’ll leave off telling him he’s SOL like a lot of other 5/5.5G owners out there. Better he finds out for himself.

Check your iTunes - as expected, it’s upgrade time, to accommodate the new Movie Rental facility unveiled at the Keynote.

I was going to download something from iTunes when I was informed that the Terms of Service had changed, and I had to agree before I was allowed to proceed. Long document. Scary.

I actually tried to read it to find out if there was something there that would bork our long-standing and illicit relationship. Finding none, I went ahead and clicked, and then the downloads started.

Then it informed me some of my downloads required the newer version of iTunes to work, so I went and started the process. So far so good.

Minutes later, a window from Software Update popped up and told me that there were iTunes and Quicktime updates available. Yeah, yeah, I know already! In my language, ang kulit ng Apple. Sheesh.

Here’s the fine print.

What’s new in iTunes 7.6
Rent and download your favorite movies with iTunes on your computer or directly to your living room on Apple TV. Enjoy rented movies in sizes up to 720p HD with surround sound on your Apple TV and sizes up to DVD-quality on your computer. Transfer your rented movies from iTunes to your iPod or iPhone and enjoy them on the go.

Also, purchase and download your favorite TV shows, music, and more directly on your Apple TV. Effortlessly transfer purchases made on Apple TV back to your computer with iTunes.

And as usual, the vague description of Quicktime 7.4:

QuickTime 7.4 addresses security issues and delivers:
- Numerous bug fixes
- Support for iTunes

(Despite my sniping, I luuurve the idea I can rent movies now. Cool.)

Apple’s posted a new advertisement for iPod+iTunes up on the Apple site’s iPod+iTunes page in the Featured on iTunes section. The new ad features a silhouetted Mary J. Blige singing Work That from her new album Growing Pains, and was initially aired on TV in the US yesterday.

Personally, I think the dancing silhouette with funky backgrounds has gotten a bit old and Steve should get his ad agency to think up something new. Of note is the fact that it seems a bit silly that the new ad still features a white iPod when there is none in the current line of players that is actually a white iPod. Doh.

iTunes isn’t telling you yet, but Firmware 1.1.2, which is coming out in the new iPhones in Europe and new iPod Touches, is now downloadable from the mothership, and yes, it locks and jails your phone.

Aside from putting on new international keyboards (and the locking and jailing) nothing else seems to be different. Engadget took a bullet for us and installed it on an unlocked and jailbroken unit and confirmed the bad news.

If you’re dying to try it yourself, you can get the 160MB 1.1.2 download here.

It’s ok. I tried it already last night. No problem with unlocks and jailbreaks. Everything’s the way it was.

Not to worry.

Just wanted to say.

(If someone knows otherwise, please holler.)