iTunes 12.6
Apple has issued iTunes 12.6 in conjunction with the release of the new iPad (“Apple Replaces iPad Air 2 with New 9.7-inch iPad,” 21 March 2017) and iPhones (see “Apple Introduces (PRODUCT)RED iPhones, Doubles iPhone SE Storage,” 21 March 2017) with a feature that’s long been requested — the capability to watch iTunes movie rentals on any of your Apple devices. The feature also requires iOS 10.3 or tvOS 10.2, both of which have just been released (see “iOS 10.3 Adds New File System, Find My AirPods, Other Major Refinements,” 27 March 2017,
and “Apple Releases macOS 10.12.4, watchOS 3.2, and tvOS 10.2,” 27 March 2017).
Dubbed “rent once, watch anywhere,” the feature enables you to start watching a movie on your Apple TV at home and then finish it on your next morning’s bus commute by streaming it on your iPhone. Previously, you could transfer rentals made on your Mac to an iOS device by performing a sync, and you couldn’t access rentals made on an Apple TV on any other devices.
Other changes in iTunes 12.6 include the capability to open playlists in their own windows and a redesign of the MiniPlayer. (Free, 269 MB via direct download or Software Update, release notes, 10.9.5+)
Comments from a friend...
"Finally" would be if they upped the rental duration from 24 hours to 30. It just doesn't make sense. People rent the movie at the time they want to watch a movie. So if you rent a movie at, say, 8pm, but you don't finish it, you're probably not going to be able to watch it until around 8pm the next night. Except that's when the rental expires.
Does anyone agree?
In Japan, the rental duration is 48 hours. I agree with your general point: if they could add, say, 4 hours (allowing for a long movie and a slightly later starting time than on the first night) to the stipulated times, that would make things so much easier.