Star Wars: The Clone Wars Bonus Content Rumor: To Be Apple Exclusive? Via Jedi News

The Force seems to be strong with JediNews.co.uk lately as they have been getting a number of news making rumors. The latest rumor regards the "bonus content" for Star Wars: The Clone Wars.  This content consists of finished and unfinished episodes from the planned sixth season of the cancelled television show.

As recently as Disney's D23 convention, Lucasfilm's Pablo Hidalgo has said that they are still trying to determine the best way to distribute this content.

According to Jedi News' source the following may be what is planned:

“A Disney branded app for Star Wars will launch on Apple TV devices, with plans to distribute the final Clone Wars episodes exclusively digitally only through the Apple TV device for a limited period of time. This will happen in this holiday season.

In 2014, plans are in an early stage to use the platform to deliver SW7 production news ‘live’ from the sets, followed with Star Wars Rebels in late 2014 taking us all the way through to SW7 release.”

iOS 7

“Distribution will only be on Apple TV devices capable of running iOS7 and there has been no confirmation if the same app will be available to other iOS devices such as iPad or iPhone."

Apple TV is a streaming device that attaches via HDMI to your television.  It features not only content through the Apple iTunes library and store but also stand alone content providing apps such as Netflix.  Apple TV is currently on it's third generation of development, I would expect a fourth generation release sometime in the next year but there hasn't been an official announcement yet.  There is also speculation that the device may be replaced ultimately by an Apple branded iTV that will include the Apple TV functionality in an HD Smart TV sold by Apple.

Apple iOS 7 is rumored to be released as early as September 10th. iOS 7 features a radical re-design of the operating systems graphics along with other features.

If the rumored Disney Star Wars App works on Apple TV as well as iOS 7 devices, then the following currently released devices may be able to use the App.

I wouldn't rush out today and buy an Apple TV, but as someone who already owns a Roku 2 and a Sony Blu-ray player with much of the same functionality a Star Wars App that was Apple exclusive would convince me to spend the $99 to get an Apple TV device.  I am not sure if the promise of The Clone Wars exclusive content would make the App a major selling point for the device, however I bet if there is Episode VII exclusive news and documentary content on the App that it would cause many to purchase the device and particularly could be the deciding factor in taking market share away from other digital streaming devices.

It is interesting to note that Lucasfilm and Apple have a relationship when it comes to movie promotion.  The reason that many of use visit Apple.com or use the Movie Trailer App on iOS devices is because of a collaboration between Apple and Lucasfilm that was created with Episode I: The Phantom Menace. I was not aware of this relationship until it was discussed at Pablo Hidalgo's D23 Star Wars 101 Panel, but here is a version of the story, basically Lucasfilm released a trailer on Starwars.com and the folks at Apple thought that it was very sub-par and that with their QuickTime software they could provide a much higher quality product.

The idea of a Disney branded Star Wars App seems a bit odd, though there is some inconsistency on Disney's part. For example the Marvel comics App is not branded as Disney-Marvel, but the Pixar Toy Story App is branded as Disney-Pixar.  

I have long decried the lack of a Star Wars App, and I would certainly welcome one.  It is important to note that Disney does have some new Apps launching both a Disney Channel and Disney XD App is now available on iOS devices.  This provides access to programming that airs on these channels, however you must have a cable or satellite contract and your provider must allow access to these channels for the App to work.

Stay tuned as we endeavor to learn more about the future of the unreleased Star Wars: The Clone Wars episodes.

Source: Jedi News