Apple readying iTunes Replay streaming service via iCloud

Are iCloud rumors replacing the iPhone 5 rumors? Today's report is courtesy of AppAdvice, which says that Apple is prepping a re-downloading and streaming service known as iTunes Replay.

Apple recently started allowing users to re-download TV shows purchased through iTunes, a feature already available for books, apps, and music. Movies are the one hold-out, but AppAdvice says iTunes Reply will add movies to the re-download list for a "full-fledged" service and potentially allow users to stream everything via Apple TV and iOS. No word on the desktop.

The service would apply to media purchased back to January 1, 2009. As Apple signs the appropriate licensing agreements, the company will put arrows next to purchased shows and movies to indicate that they are eligible for replay, AppAdvice said.

The blog said users should "expect this to go public in the coming weeks" and framed it as "an extension of what Apple is already doing with iCloud."

Earlier this week, Apple provided developers with access to iCloud.com. Apple unveiled iCloud during its Worldwide Developer Conference in June. It will store your content in the cloud and wirelessly push it to all your other devices, including iTunes music. If you add a new contact, take a photo, buy a song, or make a new calendar appointment, it will automatically be pushed to the cloud, Apple chief Steve Jobs said. Apple's iCloud will support up to 10 devices for free, and everyone will get up to 5GB of free storage for music, docs, or photos, not including a new Photo Stream photo-synching feature, or purchased apps, docs, or books. A matching service for non-iTunes music will be $24.99 per year.

In the days following the iCloud announcement, questions remained about the fate of MobileMe. Would iCloud continue to let users upload any file type they wish to iDisk? Would the service still offer Web hosting? Would it still offer the beautiful online photo galleries of MobileMe? Apple eventually published a FAQ that provided the answers: No, no, and no.

For more, see our iCloud vs Amazon Cloud Player vs Google Music comparison.

This article, written by Chloe Albanesius, originally appeared on PCMag.com and is republished on Gear Live with the permission of Ziff Davis, Inc.