As the name suggests, iTunes Extras include additional content that customers receive when they purchase a movie through Apple’s content store. However up till now the company has restricted access to this content which users could only view through iTunes on the desktop. That changes today with the iTunes 11.3 update. Now iTunes Extras will show up alongside any purchased HD films and users will also be able to access the additional content through an Apple TV.
Additional content includes deleted scenes and production stills, the kind of content one would previously find on DVDs. Now Apple is also allowing movie studios to add more content at any time at absolutely no extra charge.
To access iTunes Extras through Apple TV owners of the set-top box will need to be on version 6.2 of the firmware which was rolled out last week. The set-top box needs to be configured with the same Apple ID that was used to make the purchase, otherwise the additional content won’t be available for viewing.
As of now iTunes Extras is now available on iOS devices though Apple has promised that it will bring the additional content to its mobile devices with iOS 8. Detailed at WWDC 2014 last month iOS 8’s public release is expected to take place this fall.