Apple bows HD movie purchases, but where’s “iTunes Replay”?

Yesterday’s announcement that Apple will (at last) sell HD movie downloads wasn’t a total shocker—after all, Vudu made the same announcement a month ago, and it seems like the next logical step in digital movie delivery. But Apple’s still missing a key piece of the puzzle: the digital video locker.

But first things first: Yes, you can finaly buy HD movies—for keeps—over iTunes, although for now the selection is pretty limited, and prices are steep.

Just 14 flicks are available, including pre-orders for “Quantum of Solace” and “Twilight,” and HD purchase prices range from $19.99 to … well, $19.99.

That’s more than a catalog DVD, but less than a new Blu-ray—and if you ask me, HD movies on Apple TV look considerably sharper than DVD video (if short of true Blu-ray quality), and there’s also the convenience factor, so the price tag isn’t a big sticking point (or at least, not for me).

Read more: tech.yahoo.com