Apple has announced not one, but two huge products set to launch in Japan -- iTunes movies and iAds. Movies first. To start, there will be over 1,000 movies available for purchase and download. Movies will be available in standard definition and high definition. As usual, all rentals and purchases will require a valid credit card on file with iTunes, nothing new there.

HD rental prices start at ¥300 while new release rentals will run ¥500. SD rental prices are ¥200 and ¥400 respectively. Purchases prices range from ¥1,000 to ¥2,500 depending, of course, upon whether they are HD or SD and whether they are an older title or a new release. For those keeping track, ¥2,500 is about $30 USD. This seems pretty pricey to me. Right now, titles like Toy Story 3 in HD are only $19.99 on the US version of the iTunes store. Do these prices for Japan seem high to anyone else?

Aside from movie purchases and rentals, Apple is also extending their highly successful iAd service to Japan as well. The Dentsu Group in Japan will be responsible for selling and executing iAd while Apple will deliver the ad content to customers. The Dentsu Group is one of the most successful brand agencies not only in Japan, but in the world.

Andy Miller, Vice President of iAd had this to say about the rollout -

“After an incredibly successful launch in the US where we’ve already doubled the number of brands on the network, we’re excited to bring iAd to Japan,”...“Dentsu is one of the world’s most prestigious advertising agencies, making them an ideal partner for iAds in Japan.”

It's good to see Apple is extending more of the more sought after services to other parts of the globe. Any of our readers in Japan have any thoughts? What do you think about the iTunes Store pricing for movies?

[Apple iAd Press Release, Apple iTunes Press Release]

iTunes is now offering Movie Bundles [iTunes link] with a variety of double, triple, and quadruple features ranging in price from $9.99 to $34.99.

The US iTunes store looks to have a better selection than Canada right now, with tons of options (including some in HD). No love for the UK or other international iTunes Movie stores yet, but we'll keep our fingers crossed. As always, regional catalog availability and licensing rights are the Bah Humbug of the digital age.

Still, if you need to fill up your iPhone or iPod touch for a long trip home for the holidays (or iTunes or your Apple TV for some much-needed relative-escaping couch distraction), you can find some good deals.

I'm holding fire on the Austin Powers trilogy and Lethal Weapons 1-4 bundle right now, because I'm goofy and old like that, k? Let us know which if any bundles catch your eye.

Every week a few of us from team TiPb, bloggers and forum crew alike, will bring you our current favorite, funnest, most useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they're iPhone (or iPod touch) related, they're fair game.

So who's on deck this week and what are our picks? Find out after the break!

Chad's Pick: Doom Resurrection

I was a little apprehensive about this on-rails First Person Shooter (FPS) but id did a great job with it. It controls great, has a nice environment and all the weapons you love from the original. The ability to dodge adds an extra level of immersion as well. This is a fine hold-me-over until Doom Classic gets released soon...[$9.99 - iTunes link]

Chris' Pick: iTunes Movie Rentals

I was just out in the field, and my hotel didn't have a TV or anything. Luckilly I had planned in advance and rented some movies through iTunes, so I was able to watch them on my iPhone while in the hotel room. [Variable - iTunes link]

Jeremy's Pick: Tap Tap Revenge 2.6

I scored 428,486 on Wrong by Depeche Mode, in Tap Tap Revenge 2, the hot music rhythm game for the iPhone and iPod touch. If you are on your iPhone or iPod touch and have Tap Tap Revenge 2 installed, click the link below: Open Tap Tap Revenge 2 and play the challenge! [free - iTunes link]

Leanna's Pick: IM+

I've been hesitant to spend the money on an IM client, but IM+ won me over with the integration of Twitter push. Now, I'm not going to say that IM+ perfectly pushes Twitter, because it doesn't, but it's an impressive first attempt. Every direct message and @ mention gets pushed to me 1 to 4 minutes after it was sent. Every once in awhile some random tweet gets pushed through as well, but not often. What about normal IM? It's works great! I will have a full review of IM+ soon, so stay tuned! {$9.99/month - iTunes link]

Matt's Pick: Appshopper.com

Appshopper.com has recently updated their site so that you can now log in to your own account and add apps that you have bought. Appshopper.com will then notify you (optional) when updates come out for your apps. You can also create a wish list for apps that you want to purchase in the future (an also receive updates about price changes). The website also allows different sorting options and rankings of your apps in your collections. [Web link]

Rene's Pick: Autostich

My photographic aspirations far exceed my talents, and while my experiments at iPhone 3GS HDR are still resulting in misaligned ghost worlds, my iPhone 3GS panoramas have taken a step towards... well, if not the better, at least the easier. Previously, I would take my shots and bring them into Photoshop to assemble a pano. Now, I just use Autostich right on the iPhone, and the results have been excellent. If they could add a cropping feature, my on-device workflow would be complete. [$1.99 - iTunes link]

Your Pick?

You're part of team TiPb too, so what's your pick? What app was your absolute fav last week? Let us -- and everyone -- know in the comments!

Apple's newly appointed vice president of Internet Services (iTunes, and now App Store and MobileMe), Eddy Cue wastes little time getting his name in the press (at least compared to how long it took Big Media and Apple to get the service in place!). Says Cue, via Apple PR:

“Movie fans in Australia and New Zealand can choose from a great selection of over 700 films for purchase and rent on the iTunes Store. iTunes provides an incredibly easy and fun way for people to discover and enjoy movies, and has quickly become the world’s most popular online movie store with customers renting and purchasing over 50,000 movies everyday.”

No word yet on whether these are 24 hour rentals like in the US, or 48 hours like in Canada and the UK, but presumably HD will remain Apple TV exclusive just like the existing regions. (And it's not like Apple blessed us with a 720p display -- or even 480p -- in the iPhone 3G anyway... I'm just saying...)

Any Australians or New Zealanders out there eager to get their movie on? Let us know what you're buying/renting first!