Amazon Releases iPad App for Instant Video Service

[BornAgainApple]

I'm a Prime member already, so $79/year for free shipping AND unlimited streaming? WINNING!

[milbournosphere]

FYI, if your iPad is jailbroken, you'll need to have xCon installed from Cydia in order to actually watch video. Otherwise you'll get a 'Playback not allowed' message.

[Buckeyestar]

Originally Posted by NutFlush920

2 things I'd like to see are:

1. iPhone support
2. Search functionality

Other then that it's much appriciated

I wholeheartedly agree.

Originally Posted by OtherJesus

Is their movie/tv show catalog better than Netlix?

It seems similar. Movie selection is limited as it with Netflix. They have most of the same TV shows available, and currently have exclusive streaming of shows such as Fringe and West Wing. Amazon Prime is cheaper than Netflix, though you only have a yearly option rather than month to month. Of course Prime has other non streaming benefits such as free 2 day delivery on any Amazon orders.

[BigDukeSix]

I am impressed that Amazon decided to make this available on the IPad instead of just keeping it for their own products. Very nice.

[scbrain]

It works really well. Makes Amazon Prime even a better deal.

[nagromme]

Not a Prime member; but having one more source to rent movies from? I’m in!

(I’d LOVE it if I could rent per-title from Netflix. 20 shows this week, none for six months... what ever I want, Pay as I Go. My money awaits you, Netflix!)

[2crazy]

It would be awesome if we could have Amazon Prime on Apple TV one day. After the introduction of Hulu, I think Amazon is the only one that is really missing on ATV.

[mjtomlin]

Originally Posted by Small White Car

Is this going to be like the Kindle app where you can download things you've purchased elsewhere, but you can't actually purchase something in the app?

There isn't anything to purchase in this app. It's an "Instant Video" player, i.e. streaming only. All of this content is free through Amazon's Prime service.

To sign up for the service you do have to go to the website, but I think you need to do that anyway through the Amazon Store.

[URFloorMatt]

Originally Posted by ericvmazzone

Now the question is, when will it come to the AppleTV?

Seriously. Add this, HBO Go, and Watch ESPN, and the Apple TV will replace probably 75% of the time I use my Xbox. And I hate using my Xbox for video because it's so damn loud.

[mjtomlin]

Originally Posted by BigDukeSix

I am impressed that Amazon decided to make this available on the IPad instead of just keeping it for their own products. Very nice.

Amazon's business model is about selling content (and other goods), the more platforms it's available on the better.

[swagi]

Originally Posted by URFloorMatt

Seriously. Add this, HBO Go, and Watch ESPN, and the Apple TV will replace probably 75% of the time I use my Xbox. And I hate using my Xbox for video because it's so damn loud.

Get a 360Slim. It's really worth it. And if you already have one and think it's loud - get your device checked. It should be silent (speaking from experience of nearly two years)

[Small White Car]

Originally Posted by mjtomlin

There isn't anything to purchase in this app. It's an "Instant Video" player, i.e. streaming only. All of this content is free through Amazon's Prime service.

Are you sure? What does this line in the article mean?

- Download purchased and rented videos from Your Video Library

[theone09]

Originally Posted by BornAgainApple

I'm a Prime member already, so $79/year for free shipping AND unlimited streaming? WINNING!

if you have student's email, then $40/year for 3 or 4 years, with same features

[Rodimus Prime]

Originally Posted by BigDukeSix

I am impressed that Amazon decided to make this available on the IPad instead of just keeping it for their own products. Very nice.

I am more surprised it took them this long honestly.

The Kindle fire is more than likely sold pretty close to cost. The real money is from the other services. I keep waiting for them to release a streaming app for android and WP7. If they do not do it by Xmas there is a good chance my prime membership will not be renewed. I can not renew my student account again and not worth paying 80 a year when I have netflix that I can watch on my android devices.

[RedTomato]

Two big questions:

1) Does this carry subtitles for us deaf or hard-of-hearing people?

2) Will it be available in the UK?

[stukick]

about time. now how about for apple tv.

[Rayd5365]

Originally Posted by mjtomlin

There isn't anything to purchase in this app. It's an "Instant Video" player, i.e. streaming only. All of this content is free through Amazon's Prime service.

To sign up for the service you do have to go to the website, but I think you need to do that anyway through the Amazon Store.

It is streaming only for prime content, But you CAN download titles that you have bought for offline viewing. I downloaded, to the device, a movie I purchased like 3 years ago to watch on my TiVo. Very cool.

So, for Prime titles, it is like Netflix, streaming only. For purchased & rented content, it's like iTunes. You can stream on-demand, or download.

[D.T.]

Originally Posted by BigDukeSix

I am impressed that Amazon decided to make this available on the IPad instead of just keeping it for their own products. Very nice.

Yes, because ...

Originally Posted by nagromme

Not a Prime member; but having one more source to rent movies from? I’m in!

Originally Posted by mjtomlin

Amazon's business model is about selling content (and other goods), the more platforms it's available on the better.

... see above

***

Looks pretty solid, ran some Firefly episodes on my iPad (3rd gen), just nice to have another device that can access Amazon content (especially since we're Prime members).

No Airplay video support feels a little strategic on their part, you know, keep the partners with Amazon Video to/in TVs with at least one offering that's not also available from Apple ... though I suppose that's solved with a physical video out connection from an iPad[?]

[mytakeontech]

Someone from JB community dev please port this to Apple TV. That would do it

[nick_elt]

I assume its US only??

[APlotdevice]

Yes!

I've been waiting ages for this app.

[h1r0ll3r]

Originally Posted by milbournosphere

FYI, if your iPad is jailbroken, you'll need to have xCon installed from Cydia in order to actually watch video. Otherwise you'll get a 'Playback not allowed' message.

THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!! I was wondering why I kept getting that error message.

Now to decide whether to use this app or cancel Hulu.

[Digitalclips]

Originally Posted by BornAgainApple

I'm a Prime member already, so $79/year for free shipping AND unlimited streaming? WINNING!

From what I can see not everything is free to Prime members. I just checked Burn Notice for example. Not showing as free to members.

[D.T.]

Originally Posted by RedTomato

Two big questions:

1) Does this carry subtitles for us deaf or hard-of-hearing people?

I don't see any subtitle options in the app, I also fired up a couple of movies (MI:3 for example) and there was no subtitle option while it was playing.

Originally Posted by h1r0ll3r

Now to decide whether to use this app or cancel Hulu.

Well, Hulu Plus does have much more recent TV. Amazon and Netflix are generally a season behind.

[likemyorbs]

Originally Posted by paradox00

Where's the Canada love?

It never existed....