Amazon Debuts App For Shopping on the Apple TV

[2268473]

I enjoy my Prime membership but we really need an Apple TV app for video. The release of The Grand Tour would perhaps have been a nice time to do this when they may have seen a surge in Prime memberships.

However in the U.K. we are still waiting for apps from ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 which hold a large majority of British made programming.

 

[mrow]

Same here... almost -- I went with the 2016 Roku Streaming stick for my 2nd option. Wireless audio/video were slightly out of sync with the FireTV and the Roku Plex app is much nicer on the Roku, antiquated on the FTV. I don't think there is one streaming product for everyone at this time -- seems common to go with a couple.

Why use Plex on the Roku over the ATV4 app?

 

[ActionableMango]

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Yes, companies don't like selling a competitors product. Your response seems to treat my reply as if I thought Amazon was the only company on Earth that does this, which would be absurd.

 

[sinsin07]

Yes, companies don't like selling a competitors product. Your response seems to treat my reply as if I thought Amazon was the only company on Earth that does this, which would be absurd.

No indication of that in the post; impossible to know what you thought.
All there is to go on is what was posted.

 

[ErikGrim]

Don't put the blame on Apple. Amazon can make the app any time, like any other developer.

They've already developed the app, they just won't release it until Apple can offer the terms they want.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/16...til-apple-agrees-to-acceptable-business-terms

Hopefully that means that the TV 85/15 split is what they were looking for.

 

[valleian]

It's been said a million times, but...
Prime.
Video.
App.
Please.
Thanks.

 

[ActionableMango]

Hopefully that means that the TV 85/15 split is what they were looking for.

Hmmm, why specifically that? Is it the new split for Apple?

 

[benjitek]

Why use Plex on the Roku over the ATV4 app?

Initially I didn't realize I would be -- I got the Roku stick mainly for Amazon Prime. Then I tried out Plex, much snappier -- and takes less navigating and button pressing to do the same things. I really like the way the Roku Plex app shows the current time, and what the time will be when your current video finishes. Video thumbnails when scrubbing work with any video played with Plex on the Roku, they only show up with MP4 & M4V videos with tvOS Plex.

The Roku stick also does wireless audio better overall. With my ATV4, audio frequently stutters, or turns off and returns to the TV speaker. The same JayBird X2's keep their connection and are free of stutters with the Roku 2016 Streaming Stick. I use Bluetooth 90% of the time when viewing, so it maybe matters more than if I didn't. Originally expected to use the Roku infrequently and when travelling, but it turns out I use it more than my ATV4. The UI is a bit clunkier, but it just works...

 

[ErikGrim]

Hmmm, why specifically that? Is it the new split for Apple?

It's the new carrot for providers who integrate with the new TV app, they get an 85/15 revenue split as opposed to the normal 70/30.

 

[nwcs]

I used to want prime video on the Apple TV but now that I have a 4k TV it really doesn't seem like something worthwhile unless Apple surprises us with an update that gives us 4k through hardware or software. But the fire TV 4k is pretty good...

 

[Böhme417]

FWIW, I went onto Amazon online chat to complain about porting a shopping app instead of Prime video and got this response:

"Robert, I would like to inform you that we are constantly working to get available the Amazon Video App on Apple TV However Amazon Shopping App is already launched on Apple TV and soon the Amazon Video App will also show up there."

I hope that's a sooner than later.

I don't think I'm going to put much stock in that barely intelligible response.

Why do that when you can just AirPlay from the Instant Video app on your phone or iPad? Seems like it would be quicker and more seamless IMO.

No. AirPlay is not quicker or more seamless.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Nice to have the shopping app available. I will definitely use it.

 

[mrow]

No. AirPlay is not quicker or more seamless.

Really? I can decide I want to watch something from Prime Video and have it on the screen in 20 seconds. I don't understand why some people have so many issues with AirPlay.

 

[sinsin07]

I enjoy my Prime membership but we really need an Apple TV app for video. The release of The Grand Tour would perhaps have been a nice time to do this when they may have seen a surge in Prime memberships.

Yeah, maybe so:
The Grand Tour reportedly the most illegally downloaded TV show ever

 

[truthertech]

Can you buy FireTV's at the Apple Store? Amazon music and/or video? Amazon never carried the ATV4, so that comparison doesn't really apply.

You can't be serious. Comparing the tiny amount of items that Apple carries in its store to the largest marketplace in the world of Amazon? Amazon is free not to carry it's competitors products, at least until it has extinguished all the markets in the world, but it is hurting the millions of its customers who have an Apple TV and have to use a work around to take advantage of their Amazon Prime benefits while using ATV. I know that they are trying to slow the growth of Apple TV but they are screwing over those who have paid for Prime.

 

[nutmac]

FWIW, I went onto Amazon online chat to complain about porting a shopping app instead of Prime video and got this response:

"Robert, I would like to inform you that we are constantly working to get available the Amazon Video App on Apple TV However Amazon Shopping App is already launched on Apple TV and soon the Amazon Video App will also show up there."

I hope that's a sooner than later.

Nice if true, but I doubt the rep knew anything. I have several engineering friends at Amazon and none could find out if such app is in development.

 

[JRobinsonJr]

Can you buy FireTV's at the Apple Store? Amazon music and/or video? Amazon never carried the ATV4, so that comparison doesn't really apply.

No, but Apple doesn't make any claim or pretense of being a general purpose shopping destination. Amazon does.

 

[benjitek]

...I know that they are trying to slow the growth of Apple TV but they are screwing over those who have paid for Prime...

It's not like ATV4 purchasers were mislead, no one claimed the ATV had Prime. If it's an important consideration, there are plenty other streaming boxes to choose from.

 

[JRobinsonJr]

OK... I am officially confused. This app makes zero sense. Not the idea - a shopping app could be good - but the implementation. I'm going to make my Amazon purchases from the TV? Isn't that an "in app purchase" subject to Apple's 30% cut? How is Amazon making this work while ignoring the Prime Video market?

 

[benjitek]

...Apple doesn't make any claim or pretense of being a general purpose shopping destination. Amazon does.

Amazon doesn't make any claim or pretense of selling the ATV4 or iTunes purchases. Apple does.

 

[citi]

Really? I can decide I want to watch something from Prime Video and have it on the screen in 20 seconds. I don't understand why some people have so many issues with AirPlay.

Because you're thinking on a singular level. If you consider a family sitting on a couch trying to decide what they want to watch together, it's way easier to scroll through one integrated device then to switch back and forth between inputs or pausing when your iPhone rings. I have a Xbox one for amazon prime and I never think to turn it on to watch it.

 

[JRobinsonJr]

Amazon doesn't make any claim or pretense of selling the ATV4 or iTunes purchases. Apple does.

Very true, but I don't see the correlation. The following is just an opinion, but I suspect it's valid:

Most customers will not be able to differentiate this level of sophisticated logic. They go to Amazon to find a product. Sometimes it's by name. Sometimes it's by category. They even realize that Amazon does not (and cannot) carry every product ever made. But... most customers will expect Amazon to carry products from the major players in each category. In this case, the fact that Amazon *does* carry non-Amazon branded products can lead to customer confusion.

Amazon is certainly within their right to not carry specific products or brands. They are on a bit more shaky ground when they won't permit 3rd party stores to carry them.

 

[Bryan Bowler]

Get out of my face Amazon! You will never earn a spot on my Apple TV until you release an Amazon Prime app for Apple TV.

 

[44267547]

Nice to have the shopping app available. I will definitely use it.

Definitely a convenience factor. It's a nice touch.

 

[truthertech]

It's not like ATV4 purchasers were mislead, no one claimed the ATV had Prime. If it's an important consideration, there are plenty other streaming boxes to choose from.

No one said they were misled, and Amazon is free to be aggressive in business like any other competitor, but the fact remains that for the millions of Amazon Prime user who want to use ATV, they have to use a cumbersome work around. Obviously Amazon feels it's worth inconveniencing, and I would say "hosing them", those customers to try and thwart the growth of ATV, which is their right in a free market. Amazon is the retail equivalent to the Borg and few will eventually be able to resist absorption.