So the way it works today using an iPhone with the Amazon app to choose your content and then AirPlay it to the ATV is not bad. The display on the iPhone becomes x-ray for the programme you are watching and the TV goes up to a reasonable 1080 picture quality. However, there is no surround sound. Netflix has a native app of course on ATV4, but using this same technique as Amazon, using the Netflix app on the phone and then AirPlaying it to the ATV gives a better picture quality than the Amazon app AND surround sound. So if the Amazon app is a non-starter on the ATV4, at the least they could up the picture quality and support surround sound as clearly it is possible.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apps Amazon Instant Video
- Thread starter thomamon
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I have Prime but with no AppleTV native support I'll drop it next year when my year is up.
Prime shipping is nice when it works. I've had many shipments take 4-5 days to ship.
But the price is not worth it to me when I can't use the other Prime Services on devices that they should be on
Prime shipping is nice when it works. I've had many shipments take 4-5 days to ship.
But the price is not worth it to me when I can't use the other Prime Services on devices that they should be onDid you know Amazon will give you a free month of Prime membership with a Prime order does not arrive by the guaranteed arrival date?I have Prime but with no AppleTV native support I'll drop it next year when my year is up.
Prime shipping is nice when it works. I've had many shipments take 4-5 days to ship.
I may not dump them. But with the large increase in price this is a big consideration. 79 -> 99 is big if you are not able to fully use all that you are paying for.I have Prime but with no AppleTV native support I'll drop it next year when my year is up.
Prime shipping is nice when it works. I've had many shipments take 4-5 days to ship.
This is true, but I believe only two free months per year, regardless of how many late packages you receive...
per the Amazon "Fine Print" site:
"Note: If you received free shipping through Amazon Prime, you may be eligible for a free one-month extension when the promised delivery date isn't met. Prime Extensions are limited to one per free trial and 12 for an annual membership. Free Amazon Student Memberships do not qualify for this extension."
This reflects what I have read in other articles on the subject.
Looks like I was wrong, and you can get up to 12 extensions per year - need to get in touch with Amazon CS more often!
I'm saving more money using Amazon Prime than anything I've ever done. The deals they have on virtually everything are incredible. Started buying virtually everything I used to get at drug stores from them, and more.
Even buying razor blades, shampoo, soaps, zyrtec, vitamins, pet foods and supplies. Almost anything now I check Amazon first. The across the board savings are unreal.
Even buying razor blades, shampoo, soaps, zyrtec, vitamins, pet foods and supplies. Almost anything now I check Amazon first. The across the board savings are unreal.
I'm thinking you nailed it. Their full app is on smart tvs, game consoles, Roku's and Fire tvs but, I don't think they have to pay 30% to any of them. And we hear Apple say (open) app store but I'm still betting you won't see any competition to itunes make their way onto the Apple tv, for various reasons.
Streaming Video is not 30% Apps like HBO Now are 15%. Also, regarding Amazon Video. This is no different then on th iPad. People buy Amazon Prime on the Amazon Web Site. Netflix and Hulu allow you to either subscribe via Apple TV and they pay Apple 15% or via their web site where they do not pay Apple anything. Advertising cost money. Getting new customers has a cost. Hulu actually charges more if you buy via Apple TV to cover the 15%. This is completely up to Amazon.
This is probably only for subscription services. But Amazon is not just a subscription service, they sell individual movies and TV shows too, which makes them direct competition to iTunes.
I think it is very different. Mobile watching is just a complementary service. The main business these companies are fighting over is the living room.
I think 95% of the people talking about Amazon is the Prime service. Those that rent or buy movies on the Apple TV will buy from Apple. I have used Amazon on iPad with AirPlay for a number of shows. I just prefer it being native on Apple TV and for it to be added to SIRI Search. Amazon Prime is very much like Netflix I still believe it would be in Amazons best interest to cater to Apple Product (premium) customers.
That may be, but it's precisely what Amazon wants to change. They are currently the #2 behind iTunes in the electronic sell-through business (the #3 is Vudu, but they are far behind). Amazon obviously prefers platforms that give them a level playing field.
Apple fans will certainly gravitate towards iTunes (I do too when it comes to buying, but I rent from wherever it's cheaper), but that's not necessarily the case for the general population.
Not sure I am using the Amazon app on my iPhone and iPad correctly?
Only movies/TV shows that are free with my Prime membership, that are either on my watch list or are found by browsing, seem to be available to watch on my devices or send via Airplay to my ATV. Does this mean I need to go to Amazon.com to rent or purchase these "not free" movies/TV shows??? I can't seem to do this within the app.
Which gets back to the topic at hand. Unless I am doing something wrong as described above, will any future ATV4 Amazon app be the same as the iOS apps or???
I think people are optimistic because not making an app just doesn't seem to make sense. Why be on iPads, iPhones, and dozens of other devices,but not ATV? I'm aware of the reasons others have suggested but it seems smarter to add value to your product (prime) by being accessible almost everywhere. So, people hope Amazon is just going to wake up and release an app.
Not seeing not only Amazon but Vudu, M-Go, Cinema now, Flixster, UltraFlix, etc. They all have something in common... and as somebody else said, mobile apps are different, this is a fight for your living room. Smart tvs and streaming boxes like Apple tv, Roku, Amazon fire are getting more and more viewers...
tried watching on my macbook air last night and airplay to my apple tv, and for some reason it said I could only watch the SD version on my macbook air. Not sure why. So I went to my Sony bluray Player to watch. Anyone know why you cant watch HD on your laptop? or was I just doing something wrong
When is the app coming!
When is the app coming!
I think when I last purchased a movie (or got a free movie copy) it mentioned only devices which had some sort of DRM-readable decoder (or something along those lines) could watch the HD. seems kinda crapy if you ask me.
You gotta be optimistic!
There was one rumor, from a random unknown dude on twitter! Who posted an unsubstantiated screenshot! Of a conversation with a CS rep who wouldn't be clued into corporate's plans!
I mean! Gosh, how much more proof can you need?
I suspect it's because the macbook air screen is not capable of 1920x1080 resolution.
Unless something changed, I remember seeing somewhere that HD movies are not supported using the Silverlight player on a Mac. I don't know whether or not HD playback using the HTML5 player in Chrome is supported. TV shows will stream in HD, however (limitation is only for movies).
Last edited: