Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Who cares? Most new TVs have built-in app stores where the Amazon Prime app is available (not that I use it, ftw Plex).
 
I've got to admit this does seem to be a bit of a slagging match between Amazon and Apple. - I think Amazon hope Apple are going to 'bite' and change their terms. I suspect Amazon Prime needs Apple more than Apple need Amazon Prime though.

As an Amazon prime customer it's frustrating though - as I'm paying for a service that I'm not really using. (I signed up way before Amazon Prime included Amazon Video - so I use it solely for the prime delivery service which I like, not streaming video). I tried it on my Mac Mini a couple of times, and it doesn't even do HD or 5.1 sound. It seems the only way to view HD is via the iOS app on iPad, and if you want it on your AppleTV you have to stream it via AirPlay. I don't want to do either of those things, as the ideal solution is an 4th gen AppleTV running an Amazon Prime Video app.

Maybe all us Amazon Prime customers should be boycotting Amazon, complaining that we're being charged for a video streaming service that we can't use. - It's difficult though, when it's been bundled as part of the Prime delivery service. As far as I know, it's not possible to have one without the other.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BJMRamage
Amazon did debut a standalone Prime Video streaming service for $8.99 a month, allowing users to subscribe to the service without signing up for the annual $99 Amazon Prime bundle, which includes free shipping from the company's retail store, unlimited streaming music and more.
$8.99 * 12 = $107.88

So you get to pay almost $8 more a year for fewer features?
 
Last edited:
Amazon seems to hire the absolute worst UI designers in the industry. They seem to take pleasure in producing interfaces that unnecessarily frustrate their users.

Like iTunes you mean?
Perhaps it's the same team? :)

No scrap that... NOTHING has a worse more complicated, overbloated, UI/Front end than iTunes.
 
Yes, I am considering it because of them.
That said not sure just the top gear show warrants the money to pay for prime. Sure the 2 day shipping is awesome but I don't buy that much to justify it.

As some wag pointed out the other day, when it was revealed they were having trouble coming up with a name for the new show, it should be called "You're Torrenting this, Aren't You?"
 
  • Like
Reactions: Romey-Rome
I do believe Apple needs to look at what they charge companies for the subscription services. I don't believe it should be 30%, more like 10%.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ohio.emt
I have yet to return any of my apple tvs because it doesn't have prime video. I also have yet to ever watch prime video, despite being a long time prime member. I'm not watching anything I have to AirPlay because AirPlay sucks and keeps dropping out.
 
What "acceptable business terms" do they currently get on iOS (where the app is available now) that are not currently available to them on tvOS?
It's because on IOS you can use Safari to buy Prime membership on the Amazon website, but on TVOS there is no web browser, so any purchase has to be done through the App. In App purchases give Apple a 30% cut of the purchase price goes, Apple doesn't allow the purchase price to be higher on the Apple App store for services available elsewhere, so Amazon would be forced to swallow a 30% loss on something, which has a profit margin much lower than that (Prime actually makes a loss, the only part of Amazon that makes a profit is Amazon Web Services, it subsidises everything else).
 
Why can't they just release the blooming app now for AppleTV with the same functionality as the iOS version and then sort out their business issues. Once that's done they can update the app as required.
 
  • Like
Reactions: orbital~debris
It's because on IOS you can use Safari to buy Prime membership on the Amazon website, but on TVOS there is no web browser, so any purchase has to be done through the App. In App purchases give Apple a 30% cut of the purchase price goes, Apple doesn't allow the purchase price to be higher on the Apple App store for services available elsewhere, so Amazon would be forced to swallow a 30% loss on something, which has a profit margin much lower than that (Prime actually makes a loss, the only part of Amazon that makes a profit is Amazon Web Services, it subsidises everything else).

This. It's ridiculous that Apple (or any app store) wants a piece of what others sell inside their apps, at least for videos.

Maybe all us Amazon Prime customers should be boycotting Amazon, complaining that we're being charged for a video streaming service that we can't use.

Or maybe you should be boycotting Apple.

You'd think that making hundreds of billions of dollars from hardware would be enough.

It's their greed that prevents banks from signing up for Apple Pay, and Amazon from fully supporting iOS.

If Apple really cared about its customers, it'd put their needs first.
 
I always stream Amazon prime video from the iOS app to my Apple TV.

One of the reasons I have the old Apple TV.

This works on the current ATV too. Its my Prime loophole too.

This process also highlights to me that Bezos is FOS here. If Prime encourages streaming to iPads and iPhones AND those apps can stream to ATV then what is the true hang-up about offering the same app for ATV? What is the net-net difference to Amazon between customers streaming from their iDevices to ATV vs directly to ATV?
 
  • Like
Reactions: orbital~debris
This works on the current ATV too. Its my Prime loophole too.

This process also highlights to me that Bezos is FOS here. If Prime encourages streaming to iPads and iPhones AND those apps can stream to ATV then what is the true hang-up about offering the same app for ATV? What is the net-net difference to Amazon between customers streaming from their iDevices to ATV vs directly to ATV?
I think it's answered in this post...
It's because on IOS you can use Safari to buy Prime membership on the Amazon website, but on TVOS there is no web browser, so any purchase has to be done through the App. In App purchases give Apple a 30% cut of the purchase price goes, Apple doesn't allow the purchase price to be higher on the Apple App store for services available elsewhere, so Amazon would be forced to swallow a 30% loss on something, which has a profit margin much lower than that (Prime actually makes a loss, the only part of Amazon that makes a profit is Amazon Web Services, it subsidises everything else).
The 30% cut seems acceptable for the app store but is always going to cause problems when applied to subscription services where the profit margins are already fairly tight.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ohio.emt and S.B.G
I have yet to return any of my apple tvs because it doesn't have prime video. I also have yet to ever watch prime video, despite being a long time prime member. I'm not watching anything I have to AirPlay because AirPlay sucks and keeps dropping out.

I'm the opposite - I went with Amazon Fire TV 4K devices rather than Apple TV because I want something that offers both Netflix AND Prime Video. The 4K support is also a nice bonus.
 
I'm the opposite - I went with Amazon Fire TV 4K devices rather than Apple TV because I want something that offers both Netflix AND Prime Video. The 4K support is also a nice bonus.

And I have both a Roku and an Apple TV, because the Roku does Amazon (and others) where the Apple TV does not. I don't blame Amazon looking for the right terms. If Apple wants 30% of purchases via that app, that's unacceptable in a world where the consumer has so many other streaming device choices.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ohio.emt
You know you can still AirPlay with the 4th gen AppleTV, right?
he is saying he hasn't found a need to update to the atv4 since he is waiting for Amazon to release their app to consider it.
[doublepost=1464783061][/doublepost]
And I have both a Roku and an Apple TV, because the Roku does Amazon (and others) where the Apple TV does not. I don't blame Amazon looking for the right terms. If Apple wants 30% of purchases via that app, that's unacceptable in a world where the consumer has so many other streaming device choices.
But you can't buy on the PS3 app
[doublepost=1464783099][/doublepost]
This is true! If you have a free app and only for pre subscribed customers only, then Apple do not take a cut!
All the non prime movies and tv.
 
Mr. Bozo, you have no (business terms) problem supporting your prime Video App IOS devices from Apple but you do with AppleTV. Amazon customers indirectly pay for Prime video and they should have freedom to run their paid Amazon service on any popular platforms they choose.
 
Well at least now we have some insight as to what the hold up is. Though I'm sure most of us already suspected something along these lines. I'm no business person, but for the services in play here 30% seems awfully steep.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ohio.emt and OllyW
Mr. Bozo, you have no (business terms) problem supporting your prime Video App IOS devices from Apple but you do with AppleTV. Amazon customers indirectly pay for Prime video and they should have freedom to run their paid Amazon service on any popular platforms they choose.

Do you feel that Apple should get 30% of any sale that's made from said app within Apple TV?

That seems to be part of the sticking point. It isn't as simple as Amazon won't let you you use it everywhere you want...it's that Apple wants a significant cut to let them do it.

I'll never understand how consumers, even if they are Apple fans, will blindly defend a 30% Apple tax on things like monthly subscriptions or in-app purchases for content delivered through multiple sources.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ohio.emt
Come on Jeff! I am an amazon prime customer...... why don't you just release an appleTV version so I can watch the prime movies! I'd be ok with that. Force me to go to a PC if I want to buy a movie, then I'll yell at apple.
 
  • Like
Reactions: orbital~debris
Oligolist misbehaving through anti-competetive behavior...

Special deals and price cuts should be granted to willing but poor people, not to de-facto monopolists.

Utter disgust.
 
  • Like
Reactions: igorsky
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.