Apple to Announce Amazon Prime Video for Apple TV at WWDC

[thisismyusername]

Apple should be embarrassed to announce this at WWDC. They're basically announcing that they've almost caught up to what they're competitors were doing almost 2 years ago. Announcing 4K support as well would finally mean Apple caught up to Roku.

Apple needs to learn how to lead markets again instead of always playing catchup ... which is all they've been dong for years.

 

[MH01]

Pointless at this stage for me, got a nvidia shield and the Apple TV is gathering dust, one app does not fix its problems.

 

[bommai]

Unless Apple TV 4k reveal at wwdc

The Grand Tour on Amazon is in 4K HDR and it looks wonderful using the Samsung K8500 UHD player to my Epson 5040UB Faux-4K projector. I don't even have the AppleTV in my main theater room since it cannot do lossless audio and 4K. I have the AppleTV in my living room mated to my 54" Panasonic Plasma TV.

 

[sudo1996]

Funny you guys used the same expression.

I used to have Prime and I used to think with how much I buy it was totally worth it. Until I realized that 99% of the things I ordered I didn't need within 2 days, that I could easily wait a week or more for most things, and that I could let items sit in my cart until I have enough to get over the free shipping threshold.

For the 2 or so times per year I need fast shipping, I'll pay for fast shipping. The rest of the time, 7-10 days or whatever Amazon's free service gets you is sufficient.

Also, I know Amazon hates this, but drop-shippers on ebay make it just as well. Many popular items on Amazon can be bought on ebay for like $0.50 more than on Amazon, with free 2-day shipping. How? Someone with a Prime account just lists it on ebay, and then when you buy it from them, they immediately buy it on Amazon and set your address as the shipping address. I've purchased several items this way, purchased from a seller on ebay, but arriving in an Amazon box with an Amazon gift receipt.

Amazon has some unique deals but nothing I see being worthwhile. Only a subset of their products are Prime-eligible, and they almost always cost more than non-Prime equivalents, as if they're just factoring the shipping cost into the price. I often find the same product elsewhere with a cheaper sticker price but non-free shipping, and it ends up being the exact same total cost. Except I don't have to pay yearly for that.

 

[MH01]

Is this honestly a major announcement? good god. Apple don't even bother trying anymore. Amazon Prime TV is available on every other device in existence. This is not exciting.

You are kinda scrapping the bottom of the barrel if this is just the vanilla app that has been out for 2 years .....

 

[Totorotarrot]

This is awesome news! Now I can ditch that worthless Firestick and have Netflix, Hulu, DirecTV NOW and all in one place. And on a platform that actually works (well)!

Doesn't roku puts everything in one place? I got a roku smart tv and ditch my Apple TV because I just need one remote now. Yes roku Ui is lightyear behind apple but one remote is better. I don't need a tv stand or any extra cable or box under the tv. Just a tv mounted on a wall, super clean!

 

[SeaFox]

Finally! Now we just need Vudu!

Thank you for the info. Missing Amazon Prime is one reason I've never considered an Apple TV for a streaming device. I'm not so hard core about the lack of Vudu, but it's worth noting that not all digital copies of movies included with disc releases are available with a choice of iTunes or Ultraviolet, so I do have some of both.

 

[thogin]

Hey Amazon, please release Twitch for ATV while you're at it

I'm using Twitchy, which is pretty decent, but I agree an official Twitch app would be nice.

 

[gijoeinla]

Great another 20 mins App demo of something we already know

I doubt this will be the "highlight" of ATV announcements. Do many of you think that a VIDEO STREAMING SERVICE could materialize. ?

 

[drewyboy]

Big announcement? They'll probably spend 5 minutes on stage talking about it, if that. It's not like the entire event is about Amazon Prime Video. Also, why would you blame both sides? The App Store developer tools have been there for quite some time now... the only ones who chose not to use them is Amazon.
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It was Amazon. I sincerely doubt Apple blocked the app from being on the App Store.

Yeah, but I'm sure apple wanted their cut prime membership fee for folks who sign up through the video app which is absolutely a no go. Apple doesn't deserve that ongoing money.

 

[McScooby]

Amazon prob figures that fire sticks have topped out & everyone who wants one has it &

I've started using Prime more than the iTunes Store lately, simply because the Prime app actually lets me stream content over cellular.

Remove the damn WiFi only restriction from iTMS content.

Not sure about this, I can stream content over cellular, just can't download stuff over 100mb, incl apps, that's the restriction that needs lifted.

 

[Cougarcat]

Yeah, but I'm sure apple wanted their cut prime membership fee for folks who sign up through the video app which is absolutely a no go. Apple doesn't deserve that ongoing money.

Amazon could have simply released an app without a sign up or purchase option, just like the iOS version works now.

 

[_mdavenport]

Fantastic news, and long overdue.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Amazon has some unique deals but nothing I see being worthwhile. Only a subset of their products are Prime-eligible, and they almost always cost more than non-Prime equivalents, as if they're just factoring the shipping cost into the price. I often find the same product elsewhere with a cheaper sticker price but non-free shipping, and it ends up being the exact same total cost. Except I don't have to pay yearly for that.

Yes, exactly! And if you still want that item in two days or less, the extra $10 or whatever is fine.

 

[sledgehammer89]

That's innovation.

 

[d21mike]

I think this is about Amazon Channels. They already offer a number of channels and I expect more are coming to the point they will have a full TV Streaming Service to compete with Hulu Live, Sling, DTV Now and more. They already compete with Netflix and I think they felt it was time to have their App on the Apple TV. This could be huge for Prime Subscribers if Amazon decides to offer Live TV discounts.

 

[jdclifford]

Why does it need a big reveal

They will need to fill time @ WWDC since they will have nothing much else to offer.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Must be more to it to get a platform like WWDC. Amazon competes in Apple space to a degree.

 

[JRobinsonJr]

Finally! Now we just need Vudu!

Ha! I was thinking the same thing. Not to look the proverbial "gift-horse in the mouth"... because this is HUGE!

I also have high hopes that this is truly an integrated service that is connected to TV App for both streaming and purchased titles... but I'll settle for the app!

 

[Cougarcat]

They will need to fill time @ WWDC since they will have nothing much else to offer.

Huh? Rumor is they may announce an Echo competitor. Even if no hardware is announced, they will have to talk about TvOS, iOS, and macOS updates. Now that they have three platforms there's always plenty to talk about at WWDC.

 

[sidewinder3000]

Why does it need a big reveal

Really? You have no idea why it would need a big announcement? How about two companies that are in business to make a profit, Amazon and Apple, both wanting to get as much free publicity and press as possible in order to sell more subscriptions and ATVs. That work for you?

 

[noobinator]

Hopefully they announce this right after they announce the new 4K Apple TV.

 

[mattopotamus]

Finally! Now we just need Vudu!

That is what I really want. Just let me access my library! Granted, I don't really stream movies. I usually buy/rent the disc.

 

[JRobinsonJr]

I really don't see the point in streaming 4K yet. The HD 1080p streams we have currently still aren't as good as 1080p coming off a blue ray disc. We need to achieve parity there before 4K streaming matters.

Completely agreed. Even the OTA signals I get are better than the online content.

That said, I'm far from any real expertise in this but it is my understanding that the 4k codec's are far more efficient and can more effectively transmit something better than 1080p... even if they are compressed?

 

[mattopotamus]

Hopefully they announce this right after they announce the new 4K Apple TV.

wouldn't that just be amazing. ATV with 4K HDR10/DV support.
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I really don't see the point in streaming 4K yet. The HD 1080p streams we have currently still aren't as good as 1080p coming off a blue ray disc. We need to achieve parity there before 4K streaming matters.

streaming HDR is significantly better though. That and 4K go hand in hand, so that is why a 4K streaming device is so important IMO. VUDU Dobly Vision streaming has benefits over 4K physical media simply because the dynamic HDR.....at least for the next month until 4K DV disc arrive.