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Netflix CEO says time spent streaming matters more than subscriptions
Netflix founder and CEO Reed Hastings doesn't have any beef with other streaming services, and is actually planning on subscribing to Disney+ when it launches. These are just some of the insights he shared at the New York Times' DealBook conference on Wednesday.
Amazon discounts Prime subscriptions by $40 for veterans
With Veterans Day coming up, Amazon has launched a new promotion aimed at armed forces members. Starting today and until November 11th, if you've served in the military, or are a current active duty or reserve member, you can get $40 off the first year of an Amazon Prime subscription. If you're already a subscriber, fret not: you can use the promotion as a way to extend your membership at a discount.
Amazon will pull its movies from theaters to Prime faster
Ever since Amazon began developing its own movies it's had to strike a balance between theatrical success and streaming popularity. Films such as Late Night have been relative flops in cinemas but widely-viewed on Prime, while others --Manchester by the Sea, for example -- have performed well across the board. Now, Amazon says it's going to shorten the window between movies hitting the big screen and arriving on Prime, in a bid to mitigate some of the uncertainty associated with theatrical releases, and to get them in front of viewers at home, where the big numbers are.
Amazon Fresh deliveries are now free for Prime members
Amazon is ditching its $14.99 a month Amazon Fresh fee for Prime members. Prime subscribers in the 2,000 US cities where the fresh food delivery service is offered can use it for free and take advantage of new one- and two-hour delivery windows. Shopping from Whole Foods is also an option here, and it's subject to the same quick delivery times. You can sign up here but you'll have to wait for an invitation -- as Amazon says, "We expect this will be a popular benefit."
Amazon cuts off three delivery companies publicly linked to deaths
Amazon has cut ties with three delivery contractors that were recently implicated in multiple deaths by a joint BuzzFeed News and ProPublica investigation. According to state documents obtained by the two publications, those companies now plan to lay off more than 2,000 employees, and in two of three cases, stop delivering packages for the e-commerce giant. The investigation that BuzzFeed News and ProPublica completed in September found the three companies -- Inpax Shipping Solutions, Sheard-Loman Transport and Letter Ride LLC -- often employed drivers with little experience and put them in difficult working conditions.
Amazon Prime perks now include mobile game add-ons
Amazon Prime members are getting another perk, and it's something mobile gamers would appreciate. The e-commerce giant is making free mobile game loot a part of its subscriber offerings, starting with exclusive in-game items for Tencent's popular battle royale game PUBG Mobile. It has already dropped the Infiltrator Mask, which will be available until October 3rd, and will release more items one by one in the coming weeks. The other items in the Prime exclusive set are the Infiltrator Jacket, Shoes and Pants, as well as the Epic Level Gun and Magma Parachute.
Amazon launches a scaled-down Prime service in Brazil
Brazilians can get unlimited two-day shipping and access to Amazon's original programming now that Prime is available in their country. Amazon has launched its Prime service in Brazil in an effort to get a piece of one of Latin America's biggest economies. According to Bloomberg, Prime for Brazil will start as a scaled-down version of its US counterpart, offering free shipping for around 500,000 products out of the 2 million items in its marketplace. The company will give residents in 90 cities access to two-day shipping, while shipping in other areas will take three days or more.
How to pick a lens for your mirrorless camera in 2019
When buying a mirrorless camera, there's an equally crucial side question: What lenses do I need for this thing? The glass you place in front of that sensor plays a key role in how your photos or videos look and what kind of shooting you can do. It's a complex decision too. You need to consider factors like sharpness, distortion, speed, prime or zoom and, most important, price. In this guide, I'll touch on all that and look at some of the best lenses for Sony, Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm and Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras.
Jim Henson shows come to Amazon Prime Video, but not in the US
Amazon has added a lot more Jim Henson Company programs to Prime Video after rolling out all four season of sci-fi series Farscape for the platform. Starting today, you'll be able to access 2,500 hours of child-friendly shows with Muppets and other Henson puppets if you have a Prime or a standalone Prime Video subscription. That is, depending on where you're located -- unfortunately, most of those programs won't be available in the US due to licensing issues.
Amazon lands Viola Davis' adaptation of Octavia Butler's 'Wild Seed'
Amazon Prime Video is continuing its sci-fi push with Wild Seed, a drama series based on the first of Octavia Butler's Afrofuturist Patternist books. The show will come to Amazon courtesy of Viola Davis and Julius Tennon of JuVee Production, and will be written by author Nnedi Okorafor and Rafiki filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu.
Amazon drops its free-shipping minimum for the holidays
Amazon is making rivals like Walmart sweat a bit more over the holidays by offering free shipping with no minimum purchase to everyone. The company announced that it's waiving the usual $25 minimum fee required for non-Prime customers in a US-only promotion -- the first time it's done that, according to Reuters. The deal is effective starting today, and will last until just before Christmas, when Amazon can no longer promise free delivery in time for Christmas.
Amazon launches pre-game show for 'Thursday Night Football'
Amazon is launching a new Thursday Night Football pre-game show. Nothing too unusual about that, except this one, The Drive, will be hosted by two women -- a move some will sadly consider surprising, even in this, the year 2018. Charissa Thompson and Rachel Lindsay (pictured) –- who both boast impressive sports broadcasting resumes -- will interview two opposing players both on and off the field as they gear up for their Thursday Night Football game. One interview will take place during the player's daily commute, the other at their home, or team's training facilities.
Amazon may have to drop next-day delivery claim in UK
Amazon's failure to deliver hundreds of people's parcels in the UK on time last year might have huge repercussions on the way it does its business in the region. According to The Times, UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) plans to announce next week that the company's Prime delivery claims are misleading. The ad industry regulator will reportedly order the platform to scrub the service's "unlimited one-day delivery" promises from its website and other advertising materials. Going forward, it has to clarify which Prime items are available for next-day delivery and which aren't.
Amazon brings Whole Foods delivery to Chicago and four more cities
Amazon's Whole Foods delivery service still covers a relatively small area, but it's seemingly growing by the moment. The internet giant has expanded the Prime-based grocery deliveries to Chicago, Houston, Indianapolis, Minneapolis and San Antonio, theoretically giving millions extra-quick access to produce, meat, everyday food and "select" alcohol. As before, delivery is available between 8AM and 10PM and shouldn't cost extra if you're ordering at least $35. You can spend $8 if you need your food within an hour.
Amazon brings Whole Food discounts to a dozen extra states
Amazon isn't holding anything back in its crusade to integrate Whole Foods into its brand offering. Since acquiring the chain in August last year, Amazon has been lavishing a range of grocery deals and discounts on its Prime members, and today it's opening up its benefits further still. Prime members at Whole Foods Market stores in 12 additional states, and at all Whole Foods Market 365 stores, will now be able to use their subscription to scoop up extra bargains.
Amazon launches special Whole Foods discounts for Prime members
From the looks of things, free two-hour shipping is but one of many, many Whole Foods perks Amazon is giving Prime members -- something subscribers deserve, considering Prime's 20 percent price increase. The e-commerce giant has just announced two new benefits for its subscribers: an additional 10 percent discount off sale items and deep discounts on select best-selling items every week. To take advantage of the discounts, Prime members have to physically go to a Whole Foods location and find the yellow 10 percent off and the blue special deal signs. They then have to scan the Prime code found in the Whole Foods Market app -- it'll appear so long as they sign in using their Prime credentials -- when they check out.
Amazon wants Prime Book Box to be your kid's summer reading companion
Amazon is a little late to the (non-food) subscription box fad, but that won't stop it from shipping children's books to your door. Prime Book Box Kids is targeted at parents, and will deliver either a pair of hardcover books or a quartet of board books on a regular basis. There are four age ranges to choose from, with appropriate titles available for infants all the way up to tweens.
Amazon raises Prime fee to $119 in the US
Amazon will increase the cost of Prime membership in the US from $99 a year to $119 a year. According to CFO Brian Olsavsky on the latest earnings call, the 20 percent price increases will take into effect on May 11th. Existing Prime members will see the new annual fee applied to their renewals starting June 16th.
Amazon has 100 million Prime members
Amazon has just released its annual shareholder letter and it's a major one. For the first time since the company launched Prime 13 years ago, Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos revealed today that the subscription service has 100 million paid members globally. He said that, in 2017 alone, Amazon shipped over five billion items all around the world, highlighting that a big part of the service's growth is thanks to its recent expansion to countries like Luxembourg, Mexico, Singapore and the Netherlands.
Amazon reshuffles its TV team in fight against Netflix
Amazon's new studio chief Jennifer Salke has made her first mark on the entertainment division since taking up the role in February. Amazon COO Albert Cheng has been named co-head of television, having previously served as interim head of the studio following Roy Price's disgraced departure last fall. According to Variety, sources say Salke is still on the lookout for an executive to work alongside Cheng, but no lead candidate has yet been identified.
