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Facebook Messenger's 'Instant Video' looks awfully Snapchatty
Bots have been all the rage in Facebook Messenger over the last few months, but today the social network is adding a new way to chat with your pals. The company announced a tool called Instant Video that allows you to have those quick conversations face-to-face in addition to text and photos. Yes, video calling was already available in Messenger, so what's new here? Well, Instant Video is meant to be easily and instantly (get it?) accessible inside a chat conversation rather than having to go through the process of making a call. It's all about efficiency.
Amazon will stream the President's State of the Union speech
The President's State of the Union address has been viewable online for years, but you've had to visit either the White House's website or YouTube. That's not very convenient in an era when streaming services reach just about every device you know. And the government knows it, apparently: the Office of Digital Strategy has announced that President Obama's final State of the Union speech will stream on Amazon Instant Video (both live and on-demand) in addition to the usual sources. The goal is to bring video to where people watch, rather than make you hunt it down. If you want to tune on your Fire TV, you can.
Amazon beats Netflix to offline movie and TV show streaming
For years, Netflix subscribers have asked for the ability to download movies and TV shows offline. The company says it's "never going to happen" -- so Amazon has taken the initiative and added exactly that to its rival streaming service. If you're signed up to Prime Video, or have an Amazon Prime account, you can now store titles covered by your subscription on almost any mobile device. It's supported in both the iOS and Android app -- although the latter will require you to download the app through the Amazon Appstore. The regular Amazon app in Google Play, which also supports Prime Video, doesn't seem to have the feature just yet, however. The feature first debuted on Fire tablets in 2013, but this expansion is significant -- if you're a frequent flyer, for instance, you no longer have to break your Transparent binge-session or purchase the full series if you're on an iPad.
Amazon snaps up former 'Top Gear' trio for new motoring show
Amazon has announced that it's signed a deal with ousted Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond for a new motoring show. The stars of the popular BBC franchise left the program earlier this year when Clarkson was fired as a consequence of punching a producer. Almost instantly, rumors of the trio launching a rival with another broadcaster spread, with Netflix the surprise front-runner.
Amazon will stream 'Transparent' for free this Saturday
Fresh off its two Golden Globe wins, Amazon is streaming all ten episodes of its Transparent original series for free this weekend. Starting at 12:01AM ET until 11:59PM PT Saturday, you can watch via Amazon's Instant Video app for TVs, streaming gadgets and mobile devices, including Fire TV, Roku, Xbox, PlayStation and more. The show won Best Musical or Comedy Series and the lead, Jeffrey Tambor of Arrested Development fame, took home Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy Series a few days back. If that wasn't enough of a celebration, new Prime subscriptions will be $72 on Saturday -- a nod to the 72nd installment of the awards soirée. When the time comes, you can start the viewing session right here. [Photo credit: Jerod Harris/Getty Images for Amazon Studios]
Amazon Prime Instant Video begins streaming in 4K
Amazon just announced another perk for Prime subscribers: 4K video streaming. That's right, Ultra HD content is now available via monthly membership through the Instant Video app or on compatible smart TVs. For now, the selection is a bit limited, but you can expect to enjoy Amazon Originals, BBC's Orphan Black and a smattering of titles from Sony Pictures Entertainment in all of their 4K glory. Better video quality doesn't come with an extra fee either, as the content will be lumped in with the rest of those Prime perks. Amazon's a little tardy with the rollout, but hey, we can't complain too much as it's here in time to break in that shiny new TV Santa will deliver in a few weeks.
Amazon's Instant Video app now shows your homemade movies
Amazon's Instant Video isn't just for watching blockbuster hits (or the occasional original series) any more; you can now use it to watch some of your own content, too. Upgraded Instant Video apps for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and certain TVs from LG and Samsung can show photos and videos stored in Amazon Cloud Drive, letting you both relive your kid's dance recital and play Frozen without switching apps or devices. The option is only available in Germany, the UK and the US right now, although Amazon is promising at least support for more gadgets in the long run. Having said this, there isn't a big rush for further app upgrades when you can just switch to the Cloud Drive apps on computers and mobile gear -- this improvement matters most when you're glued to the big screen.
Amazon Prime members get a $1 video credit for choosing slower shipping
One of the most attractive benefits of subscribing to Amazon Prime is the free two-day shipping or an overnight option available for a small fee, depending on the item and destination. But in many cases, you might not need your stuff until the following week, making the e-tailer's new "no-rush shipping" option appealing. If you opt for Amazon's slowest delivery speed, you'll also be rewarded with a $1 Amazon Instant Video credit. Credits do expire, and certain content is excluded, such as HBO titles. It's a "limited time offer," according to the site's terms and conditions, but considering the cost savings for Amazon, it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect the incentive to remain.
Amazon's new video portal makes it easy to buy while you watch
Want to watch the latest Weird Al music video or catch a movie trailer straight out of Comic-Con? Amazon now has a place for that. Variety reveals that Amazon quietly launched a new "video shorts" section of its instant video service, filling it out with music videos, movie trailers, video reviews, interviews, featurettes and more. It seems like a simple addition of short-form video content, but it's more than that: this is one of Amazon's new advertising platforms.
Amazon's Prime Instant Video gets its first HBO shows, right on cue
If you've been waiting for the day you could marathon The Wire without buying a DVD set or an iTunes pass, your moment has come: as promised, Amazon has rolled out the initial wave of HBO shows on Prime Instant Video. Those shelling out $99 per year (or $79 if you're lucky) can now stream every season of older series like Deadwood, The Sopranos and The Wire as well as a handful of seasons from ongoing productions like Boardwalk Empire and True Blood. You'll also get a smattering of comedy specials, documentaries and movies. While you'll have to remain patient if you want to watch fresher shows, such as Girls or Veep, this is still a big deal if you want to see what you've been missing on premium cable TV -- or if you'd just like to revisit a favorite episode.
Amazon now allows you to gift Prime, just in time for the holidays
If you're still looking for gift ideas for that special someone, Amazon is looking to lend a hand. The online retailer has announced that customers can now give a $79 one-year membership to Prime. Recipients will get an email on the day of the giver's choosing with instructions on how to get started. For folks in the US, this means unlimited streaming of certain titles from Prime Instant Video on top of a Kindle book each month from the Owners' Lending Library, Kindle First and free two-day shipping that also come with the annual dues. In a giving mood? Jump down to that first source link below to add 12 months of access to your shopping cart.
Amazon unleashes 'Pilot Season' with 14 original shows
Amazon's been doing plenty of talking around its original programming, but now the site's ready to show us the goods. The mega-retailer this morning has made available pilot episodes for 14 new original series, crowdsourcing its programming block by soliciting viewer feedback. Head on over to the source link below to watch the likes of Onion News Empire, Betas and Zombieland, among others, as well as a handful of kids shows. The page also includes a link for feedback, so you can finally become the professional web TV exec you've always dreamed of.
Vizio Co-Star update brings new Google TV UI, native Amazon and Vudu
Vizio's Co-Star hub is still one of the cheapest points of entry into the Google TV world, so it's comforting to see the set-top box getting an update -- albeit somewhat behind Google's own pace. The previously promised release mostly focuses on giving it the third-generation Google TV interface, including the mini-guide, YouTube pairing and (through a future Android app update) voice-guided search. Viewers on the prowl for more content get a few additional perks through new apps for M-Go and Vudu video streaming, as well as a truly native Amazon Instant Video app. Should Vizio's tiny media center inhabit your living room, you can expect the upgrade to arrive over the air within the next few weeks.
Amazon expands CBS content on Prime Instant Video, lands an Under the Dome exclusive
Amazon only managed to land a slice of CBS' library for Prime Instant Video on the first pass; it's coming back for a second helping, including one of its first cracks at genuinely recent content from the network. A widened licensing deal gives subscribers access to further CBS and Showtime series that include Jericho, The L Word and an unspecified number of other shows. And for those intrigued by the broadcaster's upcoming adaptation of Stephen King's Under the Dome, Amazon will be the only choice for many viewers: Prime Instant Video will be the exclusive home for subscription streaming and purchased downloads of the series, delivering streaming episodes about four days after their air date in order to shelter CBS' traditional advertisers. Amazon may not have have completely locked in an audience between this and the Downton Abbey deal, but the recent set of exclusives is likely to leave Netflix feeling nervous.
Amazon scores Downton Abbey as a subscription streaming exclusive from June 18th (update: timing leak)
Anyone who's planning to catch up on Downton Abbey on their preferred service may want to plan a viewing marathon very soon: Amazon has struck a deal to become the exclusive home of the period drama on subscription-based streaming video platforms. Starting June 18th, only those Amazon Prime Instant Video members will have access to the third season and beyond on a commercial service without paying per show. The terms don't stop there -- seasons one and two will be pulled from other services later on in the year. While we're sure Kindle Fire owners will be happy, the move won't thrill those who want more of a choice as to how they keep up on their pseudo-historical intrigue. Update: We've since gotten in touch with a source near the agreement that supports what The Verge heard: season one will disappear from Netflix on July 1st.
Amazon Prime arrives in Canada: Free two-day shipping, no Instant Video
Canadians can now register for Amazon Prime and get free two-day shipping on eligible orders for $79 a year. As a welcome, the company's giving new sign-ups a free one-month trial to reel them in -- unless they live in Quebec. Unfortunately, our northern neighbors won't be picking up Instant Video, with Amazon Canada's Steve Oliver telling The Canadian Press that there are no plans for the video service to join Prime there any time soon.
Amazon beta tests 'Instant Video Finder' feature
The video streaming arena is only seeing more competition in 2013, and Amazon's latest attempt to get a leg up is the "Instant Video Finder" feature it just announced it's beta testing. Similar to the way Netflix and others have attempted to sort movies by more than just the top few genre categories, it sorts flicks by more nuanced definitions like Feel-Good, Nonlinear or Sea Adventure. What categories you see are based on "viewing history for genre, theme, plot, and mood." So, can an algorithm (and probably some careful categorizing by real human viewers on the back end) solve the problem of "57,000 video on-demand options, but nothing is on"? Hit the source link and try it out yourself.
Amazon Instant Video app now available on (some) Google TV devices
Hot on the heels of making it available on the iPhone and iPod touch, Amazon's now bringing a native app for its Instant Video service to Mountain View's TV platform. It's always been accessible via the web browser, although navigating the site via remote was painful and the Flash video quality suffered. Granted, the on-demand application doesn't appear to be compatible with some devices at the moment, with a few folks pointing out that they are not seeing it be friendly with their particular Google TV-powered set-top box -- including ones such as the Logitech Revue and the (much) newer Vizio Co-Star. Here's to hoping the giant e-tailer makes Instant Video friendly with more Google TVs pretty soon -- according to Google, it's only available on LG TVs so far, since they've received the latest v3 updates already.
Amazon Instant Video streaming app now available for iPhone and iPod touch
iPad owners have had access since early August, and at long last, iPod touch and iPhone users can say "Us too." The second major reason to crack open the App Store today has just surfaced, with Amazon confirming that its Instant Video app is now available for two of Apple's more bantam iOS products. Much like the iPad version, this one provides access to over 30,000 titles from Prime Instant Video available to Prime members for no extra cost, while the roaming public at large can tap into some 140,000 titles at various price points. To watch movies or TV episodes from Amazon Instant Video on iPhone and iPod touch, customers can simply search for the content they've already rented or purchased from Amazon Instant Video, and the company's also throwing in "Your Watchlist" and "Your Video Library" features, too. Per usual, the app itself is free to download, and there's a link to the App Store over there in the source section. Oh, and for those wondering about AirPlay support? Unfortunately, it remains audio-only. We just tested the new build using a 3rd-generation iPad as well as an iPhone 4S to an Apple TV, and while the app happily passed audio from a film to our television, the video remained on the device itself. This, of course, is a particular bummer given that there's no Amazon Instant Video app for Apple TV.
Amazon adds closed captions to select Instant streams
Amazon is finally catching up to the rest of the streaming industry and adding closed captions to some of its Instant Video selections. For the moment the library of CCed content is pretty slim, with only 169 shows and 74 movies, but we'd expect that to grow pretty quickly. That does put the burgeoning media giant quite a bit behind competitors like Hulu and Netflix, who have been catering to the hearing impaired for some time. For now, captions are only available when streaming from Amazon's website, but the company promises to expand support to "additional devices" soon. For more info check out the Amazon help page at the source and the email notice forwarded to us by a tipster after the break. [Thanks, Linda]
