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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's Dash Buttons bring one-push ordering to all Prime members
If you're like me, you probably thought Amazon's Dash Button was an April Fool's joke that arrived a day early. Well, we found out rather quickly that the online retailer was serious about the device and invited select Prime members to give them a shot. If you were left out of the initial push, the one-touch order buttons are now available for anyone with a Prime membership for $5 each. Right now, there are 18 total Dash buttons to choose from that will handle orders of items like laundry detergent, paper towels, food and more with ease.
Amazon's reportedly bringing its grocery delivery service to the UK
Amazon's made a name for itself as the online store that sells practically everything, but it's certainly not a site you visit for your weekly shop. That might change in near future, however, as according to The Times, Amazon is gearing up to launch its AmazonFresh grocery-delivery service in the UK. Amazon introduced the same-day delivery service for household essentials in the US last year, and its now thought it could premiere in London -- where Amazon launched one-hour Prime deliveries last month -- as early as September. AmazonFresh would effectively be competing with the likes of Ocado and the delivery options of several bricks-and-mortar supermarkets, but it's not quite that simple, and we doubt it'll have existing players quaking in their boots.
Amazon offers £20 Prime discount for its 20th birthday
Not content with holding traditional retail sales events, Amazon's decided to make up one of its own. "Prime Day," as it's known, starts on July 15th and will let the company celebrate 20 years of selling things on internet by selling you more things on the internet (if you already have a Prime subscription). Amazon knows that people will want in on its upcoming discount day, so it's marking down its yearly subscription for those who haven't yet signed up. Between now and midnight on July 8th, Prime will cost £59, saving you £20 for your first 12 months.
Amazon brings one-hour Prime deliveries to London
When it comes to new services, Amazon is a predictable beast: it'll launch something in the US first and then bring it over to the UK once it's ironed out all of the creases. That's exactly what's happening with Prime Now, the company's one-hour delivery service, which comes to London today after six months of operation in the US.
Amazon will bankroll Terry Gilliam's cursed 'Don Quixote' movie
There are many famously unmade films, but few are as well-documented as Terry Gilliam's The Man Who Killed Don Quixote. The Monty Python star has been trying to make his passion project since 1998, the most successful, erm, unsuccessful attempt being documented in the documentary Lost in La Mancha. Now, the director has revealed that Amazon will stump up cash to shoot the film as part of a deal he signed back in May. According to an interview in Indiewire, the plan is for a theatrical release in the US that'll be followed "a month or two afterwards" by a splashy premiere on Amazon Prime.
Amazon's one-hour delivery service now features local stores
When it's not busy sending its delivery personnel on the New York subway, Amazon has quietly been working to expand its one-hour delivery service. From today, customers in Manhattan, the company's first Prime Now location, can shop at a number of local businesses and have fresh food delivered within 60 minutes. D'Agostino, Gourmet Garage and Billy's Bakery are the first companies on board, offering groceries, cooked meals and freshly baked cupcakes respectively alongside Amazon's own range of goods. The online retailer is starting small but plans to add more stores across Manhattan over time, with Italian food market Eataly and Westside Market already waiting in the wings. As before, Prime Now's one-hour deliveries cost $7.99, so be sure to factor that in before impulse buying those delicious treats.
Amazon's riding the New York subway to speed up deliveries
Despite its incredible reach, Amazon has always had to play catch-up with brick and mortar retailers when it comes to getting products in customers' hands. If you're in a pinch, you can normally visit a local store and walk out with exactly what you need. Amazon has taken steps to cut waiting times with same-day deliveries in some cities and then one-hour shipments via Prime Now. The only problem with promising such a short delivery period in some of the world's busiest cities is that traffic can be a nightmare. So to get orders to customers in Manhattan, the Financial Times reports that the company has begun loading small pushcarts with packages and taking them on a more efficient means of transport: the New York subway.
Amazon is bringing Prime videos and music to JetBlue's fleet
Amazon has spent an exorbitant amount of cash to grow its Prime Instant Video service. Still, the company knows there's more it can do to make the offering better for subscribers. As such, Amazon is teaming up with JetBlue to bring Prime's on-demand video and music content to the skies, though only in the US. The new feature, which will be powered by JetBlue's super-speedy Fly-Fi internet, will be included as part of any existing Prime membership -- it's free in-flight entertainment, and that's a gesture people are likely to appreciate. Unfortunately, it won't be available until later this year, but at least that gives you some time to start building out your Watchlist.
Amazon UK doubles the minimum spend for free delivery to £20
In times past, when Amazon offered you Free Super Saver Delivery, it really meant free. That all changed in July 2013, when the company introduced a £10 minimum spend to have your order delivered on the house. Almost two years later, the online retailer has announced it's raising that limit again, by doubling it to £20. One reason for the change could be to incentivise customers to put down £79 for Prime, which ships millions of items next day (and includes video streaming and other media services). The company may also be moving to to cover the cost of its wide range of delivery options, which now include same-day collection and shipment to your local Post Office. Regardless, the new threshold will come into effect from 6pm tonight (UK time), so if you have some low-cost items sitting in your basket, now might be the time to buy them.
Amazon's Fire TV Stick arrives in the UK next month for £35
Google's Chromecast streaming dongle has proven to be quite the hit, but it does come with some drawbacks. There's no physical remote, for instance, and the lack of menus or any overarching UI can be alienating for some. Amazon took a swing at the idea last October with the Fire TV Stick, and after launching in the US it's ready to tackle the UK too. It'll begin shipping on April 15th, although Prime members can pre-order the device today for £19. That's a sizeable discount on the regular £35 asking price, which is just a smidge higher than Google's offering (£30) in the Play store. If you've been weighing up a new Prime subscription, this could be the time to take the plunge; the company will knock the stick down to £7 for anyone that's willing to sign up for a new 12-month membership.
Amazon's one-hour delivery is now available in all of Manhattan
Live or work in Manhattan? You now have an all-too-tempting way to impulse shop online. Amazon has confirmed to Mashable that its Prime Now delivery service is now available across the whole of the New York City borough, rather than the tiny area of before. If you just have to get some soap right after a sweaty Central Park run and don't want to visit a store, you can. It'll still cost $8 for the one-hour option (it's free for two) on top of your Prime subscription, of course. The big question is whether or not Amazon can expand Prime Now beyond Manhattan in a timely fashion -- that super-fast shipping depends on having a distribution center close by, which isn't as likely in less densely populated areas.
Amazon plans to release 12 movies a year in theaters and on Prime
In recent years, Amazon and Netflix have created original content to get more subscribers, grow revenues and set themselves apart from not only from each other, but major cable channels like HBO. Examples include House of Cards, Orange Is The New Black and Transparent. Amazon has always suggested it may look to expand beyond TV and into movies, but only now has it revealed its plan to do exactly that. In a release today, Amazon Studios said it will 'begin to produce and acquire original movies for theatrical release and early window distribution on Amazon Prime Instant Video."
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 will now deliver to your local Post Office
As Amazon prepares for another bumper Christmas, the internet giant has been doing all it can to ensure its logistics are in order. Just over a week ago, it debuted free same-day delivery for Prime members, striking a blow against high street retailers, but today it's revealed its biggest delivery coup yet. Amazon customers can now choose to have their orders shipped to their local Post Office, after it teamed up with Royal Mail to add 10,500 Post Office locations to its Pickup Location Programme. That means Amazon now has an impressive 16,000 pickup points in the UK.
Amazon gives UK Prime members unlimited photo storage too
When Amazon announced that it was extending Prime subscription perks to include unlimited photo storage, the online retailer continued its tradition of making features available to US customers only. While we've been made to wait longer for other products and services, the company today saw it fit to open the service to us Brits, allowing you to upload your entire photo library (in full resolution) to its cloud. Amazon lets you upload your images one of three ways; via the web, using its iOS or Android apps, or by downloading its dedicated PC app (a Mac app is on its way). You'll then be able to view them using Amazon's Fire TV, console apps and selected smart TVs -- perfect for when the in-laws arrive at your door unannounced and you need to provide some quick entertainment.
Amazon lends Prime perks to other online retailers
In an effort to get Prime in more places around the web, Amazon announced its first effort with an outside retailer today at the Money2020 Conference. AllSaints, a British clothing retailer, is the first to opt in to the online shopping giant's paid membership. Customers can sign-in and pay with an Amazon account all while the same free next shipping that comes from shopping at the mothership (with no minimum purchase). AllSaints products show up in search results on Amazon, but the transaction happens at its own site, and it handles the logistics. "Prime could be the VIP pass to the Internet," AllSaints' Rich Ascott told Recode.
Amazon giving Prime Members unlimited cloud photo storage
If speedy delivery, a subscription music and video service wasn't good enough, Amazon is now throwing another sweetener in to convince you to sign up to Prime. The retailer has announced that it'll offer Prime subscribers unlimited photo storage in the company's cloud drive. According to the release, users will be able to upload their collections in full resolution to ensure that their image is always protected. As well as the company's own smartphone and tablets, the service will work on iOS and Android devices, and the snaps can be accessed with a variety of hardware including the Fire TV, Stick, PS3, PS4 and, presumably, any device that can already access the company's other online attractions.
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 now offers two-day Prime shipping within Europe
Amazon believes its European distribution network is pretty damn solid, so to prove that, it's added a new delivery tier for Prime members within Europe. From today, subscribers can enjoy free two-day deliveries on over a million products stored in other EU countries. Previously, Amazon would make you wait between 3-7 days, but thanks to a number of "improvements and innovations in its cross border delivery network," the company reckons it can offer expedited shipping on more than 3 million products by year end. Although most will continue to rely on domestic next-day deliveries (when available), Amazon's expansion will be welcome news to those who can only get what they need from sellers in other countries.
