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Watch Amazon spoof tech culture in its upcoming sci-fi movie (updated)
There's already a spot-on parody of tech industry culture you can watch, but Amazon -- a big part of that industry -- might have a clever satire of its own. Its studio wing just released the first trailer for Creative Control, a movie that roasts the relentless optimism of many tech companies. The story revolves around augmented reality glasses that are supposed to put a "magical layer" on top of life (a not-so-subtle poke at devices like Google Glass and HoloLens), but really just mess with the main character's grasp of the real world. Among other things, the flick includes virtual romance and a surreal performance from noted VR enthusiast Reggie Watts. There's no release date yet, but what little we've seen suggests that it'll be worth waiting for the eventual online and theatrical releases. Update: It's debuting March 11th.
Amazon inks deal with Mattel for American Girl TV specials
If your little one is a fan of Mattel's American Girl dolls, you may want to consider a Prime membership. Or at least make sure yours doesn't expire anytime soon. Amazon announced a deal today with the toy maker for production of four live-action specials based on the brand's characters. What's more, the online retailer has the option to produce "multiple seasons of episodic content," too. This means that in addition to the popular dolls making an appearance in the specials, the dolls could star a new kids series on the way as well.
Amazon lets you attach other video services to your Prime account
Those rumors of Amazon letting you attach other video services to your Prime subscription? They're true. The internet giant just kicked off the Streaming Partners Program, an alliance that makes it easier for you to sign up to multiple video services. So long as you have that Prime subscription, you only need your one Amazon account to handle everything. The option even gives you a multi-service watch list and integration with other Prime features, like ASAP playback, voice search and X-Ray. You also receive a discount on pricing, such as the $9 per month you'll pay for early launch partners Showtime and Starz.
'Top Gear' returns in May 2016 without Clarkson
While Clarkson, May and Hammond develop a new motoring show for Amazon, the BBC is working on its biggest Top Gear reboot in years. Presenter Chris Evans (no, not Captain America) is taking over Clarkson's role and revealed last weekend exactly when the first episode will be airing. Well, sort of. During the BBC's live Saturday Kitchen show he said it would be broadcast on Sunday, May 5th. Which would be fine, if May 5th wasn't actually a Thursday. Whoops. The Guardian seems to have cleared up the issue though, clarifying that filming will finish on May 5th before the first episode airs on May 8th.
Amazon's first original UK drama will be set in post-war Paris
2016 is shaping up to be a good year for Amazon Prime subscribers after the company confirmed a second original UK series will be heading to its video streaming service. Joining Jeremy Clarkson and co. next year will be The Collection, a drama that chronicles the story of two brothers who work for a prominent Paris fashion house just after the end of World War II. Its producers, Lookout Point, co-produced Ripper Street, a series Amazon picked up in 2014 after it was axed by the BBC.
Amazon Prime will reportedly offer access to other video services
Normally, signing up for a streaming video service only gives you the content from that service, leaving you heading elsewhere when a TV network decides to hoard all its shows. If rumors are true, though, Amazon Prime Video may soon offer a lot more in one place. Bloomberg sources hear that Amazon will give you the option to add other subscription services to your account, and show their video libraries alongside its own. Just who's interested isn't clear, but Amazon is reportedly lining up "major, well-known" movie and TV channels for a launch that could happen as early as December.
Hacker drama 'Mr. Robot' hits the UK via Amazon Prime Video
Britain is fast-approaching winter, and as temperatures plummet we're all a little more inclined to stay indoors and binge-watch TV shows at the weekend. If you're looking for some TV inspiration, you might want to check out Mr. Robot, which dropped on Amazon's Prime Video service in the UK today. The show follows Elliot, a cyber-security engineer that works as a vigilante hacker by night. It's already built up quite a following in the US, but until now there hasn't been a way to watch it legally in the UK. The first season is only 10 episodes long, so it should be a little easier than The Walking Dead to binge-watch over a weekend. If streaming them all back-to-back sounds a little much though, there's always Beasts of No Nation, the first feature film by Netflix, that can act as a palette cleanser.
Amazon pulling Apple TV and Chromecast over Prime Video support
Say goodbye to Prime shipping of the Apple TV and Chromecast. In an email obtained by Bloomberg, Amazon informed marketplace sellers that it would no longer allow the sale of the two devices after October 29. The reason is that they don't offer easy access Amazon Prime Video. An Amazon spokesperson told Engadget, "over the last three years, Prime Video has become an important part of Prime. It's important that the streaming media players we sell interact well with Prime Video in order to avoid customer confusion. Roku, XBOX, PlayStation and Fire TV are excellent choices." Apple TV has yet to add the service and to watch the Prime videos on the Chromecast is less than ideal. The company is keen on making sure its customers are completely intertwined in its services. Apparently the Apple TV and Chromecast didn't offer the interoperability Amazon is expecting from products that compete with their own to stay in the online store.
Amazon gets hacker drama 'Mr. Robot' as a UK Prime exclusive
Netflix has a large roster of exclusive TV shows and documentaries to attract new subscribers, so to compete, Amazon has started doing the same for Prime Video. The latest show to join its UK library is Mr. Robot, a 10-episode thriller about a cybersecurity engineer turned vigilante hacker. Think Batman, if he decided to do all of his crimefighting with code instead of fisticuffs and gadgets. The show isn't technically an original -- it aired earlier this year on the USA Network in North America. It's never been shown (legally) in the UK before though, so it could be an important exclusive for Amazon come October 16th. The company has had limited success with its originals -- Transparent is the only show to achieve true breakout success -- so picking up proven series in this manner could be smart. The deal with NBCUniversal means Mr. Robot will also be a streaming exclusive for Amazon in the US, Germany, Austria and Japan. It's an uphill battle, but with a Top Gear successor on the horizon Amazon is slowly accruing the firepower needed to launch a legitimate offence.
Amazon announces new shows from 'Iron Man 3' director and Diablo Cody
Coming off of a slew of Emmy wins with Transparent, Amazon just announced its fall TV pilot lineup, which includes even more big names than previous years. Among the most promising is Edge, an adaptation of the notably violent George G. Gillman western book series, which comes from Lethal Weapon writer and Iron Man 3 writer/director Shane Black. Black is taking on directing duties and teaming up with his Monster Squad buddy Fred Dekker once again to write the show. Juno writer Diablo Cody is also working together with comedian Tig Notaro on One Mississippi, which focuses on Notaro's return to her childhood town in, you guessed it, Mississippi. There's also a new political thriller, Patriot, featuring Lost star Terry O'Quinn and everyone's favorite angry gangster/father Kurtwood Smith (Robocop, That 70's Show), and Christina Ricci is headlining a new series, Z, about Zelda Fitzgerald.
