This makes Newegg even more attractive with their $50 a year premier plan. If you mostly buy computers or electronics (which I assume most of HN readers do).
Amazon's streaming video is useless to me. It doesn't work on any of my devices (android, linux, or chromecast), while Netflix does.
I made 2 online movie rentals within the past few weeks, and both times I checked amazon, but then remembered that it doesn't work on my devices, and ended up getting it from Google Play. They're missing out on purchases, and getting people used to using other services - not a great way to set yourself up for the future...
Yeah, I can't quite figure that out. Is their kindle business really so valuable that they are willing to cannibalize their media services?
Just doesn't seem to make sense to race for device adoption in a world where everybody else seems to be racing for broader platform adoption.
I guess I've never been all that impressed with their offering in this area though, especially video, so maybe they're simply recognizing that it isn't as valuable.
Seems to depend on the device. I have no issue using Amazon video on the PS3. As for total selection, I'd say it dwarfs Netflix's library, but you have to pay to rent/own most of it.
Is it? I'd rather they split this into 2 plans and let me have just the fast shipping for $79 (or less) and people who want streaming can pay $99.
Netflix still has the better offering IMO. Not only content, but the video interface is better too. Initially Amazon's video player worked on Linux out of the box, but now it's just as hacky to get running as Netflix.
Due to this price increase, I'm going to reevaluate how important fast shipping is to me.
It's not just fast but free shipping. For someone who orders from Amazon regularly throughout the year, that's the real value.
Also, Amazon has way more content on their video streaming service with the caveat that you have to pay to rent/own a lot of it. Agreed about the interface though, Amazon's app offerings for PS3/SmartTV have been subpar in comparison to Netflix though.
Yep and that's how you alienate your existing user-base who signed up when it was all about the shipping.
If they wanted to run a streaming/media service they should have done just that. They have definitely lost me as a customer by switching me from one service to another without even asking for confirmation (I found out in hackernews). Even if I was interested in the media streaming service which I'm absolutely not, I would still be upset about the way they have dealt with it.
Interesting. In DE those services were just unlocked (and the price increased for renewals accordingly). So far it was JUST for fast shipping.
I subscribed for faster/cheaper shipping and canceled now, after a couple years. The streaming services are of no use to me. Most content in Germany is .. German (dubbed). I don't see a streaming client on Android or a way to stream from my XBMC. Inaccessible + expensive -> No prime for me anymore.
Well, as I said: For me it is the combination of these things.
Even if the content would be awesome: I cannot access it. Unless I own a particular brand of TVs, a weird Amazon tablet, an iOS device (all negative and no interest in any of these things) - how am I supposed to get that stuff on my TV (which happens to BE a 'smart' TV with optional internet connectivity, but it's offline for a very good reason)?
I've been paying for Prime for a couple years (and will continue at $99/year), but I couldn't care less about the video. If there were a shipping-only Prime for $79, I wouldn't think twice about dropping the video.
I'd say that is a personal opinion. I say that as my own personal opinion is quite the opposite. I rarely use Prime streaming and prefer Netflix simple based on ease of use. Of course Netflix seems determined to screw that up, but that's a different story.