Cost | What to Enjoy | Features | Video | News & Updates | Sales Info | Editor’s Assessment
Cost: Prices for Amazon’s Video On-Demand vary by title and availability (whether it’s a new release). Generally, the On-Demand rental costs $0.99. A TV Pass, allowing you to get all episodes of a particular season, will cost $1.99/per.
What to enjoy:
Amazon stands as one of the biggest entertainment retailers on the web. Known primarily as a book retailer, Amazon has effectively branched out into offering movies, music, video games, home appliances, furniture, toys, and clothes.
For movies you have two options: buying the DVD or Blu-Ray disc, or watching it immediately via their Video On-Demand service a re-branded form of what they originally called “Unbox” (Unbox is now a locally installed player that allows people to download HD-quality movies/shows).
Third-Party Features:
On-Demand is Amazon’s 24-hr rental service that works like Netflix Instant: you pay a small fee to watch movies online, on your computer, or on a portable device. You can also synch your rentals and purchases over to TV via TiVo–a similar service is set up for Sony BRAVIA users. TiVo, Sony, and Amazon have linked their services, disallowing the need for any direct connection to the computer. The service is accessible directly from TiVo, or BRAVIA’s Internet Video Link, by following a few on-screen instructions. Vice versa, you can click the TiVo icon on Amazon (this is not available for BRAVIA users). You can also synch On-Demand purchases through the Roku box. Amazon On-Demand will also be available on an upcoming Blu-ray player from Panasonic.
News & Updates:
Video Business (08/04/2009): – Panasonic enables Amazon VOD on Blu-ray set-tops – “Panasonic has formally rolled out Amazon Video On Demand to all of its current Blu-ray Disc set-top player models. The company automatically updated its player software today to deliver Amazon’s offering of 45,000 movies and TV shows, including 1,000 titles in high-definition. Users must register their player with Amazon Video On Demand to access the service.” {Read More…}
Sales Info & Figures:
Video Business (07/23/2009): – Amazon’s Q2 profit falls 10% – “Amazon.com’s second-quarter earnings fell 10% as worldwide media sales flattened on lower videogame sales and changes in foreign exchange rates.” {Read More…}
Editor’s Assessment:
Amazon On Demand offers inexpensive movies at a good quality for rental and purchase. Also consumers don’t have to worry about movies taking up space on their hard drive since all movies exist on the amazon cloud.
