You might have noticed a distinct lack of Google Chromecast or Apple TVs being sold through the Amazon website. That's because as of October 2015, Amazon pulled both products from its online store. Initially, everyone assumed this was a move on Amazon's part to push customers towards its own range of Amazon Fire TV streaming devices. However, according to The Verge, Jeff Bezos, Amazon CEO, said the decision was down to 'acceptable business terms'.
Amazon originally justified the move to pull Chromecasts and Apple TVs as not to confuse customers with products that did not support Amazon Prime Video but it seems based on Bezos' recent comments, there are deeper business reasons for Amazon not supporting either streaming device. This can likely be read as neither Google nor Apple being willing to give Amazon a cut of revenue generated through an Amazon Prime Video app. Amazon cited that it does indeed sell competing streaming devices, such as Roku devices, that do support Amazon Prime Video.
Recent Amazon news
11/05/16 - Jeremy Clarkson's Amazon exclusive Top Gear follow-up given a name
With the new Chris Evans-fronted series of Top Gear about to hit the UK, the big question was, what is Jeremy Clarkson's Amazon Prime show going to be called? Well, the wait is finally over, as it has been revealed that the show will be called The Grand Tour (not Gear Knobs) and it will hit the streaming video service in Autumn. So, why that name? According to the show's site, "Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have decided that, because they are taking their new Amazon Prime Show around the world, it will be called The Grand Tour." As well as the presenters travelling around the world filming, the studio audience will also have to travel, with the live parts of the show filmed inside a giant tent. Tickets will be made available through a prize draw this summer.
The much-hyped show marks a big push for Amazon, with the company reputedly spending £160m on the entire series, which is an absolutely huge budget per episode, even if you take off the salaries that the three presenters are likely getting. As with everything on the Amazon video platform, The Grand Tour will be available as part of an Amazon Prime Subscription. You can find out how to share that subscription with other people in our complete guide.
Those that want to try out the show can sign up for a free 30-day Amazon Prime trial account. Although, you'll want to leave that until a bit closer to the time, in order to be able to watch the show.
10/05/16 - Amazon courting content producers with Amazon Video Direct
Amazon is looking to bolster its streaming content catalogue by courting 'creators and storytellers' and enticing them to host their videos on Amazon Video. Content producers will be paid royalties based on hours streamed and will have the option to provide their content either to rent or own, available for free for Prime members, viewed for free with ads for non-Prime members or packaged together and offered as an add-on subscription for US customers.
Amazon is describing Video Direct as a 'self-service programme' and will be available in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria and Japan. Content makers can decide which specific locations will have access to their content. Amazon also has a pot of $1m a month that it is doling out as part of its AVD Stars programme, which is rewarding creators based on customer engagement with their content. The top 100 AVD titles in Prime Video will receive the bonus on top of standard royalties. At launch, Amazon has already partnered with The Guardian, Conde Nast Entertainment, How Stuff Works, Mattel among other content creators.
It's an interesting move from Amazon as it looks to compete and differentiate from Netflix. It could also potentially give Amazon Video a way to target some of the more prolific and popular YouTube stars. According to reports in the Wall Street Journal, royalty rates compare favourably with YouTube, too. You can sign up for Amazon Video Direct here.
26/04/16 - Certain items becomes exclusive to Amazon Prime members
In a bizarre move, Amazon has started reserving access to some games and films for its Prime members only. Non-Prime members are locked out of buying a range of media sold and fulfilled by Amazon directly, including the 2015 Oscar winner, Birdman on Blu-ray, plus the Xbox One and PS4 versions of Far Cry Primal, Battlefield Hardline and FIFA 16.
With this Amazon seems to be stepping up their game when it comes to encouraging take up of the Prime subscription, which currently sits at £79 a year. The walled-off products, which include media titles such as Blu-rays and video games, is affecting US and UK customers, with cheaper DVD titles seemingly unaffected by the move.
Third-party retailers using Amazon to sell their goods are unaffected by this exclusivity, so all is not lost if you don't have a Prime subscription and want a copy of Birdman on Blu-ray. Of course, you could go elsewhere as well, with all the products being available on competing websites. However, if you're wedded to Amazon for your online shopping, but haven't taken out Prime membership, then we guess this could be the push that gets you signed up.
In response to the change, an Amazon spokesperson said: “one of the many benefits of Amazon Prime is access to exclusive selection on a number of great products. Customers who are not Prime members can sign-up for a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime, or they can purchase those items from a Marketplace seller.”
The £79 a year service gives customers free next day delivery, with same-day delivery in some cities, free online photo storage, free ebooks, Amazon Prime Instant Video and Prime Music. As the Prime exclusivity move is now restricting access to products on the site, the retail giant looks to be creating a big push for its customers to sign up for the pricey subscription.
05/04/16 - New Kindle incoming
Amazon founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos, took to Twitter to tease a brand new 8th generation Kindle, tweeting 'Heads up readers – all-new, top of the line Kindle almost ready. 8th generation. Details next week.'
Considering its description as being the 'top of the line' Kindle, it's expected to be a replacement for the current Kindle Voyage, which currently retails for £170. It has a bezel-less display, a high resolution screen and automatic brightness adjustment, so we can probably expect these on the new model when it's announced next week.
The Voyage is due an update, having originally been released in 2014 and also considering some of its features trickled down to the cheaper Kindle Paperwhite, which matches the Voyage where it comes to resolution. The current Voyage is the thinnest Kindle available and has the option of either touchscreen control or using the PagePress physical buttons. Having the option of using either will hopefully make the transition to the new model.
There has been speculation that Alexa and Audible integration could be on the cards, both of which would bring the Kindle in line with the rest of Amazon's business and current direction. Having said that, Amazon's Echo, which uses Alexa as its assistant, has yet to make it outside the United States.
If you're in need of an Amazon Kindle, right this very moment, you can read about the differences between the current Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Voyage models in this guide.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire