Amazon to Unbox Video On Demand Store

By Geoff Duncan Published July 17, 2008

Amazon to Unbox Video On Demand Store

According to The New York Times, online retailer Amazon.com is getting ready to take the packing tape to its not-very-well-received Amazon Unbox video service and replace it with a new streaming video service called Amazon Video on Demand. The new store will offer more than 40,000 movies and television episodes for immediate streaming, without forcing users to download the entire content first, and (unlike Unbox), Amazon Video on Demand won’t require users download special client software in order to view the content.

Amazon plans to launch Amazon Video on Demand to selected customers beginning today, and widen access to the service over the next few months.

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“Our goal is to create an immersive experience where people can’t help but get caught up in how exciting it is to simply watch a movie right from Amazon.com with a click of the button,” the paper quotes Amazon VP for digital media Bill Carr as saying.

Amazon’s Unbox service has a distribution agreement with DVR maker TiVo; it’s not known at this time what the introduction of a Video on Demand service would have on that arrangement. The New York Times says Amazon has struck a deal with Sony to include support for Amazon Video on Demand with Sony’s Bravia Internet Link, a $300 add-on for selected Bravia televisions that can bring online video to users’ living rooms. Amazon is reportedly interested in pursuing similar deals with other manufacturers and service providers.

Via the service, users will be able to purchase videos and televisions shows without immediately downloading them to their computers: purchases will be stored in an online Video Library that users will be able to access from multiple computers or devices, so long as they have broadband Internet access. By never enabling users to download the videos directly to their computers, Amazon sidesteps some piracy concerns associated with online video services—at least until enthusiasts figure out how to capture steaming video feeds.

There’s no word yet on service pricing, or the amount of advertising (if any) Amazon plans to roll into the service or enable its partners to embed or frame around video content.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

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Stream fast, spend less: Save $20 on the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device and remote on a white background.

If you’ve been looking for terrific streaming deals, we’re pleased to inform you that Best Buy is offering a fantastic markdown on the Amazon Fire TV 4K, a go-to streaming device. For a limited time, you’ll be able to purchase this plug-and-play gadget for only $30, which is $20 less than its retail price of $50.

Far more than a terrific discount, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is a top-notch AV peripheral for streaming apps like Prime Video, Netflix, and Disney+. The Fire TV Stick 4K is part of Best Buy’s Prep for the Holidays sale, so it may only be discounted until the sale is over.

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Hulu vs. Amazon Prime Video: Which streamer is right for you?

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With so many streaming services to choose from, it can be hard to figure out where to allocate your hard-earned cash. Netflix is the one most turn to, but there are other options in the streaming service marketplace. Two of the most popular Netflix alternatives are Hulu and Amazon Prime Video. Is Hulu a better deal than Amazon Prime Video? Prime Video is the second most popular streaming service and Hulu is fourth, but there is much more to discover. We will go over each service and see how they compare in a Hulu versus Amazon Prime Video battle.
Price

Amazon offers two main price tiers: $139 annually (discounted to $69 annually when you sign up with a valid student email address) or $15 per month. Both versions include all the Amazon Prime perks, like two-day shipping, discounted prices on select items, cloud storage, and -- most important for our purposes -- on-demand video and music streaming.
The best part is that, unlike Netflix, 4K Ultra HD content with HDR comes standard at no extra cost. Plus, you can share accounts with friends and family so that everyone can get in on the deals. You can also supplement Amazon's included content with optional channel add-ons, such as CBS All Access, for an additional fee. Amazon doesn't have a live TV streaming service per se, but many of the content providers it has partnered with for Prime Video offer the ability to watch their shows "live" too.
Hulu starts at just $10 for the ad-based service or $19 for the ad-free option (which we highly recommend). Hulu's options don't stop there, as it also offers a live TV streaming package similar to Sling TV, YouTube TV, Philo, and Fubo. The Hulu With Live TV streaming service includes Disney+ and ESPN+. It is currently $83 per month and includes 90-plus livestreaming channels on top of its regular on-demand library. There are also add-on features like enhanced DVR and an ad-free experience for $96 per month.
If you watch a lot of Disney+, ESPN+, or live TV shows, Hulu's Live TV may be your winner, as Amazon does not offer Live TV. While Hulu's $8 tier on its own is technically cheaper, especially for those who want to stream 4K at the lowest possible price, Amazon offers the most value when considering all of its other perks and its complete lack of ads. Amazon has also stated that the company won't raise prices for 4K streaming. Throw in , and it walks away with the win here.
Winner: Amazon

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Amazon simplifies its lineup with the new Fire TV Stick HD

A promo image of the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD.

It's a little hard to believe we've gone through most of 2024 without a new Amazon Fire TV Stick. That is, until now. The Fire TV Stick HD has been announced, with the $35 device reducing the Fire TV Stick lineup from four to three and in the process replacing the two oldest sticks in the family. The $40 Fire TV Stick and the $30 Fire TV Stick Lite will still be around while they're in stock. But after that, they're gone.

The other two current devices remain the second-generation Fire TV Stick 4K, and the second-gen Fire TV Stick 4K Max, which we still consider to be the best Fire TV Stick to get.