Not much else to add but the Roku Netflix box will soon be able to stream 40,000 Amazon titles on demand, “enabling Roku customers for the first time to watch new release movies titles instantly.” The movies cost as much as the do on Amazon and the box will simply connect to your online account and have no movie adding/browsing functionality. The system should be similar to the current Netflix scheme.
Watch new release movies the same day that they are released on DVD. Hit titles such as “The Dark Knight,” “Hancock,” “Pineapple Express”, “Tropic Thunder” and hundreds more that are not currently available on the Roku Player.
Roku adds a convenient way for customers to enjoy movies and TV shows from Amazon Video On Demand; Amazon Video On Demand connects to PC, MAC, Sony Bravia Internet Video Link, TiVo, Roku and more to come soon
SEATTLE—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Jan. 5, 2009—Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced that it will offer customers the ability to instantly purchase, rent and watch digital movies and TV episodes from its popular video service, Amazon Video On Demand, via the Roku Digital Video Player. Beginning in early 2009, the Roku Player, which currently supports only the Netflix service, will offer access to Amazon Video On Demand’s more than 40,000 commercial-free movies and television shows enabling Roku customers for the first time to watch new release movies titles instantly.
With an easy-to-use interface that customers can enjoy from their couch, Amazon Video On Demand and the Roku Player will enable customers to:
∑ Access and add to their virtual library of purchases via Amazon Video On Demand’s Your Video Library, and re-watch them anytime on the Roku Player or online with a PC, MAC or other compatible device.
∑ Watch new release movies the same day that they are released on DVD. Hit titles such as “The Dark Knight,” “Hancock,” “Pineapple Express”, “Tropic Thunder” and hundreds more that are not currently available on the Roku Player.
∑ Enjoy instant playback, no downloading, no waiting and no subscription fee.
∑ Browse Amazon.com’s huge selection of over 40,000 movies and TV shows for rent or purchase.
∑ Enjoy Amazon Video On Demand’s high-quality video through its use of the advanced h.264 codec and an automatic bandwidth detection feature that seamlessly plays back the best quality file at either 300, 600, 900 or 1200 kbps.
∑ Easily setup their Roku Player using its built-in Wi-Fi connection and begin watching videos within minutes.
∑ Connect their Roku Player to any television set using HDMI, Component Video, Composite Video, S-Video, Stereo Audio or Optical Audio connections.“With the subscription-free $99 Roku Player that connects to any TV, customers can now choose and watch their favorite new-release movie instantly, and access all of their titles from their video library,” said Roy Price, director Amazon Video On Demand. “Amazon Video On Demand’s large selection makes the Roku Player the perfect choice for hassle-free On Demand movie and TV entertainment.”
“We are excited to add Amazon’s massive catalog to our player – including new releases and top movie and TV titles,” said Anthony Wood, Roku CEO and founder. “This makes the Roku Player the ideal choice for watching Internet content directly on TV.”
This is brilliant. The media companies are finally listening and giving us the devices we want to make these services useful.
I recently bought the WD TV and have nothing but good things to say about it.
I want one!!!
I just got one of these bad boys two weeks ago. Nothing short of just plain awesome. Hoping that hulu and the networks jump on board soon too with their own channels.
One question though, are these releases in HD or are they just DVD quality?
Steve: I believe it’s DVD quality more than likely.
Great idea too…hopefully this sort of thing really catches on. If it does, it will deal stores like Blockbuster a huge blow that could (nearly) kill them.
That is sort of disappointing. I just checked out the quality of The Dark Knight on my PC here at work. It was ok. I’ll have to rent something on my box at home whenever this stuff becomes active and try it out on both the 1080p in the living room and the normal 4:3 in my bedroom.
Oh yeah. Love the improvements to this service.
Great news. I wonder if Amazon shows up on XBox 360 soon too?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/video/ontv/xbox/ref=atv_ontv_xbox_info
This is not the same thing as the roku, vize. Roku allows you to stream your media from the web to the tv. This method only allows you to stream videos youv’e downloaded to your PC to your XBOX360.
I personally think Microsoft should really open things up and grab more of the Netflix kinda thing. Go ahead and get Hulu, Amazon, and Youtube to just stream from their sites automatically to the XBOX 360s
This is a step back in technology if it’s not HD.
We just had had the opportunity Saturday to check out the Roku, It was pretty cool. I may have to invest in it once Amazon on Demand is incorporated. Not everything that Netflix has is viewable on the Roku
Anybody have any luck with the HD streaming from Netflix?
How is it?
I’ve been watching streaming movies via netfix over my 6mb connection and the image quality is mediocre. Watching old movies on one of my providers HD channels the image quality if far superior to what I get via Netflix. I’m hoping they can make improvements soon because it is a very convenient way to view movies.
here are the spec’s on the roku box
Specifications
Networking Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) with WEP, WPA, and WPA2 support
10/100 Ethernet (RJ-45)
Video Outputs Composite video
S-Video
Component video (Y/Pb/Pr)
HDMI
Video Modes 16:9
HD (720p)
16:9 anamorphic (480p)
4:3 standard (480i)
Audio Output Stereo (L/R RCA)
Digital Optical (Toslink)
Digital over HDMI
Remote Control NEC protocol, supported by various universal remotes
Power Input 5V, 1.5A provided by included AC adapter
Power Consumption 5 watts peak, 3 watts in standby
Size 5 x 5 x 1.75 inches (130 x 130 x 41 mm)
Weight 11 oz (300 grams)
We tried out the HD streaming content on our Roku this weekend. It’s ok (only 720p), but not great. Still, it’s more than good enough for most of the things we watch on the Roku. I would still use a DVD for the things I wanted truly awesome quality for (like the Dark Knight), but it certainly works for everything else. And it seems like it’s only going to get better.
I love the Roku player, and I recommend it to everyone who asks. It’s totally worth the $99, and there is more good content every day.
Just discovered the HD update that was pushed to my months old Roku box. Was really happy with the HD movie selection, quality of display (via HDMI) and performance. This news coming on the heels of the HD upgrade just keeps the happiness coming.
We bought one of these for my dad last year on Father’s Day. Since they have finally worked out the kinks, he loves the damn thing, though wishes the selection was better.
It appears his wish will be granted.
Amazon has been on Tivo for a while. If the Roku service is like what is on Tivo, it is pretty good – quality is solid, selection is good, cost is a bit high but not bad. Although, since Tivo added Netflix, I have not rented any Amazon movies. Hoping Hulu joins the party soon.
Interesting. But I just saw that LG is releasing a flat screen with Netflix streaming built into the set. No additional hardware needed.
Now that is something I can spend money on.
I would rather buy the $99 Roku box than be given a free LG TV. Screw that company and their shoddy products.
LG is the old Goldstar. Now it makes sense, right?
Yep, the Roku rocks! It’s great because I realized that the movies that arrive via delivery are generally not the movies I am in the mood to watch. The Roku is a nice addition to netflix. Look forward to Hulu content in the future. (Cough Cough
When I tested Amazon Video On Demand last month it didn’t work well. And that was standard definition. After about 20 minutes the player just locked up and that was that. Amazon issued a refund.
It will be interesting how Netflix will respond to this incursion on their turf. Even the title of this article refers to the Netflix Roku player!
For $99 you can’t go wrong. But my $25 PC to TV cable works great and I can watch whatever I want on my HDTV – Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, you name it. PCTVCables.com
Netflix, Roku, Amazon Cohersion and Profit Scheming
Many are mad at Netflix for not delivering their paid in advance product. Specifically, many are very upset at Netflix for seemingly endless DVDs that remain in our queues as Very Long Wait, Long Wait, or Short Wait. Leave 10 – 15 new releases at the top of your queue and those titles sit there until they are no longer new while Netflix ships you old movie DVDs instead. Doing so increases Netflix’s profit margin because it reduces Netflix’s cost to purchase DVDs themselves. Now, Netflix has a new, much more dramatic method of increasing their profit margin at the cost of us, their “members”:
NEW PROFIT SCHEMING AND CUSTOMER COERCION. THROUGH THE CLEAVER INTRODUCTION OF ROKU (ETC.) VIEWING ON YOUR TV, NETFLIX IS INTENTIONALLY STOPPING/SLOWING SHIPMENTS OF NEW RELEASES TO COERCE ITS PAYING MEMBERS TO (1) PAY-PER-VIEW OR (2) DVD PURCHASE.
Here is what is happening to me (and others):
(1) “New” Releases sit in my queue undelivered for many weeks at a time.
(2) Frustrated, I turn on my $100 Roku Netflix receiver and seek alternate viewing material.
(3) Netflix Instant View instantly directs me to Amazon Video for: (1) New Releases on Amazon Video (typically $3.99 each), or (2) Amazon Video instant purchase (typically $14.99).
(4) The DVDs that Netflix refuses to ship me are now “instantly” available, but only if I pay to purchase them!
I contend this is no accident. I am not a lawyer, but believe this is bad business and suspect that such practices may be illegal.
For Reference, I have the 5-at-time Netflix plan (for years), pay additionally for Blu-ray shipping, and purchased the Netflix-exclusive Roku internet receiver through the Netflix web site ($100).
I’ve always wanted TV/movies on demand, not pay-per-view, and if Amazon added an inexpensive unlimited subscription plan to their service, I’m all for it; I’d drop my cable/satellite provider in an instant and sign right up.
Sure, there are those who would pay $2 to $30 to watch new movies and TV shows commercial free and on demand, but I believe they are the minority — especially in these harsh economic times.
And until there is password protection for the Amazon Pay-Per-View content on my Roku player — to keep others from charging up my account, I’m staying clear of this Amazon service.
…to clarify the second paragraph above: I meant those who would pay $2 to $30 for each show(entire season of a show)/movie … as with Amazon’s pay/buy per view model….
Well it appears there is password protection after all…
“Your purchase PIN is a 5-digit number used to confirm your Video On Demand purchases when you buy videos from compatible devices. The same PIN code is used for all of the compatible devices associated with your account.”
amazon.com/videoondemand/paymentsettings