Amazon has released an update to Instant Video app for iOS with various new features, including full support for Apple’s AirPlay video streaming and full integration with movie information website IMDb. The update also provides users the ability to read customer reviews, and search for related videos in the context of a specific a cast or director, as well as concurrent downloads and a faster and more streamlined interface.
What's New in Version 2.1
* AirPlay to Apple TV
* IMDB cast and director information, ratings, goofs, trivia and quotes
* Read customer reviews
* Find other videos featuring cast or director
* Customers who watched this also watched ...
* Concurrent downloads
* Improved offline experience
* Faster and more responsive interface
* Bug fixes and stability improvements
AirPlay is a welcome addition for many users, offering a streamlined method for users to send content to their televisions via an Apple TV, serving as a relatively simple solution in the absence of a dedicated Instant Video channel for the set-top box.
Amazon originally released its iPad app for Instant Video in August 2012, adding iPhone support in an update released a few months later. Amazon was also reported in April to be developing a competitor to the Apple TV set-top box. Amazon Instant Video is a free app and can be downloaded from the App Store. [Direct Link]
Top Rated Comments
I'm not sure of Amazon Instant Video is going to be part of my "cut the cord" solution, but this makes it a much more viable option to consider.
Finally I don't have to fire up a my 10,000 watt space heating turbofan called the PS/3 to watch Amazon videos on the big TV's!
Way to go Amazon, the app is finally useful.
It's funny how what Google has been doing is something we would expect out of Apple. Instead, Apple is doing it right and Google is doing it wrong :-p
Amazon did not have to make a deal with Apple to enable this functionality, unlike the ChromeCast white-list system where Google decides which apps can stream to TV, depending on revenue-sharing deals they've been trying to make with content providers.
On iOS, it's up to developers to choose if they want to enable Airplay streaming.
Of course Apple can always reject apps, but it works more like a black-list than the ChromeCast white-list, which is a big difference. There's already a lot of apps on the App Store that can Airplay "Unauthorized content" (DIVX, AVI video players) and Apple doesn't seem to care.
Hopefully it increases the likelihood. If I recall, HBOGo started off with Airplay support prior to it being a full fledge Apple TV application.
Kudos to Amazon!