Amazon Prime rumoured to be coming to Apple TV

[Discombobulate]

Great if true

http://www.macrumors.com/2015/11/28/...ideo-tvos-app/

[Zu Nim]

Now I look forward hearing from those who insist Apple doesn't allow competing apps complaining that Apple sucks because they don't let companies sell their wares without charging 30%.

But seriously, I'm hope to see Amazon, VUDU, M-GO, and Google Play. (I won't hold my breath for CinemaNow.) Perhaps a native DMA app too? The more the merrier!

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by Zu Nim

Now I look forward hearing from those who insist Apple doesn't allow competing apps complaining that Apple sucks because they don't let companies sell their wares without charging 30%.

But seriously, I'm hope to see Amazon, VUDU, M-GO, and Google Play. (I won't hold my breath for CinemaNow.) Perhaps a native DMA app too? The more the merrier!

Do people even use M-GO outside of an UV client? Like do people actually buy movies from there?

Though I agree with all the others. VUDU and Amazon would be awesome.

[Zu Nim]

Originally Posted by Scarface32

Do people even use M-GO outside of an UV client? Like do people actually buy movies from there?

M-GO some movies that VUDU doesn't carry, and some movies in HD that VUDU only has in SD. I'd like to see them get their client on Apple TV and TiVo, make their TV shows UV-compatible, introduce an HDX-like tier (10Mbps), join DMA, and continue to grow their content library. The situation could be worse than an iTunes-Amazon-VUDU oligopoly but it could also be better. Competition is good and should be supported when possible.

[chip75]

So we can assume that malarkey a few months back when Amazon dropped Apple products was part of the 'negotiations'? if Apple support Amazon's Apps then there's no reason why they won't sell their once 'consumer confusing incompatible' products again!

[satam55]

If Vudu were to also annouce an Apple TV app (and still no Android TV or/and Amazon Fire TV app), that might be enough for me to go ahead buy the new 4th gen Apple TV.

In the meantime, I just bought a 3rd gen Apple TV for dirt cheap a couple days ago.

[satam55]

Originally Posted by Zu Nim

Now I look forward hearing from those who insist Apple doesn't allow competing apps complaining that Apple sucks because they don't let companies sell their wares without charging 30%.

That still might be the case. We don't know the details. Maybe Apple & Amazon came to some sort of agreement or maybe Amazon is putting out a app without any in-app purchases.

[Zu Nim]

Originally Posted by satam55

That still might be the case. We don't know the details. Maybe Apple & Amazon came to some sort of agreement or maybe Amazon is putting out a app without any in-app purchases.

There doesn't need to be an agreement. The rules are pretty simple and have been for years. Apple takes a 30% fee for any transactions made with apps from the iTunes Store. Google does the same through the Google Play store. Vendors can't absorb that kind of hit on these digital products (where most of the purchase price goes to the studios) so the vendors don't allow in-app purchases. It's not because Apple would deny these apps.

Amazon dropping Apple TVs suggests either the Fire product line is uncompetitive or they're compelled to funnel their customers to products where Amazon doesn't lose 30% per transaction. If there was a successful Android TV box perhaps Amazon would have dropped that as well. Thinking it's a negotiating tactic with Apple doesn't make a lot of sense.

[Fiffy]

Originally Posted by Zu Nim

There doesn't need to be an agreement. The rules are pretty simple and have been for years. Apple takes a 30% fee for any transactions made with apps from the iTunes Store. Google does the same through the Google Play store.

It's not quite the same. Google allows doing in-app purchases through external billing systems as long as the goods are also usable on other devices. This is why it is possible to rent and purchase movies in the Amazon video app for Android. Apple does not allow external billing for in-app purchases no matter what. Also, it's easy to acquire apps outside the Google Play store on Android devices (e.g. through Amazon's own app store). Apple does not allow that either.

There have also been reports that some subscription providers such as HBO Now and Netflix receive preferential treatment from Apple and only pay 15%.

Amazon dropping Apple TVs suggests either the Fire product line is uncompetitive or they're compelled to funnel their customers to products where Amazon doesn't lose 30% per transaction. If there was a successful Android TV box perhaps Amazon would have dropped that as well.

They didn't drop the Roku, which is the most successful streaming box so far. Probably because Roku doesn't charge 30% ...

[Zu Nim]

Originally Posted by Fiffy

It's not quite the same. Google allows doing in-app purchases through external billing systems as long as the goods are also usable on other devices.

Good to know about external links for Google Play apps. I don't use or develop for Android and was led to believe they transacted the fee on external links & payments as Apple does.

There have also been reports that some subscription providers such as HBO Now and Netflix receive preferential treatment from Apple and only pay 15%.

There were also reports for years that the studios were being charged a more favorable rate than 30%, but those were false. Sony's contracts on Wikileaks showed that. So I'll take the HBO & Netflix reports as wishful thinking by their originators until there's some kind of documentation.

They didn't drop the Roku, which is the most successful streaming box so far. Probably because Roku doesn't charge 30% ...

And sorry if I wasn't clear - I agree. Very likely Roku is still available on Amazon because they don't charge a fee. No fee (Roku) or no presence (Android TV) = no threat. And if Google doesn't take a transaction fee for external payments, Amazon isn't hurt by Android TV devices either.

[Mr. Cinema]

I hope this is true, but I would like to have another source besides a low level Amazon CSR.

[Carlanga]

Originally Posted by Zu Nim

Now I look forward hearing from those who insist Apple doesn't allow competing apps complaining that Apple sucks because they don't let companies sell their wares without charging 30%.

But seriously, I'm hope to see Amazon, VUDU, M-GO, and Google Play. (I won't hold my breath for CinemaNow.) Perhaps a native DMA app too? The more the merrier!

You have to have being with the iOS ecosystem to remember that a few ago they DIDN'T allow competing apps on their App Store, not even google maps. Nowadays, just because of competition they have allowed all apps as long as they met the sandboxed criteria and no adult content.

AFAIK the aTV didn't have to meet their criteria for an open market since they picked and choose what they wanted up to aTV3 since they would choose what goes where since they wanted to get cable and channel companies on a contract term to make the aTV a set top box, but it has taken too long since cable companies are stupid and they have had to load the streaming apps like Netflix to keep alive what was the niche smart tv market. BUT, IMO for amazon video I would assume it was an amazon decision to push the fire devices and not pay the premium costs for the aTV 'classic' firmware. Now, that the aTV has an open market, anyone can make an app without having to be chosen by apple or pay an extra cost. Hell, if I had an aTV4 I could probably adjust the current iOS app to side load on the aTV using Xcode and others, but its too expensive for me atm since I also have the aTV3 and a modified android stick that works with any app without having to side load things.

I hope amazon video will come to the older aTV3, but I'm not hopeful.

As far as DMA that might be 50/50. Its not really needed since you can have the movies appear on the movies section as long as you have DMA linked with iTunes.

I can see google easily porting their apps, it just takes a few things to make apps aTV4 compatible.

CinemaNow could be ported to the aTV, but who uses that anyways.

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by Carlanga

CinemaNow could be ported to the aTV, but who uses that anyways.

I thought the same about M-GO, but apparently some people use it.

[Greyman]

Originally Posted by Carlanga

As far as DMA that might be 50/50. Its not really needed since you can have the movies appear on the movies section as long as you have DMA linked with iTunes.

DMA has some exclusive special features, and for families it would be a convenient app to send kids to for their movies.

Originally Posted by Carlanga

CinemaNow could be ported to the aTV, but who uses that anyways.

A lot more people would if they were the first UV provider on the Apple TV.

[Dunk the Lunk]

Originally Posted by Carlanga

You have to have being with the iOS ecosystem to remember that a few ago they DIDN'T allow competing apps on their App Store, not even google maps.

Er thats because Google Maps WAS the default, baked-in Maps application. As soon as Apple moved to their own maps (September 2012), Google developed and released their own app (December 2012).

As far as I'm aware the only significant thing you can't include in an App (excluding the usual porn, no functionality, spam etc) are things that directly replicate a built-in app with no additional functionality, or a non-webkit based internet browser. But they do allow rival apps eg Google Maps, Chrome, Microsoft Outlook, Spotify, CinemaNow etc etc. It's entirely up to developers what functionality they do or don't want to include and if they want to include in-app purchases giving Apple the 30% cut.

[Naiera]

I hope I can get a trial period so I can watch Man in the High Castle, then!

[Smackos]

I know this is obvious maybe but just in case anybody isn't aware, you can currently stream Amazon via AirPlay in HD via an iOS device. I know it's not the same as a dedicated Apple TV app, but for now HD AirPlay isn't a bad alternative.