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Amazon launches video streaming app for iPad
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug 01, 2012 (Xinhua via COMTEX) --
Amazon on Wednesday launched
an iPad app for its video streaming service, enabling users to
watch film and TV series they rent or buy from Amazon on iPad at
no additional cost.
The "Amazon Instant Video" app, which currently does not work
on iPhone, lets iPad users to access videos they've bought or
rented from Amazon's Instant Video Library, which currently
includes 120,000 videos. The purchased and rented content can also
be downloaded for offline viewing.
Through a service called "Whispersync," videos can be resumed
from where users left off when they switch from iPad to another
device like a Kindle Fire tablet, PS3 video game console,
computers or internet-connected TV/Blu-ray player.
For subscribers of Amazon Prime service, the free content
offered by the service can also be viewed on iPad at no additional
cost.
Amazon Prime costs 79 U.S. dollars a year, qualifying users for
free two-day shipping for shopping at Amazon.com and around 18,000
videos for free instant streaming.
The new app also supports Amazon's TV Season Pass, through
which users buy one season of TV series and episodes will
automatically be available on their iPad the day after they are
aired on TV.
Amazon released the iPad app one day after Hulu, the online
video streaming service, launched service on Apple TV, Apple's
digital media receiver designed to play digital content from video
streaming services and users' computers.
The rise of online video in recent years has put the future of
television consumption at stake, flaring up new battles among tech
giants for control of consumers' living room.
Content providers like Amazon, Hulu and Netflix have been
striking deals with TV networks and Hollywood studios to bring
more titles to their services.
Meanwhile, Apple, Google and Microsoft are also racing to
deliver new TV technologies for consumer's living room, such as
Apple TV, Google Nexus Q and Xbox 360 console.
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