Amazon Instant Video Now Available On Android

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Amazon Instant Video Now Available On Android

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday September 10, 2014 @10:05AM from the go-ahead-and-watch dept.

briancox2 writes Amazon has avoided releasing the Amazon Instant Video app that is on Fire and Kindle to the general Android market, even though the app has been available for some time on iOS. Now, after a workaround had allowed some users to install the app on Android by fiddling with permissions, Amazon has released the app to many devices calling it "Amazon Instant Video for Google TV". It's not clear yet which devices can run this app. Currently it is not available for older Samsung Galaxy lines, however the Nexus, a major competitor of Amazon's devices, can run the new app.

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Rather cumbersome by mackil · 2014-09-10 10:13 · Score: 4, Interesting

It's rather cumbersome, but it works. You can't install it straight from Google Play. You have to install the Amazon app and install it inside of that. They make you change the "unknown store" security setting in order to do it. Curious strategy on Amazon's part.

Now if only they would add ChromeCast support... I know, we customers are never happy.
1. Re:Rather cumbersome by mackil · 2014-09-10 10:31 · Score: 2
  
  Amazon isn't making you change the "unknown store" setting--that would be Google. Android OS is set to only accept Play Store unless you deactivate that setting.
  Actually they are since they could've added the app to Google Play like they do for all their others. Kindle is there, as is the main Amazon App.
2. Re:Rather cumbersome by tepples · 2014-09-10 10:33 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  I'm guessing that if Amazon had added it to Google Play Store, rentals would have had to use Google payments where Google gets 30% instead of Amazon. That or it'd work only with Prime, not rentals.
3. Re:Rather cumbersome by mackil · 2014-09-10 10:38 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  I'm guessing that if Amazon had added it to Google Play Store, rentals would have had to use Google payments where Google gets 30% instead of Amazon. That or it'd work only with Prime, not rentals.
  That is an excellent point. I hadn't thought of that. Like Microsoft's fight with Apple over their IOS Office app.
4. Re:Rather cumbersome by wiggles · 2014-09-10 13:02 · Score: 1
  
  But it is on the Google Play store.
  It's right here.
5. Re:Rather cumbersome by tepples · 2014-09-10 14:39 · Score: 2
  
  Google Play Store's generic "This app is incompatible with all of your devices." message is almost useless, as it doesn't help me choose my next device should I already be in the market for an upgrade.
6. Re:Rather cumbersome by Zenin · 2014-09-10 18:16 · Score: 2
  
  You failed to note the "Google TV" text all over that app's page.
  That version is only usable on Google TV, not Android.
  
  --
  My /. uid is better then your /. uid
7. Re:Rather cumbersome by DrXym · 2014-09-10 20:25 · Score: 2
  
  I'm guessing that if Amazon had added it to Google Play Store, rentals would have had to use Google payments where Google gets 30% instead of Amazon. That or it'd work only with Prime, not rentals.
  The requirement to use their payment system probably doesn't apply to Amazon. Their Play policy
  has an exemption which says "where payment is for digital content or goods that may be consumed outside of the app itself (e.g., buying songs that can be played on other music players)". As long as Amazon lets rentals play through other apps then they're probably perfectly okay.
  A more likely reason it hasn't appeared until now have been Amazon's own ambitions to run an app store and tablets/phones that are tied to it. They're holding back the goodies to make their own platform more attractive by comparison. Google did it with YouTube to Microsoft, Blackberry did it with BBM and so on.
8. Re:Rather cumbersome by squiggleslash · 2014-09-10 23:39 · Score: 1
  
  Thanks for posting this. The app mentioned in the summary is a completely different one and I was left thinking someone had confused the Google TV app - which has been out for a long time - with the rumors Amazon was about to release a general Amazon instant video app.
  Of course, now I've installed the real one, I can't actually get it to play anything (error of "Unknown error" every time I try to play anything) but at least I found the right app.
  Given the name, "Prime Video", I'm wondering if the app is only available to those with a Prime subscription - ie you can't use it if you just want to rent/buy movies and have no Prime account.
  
  --
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9. Re:Rather cumbersome by tepples · 2014-09-11 12:20 · Score: 1
  
  The problem is that the Google TV and Android phone/tablet apps aren't unified when they could have been.
Due to Fire Phone Flop? by WiiVault · 2014-09-10 10:21 · Score: 3, Interesting

I'm willing to bet they felt forced to do this in part thanks to the colossal failure of the Fire Phone. If estimates are accurate they have sold slightly under 50,000 units since launch which is abysmal. I think had the phone been a hit they would have maintained their strategy of keeping it off non Kindle Android. As a tablet owner I'm really glad the phone flopped if this is indeed the case.
1. Re: Due to Fire Phone Flop? by AvitarX · 2014-09-10 15:25 · Score: 1
  
  I thought their ad was pretty compelling, surprised it flopped.
  Now that on think of it, I probably saw the ad on Hulu, so maybe nobody saw it but me.
  But they maid the announcement it was coming in mid june, so I think they just rushed the planned release while still testing many devices.
  
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Re:finally by dbrueck · 2014-09-10 10:25 · Score: 1

Weird - works on my Note 2. Playback stutters some so far but not too bad.
Re:finally by Wookact · 2014-09-10 10:31 · Score: 1

I will check with my Note 10 2014 when I get home. If that works I will just copy the apk over to the S4 and see what happens.
Re:video is OS specific.... why again? by tepples · 2014-09-10 10:36 · Score: 1

Oh yeah. Because we let mega-corps restrict the shit out of it.
Would you prefer that mega-corps not make their videos available for streaming at all?

There's absolutely no fucking reason either downloaded or streaming video should be tied to any one hardware platform or operating system.
Other than that older hardware platforms might not have enough CPU power, enough GPU power, GPGPU functionality, or the correct video decoder ASIC. Or that the company that funded the video's production wants some assurance that a subscriber won't just tee a rental into a capture program and distribute it without charge to the public.
Hate Amazon for this by linuxguy · 2014-09-10 10:37 · Score: 3, Informative

I generally like Amazon. I am a Prime subscriber and I am supposed to be able to watch their Prime videos as well. However we're an Android family and do not have any iOS or Amazon devices. I have tried them, but I did not like them.
Netflix supports Android devices well. And I like them for it. Amazon is pulling these shenanigans in order to prop up support for their mostly uninteresting platform. Android has the largest market share and my family has 4 Android tablets and 4 Android phones. None of these devices can play Amazon instant video. Damn you Amazon!
1. Re:Hate Amazon for this by tepples · 2014-09-10 10:40 · Score: 2
  
  When you get home from work this evening, could you see how many of your eight devices this new app works on?
2. Re:Hate Amazon for this by Rich0 · 2014-09-11 01:11 · Score: 1
  
  It doesn't work on my Nexus 10 (amazon for tablets app doesn't support it, regular amazon app isn't supported). It works fine on my Oneplus One.
  I suspect that if I hack things to bypass the store device compatibility list it would work, but I haven't tried that yet.
3. Re:Hate Amazon for this by TemporalBeing · 2014-09-12 05:06 · Score: 1
  
  I generally like Amazon. I am a Prime subscriber and I am supposed to be able to watch their Prime videos as well. However we're an Android family and do not have any iOS or Amazon devices. I have tried them, but I did not like them.
  Netflix supports Android devices well. And I like them for it. Amazon is pulling these shenanigans in order to prop up support for their mostly uninteresting platform. Android has the largest market share and my family has 4 Android tablets and 4 Android phones. None of these devices can play Amazon instant video. Damn you Amazon!
  My wife has an Prime account, and we basically don't use it for Video's because its too damn confusing what you can watch for free, what's up for rent, or purchases. I really wish they made it so that Prime members could just WATCH a video regardless, with rent being for non-prime, and purchases being an optional thing in addition. Then we might actually use the Prime Video; but as it stands now it's useless.
  
  --
  Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't goin' away. - Elvis Presley (source: imdb.com)
4. Re:Hate Amazon for this by Wolfrider · 2014-09-15 16:10 · Score: 1
  
  --I agree with you there. Having Prime is really good, but adding a streaming video to your Q on amazon and then getting "Please go to amazon.com to pay more $$ for this movie" when you try to watch it, is bogus. Netflix is much more straightforward - and has a better video library, for the most part.
  --The only movie I've actually paid the extra $2 for was "The Raven" with Vincent Price, because it was rare and I hadn't watched it for decades. Everything else I just look for on Netflix and add it there if they have it.
  
  --
  .
  == WolfriderV6 == I'm willing to admit that *I just might* be wrong... Are you??
Re:finally by Mike+Buddha · 2014-09-10 10:38 · Score: 1

Works on my Note 3.

--
by Mike Buddha -- Someday the mountain might get him, but the law never will.
Devices that dont work by spire3661 · 2014-09-10 10:56 · Score: 1, Informative

My Moto G LTE, Nexus 7 and HP Slate HD 7 are all unsupported. Why is it even possible for them to choose what devices the .apk can be downloaded to? Why does Google allow that ridiculous amount of granular control? Why did we give up so much control? for MOVIES????/ seriously?

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Good-bye
1. Re:Devices that dont work by Anonymous Coward · 2014-09-10 11:57 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  Well I somehow managed to install it on my old Transformer Prime TF101, and it works "fine" with hdmi video out to a 1080p monitor... by "fine" I've had a bit of buffering but I'm guessing that's just because it's new and they're getting hammered.
  The shenanigans were dreadful, I had to install multiple amazon stores for the tablet, then the amazon app store, then the prime instant video player from the amazon app store, then it worked... amazon says android phones only, but the tablet works. *shrug*...
  At last, I think I'll pay for prime for a bit and see if it works out for me, but the interface is horrendous, I primarily watch netflix and youtube using my TFP as a media centre (no TV here).
2. Re:Devices that dont work by metrix007 · 2014-09-10 15:54 · Score: 2
  
  It's not something we could stop. I think the apk checks the devices and decides to install or not.
  
  --
  If you ignore ACs because they are anonymous - you're an idiot.
3. Re:Devices that dont work by Solandri · 2014-09-10 22:07 · Score: 2
  
  Netflix ran into the same issue with their app for Android. If their explanation is correct, then you can blame Hollywood. Supposedly the studios require a separate validation and certification on every different hardware platform. They want verification that the video stream has been tested to be secured via encryption so that it cannot be captured. Otherwise they withhold copyright permission to stream to that app. So the app producers have to create a whitelist of which hardware devices have been tested and certified, and only those devices are allowed to download and run the app.
4. Re:Devices that dont work by Rich0 · 2014-09-11 01:12 · Score: 1
  
  It doesn't work on my Nexus 10 either. It works just fine on my Oneplus One. I can't imagine they'd have bothering to whitelist the OPO, so I'm not sure what the logic is.
5. Re:Devices that dont work by spire3661 · 2014-09-11 02:43 · Score: 1
  
  They should have said no. This is what i meant by 'we gave up this control for movies'....
  
  --
  Good-bye
Re:video is OS specific.... why again? by khellendros1984 · 2014-09-10 11:07 · Score: 2

Or that the company that funded the video's production wants some assurance that a subscriber won't just tee a rental into a capture program and distribute it without charge to the public.
That's OK. Some clever person will have already figured it out for me. I don't know if they strip HDCP-protection from video and capture the stream, read it out of memory while decoding, decrypt DVR video files or what, but I've no video that I've ever looked for was actually protected by restrictive streaming requirements.

If the executives of a production company feel assurance that their stream can't be ripped in one way or another, then they're living in a fool's paradise.

--
It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
For certain values of 'available', apparently. by John+Pfeiffer · 2014-09-10 11:27 · Score: 4, Insightful

I've got five Android 4.x devices that run Netflix and Hulu and everything just fine, and Amazon STILL won't let me install their fucking app on ANY OF THEM. So much for 'releasing' it.
Paying for Prime and possibly buying videos apparently isn't enough. If I want to watch Amazon Instant Video on something other than a computer, I have to buy their overpriced gimped non-standard Android tablet?! (Or even worse, an iOS device!)
Last time I was this pissed at them, it was when they suddenly removed THE ENTIRETY of "How It's Made" from the stuff Prime members could watch for free, not long after I'd deleted all my HDTV caps of it off my network drive to save space.

--

Friend: "The NIC is misconfigured..." Me: "No prob, I'll just telnet in and fix it." *Silence*
1. Re:For certain values of 'available', apparently. by drinkypoo · 2014-09-10 14:00 · Score: 1
  
  I've got five Android 4.x devices that run Netflix and Hulu and everything just fine, and Amazon STILL won't let me install their fucking app on ANY OF THEM. So much for 'releasing' it.
  time to do some hacking. you can diddle your uh, shit, this post would be a lot cooler if I could remember what the file was called... [googling] ah yes, /system/build.prop. There are various build.prop editors, and you can actually change your phone model there.
  There might even be an Xposed module which will let you lie to apps about what kind of device they're running on, but I haven't looked into that at all. Just musing.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
2. Re:For certain values of 'available', apparently. by JackieBrown · 2014-09-10 22:23 · Score: 1
  
  It's a weird install.
  I installed the Amazon app store, then the Amazon app from there.
  The app now has a section for videos. When you pick one, it installs the plug in for you
Re:finally by almitydave · 2014-09-10 11:34 · Score: 1

Here's the Play Store link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.amazon.avod&hl=en. That page says it's not compatible with my Galaxy Tab 4 8". :(

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Re:Nexus? by Steve+Blake · 2014-09-10 11:44 · Score: 1

The app (plugin really) installed on my Nexus 10 via the Amazon Appstore. You have to select the video from within the regular Amazon app. I have yet to find a video that is "currently available for this device".
Re:finally by CaptainDork · 2014-09-10 11:51 · Score: 2

Says my Nexus 7 is not compatible.
Rats.

--
It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
Works on my cheap phone by AngelWind · 2014-09-10 13:16 · Score: 1

Works fine, and I have a decently powered Virgin Mobile Awe (4.4 Cyanogen, 2nd core enabled). HD stutters a bit, but that it works at all (unlike others who can't get it working on their top of the line phones) is amazing.
Re: finally by jd2112 · 2014-09-10 13:21 · Score: 1

Works on my S3.

--
Any insufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology.
Motorola support (or lack of) by confused+one · 2014-09-10 13:46 · Score: 1

Apparently stock Moto X and Moto G are not supported.
1. Re:Motorola support (or lack of) by debatecoach · 2014-09-11 04:45 · Score: 1
  
  My stock Moto X seems to work.
Re:video is OS specific.... why again? by chmod+a+x+mojo · 2014-09-10 14:53 · Score: 1

Would you prefer that mega-corps not make their videos available for streaming at all?
If it's going to be like this, where devices are more than capable of playback and it is an arbitrary decision to promote their own hardware then yes... fuck it, why should I care if that company offers streams.

Other than that older hardware platforms might not have enough CPU power, enough GPU power, GPGPU functionality, or the correct video decoder ASIC. Or that the company that funded the video's production wants some assurance that a subscriber won't just tee a rental into a capture program and distribute it without charge to the public.
Yeah, all of my devices[1], which can play Netflix just fine, are too damn weak to play the mighty Amazon Prime videos.( according to you and Amazon).. right. It's not like they stream in a supported format that almost... wait, as far as I know ALL android devices have support for H.264/263/ and a few other encodings right out of the box, I know my Droid that was one of the first gen Android phones did.
Not that the selection is really something to write home about anyways, I'm a prime member and there really isn't anything that Netflix doesn't have in a much easier layout to boot.
[1]: Nexus 7 both gen1 and gen2, Nexus 10, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note2, Motorola Bionic ( no clue about Netflix on this one, don't care either ), and a OG Moto droid original ( probably no Netflix either ), Oh yeah, and a Nook Color.

--
To err is human; effective mayhem requires the root password!
Re:finally by jtownatpunk.net · 2014-09-10 15:11 · Score: 1

Not compatible with my Nexus 10, Tab S 10.5, or S5. Hopefully that list will get updated soon.
Glad Amazon finally pulled their collective head out. Like I was going to buy their tablet just for that one function.
Re:finally by jtownatpunk.net · 2014-09-10 15:59 · Score: 1

Did the long route and used the basic Amazon app to install the Amazon App Store and, from there, install Instant Video. Works great on my S5 but, when I try to run Instant Video on my tablets, it tell me to install the basic Amazon app. Which is already installed. Someone screwed up some mundane detail. Hopefully it'll be fixed soon.
Really REALLY cumbersome. by xigxag · 2014-09-10 17:36 · Score: 2

On my Note Pro:
1) I had to have the (orange) Amazon "apps" Appstore app.
2) From within that app, I had to download and install the Amazon App. The one that has the blue shopping cart. Couldn't use the Amazon App available in Google Play, it seemingly installed the video app, but in the end, none of the videos were available on my device.
3) From within the Amazon App, I had to download and install the Amazon Instant Video Player App.
Got it? The Instant Video Player App inside the Amazon App inside the Appstore app. Dead simple.

--
There are two kinds of people: 1) those who start arrays with one and 1) those who start them with zero.
1. Re:Really REALLY cumbersome. by neo-mkrey · 2014-09-11 01:42 · Score: 1
  
  Works fine on my Kindle Fire HD. ;-)
Link to App by EmagGeek · 2014-09-10 23:13 · Score: 1

Since neither the submitter nor the editors couldn't be bothered to provide a link to the app in the play store (let's face it, that would be too useful), here it is:
https://play.google.com/store/...
Re:video is OS specific.... why again? by TheRaven64 · 2014-09-11 00:51 · Score: 1

Would you prefer that mega-corps not make their videos available for streaming at all?
No, I'd rather that copyright on music and video be contingent on distribution in a form that does not lock customers into a particular platform.

--
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Re:finally by Krojack · 2014-09-11 04:10 · Score: 1

Says my Note 10 2014 isn't supported yet. Like @dbrueck stated, it does work on my Note 2 as well.
BUT, I did get it working on my Note 10 Tablet.
I copied both the Amazon Store apk and the video player apk files from my Note 2 over and side loaded them on to my Note 10 tablet. I loaded up the store and went to the videos and it worked. I didn't buy or rent but the movie trailers play which didn't before. Movie trailer playback was smooth on both devices.
Make sure you're using the NON-TABLET version of the Amazon Store app (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.amazon.mShop.android)
Also my Note 10 tablet is NOT rooted. Just my Note 2.
The APK files.
Amazon Store (non-tablet version): http://goo.gl/EYRZxX (com.amazon.mShop.android-1.apk version 5.0.0 (500000))
Amazon Instant Video Player: http://goo.gl/qvjJCN (com.amazon.avod.thirdpartyclient-1.apk version 1.0 (1))
Re:finally by Wookact · 2014-09-11 05:30 · Score: 1

Awesome, you rock. I tried it on the 10 last night and was unable to get anywhere. Unfortunately none of my devices are "supported" so I was unable to harvest the apk from one of them.
Re:The special case of video not needing revenue by tepples · 2014-09-11 07:51 · Score: 1

What makes video special, that all the usual market forces, customer preferences, history of past failures and successes, technologists' advice, and common sense, are suddenly so irrelevant or suspicious?
Probably the fact that it costs so much more to produce an entire feature film or TV series than an entire album. As for the accusation of Amazon being unwilling to sell you something, it's perfectly willing to sell you DVD or BD video, just as you mentioned CD audio.
Re:finally by almitydave · 2014-09-12 05:30 · Score: 1

UPDATE: It works now on my Galaxy Tab 4 8". Here's what I did:
-Uninstall the Amazon app I got from the Google Play app store.
-Install the Amazon app store by downloading the apk from Amazon.com using a web browser.
-Using the Amazon app store, install the Amazon app listed there and the Amazon Instant Video app.
Now, from the Amazon app, I can peruse the Prime Video selections, and watch free items.
A word of caution: after doing this, it enabled 1-click purchasing (it was previously disabled for my Amazon account), which I disabled, but forced on 1-click purchasing for digital items with no way to disable. Be careful what you click.

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