Mike Wuerthele
An Amazon Prime Video app that provides full iPhone X support also brings along a tvOS version to finally provide Apple TV owners video playback from the service without relying on AirPlay.
The release of the iOS update for iPhone X compatibility comes at the same time as a native tvOS version. Amazon notes that the tvOS app requires the "Apple TV 3rd generation or later" — but installation may necessitate a reboot of the device, or a reboot followed by a user signing out of iTunes, then back in.
A snippet of text in a misfired app description update on Tuesday night heralded the update.
Version 5.0 of the Amazon Prime Video app requires iOS 9 or tvOS 11.2. It is a 76.6MB download.
Word of Amazon Prime Video coming to Apple TV first leaked in early May with a report that claimed that Amazon and Apple were close to finalizing a deal. Until Wednesday's release, Apple users wanting to watch Amazon Prime Video and other streaming content needed to rely on Amazon's iOS app, which includes AirPlay support.
Amazon ceased Apple TV sales in October 2015, citing potential customer confusion over which streaming devices support Amazon Prime Video. As a result of Amazon Prime Video becoming available, the Apple TV is expected to the marketplace.
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17 Comments
I guess that is great, but ...yawn... it has been so long, does anyone still care?
Has anyone lived a lesser life because they weren't able to watch Amazon-only content directly on their AppleTVs? I seriously doubt it.
I dropped my Prime membership years ago. And I've been seriously considering deleting my Amazon membership as well. Most online shops offer some form of free or cheap shipping nowadays anyway
Amazon does not, unless you sign up for Prime, so any added value for being a member isn't there for me any longer.---------edited: Haven't used Amazon in a while, so didn't remember that they do offer free ground (5-day) shipping.
It's here on the Apple TV.
The interface is plain bad.
And it barely works. I tried 1 movie and 4 TV shows and could only play one!!
Let's hope it improves in the next hours or days.
Okay, downloaded and signed in. The new app is pretty good for a first release but it has some rough edges I hope will be dealt with in future updates.
1. It was a bit confusing logging in with a bluetooth keyboard. The user id and password boxes require you to hit Select (Return) to get to the actual text entry screen.
2. The top menus also require a Select tap before changing the screen, unlike most ATV apps that change as you swipe across the top menu bar. This took me a few minutes to grok and get used to.
3. As far as I can see you cannot purchase or rent any non-Prime content on the ATV. You would have to do that on Amazon’s website. Someone correct me if I’m wrong on that. But that seems logical for Amazon to avoid Apple’s cut and might have been part of the deal between Apple and Amazon.
You do have access to any purchased content via the “Video Library” tab.
Hey, its’ a start. Don't trash it too much.