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Tag: Amazon Prime

  • Alpha House Season 2 Now Available

    Alpha House Season 2 Now Available

    As promised, Doonesbury creator Gary Trudeau’s comedy Alpha House‘s second season is now available in its entirety

    The Amazon original series stars John Goodman, Mark Consuelos, Clark Johnson, and Matt Malloy. Alpha House was the first original series from Amazon Studios – premiering last April.

    “Delivering hilarious insider insights from the master of political satire, the new season of Alpha House finds the Senators maneuvering the hallways of Capitol Hill with a looming midterm election and an unclear political future. Republican Senators Biggs (Goodman), Bettencourt (Johnson) and Laffer (Malloy), having survived bruising primaries, are facing strong Democratic challengers and will use every trick in the book to woo voters on the road to re-election. Meanwhile, Senator Guzman (Consuelos) prepares for a 2016 bid for the presidency,” says Amazon.

    Season two is also full of big-name guest stars, including Bill Murray, Penn Jillette, Andy Cohen, Matt Lauer, John McCain, Wolf Blitzer, Rachel Maddow, and George Stephanopoulos.

    “We’re very excited to bring a second season of Alpha House to our customers,” said Roy Price, Vice President, Amazon Studios. “Garry’s talent helps bring to life the all-too-real absurdities of DC politics.”

    If you’re a Prime member, you can watch all 10 episodes now.

    Image via Amazon, YouTube screenshot

  • AmazonFresh Heads To New York City

    AmazonFresh Heads To New York City

    Amazon is launching its grocery delivery service AmazonFresh in New York on Friday, according to a report from Re/code, which previously reported that the launch was coming this month.

    Amazon first introduced the service in Seattle last year, before expanding it into California areas like Los Angeles and San Francisco. This would be the first the East Coast has seen of it.

    According to the report, AmazonFresh will only be available in the Park Slope neighborhood in Brooklyn before expanding to other neighborhoods. It says food for the service is stored in a new warehouse in Avenel, New
    Jersey, which is roughly 20 miles away from Park Slope.

    The movie signals just how serious Amazon is about becoming a player in groceries, and follows the recent launch of its other grocery service Prime Pantry.

    AmazonFresh is only being offered to Prime members as well, and while there won’t be delivery fees throughout the rest of the year, members will reportedly have to switch over to a “Prime Fresh” program in 2015.

    The New York launch also comes as Amazon is said to be getting ready to open up a brick-and-mortar store in Manhattan, where it would handle various customer services and sell Amazon hardware such as phones, tablets, and Kindle devices.

    Image via Twitter

  • Amazon Gives Prime Members Early Access To Holiday Deals

    Amazon Gives Prime Members Early Access To Holiday Deals

    Amazon announced that it is giving Prime members early access to holiday deals. Members will get access to select “Lightning Deals” on Amazon.com and daily sales events on MyHabit.com thirty minutes earlier than other customers.

    Lightning Deals are limited promotions, which run throughout the day on specific items. MyHabit, if you’re not familiar with it, is a fashion and lifestyle shopping site.

    “Holiday shopping has become synonymous with deal shopping and this holiday, we’re adding new ways for customers to find special gifts for everyone on their list with savings throughout the season,” said Greg Greeley, Vice President of Amazon Prime. “With early access deals for Prime members, we are providing our most frequent shoppers with a first look at some of the best offers from Amazon and MyHabit this holiday, and all year.”

    MyHabit GM Daren Hull added, “We know customers love discovering the variety of fashion and home brands available on MyHabit, and we are thrilled to offer Prime members a first look at our incredible selection at truly incredible prices. This holiday, we are increasing the selection of daily sales events and Flash Finds, our best deals of the year, which feature unique brands and products that are rarely discounted.”

    Upcoming deals include:

    • Up to 60% off cashmere sweaters and gifts (MyHabit.com)
    • Extra 20% off shoes in all categories (MyHabit.com)
    • Up to 60% off top designer handbags (MyHabit.com)
    • Select pet costumes starting at $5 (Amazon.com)
    • 80% off JBW Men’s Aviation-Inspired Dial 8 Diamonds Leather Band Watch (Amazon.com)
    • 60% off JLab GO Bluetooth Wireless Headphones with Perfect Fit (Amazon.com)
    • 40% off the Rockport Men’s On Road Walking Shoe (Amazon.com)
    • 50% off the Turtle Beach Marvel Seven: Limited Edition Gaming Headset (Amazon.com)
    • 50% off Diesel Men’s Larkee Regular Straight Jeans (Amazon.com)
    • Under $15 for a Kinivo Mini Portable Speaker with Rechargeable Battery and Enhanced Bass Resonator (Amazon.com)
    • Under $25, Haggar Men’s Micro Herringbone Straight Fit Plain Front Expandable Waistband Dress Pant (Amazon.com)
    • Under $50, Wonderbag Non-Electric Portable Slow Cooker with Recipe Cookbook (Amazon.com)

    Last week, Amazon announced the global expansion of its Holiday Deals program, enabling third-party sellers to gain access to high-traffic landing pages.

    Image via Amazon

  • Amazon Is Ready to Spend Big Bucks on Originals

    Amazon Is Ready to Spend Big Bucks on Originals

    Amazon is apparently looking to throw the checkbook at promising new shows – and the company is focusing on comedy.

    That’s the word from Variety, who quotes the ubiquitous sources familiar with the matter. According to the report, Amazon Studios (Amazon’s original content producing wing) is ready to shell out anywhere from $2 million to $4 million for a “larger action-adventure comedy”. If the pilot was really promising, the sources say that Amazon is willing to pay even more.

    Money like this would put Amazon in the realm of traditional TV networks.

    “Rather than traditional sitcoms, Amazon Studios is looking for cinematic half-hour shows; a hypothetical example would be a series reboot of a blockbuster movie franchise, per sources,” says Variety.

    Perhaps Amazon is looking to mine success where its already found some. Last week, Amazon debuted what’s surely its flagship series, a half-hour “novelistic” series that explores the lives of a family and its transgender patriarch called Transparent.

    Shortly after, Amazon announced the show’s record-breaking viewership numbers and promptly picked it up for a second season.

    While Amazon has been developing a majority comedy pilots into full series (Alpha House, Transparent, Red Oaks), it’s not shying away from drama. The Ron Perlman drama Hand of God and the Adam Brody and Chloë Sevigny vehicle The Cosmopolitans are both on the way after successful pilots, as is X-Files creator Chris Carter’s The After.

    Amazon has been looking to compete with the likes of Netflix, in terms of original content, for a couple years now. Transparent may have given the company a breakthrough, and it may be looking to ride the wave.

    Image via Amazon Studios, YouTube screenshot

  • Amazon’s ‘Hand of God’, ‘Red Oaks’ Get Full Seasons

    Amazon’s ‘Hand of God’, ‘Red Oaks’ Get Full Seasons

    In late August, Amazon debuted five new pilots for Amazon Prime users’ viewing pleasure: The Cosmopolitans, Really, Hysteria, Hand of God, and Red Oaks. Today, Amazon is announcing that two of those shows have survived the pilot round and have been greenlit for full series productions

    It’s the latter two – Hand of God and Red Oaks. Hand of God is the television debut of director Marc Forster (Monster’s Ball, World War Z). It stars Sons of Anarchy‘s Ron Perlman as Judge Pernell Harris, “a hard-living, law-bending married man with a high-end call girl on the side, who suffers a mental breakdown and goes on a vigilante quest to find the rapist who tore his family apart.”

    Red Oaks is produced by director Steven Soderbergh. It stars Craig Roberts (Submarine), Paul Reiser, Richard Kind, and Jennifer Grey, and is being directed by David Gordon Green of Eastbound & Down acclaim. “A coming-of-age comedy set in the “go-go” 80s that is equal parts hijinks and heartfelt, Red Oaks is about enjoying a last hurrah before summer comes to an end—and the future begins,” says Amazon Studios. It revolves around an assistant tennis pro at a country club, and its “colorful” cast of characters.

    Like with all other Amazon pilot seasons, customer feedback helped determine which pilots got picked up.

    “We are excited to get working on full seasons of Hand of God and Red Oaks,” said Roy Price, Vice President of Amazon Studios. “These shows come from some of the most talented creators in the business. Customers loved the pilot episodes and we can’t wait to hear what they think of the entire series.”

    Amazon, who’s been battling for a while now to gain any ground on Netflix in the original content from streaming providers race, made a significant leap forward last week with the debut of Transparent. It’s receiving rave reviews. Amazon’s also set to premiere the second season of its first-ever original series, Alpha House, on October 24.

    Image via Amazon Studios, YouTube screenshot

  • Alpha House Season 2 Premieres October 24

    Alpha House Season 2 Premieres October 24

    Doonesbury creator Gary Trudeau’s comedy Alpha House has just received a premiere date for its second season.

    According to Amazon, its first original series will return for season two on October 24. The show, which stars John Goodman as a Republican Senator sharing a Washington D.C. house with other senators, also stars Mark Consuelos, Clark Johnson, and Matt Malloy.

    Here’s how Amazon describes the second season:

    Delivering hilarious insider insights from the master of political satire, the new season of Alpha House finds the Senators maneuvering the hallways of Capitol Hill with a looming midterm election and an unclear political future. Republican Senators Biggs (Goodman), Bettencourt (Johnson) and Laffer (Malloy), having survived bruising primaries, are facing strong Democratic challengers and will use every trick in the book to woo voters on the road to re-election. Meanwhile, Senator Guzman (Consuelos) prepares for a 2016 bid for the presidency, a pursuit that will bring him into possible competition with one of his roommates

    Amazon is promising some pretty high-profile guest stars for season two, including Bill Murray, Penn Jillette, Andy Cohen, Matt Lauer, John McCain, Wolf Blitzer, Rachel Maddow, and George Stephanopoulos.

    “Our cast members hit their stride in season two,” said Trudeau. “Alpha House is blessed with actors who can find three laughs for every one on the page, and a crew that rivals any in episodic television. It’s been a privilege to come to work.”

    The satire boasts mostly favorable but mixed reviews. It first premiered on Amazon Prime Instant Video last April.

    This Alpha House announcement comes hot on the heels of the big debut of Amazon’s flagship original series, Transparent.

    Image via Amazon, YouTube screenshot

  • Amazon Launches Prime Instant Video For Android

    Amazon Launches Prime Instant Video For Android

    Amazon announced today that Prime Instant Video is now available for Android for Prime members in the US, UK, and Germany. Availability comes in the form of an update to the Amazon App, which also features the standard Amazon shopping capabilities.

    “Tens of millions of our customers have installed the Amazon app on their Android phones in order to enjoy the ease and convenience of shopping Amazon on the go,” said Paul Cousineau, Director of Mobile Shopping for Amazon. “Now, the latest Amazon App for Android combines that award-winning mobile shopping experience with access to Amazon’s digital products and services, including unlimited streaming of tens of thousands of movies and TV episodes at no additional cost for Prime members. At Amazon, we are always innovating on behalf of our customers and we look forward to receiving their feedback on this enhanced shopping experience.”

    The company says, “Prime members can enjoy popular HBO series like The Sopranos, True Blood, and The Wire, as well as favorites like Downton Abbey, Under the Dome, and 24, on their Android phones at no additional cost to their membership. Eligible customers who are not already Prime members can sign up for a 30-day free trial to start receiving all of the benefits of Prime using the updated Amazon App for Android.”

    While Amazon is talking up the Prime part of things, you actually don’t have to be a Prime member to use the app for streaming video. It also works with plain old Amazon Instant Video, which you can use to download movies and television episodes without a membership.

    You do, however, have to download the video app from Amazon’s own Appstore, which requires you to change your phone’s security settings to let you do so, giving Amazon a doorway leading to your Android device for future app and game downloads.

    If you try to view a video from the Amazon app, you’ll be presented with this:

    It then gives you step-by-step instructions to “enable apps and games from Amazon” complete with a “Go To Your Phone’s Security Settings” button:

    Once you do what it says, Android informs you that you’re making your device and data more vulnerable.

    So after you get the app installed, you may want to switch that setting back.

    Image via Google Play

  • Amazon’s Newest Original Pilots Now Available

    Amazon’s Newest Original Pilots Now Available

    Need something to watch? Amazon has just released its five newest pilots – three comedies and two dramas.

    Here’s a quick rundown of the five new pilots:

    The Cosmopolitans is a comedy starring Adam Brody and Chloë Sevigny as part of “a group of young American expatriates in contemporary Paris searching for love and friendship.”

    Really comes to us from Broken Lizard’s (Super Troopers, Beerfest) Jay Chandrasekhar and stars alongside Scrubs‘ Sarah Chalke and Hellboy‘s Selma Blair, along with Chandrasekhar himself. Really is a half-hour dramedy about “four hard-charging suburban Chicago couples trying to grasp on to their dwindling youth.”

    Red Oaks, the last pilot Amazon announced back in July, is being produced by famed director Steven Soderbergh. It stars Craig Roberts (Submarine), Paul Reiser, Richard Kind, and Jennifer Grey, and is being directed by David Gordon Green of Eastbound & Down acclaim. “A coming-of-age comedy set in the “go-go” 80s that is equal parts hijinks and heartfelt, Red Oaks is about enjoying a last hurrah before summer comes to an end—and the future begins,” says Amazon Studios. It revolves around an assistant tennis pro at a country club, and its “colorful” cast of characters.

    Moving on to the two hour-long dramas, Hand of God is the television debut of director Marc Forster (Monster’s Ball, World War Z). It stars Sons of Anarchy‘s Ron Perlman as Judge Pernell Harris, “a hard-living, law-bending married man with a high-end call girl on the side, who suffers a mental breakdown and goes on a vigilante quest to find the rapist who tore his family apart.”

    Finally, Hysteria tracks a “strange, psycho-physiological illness that manifests itself in violent fits and spasms and then begins spreading in the community through technology.”

    As always, Amazon factors user feedback into its decision to keep or trash each series. If fans like it, Amazon develops it into a full series run. If not, well, we all know what happens to uninspiring pilots.

    Image via Amazon Studios, YouTube screenshot

  • Amazon’s ‘Transparent’ Lands September 26th

    Amazon’s ‘Transparent’ Lands September 26th

    Amazon’s next original series, Transparent, will premiere on September 26th.

    Part of a trio of comedy pilots greenlit last October (alongside Mozart in the Jungle and The Outlaws), Transparent stars Jeffrey Tambor as the transgender patriarch of a family filled with secrets.

    “The series stars Tambor as Maura, who has spent her life as Mort—the Pfefferman family patriarch. When she reintroduces herself to her family, everyone’s secrets finally start to come out. This includes her ex-wife Shelly, and their children—meandering Ali, record producer Josh, and sexually conflicted Sarah. Each family member spins in a different direction as they begin to figure out who they are going to become,” says Amazon.

    The dark comedy comes to you from Jill Soloway (Afternoon Delight, Six Feet Under), who wrote, directed, and produced.

    “We couldn’t be more pleased to offer our customers all episodes of Transparent in late September,” said Roy Price, Director of Amazon Studios. “Jill has an amazing ability to create deep, engaging and rich stories and characters. We think customers will enjoy this fresh, humorous, and touching series.”

    Of course, you can watch the pilot right now if you’re a Prime member. All ten episodes of the first season will land on the 26th of next month.

    Image via Amazon Studios, YouTube screenshot

  • Amazon’s Five New Pilots Land Aug 28

    Amazon’s Five New Pilots Land Aug 28

    Amazon’s next batch of original shows, five new comedy and drama pilots dubbed the ‘third pilot season’, will debut on August 28th.

    This batch of potential series is arguably the most promising yet, pulling in some heavy hitters both in front and behind the camera.

    The five new shows dropping in a few weeks include The Cosmopolitans, Really, Red Oaks, Hand of God, and Hysteria.

    The Cosmopolitans is a comedy starring Adam Brody and Chloë Sevigny as part of “a group of young American expatriates in contemporary Paris searching for love and friendship.”

    Really comes to us from Broken Lizard’s (Super Troopers, Beerfest) Jay Chandrasekhar and stars alongside Scrubs‘ Sarah Chalke and Hellboy‘s Selma Blair, along with Chandrasekhar himself. Really is a half-hour dramedy about “four hard-charging suburban Chicago couples trying to grasp on to their dwindling youth.”

    Red Oaks, the last pilot Amazon announced back in July, is being produced by famed director Steven Soderbergh. It stars Craig Roberts (Submarine), Paul Reiser, Richard Kind, and Jennifer Grey, and is being directed by David Gordon Green of Eastbound & Down acclaim. “A coming-of-age comedy set in the “go-go” 80s that is equal parts hijinks and heartfelt, Red Oaks is about enjoying a last hurrah before summer comes to an end—and the future begins,” says Amazon Studios. It revolves around an assistant tennis pro at a country club, and its “colorful” cast of characters.

    Moving on to the two hour-long dramas, Hand of God is the television debut of director Marc Forster (Monster’s Ball, World War Z). It stars Sons of Anarchy‘s Ron Perlman as Judge Pernell Harris, “a hard-living, law-bending married man with a high-end call girl on the side, who suffers a mental breakdown and goes on a vigilante quest to find the rapist who tore his family apart.”

    Finally, Hysteria tracks a “strange, psycho-physiological illness that manifests itself in violent fits and spasms and then begins spreading in the community through technology.”

    “We are delighted to be able to bring Amazon customers new shows from some of Hollywood’s most talented actors and creators,” said Roy Price, Director of Amazon Studios. “There is something for everyone in this season and I can’t wait to hear our customers’ feedback when they premiere later this month.”

    As is the case with all of Amazon Studios’ original pilots, viewer feedback will play at least some part in whether or not each show is picked up for a full series run.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Amazon Offers $1 Video Credit If You Let Them Take Their Sweet Ass Time Shipping

    Amazon Offers $1 Video Credit If You Let Them Take Their Sweet Ass Time Shipping

    Amazon Prime members: As long as you’re in no rush to get your new yoga mat, Amazon will give Prime members a $1 Amazon Instant Video credit if you let them take their time in shipping it.

    They’re calling it “No-Rush” shipping, and it’s the latest move from a company who is really struggling with rising shipping costs.

    This is apparently a limited time offer. The credits appear to last for three months, as credits applied today expire on October 31st. Though it doesn’t sound like much, all you have to do is be extra patient a few times and you’ll have enough credits to rent a movie (that’s not available for free via Prime Instant Video, of course).

    The free “No-Rush” shipping option now appears next to the free standard shipping, free two-day shipping, and $X one-day shipping options at checkout.

    Most Amazon Prime members are Amazon Prime members because of the free two-day shipping. Above all else, that’s major draw of the subscription. But Amazon hopes that every now and then, you won’t really need whatever you’re ordering that quickly.

    It’s obvious that Amazon is doing everything they can to reduce shipping costs. Remember when they hiked the price of a Prime subscription $20 earlier this year? Amazon cited rising costs for fuel and transportation when explaining the new price.

    Couple that with the recent release of a disappointing earnings report and you can see why Amazon would do anything, however small, to increase their margins.

  • Amazon Prime Music Adds Songs, Gets Betterish

    Amazon Prime Music Adds Songs, Gets Betterish

    Amazon has just added “hundreds of thousands of songs and hundreds of prime playlists” to their nascent streaming service Prime Music, saying that the new tracks will consist of new material from entirely new-to-the-service artists, as well some additional stuff from artists already part of the Prime perk.

    Amazon Prime Music launched after months of rumors last month, offering around a million free tracks for Amazon Prime members. It doesn’t offer the most recent pop hits – in fact, anything newer than six months old or so isn’t on there. Prime Music also launched without a deal with the largest record label in the world – Universal Music Group.

    Today’s additions, while plenty, don’t do much to change those two hindrances.

    Amazon names some specific additions to the catalog:

    David Guetta, Al Green, Miles Davis, Kendrick Lamar, Linkin Park, Shakira, Deadmau5, Ella Fitzgerald, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Neil Young, DJ Snake & Lil Jon, Young the Giant, A$AP Rocky, Elvis, Oasis, Kacey Musgraves, Ray Charles, Panic! at the Disco, Wyclef Jean, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Skrillex, John Coltrane and many more…

    Some good stuff, clearly – but no big names like Katy Perry or Kanye West (the Universal thing again).

    “The response we’ve had to Prime Music has far exceeded our expectations and we’re excited to make Prime Music even more valuable for Prime members,” said Steve Boom, VP of Digital Music for Amazon. “Prime Music was introduced just over a month ago and we’ve already significantly expanded the Prime Music catalog. Prime members have been telling us how much they love Prime Playlists, so we’re also pleased to offer hundreds of great new playlists to make it easier to enjoy the best of Prime Music.”

    That’s the second time we’ve been told how much Prime Music has exceeded Amazon’s wildest dreams. I’m starting to think that Amazon went into this thing with some pretty low expectations.

    Or at least a good dose of realism. At its current stage, Amazon Prime Music isn’t built to be a “Spotify killer” or anything like that. Spotify boasts well over 20 million songs, while Amazon Prime Music only offers some number over a million (and less than two). It’s a dangling carrot, one meant to help Amazon both acquire and maintain Prime subscribers after the service’s recent price hike. It could develop into something more in the future, but in order to do that, Amazon is going to have to secure some bigger licensing deals.

    Image via YouTube

  • Is Amazon Prime The Fire Phone’s Biggest Selling Point?

    Is Amazon Prime The Fire Phone’s Biggest Selling Point?

    A month ago, Amazon unveiled its Fire phone, an incredibly advanced smartphone apparently aimed at getting more people buying items from their mobile devices than ever before. For than that, however, it’s a way for Amazon to suck more users into its ecosystem, including its popular Amazon Prime service.

    Do you plan on getting a Fire phone? Do you expect the device to become popular? Share your thoughts in the comments.

    This week, Amazon released its first commercial for the device, and it isn’t any of the device’s fancy features being played up. It’s Amazon Prime – a service that has been around for about nine years. Take a look.

    “Prime” is mentioned three times in the thirty-second spot. The whole premise of it is that the kids are watching stuff with Amazon Prime. There were no mentions of “Dynamic Perspective” or “Firefly,” which are two of the most talked-about features of the device, and the things the company really played up at the launch event.

    Even the video title is “Introducing Amazon Fire Phone — Includes One Year of Prime”. The description on YouTube says:

    Now airing the new Amazon Fire phone TV commercial. For a limited time, every Fire phone includes a full year of Prime benefits (a $99 value), including Prime Instant Video (over 40,000 movies and TV episodes), Free Two-Day Shipping, and over one million songs and more. If you already have Prime, we’ll extend your membership for a full year. Fire phone also comes with the innovative Firefly technology, so you can recognize more than 100 million movies, songs, products, books and more.

    Again, this is the first ad Amazon has put out for the device. For a lot of people, who don’t keep up with tech news (and perhaps some who were on vacation when Amazon unveiled the phone), this is going to be their first look at the Fire phone, which makes it all the more interesting that Amazon chose this route.

    It’s not really a surprise that Amazon would play up Amazon Prime in the spot, but it’s interesting that this is pretty much the only selling point they’re bothering to show consumers. It’s pretty smart. A year of free Prime is an attractive offer, because not only do you get access to that streaming video content, you get free two-day shipping on items, and access to over a million songs with Prime Music and half a million free ebooks.

    It’s a limited offer, so they definitely want to push it right away.

    More importantly for Amazon, the offer is bound to get people hooked on all of that, and by way of the phone’s other features and operating system, it gets people hooked into the Amazon ecosystem, which while built using Android, is separate from Google’s and Apple’s. Prime is a competitive advantage, even when it comes to hardware.

    Amazon is finding more and more ways to scoop up users, and even just launched a Netflix-like offering for eBooks in Kindle Unlimited.

    The Fire phone will become available next Friday through AT&T. Another ad is expected to drop before that. It will be interesting to see if Amazon plays up other features in that one, or will just stick with focusing on dangling Prime in front of consumers.

    It’s unclear how long Amazon will continue to offer a free year of Amazon Prime with the device. It probably depends on how well the promotion does from the onset.

    So what are “Dynamic Perspective” and “Firefly” anyway? Well, if you missed the unveiling, we covered it here, and talked about how the device could impact ecommerce here.

    As Amazon explained at the launch, “Dynamic Perspective uses a new sensor system to respond to the way you hold, view, and move Fire, enabling experiences not possible on other smartphones. Firefly quickly recognizes things in the real world—web and email addresses, phone numbers, QR and bar codes, movies, music, and millions of products, and lets you take action in seconds—all with the simple press of the Firefly button.”

    Yep, the phone has a button that lets you point the device at products, and bring up pages to buy them. Businesses are about to have a whole new showrooming element to deal with.

    Do you expect the Fire Phone to be an ecommerce game-changer? Will Amazon’s offer of a free year of Prime entice people to buy it? Tell us what you think.

  • Amazon Offering Two-Day Delivery Inside the EU

    Amazon Offering Two-Day Delivery Inside the EU

    Noting that their delivery systems inside the EU “continue to improve,” Amazon is now offering two-day shipping to Prime customers all across the EU.

    Although customers in the UK have long enjoyed free one-day shipping as Prime members, shipping products stored in fulfillment centers outside the UK has always taken a bit longer – anywhere from three to seven days.

    Now, as reported by The Telegraph, Amazon says that they can ship these products – stored all across the EU – to customers in the UK in just two days.

    “This is another significant step towards what Amazon believes providing the best customer offering across Europe should look like,” Xavier Garambois, Vice President Retail, Amazon EU Sàrl told The Telegraph. “Our long standing goal has been to offer an unrivalled service for customers regardless of where they are based in the EU and the systems that we have created to deliver to any customer, in any EU country from any of our 25 European Fulfilment Centres continue to improve.”

    A VP of EU operations at Amazon added that the company will be looking to include even more products for this shipping window.

    As of right now, Amazon says that they can get the number of products to top three million by the end of this year.

    Image via Olli, Flickr Creative Commons

  • Amazon Prime’s Discount for College Kids Hits Canada

    Amazon Prime’s Discount for College Kids Hits Canada

    Amazon Student, the program that allows college and university kids to receive free and then discounted Amazon Prime memberships, has just landed in Canada.

    Eligible college students can sign up today and receive six months of Amazon Prime for free (two-day shipping). After that, they’ll pay 50 percent of the full subscription price for Amazon Prime, which is currently $39 a year (it’s $49 in the US, after Amazon’s Prime price hike).

    Once you begin paying for Prime, you’ll get the other benefits like Amazon Prime Instant Video and Prime Music.

    “We want students to feel empowered by offering a program that makes going off to university and preparing for the upcoming semester easy and affordable — where students can get fast, free shipping and have everything they need delivered directly to their doorstep,” said Alexandre Gagnon, country manager for Amazon.ca. “Amazon Student saves time and money and makes it convenient for university students to find deals on room essentials and campus must-haves like electronics, small kitchen appliances and more. Plus, students can find a wide variety of textbooks – all at Amazon.ca.”

    After you graduate or at the end of your fourth year of Amazon Student Prime benefits, whichever comes first, your subscription will automatically upgrade on its anniversary date into a full paid subscription for Amazon Prime, according to Amazon. So make sure you keep an eye on how long you’ve had your student membership.

    Image via Amazon.ca

  • Extant Lands on Amazon Prime This Weekend

    Extant Lands on Amazon Prime This Weekend

    If you’re curious about Halle Berry’s new sci-fi drama Extant and missed the premiere on CBS earlier this week, you’ll be able to stream it this weekend via Amazon Prime Instant Video.

    It’ll pop up on Sunday, July 13.

    Extant‘s super-fast appearance on a streaming service comes from a deal Amazon made with CBS back in January to bring new episodes of the show to their catalog just four days after they air on CBS. It’s the same model that Amazon and CBS have for another series, Under the Dome.

    “Judging from the customer response we got to Under the Dome last summer, we know Prime members are going to enjoy having access to Extant just four days after it airs on CBS,” said Brad Beale, Director of Digital Video Content Acquisition for Amazon. “We love innovating on behalf of our customers and are fortunate to be able to collaborate with CBS to offer this unique model to Prime members.”

    In fact, the Under the Dome deal was such a huge hit with streamers that it was the most-watched series of the summer on all of Amazon Prime Instant Video.

    “Last summer with Under the Dome, CBS and Amazon demonstrated how a broadcast network and premium streaming service can maximize the viewer experience while building a hit television show,” said Scott Koondel, Chief Corporate Licensing Officer, CBS Corporation. “Using this proven model again for Extant, we’re excited to offer TV viewers and Prime members another big event, summer series.”

    Berry has said that she feels like the character she plays in the new series is “in her DNA.” The show has received decent reviews so far, with the most enthusiastic calling it “compelling” and “elegant” and the least affectionate calling it “copycat” and “bogged down.”

    Image via Extant CBS, Facebook

  • Amazon Rounds Out New Pilot Season with Soderbergh-produced ‘Red Oaks’

    Amazon Rounds Out New Pilot Season with Soderbergh-produced ‘Red Oaks’

    Amazon’s third round of pilots, inarguably its most promising set of original content yet, has just been finalized with the addition of a new comedy, Red Oaks. Amazon describes it as “a coming-of-age comedy set in the “go-go” 80s that is equal parts hijinks and heartfelt, Red Oaks is about enjoying a last hurrah before summer comes to an end — and the future begins.”

    The new comedy stars Craig Roberts (Submarine), Paul Reiser, Richard Kind, and Jennifer Grey. It’s being produced by Steven Soderbergh and directed by David Gordon Green, of Eastbound & Down acclaim.

    “Greg Jacobs told me this idea on the set of Behind the Candelabra and I told him it was great and that he should start working on it immediately,” said Steven Soderbergh. “Then, while we were on the set of The Knick he gave me the script he wrote with Joe Gangemi and I said, ‘This is ready to go, let’s find a director.’ We very quickly agreed to approach David because the humor was sharp without being mean, and we felt he would understand and appreciate that.”

    Here’s Amazon’s full synopsis:

    Red Oaks is set in 1985, and features college student David Myers who is both reeling from his father’s heart attack and conflicted about what major to declare in the fall. Myers gets a summer job as an assistant tennis pro at the Red Oaks Country Club in suburban New Jersey and while there, he meets a colorful cast of misfit co-workers and wealthy club members including an alluring art student named “Skye” (played by guest star Alexandra Socha) and her corporate raider father “Getty” (played by Reiser).

    “To be able to collaborate with Steven, David and Greg, three of the most highly-regarded creators in Hollywood, is an absolute pleasure,” said Roy Price, Director of Amazon Studios. “Red Oaks brings together not only top-notch talent, but also a hilarious and wonderfully written script that we think our customers will enjoy seeing come to life later this year.”

    Clearly feeling the pressure from the likes of Netflix, Amazon Studios seems to have really stepped up its pilot game and announced a handful of shows with a lot of potential. Red Oaks joins Hand of God, which features Ron Perlman as a hard-living preacher, and Hysteria, a thriller about an epidemic that spreads, in part, via social media. Also coming to Amazon’s third pilot season are the Jay Chandrasekhar dramedy Really and The Cosmopolitans.

    Like all of Amazon’s pilot rounds, viewer feedback will help determine which shows receive full season orders.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Amazon’s New Pilot Is About an Epidemic Spreading via Social Media

    Amazon’s New Pilot Is About an Epidemic Spreading via Social Media

    Amazon Studios has just added another drama to its third round of original pilots. This one’s called Hysteria, and it’s an “hour-long character-driven thriller.”

    From Amazon’s short description, Hysteria appears to center on some sort of disease or mass panic that’s spreading on Facebook and Twitter.

    Amazon says:

    Starring Mena Suvari (American Beauty) as “Dr. Logan Harlen,” James McDaniel (Orange Is The New Black) as “Carl Sapsi,” Josh Stewart (The Dark Knight Rises) as “Ray Ratajeck,” Adan Canto (X-Men: Days of Future Past) as “Matt Sanchez,” Laura San Giacomo (Saving Grace) as “Grace Pelayo” and T.R. Knight (Grey’s Anatomy) as “Carter Harlen,” Hysteria follows a doctor (Suvari) who returns to her hometown of Austin, Texas to investigate a growing epidemic that appears to be spreading through social media.

    “We’re very excited to be collaborating with Universal Television and Alcon Television Group to bring Hysteria to life for viewers,” said Roy Price, Director of Amazon Studios. “Shaun is known for creating shows with layers of mystery, depth of character and topical themes. His script immediately hooked us and we can’t wait to hear what customers think.”

    The Shaun here is Shaun Cassidy, who produced the well-received but short-lived ABC sci-fi series Invasion.

    “I can think of no better platform than Amazon to tell a story that explores the price of fear and the very real threat of viral connection becoming contagion,” said Cassidy.

    Hysteria is the fourth pilot confirmed for Amazon’s upcoming round. It joins the Jay Chandrasekhar dramedy Really, the Ron Perlman vehicle Hand of God, and The Cosmopolitans.

  • Downton Abbey Season 4 Hits Amazon Prime

    Downton Abbey Season 4 Hits Amazon Prime

    If you’ve been waiting to take the trip back to Downton Abbey, today’s the day to start your journey (if you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber).

    Season four of the hit PBS drama has just landed on Amazon Prime Instant Video.

    Prime Instant Video is the only subscription streaming service that will have season four, as well as the previous three seasons. Last year, Amazon won the exclusive streaming rights to Downton Abbey past, present, and future – stealing the show away from Netflix and Hulu.

    The deal with PBS Distribution stated that Prime Instant Video would retain exclusive streaming rights through season five, were it to happen (which we now know it will).

    Snatching Downton Abbey away from Netflix and Hulu was a big move at the time, and one that Amazon said was based on Downton‘s overwhelming popularity on the service. Apparently, the move payed off – Amazon now says that Downton Abbey is the most-watched TV show in the history of Prime Instant Video.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Amazon: Prime Music Has Already ‘Exceeded Expectations’

    Amazon: Prime Music Has Already ‘Exceeded Expectations’

    It’s been a little over a week since Amazon launched Prime Music, the company’s new music streaming service for Amazon Prime subscribers. At first glance, Prime Music didn’t dazzle us with a vast catalog or anything else particularly shiny. It launched without any content from Universal Music Group, the largest record label in the world. Prime Music is also six months behind – in that it doesn’t offer the most recent hits.

    But still, it’s free streaming music. Nobody is going to complain about that. But will people really use it?

    According to Amazon – yes – quite a few Prime subscribers took advantage of the new streaming service over the past week. The company says that in the time since launch, users have “streamed tens of millions of songs—that’s millions of hours of music—and added tens of millions of songs and more than a million Prime Playlists to their music libraries”

    “Prime members across the country have been rockin’ out this week, exceeding our expectations for how well this new benefit would be received,” said Steve Boom, VP of Digital Music for Amazon. “We’re humbled and thrilled to see just how enthusiastically customers have responded to this service. We’re looking forward to continuing to add new artists, albums and playlists so we can keep Prime members singing, dancing, driving, working out and rocking to their favorite music.”

    Once again, free music is free music. And if it’s there, people are going to take it.

    But of course, the true goal of Prime Music is to help Amazon both acquire and maintain Prime subscribers after that $20 price hike. Amazon has to give people as many reasons as possible to pay $99 a year for a Prime subscription, and adding a bunch of free music is a good carrot to dangle (even if it’s not the tastiest carrot out there). These are some impressive initial streaming figures, but whether or not Prime Music will succeed in boosting Prime subscriptions remains to be seen.

  • Amazon Prime Music Launches As a Pretty Nice Dangling Carrot

    Amazon Prime Music Launches As a Pretty Nice Dangling Carrot

    As rumored, Amazon has just launched Prime Music, their new music streaming service for Amazon Prime subscribers that offers unlimited, ad-free streaming on members’ phones, tablets, and computers.

    Prime Music will be available to devices that support the Amazon Music app, including iOS device, Android devices, Kindle Fire, and the web. Amazon wants Prime Music to feel like an appendage to your own, personal Amazon Music library – and that’s what it does.

    Amazon promises over one million songs in its free Prime catalog, and touts artists like Daft Punk, P!nk, Bruno Mars, Blake Shelton, The Lumineers, Bruce Springsteen and Madonna. What Prime Music doesn’t have is anything from Universal Music Group – the largest record label in the world. Amazon went ahead and launched Prime Music without completing those negotiations.

    Also, Prime Music will not offer the most recent pop hits – in fact, anything newer than six months old or so will not be available.

    But there really are no restrictions, as long as you’re an Amazon Prime member. Prime Music may not have it all, but if they do have what you’re looking for, you can listen to it on-demand, as many times as you want. It is most definitely not a “Spotify killer” or anything close, really.

    But what is it then? Free music for Prime members and just one more carrot to dangle at people thinking about signing up for Prime.

    “When Prime launched nine years ago, the program offered Free Two-Day Shipping on one million items. Today, that selection has grown to over 20 million items. Prime Instant Video now offers unlimited streaming of more than 40,000 movies and TV episodes, up from 5,000 at launch three years ago. And the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library now features more than half a million books to borrow for free,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO. “Today we’re introducing Prime Music—more than a million songs from some of music’s best artists, plus hundreds of expert-programmed Prime Playlists, all at no additional cost. Prime Music is the latest great addition for Prime members and we think they’re going to love it.”

    The interface is easy to navigate, with Amazon-curated playlists (a couple hundred already) and a “PRIME” denotation next to every track that’s past of Prime Music. Prime Music even offers offline playback.

    Game changing? No, not in its current form. Amazon says they are dedicated to adding new tracks at a rapid rate – but that doesn’t really change the fact that Prime Music is simply the less-exciting streaming service in a pool full of streaming services.

    But the goal was never to take on Spotify and its ilk. What Amazon has done here is give people who were concerned about the Prime subscription price hike a consolation prize. Sure, a yearly membership costs $20 more a year than it used to, but here’s a million free songs. Not a bad deal when you look at it that way.

    Image via Amazon