Amazon Prime members to get unlimited video streaming, a la Netflix?

By Jeffrey Van Camp January 31, 2011

2011 may be an important year for Amazon. The company is set to launch its own Android app store and now it may be taking on Netflix as well. The online retailer has had On Demand video streaming for some time now, but the service has not taken off like competing products Hulu and Netflix. However, Engadget reports that Amazon may take on Netflix directly, offering free unlimited streaming of more than 5,000 videos to those who subscribed to Prime, a free two-day shipping service Amazon offers at a cost of $79.99 per year.

amazon-video-free-unlimited-streaming-leaked-screen-jan-2011 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The screenshot above shows a button with the words “unlimited streaming” and “Prime instant videos” on it. We are unable to verified the accuracy of this screenshot as Amazon has removed this feature (if it ever existed). Nevertheless, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard rumors that Amazon is developing an instant streaming service. Back in December, rumors circulated that the online retailer is developing a competitor to Netflix. The company’s recent purchase of Lovefilm, the European equivalent of Netflix, seems to verify this rumor.

Does Amazon have a shot against Netflix? Well, maybe. At $79.99 per year ($6.67 per month), Amazon has already undercut its competition on price. Netflix charges $7.99 for its Instant Streaming-only service, which adds up to $95.88 per year. However, Netflix has signed many high profile exclusive deals for content and has a larger library of streaming titles. Additionally, Amazon will have major catchup to do if it hopes to get its software on the wide array of devices Netflix is available on such as the Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation, iOS devices, several IP TVs, and a number of set-top boxes like Boxee and Roku. Is Amazon prepared to spend large amounts to fast track app development?

Topics

Jeffrey Van Camp

Former Digital Trends Contributor

As DT's Deputy Editor, Jeff helps oversee editorial operations at Digital Trends. Previously, he ran the site's…

Mobile

The best tablets in 2024: top 11 tablets you can buy now

Disney+ app on the iPad Air 5.

As much as we love having the best smartphones in our pockets, there are times when those small screens don't cut it and we just need a larger display. That's when you turn to a tablet, which is great for being productive on the go and can be a awesome way to unwind and relax too. While the tablet market really took off after the iPad, it has grown to be quite diverse with a huge variety of products — from great budget options to powerhouses for professionals.

We've tried out a lot of tablets here at Digital Trends, from the workhorses for pros to tablets that are made for kids and even seniors -- there's a tablet for every person and every budget. For most people, though, we think Apple's iPad Air is the best overall tablet — especially if you're already invested in the Apple ecosystem. But if you're not an Apple user, that's fine too; there are plenty of other great options that you'll find in this roundup.

Computing

How to delete a file from Google Drive on desktop and mobile

Google Drive in Chrome on a MacBook.

Google Drive is an excellent cloud storage solution that can be accessed from numerous devices. Whether you do most of your Google Drive uploading or downloading from a PC, Chromebook, or mobile device, there’s going to come a time when you’ll need to delete a file (or two). Fortunately, the deletion process couldn’t be more straightforward. We’ve also put together this helpful guide to show you how to trash your Drive content a couple of different ways.

Computing

Windows 11 might nag you about AI requirements soon

Copilot on a laptop on a desk.

After recent reports of new hardware requirements for the upcoming Windows 11 24H2 update, it is evident that Microsoft is gearing up to introduce a bunch of new AI features. A new report now suggests that the company is working on adding new code to the operating system to alert users if they fail to match the minimum requirements to run AI-based applications.

According to Albacore on X (formerly known as Twitter), systems that do not meet the requirements will display a warning message in the form of a watermark. After digging into the latest Windows 11 Insider Build 26200, he came across requirements coded in the operating system for an upcoming AI File Explorer feature. The minimum requirement includes an ARM64 processor, 16GB of memory, 225GB of total storage, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite NPU.