tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872447660964013545.post2795367041850760394..comments2024-03-18T22:39:50.137-07:00Comments on A Kindle World blog: Amazon App for Android Phone finally gets Prime Instant Video Viewing. Fire TV (for viewing videos on TV) expanding to the UK and Germany.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05109282436243758435noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872447660964013545.post-2927853686036640712014-09-11T10:25:33.606-07:002014-09-11T10:25:33.606-07:00Or maybe (as some speculate) this awkwardness is t...Or maybe (as some speculate) this awkwardness is the product of having to workaround Google's lack of cooperation in allowing the video app to be in Google Play directly. After all, the inconvenience of it really does nothing to attract new Android customers to Amazon Instant Video when there are so many other options. That doesn't make a lot of sense either though as it drives people to iOS where you have access to most Amazon and Google services and offerings with less compromise (and without the reminders to 'shop, shop, shop' as the apps have no storefront in them).Tom Semplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05127272649086914117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872447660964013545.post-9846775650498920242014-09-10T11:00:08.017-07:002014-09-10T11:00:08.017-07:00(to continue:) So I'm unhappy about the perfor...(to continue:) So I'm unhappy about the performance, the lack of screen casting (probably does not even cast to Fire TV), the need to install Appstore when I prefer to get Android apps from Google Play, and the fact that it is bundled with the Store app. I buy a lot of stuff from Amazon, but prefer to do that with a browser (even on a mobile device) because the mobile app filters out so much of the information I need to reach a purchase decision, and the mobile app doesn't support 'Smile' contributions. I feel like they are imposing by forcing Appstore as well as the full store app on me just to watch video I've purchased or am paying for via Prime membership. It seems the people at Amazon responsible for promoting the Appstore and mobile storefront for buying Stuff got too much say in how Amazon Video was deployed on Android. For me, they have pretty much ruined the experience. (I'll be sharing my thoughts with Amazon of course).<br /><br />Note that tablet support exists, but you have to get the Amazon app from the Appstore instead of Google Play, and that app does support tablets. Since one is already required to install Appstore, there's really no loss of functionality involved.<br /><br />Above, what do you mean by "and Cast Screen to the TV works with Prime"? To Fire TV? What has Prime got to do with it?<br /><br /><br />Tom Semplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05127272649086914117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872447660964013545.post-30711762109466275292014-09-10T08:59:04.465-07:002014-09-10T08:59:04.465-07:00By definition, this app is for Amazon customers. B...By definition, this app is for Amazon customers. But the implementation is bafflingly ugly and awkward. I almost feel like Amazon is trying to make the experience unpleasant. Why is it not just a matter of downloading a single app from Google Play? Instead this is what I had to do on my two Android devices:<br /><br />Xoom (Android 4.1.2): as you note, the Google Play app that supports video is for phones only. 'Amazon for tablets' from Google Play does not have this capability, and it would not let me install the 'Amazon for phones app'. So I had to install the Amazon app from the Amazon Appstore. Which means I have to install the Amazon Appstore (which I have had on there, but it needed to be updated first). Then you need to download the Prime Instant Video app from the Appstore. So I did all of that and tried to watch 'All Is Lost'. It frequently paused and complained about my 'slow' internet connection. I think my Xoom does have some issues with wifi but I don't have issues with other video streaming. I wound up watching the end of the movie on my Fire HD, which worked flawlessly. But all the Instant Video app does is to launch the Amazon (store) app, as far as I can tell. It is pretty ugly, and it feels like watching video with a browser.<br /><br />On my Moto G, I could download 'Amazon' app from Google Play. But to continue, you need to get the Instant Video app from the Amazon Appstore, which meant I'd have to install the Appstore. I stopped at this point, realizing I actually don't want to watch extended video on such a small screen, especially as it doesn't support ChromeCast, and apparently doesn't support Miracast (Fire TV) second screen, either. ChromeCast is great, by the way.<br /><br />I need to run and will have some more comments later. Summarizing: I'm unhappy with what they've done.<br /><br />Tom Semplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05127272649086914117noreply@blogger.com