Amazon Instant Video - anyone use ?

andyred

andyred

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Hi

Thinking of trying Amazon Instant video and was wondering if anyone uses it ?

Does it work okay ? Does the download or stream work well ?

Trying to find more information about the SD / HD options - is there a difference (noticeable) to the HD option ?

Do either SD or HD options come through as 5:1 surround sound ?

Daughter really wants to watch Game of Thrones season 4 and fancies Breaking Bad as well...

Any help / advice very much appreciated

Cheers
 
I currently have Netflix, NOWTV movies and Amazon Prime Instant and they all stream well I cannot think of any streaming issues.. my only gripe with Amazon is the pay for stuff and its kind of a non issue but still gripes me..

so with Netflix I pay a monthly sub and anything on Netflix I can watch with that sub, same with NowTV movies one price watch anything, now with that in mind I will go onto Amazon Prime Instant which I pay a monthly sub for see something I fancy click on it and whoops its a PPV because I have ventured away from the free with prime section..
 
strumstrum said:
I currently have Netflix, NOWTV movies and Amazon Prime Instant and they all stream well I cannot think of any streaming issues.. my only gripe with Amazon is the pay for stuff and its kind of a non issue but still gripes me..

so with Netflix I pay a monthly sub and anything on Netflix I can watch with that sub, same with NowTV movies one price watch anything, now with that in mind I will go onto Amazon Prime Instant which I pay a monthly sub for see something I fancy click on it and whoops its a PPV because I have ventured away from the free with prime section..
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That's great thanks for the information. Not looking at Amazon Prime at the moment - just the instant video, but certainly something to bear in mind the PPV on prime !!!

Will have a look at Netflix and see if they do what she'd like to watch...

Of the stuff you watch, do they come down as 5:1 sound ???

Cheers
A
 
andyred said:
That's great thanks for the information. Not looking at Amazon Prime at the moment - just the instant video, but certainly something to bear in mind the PPV on prime !!!

Will have a look at Netflix and see if they do what she'd like to watch...

Of the stuff you watch, do they come down as 5:1 sound ???

Cheers
A
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I am not on Amazon Prime but I pay the £6PM for Prime Instant Video which is what you are looking at isn't it?

not sure RE 5.1 as I am primarily a music listener so I have the TV hooked to the hi fi and listen in stereo only
 
strumstrum said:
I am not on Amazon Prime but I pay the £6PM for Prime Instant Video which is what you are looking at isn't it?
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Hi

Don't think so (could be wrong though) - thought it was a rent or buy service as and when wanted. I think it's what used to be love film ?

But the information on their site is minimal at best. Trying to work out what the difference (in real terms) is between their SD and HD options and sound quality etc.

Cheers
 
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okay this is what yo need to do have a good look at all the stuff available and the main things you are after and see how many have the orange check sign with Prime written next to it, that means you watch free with either a full on Amazon Prime membership or with a £6pm Prime Instant Video sub.. if they do not have the Prime with orange check then they are PPV full stop whether you have a sub or not. this is where Netflix might be better for you RE Breaking Bad as they currently have 5 seasons available to watch whenever you want for the one monthly fee..

remember with all the streaming services you can cancel at any time which is easy to do in your account settings, and if you have never used them before you should get 30 day trial.
 
I found the prime streaming to have a very dark picture. It made "Vikings" unwatchable for me. Don't have any picture issues on any other service or any TV issues. I gave up on Amazon for this reason. Netflix the picture is absolutely fine.
 
I don't think Amazon have Game of Thrones?
 
We have a smart TV in the family room which isn't connected to our main SKY TV. I use a mix of Amazon Prime & Netflix (or milk flakes as the little ones call it) and both work fine.
 
Steep said:
I don't think Amazon have Game of Thrones?
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Just done a quick search on Amazon

It's giving me:

Game of Thrones season 1 / season 2 / season 3 / season 4

None are free through Prime though - they're £1.89 per episode or £17.99 per season
 
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Steep said:
I don't think Amazon have Game of Thrones?
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They do. Season 4 is £1.89 per episode (£2.49 for HD). I believe NOWTV does Sky Atlantic catchup so it's probably on there at no extra cost.

Breaking Bad is also on Amazon but all episodes are at the above cost. Netflix has all 5 seasons included in the £5.99 monthly sub.
 
Cheers guys, when I searched it turned up nothing.

Having just gone fibre unlimited I'm looking to do something similar myself.
 
I started the free trial and ended it about 10 minutes later as it won't play on my phone or chromebook, which is all I watch my movies on.
 
fabs said:
They do. Season 4 is £1.89 per episode (£2.49 for HD). I believe NOWTV does Sky Atlantic catchup so it's probably on there at no extra cost.

Breaking Bad is also on Amazon but all episodes are at the above cost. Netflix has all 5 seasons included in the £5.99 monthly sub.
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Hmm now that's a thought re Now TV - will have a look at it...
 
Signed up to Amazon yesterday and had a GoTfest all of season 4 in one go with no hiccups, no freezes or flickers. I watched it in SD though not HD which might have made a difference, actually it did make a difference, I'm a few quid richer for it :)
 
Steep said:
Signed up to Amazon yesterday and had a GoTfest all of season 4 in one go with no hiccups, no freezes or flickers. I watched it in SD though not HD which might have made a difference, actually it did make a difference, I'm a few quid richer for it :)
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Thats excellent Hugh, thanks very much. :)

Picture quality wise - I presume SD is as good as a DVD ? What was the sound quality like ?

Looks like I'll be signing up shortly

Thanks
 
Sound was fine, I'm not sure the SD picture was as good as DVD, probably best to hire an SD film to check for yourself, you can do this without signing up for Prime.
 
Steep said:
Sound was fine, I'm not sure the SD picture was as good as DVD, probably best to hire an SD film to check for yourself, you can do this without signing up for Prime.
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Cheers Hugh

Did you watch on a PC etc or TV ?

Reading some info, it's very poor on an iPad, but fine on other devices...
 
On my TV Andy, it's a 'smart' Sony.
 
HuntingMartians said:
I found the prime streaming to have a very dark picture. It made "Vikings" unwatchable for me. Don't have any picture issues on any other service or any TV issues. I gave up on Amazon for this reason. Netflix the picture is absolutely fine.
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Just finished watching 2 seasons worth of Vikings on Amazon, no problem with the HD picture on my set. I don't know how they managed to make a whole series like this with only one actor in it (I could only see Katheryn Winnick) but it works :D
 
You can usually get a free 30 day trial of prime, can't you?
I have both but I'd say Netflix has the edge. Prime is really good though. The free instant shipping when you buy stuff is awesome, they even deliver on Sundays!
 
I've stopped using all of these online streaming services as the quality is just too crap. I now use Love Film. One monthly payment that's no more than most streaming services, and I get an actual blu ray disk to watch.

I never got why people buy nice plasma TVs and then stream compressed 720 to it.... and PAY for the privilege.
 
Pookeyhead said:
I've stopped using all of these online streaming services as the quality is just too crap. I now use Love Film. One monthly payment that's no more than most streaming services, and I get an actual blu ray disk to watch.

I never got why people buy nice plasma TVs and then stream compressed 720 to it.... and PAY for the privilege.
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depends how you plan your life, as far as films go I am a what and when 5 minutes before so waiting for a disc to drop through the letterbox just doesn't cut it, I will choose a reduction in quality that does not affect me if it means I can decide I want to watch a film and be watching it 2 minutes later.
 
Well just to update thread for anyone else wondering about Amazon instant Video (not Prime)...

Bought game of thrones on amazon instant video, opted to go for SD version. Picture quality excellent as was sound quality - appears SD gives you a stereo sound download, HD gives you 5:1 sound download.

No problem whatsoever with download - no buffering, freezing, pausing etc etc.

Would certainly recommend it, thanks to everyone that replied and helped out.

A
 
I've always thought that if the film is good you don't notice the picture quality (unless it's really terrible), if you are worrying about the picture being a bit iffy then the film isn't holding your attention enough.
 
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