First Look: Amazon Prime Video screens on Apple TV
The free Amazon Prime Video app for Apple TV is here and it’s layout and design is similar to versions on other streaming devices, such as Roku.
At the time of this writing, the app is not appearing in the ‘Featured’ section of the Apple TV AppStore nor is it appearing in the ‘Shopping’ category. To find it, use the ‘Search’ function with the word ‘Amazon’.
After installing the app, users are asked to log in to their Prime account either via the device or on the web.
Once logged in, the full Amazon library of originals, licensed movies, and purchased content are all available to stream.
The good news…The app is highly promoting content included with a Prime account.
The bad news…Non-Prime content, while searchable, cannot be bought through the app, but only online through a web browser. Once rented or bought, non-prime content will appear through the Apple TV app for viewing.
Non-Prime content, while searchable, cannot be bought through the app, but can be linked to your Amazon account for viewing through it.
Another piece of good news…The app is also compatible with the Apple TV’s universal search feature, meaning results from Amazon programming will show up in the TV App alongside content from Apple, HBO, and others and can be added to the “Up Next” queue of shows and movies. Users can then immediately view shows without needing to navigate to the Amazon app itself.
Amazon Prime Videos will now show up in your TV app listings.
At present, Amazon Prime Video has a small library of 4K content. A search at the time of this writing showed 61 videos support 4K.
4K content is sparse on Amazon Prime TV…at least for now.
Many industry watchers had speculated privately for some time that the app’s debut would come just before the season two release of the motoring TV series, The Grand Tour, which begins on Friday, December 8th, one of the highest profile shows in the Amazon Prime Video lineup.
With the Prime app now released, season two of The Grand Tour is ready for viewing when it premieres Friday, December 8th.
In order to use the Prime Video app, you must have a third-generation Apple TV or newer device.
About the Author
Brad Gibson Brad is co-founder and editor-in-chief of BESTAppleTV.com. He has been a technology reporter since the late 1980s having previously worked for MacUser, MacFormat, and iCreate magazines, as well as MacNN.com, MacObserver.com, MacCentral.com, MacMinute.com, and Macworld.com. He hosted and produced the MacFormat This Week podcast for three years. He was also a reporter, editor, and producer for the Associated Press and United Press International.
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I have the Apple TV 4K model and the new amazon prime app will only output in stereo. I use my TV and DVD to stream amazon prime and both of those let Dolby Digital thru. The Apple TV allows Netflix and Vudu to send a Dolby Digital signal but not the amazon app.
It’s the Amazon App itself that isn’t passing through Dolby 5.1