Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube Seek Big Break on TV
Video content from Amazon Video on Demand, Netflix and YouTube is becoming commonplace on devices that stream Internet content to the living room TV. You'll find some or all of the services pre-loaded on a variety of streaming devices, from connected TVs and Blu-ray players to DVRs to stand-alone media streamers. Below you'll find desciptions of the content offered by each service, along with release dates and pricing information.
Amazon Video on Demand
Available on: Roku, Sony Bravia Internet Video Link, TiVo
Cost: Varies; TV shows are typically 99 cents to rent and $1.99 to buy; new movie releases are typically $3.99 to rent and $14.99 to buy; other movies are typically $2.99 to rent and $9.99 to buy.
Amazon's online video store has scads of titles for rental or purchase; movies show up on the day of DVD release, and TV shows arrive the day after they air. The service also has one great big hole: No Disney releases (think No Country for Old Men or Wall-E) are available. At press time, everything was offered in merely adequate standard definition, though reportedly Amazon is readying high-def offerings.
Once you've rented or bought a video, it goes into a video library that you can stream to any Amazon-compatible device--including a PC or a Mac. The service lacks the iPod/iPhone compatibility of Apple's iTunes, but you can download your purchases onto a handful of other phone and media-player models.
Netflix Watch Instantly
Available on: LG BD-300, Roku, TiVo, Xbox 360
Cost: Included in Netflix subscription (starting at $8.99 per month)
If you're the type who makes a beeline for a video store's new releases section, Netflix's streaming service probably won't impress you; for the most part, the newest, hottest titles aren't here. But if you like to rummage around for older items to catch up on--and obscure stuff you never heard about--you may go gaga for the 12,000 items it does offer, all available for unlimited viewing.
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