Sneak Peek: Be Among the First to Try the New Amazon Unbox

A download is fine, but it's time for the next thing in digital video: instant gratification. Wanna see? If you act quickly, you can be a part of our limited beta program and test the new Amazon Unbox: hit movies and TV shows that play right now on your PC or Mac. Click, watch and click some more. Oh, and did I mention that the first two minutes are free? Yeah, it's addictive. In fact, I've got the new season of The Closer calling my name, so I've gotta go. But before I do, I'll mention that all our beta testers will receive a $5 Unbox store credit, so click here to sign up now. UPDATE: The beta is full, but you can click here to be notified as it expands. -- Stephanie Reid-Simons

Comments

[R. Johnson on July 17, 2008 at 03:33 PM]

This is not a criticism, but I would like to know how one can enjoy watching a TV show on a screen the size of a PC. Some people have 40+" plasma TVs and some people watch a show on a computer screen. Just curious.

[Corinne S. on July 17, 2008 at 05:28 PM]

I know a lot of people who enjoying watching TV and movies in bed on laptops. I also know a few folks with gorgeous 30" computer screens. :)

For others, you can connect your computer to your TV or even get a dedicated Media Center-type PC that you leave connected to your HDTV all the time. With all these instant video options becoming available, that's becoming a more worthwhile endeavor to undertake.

[R. Johnson on July 17, 2008 at 07:41 PM]

To Corinne S.

Thanks so much for your response. It certainly makes sense to me. You have to educate us non-techs periodically.

[Kimberly Herbert on July 17, 2008 at 08:09 PM]

Will the new system be usable on the TiVo?

[David Horiuchi on July 17, 2008 at 10:15 PM]

Different strokes for different folks. Some people watch TV on their iPods!

[Justin on July 18, 2008 at 09:22 AM]

I have my PC hooked to my LCD 32" TV. Works fine. Looks good. More new TV's come with PC hookup now.

[John Allen on July 21, 2008 at 11:48 AM]

Surely it's a question of screen size x viewing distance. A 21-inch PC monitor from say 4 feet away gives much the same effect as a 40-inch TV from 8 feet - except that the PC monitor probably gives a higher-quality image.

[Mark Landis on July 25, 2008 at 10:57 PM]

Adding my name to those that hope the new download/view technology will be applicable to we TiVo users. The only downside to ordering a movie via Unbox, is the slow download speed. Even with a blazing fast broadband connection, (both up and down) the speed is agonizingly slow. Xbox is much faster, but Unbox has a MUCH better selection.

I'd love to see the on-demand option be available to the many TiVo users.

thanks

[Michael on July 26, 2008 at 10:45 AM]

Here's to making it work on TIVO'S!!!
That would be the ultimate for me--I love my PC's-- but watching a movie on them????????
Come on Amazon-you are already helping sell TIVO's--make this work on mine!!
TIVO RULES!!!
AMAZON IS AWESOME!!
HOOK THEM UP TOGETHER!!

[regx on August 01, 2008 at 04:31 AM]

I would really like to see this work with MythTV. Recently the FREE MythTV channel guide from Zap2it went away so now we have to pay. It is only $20 a year, but this is proof that Linux Users will pay for a good service. Since this is the first platform independent movie rental service, I would love to see a MythTV plugin!

I would also love to see a streamable download service that doesn't use flash. FLV is fine, it is just that Adobe isn't 64 bit friendly.
A simple API for purchasing and retrieving a stream would allow for lots of players / browsers on lots of platforms.

[bop da on November 01, 2011 at 12:16 AM]

If you act quickly, you can be a part of our limited beta program and test the new Amazon Unbox: hit movies and TV shows that play right now on your PC or Mac. Click, watch and click some more. Oh, and did I mention that the first two minutes are free? Yeah, it's addictive. In fact, I've got the new season of The Closer calling my name, so I've gotta go.