Roku expands to Amazon

Roku expands to Amazon

When first released, Roku’s digital video player was marketed and sold by Netflix as the Watch Now player for your TV. Since then Roku has separated themselves from Netflix to tackle other streaming media.

The digital video player still streams Netflix Watch Now content from your instant queue, but now it also allows the user to rent movies from Amazon Video On Demand. Amazon offers over 40,000 movies and TV shows online. Netflix has about 12,000 titles online. Amazon has more big-name titles Netflix doesn’t have rights to stream.

Netflix Roku player front

Rentals start at $0.99 for TV programs, and $1.99 for movies. Roku also claims you can purchase films for as little as $5.99, but I don’t know how the little box is supposed to store the content as it only has enough storage to buffer online streams. Perhaps the video streams and stays in your Amazon video library indefinitely. (I wonder what happens when a studio pulls streaming rights from Amazon for a title you “own.”)

This cheap ($99) player looks more attractive every day.

About Steven Kippel

Steven Kippel has worked as a systems designer for a leading high-end audio/video custom integrator in Southern California since 2003. He is responsible for researching new technologies and integrating them into existing systems and new construction projects. He has designed several high-profile systems for discriminating clients on the cutting-edge of technology. When he is not hard at work, Steven is spending time with his wife, playing with his band or promoting concerts and bands in the Inland Empire. His favorite bands include The Cure, U2, Eisley, Living Sacrifice and DragonForce.

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