I'm becoming disillusioned with Amazon

[fifth_column]

I've been streaming amazon instant video on my blu-ray player for the last year.  Recently I've been getting a "can't access service" message when trying to use amazon.  Netflix, Youtube, and other services work, just not Amazon.  So I contacted amazon and was told my device is no longer on the "compatible hardware list" and that's why it doesn't work.  They even made the statement that they made the change to the instant video app in order to "improve customer satisfaction."  I can't figure out how reducing the number of devices their app works on is going to improve anything, and told them so. 

Anyway, I like their instant video so I figure I'll get a new blu-ray player, even though my current one is a 2014 model.  However, it turns out that the "compatible hardware list" does not include any blu-ray players newer than 2014!  When I asked a customer service rep about a 2015 Sony blu-ray player I was explicitly told it was not compatible! 

WTF Amazon!?!?

[Jocassee]

do you have a smart TV? if so, you should be able to network and use Amazon with no sweat. If not, i have no idea what to tell you.

[TechMan]

Probably trying to drive sales of their own devices.

[RocketMan]

Probably trying to drive sales of their own devices.

That's a definite possibility.  Amazon still works on my 2014 Vizio smart TV.  I need to check my 2014 Blu-ray player in the gym.  It streamed Amazon the last time I used it some months ago.

[K Frame]

No BluRay players newer than 2014?

That is really, really.... weird.

[K Frame]

That's a definite possibility.

Ah.... interesting.

They have to pay for Jeremy, James, and Richard, and the new motoring show somehow!



I am going to be righteously pissed if they pull that *expletive deleted*it with my XBox.

[RocketMan]

Ah.... interesting.

They have to pay for Jeremy, James, and Richard, and the new motoring show somehow!



I am going to be righteously pissed if they pull that *expletive deleted*it with my XBox.

Now that you mention it, that makes it more of a possibility.   

I need to check my XBox, too.

[KD5NRH]

Interesting how torrent sites don't have this problem.  Just sayin'.

[Brad Johnson]

Do a firmware update on your BR player. See if that helps. My player is supposed to update automatically but never does.

Someone at Amazon definitely has craniorectitis. If they think killing off compatibility with a HUGE section of their viewer base isn't going to rightfully tick off a few folks and lose them a fair chunk of their viewer subscriptions, they're nuts.. They should he expanding compatibility, not limiting it.

If I had Amazon Video and suddenly found the only way to receive programming buy (or more likely lease) their box, I'd give them a big ol' eff yoo and jump right back to any one of the multiple other streaming services which work just fine on third-party platforms.

Brad

[Ben]

They are killing compatibility with their own older devices as well. My original Kindle Fire is incompatible with Prime Music, and music is one of the main functions of that tablet. I've taken to streaming prime music off an older Android phone, which is actually around the same age as the Kindle, but will accept all the latest Amazon Music updates. The Kindle will not, and displays a "no longer supported" message when I attempt to install the latest version of the music app.

[Jocassee]

Now that you mention it, that makes it more of a possibility.   

I need to check my XBox, too.

XBOX works great

[Jocassee]

They are killing compatibility with their own older devices as well. My original Kindle Fire is incompatible with Prime Music, and music is one of the main functions of that tablet. I've taken to streaming prime music off an older Android phone, which is actually around the same age as the Kindle, but will accept all the latest Amazon Music updates. The Kindle will not, and displays a "no longer supported" message.

The fire is what--3 years old? That's crazy. Spread the word far and wide on that one, amazon deserves to get burned.

[fifth_column]

I've tried updating the firmware, etc.  Amazon has told me they've made changes recently.  I can't imagine my device is the only affected.  It seems underhanded to me that they're pushing their own hardware, and probably charging other manufacturers to get products on the compatibility list.  I don't know if that's the reason for my situation, but I wouldn't be surprised.  And yeah, I'm debating continuing my prime membership.  The problem is that I like amazon better than the others I've tried.  Both for the video content and the application interface.  Maybe I'll just upgrade to a smart TV and be done with it.

[makattak]

Wii seems to still be working fine. How old is that now? This specific box is 7 years old and I'm sure the technology is even older.

[41magsnub]

XBOX works great

Heck yeah, I decided to finally get with the times and connect up my XBox 360 to the Internet.  I have had it for a lot of years, it is the old white box no internal storage and no built in wi-fi model.  Slapped some random unused usb hard drive I had laying around on it, put in some powerline networking equipment we had laying around at the office and never used, and bingo..  now  I can stream all kinds of stuff through it to the TV, including Amazon.  Should have done this years ago.

[RevDisk]

I use a Roku box for all my streaming services. Works fine. Cheap, stable, never had any issues with it.

[Ben]

I use a Roku box for all my streaming services. Works fine. Cheap, stable, never had any issues with it.

That's what I use. Simple and stable.

[brimic]

No problems with roku or xbox for me either.

[cordex]

I got a Fire stick for $19 when it was on sale last October. So far it works fine for all my Amazon streaming needs.

[cornerrow]

Probably trying to drive sales of their own devices.

You have a good point there. Same strategy plan with Apple apps and devices.

[GigaBuist]

Probably trying to drive sales of their own devices.

That's incredibly unlikely given Amazon's policy of making everything a service.  Long story short interoperability is very key to their success. Whereas Google makes random niche apps that don't play well with anything else Amazon refuses to do it.  If you build something it WILL play with others in an open manner.

If they have to kill old interop ability to make it "nice" they will.  Sucks for the consumer with the old device but that happens.  I have a smart TV of some kind with Amazon/Hulu/Netflix apps on it and I just assume it will be junk for those purposes in 3-4 years.  I could be wrong though.

My Roku devices have always kept up with progress.  I love them little buggers.  I doubt my Xbox 360 will be end-of-lifed anytime soon, despite being ancient, on account of it being able to process way more than streaming movie data. 

[AJ Dual]

It's mainly just a poor legacy support situation. Amazon is benefitted by every subscription for streaming they can get without having to sell you hardware, which they most likely sell as a loss-leader, unless they're hoping Alexa stations will drive more verbal impulse buys of various items.

I suppose there's monitoring of some sort their newer hardware could do, that legacy devices that are no longer supported can't, however, I fail to see what it would be, since by definition, streaming is an "opt in" activity.

[Ben]

I suppose there's monitoring of some sort their newer hardware could do, that legacy devices that are no longer supported can't, however, I fail to see what it would be, since by definition, streaming is an "opt in" activity.

Kinda why I found the dropped support for the older Fire to be weird. I'm not an app expert, but I don't understand why Amazon Music still streams on it, but Prime does not. It doesn't seem like the difference between regular streaming and prime playlist streaming would require such a change that an older Kindle OS can't do it, especially when older generic Android OSs can.

The only reason I can see for it is that they want you to buy the newer hardware, but as you say, those are likely loss leaders. It seems like it would be more profitable for them to let you keep streaming, and buying, music on the older devices.

[AJ Dual]

More than enough IT and engineering/technical types in all sorts of fields, and those of other professional fields here to know all about Hanlon's Razor.

[fifth_column]

Now I'm not sure what to think.  Last night Amazon worked on my blu-ray player, after a couple of failed starts.  Amazon video has always been hit or miss, at least on this device.  Their service could certainly be more reliable.  I think AJ is probably right about the poor legacy support.