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Is Amazon Prime streaming only?


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Old 10-11-2016, 19:58
mhstevej
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Hi,

I'm a download/streaming newbie, so apologies for what might be a simple question.

I am considering going for Amazon Prime Video (yes, tempted by The Grand Tour), but I'm concerned over our broadband speed. We only get just over 1.5Mb/s, so what I'd like to check is, is the Amazon system streaming only, or can you download to a PC for future watching.

If it is streaming only, then what chance do we have of it working satisfactorily with our download speed.

And secondly - can you stream and/or download the same program to different devices - eg, a Fire TV stick plugged in to a TV, and then also to a laptop.

Thanks.
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Old 10-11-2016, 20:11
ney
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I have never used Amazon Prime Video but most streaming services recommend a download speed of at lest 2mb for SD streaming
3mb and over for anything streaming in HD.
I do use Netflix but I have fibre broadband with BT as well as BT TV.
I still know a few friends from mums side of the family that stay a mile or so from Falkirk and they struggle to watch anything streamed in HD with a 2.5mb download speed but they can watch streamed SD stuff almost fine.

Darren
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Old 10-11-2016, 21:12
grahamlthompson
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Hi,

I'm a download/streaming newbie, so apologies for what might be a simple question.

I am considering going for Amazon Prime Video (yes, tempted by The Grand Tour), but I'm concerned over our broadband speed. We only get just over 1.5Mb/s, so what I'd like to check is, is the Amazon system streaming only, or can you download to a PC for future watching.

If it is streaming only, then what chance do we have of it working satisfactorily with our download speed.

And secondly - can you stream and/or download the same program to different devices - eg, a Fire TV stick plugged in to a TV, and then also to a laptop.

Thanks.
Some content can be downloaded to a mobile device for off air viewing. You can use two devices at the same time on the same account. My grandson watches different content at the same time on his smart TV as I do. You can watch the same programme as many times as you want.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/cus...deId=201460820

You can try it out for free.
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Old 11-11-2016, 09:15
ovbg
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You can't download to a computer, only a mobile device. (phone or tablet).

I am not sure if the downloaded content can be casted to a TV via Chromecast or Apple TV, perhaps if someone knows this, then pass it on. (I won't be able to check until next week myself). But if this is the case, then you will be pretty much set.

If it did work with Chromecast, you could get yourself a cheap chromecast stick, download the shows onto your mobile device, then easily send them (wirelessly) to the big screen to watch in all their glory.

I'm concerned over your broadband speed (is 1.5mb even considered broadband?) Why is it so slow? I presume you are somewhere rather remote. If you live in a city with 1.5mb, perhaps there is another way to find something better?

Of note, the BBC iPlayer also allows offline downloads and that can be casted to your TV as well. All 4 have offline downloads, but I believe they block casting for licensing reasons.
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Old 11-11-2016, 10:30
johnathome
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That BB speed does seem really slow, my Father iives in a small town in Wales and gets nearly 5 mb.

What speed do the online checkers say you should expect?
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Old 11-11-2016, 10:52
daveh75
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I am not sure if the downloaded content can be casted to a TV via Chromecast or Apple TV, perhaps if someone knows this, then pass it on. (I won't be able to check until next week myself). But if this is the case, then you will be pretty much set.
You can't


If it did work with Chromecast,
you could get yourself a cheap chromecast stick, download the shows onto your mobile device, then easily send them (wirelessly) to the big screen to watch in all their glory.
It doesn't.

Of note, the BBC iPlayer also allows offline downloads and that can be casted to your TV as well. All 4 have offline downloads, but I believe they block casting for licensing reasons.
All4 has supported Chromecast for the best part of a year now...
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Old 11-11-2016, 11:21
SkipTracer
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Hi,

I'm a download/streaming newbie, so apologies for what might be a simple question.

I am considering going for Amazon Prime Video (yes, tempted by The Grand Tour), but I'm concerned over our broadband speed. We only get just over 1.5Mb/s, so what I'd like to check is, is the Amazon system streaming only, or can you download to a PC for future watching.

If it is streaming only, then what chance do we have of it working satisfactorily with our download speed.

And secondly - can you stream and/or download the same program to different devices - eg, a Fire TV stick plugged in to a TV, and then also to a laptop.

Thanks.
If you do decide to go for Prime try holding off until Black Friday in a couple of week’s time because you may, and I say may, get an offer for a year’s Prime for £59.

It’s was what I was going to do but after a couple of months after cancelation of my then current Prime they gave me the discount anyway so I signed up again.
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Old 11-11-2016, 11:23
ovbg
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You can't & It doesn't.
Thanks for the confirmation. So Prime doesn't chromecast downloads, only streaming. I have to check if they airplay then. This would be another option, if a bit more expensive.

All4 has supported Chromecast for the best part of a year now...
Are you saying that All4 begun casting downloaded content? I tried this a couple of months ago, and both AirPlay and Chromecast was blocked for downloaded content, but only allowed for streaming. That's great news that they added casting for offline content.
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Old 11-11-2016, 11:40
derek500
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The Grand Tour will be streamed in UHD too. I assume a minimum 15-20mb download speed will be needed?
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Old 11-11-2016, 11:43
daveh75
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Are you saying that All4 begun casting downloaded content? I tried this a couple of months ago, and both AirPlay and Chromecast was blocked for downloaded content, but only allowed for streaming. That's great news that they added casting for offline content.
Sorry misread your post, I don't know about downloaded content as I've never tried
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Old 11-11-2016, 11:48
daveh75
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The Grand Tour will be streamed in UHD too. I assume a minimum 15-20mb download speed will be needed?
For UHD, obv. But you know Amazon is adaptive right?
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Old 11-11-2016, 12:31
derek500
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For UHD, obv. But you know Amazon is adaptive right?
Yes. I get about 10-15 seconds in 1080p and then it switches to UHD.
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Old 11-11-2016, 13:45
Philip Wales
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^^ Yep me too I also find if I continue watching say the next episode it goes into UHD much faster around 3-4 secs.
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Old 13-11-2016, 19:07
mhstevej
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That BB speed does seem really slow, my Father iives in a small town in Wales and gets nearly 5 mb.
Welcome to the world of the "forgotten". Our exchange is "fibred" but we are 4 miles or so from it, and that 4 miles is very old copper. We tried to go to fibre, but the length and quality of the copper line to the exchange meant it just didn't work.

What I don't know is that when Ofcom/Openreach etc say "95% of people can get superfast fibre broadband" whether they include people in our position, ie, connected to a fibred exchange but with rubbish copper. If so, then the government stats and promises are meaningless.

Back to my original question - thanks to all for your replies. Pity about not being able to download to a laptop. I've bought the Firestick and will sign up to the free trial of Prime, and see how it goes.

Ta, Steve
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Old 14-11-2016, 14:29
artesea
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I mainly watch Amazon Prime on my mobile when on the train as they are one of the few services which allow offline downloads.
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Old 14-11-2016, 18:13
David_Flett1
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If you do decide to go for Prime try holding off until Black Friday in a couple of week’s time because you may, and I say may, get an offer for a year’s Prime for £59.

It’s was what I was going to do but after a couple of months after cancelation of my then current Prime they gave me the discount anyway so I signed up again.
Keep an eye on AFTV news, it is very good at advance discounts on Amazon, also good for Fire TV users with news of software updates, issues, new apps and even third party apps that you can sideload.

http://www.aftvnews.com/
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Old 15-11-2016, 10:19
David_Flett1
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Amazon Prime on offer for 4 days at £59 ends 18th November. Maybe they will also have the offer on Black Friday but to be certain take advantage now.
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Old 16-11-2016, 17:02
c00kiemonster72
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Welcome to the world of the "forgotten". Our exchange is "fibred" but we are 4 miles or so from it, and that 4 miles is very old copper. We tried to go to fibre, but the length and quality of the copper line to the exchange meant it just didn't work.

What I don't know is that when Ofcom/Openreach etc say "95% of people can get superfast fibre broadband" whether they include people in our position, ie, connected to a fibred exchange but with rubbish copper. If so, then the government stats and promises are meaningless.

Back to my original question - thanks to all for your replies. Pity about not being able to download to a laptop. I've bought the Firestick and will sign up to the free trial of Prime, and see how it goes.

Ta, Steve
I'm in the same boat as you, connected to a fibre enabled exchange but live too far from it for BT/Openreach to be bothered to allow us to use Fibre. In the meantime I live with a crappy 1.5meg BB speeds.
I was wanting to sign up to Amazon prime for The Grand Tour, but have refrained as my internet is just too slow for Amazon Prime to work effectively.

Hopefully some nice people will make the shows available through other means, which I can then download and watch offline (fingers crossed)
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Old 17-11-2016, 09:49
grahamlthompson
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I'm in the same boat as you, connected to a fibre enabled exchange but live too far from it for BT/Openreach to be bothered to allow us to use Fibre. In the meantime I live with a crappy 1.5meg BB speeds.
I was wanting to sign up to Amazon prime for The Grand Tour, but have refrained as my internet is just too slow for Amazon Prime to work effectively.

Hopefully some nice people will make the shows available through other means, which I can then download and watch offline (fingers crossed)
Some Amazon Prime titles can be downloaded for off line viewing. I won't know till tomorrow if The Grand Tour is downloadable.
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Old 17-11-2016, 11:19
ovbg
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Some Amazon Prime titles can be downloaded for off line viewing. I won't know till tomorrow if The Grand Tour is downloadable.
I am guessing it will be as it is an Amazon Original. The reason some titles can't be downloaded is because the original distributors want more money for this or have conflicting license agreements.
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Old 17-11-2016, 15:06
Philip Wales
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^^ Maybe, maybe not it's not got it's world wide release until late December, until then it's just the UK, Germany and USA.
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Old 18-11-2016, 08:57
ovbg
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^^ Maybe, maybe not it's not got it's world wide release until late December, until then it's just the UK, Germany and USA.
I'll know for sure when I get home tonight, but interestingly enough it seems that Amazon accidentally switched off their geoblocking making some Australians think it was launched in their country. They could sign up and begin streaming original content (but some report only original content) and this included the Grand Tour.

Who knows eh...
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Old 18-11-2016, 09:32
SkipTracer
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Episode 1 (The Holy Trinity) in the Grand Tour series is now available for streaming but I can’t see any download button on my phone or on the PC so this looks like a no go.

One odd thing with this that I’ve never come across before is the need to enter my purchasing PIN before the streaming starts. I’ve only got the PIN set so I can’t accidently buy something yet if a particular stream is free with Prime it does not asked for the PIN however this is free but asked for the PIN.

Thought I better add before anyone gets excited, when I said free I mean free to Prime subscribers.

Last edited by SkipTracer : 18-11-2016 at 09:43. Reason: Info added
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Old 21-11-2016, 12:51
ovbg
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Episode 1 (The Holy Trinity) in the Grand Tour series is now available for streaming but I can’t see any download button on my phone
Interesting as it is on my phone (iOS). I have successfully downloaded the first episode of the Grand Tour.
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Old 21-11-2016, 17:11
SkipTracer
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Interesting as it is on my phone (iOS). I have successfully downloaded the first episode of the Grand Tour.
Just had another check to see if this has been updated and I’m now getting the download button on my tab and phone.

Perhaps when I tried it last Friday I was using the standard Amazon app as that seems to only allow streaming but the Amazon Video app also allows the downloading.

I learn something every day.
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