Do you remember when we watched movies and TV shows in standard definition? Gasp! Standard definition seems like it’s just so yesterday for most devices, services, and people—but up until now the Amazon Instant Video app for iOS was still stuck in a standard definition time warp. Today, however, Amazon rolled out a new version of the Instant Video app for iOS that brings it into the world of HD and includes a couple other worthwhile updates as well.
The Amazon Instant Video for iOS app works with both the iPhone and the iPad. With the new app users will be able to stream TV shows and movies from Amazon in HD. In addition the app now works with Apple TV via AirPlay. You can stream your content in HD to the big screen instead of watching it on your smartphone or tablet.
The new version of the Amazon Instant Video app also enables Amazon Prime customers to watch content over a cellular connection. Previously Amazon Instant Video only worked if the iOS device was connected to a Wi-Fi network—more or less defeating the purpose of having a mobile device. As great as it might be to watch Amazon Instant video on the go, though, you need to be careful watching HD content over a cellular connection.
Unless you’re on an unlimited data plan with your wireless provider there’s a good chance that streaming HD content will wipe out your data allotment. Streaming an hour of HD content can gobble up nearly 6GB of data. Watching The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 1 in HD over a cellular connection would consume nearly 12GB of data.
The good news is that version 3.0 of the Amazon Instant Video for iOS app also adds new controls that let you customize the download quality and mobile data usage settings. You can customize the content streaming experience to strike an appropriate balance between speed, data consumption, and quality of the video.
It seems a shame to watch show or movie in standard definition when you have a Retina display or an Apple TV connected to an HD TV. Amazon Instant Video for iOS version 3.0 finally fixes that but it may be too little, too late for customers who have already moved on to find other apps rather than waiting for Amazon to catch up.
Still, if you’re an Amazon Prime member and an iOS device user you should definitely download the new Amazon Instant Video for iOS app and check it out. Your membership gets you access to unlimited instant streaming of hundreds of TV shows and movies. The app is free and you’re already paying for the content so you may as well see what’s available.
