Apparently, that Xbox 360 was a wise AV investment. Years after its debut, Microsoft keeps adding to the game console, making it one mighty entertainment machine.
The latest get is Amazon Instant Video, which is now streaming on the Xbox 360. That opens up a world of movies and TV episodes for the Xbox 360, or at least 120,000 of them. And if you’re already paying $79 a year for Amazon Prime, you’ll have unlimited access to 17,000 movies and TV episodes at your fingertips — literally.
Using the Kinect accessory, Xbox owners can access Amazon Instant Video titles via hand gestures or voice commands. Just give a shout, and you’ll have Downton Abbey, Mad Men or Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol playing without having to touch a remote.
The Amazon Instant Video app is available as an exclusive to Xbox LIVE Gold subscribers, in the Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Once loaded, users can find purchased or rented movies and TV episodes in the Your Video Library section of the app.
“Amazon Instant Video on the Xbox 360 console is among one of the most requested video features from our customers, so we are excited to offer yet another way for customers to enjoy Amazon Instant Video,” said Anthony Bay, Amazon.com vice president for video. “With Amazon Instant Video on Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE Gold members can start enjoying new release movies, current TV episodes and Prime Instant Video right away. Our integration with Kinect for Xbox 360 lets customers play and search for videos with the wave of a hand or the sound of their voice, and our Whispersync technology allows customers to seamlessly switch between watching on their Kindle Fire and their Xbox 360 console, without losing their place. Also, Watchlist is a great new feature that lets customers keep a running queue of videos they want to see in the future.”