Amazon announces 4K streaming for Instant Video service

There is nothing worse than watching movies that appear as if they had been shot in the dark on a camcorder at the cinema or streaming movies that are good quality but are always buffering. Even Amazon agrees. Yesterday, the ecommerce giant announced the availability of 4K Ultra HD streaming on its Amazon Instant Video service starting with a limited selection of content.

For now the service is only available in the US and Amazon has not released information on when will other countries get the roll out.

Amazon joins Netflix as the only other major streaming service to offer 4K streaming. The high-resolution streams will be available via the Amazon Instant Video app on compatible Ultra HD smart TVs.

Movies, TV shows, and Amazon Original Series content can now be watched in HD by Amazon Prime subscribers. Unlike Netflix, Amazon has not added additional cost for Prime subscribers who want to stream in 4K.

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The service is available through the Amazon Instant Video app and supports models from LG, Samsung, and Sony, and it will add more next year. Though this is so, unless the smartphone can handle 4K, it is best to stream 4K on a TV set that handles 4K.

Immediately available is a selection of content from Sony Pictures, including American Hustle, Captain Phillips, Alpha House, Transparent, Life on Normal Street, Orphan Black and Godzilla.

Amazon Studios also promises a line-up that will be available later this year and next year which includes Mozart in the Red Oak, Bosch, The After, Hand of God, and Jungle. Amazon Studios also promises to debut seven new pilots next year in 4K and these includes Man in the High Castle , Cocked, Salem Rogers, Down Dog, Mad Dogs, Point of Honor and The New Yorker Presents.

For movie lovers who would like to have the movies as mementos and not stream them, movies are available in 4K for purchase at $19.99. The list of movies available for purchase is impressive and includes some really good movies, Captain Phillips, After Earth, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, American Hustle, Elysium, Godzilla, Hancock, Moneyball, The Da Vinci Code, The Mask of Zorro, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, The Monuments Men, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Patriot, Think Like a Man Too, This Is the End, etc.