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Prime Video cuts Dolby Vision, Atmos support from ad tier–and didn't tell subs

arstechnica.com

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Re: Prime Video cuts Dolby Vision, Atmos support from ad tier–and didn't tell subs

#101

Post by nickjj »

Larrikin wrote: post #17
tpowell wrote: post #5

I’m letting my Prime lapse for the first time in well over a decade. I don’t watch Prime Video much, but this rubbed me the wrong way when they’re making money hand-over-fist on top of recent Prime increases.

I don't use Prime Video much either but this was the straw that broke the camels back and made me really consider the value I was getting from Prime. I realized I was actively avoiding buying from Amazon for multiple fears. Lately fear of getting absolute junk drop shipped from China. I didn't trust them to get anything to me that was sensitive. I had a hard drive delivered in a static bag and one single bubble. They…

> And Prime doesn't even mean two or one day delivery anymore, just free shipping and we'll get it to you when we get it to you.

I never had Prime and shipping is about the same with the only exception that you must spend $35 or more to be eligible for free shipping. It used to be $25+ but they changed it.

I've gotten packages in 1-2 days a number of times and 5-7 days most of the time but I don't order a lot. Usually what happens is I'll order something on let's say a Monday, it won't ship until Friday and then I get it on Saturday.

Re: Prime Video cuts Dolby Vision, Atmos support from ad tier–and didn't tell subs

#104

Post by jhallenworld »

jeffbee wrote: post #10
zelos wrote: post #7

> The Rings of Power... now in HDR10+ for ad-tier users. I'm not sure even the power of Dolby Vision could make Rings of Power worth watching, though.

This is the real problem with Prime Video. The first party content is terrible .

I had such high hopes for Wheel of Time..

Re: Prime Video cuts Dolby Vision, Atmos support from ad tier–and didn't tell subs

#105

Post by steveBK123 »

ggm wrote: post #73

The fifth paragraph goes directly to Qui Bono: It costs them licencing fees to people like Dolby Laboratories. So, it's the kind of choice which drives directly to outflows of revenue. They made a bet less people will cancel, than the net outflow of licences, and those who pay $2.99 are on their way to being made to pay more rather than meeting the licence-tax.

Yes, it's interesting how fast streaming has rotated from fierce competition to be better (more content, exclusive content, big name productions, dolby, 4k, ad-free, etc) to being worse (reduce ability to share / insert ads / what can we cut / slowing the new content pipelines).

Feels like a super accelerated version of seeing capital rush into a space and then right back out.

Everyone is now desperate to stop burning money, and will either cut or merge themselves into break even.

Re: Prime Video cuts Dolby Vision, Atmos support from ad tier–and didn't tell subs

#106

Post by crazygringo »

galleywest200 wrote: post #98
crazygringo wrote: post #92

Having less features on a cheaper tier is entirely normal. Should Amazon have been more up-front about it? I guess. But most people don't even care. If you have the money and space for a full Atmos-enabled surround-sound setup at home and/or true mega-bright HDR screen and regularly watch Prime Video, you're probably already paying the extra $3/mo. for no ads anyways. It's not like any of those features matter if you…

> Atmos-enabled surround-sound setup Headphones. You dont need a full setup to enjoy this feature.

I don't think Prime Video supports even 5.1 surround sound over headphones. I tried pulling up content in Prime Video on my iPad with my AirPods Pro and the sound output in iPadOS says "Spatializing Stereo". Not "Spatial Audio" which indicates receiving an actual 5.1 source.

So with certain other apps yes, but with Prime Video specifically it seems like no. (Nor can I find anything reputable online confirming it's supported.)

Also, the vast majority of content is only 5.1 surround sound anyways. Atmos is still only used in a minority of modern films, and only the tiniest sliver of TV shows.

Re: Prime Video cuts Dolby Vision, Atmos support from ad tier–and didn't tell subs

#107

Post by steveBK123 »

WXLCKNO wrote: post #34
Czarcasm wrote: post #31

I cancelled my Prime within 24hrs of them adding the ads to the base tier. Just isn't worth it anymore.

I only have prime for the actual amazon purchases and don't really use prime much except for the boys and invincible from to time to time. But even with that, this move makes me consider cancelling just to spite them.

I think Man in the High Castle was the last Prime content I watched.. I guess that was 5 years ago, lol.

Re: Prime Video cuts Dolby Vision, Atmos support from ad tier–and didn't tell subs

#108

Post by schlauerfox »

paulmd wrote: post #71
commandlinefan wrote: post #23

It looks like these streaming services have been hemorrhaging cash for years now and they just can't hide it any more. They're going to have to take drastic steps to try to become profitable - remains to be seen whether customers will bite. OTOH, we don't have the infrastructure to go back to the days of DVD rentals.

> OTOH, we don't have the infrastructure to go back to the days of DVD rentals. amazon is perfectly capable of doing the old disc-based netflix/blockbuster model if they want - actually it would complement their pivot into distribution and shipping perfectly. Just some mylar mailers and a bunch of BD-R blanks - licensing is another matter but what is the logistical problem? Print QR code and put on disc, send it out,…

I suppose they mean that your phone, tablet, laptop or smart TV have no optical drive so no way to watch physical media unless it came on a new format like a usbC device or something which the studios historically refuse on copyright infringement reasons.

Re: Prime Video cuts Dolby Vision, Atmos support from ad tier–and didn't tell subs

#109

Post by VanTheBrand »

paulmd wrote: post #71
commandlinefan wrote: post #23

It looks like these streaming services have been hemorrhaging cash for years now and they just can't hide it any more. They're going to have to take drastic steps to try to become profitable - remains to be seen whether customers will bite. OTOH, we don't have the infrastructure to go back to the days of DVD rentals.

> OTOH, we don't have the infrastructure to go back to the days of DVD rentals. amazon is perfectly capable of doing the old disc-based netflix/blockbuster model if they want - actually it would complement their pivot into distribution and shipping perfectly. Just some mylar mailers and a bunch of BD-R blanks - licensing is another matter but what is the logistical problem? Print QR code and put on disc, send it out,…

not saying I agree with the OP but player install base would be the infrastructure hurdle more than the discs

Re: Prime Video cuts Dolby Vision, Atmos support from ad tier–and didn't tell subs

#110

Post by joshspankit »

commandlinefan wrote: post #23

It looks like these streaming services have been hemorrhaging cash for years now and they just can't hide it any more. They're going to have to take drastic steps to try to become profitable - remains to be seen whether customers will bite. OTOH, we don't have the infrastructure to go back to the days of DVD rentals.

Too bad they’re unwilling to seriously consider P2P distribution for streamed media.

Would cut costs way down.

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