Amazon Recognizes Linux Users With Launch Of Streaming Service
By Doug Caverly
Staff Writer
Article Date: 2011-03-02
A little over a week ago, Amazon announced the launch of its own movie streaming service. Netflix fans responded with a "meh" over the selection, while some bloggers speculated about how it might expand in the future. But the key point for readers of this article is that Amazon took Linux users into account when designing the service.
Linux users have traditionally had few legal options when it comes to streaming services. Netflix, the dominant force in this space, never bothered to acknowledge the operating system, and neither did Blockbuster prior to its bankruptcy.
Susan Linton reported following Amazon's big launch, however, "Well, Amazon.com has come to the rescue by allowing the streaming of recent premium movies to Linux machines. . . . Their system requirements are an Intel Pentium 4 2.33GHz processor or equivalent, Firefox 1.5 or above, the most recent versions of JavaScript and Adobe Flash Player, and a broadband Internet connection."
This development represents a nice win for the Linux community. Granted, it would be better if Netflix would put out the figurative welcome mat, but Amazon's a large and important company, so any sort of acknowledgement must be considered good.
Also, if you bear in mind that Amazon's streaming service was created some time after Netflix's offering, it's possible to imagine that Linux has increased in importance during that timespan.
Anyway, the Amazon movie streaming service is available as part of its Amazon Prime service if that makes the deal sound any better. The selection's not terrible, either.
About the Author:
Doug is a staff writer for WebProNews. Visit WebProNews for the latest eBusiness news.
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