Amazon.com announced that it is offering streaming for movies and video to its "prime" members at no additional cost as part of the $79 per year membership fee.

This means that prime users can have access to over 5,000 movies and tv shows for streaming to their tv's and computers. By offereing this service, Amazon.com appears to be going toe-to-toe with Netflix on its formidable movie rental turf.

However, due to Amazon's lack of DVD by mail service, it remains to be seen how it plans to narrow the gap in overall users and marketshare.

Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes has reitereated the viability of its video rental business model. He's convinced that the company's movie-by-mail and kiosk services compliments its neighborhood store locations.

The company feels that by providing quicker access to new releases, consumers will find its service more appealing, and strenghten its competitive advantage.

Blockbuster is pulling all the stops in trying to stay in the video rental game it pioneered. It's latest plan to offer a trial service for videogames-by-mail, would allow subscribers to rent both movies and games.

Subscribers can choose to rent unlimited games (one (1) out at-a-time) during the monthly billing period for an additional $7.99. Among the Video games offered will be the Wii, PS2, PS3 and Xbox360.

The company's only 'pay when you play' plan allows unlimited rentals through the mail if you have the "unlimited plan", however, you can only rent one game at a time.

For those on a capped or "limited mail only" plans, the game will count towards their number of maximum allowed rentals.

According to Blockbuster, "Currently, we are only testing this offer in the Cleveland, OH area with plans to expand this nationwide before the end of the year"

Fox and Netflix have reached an agreement that would allow access to its television and film content in a 28-day window, following the release date to the general public.

The agreement is another effort by Netflix to ensure that its subscribers continue to receive streaming content of popular tv shows and blockbuster movies. Netflix subscribers are able to watch movies instantly from its growing library of titles through various devices such as the Roku.com - Revolutionary Home Entertainment for On Demand Movies! Click here!

The long awaited sale of the ipad, as in every Apple product launch drew a throng of masses eager to lay their grip on the device. The ipad went on sale on Monday, April 5, 2010. While no one can say for certain the long term marketing outcome, the ipads popularity at least in the near term is unmistakeable.

Netflix, the online movie rental service appears to have benefitted from its early adoption of the device and pitched in at the number two position on the ipad.

The wave of subscribers signing up for the service on the device, appeared to have given its stock a huge boost on wall street, sending it to a 52 week high. The device allows subscribers to stream and watch movies online.

Much it seems would depend on the volume of ipads sales going forward, but for now it's all good.