LoveFilm app for PS3, developed by Pushbutton. Both LoveFilm and Pushbutton have now been bought by Amazon.

Two interesting pieces of news from Amazon.com this morning could improve the company’s online video offerings and help lay the groundwork for the expected launch its new tablet computers.

  • A deal between Amazon and NBCUniversal will add select Universal Pictures movies for free streaming to Amazon customers who subscribe to the $79/year Amazon Prime service. That brings the total catalog of Prime Instant Videos to more than 9,000 movies and TV shows, according to the company. The umbrella Amazon Instant Video service offers 90,000 streaming movies and shows to rent or buy.

The elephant in the room is Amazon’s rumored plans to release its own tablet computers this fall, competing with Apple’s iPad. Strong content will be key to that initiative, given the media consumption habits of existing tablet owners. And in the long run, at least, the expertise of Pushbutton would help Amazon develop and design user interfaces for those types of experiences.

The Universal deal follows a similar agreement announced with CBS earlier this month.

But the Seattle company still has a long way to go to make its mark in online streaming. Reporting its quarterly results this week, Netflix said it hasn’t yet seen any impact from Amazon boosting the library of content available free to Amazon Prime members.

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