Google Inc.’s YouTube is joining the likes of Apple, Amazon.com and Netflix with a new online movie rental service in the United States.

On its blog, YouTube said it will begin testing the service Friday with five movies from the Sundance Film Festival.

The service is not yet available in Canada, but a Google spokesperson said the company hopes to expand the service to several countries in the future.

Partnering with YouTube? Actor Robert Redford, president of the Sundance Film Festival, at a press conference Thursday in Park City, Utah.Partnering with YouTube? Actor Robert Redford, president of the Sundance Film Festival, at a press conference Thursday in Park City, Utah. (Peter Kramer/Associated Press)

YouTube wants to start with a limited amount of content and gradually expand to additional partners from diverse industries as the product improves, the spokesperson said.

via CBC News – Technology & Science – YouTube starts renting movies online in U.S..

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On Wednesday, the video site started rolling out a feature that shows users videos that their friends have shared on Facebook while they are on YouTube.com in an area called Recent Activity. Previously, the area, visible only to users who log in, displayed videos recommended by a user’s YouTube friends. That meant that for the many users who don’t connect their accounts to the accounts of other YouTube users, it was empty.

via YouTube Shows More Videos From Friends, Via Facebook – Digits – WSJ.