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View SlideshowNetflix burst on the scene in the late 90s as a DVD rent-by-mail company. A few years ago, Netflix launched the “Watch Instantly” feature which allows subscribers to stream movies on their computers.
Now, through partnerships with various CE manufacturers, Netflix is giving its 10 million subscribers the ability to Watch Instantly right on their television. Whether you are looking for a set-top box, gaming console, blu-ray player or TV, odds are you can find one that’s Netflix-ready.
Netflix in a Box
The Roku Digital Video Player, also called the “Netflix Player by Roku” made a huge splash when it hit the market in May of 2008. Retailing at a bargain $99, the Digital Video Player flew off the shelves, and has since earned a spot in Time Magazine’s Top 10 Gadgets of 2008 as well as garnering plaudits from the Wall Street Journel, CNET, and WIRED. “The Roku sold out within two weeks of first being available,” said Steve Swasey, vice president of Corporate Communications for Netflix.
The Roku DVP has one advantage over all the other Netflix-ready devices: built in wireless. Some households may find connecting an Ethernet cable to the back of a device sitting next to the TV to be an inconvenience, particularly if the home’s modem is located elsewhere. When asked how streaming Netflix wirelessly as opposed to wired might impact video quality, Roku’s Tim Twerdahl, vice president of consumer products, had this to say: “When the DVP prepares content for streaming, it determines the network speed and optimizes the playback so users will not have to experience the dreaded “buffering” interruption.”
The Roku also tags every ten seconds of content with a still image, so when users fast forward or rewind Netflix content they can do so contextually, with an idea as to where they are and where they are going. Not bad for a hundred-dollar box. Just recently, Roku announced that users can now browse through Amazon’s wide selection of PPV and On-Demand titles.
The other Netflix-ready box would be the Xbox 360, which retails for twice the cost of the Roku DVP at $199. Xbox 360 owners need an Xbox Gold LIVE membership ($49.99 per year) in addition to the Netflix subscription in order to stream Netflix content from the Xbox 360 to the television. Xbox 360 users can also browse the Xbox LIVE Marketplace for games and videos, including TV episodes, video shorts, and feature-length films. A separately purchased Xbox Wireless Network Adapter ($99) enables wireless connectivity with the Xbox 360. In early February Netflix announced that over 1 million Xbox LIVE users had activated the Netflix feature on their Xbox 360.
Netflix the Blu-ray Way
Two Blu-ray players on the market pull double duty as connected Netflix streaming devices: the Samsung BD-P2500 ($399.99) and the LG BD300 ($349). Both units connect to the Internet via Ethernet, enabling Netflix viewing and firmware updates, as well as opening up the world of BD-Live (Samsung’s player is BD-Live 2.0-ready).
I have had the NetFlix service for some time. When I purchased our TiVo HD unit in December, we were able to view about 10% of our movies using the “Watch Instantly” mode. Using the computer for watching the “Watch Instantly” is OK but the TiVo method is much easier.
This article leaves out a lot of devices. PlayON is a piece of software that will stream to almost any uPnP compliant box. I use it to stream to a a DLink DSM-520. As an aside it will also stream directly from Hulu and the CBS web site which adds a lot to the available content. While the Dlink box is more expensive, this kind of setup allows you to stream any movies, photographs and music you might have stored on your PC or server.
alan
I have had the NetFlix service for some time. When I purchased our TiVo HD unit in December, we were able to view about 10% of our movies using the “Watch Instantly” mode. Using the computer for watching the “Watch Instantly” is OK but the TiVo method is much easier.
Too bad instant viewing does not have anywhere near the selection of normal renting. I guess it is smart for them though since the more people who buy devices (or hook up their laptops or PC’s) and stream more often then rent will save them on having to pay for shipping people DVD’s or blu-rays, which is why they throttle in the first place.
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we have media in almost everyone room. we want to be able to het as much hi quality product over the network as possible. Currently we are using the old tv model with an Amazon tie that had no HD. We have the tivo hd dvrs in all rooms too. what we want to be able to get as much as possible on line and ne abl to share it in all rooms.
any suggestions on where to start?
The more I read the more confused I get.