netflix ready device
Netflix and Roku today announced the long-awaited Netflix Player, a $99 box for playing Watch Instantly movies on a TV. [...] Customers can connect the Netflix Player to a home network via a wired or wireless network, and then activate the Netflix Player through the “Netflix Ready Device Activation” link on the “Your Account” page. [...] Netflix customers with a $8.99 or higher plan will have unlimited access to the growing library of 10,000 movies and TV shows available for Watch Instantly. [1]
I tried the Xbox streaming this morning and the video looks horrible. [...] The current Netflix on-demand selections are, admittedly, limited, but there are many great movies, with a decent number of newish ones in the mix. [2]
While Netflix currently streams video at “near DVD quality,” the Netflix Player is HD-ready and will support HD video when Netflix offers it (I’ve been told that Heroes is close to HD quality). [1]
Redbox, the largest U.S. movie-rental kiosk operator, will include Blu-ray titles in machines at “select locations in a limited number of markets nationwide,” said Gary Lancina, VP of marketing at Redbox, who declined to specify how many machines will have Blu-ray discs or the size of Redbox’s Blu-ray inventory. [...] Both boxes claim DVD quality, and as soon as I can test the two boxes I’ll post a comparison. [2]
The Netflix Player is extremely small, about the size of a paperback book, and includes a simple remote control for operating the player. [1]
Blockbuster has just launched the Blockbuster ONDEMAND service featuring the 2Wire MediaPoint digital media player, a set-top box that enables customers to rent movies and watch them on a television. [2]
The Apple TV starts at $229, and the Vudu is $295, but they offer access to new releases (rental or purchase), and the Apple TV also plays music and displays photos. [1]
The genre only lists about 140 titles so far, and the Netflix Blog says there are about 300 titles. [...] We experimented with first-generation WMV3 encodes at 4000kbps and 5500kbps, but settled on second-generation HD encodes with VC1AP at 2600kbps and 3800kbps, which extends their accessibility down to lower home broadband connections. [...] Do Buy: Roku Netflix Player This $99 set-top box will open up your living room to a whole library of video content and is way cheaper than a new Blu-ray player. [2]
I still hope they get the Xbox 360 game going (they hired the My Netflix guy, so that should be sooner, rather than later). [1]
Sources:
[1] Hacking NetFlix : Netflix & Roku Launch $99 Watch Instantly Player (www.hackingnetflix.com/2008/05/
[2] Hacking Netflix (www.hackingnetflix.com)