After months of
speculation and
rumors, Microsoft just announced that it's partnering with Netflix to allow Xbox 360 owners to stream movies from their Netflix queues for no extra charge. Microsoft says the 360 will be the only game system that allows Netflix access for no additional cost -- which isn't entirely accurate, since it sounds like only Live Gold members will get access. Streaming movies can also be shared with your
Live party, allowing you to watch content together. Users will have instant access to their Netflix instant access queues, but it's not clear what resolution the content will be streamed at -- we'd guess it's roughly the same DVD-quality res that
Roku's Netflix streamer is getting for now, but hopefully that'll change when the service launches in the fall with the
new dashboard.
posted Jul 14th 2008 2:51PM
lol where's the story? i just see a title.
Yeah Paul,
And I want to click your affiliate link to do it! SCORE!
affiliate link? wow, that's even lower than "I wrote about this in my blog http://nolife.blogtard.com". And that's saying something.
omgz someone stole the story.
Sony better show up big tom. to top this.
Heh. I was thinking Blockbuster better show up big time. This is going to kick their ass.
X360 FTW, after hearing that, I am now fully commited to 360.
Netflix is the way to go..
Roku Netflix Player box OBSOLETE if you have 360!
Absolutely not. Free to Microsoft means you need to have an Xbox LIVE Gold account. Screw that.
And free streaming for Roku means a paid subscription to Netflix.
This is great, now I can either move my 360 or my roku to the other room and watch Netflix movies on more than one TV without any new hardware!
It is not free with a Gold account. You still need to have a Netflix subscription. You are paying for two services at once where the Roku player is a one time hardware cost.
Some people with Xbox 360's don't already have Gold accounts?
My word!
Thought about getting the Roku box when I saw Netflix had 10,000 movies available for streaming. The first 10 movies I searched for on the Netflix site were only available as DVDs. The streaming feature is a novelty at this point.
At this point, maybe. But this could propel the service forward. If it's an exclusive, I think it's a pretty big scoop over Sony.
I couldn't agree more with you. Hopefully at some point the appropriate licensing will be taken care of and it will become worthwhile.
This is a great idea if you have Netflix. The PS3 could use this. I already watch Blu-rays all the time on it because its like $8.99/month for unlimited (and once you watch Bluray you can't go back to anything else). But having both would be sweet.
Well one would hope they are coming in HD at some time. Granted you would need some pretty big pipes coming into your house to "stream" an HD movie. It would be nice to allow the HD movies to be downloaded to the hard drive to play later, while the SD content movies are still streamed. This could be the reason for the size bump in the Pro and/or Microsoft's stance that they are not adding a HD format drive to the 360 and instead or focusing on the Live Marketplace for HD content. Either way, good thing I have Netflix and a 360. Digital download FTW!!
I don't think so I have an AppleTV and the HD rentals start within 2 minutes and never stop again. I also have a 360 and I cannot wait for this now. I have it connected to my mac and currently have 200 movies and 300 tv shows this is a great announcement.
They'd migrate into HD soon. Let's keep in mind that Xbox Live HD movies are under 4gigs. So, Netflix might do that. But, they may have to increase prices somewhere to cover their bandwidth. I can't see Netflix carrying the expense of HD-required bandwidth at its current rates.
Dream on, man. People are all over Netflix. They have all sorts of new partnerships, money is pouring in, and consumers aren't really complaining. Everyone I know that has Netflix is in love.
Their download service is in its infancy. You're not getting HD Netflix anytime soon, especially since people are excited for SD downloads already. Hell, the streaming now is sub DVD quality. Why waste their bandwith and money when they have absolutely no need to?
Pochi - There's a reason Blu-Ray exists despite the fact people think DVD is good enough. For some people, it isn't.
@FreeRange
Congratulations on missing the point completely.
This will be the deciding factor of keeping/canceling my Netflix subscription. Let's hope they make it available soon. Actually, I even have my 360 on right now, maybe they'd shoot out the update right away.
Netflix better get some more movies available for streaming. I mean I'm a big fan of Ghost Busters, but I can only watch it so many times.
If they fully commit to this project, it would be the best option to save movies from going the way of music.
Assuming all the movies are loaded just like rentals, then you have an inexpensive legal system for all-you-can-watch 480p movies. It's a perfect setup for the stuff my wife and kids watch.
Then buy your favorites on blu ray.
So, what's a PS3? LOL
I don't use XBox 360 or PS3, but you have admit that this a big move forward for the 360.
Sony really has step up to this if it is to be taken seriously.
Well, I gotta say. With neither console you are really missing out!
Well, I'm not big into gaming. The most I'll do is the sports and fitness stuff that shows up on Wii, but I do that when I'm drinking at a bar.
Most of the bars are adding Wii as a free feature here in Houston, Tx.
I follow the console wars because i'm interested in technology.
There's currently a solution for this but it requires Vista, and doesn't support windows XP. Does anyone know if this will remove that limitation? I'm not going to use Vista because it's poopy.
"..but hopefully that'll change when the service launches in the fall with the new dashboard."
If you think you're getting 1080p anytime soon with Netflix streaming you are in dream land.
Great, except you can already do this (and save the movie to ur hard drive) with a media center plugin that extends to you're 360
Well you can exclude people like myself (Mac users) or younger kids with consoles who probably do not have the knowledge/skillset to set up streaming from the PC to the console.
Yeah. Try explaining to your non-techie wife how to get a Netflix movie via the media center PC to Xbox 360 method. She'll roll her eyes and call you a nerd.
Some people like having less to do in order to seek entertainment.
That also requires Vista or XP MCE.
My "non-techie" wife can use vmcNetflix (Media center plug-in) just fine, and in fact my whole family uses it on regular basis. It's a one time setup process, after that it works via nice big GUI.
In fact you don't even need xBox 360 - I use DMA2100 media center extender and NetFlix plugin works fine.
Good thing I'm done with Netflix. Or else I would've wanted a 360. I don't have the money to want such a thing now.
I'm loving having Netflix Watch-Now and Movie Previews on my HTPC (SageTV). The content selection is a bit stale for sure, but there are plenty of good titles and even TV shows in there. Nice to browse from the comfort of your couch - you Xbox360 guys will love it!
Who cares.. most the movies I like are good enough in 420p. Not a big will smith movie watcher. This is a more useful announcement than iphone now does 3g.
Yeah, i still have a regular TV, and until it dies, I don't anticipate replacing it with something HD. Also, 99% of movies are crap, so I doubt I could come up with enough stuff to watch to justify a netflix account. I bet I don't spend more than $3-$4 month renting from the RedBox at the grocery store. Then again, I torrent tons of BBC stuff that I can't get through cable. Top Gear for the win!
it's not the resolution i mind, it's the low bitrate of netflix streams. really cuts into the enjoyment of most flix unless you're not really that interested in that particular movie
No point if it doesn't offer HD.
Didn't netlfix earlier say both consoles were getting this?
I'd rather have this for a PS3.
I just watched the Press Conference and Netflix is 360 exclusive. Never going to PS3.
"Microsoft says the 360 will be the only game system that allows Netflix access for no additional cost"
That implies (to me) that other game systems will have Netflix access, just at additional cost. Otherwise they would just say that the 360 will be the only game system to have Netflix PERIOD! (Assuming the quote is accurate).
OK, after looking at the press release it does seem to say that this is an exclusive. Wow. MS must have thrown some serious cash at Netflix to get that deal.
Fuck that!!! I'm not paying for watching Netflix movies on my 360.
too bad they haven't hooked up the Zune Marketplace to use your Zune pass to stream music to your xbox. Downloading and then playing is a PITA.
Forget it. I'm not paying for watching Netflix downloads. I pay enough by paying for the service, then MS wants me to pay them too? I don't think so. Those who don't use Live Gold should not be the only ones allowed to use the Netflix service.
Oh well. Back to wishing for an option other than buying the Roku unit.
Not sure why you'd object to a $99, silent, low-wattage, dedicated, tiny-footprint device like the Roku unit. I bought one and I'd say it's the best purchase I made this year.
And jeez. $109 total. I already had Netflix, so that was a no-brainer.
^^ @ ZeroCorpse
Totally agree... I don't see why people are bitching about the mighty Roku box... cheap and easy, just how I like em!
Here's to hoping this service comes to the PS3 as well so I can put the Roku in my bedroom!
this feature is actually rather lame. I think I'll have to continue using TPBflix
I love my 360 (although I hate the business practices at Xbox Live customer service), and I love my Roku Netflix Player. I might use this feature, but the Roku still has a lot of advantages:
1. No fan noise. The Roku box is completely silent.
2. Low power requirement. 5W versus the 360's major draw.
3. Cooler-running.
4. Easier to use for non-tech people (wives, parents, etc.)
5. Using Roku moves wear & tear from your 360.
6. Less expensive to replace if the wear & tear kills it.
7. Better remote control (and it doesn't cost extra).
Of course, I'm thrilled that they've decided to implement this on the 360. It's a step in the right direction.
By the way, for those who are complaining about the quality: I routinely get 4-dots on my 5Mbps DSL, and via HDMI the quality looks as good as an upscaled DVD on my HDTV. If you have quality issues, it's directly related to your connection speed and your method of interface with your display. Even component is a huge step down from HDMI with the Roku box.
For me, this means added value. I'll have the benefit of a second Netflix Player in another room of my home. I wouldn't use the 360 method as a primary (too noisy!), but as a secondary Netflix Player, it could be pretty decent.
And finally, to the dillholes yammering about "already being able to do this from Media Center" -- Not everybody has a Media Center PC, and with this direct method you don't need to to have both your PC and your 360 tied up and using energy. Stop assuming everyone has the same setup as you, or wants it. I wouldn't have a media center PC in my home even if it were given to me for free.
@Brent - agreed, the NetFlix Instant stuff isn't the top current hits, but neither are all the movies that you get on HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, TMC, Starz, etc. And the TV show selections are as interesting as most of the basic cable channel crap.
The NetFlix watch now selection could improve, and should improve, but the current selections and picture quality are good enough that I opted to cancel all my pay cable channels except for HBO, and most of my basic digital tier channels.
I use the vmcNetFlix plugin with my XBox 360 and it's great. That plugin is beta and third party supported, so it's not without the occasional glitch, but it's great to have.
An actual XBox 360 application, from Microsoft, on the 360 direct would be fantastic.
A couple of blog posts of mine re: the NetFlix service and the plugin at:
http://thedigitaldive.net/blog/?cat=9
Oh, yeah. And the Roku box requires no additional fees. I pay $10 a month to Netflix and get unlimited Watch Now movies and TV shows. If I wanted to use this on Xbox Live, I'd have to pay an additional $8 a month (isn't that what it is now?) and put up with Microsoft's TERRIBLE foreign-country customer service and shady billing policies (I've had some awful run-ins with them over un-authorized billing).
Maybe I wouldn't use this after all, because I'm certainly never giving MS another dime for Xbox Live Gold.
Btw,
FFXIII Coming to 360.
I'm a little upset about this announcement since Netflix new platform for streaming content was supposed to be licensed to all platforms not just the netflix box, and the 360. it should be a part of the PS3, wii and even BD players in the future. I hope this is them still feeling out the market.
So is this set to release in Fall with the update or now?
WAIT... NO ADDITIONAL COST!?!?!?!?!!
Netflix streaming just for being a gold member... HOLY CRAP i now have a reason to make sure my gold subscription never expires!
From the article, on microsoft.com:
"This movie watching innovation will be available to Xbox LIVE Gold members who are also Netflix subscribers and will let those users enjoy streaming movies from Netflix on Xbox LIVE at no additional cost."
The "no additional cost" is just buzz... you have to have a Netflix account as well as Xbox LIVE. Basically their sentence is misleading... what they intended was that you didn't have to pay anything above and beyond the normal Xbox LIVE fee to use this... IF you're a current Netflix customer.
So I gotta pay for a Live Gold membership and a Netflix membership fee to use this? No thanks.
No.. You don't. If you read, you only need an Gold Membership and the Netflix is included in that fee..
Actually, you would need to have both a gold membership and a netfix member ship, it says it right in the article:
"This movie watching innovation will be available to Xbox LIVE Gold members who are also Netflix subscribers...."
I don't know what you are reading
So wait... if your a xbox live Gold member you can access the NETFLIX movies for free?
But in order to "WATCH" the movies.. you have to be a NETFLIX member and still PAY a fee?
Damn I'm confused?! ;(
is there a sign up button anywhere for engadget... I can't find one.. :(
STFU. GEEZ why do people complain for having to pay for something. If your a xbox GOLD member this is a great feature to add so the kids can watch their cartoons. For only $10 extra a month u get unlimited movie streaming of whatever they have avail.
And if you dont have a xbox then just buy the Reko box and pay the $100 upfront and $10 for a subscription. Once they move to HD formats this will change the game.
it says on the release "This movie watching innovation will be available to Xbox LIVE Gold members who are also Netflix subscribers and will let those users enjoy streaming movies from Netflix on Xbox LIVE at no additional cost."
So its only good if you have both netflix and xbox live gold
wow so it looks like u dont have to pay extra to stream if ur a GOLD memeber.. Even bttr.
You have to have be a Gold member on xbox and have a membership with Netflix. Microsoft isn't about to obsolete its own online rental store with "free movies" for gold members from Netflix.
Sony needs to team up with Blockbuster.
I suspect this isn't coming to Canada?
You have it so good!!
(well, except for gun control and health coverage)
Yah! More people to have access to Instant Watch without closed captions. Maybe that'll motivate NetFlix to up their game and add CC to streaming content.
If this were coming to the UK I would consider this (together with the new interface) to be enough to convince me to get a 360.
This is actually pretty cool and I will probably make use of this feature. The big question is does this work via streaming like the Roku device or are you going to have to download titles to the HD first? Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages.
No love for us UK folks?
No love for us cheapskates eh MS? Since I don't game online regularly I continually get smacked by MS, first they started letting gold members get downloads first (some of which enter them in spiffy contests) now this. At least they let you download stuff for free (eventually), unlike back with the original 360. Of course they still nickel and dime you for so many of the themes and gamer pics (anyone who paid for a gamer pic is a sucker, its essentially an ad for a game/move/tv show).
Old news. I've been streaming Netflix through my xbox for weeks, with this plugin: http://lifehacker.com/396881/turn-your-xbox-360-into-a-streaming-netflix-player
Hey [Jon], that's not the same thing. What you have is a plugin so that you can watch your netflix movies in the Media Center application for Vista. The Xbox 360 is then using your media center's streaming functionality. If I understand what I've read correctly the Xbox 360 in this case would be streaming the movies directly from netflix without the need for your home PC.
youtube support would be nice.
Sick. I've already got Live Gold for those rare occasions when I play multiplayer online, and the XBox is the only HDMI device hooked up to the TV (it streams movies via Connect 360 on my Pro).
I've already got Netflix, so it's like a free bonus out of nowhere!
Movies would be great on the 360 if the fan didn't sound like 12 jet
engines!!
whatever this is lame.
I'll be impressed when the f-ing get it to work w/ firefox.