Upcoming Xbox 360 Netflix update is still gimped, Microsoft thinks you want it that way
By Tim Stevens 
posted August 5th 2009 9:26AM
posted August 5th 2009 9:26AM
If you haven't been lucky enough to preview the upcoming Xbox Live dashboard update like we did, there's a good chance you're eagerly awaiting its August 11 release so that you can finally modify your Netflix queue straight from the box. If so, prepare to be disappointed... or, uh, thrilled when you find out that the new experience isn't quite as comprehensive as you might have expected. It restricts users to perusing the Top 50 films in any of a handful of categories, meaning no searching by title and no browsing alphabetically. Why? According to Microsoft's Ben Smith, Director of Program Management for Xbox Live, that's how you want it. He says: "I think when people come to Xbox they're not really looking so much for functional, they really want to have fun, they want to be wowed." We're saying "wow," all right, but for entirely different reasons. There is a morsel of good news, though: if enough people indicate they actually like function and want an honest-to-goodness, full-featured Netflix experience Microsoft is fully prepared to upgrade the service. Again. Eventually.
[Via Joystiq]
I would say that is dissapointing but that even a weak adjective.
Sounds like rebranded laziness to get it rolled out on time.
Exactly
Cone on, now. They have obviously put a lot of thought into this. Look how well everything flows together. Scooby-Doo, Hannah Montana, Spongebob, and Californication? Sit down your 8 year old and let them have at it.
I have to agreed with Microsoft, it's like using computer without keyboard or mouse.
It's like editing a document on Windows Phones, you have the software and tools.
But don't you want the proper keyboard and mouse to do the job instead of using the keypad or touch screen?
It's better than it was.
Kinda like how it's better to get punched in the gut, than punched in the the face.
Rebranded laziness is right. This is retarded.. just add in a search feature and be done with it already.
@Kit My X-Box controller has a keyboard and your can too for about 30 dollars.
I DONT CLAIM TO BE A JEANUS BUT WHY CANT WE HAS BOFF ? TOP FIDDY AND SEARCH ? uhhh HELLLLLLLOOOOOOO.
Wow! I am glad you do not claim to be a genius.
Politicians and corporate handlers.
Both hopelessly out of touch with what people really want...and don't want.
Its actually 100 in each category.... unless they are going to change it in the final release.
that said I think its a good system.... I dont want to scroll through thousands of movies one at a time. I do want a real search though but hate how the current alphabetical organization works for the other movies. I DO NOT want that brought to netflix. Give me a real search.
::facepalm::
well, you got to love his nervous excuse...
What in the hell are they smoking? ...or... What in the hell do they think we're smoking? Of course we want to have fun. Watching some crap I've no interest in doesn't = fun.
lol this is Ben Smith shedding some light on the Xbox 360...
I think when people come to Xbox they're not really looking so much for functional....
Oh so that explains the RROD!
...they want to be wowed
As in wow this PoS doesn't work like they said it would?
I'm a proud 360 owner but Ben Smith should be taken out back of Redmond and beaten with reeds for saying something so incredibly stupid.
Users don't want functionality? Fuck you guy.
Sounds like something Microsoft would do
as long as "The Room" makes the top 100 in a category.....
Wow, I was just thinking it was something Apple would do.
If you don't like our way, you're doing it wrong.
Dude I loved "The Room" !
Amazing what you get exposed to with unlimited streaming!
Actually, kinda DOES sound like something Apple would do.. and god DAMN it's stupid. Everything else about Netflix on my 360 works great, and I love that I got added functionality for no extra cost.. but why the hell don't I at least want the OPTION of choosing a movie directly from the XBox rather than having to go to a computer and deal with this queue concept? The queue makes total sense for mailing, but makes no sense at all for streaming. Sure, tell me what's in my mailing queue so I can watch instantly if I prefer, but that's no reason to not have a search option.
Microsoft needs to learn three simple terms: design, usability, research. They can't seem to get any of those right.
don't tell me what i want microsoft.
p.s. i DO NOT want ads, so quit that horse ASAP
? I have the update and i think its perfect for checking out new stuff ... If there is something i really want i will get rent/buy it on Blu Ray .. It is 1000% better then it was before so why be negative
you're being a bit of an apologist. I agree that it's better now, but compared to what? the bar was set so low on the first release of Netflix on the Xbox. they have fixed a lot of my gripes and the movies absolutely stream better now which was my biggest complaint. but why not add search? it seems so fundamental.
this is their pattern though, get it wrong, slightly fix it, slightly fix it some more, some more fixing, get it right.
why add search to just the 360? Why not LG, Sony, Roku, Samsung players etc?
The interface is exactly the same on all those other platforms and the Roku box is their official product! So you're complaining that the 360 is not getting even more functionality than it currently has over every other platform the NFLX players is on? Holy shit you can't even watch HD at the NFLX site itself, just be glad it actually works on the 360 at all.
And as I've said before, the content is so limited that adding a comprehensive text search tool would be pointless and a waste of typing. 90% of movies you would search for would not be available. You can flip through almost the entire catalog faster than it takes to type and wait for a result to not show up.
I want search on all of the platforms, not just the 360. Actually, I'd rather have queue management on my TiVo, because I'd much rather deal with a TiVo-style interface than a Microsoft one.
I tend to see this as being a "basic" implementation. Having access to the newest and most popular items is probably good enough for most of the time. However, on those occasions when you want to see something else, having access to a search function will be appreciated. Certainly I would not want to have to go and find the video using another means if Netflix did already have it. Sounds like more work required to me.
Note: I neither own a 360 nor have access to Netflix.
I don't give a dime to corporations who think they can dictate to me what I want.
doesnt every corporation do things they think you want...thats kinda how they make money
Not with freaking movies they don't...
Great so the top 50 of each category...at least I can use my laptop to add stuff I can't find in this wonderfully castrated updated. I wonder if the full functionality proposed in the Netflix update will be out before or after WinFS, because a lot of people wanted that too.
So is this actually less functionality than the current client? Why on earth would they limit it so pointlessly? I joined XBox live just for the Netflix service, and I'm really thinking it was a waste of money, I won't renew if they don't fix this.
The current Netflix client on the Xbox doesn't even let you add any movies/videos to your queue, so the updated version definitely has more functionality. The only problem is that they give you the top 100 per category, and not the WHOLE catalog. You also can't type in a search box for a particular movie, actor, etc. So in that respect it is "gimped," but it's a definite improvement over the current (soon to be old) app.
I suspect they'll continue improving the system anyway. I'm happy with what they're doing so far, but yes it can be improved. At least now we can browse the top 100 vids for a particular category, and not have to go onto a computer/mobile device to add an item to our Play Now queue.
Sounds like an assumption Microsoft made like they do with everything else. If they had done a peer group analysis, it would have been clear that most users would want a full blown search capability with Netflix. Thanks Microsoft for your genius assumption!!!
Do you have data to back this up or does your random sampling of Engadget comments (not a representative sample of average users) qualify? I've seen a ton of comments that say "well of COURSE everybody wants this" with the sole backup being that the individual wants it.
Also, consider that it may have been a question of "browse top 50 by categories *or* add search functionality", resources are limited and code takes time to write. Search may be coming later for all anybody knows, but maybe the decision (which might have even been made with the use of a focus group, we don't know) was made to prioritize browse over search as that was more compelling for the target audience.
All this internet outrage seems super overblown. Damned if you do, damned if you don't I imagine. I'm sure if search was added people would just find something new to kvetch about. :)
The I.T. Crowd is sooooo hilarious. Can't wait for season 3 to reach these shores.
Season 2 of that show is really good. Season 1 was kind of crap. I do miss the old boss, though.
Agreed!! I already saved it on Netflix.
+1
...season 3 is awesome as well. Apparently there's a Christmas special coming, followed by a season 4 next spring. The episodes in S3 with the "electric sex pants" and "friendface" (facebook spoof) were top shelf.
Well, clearly they had some focus group of retards tell them this. Given that we've already had two people say they like it, allow me to provide a counterpoint. I am hanging out with my friends and we decide to watch a movie. Someone suggests something a little niche, but everyone agrees that we'll give it a shot. We then turn on the xbox and load up netflix. Now we either have the option of running to a computer on a different story and putting it on the cue or searching through a large list of movies for something that may or may not be there. By failing to add a search feature, Microsoft has made the experience VERY FRUSTRATING for anyone who already knows what they want to watch beforehand. I believe that in many cases this guy is right in that many people will just scroll on over to the netflix tab and see something they like and watch it. However, this is an incomplete solution and really fucking frustrating if I want to watch the original battlestar galactica or something.
That really looks like a Microsoft move...
If it helps anyone, there are free netflilx aps for iphone and winmo that actually do let you search. It's still lame, but at least you don't have to get off the couch.
Microsoft will add full search capabilities...right after Roku, TiVo and all the DVD players get their Netflix update that will (hopefully) include the feature.
The people do want. Why do I want to go to my computer, find a movie, and then go back to my couch and watch it. Why can't I just select it from my xbox right away?
Hahahha... that's the PR line of the year:
"I think when people come to Xbox they're not really looking so much for functional, they really want to have fun, they want to be wowed."
The quickest way to WOW me is with something dysfunctional, I guess?
i think it is a typo WOWED --> VOWED
:3
Microsoft: Not Really Looking So Much For Functional.™
why the flying fork would you NOT want your movies organized alphabetically (unless they are alphabetic AND by genre) the lack of a search function is stupid as well, its as if they are trying to make it a anger inducing experience just so you won't actually use the damn service. you will just sit there for a few hours watching ads so they can make moniez.
"I think when people come to [Microsoft] they're not really looking so much for functional..."
Yep, that's pretty much it.
It works better than before. I think i added like 50 movies the first day i got the preview. Its kind of a pain in the ass to do it from the computer and winmo phone!
There is just to search function.
It sounds logical to me. I mean who wants to scroll through hundreds of horrid movies using their 360 controller...To be fair, the top fifty is probably the only decent movies on the list. The Netflix play instantly selection is pretty poor. I really only ever look at about the top fifty. I'll take it. It's still an improvement.