With the introduction of Netflix on so many devices, it's now up to everyone to battle it out for supremacy in user interfaces. We were actually duly impressed with the implementation on Nintendo's Wii, and it seems that the pressure has convinced Roku to retool their own UI. A new teaser has been released today by the company showing off the new Netflix Channel, and while the overall look and feel is certainly slick, it's a few key additions that have us most excited. According to the company, the update will allow users to search the entire Netflix Watch Instantly library right from their screen, as well as the ability to browse and add titles to one's queue for later playback. We're told that the update will be pushed out in "transparent" fashion to users in June, but an exact release date isn't yet available. Hop on past the break and mash play, won'tcha?
This update, which is compatible with all new and existing Roku players, will be available soon via a free, automatic software update.
What's new and different from what you may have seen out on the market w/ other devices?
1. Search the entire Netflix Instant Streaming Library from your TV scree
2. Browse and Play Movies and TV shows on your TV via our new immersive user interface
3. Add Movies and TV shows to your Instant Queue for watching later
@Physicsguy89 Great show, btw. Channel 4 in England, BBC in the states. You can prob torrent the unedited versions, though (without the ridiculous transcript overlay, because we Americans are too stupid to understand the Queen's English).
I wish they'd work a bit harder on the Xbox 360 interface. It has a small number of titles organized by category - but in no particular order, so you have sit there and one at a time scroll through every single movie. It's really, really bad. Luckily, you can queue from your PC, but still. I should be able to browse the entire instant watch library in a similar fashion to the Netflix web interface, which is fine.
@nbolmer Yeah how about a way to categorize the titles in your queue by genre, title, year, and rating. And the ability to search for movies by title director or actor would be nice too. There are a lot of simple improvements that can be made. Don't understand why it's taking so many years to get these simple features added.
If you mean search, no. That said, I would argue that Xbox 360 still has the best Netflix experience. The quality is (negligibly) the best, and the UI is the prettiest and the fastest. Microsoft took a lot of flack for telling users that they did not need search, but I think they were right. Search is not conducive to a 10-feet living room experience unless you want to keep a keyboard on the coffee table. (Full disclosure: I have a keyboard on my coffee table.)
Yeah I've got both Roku and 360 and there is no comparison. The 360 version is much faster and nicer looking. Roku gets the job done, but it is very slow to load and navigate, the interface is not as pretty, and fast forward and rewind are very clunky compared to 360. This is a welcome update.
@Benglishman Nonsense - navigation on Netflix own website requires a mouse, without any keyboard input to search by genre, narrow genres, search by date, alphabetize, etc... an xbox controller would serve PERFECTLY. The xbox360 Netflix GUI is a disaster. The order of the movies is completely at random, and you can't even get a screen of thumbnails- you literally have to look at the movies ONE AT A TIME. The queue has to be managed from a PC, and also has no organization whatsoever. It sucks, and it doesn't require a keyboard interface to improve.
@nbolmer You're confusing navigation and browsing with search. I was referring to search, which is difficult... nay, impossible even on the Netflix website without a keyboard. I agree, it would be nice to have sort options integrated in to the Xbox interface, but I can sort through my 300 movie instant queue in about 20 seconds using RB/LB.
I personally find the PS3 and WMP implementations rather cumbersome. It is great if you just want to view your Instant Query, yet I find that you really need a computer handy if you want to find something you have not added yet.
Netflix is wonderful. I now have the basic cable that my condo association offers, since it makes no sense to spend so much on Comcast. The Roku box does have some strange video feeds, though.
netflix sucks now that they made deals with major movie publishers(?) ... im using blockbuster now. Yea thats right, I managed to get avatar from blockbuster the DAY IT CAME OUT. not 1 month later
Is it me, or is it WAY the hell harder to type on a keyboard layed out in alphabetical-order than one set up like a regular QWERTY keyboard??
I could understand maybe 10 or 15 years ago having an on-screen keyboard be alphabetical, but not today, not for a device that chances are would be used by tech-savvy folks.
I've got the Roku connected to 2 TVs and My Home Network - plays everything flawlessly from my NAS. One of the best products I own - opened to lots of hacks.
Puerto Ricans of Puerto Rico are not US Citizens they are US Nationals which are allowed to live and work in the USA but are not citizens as they retain their own form of government and are under the jurisdiction of a protectorate territory.
It amazes me the ignorance of people about this topic.
Only people born in American Samoa are US Nationals but not US Citizens. People born in one of the other US Territories (including Puerto Rico) are in fact, American Citizens.
Finally! This is a much needed improvement to the Roku/Netflix experience. I get sick of having to log on to Netflix to manage my queue. I doubt it'll be as fast as it looks in the video.
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posted May 5th 2010 5:34PM
Next we will see this and DirecTV/Cable set top boxes built right into the TV itself!
@Stevenk
Now if they let that USB in the back of the HDXR read all normal video file formats from a storage device I think they might be onto something here.
@rutter9 Yes Please. Also please stream from my PC.
@Stevenk
TRANSMORPHERS 2 FTW!!!
lawl
Skins Vol. 2...
For a second I wondered what kind of movies you guys were watching....
@Physicsguy89 Great show, btw. Channel 4 in England, BBC in the states. You can prob torrent the unedited versions, though (without the ridiculous transcript overlay, because we Americans are too stupid to understand the Queen's English).
@byran Not like captions help much with Panda's wicked wonkey dialect.
"... will allow users to search the entire Netflix Watch Instantly library right from their screen ..."
Now that is something useful. Too bad my Samsung Blu-Ray player doesn't have this feature.
@R2D2 The droid
the problem is I have a little sister who is very proficient with gadgets, and netflix doesn't have parental controls
Netflix is awesome :)
The more devices it is on the better if you ask me.
I wish they'd work a bit harder on the Xbox 360 interface. It has a small number of titles organized by category - but in no particular order, so you have sit there and one at a time scroll through every single movie. It's really, really bad. Luckily, you can queue from your PC, but still. I should be able to browse the entire instant watch library in a similar fashion to the Netflix web interface, which is fine.
@nbolmer
Yeah how about a way to categorize the titles in your queue by genre, title, year, and rating. And the ability to search for movies by title director or actor would be nice too. There are a lot of simple improvements that can be made. Don't understand why it's taking so many years to get these simple features added.
Can you do this on 360?
@The Advanced Kind
If you mean search, no. That said, I would argue that Xbox 360 still has the best Netflix experience. The quality is (negligibly) the best, and the UI is the prettiest and the fastest. Microsoft took a lot of flack for telling users that they did not need search, but I think they were right. Search is not conducive to a 10-feet living room experience unless you want to keep a keyboard on the coffee table. (Full disclosure: I have a keyboard on my coffee table.)
@Benglishman
Yeah I've got both Roku and 360 and there is no comparison. The 360 version is much faster and nicer looking. Roku gets the job done, but it is very slow to load and navigate, the interface is not as pretty, and fast forward and rewind are very clunky compared to 360. This is a welcome update.
@Benglishman
Nonsense - navigation on Netflix own website requires a mouse, without any keyboard input to search by genre, narrow genres, search by date, alphabetize, etc... an xbox controller would serve PERFECTLY. The xbox360 Netflix GUI is a disaster. The order of the movies is completely at random, and you can't even get a screen of thumbnails- you literally have to look at the movies ONE AT A TIME. The queue has to be managed from a PC, and also has no organization whatsoever. It sucks, and it doesn't require a keyboard interface to improve.
@nbolmer
You're confusing navigation and browsing with search. I was referring to search, which is difficult... nay, impossible even on the Netflix website without a keyboard. I agree, it would be nice to have sort options integrated in to the Xbox interface, but I can sort through my 300 movie instant queue in about 20 seconds using RB/LB.
As long as they're still making the WP7 app, I'm gonna suscribe.
I personally find the PS3 and WMP implementations rather cumbersome. It is great if you just want to view your Instant Query, yet I find that you really need a computer handy if you want to find something you have not added yet.
Netflix is wonderful. I now have the basic cable that my condo association offers, since it makes no sense to spend so much on Comcast. The Roku box does have some strange video feeds, though.
Pushing out a UI update "transparently". Good one.
Roku,
If your device could stream a ripped DVD from a local SMB or NFS share with a decent interface, I would buy one right now.
@Fuzzball
Just use the Roku along with the WD TV.
I like the Roku because it's an excellent Netflix/Amazon VOD player.
I like the WD TV because it streams all my own media ripped to a hard drive or NAS (if you go for the Live). WD TV even supports ISO and MKV.
Finally! Going the crapload of alot of stupid movies id never watch is so annoying!
netflix sucks now that they made deals with major movie publishers(?) ... im using blockbuster now. Yea thats right, I managed to get avatar from blockbuster the DAY IT CAME OUT. not 1 month later
transMORPHER 2? am i missing something?
@paezbak
B-movies
@Hazdaz whats b-movies?
Wow, looks like NetFlix is steppin it up dude. most impressive.
Lou
www.being-anonymous.at.tc
I have to comment about the on-screen keyboard.
Is it me, or is it WAY the hell harder to type on a keyboard layed out in alphabetical-order than one set up like a regular QWERTY keyboard??
I could understand maybe 10 or 15 years ago having an on-screen keyboard be alphabetical, but not today, not for a device that chances are would be used by tech-savvy folks.
I've got the Roku connected to 2 TVs and My Home Network - plays everything flawlessly from my NAS. One of the best products I own - opened to lots of hacks.
Hey, NETFLIX!
When are you gonna allow U.S. Citizens from Puerto Rico like me to finally enjoy your streaming service?
Stop discriminating against us!
@JHomer51
And don't forget the U.S.V.I.!!!!
Cool, the wii netflix interface is pretty great, would like to see an update to my roku.
Puerto Ricans of Puerto Rico are not US Citizens they are US Nationals which are allowed to live and work in the USA but are not citizens as they retain their own form of government and are under the jurisdiction of a protectorate territory.
@Roger A
It amazes me the ignorance of people about this topic.
Only people born in American Samoa are US Nationals but not US Citizens. People born in one of the other US Territories (including Puerto Rico) are in fact, American Citizens.
Finally! This is a much needed improvement to the Roku/Netflix experience. I get sick of having to log on to Netflix to manage my queue. I doubt it'll be as fast as it looks in the video.