Hulu Plus preview arrives in iTunes App Store, Flash be damned
By Thomas Ricker 
posted June 30th 2010 1:43AM
posted June 30th 2010 1:43AM
[Thanks, MT H.]
posted June 30th 2010 1:43AM
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Flash barrier was removed for the extra $10.. get it?
@coolkams03 Flash still rules. End of Story!
@statickeith
Yeh, that's why adobe still hasn't released x64 flash and flash has a myriad of vulnerabilities. It may be one of the most common formats on the internet, but it certainly doesn't "rule".
@sortius
It doesn't rule but it certainly is a great thing to have when you want to watch video content or any other flash required content.
@sortius
It does in terms of content and availability which is what matters.
Sure, it's patchy and has quality issues which is what happens when a product corners the market. You know, kind of like the iPhone.
@benthe1
Pay $10 a month on top of AT&T's crappy service? No Thanks, I'm happy with my Win 7 + Flash + Verizon Mobile Broadband combo.
iFan seem to be easy to take advantage from. Just look at the sale of that thing they call phone.
@coolkams03
How much data does an episode use steaming hd over 3g?
@coolkams03
it's unfortunate that Hulu didn't release this until now, you know, when the unlimited data plan doesn't exist for new customers. Now it not only costs you $10/month for Hulu, but if you watch 4-5 GB of Hulu on your iPhone in a month (very plausible if it's in 720p and you actually use the app), it also costs you $45-$55 in data. It's too bad AT&T isn't offering the $30 unlimited for everyone. Congrats to those who stuck to their unlimited data plan. This app might actually be useful. Great timing Hulu!
How in any way would the flash be damned if you could view Hulu videos free of charge via flash and add $10 a month to move the barrier. Plain stupid.
@coolkams03 and everyone who replied
One point I think all of you are missing is that you can't watch the regular Hulu on anything that isn't a regular computer. That's why Boxee and other set top boxes are constantly getting blocked from accessing it. Even Android devices with Flash have to trick Hulu into believing that you're on a desktop machine.
@ravissimo Yah I kept my unlimited I'm happy cause that one is true unlimited if I was on verizon they could say I used too much and take it away.
@masochist The $10 isn't to view "free of flash." It's to access a larger archive of shows, including back-seasons. You'll probably also see slightly less free content available.
@coolkams03
Another giant nail hammered into Flash's coffin.
@ravissimo I actually kept my iPad on the unlimited data plan in anticipation of this. The screen size is perfect for video (as I discovered while streaming a season of 30 Rock in bed). With Hulu and Netflix, I only need my TV for the Xbox 360.
@coolkams03
10$ a month AND comercials!? WTF?
IT'S FREE FROM A LAPTOP OR A NETBOOK!
I don't get it?
@coolkams03 Does this mean it will be free later? I might actually get it if it's free, otherwise I've pretty much never used hulu on my computer, except to show my aunt how stupid family guy is ;)
@Darkroom
How else would we equate Flash then, with this topic?
People can trick hulu to stream videos on my android phone for free. Get it, FREE. This app just gives more credibility to flash. Besides, hulu just works in US(mostly). There is a vast user base outside of US unaffected by hulu.
@Dale P if you were in bed, then weren't you on wifi? what does that have to do with a data plan? unless you don't have internet at home, in which case, that's odd considering you're on engadget all the time... and good i guess that you kept your unlimited data plan on an ipad.
and its met with raving -- I mean -- raging reviews.
@Jollybee
lol It's on track to be the lowest rated free app in the Top 25 ever
flash is not going anywhere even if hulu streams for free. bussinesses that care about iphone will come up with iphone friendly websites or apps or iads.
Why are you all complaing when you pay $30+ a month for cable/satellite and watch commercials. Also, you can't compare Netflix to Hulu. Netflix is for MOVIES (and they have some shows) and Hulu is for TV (they have new content and old).
I am going to use both and ditch cable. $20 a month is better then the $60 I am paying now for the same thing.
@mattpker Funny that you complain about people complaining when nobody in this thread has complained yet.
Anyway, yes, Hulu + Netflix is a good replacement for cable or satellite. Remember that Netflix also offers TV shows ;-)
@mattpker I'm not defending cable, I think cable is for suckers. But with that said there are some things you can't get with services like Hulu or iTunes like lives sports or news.
@Son Goku That's a good point. News and sports junkies will need cable or satellite. The Xbox 360 will bring ESPN3, but even that can be blocked by cable, depending on when you live.
@aubreyq I complained. why pay 10$ when everyone eles is getting literally the same thing for 0$? It's not like they are losing money. Hulu turns a profit. This whole "you're stupid enough to pay for an iPhone so you might as well be my bitch too" thing really pisses me off.
@bombastinator I agree thats how it should be, but thats not how it is. As I understand Hulu's licensing deal with the tv studios is for computers only and not "mobile devices." So in fact Hulu is probably having to pay more to the tv companies for licensing fees. So it makes sense they charge.
However, this is pretty stupid in todays world where you can get a netbook with built in 3G and watch Hulu wherever, just like on an iPad...
@mattpker Hulu isn't cable, your not paying to watch this stuff. That was beauty of it all. A subscription should be enough to take away the ads from the service, not keep it.
@bombastinator "why pay 10$ when everyone eles is getting literally the same thing for 0$?", well, it's because nobody else is getting the same thing for $0. Go to Hulu.com right now on your PC, and look how many episodes of, say, Chuck you have access to: 7 of them. And they aren't even the recent 7 episodes, it's episodes 1,5,9,13,14,16,19 from Season 3. Due to Hulu's agreements with the networks, they can only show a few episodes at a time (because the networks want to be able to sell DVD sets). Hulu Plus is supposed to give ALL episodes of a show's current/recent season. As well, many older shows will get all episodes in all seasons of the show so far - so rather than having the same 10 Stargate Atlantis episodes for 3 months, you'll be able to watch the entire series if you want. And then there's the 720p - Hulu pulled the HD versions of the shows that had it a while back, with Hulu Plus they are re-enabling them.
@Son Goku
The main problem with Hulu is the interface and the non-skip commercials. You're much more at the mercy of the broadcasters. Recent changes in technology has put the end user more in control of the cable experience. Hulu is a bit of a step backwards in this regard.
The pricetag really isn't the point so much.
Although if I were really that concerned about "cheap TV" then I could just buy a better antenna and get stuff "streamed for free" over the airwaves. OTA is DRM free and better quality than anything else out there.
I am sick of US only
@toptom000 well, hulu is a US company. now is your chance to make a competitor to hulu in your own county.
@toptom000 Its a US based company, for US based products. I don't get the hate? Make an app for where you live, you'll corner the market!
@toptom000
You should be sick of the shit the media companie your your country pull becase they are the reason hulu can not get licensing for shows
@toptom000
Yeah what a shocker, every country has its own laws regarding IP. Think first, then post... you bum.
@Wesscoast yes hulu is a US based company but the reason it's blocked in Australia is because the networks in America don't give Hulu permission to show it to us so it's not our fault at all that we can't watch them.
@DefPoet I am sick of the shit Australian TV networks but they aren't the reason we don't get Hulu
@Gabe3 Not the point. The reason i want to watch Hulu is because we have bad tv in Australia. We have a Hulu like service in Australia but it hasn't got any good shows
huh... wonder what happen the supposed hulu app for android. oh well, not like my hero could run it smoothly.
@husher well if you upgrade to froyo it's called sidereel and it's free.
@bombastinator naw. i can't root my phone or else i can't get the 80$ store credit sprint will give me towards the EPIC 4G
@husher
That no excuse.
I traded iva rooted hero for credit and try took it. Also you can unroot if necessary
@husher well if you've got 2.1 you can use sunfire instead. it's kind of hinky and only some of the links will play but it does work.
its down to 1 and a half stars out of 5 on the appstore with 800 reviews...yeah thats what you get when you charge for a free service.
@Gabe3
It's free if your phone supports flash, blame steve jobs. You basically are paying for a ton of apps that are otherwise free on the internet that work well under flash so why complain over this? To top it off many of the sheep will pay $30 for a cover for their iphone 4 to overcome the horrible antenna problem and aren't crying as bad as this; face it as an apple devotee you pay out the nose so shutup stop complaining and open your wallet. thats right shutup and pay.
@loadoftoad
Okay, put your head between your knees. Now, breathe...breathe...everything is okay. Repeat after me - An evil computer company is not coming to get me....I am perfectly safe...
@loadoftoad It won't support it even if your phone supports flash. Hulu blocks all mobile browsers, only desktop browsers work.
@loadoftoad This sheep would like u the fool to explain something if u can? What touch screen under an inch thick all kinds of apps all around great phone was u using b4 the iPhone yea that's what I thought