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Xbox 360 could potentially have Netflix search feature in future release
Ben Smith, director of program management for Xbox Live, sent us an email after we expressed concern over some quotes he'd given about the Xbox 360's Netflix service. Following up, we asked Smith if Netflix was putting the kibosh on Microsoft implementing the search feature to continue driving customers to its site for that functionality. He stated that Netflix has been a great partner to work with, and that the company hasn't applied pressure to prevent a search function from being added to the Xbox version. So, why not add the search feature into the latest update? Why emulate the video store presentation that Netflix has been hammering out of business? Smith deftly avoided the question: "We have not yet brought a full-fledged search feature to the console yet. Like many things it's an area that's interesting to us for potential future releases but we don't have anything to announce right now." We were also curious if Netflix was cutting into the Xbox Video Marketplace, to which Smith stated that the two have "co-existed well." He notes that the different payment models and content catalogs service different types of users. Given that Xbox 360 "power users" can access advanced functions using the Xbox Guide, we wondered if such functionality could be implemented, thus leaving casual users with the NXE functionality. Smith responded, "Our goal is to make experiences great and easy to use for all users." Oh well, maybe with the next update we'll get lucky.
Upcoming Xbox 360 Netflix update is still gimped, Microsoft thinks you want it that way
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]
Microsoft: You want form over function with Xbox Netflix. Us: ?
Ben Smith, director of program management for Xbox Live, has befuddled us by stating that the Xbox's "Netflix lite" approach is to give a more "video rental store" experience to customers. Speaking with MTV's Multiplayer, the executive also said, "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."Please, stop. And consider us "wowed" by that quote! Netflix has built an empire by avoiding almost every horrible aspect of the "video rental store" experience. As visually pleasing as a wall of pretty boxes is at the local rental mega-chain, Netflix's ever-growing dominance in the space gives credence to the notion that people don't mind (maybe, even enjoy) the ability to search through thousands of movies quickly and efficiently. If Microsoft wants us to have "fun" and "be wowed," it'd be by giving us the ability to search for a movie on our Xbox 360 and (if available for streaming) play it directly from there. The Xbox 360 has built its marketing and brand around the "core" gamer audience, the folks who likely aren't scared or confused by something as basic as a "search" function.
