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OnLive crosses the pond, lands in the UK September 22nd
OnLive's done pretty well here in the States, and we knew it would eventually venture across the ocean to merry old England. But, we didn't know exactly when it would bring its streaming services, MicroConsole and catalog of over 100 titles to the UK. Well, turns out it'll make the transatlantic trip on September 22nd, just in time for the 2011 Eurogamer Expo in London -- so there's just over a month to ready yourself for gaming-anywhere awesomeness. If you're among those interested in being the first of the Queen's subjects using the service that day, hit the source link below to sign up.
RIM wants Hulu Plus on the Blackberry PlayBook, 'conversations' continue
RIM wants Hulu Plus on the just-released Blackberry PlayBook. It also wants everyone to know it wants Hulu Plus on the Blackberry PlayBook, after the streaming video service unceremoniously blocked access to its videos just days after the tablet's launch. Now, both PC Mag and The Wall Street Journal are reporting the same terse email statement from RIM: "We are in conversations with Hulu to bring the Hulu Plus subscription service to BlackBerry PlayBook users." No word on the content of those conversations or a timeline for resolution, so for now PlayBook users will need to find another way to satisfy their yearning for Seinfeld reruns.
Netflix for Android leaks out, doesn't seem to stream video right now
This prototype LG Revolution may be the only Android phone actually capable of streaming Netflix at the moment, but there's nothing keeping you from giving it a go -- some enterprising hacker extracted a full system dump from the Revolution this week, tossed it to AndroidSPIN, and @al3xevolved subsequently pulled out the juicy Netflix innards. The app's APK is now freely available on the web, though we'll warn you that it isn't good for much -- you can browse and add items to your queue, but should you try to play a video the app will inform you that it "could not reach the Netflix service." The question is, will Netflix simply flip a switch to turn streaming on, or is it waiting for DRM authentication from a Qualcomm MSM8655 processor? [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Hulu for Android coming soon, destined for 'select' phones with Android 2.2?
Since the dawn of Flash on Android -- yes, that was just ten months ago -- Google smartphone users been largely unable to access their favorite Hulu programs on the go. At CES 2011, we heard that Hulu would indeed come to Android, but not when or where. Today, we're a step closer to the answer. An eagle-eyed Engadget reader spotted this image at the company's website, depicting a most unusual combo: an image of a Samsung Nexus S (which comes with Android 2.3) and a suggestion that Hulu Plus will soon be available on a subset of devices running Android 2.2. We can't say which devices quite yet, but we've heard this tune before, and suspect Hulu will only run on phones that have DRM baked into their hardware. Now how about that Google TV? [Thanks, Raymond D.]
Amazon Prime Instant Video hands-on
Amazon has just turned on its Prime Instant Video service, letting paid Prime subscribers (sorry, students) in the US (sorry, foreigners) stream any of 5,000 movies and TV shows directly to their machines free of charge -- well, free beyond the $79 Primers already pay. Jeff Bezos has confirmed that there will be no extra charge going forward for this service and that Prime itself will not be getting more expensive to pay for all these bits and bytes. Right now the selection is limited, particularly if you already have a Netflix subscription, but we just had to try it out. Click on through for our impressions on a variety of devices.
Amazon launches Prime Instant Video, unlimited streaming for Prime subscribers
We heard it was coming and now here it is. Amazon has flipped the switch on its "free" video streaming for Prime members, the service we've been hearing about for the past month or so. If you've already been taking advantage of subscription-based two-day shipping so that your impulse buys get to your door a little quicker you can now enjoy streaming of 5,000 pieces of "prime eligible" content, including some recent movies and a lot of TV shows, much of which will look awfully familiar if you're also a Netflix subscriber. However, on some foreign films (like The Girl who Kicked the Hornets' Nest above) you have the choice of subtitles or dubbed, and much of this content is still available to "rent" or "buy" if you want to be able to download it to a mobile device. We're just checking out the service now and will be back with some impressions a little later. Update: We're hearing that this is only for paid Prime subscribers, so if you're a college student or the like with a free membership you're sadly out of luck. Also it's US only at this point. Sorry! Update 2: Check out our impressions! [Thanks, Chris]
Netflix: 'we're going to continue our international expansion next year'
Three months after Netflix invaded Canada with a bizarre combination of paid actors and $8 instant streaming plans, CEO Reed Hastings the company has declared the move a success and says it will expand its service to other countries in 2011. "Based on the early success of Netflix.ca we're going to continue our international expansion next year and we're going to allocate significant dollars to it," spokesman Steve Swasey told The Canadian Press, without specifying which territories or how many might be blanketed with Albanian soldiers next. However, Canadians and others hoping to get an experience completely on par with the original US service shouldn't hold their breath, as Swasey says there are no plans to establish a movie queue for the streaming-only service, calling it a "strategic decision." Update: The above quotes were attributed to Netflix's Steve Swasey, not CEO Reed Hastings. Our bad.
OnLive releases iPad app, reveals subscription-based movie streaming coming in 2011
According to a report this morning, OnLive is launching a subscription-based movie streaming service on an undisclosed date in 2011. The news comes from the Wall Street Journal (subscription required), who cites growing concern among media companies that Netflix has grown too large on its own and diversification is desired (read: they want a piece of the large, money-filled pie as well). In other OnLive news, the streaming-only company released its first iPad app today (creatively dubbed "OnLive Viewer"). The application allows user to see what's available for instant streaming (on a computer, not on your iPad), see other players' "brag clips," and watch trailers. Though the app has an official page on Apple.com, we're having some issues downloading it at the moment, but that could just be release hiccups. Then again, you're probably already watching trailers (and reading news, reviews, previews, and so much more!) on your Joystiq iPhone App, right? Good! Glad to hear it! Update: The App is currently only available in New Zealand, which explains our downloading issues. We understand that the App goes live for US residents tonight at 11:00PM EST. Enjoy your temporary exclusivity, Kiwis!
Gaikai enters closed beta, we get an exclusive first look
This is Mass Effect 2, running on a netbook -- a stock Eee PC -- with a single core Atom CPU that wouldn't dare to dream of actually processing the game. It works because the sci-fi opera's not taxing that silicon at all, but rather a beefy server miles away, streaming processed and compressed video frames direct to the 10.1-inch screen. It's called Gaikai, and if you're thinking it sounds just like OnLive by a different name, you'd be half-right. However, this streaming game service has a radically different business model which doesn't cost players a dime. Rather than provide a library of titles and charge you for on-demand, Gaikai will power game advertisements that let you actually play their games. If that sounds like an idea you'd like to hear more about, then we've got a treat for you. We spoke with founder David Perry about what the service can do, got an exclusive hands-on with the closed beta, and an extensive video walkthrough to boot. After the break, find the whole scoop. %Gallery-108541%
OnLive ushers in the MicroConsole with all-you-can-eat game plan for $10 a month
OnLive wants to be the Netflix of video games, that much is clear, and today it's rolling out a flat-rate monthly pricing plan called PlayPack to help seal the deal. It'll cost $9.99 a month when it launches January 15th, giving subscribers access to a back catalog of forty retired and indie titles, including a number of games entirely new to the OnLive service. What's more, if you bought the company's $99 MicroConsole, you'll get access to that entire flat-rate catalog free until the formal launch, meaning you'll have fourteen full games instantly ready to play the moment you boot it up. OnLive founder Steve Perlman tells us you can pay month-to-month and cancel PlayPack anytime you want, and OnLive will still store your savegames for a full year in case you decide to rejoin -- or if you want to mix and match flat-rate and a la carte titles without losing your precious progress. So, when are those MicroConsoles going to arrive? If you were among the first to buy, you could get yours this very afternoon, and Perlman says there are "thousands and thousands of boxes" shipping right now. PR after the break.
PS3 getting MUBI movie streaming service in Europe
If you've been interested in Netflix on the PS3 but live in Europe, you'll soon have access to a similar service: MUBI. It's a movie streaming service that focuses on art house, independent and critically acclaimed fare with integrated social networking features -- "we emphasize quality over quantity," wrote CEO and founder Efe Cakarel on the PlayStation Blog. Cakarel promises more than just films, revealing MUBI as a future destination for "exclusive online premieres, collaborations with international film festivals, and retrospectives of some of the best cinema the world has ever seen." The service will initially be available in the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Iberia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, Nordic countries, Australia and New Zealand and with two different payment options: per-title, weekly rentals or an annual subscription fee. For a brief video highlighting some of the service's films, head past the break.
Netflix for Wii now 'fully available' to all users
Netflix discs have already been shipping out to quite a few Wii users for a couple of weeks now, but Nintendo and Netflix have only just now finally announced that the discs and service are "fully available" to all users as of today. So, if you weren't among the rather large initial group, you should be receiving your disc any day now (if you haven't already), and you can of course still request a disc from Netflix if you haven't done so -- assuming you have a Netflix membership, that is.
Netflix fully available on Wii as of today
Been lusting after all of the content on offer from Netflix, but only have a Wii to grab those digital delectations off the superhighway of information? Well, those magical little discs are now shipping to everyone, allowing the millions of Wii users in the U.S. who have the appropriate Netflix subscription and broadband internet to enjoy full instant-streaming functionality on their little white boxes. Rejoice! So, what will you watch first? We suggest you go for something classy, like Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project. And, hey, if laughter isn't really your thing, we still got you covered with Joystiq Box Office. We live to serve, folks!
Poll: Wii Netflix discs now arriving, was it worth the wait?
It looks like today's the day that the first Wii Netflix discs are arriving in customer's hands, which only means one thing -- time for a poll. The Wii may be the last of the big three consoles to get its instant streaming fix, but it also has the largest installed base, and plenty of eager Netflix subscribers looking for an easy way to get instant streaming in their living room. Still haven't received your disc? Then you can get a taste of what's in store in the video after the break -- and if you have received it, be sure to let us know how it's working out in the poll below. [Thanks, Erik]%Poll-43449%
PSA: Netflix beginning shipments of Wii streaming discs
Awesome news for Wii owners looking to veg out with all-day Mystery Science Theatre 3000 marathons (or even watch responsible numbers of TV shows and movies): Netflix announced via its blog that it has started shipping out the discs that enable Instant Streaming on Wii, to "some of our Netflix members." digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/PSA_Netflix_Beginning_Shipments_of_Wii_Streaming_Discs'; If the PS3 rollout is any indication, you'll receive an e-mail sometime soon telling you if you're a lucky winner. Of course, if you didn't sign up for a disc, you're not going to get one. You should probably go sign up for one is what we're saying.
Netflix shipping out PS3 instant streaming discs!
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/playstation/Netflix_shipping_out_PS3_instant_streaming_discs'; It's been a long wait for PS3 users, who had to look on in envy as their Xbox 360 counterparts kicked back and started streaming Netflix as of July last year. Well, the wait is finally over, as PS3 instant streaming discs are being sent out to Netflix users (who've requested them) as we speak. Looks like our friend Jonathan here has a Friday delivery in store for him, while the lazier ones among us hunker down for an XMB software update late next year to let us stream Netflix to the PS3 disc-free, in keeping with the natural order of things. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
