Engadget

Engadget HD reviews VUDU on the LG BD390 Blu-ray player

Ben Drawbaugh — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:07:00 EST

With the update that'll bring VUDU to owners of the LG BD390 Blu-ray player on schedule for next week, the crew over at Engadget HD managed to get an early look. As you might expect, those HD snobs at EHD are hard to please, so that combined with the comparison to Blu-ray and Netflix's Watch Now, makes for an interesting read that you'll just have to click on through for. The bottom line though is that new features on existing hardware is always appreciated and if you've been waiting to pull the trigger on a Blu-ray player, this might just be the feature that'll make your finger twitch.

Gallery: VUDU on the BD390 review

Continue reading Engadget HD reviews VUDU on the LG BD390 Blu-ray player

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Engadget HD reviews VUDU on the LG BD390 Blu-ray player originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HD Netflix streaming goes live on Xbox 360

Darren Murph — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:19:00 EST

For anyone with a Netflix subscription, an Xbox 360 and a broadband internet connection, you probably don't need a reminder that the first glimpse of high-def Netflix streaming launched this week. With the public release of the New Xbox Experience came HD Netflix streaming, and Rachel over at Tom's Guide couldn't wait to give it a rip. Sadly, her initial impressions weren't filled with elation, but that could have something to do with the overload of users tapping in today and her lackluster TWC internet connection. At any rate, we figured we'd give you a heads-up to give it a go if you haven't already, and if you're far away from your console at the moment, hit the read link for a first take.

[Thanks, Caleb]

Filed under: Industry, Reviews, Media streamers, Other formats, Internet

HD Netflix streaming goes live on Xbox 360 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix Watch Instantly coming to TiVo

Richard Lawler — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:01:00 EST

The TiVo Series 3 and TiVo HD join the ranks of the Xbox 360, Roku and various Blu-ray players, with Netflix Watch Instantly streaming movies coming to several thousand households today in beta testing, followed by a wide release scheduled for "early December." There won't be any additional fees (other than you TiVo and Netflix subs, of course) leaving the only questions when does high definition video arrive and how do we get in the early tests? Check out the full press release after the break.

Continue reading Netflix Watch Instantly coming to TiVo

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Netflix Watch Instantly coming to TiVo originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix Watch Instantly coming to TiVo

Richard Lawler — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:01:00 EST

Continue reading Netflix Watch Instantly coming to TiVo

Filed under: DVRs, Media streamers, Set-top boxes

Netflix Watch Instantly coming to TiVo originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HD Netflix streaming comes to Xbox 360 first

Darren Murph — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:55:00 EST

It's something you can't get on the Roku. Nor on LG's BD300. Nor on Samsung's P2500 / P2550 Blu-ray players. Nor through Netflix's own "Watch Instantly" portal. It's high-def Netflix streaming, and it's coming first to Microsoft's Xbox 360. Just in case you glossed over this massively huge tidbit when digesting the new dashboard information this morning, we're here to remind you that when the aforesaid dash hits on November 19th, with it will come HD Netflix streaming for (US-based, presumably) Xbox Live Gold members. You should know that this is only a "soft launch" with about 300 titles available for now, and the litany of details you're surely craving simply aren't available at present time. At any rate, we'd say things just got a lot more interesting in the world of digital downloads, but there's really no need. The real question is: when will everyone else follow suit, and how quickly can we expect current Netflix streamers to get the HD upgrade?

Update: We're hearing this whole HD Netflix streaming thing may actually hit all those other boxes in late November as well. Guess we'll see in time, huh?

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

HD Netflix streaming comes to Xbox 360 first originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HD Netflix streaming comes to Xbox 360 first

Darren Murph — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:01:00 EST

It's something you can't get on the Roku. Nor on LG's BD300. Nor on Samsung's P2500 / P2550 Blu-ray players. Nor through Netflix's own "Watch Instantly" portal. It's high-def Netflix streaming, and it's coming first to Microsoft's Xbox 360. Yes friends, when the all new dashboard hits on November 19th, with it will come HD Netflix streaming for (US-based, presumably) Xbox Live Gold members. You should know that this is only a "soft launch" with about 300 titles available for now, and the litany of details you're surely craving simply aren't available at present time. At any rate, we'd say things just got a lot more interesting in the world of digital downloads, but there's really no need. The real question is: when will everyone else follow suit, and how quickly can we expect current Netflix streamers to get the HD upgrade?

Update: We're hearing this whole HD Netflix streaming thing may actually hit all those other boxes in late November as well. Guess we'll see in time, huh?

Filed under: Industry, Internet

HD Netflix streaming comes to Xbox 360 first originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix "Watch Now" streaming support coming to Mac by year's end

Darren Murph — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:57:00 EST

Netflix didn't bother to mention this teeny, tiny snippet in its recent release confirming the deal with Starz, but we felt it was important enough to highlight. Over on the official Netflix blog, Brent made exceptionally clear that the team has been toiling away on a solution that would enable Mac users to tap into the Watch Now streaming feature. Best of all? Netflix should "have something for [us] by the end of the year." Huzzah!

Filed under: Media streamers, Apple

Netflix "Watch Now" streaming support coming to Mac by year's end originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix API open to all: let the developing begin

Darren Murph — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:55:00 EST

Good news, developers of the world -- the Netflix API will be open to all starting tomorrow. As of October 1st, absolutely anyone can self-signup by visiting the read link, and while details are a tad sketchy at the moment, it sounds like this could hold some serious promise. The API itself allows access to data for 100,000 movie and TV episode titles, is completely free and (most importantly) allows commercial use. In other words, it's kosher if a bright developer out there somewhere feels like "creating an iPhone app to sell for $0.99 (Netflix's words, not ours)." On the technical side, the API includes a REST API, Javascript API and ATOM feeds, and it also uses OAuth standard security "to allow the subscriber to control which applications can access the service on his or her behalf." It's time to get creative, folks.

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Netflix API open to all: let the developing begin originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix API open to all: let the developing begin

Darren Murph — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:55:00 EST

Filed under: Industry, Media streamers, Other formats, Internet

Netflix API open to all: let the developing begin originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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vmcNetFlix add-in enables Xbox 360 viewing of Netflix 'Watch Now' content

Darren Murph — Tue, 13 May 2008 06:36:00 EST

We've already seen Orb play nice with DirecTV's HR21, but what about integrating Netflix's "Watch Now" content into one's Xbox 360? vmcNetFlix, a brilliant add-in for Windows Vista Media Center, enables users to manage their Netflix subscription, stream Netflix "Watch Now" movies directly from the Media Center player or download those movies for playback at a later time from a "WatchLater" gallery. Theoretically, this will enable any Vista Extender to play nice with Netflix, but for those with an Xbox 360 laying around already, there's no need to go out and purchase a standalone unit. There's a plethora of additional information and near daily updates with changes and bug fixes going on in the read link, so be sure to give that a look if this sounds like something you'd be interested in.

[Via Thomas Hawk's Digital Connection]

Filed under: Misc, Media PCs, Media streamers, Other formats, Other hardware, Internet

vmcNetFlix add-in enables Xbox 360 viewing of Netflix 'Watch Now' content originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 May 2008 06:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MyNetflix (beta) Vista Media Center plugin with Watch Now streaming

Thomas Ricker — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 08:13:00 EST

Anthony Park just released his MyNetflix Media Center plugin. The application lets you add/remove movies from your Netflix queue, browse for movies, and view history and recommendations. The part that will tempt you into installing the beta software however is the ability to stream "Watch Now" movies from the warm comforts of your Media Center. You do have a Netflix account don't you?

[Via Chris Lanier's Blog, thanks Matt]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Media PCs

MyNetflix (beta) Vista Media Center plugin with Watch Now streaming originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 08:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix Watch Instantly and iTunes movie rentals: aiming for two different markets

Darren Murph — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 07:55:00 EST

Quite frankly, it was hard to take Netflix's sudden freeing of its Watch Instantly feature as anything but a response to Apple's forthcoming iTunes movie rentals, but according to a piece at The New York Times, the two are actually aiming at different markets. After speaking with Netflix's Reed Hastings, it was found that the vast majority of its streamable content was "older," and considering that users of this service can never look forward to brand new releases being available, the cost (i.e. free to most mail-in subscribers) makes sense. As for Apple, it's able to focus on crowds who are looking for a more robust, generally fresher selection, but of course, you'll pay the premium each time you indulge. Furthermore, Netflix has yet to make transferring video to any display / device other than your monitor easy, and while an LG STB is indeed on the horizon, the differences in content selection are still likely to lure separate eyes. For more on the how's and why's behind the battle that probably isn't, go on down and tag the read link.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Video

Netflix Watch Instantly and iTunes movie rentals: aiming for two different markets originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Jan 2008 07:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Workaround enables Netflix 'Watch Now' titles to be decrypted, saved

Darren Murph — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 06:29:00 EST

Looking for a new way to use FairUse4WM? Have a Netflix account? If so, go on and roll your sleeves up, as a crafty (and acrimonious) fellow has managed to find a workaround that enables you to not only decrypt the DRM-laced "Watch Now" movie files, but save them to your hard drive for future viewing. Admittedly, the process is somewhere between painless and potentially frustrating, but the gist of it involves Windows Media Player 11, FairUse4WM, Notepad, a Netflix account, and a broadband connection. Through a series of hoop jumping, users can now strip the "Watch Now" files free of DRM and watch them at their leisure and on any video-playing device they choose. Granted, there's certainly issues of legality mixed in here, but where there's a will, there's a way. [Warning: Read link language potentially NSFW]

[Via TVSquad]

Filed under: DIY, Media streamers, Internet

Workaround enables Netflix 'Watch Now' titles to be decrypted, saved originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Aug 2007 06:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Workaround enables Netflix 'Watch Now' titles to be decrypted, saved

Darren Murph — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 06:29:00 EST

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Workaround enables Netflix 'Watch Now' titles to be decrypted, saved originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Aug 2007 06:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Simple hack keeps Netflix Watch Now from tracking your minutes?

Evan Blass — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 11:30:00 EST

Remember how back in the day -- before software developers got wise to this sort of thing -- you could extend the life of some shareware indefinitely by simply winding back your machine's calendar every so often? Well according to tipster "Livesunkept" (a pseudonym, we suspect), a similar jury-rigged hack is all it takes to vastly extend your monthly allotment of viewing hours for Netflix's new Watch Now streaming video service. Normally Netflix keeps track of how long you've been watching, and correlates that number to the fee you pay each month, subtracting from your bank of minutes based on your subscription level (i.e. an $18 plan might give you 18 hours of streamed viewing). Always looking for a way to beat the system, Livesunkept discovered that if you disconnect your network adapter after a given movie has finished downloading (usually 15 to 20 minutes), and then clear your cache and cookies before reconnecting it at the end of the flick, Netflix will only charge you for a few minutes of viewing time even though you rightfully owe about two hours worth of credits. Now we don't really have time to watch movies around here -- thus no Netflix / Blockbuster subscriptions -- so we haven't been able to try this workaround out for ourselves and verify that it works. That's why we have commenters. So if you're a member of the Netflix posse, please do us a favor and report back after you've given this hack a whirl -- don't tell anyone else, though, or you'll risk ruining the supposed loophole for all the hard-working cheats and cheapskates out there.

[Thanks, Livesunkept]

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Simple hack keeps Netflix Watch Now from tracking your minutes? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix "Watch Now" feature offers movie download alternative

Paul Miller — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 09:45:00 EST

Just as online music stores introduced the "rental" model to music listeners, it looks like we're finally getting beyond the rent / purchase model for online movies, with Netflix mixing things up with its new Watch Now feature. A user gets an hour of video watching for every dollar they spend monthly on the service -- a $17.99 subscriber gets 18 free hours of video. There's no concept of buying or renting a movie, instead you just watch what you want to watch, with every minute spent watching each movie counting against your total, but nothing more. This helps users catch the last few minutes of recent rentals they might not have finished, or preview a bit -- or the whole thing -- of a prospective selection. With a good enough connection, the quality apparently approaches DVD, but there aren't any portability options or DVD burning here: it's all browser based and not a whole lot more. The feature is also XP only at the moment, but Netflix hopes to expand to other platforms, including cellphones. Currently there are roughly 1,000 titles available, which Netflix hopes to expand to 5,000 this year. Netflix is live with Watch Now for select customers right now, and will slowly expand to the rest of its subscribers over the next six months. It seems we've been waiting for Netflix to get into this gig for years -- oh wait, we have -- and while it does seem to be taking a bit different angle to the biz, we're glad to have 'em all the same.

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Netflix "Watch Now" feature offers movie download alternative originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Jan 2007 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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