Netflix app hits the iPhone and iPod touch
Here's some great news for Netflix subscribers. The free Netflix app has finally made it to the iPhone and iPod touch. Netflix members on plans as low as US$8.99 a month can instantly watch movies and TV shows streamed from the Netflix servers.
This has been an eagerly-awaited app (the iPad version was available at launch), and I downloaded it this morning to give it a test. It works fine on both 3G and WiFi, and the 3G feature is a bit of a surprise given AT&T's position of holding back on some streaming apps. Slingbox, for example, found dealing with AT&T tough sledding, but the company finally did get the app approved for 3G.
My TUAW colleague Richard Gaywood points out that with many AT&T users no longer on unlimited data plans, the company may see apps like this as a profit center. The new Hulu Plus app also works over 3G.
The new iPhone version has excellent image quality, supports fast forwarding and rewinding of the video stream, and like other incarnations of Netflix, allows you to pick up where you left off if you stop a movie and restart it. As Netflix members will appreciate, you can pause a movie you are watching on a Netflix device at home, and start the movie on the iPhone app and it will resume at the same place.
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The Netflix app supports any iPhone or iPod touch running iOS 3.13 or later, so it's not limited to iOS 4 hardware.
I saw a few scattered reports that the app was not working. It's probably a good idea to re-boot your phone after installing if you are seeing any problems. It was a smooth install for me, and the streaming worked on WiFi, 3G and through an AT&T Microcell.
The iPhone version will display your streaming queue, but not allow you to manage it, other than letting you delete an item. It does not display or let you manage your disc queue.
The app is universal, so those running Netflix on their iPads will also see an update. Check our gallery for some screen shots, and have fun viewing your favorite movies and TV shows in the palm of your hand.
