netflix

Netflix CEO: Wii controller, browser make for fab Web TV

SAN FRANCISCO--Let's try combining the Web and TV sets one more time, says Netflix CEO Reed Hastings.

Hastings told an audience Thursday at the NewTeeVee Live conference that TV sets are key to the future of Internet video and all next-generation sets should come equipped with Wii-like controllers, browsers, video codecs, and some serious processing power.

"The real breakthrough will be in remote controls," Hastings said. "The video game generation is comfortable with pointers (like the one from Nintendo's Wii video game) for the TV. Remember, it was a revolutionary event when we went from … Read more

i.TV's iPhone app gets deep Netflix integration

On Monday i.TV, the movie and TV show listing service for the iPhone, pushed out a really neat update that marries the idea of its live content guide with services that can take advantage of it as a platform.

The first service to be introduced into the mix is Netflix. I.TV users who are also Netflix subscribers can manage their queue right from the application, as well as start Netflix searches from i.TV's own listings.

An example of how this might work is if you're perusing the latest movie listings. If you see a film … Read more

Vudu's 1,100-plus HD movie library bests Apple TV, Netflix, and Xbox Live--for now

Vudu is now offering more than 1,100 movies in high-def, making it No. 1 in on-demand HD. The company says that it blew past the 1,000-title milestone by adding more than 150 HD flicks per week in October, and it's pledging to continue its HD focus in the weeks and months ahead. (The HD selections represent about 11 percent of Vudu's total library of on-demand movies.)

Indeed, a quick examination of competing services seems to bear out Vudu's claim. We counted more than 1,100 HD movies available through Vudu's box (including about 200 … Read more

Netflix to discontinue sales of used DVDs

Netflix plans to stop selling DVDs that were rented by subscribers, another step toward expanding its subscription focus from DVDs rented by mail to include movies streamed over the Web.

In a Netflix blog posting Monday, the company announced that it would discontinue sales of previously viewed DVDs on November 30:

As you know, our core business is delivering great movie rentals to you on DVD by mail and instantly to the computer and TV, so we've decided it makes sense for us to focus exclusively on that. This means we will stop selling previously viewed DVDs through the … Read more

Digital City: Episode 5

This week, we talk about Fallout 3, an online tool for sending anonymous STD warnings, The new anti-rat Web site from the NYC government, and more.

Also, don't forget to click on the "Subscribe to this podcast using iTunes" button on the right side of the screen, and join our Facebook group! Listen now: Download today's podcast

Netflix welcomes Mac users to 'Watch Instantly'

Netflix has expanded its "Watch Instantly" movie-streaming player to include Macintosh-owning subscribers.

The company announced on its blog Friday that it is past its first phase of beta testing and invited subscribers who wanted to opt in to do so. But the company had a few warnings for prospective users:

• There may be bugs. We are logging all errors, but if you run into problems, you can help out by posting details here in the blog comments.

• Not all movies are available to watch with Silverlight. You may notice errors or lower than normal quality when … Read more

What we Craved this week

We realize you probably spent a lot of time coming up with your Halloween costume this week (extra bonus points if your creativity went beyond a red power suit, pageant hair, and Tina Fey glasses!). So if you weren't able to keep up with all the goings-on in gadget land over the past five days, no worries, we've got what you need to know right here.

• Prison life just got easier--for the guards at least.

• MP3 player prices are sinking to the bottom of the iriver.

• Showing now, pretty much everywhere: Netflix.

• Hewlett-Packard makes your dream of … Read more

Friday Poll: From Netflix to you, but how?

Watching Netflix offerings via DVDs delivered by mail is fast becoming very 2007.

This week brought word that the Xbox 360 will become the first device to allow Netflix streaming in HD when the new Xbox Live experience launches on November 19.

And TiVo's high-definition set-top boxes for digital video recording will by the end of the year be able to stream more than 12,000 movies and TV shows from the video rental site.

What's more, Netflix announced that it will use Microsoft's Silverlight software to deliver streaming movies not only to PCs, but to Intel-based … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 842: Forking Google

Google has joined the OpenID crowd, but just like Microsoft and Yahoo, you can't use the OpenID on Google, but you can use Google credentials other places. Unlike Microsoft and Yahoo though, Google has decided to tweak the OpenID implementation a little to make it better. That means that it's nonstandard and won't work for all standards-compliant OpenID servers. Bullies. We also admire the new DRM-free music store from clothing retailer, Hot Topic. Really.

Listen now: Download today's podcast Episode 842

TiVo to stream Netflix http://newteevee.com/2008/10/29/october-surprise-tivo-to-stream-netflix/ http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10078711-1.html… Read more