HD streaming set to premiere on all Netflix boxes
Update:
Netflix is calling this a "soft launch" since it is only rolling out such a small number of videos for HD streaming. The move mostly serves to stake a claim in the HD streaming market as opposed to being a full offering.
Contrary to what others are reporting, HD streaming will be available on all streaming devices eventually. That means the Roku, LG, and Samsung boxes will all be able to stream these HD movies movies at some point after the feature is available on the Xbox 360. The PC- and Mac-based versions of Netflix, will not, however, be able to stream HD immediately. In addition, streaming in HD will require a large amount of bandwidth. Netflix estimates the requirement being in the 8-10 Mbps range.
We already knew that Netflix streaming was going to be included in Microsoft's "New Xbox Experience," launching for the Xbox 360 on November 19, but Netflix had a little surprise in store for us today. In addition to its catalog of over 12,000 titles that will be available for near-DVD quality streaming, Netflix will stream 300 titles in HD to the Xbox 360.
This is the beginning of the dream that we talked about when Netflix gave its subscribers unlimited watching time, back in January. Even though 300 titles is a very small portion of Netflix's entire catalog, at some point, we can assume that Netflix will offer most of its catalog for streaming at some point and even further down the road, most of its catalog in HD. While browser-based streaming is great, with great set-top boxes, like the $100 Roku and now the Xbox 360, Netflix is slowly but surely invading living rooms across the country and making it easier to stream its content.
In order to take advantage of Netflix streaming on the Xbox 360, you must be an Xbox Live Gold member. Again, Netflix HD streaming will go live on the New Xbox Experience, which launches on November 19.
Harrison Hoffman is a tech enthusiast and co-founder of LiveSide.net, a blog about Windows Live. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure. 
Think you meant Mbps?
Wishful thinking in today's world of endless upgrades....
It is compatible with existing hardware. All that is needed for your Roku box is a firmware update. It was built with all the necessary hardware features for HD streaming because Netflix knew that it was going to add HD streaming someday and they wanted their device to be HD-ready when the time came.
I agree with harperjm that this really needs to come to the PS3. No way am I ever paying for Xbox Live when I only want to play online maybe once or twice a month, and even then it's really just to see if the game would even be fun to play online. I'm just glad that my computer hooks directly into my 52" HDTV, but it's too bad I won't be able to enjoy any HD shows from Netflix any time soon.
If that's the case, there really will be no need for DVD (although extras every once in a while is nice I suppose)...!
i have tried 2 videos and they stream regular quality
any idea what's up?
Also, it's only certain pieces of content that are in HD right now. Try streaming an episode of The Office and see if it goes in HD.
- by steve_swasey November 21, 2008 4:21 PM PST
- There's an error in this report regarding all of Netflix partners streaming content from Netflix in high def. Not true. HD on Xbox 360 and Roku first and eventually on LG Electronics, Samsung and TiVo. Eventually. No dates announced. The high def offering from Netflix is decidedly underwhelming though -- about 300 titles out of more than 12,000 for streaming and they're in standard def audio. No timeframe yet for 5.1 audio. -- Steve Swasey, VP Corp. Communications, Netflix
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