Paying less for streaming sounds nice, but the online catalog is still limited.
(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET Networks)Netflix is considering offering a streaming-only pricing tier as soon as next year, according to comments made by CEO Reed Hastings in a report by Bloomberg.
The streaming-only membership could be popular among those with Netflix-enabled devices (such as the Roku Netflix Player, Xbox 360, and LG BD300) who want streaming access without the full cost of a Netflix membership. Netflix hasn't said how much the streaming-only tier would cost, but we'd assume it would be less than the current entry-level $9-a-month unlimited plan.
On the other hand, we're still on the lookout for Netflix to start charging a premium on customers who use the streaming service in addition to DVD rentals. The company has already introduced premium pricing by charging Blu-ray renters an extra dollar a month, and it feels like it's only a matter of time before heavy streamers pay a premium as well--or at least for premium content. In other words, keep on streaming while the streaming's free, because it may not last forever.
(Sources: Bloomberg via Engadget HD)
(Credit:
CBS Interactive)
As expected, Samsung has added support for HD streaming of Netflix video to its BD-P2500 and BD-P2550 players. The upgrade is available as a free firmware update (players should automatically prompt users to install the software update, or DIYers can download it from Samsung's support site and burn it to disc). Still no word on the promised DTS-HD Master Audio support for these players, but that will likely come in a subsequent firmware update soon.
The Netflix HD catalog is currently just a fraction of Netflix's streaming selection (300 titles out of around 12,000), but it will undoubtedly expand over time. HD compatibility was available first on the Xbox 360 last month, but--as we reported in October--all Netflix-compatible devices should be getting the HD upgrade soon. Indeed, there are signs that the high-def Netflix streaming will be hitting the remaining Netflix-compatible devices--TiVo DVRs, the LG BD300, and the Roku Netflix Player--in the near future, all via free firmware updates.
Even for home theater fans, standalone Blu-ray players can be pretty boring. There are some major differences between the players, such as what Blu-ray Profile they support, but you rarely see any new or standout features.
The LG BD300 is different in this regard, as it's the first Blu-ray player that is Netflix-Internet-streaming-ready. It allows you to stream content available on Netflix's "Watch Now" service directly from the player to the TV, which is much more convenient than watching it on your computer.
Netflix aside, the BD300 is also a pretty solid Blu-ray player, although it lacks some extras like onboard DTS-HD Master Audio decoding and multichannel analog audio outputs. The short story is that the BD300 packs both Blu-ray and Netflix into a single compelling package, but you can find a better standalone Blu-ray player if you don't care about Netflix.
The LG BD300 Network Blu-ray Player will be released in the fall.
(Credit: LG)When it's released in the fall, the LG BD300 will be the first Blu-ray player that will also have access to Netflix's online Watch Now library of streaming movies. But thanks to LG's sneak preview of the product (at its Manhattan press event last night), we have a pretty good idea of what we'll be getting when it hits stores in a few months.
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