The straightforward interface of the Roku Netflix Player
(Credit: CNET)The Netflix box is finally a reality.
The Netflix Player by Roku is the first product that allows subscribers to have movies and TV shows from the service's Instant Viewing feature (aka "Watch Now") to be streamed directly to their TV screen. Previously, Instant Viewing was available only to Windows PC users through the Internet Explorer browser. With the release of the Netflix Player, subscribers need only have a wired or wireless broadband connection to access the entire Instant Viewing catalog through their TV. The full review--with hands-on video--is available at CNET Reviews. But for those who prefer to cut right to the chase, here's the short and sweet version:
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March of the Penguins: the only movie in Netflix's top 100 that you can stream
(Credit: CNET Networks)The "Watch Now" feature on Netflix is a great idea: instant access to thousands of movies and TV shows, available for instant streaming to your browser at the touch of a button. There's just one big problem: despite an advertised library of over 8,000 titles, very few of them seem to be movies or TV shows that I want to watch.
Out of 41 titles currently in my queue, only 4--The King of Marvin Gardens, Das Boot, The Good German, and Pickup of South Street--are available to be streamed. OK, fine--my taste for older movies is probably throwing things off. Surely plenty of newer, more popular movies are available to be streamed, right?
Wrong. ... Read more
The Vudu XL, which offers 1TB of storage, is now available.
(Credit: Vudu)Apple TV has gotten a lot of press since its recent 2.0 upgrade added the ability to rent instant-on movies from all the major studios directly through its onscreen interface. But start-up Vudu--whose set-top box offered all of those features months before Apple's--is still kicking. Just weeks after dropping the price of its entry-level product to $295, the company just rolled out its version 1.3 software, which adds some improved interface and functionality tweaks. Most notably is the "Vudu Vault." The company says that the feature lets users archive some purchased movies (and all purchased TV show episodes) to a "secure area on Vudu servers." In fact, it appears to just flag the title as "owned," so the user can free up space on the Vudu's hard drive for additional downloads, while still being able to stream the "Vaulted" content again at any point in the future. (The Vault feature as well as the interface tweaks were already up and running on our Vudu review sample as of today.)
Two other Vudu announcements of note: the Vudu XL--the $1,000 Vudu announced at CES that packs a 1 terabyte hard drive--is now available to custom installers. Vudu is also making the IR dongle included with the XL model available as an add-on to its existing boxes for $39. With the dongle in place, the Vudu--which includes an RF-only remote--can be controlled with standard universal remotes. (Previously, the company said that the dongle would only work with the XL model, so the wider compatibility will no doubt be welcome news to current Vudu owners.)
A quick scan of Vudu's inventory today listed 5,075 movies--101 of which are in high-def. See our earlier Crave posting to see how that compares with offerings from Apple TV, Xbox Video Marketplace, and Amazon Unbox (available on TiVo). Also of note: Gizmodo's recent video quality shootout between the first three.
Vudu: now 25 percent more affordable
(Credit: Vudu)Vudu is knocking 25 percent off the price of its eponymous video-on-demand box. Effective immediately, the Vudu is now $295, down from its original $399 asking price. Customers who've purchased the unit in the past 30 days can get a $100 movie credit by calling the company's customer service line (888-554-VUDU).
The price drop is a direct response to the newly resurgent Apple TV. When it was first introduced in September 2007, the Vudu box delivered several advantages versus the Apple: it offered PC-free movie downloads with instant-on playback and good video quality, and included content from all major movie studios. And in months since, Vudu had added TV shows as well as a limited slate of high-def content as well. But the Apple TV is on track to match each of those bullet points when it gets a promised firmware upgrade next week, as outlined by Steve Jobs in his keynote address at last week's Macworld. Adding to Vudu's uphill battle is the fact that Jobs also cut the price of Apple TV--$229 for the 40GB version (down from $299) and $329 for the 160GB (previously $399)--as well as the fact that the Apple product can access YouTube videos and stream photos and music to living room TVs from networked computers.
Ultimately, of course, Vudu's success or failure versus Apple TV will be judged in the consumer marketplace--and if you're reading this, that means you. So: which product would you prefer: the new Apple TV, or the Vudu?
The previously movie-only Vudu now offers some TV episodes as well
(Credit: Vudu)When we reviewed the Vudu back in September, we said "only feature films are available, but Vudu says that TV shows are on the roadmap." Vudu made good on that pledge today, adding 12 TV shows to its content roster. Episodes are available for $1.99 each--the same price you'd pay for TV shows on Apple's iTunes Store.
TV content on Vudu is said to be "in beta," but it should be available to all Vudu owners as of today. The initial dozen shows offered are: 24, Arrested Development, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Family Guy, Firefly, Lost in Space, My Name is Earl, NYPD Blue, Prison Break, The Riches, Shark, and The Shield.
While all of the TV shows will be available in standard-definition, Vudu has been experimenting with HD programming as well. Today marks the availability of The Bourne Ultimatum on Vudu--the same day it hits DVD and HD DVD--in standard and high-definition versions. The previous two Bourne movies have been available for free viewing on Vudu in HD since November 23, and the company says that "more HD will be coming."
Update: For the record, The Bourne Ultimatum is available only to buy for now (as a permanent download to the Vudu box). Rental options may follow in the future on Vudu and other digital download providers.
That Vudu that it do: on-demand movies, via the Internet
(Credit: CNET Networks)Vudu won't be shipping for another few weeks, but I was fortunate enough to get one of the first review units of the device--and my gadget-jaded eyes were somewhat impressed. The Vudu box aims to deliver a wide variety of on-demand movies to your TV (no PC required) via a broadband Internet connection--think Netflix or Blockbuster, but with immediate gratification. The idea of a dedicated video-on-demand box has been tried before (Akimbo, MovieBeam), but the Vudu sidesteps many of the issues that made those previous boxes hard to recommend. It's got actual content that you want to see--all the major Hollywood studios are providing content, and you're bound to find a few movies worth watching if you peruse an overview of the available titles at Vudu's updated Web site. Movie downloads begin streaming instantaneously (assuming, of course, that you have a good broadband connection), so you won't have to pre-order films to queue up in advance. The audio and video quality is (for net-delivered video) excellent, and the intuitive interface and remote control and simple setup will appeal to non-techies who just want to watch movies.
What's not to like? Vudu is touting the fact that there's no activation fee or monthly subscription. Instead, pricing is strictly pay-per-view--you rent movies for $1 to $4, or buy them (as permanent downloads to the hard drive) for $5 to $20. That's pretty reasonable, but you also have to factor in the fact that you're buying the box for $400. Anyone who's maxing out their Netflix or Blockbuster accounts and watching more than a dozen movies for less than $20 a month may well blanche at that pricing--but then again, there's no waiting by the mailbox for your next movie with Vudu. Likewise, the DVD-by-mail services offer a giant catalog of more than 75,000 titles apiece, including TV shows; Vudu's library is expected to be in the 5,000 to 10,000 title range, and it's currently limited to just theatrical movies (though TV shows seem to be in the pipeline). And Vudu is pretty much a closed system: The Vudu-connected TV is the only place you can watch the movies you buy or rent; there's no option to transfer them to portable devices or PCs for viewing elsewhere in the house or on the road.
Of course, Akimbo and MovieBeam aren't the only competition for Vudu. At least three other mainstream contenders offer premium downloadable content: TiVo (via Amazon Unbox); Apple TV (which, to date, requires you to first download iTunes content to your PC); and the Xbox 360 (via its Xbox Live Marketplace). If you already own one of those devices, the allure of the Vudu is certainly diminished--though it meets or exceeds many of their features in the downloadable video department. Still, in its debut incarnation, the Vudu box is the first such dedicated device that's at all recommendable, and we're hoping that future firmware and service upgrades (and maybe a price drop or two) will enhance its appeal.
Vudu should begin shipping by the end of September and will be widely available at many online and brick-and-mortar retailers in October. In the meantime, check out our full hands-on review and video of the Vudu in action. And let us know if you think the Vudu is worth buying--or what you'd change to make it worth considering.
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