Netflix streaming instant queue box by Roku
Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 - 7:59am
Roku just released a netflix player. Watch anything on your TV that is in their "instant queue" http://www.roku.com/netflixplayer/
Xbox Live: GuinnessDrnkr
I read a few reviews and decided to bite on this one. $99 one time fee for the box and I can now watch anything I want from my TV that is in their instant queue. Much easier to catch up on the TV shows I haven't seen and it's included in the cost of my subscription so no monthly fee increase. Wireless, HDMI, optical out, and it will eventually support HD when they start to roll that out. Anyone else seen this or used it? I'll post a mini review when it comes in.
Xbox Live: GuinnessDrnkr
Interesting. I've been watching a lot of netflix "instant" on my computer but often get tired of the tiny picture. Being able to move to a TV sounds pretty good, and the price is reasonable. The selection of movies on the instant service is limited, but there's a lot of TV shows and some great movies. The Director's Cut of Blade Runner is on instant, for example. (or is that one of the "bad" versions- there are so many versions of Blade Runner I get confused)
I saw a quick blurb about it on AVSForum and was also intrigued. It's too bad it's only the 'Instant Watch' catalog that's available (although that catalog is getting bigger everyday and there are plenty to watch on there as is). I'm also a little bit worried about the quality of the streaming movies. I'm not expecting HD or even DVD-quality necessarily, but the picture quality when I watch Netflix through instant watch on my PC is pretty poor.
Let us know how it is. It could be a nice xmas present for myself
Xbox Live: NOVOCAIN1217
I can already do what this box offers by using their site, except for the slick interface, so $100 is a bit much to ask for a slick interface.
XBL: NSMike | Steam | PSN: NSMike | Wii Friend Code: 7763 1519 2475 2278 | GWJ Google Calendar
I figured it made sense to get as there are a lot of TV shows that I missed (Dexter, Weeds, Californication among others) and I don't like sitting at my desk on the computer to watch it. Buying the DVDs or waiting on netflix to send me the disks of the series was too expensive or too long of a wait. The fact that it displays at 480P on my nice big TV and will eventually support HD is an added bonus. Hopefully it will be here next week sometime and I'll let you folks know how it goes.
Xbox Live: GuinnessDrnkr
I'm very interested to hear experiences with this product too. I had thought about lugging one of the secondary pc's downstairs to hook up to the hdtv and try streaming, but I never get around to it.
This box sounds like a cost effective alternative, tailored to the need.
Xbox Live: Irongut | Playstation ID: Irongut_GWJ
The advantage to me is that I can watch a lot of stuff that doesn't justify using up a spot on the queue. For example, I've been watching SF network's Painkiller Jane on instant play here and there, but I wouldn't have wanted to order the DVD and then feel like I need to watch all the episodes before sending it back to get another DVD.
One thing to keep in mind there are rumors that the 360 and PS3 may be working out deals for getting netflix streaming too.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/11/netflix-coming-to-xbox-360-and-ps3/
Speaking of 360... Where's the IPTV already? I think a whole year has already passed since the active, working code has somehow surfaced in Spring 2007 Live update?
Xbox Live tag Gorilla800lbs
One of the commentors on that article you linked says he rented a movie through the 360. Has anyone tried that?
I've read good things about it but that the biggest downfall of the service is the catalog. Ars Technica had an article about it that stated "As CNET points out, just two of Netflix's top 100 DVD rentals are available for streaming: March of the Penguins and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and those aren't even really "new releases" anymore." I didn't realize that TV series were available on this service though. Is there a place you can go to see the instant access listing?
I've done it a couple times, before I got Netflix. The 360 starts downloading, and usually after about 10 minutes (around the amount of time it would take you to drive to the rental place, pick a movie, and bring it home) you can start playing it. I'm guessing the system figures out by your connection speed how long it will take to finish the download, and then says you can safely play it from *this* point on without interruption. Only thing I don't like is the odd DRM limitation. Once you start watching the film, it expires within 24 hours. The license lasts a number of days (don't remember the exact number) before you start watching it, but once you hit play, it's 24 hours until you can't watch it anymore. So only start watching it if you think you can avoid significant interruptions within the next 24 hours. But unlike most other download services, the 360 offers in either full DVD quality (480p) or HD versions (720p).
XBL: NSMike | Steam | PSN: NSMike | Wii Friend Code: 7763 1519 2475 2278 | GWJ Google Calendar
Charter Cable pay-per-view works the same way. Must be a common thing with these kinds of services.
It's true that the movie library is very limited. I suspect that's one of the reasons they don't charge extra to access the service. If you weren't already looking at Netflix for the other services, I wouldn't join Netflix to access it. However, there is some decent stuff on there. That's just no obvious reason why some movies make it onto the service. They're not all low budget bombs on the list, and, in fact, some unpopular movies I was curious about seeing remain on the DVD-only list.
You also have to keep in mind that the instant watch is something that's on top of their normal DVD service. I use my DVD queue for current movies/shows and the instant watch for TV shows and older movies. Heck, with this do-hicky I might just cancel my cable since it addresses the biggest issue I had...not being able to watch the instant stuff on my TV.
Their online catalog is limited, but they seem to be added a good amount of new content each week--a lot of it TV programming. Right now it seems to be a mix of current shows, like The Office, Dexter, 30 Rock, etc. and much older shows like Simon & Simon, Quincy, Orginal Battlestar Galatica, etc. It also seems like they've been adding a lot of History Channel content lately.
You should be able to see a sample of the catalog on their web site, though I think you have to be member before you can see the entire thing.
I recently rented Appleseed 2 on 360, and the experience was fantastic. I think I was able to begin watching it in about 5 minutes after it started downloading. The 720p quality was top-notch, as one would expect. The price ($4 for 48 hours, I think?) was completely fair to me.
And Appleseed 2 itself is a really nice and shiny movie too.
Xbox Live tag Gorilla800lbs
well I got the thing in the mail today. I have to say it's pretty damn impressive. Setup took me 3 minutes. plug in the desired AV connections and power it on. Setup takes 1 minute and walks you through detecting wireless networks etc.... register with netflix and whatever is in your instant queue shows up on the TV. minimal buttons involved and when I started a show it showed a status of "retrieving" for about 15 seconds and then the show started without any hitches or stops. I can now catch up on all the TV shows that I have heard good things about but never got to see (The Wire, weeds, californication, a bunch of older movies, some anime...)
If netflix continues to expand their library of movies and shows and goes HD with this it's going to be pretty impressive
Xbox Live: GuinnessDrnkr
HD + expanded library = more possibility of CF buying.
"THE HELL ASS BALLS." - Prederick, expressing frustration in the time-honored way.
http://myweb.cableone.net/eluttmann04/projects/vmcNetFlix/default.htm
If you have a 360, and a vista media center, you can stream the netflix movies to the sweet sweet console and save your self $100 bucks.
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Xbox Live Gamertag - Yoreel