NetFlix launches streaming video

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NetFlix launches streaming video

There has been loads of speculation for the past 2-3 years over Netflix, and the future of movie delivery. Sending movies over the wire instead of using mail delivery was never a question of if, but when. Well, after much speculation and wondering if they'd launch set top boxes, partner with TiVo, or offer downloads to your computer, it looks like Netflix launched a "Watch Now" option to select users.

Instead of downloads or even the ability to stream to your living room, it looks like Netflix embraced the culture of Youtube and simply tossed movies into a flash browser interface. ~~The upside is that it should work on most browsers and platforms (no need for windows-only DRM)~~ It's Windows/IE only, and the downside is you'll have to watch films on your laptop instead of your living room TV.

The Hacking Netflix blog also has a video demo of the feature in action.

by Matt Haughey January 16, 2007 in News

Comments

If it's in a flash-based browser, could one load the site from the Wii's Internet Channel as a weak hack? I don't have a netflix account to try (being Canadian and all).

Posted by: Rob Drimmie at Jan 16, 2007 11:31:29 AM

Error in the article: according to the NY Times, this is not Flash video, as it uses Microsoft DRM:

"The service, which will be introduced over six months, works only on recent versions of Windows and Internet Explorer."

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/16/technology/16netflix.html

Posted by: Tony at Jan 16, 2007 1:55:13 PM

Correct, therefore it is not cross platform. You need a Windows PC. You can view this content on your living room TV if you have a PC connected to your TV. Granted this is only a small percentage of people (ex. Home Theater PC folks, including Windows Media Center users), but it can still be done. I got access to the "Watch Now" page, so I'll try streaming at fullscreen on my HDTV tonight to test the quality.

Posted by: Grant at Jan 16, 2007 2:38:08 PM

Only works on Windows huh. OK, I'll not be taking advantage of it.

As to watching on your computer screen. My MacBook is hooked up to my Sharp Aquos 42" LCD TV via an HDMI connection. It's 1080p, and it plays videos at nearly full screen. There is less than an inch black border all around the screen.

Ah well, someday we will be able to watch HD movies via some broadband connection.

Posted by: Dave M. at Jan 16, 2007 3:15:17 PM

ugh, Windows/IE only? Lame, but I guess I have parallels on my mac for that very reason. I'll update the post.

Posted by: Matt Haughey at Jan 16, 2007 6:06:05 PM

Download movies I can only watch on my PC? I liked this the first time I saw it.....when it was called Amazon.com Unbox.
No thanks.
Looks like I'll be either dropping some coin for an Apple TV or Xbox 360. This doesn't make sense. They announced a deal with Tivo 2 years ago. That was real right? Not some internet rumor or a figment of my imagination.

Posted by: Wendell at Jan 17, 2007 2:27:19 PM

The TiVo deal died a little over a year ago: http://www.pvrblog.com/pvr/2005/10/netflixtivo_dea.html

I suspect that Netflix is hamstrung in this case by rights owners wanting Microsoft DRM specifically.

Posted by: Matthew Weigel at Jan 18, 2007 10:51:09 AM

I think the percentage of folks with PCs connected to their TVs is increasing, especially owners of HDTVs. I can download eps of tv shows in HD from torrent sites, play DVDs and surf the web for any number of reasons and do it all in 1080. Other than being limited by the ability to stream the "Wathc Now" content (it tests your speed and sets the quality accordingly) I don't see a problem. If it didn't test and limit, but rather allow a temp download, it could be true HD. My "Watch Now" quality is fairly low at full screen because I have a wireless b connection to the TV and I don't have the Premium package from Cox... yet...

Posted by: jimbo at Jan 21, 2007 2:56:53 PM

Windows/IE only? Why wouldn't they put a ton of time and money and effort into capturing the elusive 5% that is the Mac/Safari market? Instead they opted to reach more people and make more money.

Honestly! Silly boneheads!

Posted by: Brent at Jan 21, 2007 6:52:07 PM

@brent

wait... capturing MOST of the market is more people and more money, than capturing ALL of it?
huh..

Posted by: mike at Jul 5, 2007 10:32:30 PM