Hasta La Gadget!

File this one in the unconfirmed-but-hopeful file, as Variety has it on good authority that Netflix could be making its first foray into European waters as early as Q1 2012. After taking Latin America by storm (and subsequently storming the wallets of plain ‘ole Americans), the company is purportedly lining up Spain and the United Kingdom for its next trick. Unnamed sources at “leading European film distributors” have confirmed that representatives from the company were looking to “put roots down” in both of those nations as soon as next year, and while Netflix itself is refusing to comment, it’s certainly a tale that’s easy to believe. ‘Course, breaking into the UK market won’t be as easy as it has been in other nations — Lovefilm already has a firm grip on the local rental market, but as your favorite capitalist always says, there’s never not room for increased competition. We’ll keep you posted.

[Thanks, Eric]

Netflix coming to Spain and the UK next year? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In case you were wondering what the updated rates are buying, Netflix’s first step in making its case for your $7.99 a month in streaming fees appears to be a renewal of its content deal with NBCUniversal. The new deal secures availability of previous seasons of popular shows including 30 Rock, The Office, Psych and other selections we’ve gotten used to seeing on the service for the next couple of years. There is one notable loss however, as the LA Times points out an arrangement that brought new episodes of Saturday Night Live to the service the day after they aired has come to an end. Rumors had swirled that Netflix could revive The Event after its cancellation by NBC, but while existing episodes will be available there’s nothing mentioned about putting it next to the streamer’s own House of Cards. Given Comcast (and now NBCU) leader Brian Robert’s reference to Netflix as the rerun TV and Netflix CEO Reed Hastings’ embracing of the term this deal isn’t surprising, but our only question is whether it is enough to keep current subscribers around.

Continue reading New Netflix, NBCUniversal deal announced; extra $6 a month buys some old eps of The Event

New Netflix, NBCUniversal deal announced; extra $6 a month buys some old eps of The Event originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 17:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The iPad has yet to transform the publishing world as many expected it would, but some healthy competition from Android tablets should help to keep that process in motion. Zinio‘s reader app is now available on select Android 2.2, 2.3, and all 3.0 tablets, bringing Esquire, National Geographic, and 20,000 other magazine titles to the Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, and a half dozen other devices. And, to kick off the launch, Zinio is picking up the tab on the most recent issues of 24 top magazines, as long as you download by June 15. Digital subscriptions are still often more expensive than their print counterparts, but at least Android tablet owners will have a safer place to hide their issues of Playboy.

Continue reading Zinio comes to Android tablets, gives you 24 magazine issues for free

Zinio comes to Android tablets, gives you 24 magazine issues for free originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 22:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix has just gone and scooped up another big content deal for itself. The movie streaming service has tied the knot with Miramax on a multi-year agreement to allow streaming of films from the latter’s extensive library. Pulp Fiction, The English Patient, Kill Bill, and hundreds of others will be added to the Netflix Watch Instantly catalog on a rotating basis, starting next month. This marks the first time Miramax flicks have been available on a digital subscription service. An agreement between these two companies was last rumored in March, with a five-year term and $100 million price being mooted as the likely parameters for getting it done. Neither outfit would disclose the cost to Netflix, but the benefit to you, dear subscriber, is pretty obvious. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Netflix seals deal to stream Miramax movies, starting in June

Netflix seals deal to stream Miramax movies, starting in June originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 May 2011 05:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Video, the vestige of Google’s in-house efforts at sharing moving pictures before the YouTube acquisition, is being closed down almost entirely. Everyone that isn’t involved in the Google Video for Business and Education programs will see their videos terminated from Google’s servers soon, with playback no longer available after May 13th. Options for downloading content you’ve uploaded or migrating it to YouTube have been made available, though they too won’t last beyond the 27th of next month. We suppose this makes sense in light of all the riches that Google is pouring into YouTube and the fact that its more popular video site is shedding its time limits for vids, but still, we had a bit of a soft spot for Google Video and the obscure stuff we could find on there. Better get the most out of it while the thing’s still around.

Google shutting down most of Google Video, urges you to back up your greatest hits now originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 05:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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