Hasta La Gadget!

Netflix’s new user interface experience popped up on Android tablets last year before progressing to the iPad and finally iPhones just last week, but now the company officially announced it’s completing the circle by pushing it to Android phones. As seen on other devices, it’s focused on larger artwork, and offers the ability to scroll through many more titles, as well as search its streaming library from anywhere within the app. Users can tap once on a title to see more info about it or double tap to start playing immediately. The new UI is available on hardware running Gingerbread and above. It may already be appearing on your device but if not, check out the video preview embedded after the break.

Update: We downloaded the app and started poking around and have discovered a rather unfortunate detail left out by Netflix — the new UI is not optimized for high-res displays. Icons, thumbnail images and even the company’s logo are noticeably pixelated on our Galaxy Nexus. Even on the qHD panel of our Droid RAZR M things are pretty fuzzy looking. Hopefully Netflix will address the issue soon and maybe, just maybe, make it look like an Android app instead of an iOS one..

Update 2: We’ve heard from Netflix on the issue, and are told that certain screen resolutions + certain flavors of the OS are resulting in “suboptimal” rendering. Currently it’s doing more testing and making tweaks to improve the experience across the board, we’ll let you know when they arrive.

Continue reading Netflix extends new user interface experience to Android phones (Update)

Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, HD, Mobile

Netflix extends new user interface experience to Android phones (Update) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 08:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you dig Quentin Tarantino flicks, an eight movie, 10-disc Blu-ray boxed set is on the way that will probably pique your interest. Lionsgate and Miramax are collaborating on the Tarantino XX set, which captures 20 years of the filmmaker’s career and includes Reservoir Dogs, True Romance, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Death Proof and Inglourious Basterds. Additionally, there’s special collectible packaging and artwork (shown after the break, along with the press release and full list of specs) and the two extra discs are filled with five hours of all new bonus interviews, retrospectives and the like. It seems unlikely to answer the mystery of what was in Marcellus Wallace’s briefcase, but it will be available November 20th with an MSRP of $119.99, although Amazon is currently listing it at $83.97.

Continue reading Tarantino XX Blu-ray set brings 20 years of Quentin, eight movies and ten discs home November 20th

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

Tarantino XX Blu-ray set brings 20 years of Quentin, eight movies and ten discs home November 20th originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 23 Sep 2012 23:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The official Redbox app for Android hasn’t seen many changes since it was first introduced early last year, but that’s changing with version 3.0. Now available in Google Play, it brings a new look that should make browsing a bit easier, plus enhanced filtering (you can sort Blu-ray discs by genre) and the ability to sort by date or alphabetical order. Finally, support for push notifications could mean unsubscribing to those weekly texts for coupon codes, and users report you can now input the coupon codes in the app while making reservations. We poked around but couldn’t find any references to its Instant streaming service, so there’s at least one thing to expect for the next update. Android powered kiosk renters can grab the app at the source link below.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Software, HD, Mobile

Redbox app for Android updated with a new UI and better filtering, no Instant streaming yet originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 23 Sep 2012 04:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You don’t have to look high (or low) to find a litany of complaints regarding Time Warner Cable‘s service, support or pricing, but it’s evidently aiming to right one particular wrong later today. According to Bloomberg, the National Football League has inked a deal with TWC to bring the NFL Network and RedZone Channel to its systems. The move comes just months after the NFL ushered its networks onto rival Cablevision, putting TWC is a particular bind in the greater NYC market. It’s still unclear where the channels will be positioned and how much extra you’ll have to pony up to get ’em, but hey — it’s cheaper than moving to a FiOS neighborhood. (Though, admittedly, less satisfying.)

Update: Both parties have confirmed it, NFL Network and NFL RedZone Channel are coming to Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks starting September 23rd. NFL Network will be included for customers on the Digital Basic and Sports Pass tiers, while NFL RedZone is on the Sports Pass package only, check the press release after the break for the relevant details and self-congratulatory affirmations.

Continue reading NFL Network and RedZone Channel coming to Time Warner Cable (Update: Officially confirmed)

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

NFL Network and RedZone Channel coming to Time Warner Cable (Update: Officially confirmed) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Sep 2012 13:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you’re not quite comfortable shelling out £299 for BT’s YouView box, then you’re in luck. Starting October 26th, the hardware will be free for new Infinity broadband subscribers who ink contracts that are one year or longer. Instead of relying on cable, the Humax-built device uses both aerial and internet connections to deliver content from more than 100 digital TV and radio channels including Channels 4 and 5, the BBC and ITV. With the IPTV box, users can sift through content that’s aired in the past seven days, watch on-demand programs and record up to 300 hours of standard definition television or 125 hours of high-def video to a built-in 500GB hard drive. Current British Telecom subscribers pining for the subsidized box will be able to get their own for a £49 activation fee and a £6.95 delivery charge. Those eager for the gratis set-top solution will be able to order it online starting October 19th if they register interest with BT’s website beforehand. For more details, check out the press release below.

Continue reading BT to offer free YouView box with one-year broadband contract, £49 for existing customers

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD

BT to offer free YouView box with one-year broadband contract, £49 for existing customers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Sep 2012 02:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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