Hasta La Gadget!

While we’re aware that Netflix is planning to up its game when it comes to original programming, we were never really given a solid number or when it would all occur. However, Netflix’s Ted Sarandos says that original content on Netflix will double in 2014 compared to this year, meaning we’ll get more House of Cards, as well as a few new shows tacked on.

Netflix is wanting to change the way Hollywood views internet content, and they’re even looking to take on HBO to become the supreme when it comes to original ad-free content. Sarandos says that director David Fincher’s roll in House of Cards is changing the way people view internet streaming content, where it’s no longer a bunch B-list web shows, but actual TV series featuring A-list celebs.

House of Cards is a great example of how Netflix is changing the way people view streaming content. The series stars Kevin Spacey, who is best known for his numerous roles in tons of classic films, such as American Beauty, The Usual Suspects, Se7en, and Superman Returns. The first two episodes of the series were directed by David Fincher, who also directed movies like Fight Club, The Social Network, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

This year already, Netflix has released two original series: House of Cards and Hemlock Grove, with several more original shows on the way: Arrested Development and a Hasbro-sponsored children’s show, as well as three more that we know of. That’s seven shows total that we know of, meaning that if Netflix kept their promise and doubled their original content in 2014, we’ll be getting at least 14 shows next year, but Sarandos says that’s merely a goal, not a promise.

Netflix accounts for a third of all traffic that makes its way through the internet, which is something quite impressive, and the service streams more content than YouTube even. Netflix also keeps adding on new users, claiming three million more customers during Q1 2013 to make a total of 37 million users paying for Netflix.

SOURCE: Hollywood Reporter

Netflix to double original content next year is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

When we last checked in with Sandvine’s stat trackers, Netflix reigned supreme in online video traffic at home, especially downstream. It’s still sitting pretty several months later, Sandvine tells AllThingsD. Quite possibly helped by the House of Cards debut, Netflix kept a healthy lead at 32.3 percent of downstream use on wired networks this past March. That’s no mean feat when some of its competition took big strides forward — YouTube jumped up to 17.1 percent, and Hulu likely rode sweeps season to get 2.4 percent.

In mobile, it’s a different story. Netflix use on cellular almost doubled to 4 percent, but YouTube kept an uncontested lead at 27.3 percent of downstream use. It’s not hard to see why after looking at other video formats people prefer on the road: raw HTTP video (19.2 percent) and Facebook (8.6 percent) were the next-closest, which suggests that many still grab snack-sized videos on their phones instead of full movies or TV shows. We don’t expect the status quo to budge much in the near future, whether it’s on mobile or a fixed-line. Without major initiatives from veterans or the arrival of a new upstart, it isn’t clear just what would rock the boat.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD, Google, Facebook

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Via: AllThingsD

Source: Sandvine

If you own all of the major video game consoles, you probably tend to use your PlayStation 3 when it comes to Netflix. Which is why we’re not entirely surprised to hear Netflix is announcing an update to its player on […]

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Netflix has released an update for its PlayStation 3 app that brings a few minor features, yet they could prove incredibly useful for some users. First off, the UI received a makeover, although it simply looks like the web and mobile versions of Netflix in order to make the PS3 app more uniform with the rest of the app lineup. Also, the update comes with easier access to audio and subtitle settings, as well as increased performance.

The audio and subtitle options can now be accessed from within the video player, meaning that you don’t have to return to the main menu in order to adjust these settings. Plus, accessing these options from within the video player while watching a show will bring up catered settings for that particular show, including available languages and surround sound options.

The video player has also been updated to look more like the web and mobile versions, although it keeps some of the same PS3 aesthetic. The video player will now be much more reminiscent of other platforms with Netflix, and PlayStation 3 users should be able to pick up another device without a huge learning curve getting in the way.

Today’s PS3 update also includes improvements for “trickplay” mode, which is that fancy series of screenshots you get when you want to skip ahead or backward in a show. This time around, the screenshots appear much quicker on the screen, allowing users to fast-forward or rewind a show at a much quicker pace than before, although we would still love the option to automatically skip opening credits for a TV show that happens after the cold open, but it seems we’ll still be dreaming about that.

Netflix streaming first hit the PlayStation 3 back in November 2009, and it recently became the number one streaming device for Netflix, where Sony’s gaming console had more Netflix users than any other platform that Netflix in on, including the Xbox 360, so it’s really no surprise that the streaming company is giving extra attention to the PS3.

SOURCE: Netflix Blog

Netflix for PS3 updated (and yes, you’ve seen this UI before) is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Over the last several years, it’s been very common for television networks to cancel shows even though the shows are popular with critics and have loyal fans. TV shows that are unable to appeal to the mass market simply won’t last long. One television show that had received critical acclaim and had a very loyal cadre of watchers, yet was canceled, was Arrested Development.

Arrested Development aired on the Fox network from 2003 through 2006. The show was so popular that fans have been clamoring for a return of the series or a big-screen movie for years. Neither of those ever happened until Netflix stepped in and announced in 2011 that it would be bringing Arrested Development back to television.

Of course, the caveat was that the new episodes will be available only for Netflix subscribers. Netflix has now put the Arrested Development season four trailer online and it appears that the show picks up pretty much where it left off when it was canceled in 2006. New episodes of Arrested Development are returning with the complete original cast reprising their roles.

One of the best things about Netflix’s original programs is that the streaming company puts every episode online at the same time. That means you can watch the first episode and if you’re interested the entire remainder of the season is available for you to watch all in a row. Netflix says that all 15 episodes of the series that have been made will be available as of May 26.

Each of the episodes runs 30 minutes long and will presumably be commercial free like all of the other content on the streaming network. It’s interesting to see the show return after a seven-year hiatus. I had a few shows from the past that I really liked to watch that were canceled that I’ve wished would return. I know I’m not the only one who has long hoped that Firefly would return to the air. I don’t see that whenever happening with the success of Castle for Nathan Fillion.

SOURCE: Mashable

Netflix’s Arrested Development season four trailer hits the Web is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.