Hasta La Gadget!

Due to Microsoft’s confirmation that support for its Silverlight plugin will end and the rise of plugin-free browsers, Netflix will eventually need to stream to PCs using something other than the tech it’s had in place since 2008.The company has already implemented one example of the technology for Samsung’s ARM Chromebooks, and plans to bring it to Chrome on PCs and Macs eventually. Right now, it’s waiting for several W3C initiatives it’s been working on called the HTML5 Premium Video extensions that handle things like video quality and DRM support to be fully implemented. Once the last one (Web Cryptography API) is available, it can ditch the custom API plugin it’s currently using and begin testing on PCs and Macs. What isn’t mentioned is any support for other platforms like Linux, although Netflix says it can’t wait until the features are “implemented in all browsers!”

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD, Microsoft

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Source: Netflix Tech Blog

Netflix has had quite the first quarter of 2013 as the company’s CEO Reed Hastings took to his Facebook yesterday to not only promote its exclusive show, House of Cards, but also to announce its customers have watched over 4 billion hours of streaming content through the service. The last time Hastings revealed the amount of streaming video Netflix users have watched was in July with one milling hours being viewed at the time.

Hastings didn’t announce which videos contributed to their 4 billion hours of streaming video milestone in only the past three months, but his mention of House of Cards may hint at the possibility its inclusion onto Netflix might have something to do with the increased viewership. (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Panasonic Will Continue To Produce Plasma TVs, LG webOS-Powered TVs Expected In Early 2014,

It’s been far too long since Netflix was fullscreen on all Windows Phone devices – this week the app has been updated to include 720p displays for Windows Phone 8. As an added bonus, this update will work for not just Windows Phone 8, but Windows Phone 7.8 devices as well. As Microsoft’s push for a fully-stocked app store continues, big names like Netflix kicks like this are a bit of a high-five on the way up.

As the Netflix app is updated for larger resolution displays, it’s apparent that updates are still needed before this iteration of the video environment is up to snuff with the rest of the smart device universe. You’ll still not be able to get HD video on your Windows Phone 8 device, and though it’s not Netflix’ fault, we’re still not at a place where essentially every new Windows Phone 8 device is able to have its picture output to a larger screen via HDMI.

This update will ring in at 2MB as a download to your device this week. Remember that you’re going to need a Netflix account to take full advantage of the app, but you can still make with a trial period if you like. You’ll get addicted real quick.

Have a peek at the Netflix timeline below to see what else this streaming video giant has been bringing to the universe over the past few weeks. The Netflix app has quickly become one of the must-have apps on every mobile platform over the past few years, right along with Hulu and your everyday collection of YouTube-like apps. Stay up to date!

Netflix app hits 720p on Windows Phone 8 is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Last time we heard, Mr. F and the entirety of the Bluth clan were to return to all our screens sometime in May, but Netflix has finally announced that the global launch will happen on the more concrete May 26th. We’ll see a total of 15 new episodes in the fourth series, but there’s still over a month to wait. C’mon!

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: Netflix

Warner Bros. has decided to join in on the saturated video-streaming marketing by offering its own subscription-based video streaming service. Warner Bros. service is extremely distinctive from the likes of Netflix and Hulu Plus however. Its service, called Warner Archive, will allow users to stream classic and hard-to-find movies and TV shows straight to their streaming devices.

The service costs $9.99 a month to use, which is higher than other video-streaming services, but you are given a 2 week free trial to test it out. You are given a selection of classic TV shows and movies like the original Jericho, Bad Day at Black Rock, Superman and more. The selection is quite small right now, however Warner Bros promises to add a lot more content soon, while also switching out some of its current content.

Right now, only some TV shows and movies are available in 1080p streaming, and you will only be able to watch the videos in 1080p if you have a Roku set-top box. PC and Mac users will not be able to watch either 720p or 1080p videos yet, however the features should be added in the future. Warner Bros also says that 1080p streaming should be coming to more connected devices in the future.

If you’re a classic movie buff, this new streaming service will be a Godsend for you. There are movies and TV shows from Warner Bros, MGM, RKO, and Allied Artists, that should bring to you the nostalgia of the old (very old) days. Warner Archive is very unique, but it will most likely have a hard time appealing to the majority of consumers, most of who are fine with Netflix and its modern selection of media.

[via Warner Archives]

Stream classic movies and TV shows from Warner Archives for $9.99 a month is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.