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Sony announced today that the PlayStation 3 is now the most popular platform to watch Netflix on. The streaming service is currently available on every major gaming console and most mobile devices, as well as the Netflix website. Out of all those platforms, Sony Computer Entertainment America’s Phil Rosenberg says that “more people stream Netflix content to their televisions via PS3 than any other device worldwide.”

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings also had some words about the recent milestone for Sony and the PlayStation 3. He says that the “PS3 is a natural fit for Netflix in terms of developing” and deploying the service’s newest features. Hastings says that it’s really easy to update the Netflix PS3 app, and it allows the company to “transparently update” the application with new features “on a daily basis.”

The PlayStation 3 first introduced Netflix over three years ago, and it’s been a platform for which many Netflix features have been released first. For instance, the PlayStation 3 was the first to offer Netflix in full 1080p video resolution with 5.1-channel surround sound, as well as offering post play, second-screen controls, on device sign-up, and subtitles.

Last year, though, the Nintendo Wii held the crown for the most-popular Netflix streaming device, according to Nielsen. The research firm reported that the Wii represented 25% of Netflix’s market share, with the PlayStation 3 trailing behind at 13%. We’re not sure how long the PS3 will be able to keep its #1 spot, but we reckon that it won’t be held onto forever.

PlayStation 3 now #1 device for Netflix streaming is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Hot on the heels of a deal for Canada, Netflix and Warner Bros. have spread their newfound affection for each other to a multi-year, exclusive agreement for Ireland and the UK. Both island nations are getting streaming access to past seasons of four Warner-distributed TV shows, with availability staggered over the next several months. The Vampire Diaries is first out of the gate, with three seasons coming to Netflix on December 1st; five seasons of Gossip Girl follow on March 1st, while less definite schedules have all of Chuck and four seasons of Fringe appearing sometime in 2013. The arrangement isn’t quite as ideal as it would be if episodes appeared as they aired, but it’s a welcome expansion for a young regional service that’s still locked in a battle for supremacy.

Continue reading Netflix Ireland, UK score deals to carry previous seasons of key Warner-distributed shows

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD

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History would kindly tell us that this isn’t the very first deal Netflix and Warner Bros. have struck in past months — and, well, chances are it won’t be the last one either. Earlier today, the streaming giant announced it had reached a new exclusive agreement with the California-based studio which will bring a hefty amount of new content to subscribers in Canada. Starting January of next year, Netflix streamers in the Great White North can start watching TV shows such as The Vampire Diaries, Fringe and Pretty Little Liars, as well as films like The Hangover Part II, Horrible Bosses and even the critically-acclaimed blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises — although these movies will come “for a limited period following their pay television window.” There’s still some time before the deal bears fruit, so perhaps the next few weeks could be used to start clearing that overloaded Instant Queue of yours.

Continue reading Netflix announces new deal with Warner, will deliver popular content to Canadian streamers

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: Netflix

It’s something that has grieved users for years – the inability to watch Netflix on Ubuntu. Many users have created complicated, and often faulty, ways around the restriction, often going the virtual operating system route. Now Ubuntu users can watch Netflix directly by setting up Firefox and Microsoft Silverlight.

The process isn’t as simple as downloading a couple items and opening your browser. Users will have to use a custom version of WINE that makes it possible to use patches necessary for the entire method to work. So far, this works well with 32-bit varieties of the Ubuntu distro, having been tested on 12.20. If you’re using the 64-bit version of Ubuntu, you’re advised to wait for the PPA release, which is “coming soon.”

Although you have to do quite a bit of compiling, the process is fairly simple and straight forward. If you can’t handle waiting for the PPA to be released, you can do it all manually in the terminal. The process starts by downloading the WINE source (backup your WINE data first), then applying the various patches, of which there are five parts.

At this point, it’s all just a matter of compiling, which, as iHeart Ubuntu reports, can take a long time. During the compiling process, you’ll end up downloading “libfreetype6-dev,” followed next by the man of the hour, Microsoft Silverlight. As of right now, Silverlight 5 does not work, forcing users to use Silverlight 4 instead. Once Firefox and Silverlight are installed, running Netflix is as simple as opening your web browser.

[via iHeart Ubuntu]

Ubuntu gains unofficial Netflix support, PPA coming soon is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Netflix isn’t sinking, but it’s certainly not the soaring brand it once was and has endured its fair share of struggles over the last several years. But, if you think Reed Hastings is shaking in his boots over encroaching competition you’d be wrong. The CEO says that Amazon will pose a legitimate threat to its streaming video dominance, but that day is still a long way off. He claims that the Kindle purveyor is losing between $500 million and $1 billion a year as it builds its empire and secures licensing rights. Of course, Hasting’s comments during an interview with Dow Jones are largely speculative; based on the value of deals in which the two have competed directly. Then again, there seemed to be some implicit admission of the costs and struggles associated with competing in the subscription video sphere during its Q3 earnings report. The company lowered its forecast for the next quarter, saying it could lose as much as $490 million.

Filed under: Amazon

Netflix CEO claims Amazon losing up to $1 billion a year in streaming video war originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 15:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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