Hasta La Gadget!

We were undeniably excited about Netflix coming to the iPhone and iPad, but according to CEO Reed Hastings — who spoke on the subject during a Web 2.0 Summit panel discussion — that move has actually had little impact on the company’s business. In his mind, these results indicate that consumers just aren’t interested in streaming long-form video on mobile devices and instead prefer the experience on bigger screens. To support his conclusion, Hastings cited how Netflix integration on the Xbox 360, PS3, and Mac significantly grew its subscriber base. While we personally disagree with his judgment on mobile and grant him honorary captain obvious credentials for his bigger screen preference remarks, we’ll still entertain the possibility that Hastings may know somethings we don’t. That’s not to say the phrase correlation does not imply causation isn’t tickling the back our throat though. But what about you, reader? Are you taking advantage of the little red app on your Apple portable devices or even on your new Windows Phone 7 handset? Hit the poll on the next page to tell us what’s up.

Continue reading Netflix CEO says consumers just aren’t interested in long-form video on portable devices

Netflix CEO says consumers just aren’t interested in long-form video on portable devices originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 04:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Today Hulu’s Plus subscription service is available to anyone in the US willing to pony up ten dollars per month, no invitation required. Next week, Sony’s Playstation 3 will be the first dedicated video gaming console offering the service to all its users.

“In the next week, all PS3 owners with a PlayStation Network account, which is free, will be able to download and subscribe to Hulu Plus,” writes Hulu’s Rob Wong. “This will also coincide with an updated PS3 application that incorporates some of the feedback we’ve received to date.”

Hulu Plus first became available as an app for the PS3 in July, but only for some PlayStation Plus subscribers. So you had to pay Sony, get an invitation to Hulu Plus, and then pay Hulu. Starting next week, two of those three barriers will be down.

Soon, Hulu Plus will also be rolling out to net-connected Sony Bravia TVs and Blu-ray players, TiVo Premiere and Roku boxes, and Vizio TVs. It’s already available for computers and iOS devices. The pay service streams in 720p HD and offers a wider selection of current-season and backlist TV titles than Hulu’s free site. On the Hulu device page, service for Microsoft Xbox 360 is listed as “coming soon.”

See Also:

• Hulu Plus Launches: Three Networks, Zero Real-Time Shows …
• More TV Coming to TiVo and Roku This Fall with Hulu Plus
• Wired's Guide to Picking Your Perfect TV Setup
• New PS3 Model Has Bigger Hard Drive, Still Awfully Expensive …
• Wired 14.09: Gaming: Can the PS3 Save Sony

When CEO Reed Hastings called Netflix “primarily a streaming company that also offers DVD-by-mail,” he wasn’t messing around, as the company’s quietly made streaming-only plans a reality on US shores. Strangely enough, however, it seems the firm hasn’t quite decided how much the new plan should cost, as depending on which computer and web browser you use to navigate Netflix’s website you’ll see a different result. Our Windows desktop running Chrome was invited to sign up for the same $7.99 disc-less plan as our Canadian counterparts, while Firefox asked us to pay $8.99 for the same privilege, and in either case it’d cost us $9.99 in total if we wanted physical discs as well — while a MacBook Pro on the other side of the country was given the choice between $8.99 for streaming-only or Netflix’s previous plan of $8.99 for both. In short, there’s a chance you might get a $1 discount if you only use the company’s online service now, but if you like DVDs delivered to your door you may find yourself subsidizing those who don’t. See a picture illustrating the discrepancy right after the break.

[Thanks, Michael S.]

Continue reading Netflix testing $7.99 and $8.99 streaming-only plans in US right now, one is not a discount

Netflix testing $7.99 and $8.99 streaming-only plans in US right now, one is not a discount originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 15:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You may be able to watch The Office on your Google TV, but perhaps not on demand — ABC, CBS and NBC are barring Sony and Logitech’s web-infused TVs and set-top-boxes from accessing full episodes of streaming video content. The Wall Street Journal reports that all three networks have confirmed the ban, and that Fox hasn’t yet reached a decision on whether it will ban Google TV as well. For its part, Google says that it’s “ultimately the content owners’ choice to restrict their fans from accessing their content on the platform,” so don’t expect the search company to pitch in, unless it can work out some premium arrangements for all parties involved. This is the part where we’d normally direct you to the simple browser tweak that made Hulu accessible when it pulled the very same stunt, but alas, we’re finding Hulu too is once again blocked.

Update: Reuters reports that Google is “actively negotiating” with the three networks after all.

Television networks block Google TV from accessing web-based content (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 22:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Considering our leak a couple of days back came directly from Sony itself, this is hardly a suprise, but Eurogamer has done the diligent thing and managed to confirm with the dudes in suits that British film streaming service Lovefilm will indeed be coming to the PlayStation 3. The everything console is adding the UK answer to Netflix to its stable of software enhancements, which will let people buy pay-per-view movies or, provided they’re on Lovefilm’s £5.99 subscription or above, let them stream away without a care in the world. Oh, and the video ad that got pulled? We’ve now got it for you after the break.

Update: Electric Pig have been told that the PPV option will be left off the table for console streamers.

Update 2: Lovefilm has gotten in touch with us directly to say the service is rolling out this November.

Continue reading PS3 and Lovefilm make it official, streaming movies to consoles in the UK this November (updated)

PS3 and Lovefilm make it official, streaming movies to consoles in the UK this November (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 06:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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