Hasta La Gadget!

When Google Chromebooks started arriving without the Netflix streaming we’d been promised we were predictably bummed, but that may be rectified soon. While Chromebook owners attuned to beta channel updates first noticed an entry for a Netflix plugin last month, it still couldn’t actually play movies and didn’t appear on older, single-core Atom powered Cr-48 laptops. Fast forward to the present, where one of our friendly comment moderators, masterofrandom has spotted this updated v1.0.2 plugin lurking in the depths of his murdered out 12-incher. There’s still no playback to be had, but we’re figuring Netflix didn’t update the version number past 1.0 because it’s finally figured out the perfect queue management system. Chromebook owners or prospective owners (and by extension, Linux users) still awaiting Watch Instantly streaming — your alert level is at Vermilion.

[Thanks, masterofrandom]

Netflix plugin for ChromeOS hits v1.0.2, is an official release around the corner? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 31 Jul 2011 00:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony’s Qriocity video streaming service is going mobile. The on-demand pay-per-view offering (which is probably best known for its supporting role in the recent PSN outage debacle) is making the jump from the living room to your pocket — provided said pocket is stuffed with a 2011 Xperia smartphone. Initially it will only be available to Mini and Mini Pro owners, but eventually it’ll be pushed to rest of the current lineup in nine markets, including the US, UK and Japan. Check out the source link for more details.

Qriocity video streaming coming to Xperia packing pocket near you originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 11:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We all know that streaming Hoarders and other guilty pleasures via the interwebs has taken off over the past few years. No news there. However, what may be surprising is that, despite the ability to stream in HD to a number of other devices (including your computer), a quarter of all Netflix subscribers view Swamp People by way of the Wii. That’s right, 1080p doesn’t matter for these folks, who prefer to live the simple life… and by that we mean life in standard def. Most viewers prefer to watch instantly via PC for both Netflix and Hulu, with a whopping 89 percent of Plus customers taking this route to catch up on The Daily Show. With those looking to ditch the red envelope and, you know, with Mad Men now available, Wii viewers are sure to increase as a new console is just around the corner. Because nothing says 1960s drama like 480p, right?

25 percent of Netflix users stream on the Wii, think composite cables are just fine originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 06:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’re not sure how Don Draper would have sold a 60 percent price increase on your most popular service package but maybe Netflix executives can make a guess after they start watching the first four seasons of Mad Men today on Watch Instantly. Netflix’s Lionsgate deal will keep reruns flowing for years to come, while a new agreement with CBS International is bringing its programming — including Showtime shows like Dexter that were recently yanked from the US Netflix service — to viewers in Canada (who already had Mad Men) and Latin America (where it locked up a cache of telenovelas yesterday). This CBS agreement is separate from their (also non-exclusive) US deal that brought Star Trek back, but international viewers will still get to both TOS and TNG, as well as shows like Twin Peaks and 90210. Check the press release after the break for more details on the international deal, the source link for a time warp back to 1960s NYC or hit the comments below to explain how canceling your $7.99 per month service is a stand against greedy corporations.

Continue reading Netflix adds Mad Men in the US today, CBS content in Canada and Latin America later

Netflix adds Mad Men in the US today, CBS content in Canada and Latin America later originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starting this fall, for the first eight days after they air, watching Fox TV shows online will require a subscription to Hulu Plus or a participating cable or satellite company. So far Dish Network is the first and only provider to sign up its customers for access to the new walled garden on Fox’s site but others looking to fill out their TV Everywhere lineups probably won’t be far behind. While pay-TV networks like ESPN with ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app and EPIX have already gone the “authentication” route, Fox is the first of the broadcast networks to do so. The new rules go into effect August 15th, then we’ll find out if Fox is driving cable cutters towards paying for TV, piracy, or just ignoring the latest episode of Glee altogether.

Continue reading Fox restricts online streams of new TV shows to ‘authenticated’ pay TV subscribers

Fox restricts online streams of new TV shows to ‘authenticated’ pay TV subscribers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 19:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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