Netflix Unveils Set-top Movie Streaming Device

Netflix Unveils Set-top Movie Streaming Device
Jim Dalrymple, Macworld.com
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:50 AM PDT

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,14...l?tk=nl_dnxnws

Online movie rental company Netflix has partnered with streaming
specialist Roku to release a set-top box that will enable users to
stream movies to their television sets.

Dubbed "The Netflix Player by Roku" Netflix subscribers will have
access to over 10,000 movies and TV episodes. The US$99.99 device is
available beginning Tuesday, the company said.

"The key breakthroughs of The Netflix Player by Roku are simplicity
and cost," said Reed Hastings, chairman and CEO of Netflix.

Hastings explained that users can use the Netflix Web site to choose
movies to their instant queue. When viewed on the TV only those
choices are shown, cutting down on the amount of navigation that's
necessary through the set-top device.

Netflix said their are no extra charges and no viewing restrictions.
"For a one-time purchase of $99, Netflix members can watch as much as
they want and as often as they want without paying more or impacting
the number of DVDs they receive," said Hastings.

It seems clear that Netflix is targeting the Apple TV and it's iTunes
Rental Store. Only time will tell how the Netflix, iTunes battle will
end up.

Ablang wrote:

> Netflix Unveils Set-top Movie Streaming Device
> Jim Dalrymple, Macworld.com
> Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:50 AM PDT
>
> http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,14...l?tk=nl_dnxnws
>
> It seems clear that Netflix is targeting the Apple TV and it's iTunes
> Rental Store. Only time will tell how the Netflix, iTunes battle will
> end up.

Think Netflix's venture into soft-downloads will end up the same way
every OTHER download venture has ended up so far:
They'll find they can't compete with Netflix.

Derek Janssen (let's hope at least *one* company chokes on the irony,
and who better than the source?)
ejanss1@verizon.net

Derek Janssen wrote:
> Ablang wrote:
>
>> Netflix Unveils Set-top Movie Streaming Device
>> Jim Dalrymple, Macworld.com
>> Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:50 AM PDT
>>
>> http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,14...l?tk=nl_dnxnws
>>
>> It seems clear that Netflix is targeting the Apple TV and it's iTunes
>> Rental Store. Only time will tell how the Netflix, iTunes battle will
>> end up.
>
> Think Netflix's venture into soft-downloads will end up the same way
> every OTHER download venture has ended up so far:
> They'll find they can't compete with Netflix.

I get your point, but from the sounds of this article, it doesn't
interfere with nor cost anymore than your regular Netflix account. So I
could see people using it as a compliment to their regular way of using
Netflix.

IOW, they could still do the disc by mail thing, especially when they
want the quality picture and sound, but for stuff lower on their
must-see list, it could come in handy, especially when you don't have
any rentals waiting around to be watched.

And let's face it, most Netflix addicts are never going to get through
their entire queue the normal way, because they add to it as fast or
faster they they subtract from it with rentals. This would help in that
area too.

If nothing else, the people who ***** Netflix won't let them rent 100
movies/month for their $20 should be satisfied.