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Streaming movie rentals and download only movie purchases are slowing making their way into the main stream. There are now several products on the market that are capable of streaming movies and TV shows from the Netflix on demand library. This week Netflix and Sony announced that the streaming service was coming to the PS3.
Yesterday we mentioned that Netflix had revealed its streaming service was coming to the PS3. At the time Netflix made that announcement I immediately though about those claims Microsoft made a while back about being the exclusive streaming partner for Netflix on a game console.
Roku have outed a pair of new Netflix media streamers that go on sale alongside their existing Roku HD. The Roku HD-XR keeps the same 720p HD playback, optical audio output and HDMI connection as the original model, but upgrades the WiFi to b/g/n. Meanwhile there’s a new entry-level, standard definition model, the Roku SD, which offers basic WiFi and analog connectivity.
Remember all the furore back in August, when Microsoft announced they’d locked up Netflix movie streaming for the Xbox 360 and basically told us it was an “exclusive” partnership? Well, that exclusivity seems to have been short-lived; Sony have announced that from November Netflix subscribers will be able to stream content on their PS3.
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has confirmed that the company does not see its movie streaming service as remaining exclusively locked to Microsoft’s Xbox 360 console, and that one day they envisage access from every games console, Blu-ray player and internet-connected TV. Speaking to Reuters this week, Hastings also suggested that an iPhone Netflix service was “likely to come over time”, though the company’s focus is not yet on mobile.
Netgear have announced their latest networked media box, the EVA2000 Digital Entertainer Live, which allows for both locally-streamed and IPTV content to be shown on your big-screen TV. The EVA2000 can play YouTube videos, pay-per-view movies, Hulu, VuNow and Netflix content, among other things, together with audio, video and images from USB external storage.
Microsoft have begun to push out the Xbox LIVE update for their Xbox 360 console, and along with the games on demand, new avatar customization and UI improvements comes confirmation that the company has signed an exclusive deal with Netflix for instant streaming to a console. The partnership means that the Xbox 360 will be the only console on which Netflix streaming is possible, effectively cutting the PlayStation 3 and Wii out of the loop.
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If the latest rumors are to be believed, apparently Netflix might just be offering up movie streaming for subscribers on their iPhones and iPod touch devices. And while nothing has been confirmed yet, it does seem somewhat likely.
Invitations to Microsoft’s Xbox Live Preview have begun to hit Xbox 360 owners, and rather than sit hunched over their consoles rubbing their hands and gloating about having access two weeks ahead of everyone else, some are sharing video of the new enhancements. Dave Zatz has shot a video demo focusing on one of the most eagerly anticipated changes, the 10-foot interface for Netflix Instant Viewing.
Video after the cut
Sony have announced that, as of fall 2009, Netflix, Demand Media and ON Networks will arrive on their BRAVIA HDTVs. A standard feature on any upcoming Sony BRAVIA internet video-capable HDTV, and usable on existing sets courtesy of Sony’s BRAVIA Internet Video Link module, Netflix users will be able to access their instant queue lists on their TV.
JP
