Netflix HD Debuting on Xbox 360 November 19th

[modeps]

Well, here's something unforeseen. Streaming HD isn't the easiset thing to do, but apparently Microsoft and Netflix have found a way. Xbox 360 Fanboy (http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/10/29/hd-netflix-set-to-debut-on-the-xbox-360/) is reporting that not only is this feature coming, but it will be bringing it to the Xbox360 when the NXE is released on November 19th.

Microsoft and Netflix will soon announce that Xbox Live gold members will have access to high definition Netflix movie streaming to their 360s come November 19th. HD movie streaming that isn't available with Netflix's current "Watch Instantly" portal, Roku hardware or Samsung and LG's Netflix enabled Blu-ray players. The HD Netflix roll out will be slow at first with approximately 300 movies being available in HD on day one of the NXE's launch. To recap: Netflix subscription + Xbox Live gold + NXE = HD movies and very happy Xbox 360 owners.

This is truly awesome news, and honestly helps dwarf the few cut features.

[DeejayKnight]

Holy freakin' CRAP. My wife and I were just talking about getting NetFlix the other day when I mentioned the NXE and streaming NetFlix movies.

This is even more of a shoe-in! We'll never be without something to watch again, haha!

[BalekFekete]

Yeah, I think this might push me over the edge and pick up NetFlix.

[Atorak]

Unbelievable news. Microsoft is going to make a killing this Christmas.

I wonder if you're eligible for renting movies with the lowest Netflix account, which I believe is $4.99 a month (includes two movies rented a month only). If so, that's a pretty good deal.

[caenelgren]

I have Netflix and I have Live Gold so I was already thinking it would be fun to try this out but I had honestly rarely used the streaming portion of my account. They have lots of TV shows which would be cool to catch on there if I hadn't just watched it on regular TV.

Streaming HD movies has me all excited about this though =P Now I seriously hate having to wait to see how this turns out.

[Metal Khaos]

Crap, looks like I might be having to get Netflix now.

[Zander]

Crap, looks like I might be having to get Netflix now.

Ditto for me.

[Ozymandias]

Unbelievable news. Microsoft is going to make a killing this Christmas.

I wonder if you're eligible for renting movies with the lowest Netflix account, which I believe is $4.99 a month (includes two movies rented a month only). If so, that's a pretty good deal.

Looking at the Netflix site, it appears you need to have one of their unlimited plans (which starts at $8.99/month with one disc out at a time, limited to two a month plus unlimited streaming). The $4.99/month plan you're referring to specifically says it does not support streaming:

Up to 2 rentals a month - up to 1 movie out at a time with 2 hours of time to watch instantly for a flat monthly fee of $4.99. Learn More.
Starz Plan and the live Starz TV channel are not available with this plan.
A Netflix ready device cannot be used with this plan. To stream movies & TV episodes to your TV instantly via a Netflix ready device,
Please choose a plan that includes unlimited rentals.

Well worth it - and trust me, the HD looks fantastic. Been rewatching Heroes over my Comcast connection and would never go back to skipping commercials again.

[spdiscus]

hot damn
blah

[NuK]

it's kind of lame that you need to have an XBL subscription...what does it cost microsoft? All the streaming is going to be from Netflix. You can already do this via 3rd party apps.

I cry foul.

[rpgedgar]

So is getting a NetFlix account enough or is is Microsoft charging an extra fee to integrate it with Live?

[ElektroDragon]

You mean it WON'T look like complete crap that streaming Netflix on my PC does?? Call me skeptical. Why they can't just let us DOWNLOAD full HD movies for rent under this scheme is BEYOND ME.

[Meatgortex]

So is getting a NetFlix account enough or is is Microsoft charging an extra fee to integrate it with Live?

If you have any of the Netflix unlimited disc rental accounts and an Xbox Gold account then you get this for free. The cheapest Netflix plan is $8.99 which gives you 1-disc movie at a time but unlimited downloading.

The downloading is from the Watch Instantly selection and not the full Netflix disc selection. Watch Instantly is getting bigger, but it's more limited and by limited I mean in the 10's of thousands of titles.

The HD roll-out is new for streaming from Netflix and it sounds like initially it'll be a very limited selection say in the few hundred. Although if it's like the Watch Instantly stuff they will add to it pretty quickly.

[Ozymandias]

You mean it WON'T look like complete crap that streaming Netflix on my PC does?? Call me skeptical. Why they can't just let us DOWNLOAD full HD movies for rent under this scheme is BEYOND ME.

As with any streaming scenario on the internet, it depends on your bandwidth. I currently pay Comcast for their 6 Mb down/1.5Mb up service, and I am able to watch the Netflix streaming HD content with four bars of quality (the highest level on the graph). I'm an audio/videophile, and I can tell you my personal opinion is that it looks very, very good. Of course, this is subjective so you'll all have to come to your own opinion.

[modeps]

As with any streaming scenario on the internet, it depends on your bandwidth. I currently pay Comcast for their 6 Mb down/1.5Mb up service, and I am able to watch the Netflix streaming HD content with four bars of quality (the highest level on the graph). I'm an audio/videophile, and I can tell you my personal opinion is that it looks very, very good. Of course, this is subjective so you'll all have to come to your own opinion.

Uh whot? Do you mean standard def?

[Pluvious]

Netflix started to charge extra for BluRay movie rental.. does this mean this charge will be waived for xbox 360 users???

[Somberfire]

Shame Netflix wont talk to me because I live in Canada. Id sign up for this service in a second and never expect them to mail me any kind of physical media.

TAKE MY MONKEY PLEASE NETFLIX!

[Pluvious]

LMAO>> MONKEY?? HAHAHA yes take my monkey please..

[jacktion]

This is great. I've been hoping this would happen sometime. It makes the blueray/hd-dvd war pointless. And it also negates the Sony Blueray advantage.
Formats are going to keep getting outdated, and if we can just opt out of the format wars and stop investing wasted money in the newest format, then we win.

If I can just stream hi-def then I won't get a blueray player. Money saved. Consumer happy.

[Ozymandias]

Uh whot? Do you mean standard def?

Nope - I mean high-def. Netflix specifically calls out when you're watching their new, HD content with an "HD" logo on the screen. That said, I don't know the details of what the content is encoded at - ie, can't tell you bitrate, codec, yadda yadda. All I can say is that it looks really, really good... significantly better than their SD content (which looks pretty good as well IMO).

[Ozymandias]

In the same vein, just saw that Engadget posted their preview of the NXE and Netflix.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/29/new-xbox-360-experience-hands-on-and-impressions/

Considering the conversation here, I thought you'd all appreciate this quote:

Video quality was excellent on our end, with SD content looking terrifically watchable. A small perk -- but huge deal as far as we're concerned -- is the inclusion of a limited amount of HD content. We previewed Heroes in HD, and the quality was stunning. Right now there's only about 300 titles on offer, but we think after folks get a taste of this, they'll be begging for some expansion.

[Tempest261]

Ugh. Microsoft finally figured out a way for me to shell out cash for Xbox Live. I'm pissed off about it, and it's probably going to prevent me from purchasing the next Microsoft console, but I'm still going to do it. And don't think I'm not disappointed in you, too, Netflix. You sold out with making this an XBL exclusive.

Call me crazy, but I don't get the warm and fuzzies when Megacorp, Inc. gets to tell me when/how to get my content.

[Grumsh]

Ugh. Microsoft finally figured out a way for me to shell out cash for Xbox Live. I'm pissed off about it, and it's probably going to prevent me from purchasing the next Microsoft console, but I'm still going to do it. And don't think I'm not disappointed in you, too, Netflix. You sold out with making this an XBL exclusive.

Call me crazy, but I don't get the warm and fuzzies when Megacorp, Inc. gets to tell me when/how to get my content.

Sold... Out.. ? You do know a CEO for Netflix is also on MS's board of directors right ?

[opusdeath]

I really hope Microsoft are able to tie up a similar deal with a UK partner. I currently do the whole DVD in the post rental which is fine apart from when it's cold and I can't be bothered to return the DVD!

Great feature.

[Trazzlo the Magnificant]

Ugh. Microsoft finally figured out a way for me to shell out cash for Xbox Live. I'm pissed off about it, and it's probably going to prevent me from purchasing the next Microsoft console, but I'm still going to do it. And don't think I'm not disappointed in you, too, Netflix. You sold out with making this an XBL exclusive.Oh please, it's more like they gave MS a preview. I don't believe Netflix isn't going to be interested in offering HD video to anyone who wants it.

I assume you are also upset by all of the deals made so games appear on one console or the other first. Money talks, and the downloads on the netflix site are free add-ons to your subscription.

It was always my assumption that Netflix would start working more and more with MS and the 360, given their place on the MS board of directors. That announcement was made at least a year ago, so you could also argue "What took them so long?!?!", or argue "Why did they do this at all!?!?! Bastards!" ... or anything in between.

From our perspective, we get super value from the Netflix current offerings in SD, but would watch in HD if that was made available (of course). As far as quality goes, we get super quality on the SD downloads, it would be hard to tell that from DVD quality. We never get skips or video degradation, and so we find ourselves watching more and more of this free content.

[Trazzlo the Magnificant]

I really hope Microsoft are able to tie up a similar deal with a UK partner. I currently do the whole DVD in the post rental which is fine apart from when it's cold and I can't be bothered to return the DVD!

Great feature.We put ours into the same mailbox we pick the new one up in. Hell, I don't even have to take off my house slippers.

My only complaint is that I have to remember to put up the flag, otherwise I find I just re-open the videos I put in there in the morning.

The real beauty of senility is that it isn't until the last 20 minutes of a show that we say "Hey! Wait a sec, didn't we just watch this? ... last night??"