Netflix player hits the streets for $100 with unlimited downloads
Yeah, you read that one correctly. Netflix has just released their oft-rumored set-top box, and from the looks of things they have a real stunner on their hands. The new hardware, manufactured by Roku, is a diminutive, fanless box that sports a HDMI and optical outputs alongside the standard component cables. The player is designed to integrate with your home network, and doesn’t have any on-board storage, with all media being streamed by way of your broadband connection. Movie selection and download is executed by way of Netflix’s custom TV interface, navigable by the included Roku remote control. There’s currently a catalog of roughly 10,000 films, with many more planned for the future. The best part, however, is that unlimited streaming is available free of charge for anyone with a Netflix account over $9/month. It doesn’t get much better than that. There are a couple of downsides, including no current support for HD streaming (Netflix is planning on implementing this in the future), limited new release catalog, and no built-in title search. That said, this looks like a real contender in the Apple-TV realm. Anyone interested?
sold
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Returned
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I’ll give it a try, but since it’s not HD, that’s kind of a bummer. Regarding quality, the site says:
“Your Netflix ready device automatically analyzes the speed of your Internet connection whenever you start a movie or TV show and chooses the optimal image quality for your connection. For fast connections (3 Mbps or more), picture quality is comparable to DVD quality.”
I think that means it looks like ass if my wifi isn’t 3 megs.
I’ll run a speed test tonight.
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no HD no thanks and whats with no search function?
But im all fro the competition but this one needs needs a few things before I consider it.
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Meh, I just bought the thing. $99 one timer, 30 day return policy. If it’s coming over at 480i or something, I’ll return it. Worth a try though.
I know Hewlett-Packard is launching their device soon too, maybe it’ll do 720p, we’ll see.
Thanks for heads up Josh.
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id have to wait on HD
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No HD, no thanks. This would have been really sweet in 1999.
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Will someone please sue Netflix for no closed captions support? This a hit against 30+ million people with hearing loss.
AppleTV with its iTunes has just added closed captions to 72 movies and counting.
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if you read the details on the device it works off your netflix queue, so no need to search etc…
just add crap to your queue.
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Although i won’t be buying one, this is really good news cause it will make everyone try to come up with a better device & better prices
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It’s not the device fault there’s no HD, blame Netflix. The device itself can do HD (read about it at http://www.roku.com/netflixplayer/
What IS good news about this device from Roku is perhaps by being teamed with Netflix this device won’t be orphaned like their prior video devices. Now if only it was also able to stream from local UPnP service it would be killer.
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I could live without HD for a while since basically I would save time not waiting for the DVD to come in the mail BUT their library for streaming video is HORRIBLE.
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Not sold. If this was queued through TiVo with HD support, then all the way.
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I have a Sony Bravia LCD HDTV which has a PC input (VGA connection). Can’t I just use a VGA splitter and use my TV as a monitor from my PC to watch Instant movies?
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