Instant Watching on Mac/Linux/X360/PS3 Status
(Netflix Analyst Day 2008 update May 28, in bold)
The short answer is:
Intel Mac: probably around Sept 2008 (definitely this year)
PowerPC Mac: unknown (probably never)
Linux: probably mid-2009
PS3/Xbox360: unknown (maybe never) but they are working on it
Stand alone set-top box players: On May 20th, the Netflix Player by Roku was released for $100, more expected in Fall 2008. (Remember: "Members with a Netflix plan that includes unlimited instant watching may associate up to 4 unique devices with an account during a twelve month period." If you aren't sure, you may want to call Netflix and see how many computers you have activated in the last year.)
Read on for the long answer.
As far as I know, Netflix has nothing planned that will allow them to support PowerPC Macs.
They will likely have support for Intel Macs some time in the 2nd half of 2008. They will most likely be switching to Silverlight shortly after version 2.0 comes out. 2.0 has the DRM that the studios require. This will allow them to add support for multiple browsers and Mac (and likely Linux in mid 2009).
Microsoft's Silverlight 2 Beta 1 was released on March 5th at MIX08. (At MIX07 Netflix's movie watching demo on Silverlight was a big deal, this year they didn't seem to have any presence at MIX08. Though Bill Scott (Netflix UI Engineering) just took part in judging a Silverlight contest.) The final release is currently rumored to be in August. The latest word from Microsoft is "before the end of the year."
I would currently guess at Intel Mac support coming around September or so. Future release dates are subject to change, and likely will. Thats just reality in the software world.
In the meantime, there is a workaround for Intel Macs by installing Boot Camp, Parallels, and Windows. There is a similar workaround for Linux.
Netflix is also attempting to get Instant Watching on XBox 360 and Playstation 3, but it is unknown if either will ever happen.
On April 15, Sony's Peter Dille said:
Their upcoming download video service may or may not include a deal with Netflix, but I will update this page when they give out more details "very soon".
On April 21st, Reed Hastings (Netflix CEO) said that they have deals with 4 companies to produce hardware for Instant Watching. LG was previously announced to be one of the 4. They should announce the other 3 by the end of the year.
On April 25th, Michael Pachter (of Wedbush Morgan) predicted that Microsoft & Netflix have a deal to get Instant Watching on the XBox 360. Pachter has a very good track record (about 60%) for predicting big things in the video game console world.
On May 20th, the Netflix Player by Roku was released for $100, more expected in Fall 2008.
On May 28th, from 'Netflix Analyst Day 2008': The other 3 Instant Watch hardware partners are on target for 08/09 releases (One is LG, still no hint on who the other 2 are). Netflix has created an SDK that can be added to existing Blu-Ray/dvd players (that have internet connections) to allow them to stream Netflix movies the same way the The Roku Netflix Player does. It is now up to the Blu-Ray player/game console makers to add this feature into their firmware. Whether any or all of them will opt to do so is unknown yet. Their hope is that once their current 4 partners start showing big success, others will jump on board.
Mac support definitely coming this year. I assume Intel Mac only. It was only mentioned in passing and more as a joke (2 sentences out of about 2 hours that were devoted to discussing movie downloads).
The SDK I mentioned above is "Portable Linux code". Whether that means anything for Instant Watching on computers with Linux, I don't know.
The short answer is:
Intel Mac: probably around Sept 2008 (definitely this year)
PowerPC Mac: unknown (probably never)
Linux: probably mid-2009
PS3/Xbox360: unknown (maybe never) but they are working on it
Stand alone set-top box players: On May 20th, the Netflix Player by Roku was released for $100, more expected in Fall 2008. (Remember: "Members with a Netflix plan that includes unlimited instant watching may associate up to 4 unique devices with an account during a twelve month period." If you aren't sure, you may want to call Netflix and see how many computers you have activated in the last year.)
Read on for the long answer.
As far as I know, Netflix has nothing planned that will allow them to support PowerPC Macs.
They will likely have support for Intel Macs some time in the 2nd half of 2008. They will most likely be switching to Silverlight shortly after version 2.0 comes out. 2.0 has the DRM that the studios require. This will allow them to add support for multiple browsers and Mac (and likely Linux in mid 2009).
Microsoft's Silverlight 2 Beta 1 was released on March 5th at MIX08. (At MIX07 Netflix's movie watching demo on Silverlight was a big deal, this year they didn't seem to have any presence at MIX08. Though Bill Scott (Netflix UI Engineering) just took part in judging a Silverlight contest.) The final release is currently rumored to be in August. The latest word from Microsoft is "before the end of the year."
I would currently guess at Intel Mac support coming around September or so. Future release dates are subject to change, and likely will. Thats just reality in the software world.
In the meantime, there is a workaround for Intel Macs by installing Boot Camp, Parallels, and Windows. There is a similar workaround for Linux.
Netflix is also attempting to get Instant Watching on XBox 360 and Playstation 3, but it is unknown if either will ever happen.
On April 15, Sony's Peter Dille said:
Many of you have been hearing rumblings about a video service that will allow you to download full-length TV shows and movies via PLAYSTATION Network for North America. While I don’t have any new announcements here for the PlayStation Nation, it’s already been confirmed that we’ll be offering a video service for PS3 in a way that separates the service from others you’ve seen or used. Ultimately the goal of the PLAYSTATION Network service will be to break through the overwhelming clutter of digital media to give you the TV, movies and gaming content you want. More on this very soon …
Their upcoming download video service may or may not include a deal with Netflix, but I will update this page when they give out more details "very soon".
On April 21st, Reed Hastings (Netflix CEO) said that they have deals with 4 companies to produce hardware for Instant Watching. LG was previously announced to be one of the 4. They should announce the other 3 by the end of the year.
On April 25th, Michael Pachter (of Wedbush Morgan) predicted that Microsoft & Netflix have a deal to get Instant Watching on the XBox 360. Pachter has a very good track record (about 60%) for predicting big things in the video game console world.
On May 20th, the Netflix Player by Roku was released for $100, more expected in Fall 2008.
On May 28th, from 'Netflix Analyst Day 2008': The other 3 Instant Watch hardware partners are on target for 08/09 releases (One is LG, still no hint on who the other 2 are). Netflix has created an SDK that can be added to existing Blu-Ray/dvd players (that have internet connections) to allow them to stream Netflix movies the same way the The Roku Netflix Player does. It is now up to the Blu-Ray player/game console makers to add this feature into their firmware. Whether any or all of them will opt to do so is unknown yet. Their hope is that once their current 4 partners start showing big success, others will jump on board.
Mac support definitely coming this year. I assume Intel Mac only. It was only mentioned in passing and more as a joke (2 sentences out of about 2 hours that were devoted to discussing movie downloads).
The SDK I mentioned above is "Portable Linux code". Whether that means anything for Instant Watching on computers with Linux, I don't know.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Nathan on -
Anyone check out the new “Roku” player that came out today? You can stream the entire catalog of “Watch Now” titles to your TV, includes RCA output, as well as S-Video, component, and HDMI. It can connect to your internet connection either wired or through built in wifi, and is supposedly compatible for HD content when netflix releases it.
It’s only $99, so I think it is a pretty good deal. No built in hard disk, which is why it is cheaper than the Apple TV I guess. I would like to have been able to use my PS3 or Xbox360, but this thing is priced so low, it’s not much of an issue. Cheaper than buying Parallels or Vmware and Windows, and I’d prefer to watch content on my TV than on the Mac anyway.
http://www.roku.com/netflixplayer
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Permalink Reply by DK Photog on -
So I just got a new Mac 24" Intel Core 2 Duo - and bought "Parallels" to run Windows - does this mean that it will play the Instant Watch movies? I haven't tried it yet, my husband does all the computer set-up...I'll have to bug him about it. I'd be psyched if I could IW!!!
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Permalink Reply by DK Photog on
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Yeah baby! I'm getting it set up tomorrow! If it doesn't work I'll post!
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Permalink Reply by jonnyv on -
Netflix better get their browse instant on playstation 3. If someone provides this feature for the ps3, I'm done with Netflix..
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Permalink Reply by The Real Levi Johnston on -
Sony, which is in the movie business anyway, will launch their own download movie service. Doubtful if Netflix will be welcomed there unless Sony's service fails a la Wal-Mart.
So are you quitting now? Because Sony's rentals will be 3 to 6 dollars each. Goodbye....!?
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Permalink Reply by Baff on -
Not really. The SDK was used on the Roku and Netflix is working with 3 other companies (including LG) to get it to work on their machines. They can use a variety of DRMs with it. That is most of what I know.
You can watch the press event yourself if you really want to know more. It is about 4 hours long. Most of the stuff about the SDK is more than 2 hours in, around slide 130+ (Neil Hunt's presentation). There is also a bit more about it in the last 30 minutes during the open question period.
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Permalink Reply by RJP on -
A few comments:
I talked to Netflix Tech support yesterday - new policy, the PC associations are for 31 days now, not 12 months. Also the Netflix player activations are a separate category than the PC associations. I suppose Netflix will change their FAQ sometime soon.
The Linux Code SDK should be a slam dunk on the PS3 - I mean you can load a Linux OS as an alternate OS and use the PS3 as a computer already. Wonder if a third party will devise something for the PS3?
My Roku player is in transit Fedex - judging from their User Group Forum it is the real deal with no out of the box problems.
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Permalink Reply by BC on -
I got my Roku last week, and I love it. It's small and fairly aesthetic, a piece of cake to set up, and works perfectly. I have an old Mac, so the Roku has been heroic for our household. I tried to set it up to the projector, but the image was really grainy. But it's great to have so many documentaries available on the small screen. Roku rocks!!
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