Instant Watching on Mac/Linux/X360/PS3 Status

The short answer is:
Intel Mac: probably around Nov/Dec 2008
PowerPC Mac: unknown (probably never)
Linux: probably mid-2009
Xbox360: November 19
PS3: unknown (maybe never)
Stand alone set-top box players: On May 20th, the Netflix Player by Roku was released for $100, more expected in Fall 2008.

They are testing Intel Mac support via Silverlight 2 with a few people right now and it should be available to everyone by the end of the year. In the meantime, there is a workaround for Intel Macs by installing Boot Camp, Parallels, and Windows. There is a similar workaround for Linux.

As far as I know, Netflix has nothing planned that will allow them to support PowerPC Macs.

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.

On May 20th, the Netflix Player by Roku was released for $100, more expected in Fall 2008.

On Oct 14th, Microsoft released Silverlight 2.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Grant on March 19, 2008 at 8:52pm: I used that when I had it on my MBP but the streaming sucked. The quality wasn't all that bad but it skipped every few mins or so as it buffered. I might try again with parallels/bootcamp. That maybe better.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by subboy on April 2, 2008 at 8:25pm: well, considering i have Silverlight installed and am using it to watch clips on espn.com, not to mention listen to mlb.com, not sure why NF would have problems.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by JMO on April 2, 2008 at 8:54pm: good point considering MLB is about as strict with copyrights as anybody. At least we have baseball back again!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by billy on April 6, 2008 at 10:22am: here is the problem i had with virtualbox:

i had to experiment with it because it was my fiurst time using it. so their were a lot of uninstalling and re-installing. This is significant because now, because of all the reinstalls, i can no longer install instant watch on a machine. This is something that i would like to make EVERYONE aware of. I am sure it will happen to a lot of others.

also the times that i did have VB running well and with vista, the video seemed kind of choppy...

honestly. i recomend just dual booting. it sucks... but it is the better (and safest) choice; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tim U. on April 6, 2008 at 10:34am: Any news regarding addressing the root cause of the OS support problem: The studio's insistence on using DRM?

How did Apple get several music studios to agree to allow DRM-free music tracks?

Is Netflix going to attempt the same thing? If not, why not?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tim U. on April 6, 2008 at 10:56am: Using defacto-standard FLV for streaming video would solve the OS support problem with minimal work by Netflix's developers. If only the studios would allow it.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kiernan Holland on April 12, 2008 at 7:16pm: Well I will get DVD's from netflix, but I got Netflix to work in Virtualbox running on XP (VB, made by a german company, was purchased by Sun recently, a open source VM that will run on linux, mac or windows). I've got copies of XP laying around but am totally and completely boycotting Vista.. Never will upgrade.. I'm moving over to Ubuntu.. Something about a millionaire intent on philanthropy towards building a better linux platform centric on humans, has a nice ring to it.

Amazon already has a MP3 downloader for Ubuntu 7.10, specifcally..
I've purchased at least about 14 dollars of songs on Amazon.. Neat thing about
their mp3 downloads is they take advantage of the ID3v2 album art embeds, they
show up on my Samsung YP-T10 (I just upgraded to 2.00 Korean, hacked firmware that
works on Ubuntu).. I have zero respect for executives that think they can control the market
with DRM and EULA. I'm all over youtube.. 200,000 video views.. Setup the site chann3lz.

I'm not waiting for Netflix, I could care less about what B movies they have lined up for online viewing.. I could easily go watch hulu.com.. Or if I was really mean, pirate movies on Limewire..
But I don't like movies enough to go to that extreme.. I don't really believe that the Internet has stollen from the MPAA or RIAA, just that the Internet has become a black hole of alternative entertainment that can't be accounted for in marketing analysis, and is a scape goat for whatever the executives can think up to do, in the interest of making money. I believe "the customer is always right".. If you think otherwise, prepare to be steamrolled silently in Internet forums.. Viral marketing is not something a marketer does, its what their consumers do out of preference.

Actually.. the stock market controls businesses, not the other way around. Business favors the quick and easy, avoidance of change as it is too risky.. Innovation does not occur in New York, it occurs in small businesses all over the world. It's not common for business to run in the same direction as need, it tends to run juxtaposed to consumer interests.. It's a no brainer..

Why did I feel compelled to comment here? Just a bit upset that Netflix can have its head up its ass pretending not to notice the change occuring all around it.. Maybe it makes money, but soon I will be dropping my membership in interest of some growing competitor to Netflix, whoever it be.. Just don't get complacent.. If I find it I will heavily market it on youtube..

I watch Miro, download video podcasts on Ubuntu 7.10.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Baff on April 15, 2008 at 11:23pm: Added some speculative info about the PS3.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Baff on April 26, 2008 at 2:40am: Added info and speculation about upcoming partnerships with Netflix.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rod Beckwith on May 12, 2008 at 3:34pm: Hi,

I am testing a www.hauppage.com media extender with www.sagetv.com software that has a Netflix plugin. People that have installed the package say it works nice.

I will let you all know once I test it

Rod

PS - Sorry...PC only application w/DirectX 9.0 above.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Baff on May 13, 2008 at 12:36am: Sony is holding a press conference on Friday. I will post an update here if it has anything to do with their VoD plans.; ▶ Reply to This