Netflix adds 2,500 instant Starz videos, Mac support soon
Thu Oct 2, 2008 11:02AM EDT
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At last, a better selection for streaming Netflix subscribers is on tap, including flicks like "Spider-Man 3," "Gone Baby Gone," and "No Country for Old Men." Also: Netflix promises Mac support for its "Watch Now" titles before the year is out.
That's on top of the 12,000 streaming titles that are already available to Netflix subscribers—and yes, all the new movies and TV episodes will be included when the new "Xbox Experience" (which, among other features, adds Netflix "Watch Now" videos) gets rolled out next month.
Meanwhile, those of us with Macs won't have to wait much longer for "Watch Now" support—or at least, that's what Netflix execs are promising.
According to a post on the official Netflix blog, the company is "busy working on a solution" to bring streaming Netflix movies to Mac users, who've had to do without since the Windows-only service launched back in early 2007. "We'll have something for you by the end of the year," the post concludes.
As Ars Technica notes, Netflix ran into "some rather hefty DRM obstacles" in terms of bringing "Watch Now" support to the Mac, hence the lengthy delay. Maybe so, but Amazon seems to have cleared any hurdles with its revamped "Video on Demand" service, which works quite nicely on my MacBook Pro. So ... what's the problem, again? (Sorry—patience isn't one of my virtues.)
In any case, Netflix's "Watch Now" service—which was little more than a curiousity at launch—is looking better and better as the months go on. And now that more titles are on the way, Xbox support is imminent, and streaming support for Macs is (hopefully) on the horizon, well ... movie fanatics like me might soon need an intervention or two.
Related:
New content to watch instantly [Netflix blog]
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2 Posted by amemahoney on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:52PM EDT Report Abuse
Vudu is a rip-off - $299 for the hardward PLUS $5.99 a movie? You'd have to be an idiot to pay that. I'll stick to my NetFlix and my $99 streamer so I can watch it on my big screen tv. I'm SO happy they've finally added some new release movies to the titles of Instant Watch! Great move on their part.
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3 Posted by twangboy2003 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:25PM EDT Report Abuse
i have a macbook pro and i think it is odd that i am able to watch all the previews for movies on netflix. so why is it so hard for them to make it so i can watch movies on my mac. i'm getting very close to canceling my subscription if they don't get it done soon.
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4 Posted by rb1956rb on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:31PM EDT Report Abuse
Been with Netflix for just short of two months. Dumping them at the end of this cycle as Hulu.com is free with better content.
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5 Posted by boldenchris55@ymail.com on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:11PM EDT Report Abuse
I work 2nd shift & a XBox Live/360 user with a Netflix account & I'm thrilled. Movies on a small PC screen isn't my thing but being able to watch it on my home entertainment system is great. I can't afford BlueRay. HD is fine for me & when I add up everything....I'm paying far less then my friends that have extended cable service & movie channels/on-demand.
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6 Posted by richmondhillgal on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:40PM EDT Report Abuse
I have Netflix and have watched streaming and it's great. Sometimes better than my Comcast cable.
1 Posted by yesinmyhead on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:56PM EDT Report Abuse
If you're going to stream video, why not use Vudu with better picture and clarity? I would never use this service.