AfterDawn: Tech news

With Watch Instantly booming Netflix plans to upgrade PS3 client

Written by Rich Fiscus @ 22 Jul 2010 2:15 User comments (5)

With Watch Instantly booming Netflix plans to upgrade PS3 client Yesterday Netflix CEO Reed Hastings announced plans to update the streaming video client for the PS3.
The update, which he expects to be available before the company's third quarter earnings are released in October, will eliminate the requirement for a disc. Besides the obvious convenience for customers, this will allow them to continually update the interface as the Netflix Watch Instantly UI is improved.

Netflix continues to grow, largely on the strength of their ever expanding lineup of offerings for streaming to computers, set-top boxes, HDTVs, Blu-ray players, game consoles & other devices.

In the second quarter of 2010 year on year subscriber growth grew to an impressive 42%, which Hastings attributes primarily to the growing popularity of streaming. Although disc shipments continue to increase, they are being replaced by streaming more quickly than Netflix had forecast previously.



Netflix also plans to expand their streaming service into Canada later this year, although they won't be giving much in the way of specifics until closer to the launch date.

Having already conquered traditional brick and mortar movie rental operations in the US, including the Blockbuster and the now defunct Movie Gallery, Netflix appears to be setting their sights on competing with the new subscription service from Hulu.

Hastings says he intends to watch Hulu Plus closely to find more areas to improve the Netflix streaming service. But ultimately he believes the bigger competitive threat are cable and satellite providers.

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5 user comments

122.7.2010 04:03
llongtheD
Inactive

Maybe someday we'll never have to leave our cubicles, or houses? What a great world that would be, huh? Exchanging social interaction for convenience. I know that is an extreme view, but thought I would throw it out there.

222.7.2010 04:33

How much social interaction does it take to watch a TV show? Does watching it on netflix or hulu involve any more or less interaction?

How much social interaction is involved in renting a DVD from redbox? Heck, how much social interaction is involved in renting from blockbuster? I don't want to talk to a bunch of high school dropouts that all know they are getting fired anyway.

Thanks to the internet, I have friends all over the world. I'm not saying we are best friends or anything...but how else would I be able to talk with someone in Canada or Japan if not for the internet? Yes, there are phones and letters, but how would I meet them to begin with? If anything, technology helps me connect to the people of this world better.

I know a lot of people who would prefer to work from home, even if only to save the commute, gasoline, car repairs, etc. I'm not saying they want to be on home arrest or anything...sure, it would probably cut down interaction for many people, but it would only cut the interaction with people that you don't want to interact with...and it wouldn't even cut out most of those interactions, as you still have the phone, video conferencing, etc. The internet really has no replacement for a bar/club/etc...sure, there is online dating, but ultimately, the goal is to meet someone face-to-face.

322.7.2010 09:05

Awesome news

422.7.2010 15:36

Really killerbug? You have to repair you car everytime you want to go somewhere?

There is lots of social interaction going to redbox and blockbuster. Maybe if you weren't such a sperglord and stepped out of the house every once in a while you would see the real world isn't so bad as you somehow formulated this idea in your head about everyone out to get you.

On topic: I'm glad the PS3 is finally catching up to what the 360 has had all along.

522.7.2010 16:59

rly glad that ps3 will no longer need the disc. hulu+ seems cool too but i still prefer netflix for the simple reason that netflix provides disney shows and hulu+ doesn't (not that i know of at least).

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