Tag Archives: WatchInstantly

Netflix’s highest quality ‘Super HD’ 1080p video streams are available everywhere

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Feeling left out because your internet provider isn't on board with Netflix's Open Connect program that provides access to its Super HD high-bitrate 1080p streams? Let that feeling of abandonment go, as the company has announced all of its customers (with compatible players) now have access to the higher quality video (and, in the US, 3D). According to Netflix the move is based on a combination of performance data and member requests, although we'll consider ourselves unofficial beta testers after a glitch temporarily switched it on for all providers back in August. Netflix is going to keep pushing its Open Connect platform, and reminds users that actually getting the video streams with less compression depends on the network connection available. Let us know if you're seeing a few new shades and sharper edges in OITNB, or if things have stayed pretty much the same.

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Source: Netflix Blog, Netflix Support

Netflix launches in The Netherlands, available for €7.99 per month

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Netflix launches in The Netherlands, available for 799 per month

Netflix promised its next European expansion would occur in The Netherlands, and today it's switching on service for the first time. Priced at €7.99 per month (with a one month free trial available), it brings the usual package of assorted Hollywood movies and TV shows, Netflix Originals and local selections like De Heineken Ontvoering, Alles is Liefde, Spiksplinter and Kikkerdril to Dutch viewers -- we recommend Orange is the New Black. Check the press release after the break for more content details, as well as which hardware in the country is compatible with it at launch.

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Source: Netflix.nl

Netflix’s new ‘My List’ replaces queues, lets users worldwide bookmark their favorites

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Netflix's new 'My List' replaces queues, lets users worldwide bookmark their favorites

Netflix's Watch Instantly streaming service in the US started with the same queue-based experience users were familiar with from its disc-by-mail rentals for bookmarking titles to watch later. But, internationally, the option has never existed. Now the experience is changing everywhere, as Netflix replaces the old queues with "My List." Outside the US subscribers will notice the biggest change, as they're able to curate their own viewing lists instead of relying solely on search or the service's automatically generated genre lists. Otherwise the selection process is mostly the same as we've come to expect, with a "+ My List" button single click adding it to the list of up to 500 items in each user's profile. My List should pop up on individual accounts over the next couple of weeks, check after the break for a breakdown of all the incoming changes and a quick video preview.

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Source: Netflix Blog

Netflix SuperHD, 3D streaming options pop up on Comcast, Verizon (update: gone)

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Ever since Netflix introduced its SuperHD streaming with higher quality 1080p video and 3D support at CES in January, it's been restricted to only ISPs participating in its OpenConnect CDN program. Tonight, either there's some kind of glitch or that participation has been expanded, because users with previously unsupported ISPs are seeing SuperHD buttons on Netflix as well. We've been able to confirm it and even stream SuperHD and 3D video on previously unsupported ISPs like Comcast and Verizon. There are several reports on Twitter of people suddenly seeing the option as well, and we've contacted Netflix to see what's going on. So far the company has not responded, but if you've been waiting for some higher quality streaming options, hit the test page to see if you have the green light then try it out on a SuperHD-ready device (PS3, Roku, Apple TV, Wii U, Windows 8 and some others).

Update: And just like that, they were gone. We're getting reports from readers and seeing ourselves that the green light has gone back to red and SuperHD streaming is no more on our Comcast connection. We have yet to hear from the company but right now a glitch or accident of some kind is the most likely explanation -- luckily it lasted just long enough for us to get through a 3D highlight reel from Art of Flight.


[Thanks, Tim]

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Source: Netflix

Netflix individual profile rollout brings up to five unique experiences per account

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Netflix individual profile rollout brings up to five unique experiences per account

Netflix is finally ready to deliver individual profiles for its streaming service, meant to satisfy households with shared accounts by providing everyone their own settings, viewing history and (where available) queue. Profiles are coming to all Netflix regions starting today, but may take a couple of weeks to appear on every account as they roll out gradually. Device support will also take some time to hit everywhere even though most clients (the PS3 is shown above) are ready for profiles today. Two platforms not yet sorted are Android and the Nintendo Wii, where support will arrive "later in the fall" and in mid-August, respectively. Once the new feature is available however, it should be easy for users to access and setup, as we learned from Chief Produce Officer Neil Hunt that focusing on ease of use was the company's main priority. We've also had a chance to check it out ourselves, check after the break for a few more details and quick video preview.

Gallery: Netflix Individual Profiles

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Source: Netflix (YouTube), Netflix

IE 11 on Windows 8.1 preview supports HTML5 Netflix streaming right now

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Netflix recently detailed some of the technological developments needed to transition from Silverlight to HTML5 streaming video in the browser, and in a notable turn one of the first companies on board is Microsoft. It's not that surprising since Microsoft has made it clear it's pushing other technologies going forward, but it's still a stark example of how much things have changed in recent years. Netflix's Tech Blog announced today that anyone running Internet Explorer 11 in the Windows 8.1 preview can visit Netflix.com today and try out HTML5-powered video streaming right now. Already available on ARM Chromebooks (pictured above), Netflix says Microsoft has implemented the Premium video extensions it's been working on to provide support for GPU-accelerated 1080p video, DRM and encryption without proprietary plugins.

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Source: Netflix Tech Blog

Netflix removes streaming expiration dates from API after ‘Streampocalypse’ hysteria

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Netflix removes Watch Instantly expiration dates from public API after 'Streampocalypse'

The end of April suddenly became very stressful for Netflix subscribers, as it was widely reported that nearly 1,800 titles would be disappearing from its Watch Instantly service in the US. Unfortunately, it likely caused a lot of tension in Los Gatos as well and tonight the company revealed it's changing its policies. Quickly dubbed "Streampocalypse," some blamed it on competition like Warner Archive Instant, despite many of the listed titles actually being related to Netflix's agreement with Epix. As we now know, on May 1st the sun rose once again and there are still some movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix streaming, but for just a few hours you might have thought that would not be the case.

The list came from the third-party site InstantWatcher, which we've long recommended to help users sort selections in ways not supported by the official page and apps including by year, Rotten Tomatoes rating or New York Times Critics' Picks. Starting today however, that will not include the ability to list "expiring soon" titles. As Daniel Jacobson posted to Netflix's API developer blog, it will stop including expiration dates in the public API. While we're sad to see the amount of data available to the public reduced and are still peeved over the public API being shelved entirely, after last week's incident we can certainly understand why. Netflix did not directly reference the incident in its statement (available after the break), but one can certainly connect the dots -- read on for more information.

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Source: Netflix API Developer Blog, Instant Watcher

Netflix signs up The Matrix, Babylon 5 creators to develop a new sci-fi series: Sense8

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Continuing its quest to sate subscribers' appetites with a flow of original content, Netflix has announced a new original series, Sense8. Due in late 2014, it's being developed by the Wachowskis of The Matrix, V for Vendetta, Cloud Atlas and Speed Racer fame, as well as J. Michael Straczynski, creator of Babylon 5. Details are thin, but the press release promises a gripping global tale of minds linked and souls hunted with a ten episode run for its first season.

As it did with House of Cards, Arrested Development and other productions, Netflix is relying heavily on data from viewers to decide which programs to support. According to chief content officer Ted Sarandos, "Andy and Lana Wachowski and Joe Straczynski are among the most imaginative writers and gifted visual storytellers of our time," whose creations are very frequently viewed on the service. According to the creators themselves, they've sought to work together for a decade, and this idea started from a late night conversation about "the ways technology simultaneously unites and divides us." If that's not enough for now, then there are a few more details and quotes in the press release, which is included after the break.

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Netflix Q4 earnings show 2 million new customers streaming in the US, 6 million total internationally

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Netflix Q4 earnings show XX subscribers worldwide

In 2012 Netflix expanded streaming to a few new countries and attempted to undo the damage incurred by its failed Qwikster spinoff in 2011, and now it's final results for the year are in. Its streaming subscriber count is now 27 million in the US alone, with 6 million outside the country for a global count topping 33 million. Most notably, despite the expansion it still managed a profit of $8 million on $945 million in revenue. There's also a slew of original content on the way headed by Arrested Development and House of Cards, and its OpenConnect ISP program has now gotten a boost from high bitrate 1080p video and even 3D. Now that the Video Protection Privacy Act has been amended, Netflix also mentioned Facebook integration will be enabled in the coming months for US customers. If you're worried about it spamming your feed you may be able to relax however, since by default it will not auto post viewing activity, instead opting to let members "post specific titles they're passionate about."

So what about the competition from Amazon, Redbox Instant and Hulu? According to Netflix's stats based on its 200 most popular movies and TV shows, none of the other streaming services offer more than 73 of them (check out a graphic after the break.) Regarding that original content, Netflix is already referring to the February 1st worldwide, full-season debut of Cards as a "defining moment in the development of internet TV." We'll keep digging through the numbers and tune into the investor call at 6PM for more information, until then hit the source link to check out the data for yourself.

Netflix Q4 earnings show 2 million new customers streaming in the US, 6 million total internationally

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Source: Netflix (PDF)

Netflix 1080p streams no longer called X-High, company credits improved encodes

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Netflix 1080p streams no longer called XHigh, company credits improved encodes

While Netflix Watch Instantly movie streams are mostly useful for casual viewing, if you're interested in the actual quality of the video provided you may have noticed a few changes recently. Chronicled in a thread on AVS Forum and reported to us by several tipsters, more than a few users have noticed their streams on 1080p-capable hardware (PlayStation 3, WDTV Live) no longer rock the "X-High" notification (on PS3, hit select to view more information bout your streaming details) that had previously let them know they were getting the highest quality possible. We checked with Netflix, and according to the company, it's rolling out better encoding that improves picture quality despite using a lower bitrate. That means 1080p works even for people with slower connections, and increases detail on "textures, shadows, skies, and particularly faces." As a result, what was previously called "X-High HD" is now being labeled a tier lower.

While it wasn't mentioned specifically, some are theorizing the move is tied into Netflix's use of eyeIO's video encoding tech, which it announced earlier this year, to shrink the size of streams. eyeIO claims it can chop bandwidth by more than half for a 720p stream, something we're sure a company that's pushing as much data as Netflix would appreciate. Still, some viewers in the thread are claiming a noticeably softer picture as a result. Check after the break for the statement from Netflix, then take some time for "research" and let us know if you're noticing any changes in picture quality lately.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Netflix 1080p streams no longer called X-High, company credits improved encodes

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Source: AVS Forum, Tech of the Hub