Netflix Notifying Customers about Watch Instantly Unlimited

Netflix is sending out e-mails to customers to let them know that they've removed the Watch Instantly time limit (excluding customers on the $4.99 per month plan).

Thanks to Wilson for sending this in.

Comments

[junkfood]

Got mine! Now I just have to figure out the best way to get this to my TV. God knows how long it will be until they actually get their streaming box into stores at a reasonable price.

[Allen]

Netflox lifted the limit a couple days ago ever since then, I have not been able to watch any movies on line. I had no troubles before, when there was a limit. Now it tells me my internet connection is to slow. WHich isn't true. I have a cable modem, and the speeds check out just fine. Is anyone else having a problem?

[Brian]

Got one yesterday

[xrey]

Too bad this won't do any good to those of us running Linux. Might as well make it infinity times a million hours.

[ScottZ]

Does anyone know if all of your Netflix users can use Watch Now or only the primary user?

I called Netflix and they thought any user could, but they were not confident.

[Plus]

I could never watch a movie on a computer. Gotta rent those discs! Probably never know how to hook up the computer to the tv anyway.

[BoB]

I got the same email. Don't watch via the PC. But on an unrelated matter, I got an email that I was accepted as a beta tester for Fryetv! Yeah, baby! Broadband porn via a STB!

[BoB]

SHoot! Should have said FyreTV!

[dnl2ba]

ScottZ: Only the account owner can watch movies instantly on Netflix.

[Edward R Murrow]

"I called Netflix and they thought any user could, but they were not confident."

"ScottZ: Only the account owner can watch movies instantly on Netflix."

Sounds like a training issue for Netflix customer response.

[ntflxcsr]

As many as four computers may use watch instantly on one account as long as the primary user is signed in on each pc.

[paving]

It is trivially easy to connect a computer (especially a laptop)to a television (especially an HDTV).

Any computer has a video-out. On a PC this is typically VGA. On a MAC it's usually dvi/mini-dvi. Your digital/hd tv probably has vga inputs. It most likely has HDMI. It also should have composite (yellow) and component (RGB) and often will have S-Video (small round plug).

Your older tv will have composite (yellow) and probably S-video.

You need an adapter that goes from dvi/mini-dvi to HDMI or one that goes from VGA to say composite or s-video. These typically cost less than $20.

VGA to VGA is easy, just use any standard monitor cable, possibly the one you're already using to connect your desktop to its monitor.

Occasionally you'll need to use a headphones -to-rca adapter for the sound, these are about $4.

[James]

For all of you who are trying to get signal to your TV:

You'll need a video card that has 2 assignable video outputs. One is for your computer monitor and the other is for your Television.

Make certain that the second output matches the input type on your TV, VCR or AV switcher that you will be plugging into. It will be either RF, Composite, SVideo or an HDTV connection of some kind. I would suggest on of 256mb or more. You should be able to find one for less than 100 bucks - and they're easily installed.

NOTE: If you have an RF output, sound will also be transmitted to your television. For other congfigurations, you will likely need to use the speakers on your PC - or you can split your audio output so that it can be sent to both your PC speakers and your television (RS carries splitters).

Once connected:
1. Right click on your desktop and choose the "settings" tab. You should see two boxes - one labled "1" and the other "2".
NOTE: The one marked "1" should be on the left. If it isn't, you can drag it there with your mouse.
2. Single click on "2" and select the "extend my windows desktop onto this monitor"
3. Hit "apply" and close the box. If the input to your TV is properly set, you should now see an extention of your desktop background on your television. If you see a duplicate (including your icons), restart your PC or go back to step 1.
4. Now, start your movie in an IE window that is not full screen.
5. With your mouse, drag the window to the right over to your secondary monitor (your television) and click "full screen" on the NetFlix player.

You should be able to view your program in full DVD quality (barring any bandwidth problems)

ENJOY!

[April]

Here I was, all psyched about this because I am always out of minutes. I go to watch a movie when I am greeted with this message:

"Movie playback requires an update to the Microsoft Windows Media Player. Please click "Update" to download and install the latest version of Windows Media Player."

I download the update and try to install it, only to be stopped by a message telling me that my OS is not supported. Further investigation tells me that Windows XP Media Center Editions 2002 & 2004 are not compatible with the newest update to WMP 11. There is no fix. There is no help. A call to Netflix does nothing. They say its Microsoft, which of course it is. Microsoft is of course offering no solutions.

So it just figures that the moment they make it unlimited, Watch Now becomes off limits for me and I'm sure many others.

[Ibrahim]

I've had my computer hooked up to my TV for months now and I was ecstatic about Watch Now.

EVEN BETTER, NETFLIX!

~Ibrahim~

[dunc]

Thanks for the hints James. I'd be happier if I didnt have to keep a computer monitor AND a TV in my living room just to be able to watch netflix though. SO LAME. Go back to the drm that was actually usable. Even if people copied it, how is that different than renting dvd's? Yeah, I'm a little bitter.
Beware:
If you only have your tv connected to your video card, say with s-video or component video, the drm won't allow you to watch. YOU MUST HAVE BOTH A COMPUTER MONITOR AND A TV HOOKED UP WHILE PLAYING INSTANT WATCH.