Microsoft Xbox 360 Live Update with New Netflix App Arrives

If you have an Xbox 360 and Netfilx, you should see the following notice when you boot up the console:

There is some buzz this morning about Netflix having an exclusive console deal with Microsoft, but we've known that since my discussion with Netflix CEO Reed Hastings last summer. What we really want to know is when that deal ends and Sony or Nintendo can add a Netflix streaming client. I can't believe that Netflix would make this deal perpetual, especially when they've stated that they want the Netflix client on as many platforms as possible, and there are millions of Wii and PS3 consoles connected to TVs right now.

In case you don't have an Xbox 360, my pal Dave Zatz did an excellent walkthrough of the new Xbox 360 Netflix client:

I've been playing with the new Netflix application, and being able to find new movies to watch on the Xbox really makes the experience better. I'm not sure how often I'll use Party mode, but it'll be fun to watch movies with long-distance friends from time to time.

So, what do you think of the new Netflix application?

Thanks to Jonathan and Southpaw for sending this in.

Comments

[andyg8180]

i love the new style... I actually think its so much easier than searching the netflix site... with a mix of instantwatcher.com and just flipping thru the xbox menu's, i think i found so much more to watch... there was def. a lot of "oh snap" moments when i found some hidden treasures :-)

[Max]

I have had this new update for about two weeks (was part of the preview program) and I love it. It's nice being able to find movies on the xbox and not my laptop. I doubt I'll use the party feature alot because I dislike how much of the picture is chopped out to add all the little extra things in party mode.

[tsrblke]

@max,
I've been told there's a full screen option that gives you syncronization and voice chat while eliminating hte avatars.
Frankly, i like the new features for sitting down and browsing new movies, but when I know what I want, I think I'll stick to the website to see if it's on there (Grr, why no search!!)
As for party, I see it being fun to lampoon some movies, but as a general app, I just don't see using it that much.

[RT]

I too have had the opportunity to be part of the preview program and I like the fact that you can finally find movies on the Xbox and not have to hop onto a computer.

I was able to find way more titles that I wasn't aware were available for streaming and having the ease to watch the movie or add it to your queue is a great added convenience.

Several of my friends have Netflix and the Xbox so I will have to try out the party thing at least once, but I like the fact that I can finally see what they are watching (of course if they give permission to do that). Perhaps I will be interested in the same thing or I can just simply make fun of what they are watching. Either way, it's a great update to the Xbox.

[RT]

PS I can't give exact step by step directions on how to watch a party movie but I do remember changing the screen by hitting "A" on the controller and changing the viewing settings to "full screen". You'll be able to watch the movie and not be distracted by the avatars and movie screen.

[Lamarr Wilson]

I prefer Netflix on my Tivo. It's already on, and I don't have to fire up a box. Plus, I can start watching something on the Tivo in the front room and move to the bedroom and resume it. I don't have 2 Xboxes for that.

The Xbox thing is cool, and if I'm already in my Xbox I'll use it, but I will never fire up my Xbox to specifically watch a movie. The Xbox is for games IMO.

[Balls Malone]

I still can't arrange my queue from my Xbox, so for now it's a big fat FAIL!

[Ron]

I think it's annoying that you have to become an XBOX live member to watch Netflix movies on my XBOX.

[Bob O'Byrne]

The new netflex upgrade has made XB live \ netflex streaming second to none. I just might quit using Block Buster now that NF has madr them almost unneeded.

[debt relief]

Thats awesome! Thanks for the blog!

[Del]

Don't like it, I cannot control content show in the new releases, R rated movies. It not good to let a child have the ability to watch R rated movies.

I will not be re-newing Live Gold next month when it expires.

[BugTracker]

THIS UPDATE IS BUGGED
whenever i try to play Man vs Food Season 1, or Extreme Engineering Season 2, the episode comes up empty, and persists if i press B. plus if i press Y to play an episode it just freezes. I called Netflix, and basically the tech support talked to the instant view specialist, and they told me it was a known issue, Microsoft messed up, and it should be fixed in 72 hours. So, i guess by the end of monday night.

[bill6beers]

I've had a bug ever since the update. When I'm done watching my selection in Netflix and press the B or back button or let it autoreturn to the program information screen, the display is split, with two complete versions fo the screen separated by a light gray vertical bar. It can be restored by going back to the dashboard, then restarting Netflix.

[Sam C]

It's the strangest thing - I have the new app, but I don't have genres in the menu! I can see movies I recently watched, New TV, and New Movies - but no general genres.

Anyone have any info on this?

[Jim]

I am also having the split screen problem separated by a vertical line, however I have to restart the xbox to fix it.

[HazyCloud]

@ Del

The Xbox 360 has great parental controls in the system settings. The parental controls are applied in Netflix. If a child account opens Netflix, only the appropriate rated titles will show up. Same goes for the Marketplace.

[Rotozip]

What sucks is if you have 2 Xbox's and only one Xbox Live Gold account you have to redeem the Gamer tag on the Xbox you want to watch Netflix on each time you switch Xbox's. It takes at least 5 minutes to switch. Really stupid of Microsoft to do this. They could just throw up a message that the user account is already logged in on another machine It is obvious they want to hassle us into buying another Gold account.

[OMEN3]

Rotozip - Get a memory unit for the 360, transfer your profile to that, and walk it between consoles; No more gamertag recovery requirement. GameStop may have used ones, if you're looking to do it on the cheap. At 5-20 mins per retrieve, it's worth it.

[Aaron]

Sam, I am having the problem with genres not showing up as well. When I first got the update, they were there, but now are gone.

[Jman]

I have two xbox 360's and I migrated my profile by swapping hard drives. My profile came over just fine, but NF still made me re-activate the second box. So it seems like there is no way to go between two Xbox 360's w/o some hassle.

[rusty]

I too was having the splitscreen problem. Apparently your television, mines a Vizio, is trying to display two separate resolutions at once and actually succeeds. After shutting down and restarting numerous times I decided to figure something else out in hopes of not killing my box. The best solution I have found is to simply change your input on your TV to anything other than your xbox channel and then switch back to your box channel. somehow it refreshes your reso. No more shutting down and restarting. hope that helps I know how frustrating this was for me.

[NCAA Football 2011 Rosters]

I think this Netflix application is great but I'm really not into movies.. What I really like is gaming and my favorite is NCAA Football. Such a great game! I am now too hyped about NCAA Football 2011!!

[Lacoste shoes]

Anything one man can imagine, other men can make real—Jules Verne. Do you think so?

[arizona dentist]

This is how you stay ahead of the competition. Some companies, like Blockbuster, get lazy or lose their way. And they pay the ultimate price.

[arizona auto insurance]

I recently got Netflix about 2 weeks ago. I have it connected to my Wii for my tv and love watching movies online too. Its a pretty sweet deal for only 9 bucks a month.

[arizona dentist]

I don't have Xbox so I wouldn't know, but I have the Netflix on my Wii and I love it. It makes everything so much easier than going to blockbuster and spending 5 bucks a movie.

[arizona auto glass]

Netflix is really on to something by offering movies streaming over a tv at such a reasonable price. I love it.

[Jadedseeker]

I know it's been awhile, but I just tried the solution posted by Rusty back in Feb. It worked for me! ( I also have a Vizio) and wanted to say thanks! That was sooooo frustrating!

[mbt shoes]

This article is very interesting, I like it. I will always come to visit after.I would recommend to friends more.

[marlboro cigarettes]

i would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.