Hacking NetFlix

Bloomberg: $99 Apple TV with Netflix Streaming Tomorrow

Bloomberg reports that sources with "knowledge of the plans" said that Apple will announce a new $99 Apple TV with Netflix streaming tomorrow.

The streaming service would be available on the revamped version of Apple TV, due to be introduced tomorrow in San Francisco, said two of the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans haven’t been made public. Users would pay a subscription fee to Netflix for the service, the people said.

Programming from Netflix may enhance the appeal of a product that has been called a “hobby” by Apple executives and hasn’t resonated widely with consumers. The Cupertino, California-based company is due to release a $99 version of Apple TV, $130 less than the current model, people familiar with the plans said last week.

I'm wondering if Roku heard about the rumored Apple TV and lowered prices yesterday in advance of the announcement. I was just guessing about Apple TV with Netflix support last week, so it'll be interesting to see what Apple announces tomorrow.

I'm also wondering if Apple is considering buying Netflix (no inside information, just guessing). Netflix streaming adds a lot of value to Apple iOS devices, and with Apple's resources Netflix could really compete with HBO and Showtime.

What do you think? Would you buy a Roku (with 50 channels) or an Apple TV (with iTunes, Netflix, and possibly apps)? Will Apple buy Netflix? The Apple event tomorrow should be very interesting.

Roku Drops Player Prices & Promises 1080p Streaming This Year

Citing upcoming competition from Google TV and other streaming devices, Roku today dropped prices on all three Roku Player models:

 

Roku also announced that they will offer 1080p streaming later this year, but it will be limited to local USB storage since most Roku partners are only offering 720p.

Thanks to Jay for sending this in.

Gamefly Files Motion To Postpone; Netflix Files Interesting Comment on Gamefly Intent

Gamefly has filed a motion to postpone the September 1st and 2nd hearing because their counsel is sick, and Netflix has released Robert Lundahl from his confidentiality clause to testify before the PRC. 

However, Netflix had the following to say about Gamefly's intent:

First, with respect to Gamefly’s motion to compel, Netflix believes that GameFly’s requests for confidential information of Netflix are principally an attempt by Gamefly to gain for free the benefit of research paid for by Netflix. Either that, or GameFly’s requests are a legal pretense to block expert testimony by demanding exposure of commercially sensitive information from Netflix. Netflix is not a party to this proceeding, nor has it been accused by GameFly of engaging in any discriminatory action, nor is it a direct competitor of GameFly. Yet, Netflix now finds that, unless it releases commercially sensitive and proprietary information concerning studies paid for by Netflix (having nothing to do with Netflix’s relations to the Postal Service) it will be put in the position of appearing to thwart the presentation of material evidence to assist the Commission in resolving the issues in this case.

Secondly, and more importantly, this case is not about discriminatory treatment but instead an attempt by Gamefly to manipulate the Postal Service, through the PRC, into offering it favorable mailing rates. The fact that the USPS has offered to accord the exact treatment to GameFly at First Class one-ounce rates which it provides to Netflix (Tr. V- 950-951) bears out this point. Instead, GameFly demands that it, unique among all mailers, be allowed to continue to mail extra ounce First Class material at single piece rates. We think this is untenable: Gamefly does not want nondiscriminatory treatment; Gamefly wants its own special treatment. Instead of investing the time and resources that Netflix has in reducing its costs by lowering breakage of DVDs mailed through the USPS1 , Gamefly, through this proceeding, is attempting to get the PRC to reduce postage costs for them so that they can get the economic equivalent of what Netflix has achieved on its breakage reduction, without investing the time or energy themselves.

Lastly, Netflix wants to highlight its concern regarding the potential actions the PRC may take in resolving this matter. Netflix cannot but express the sense that it may become the proverbial innocent bystander who is accidently shot during a botched bank robbery. GameFly’s attempts to seek redress for supposed “discrimination” if satisfied by this Commission in a manner that impacts Netflix’s operations, could jeopardize what Netflix has been told is the most profitable mailing arrangement enjoyed by the Postal Service, and exacerbate the Postal Services’ already dire financial situation.    Such a decision would likely result in reduced DVD shipment growth from Netflix as well as accelerate the ultimate decline of DVD shipments as Netflix would shift more resource to the digital delivery of content.

How to Add Captions to Netflix Streaming Now

Netflix announced last summer that they will add captions and subtitles to streaming titles this year, but if you can't wait Josh Erickson posted a cool hack that uses DXFP files to add captions:

Last night I was working on an unrelated project when I came across keyboard shortcuts for the Netflix player. One of them was for a menu, which had a strange entry “Load custom DFXP File” which turns out is a W3 standard for subtitles! So I started off finding out how to construct my own SubRip to DFXP converter.

However things turned out to be not as simple as it first appeared. The Netflix player apparently is very picky about it’s XML, and by picky I mean the kid freaking out that the peas are touching the potatoes picky. I think it may just be using text parsing, but I can’t confirm since Netflix obfuscates their Silverlight code, making it hard to follow. This presented me with some difficulty until I started up Wireshark and captured the DFXP file for the Lost pilot episode and used that as a template.

If you're a Mac user, Codeman38 has put together a Python version.

Thanks to Harry for sending this in.

Netflix Sued by Microsoft Founder's Company for Patent Infringement

The Wall Street Journal reports that Netflix and 10 other companies (Google, Apple, eBay, Facebook, Yahoo!, etc.) are being sued by Paul Allen's Interval Licensing for patent infringement. The full text of the filing is available online, and Interval claims that Netflix has violated patent numbers 6,263,507 ("Browser for use in navigating a body of information, with particular application to browsing information represented by audiovisual data."), and 6,757,682 ("Alerting users to items of interest."). I can't believe that Interval was the first company to invent alerts.

From what I can tell of the patents it looks like the majority of websites infringe on the Interval patents, so are they going to sue every company that runs a website?

I'm hoping cases like this against high-profile defendants like Apple, Google, eBay, Facebook, Yahoo! and Netflix will help get patent reform passed.

Netflix vs. Hulu and Hulu Plus Comparison Chart

Autistic Disdain put together a chart that compares the TV shows available on Netflix streaming, Hulu and Hulu Plus. While the chart is missing recent Netflix additions like Family Guy, it's a great overview of what you'll find on Netflix and Hulu. 

 

The movie selection on Netflix streaming wins by far (especially with the new studio deals), but in many cases Hulu and Hulu Plus are complementary to a Netflix subscription.

via LifeHacker.

Microsoft Raising Xbox Live Gold Annual Subscription Fee to $59.99 Per Year

Major Nelson announced that Microsoft would be raising the annual Xbox Live Gold subscription fee by $10 per year to $59.99. I was hoping that Microsoft would lower or cancel the fee for Netflix streaming use, but now it'll cost Xbox customers almost the cost of a Roku Player to stream Netflix every year. If you're not a serious gamer and just use your Xbox for Netflix, it might make sense to use one of the dozens of Netflix-ready devices. The price increase starts November 1st.

Do you use your Xbox for Netflix streaming?

Netflix New Releases for August 31st, 2010

Click here for the full list of new releases this week.

Interesting titles include Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too?, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Made for Each Other, Red Riding Trilogy: Part 1: 1974, Red Riding Trilogy: Part 2: 1980, Red Riding Trilogy: Part 3: 1983, The Lena Baker Story, Harry Brown, Brothers & Sisters: Season 4, House, M.D.: Season 6, NCIS: Los Angeles: Season 1, Parenthood: Season 1, The Vampire Diaries: Season 1, and Sons of Anarchy: Season 2.

What's Missing From Netflix on DVD or Streaming?

A closet Trekkie writes, "Some DVDs I know obviously Netfllix is not going to have but there's one which really bothers me mostly because they used to have it, and then I think someone busted their one copy or something and now they don't have it.  It's Star Trek: Insurrection.  It's annoying because I've been working my way slowly through everything Star Trek (not all at once, even that's too much for me) and Star Trek: Insurrection, as far as I can tell is the only DVD out of everything Star Trek that Netflix doesn't have.  It's been rated by over half a million folks and they have it out of stock and don't plan on getting it in stock.  Grr.... 

I've called customer service about it, put in a request, done everything I can think to do to get them to get it in stock again.  Finally went to a blockbuster in my neighborhood, today, that's selling everything and got the DVD for $7.  Annoying to have to pay that much to watch a DVD that's probably going to be mediocre, but still want to get through everything Star Trek, lol."

What do think is missing from Netflix on DVD? What would you like to see them offer on streaming?

How Would You Rate Netflix Streaming Quality?

Mike writes, "I've talked with some people in different parts of the country, and there seems to be a problem with Netflix streaming on Saturday evenings/nights.   Lots of pauses while the buffering thing pops up. Oddly, so far, most of the people with problems seem to be Comcast customers.  However, in defense of Comcast, my sample size is far too small to make any conclusions."

How would you rate the quality of Netflix streaming? Who do you use for Internet access?