I put a response in the shopping forum, but this seems to warrant its own discussion.

http://www.reuters.com/article/hotSt...29162520080520

Pricing seems very agressive, although I'll be very interested to see tech specs. Currently no word on HD capability.

Assuming the video/audio quality is on par with DVD, this looks great.

The HD disc format war was nothing compared to the download format war.

BTW, will this thing have a better selection than the current "Watch Now" offerings? I like it, but it's really just a supplement to the disc rentals. The selection is pretty limited, with some studios not offering anything on it. Warner's older titles are in bad pan and scan transfers, so I have to wait for the discs on those. I've also seen some titles from Sony/Columbia that were so blurry I couldn't watch them (yes, my "video quality" was good).

Not from what I understood.


I'll most likely purchase one, but I'm slightly perturbed that Netflix didn't offer some sort of price break for longtime subscribers. Here's reason #1 I'll probably bite:

Netflix is planning HD streaming, and this box will support it. When Netflix gets HD streaming content, they'll update the box by firmware to support HD resolutions at higher bitrates of 4-6mbps, including 5.1 surround (everything is stereo now). The menus will also be upgraded to HD res, too. In the future, the Roku-branded box will be upgraded to accept non-Netflix content, too. (And btw, the update on the Mac client situation is that they're just trying to sort out the DRM issues, or lack of a suitable system they can stream to Macs on.)

Source: Gizmodo


I just wish there was a way to save $100 and stream it through a PS3 or TiVo. Oh well.

Pretty cool idea, the wife uses this and likes it, but I don't have room for any more gadgets right now. 2 HDMI inputs and 3 component inputs and they're all full and I don't want to add a switcher to the setup again.

Would be nice if they'd have worked out some sort of deal with Tivo. I don't know if you would see it on the xbox 360 / PS3 since they seem to want to sell you expensive individual PPV movies.

No, Amazon has a deal with TiVo already. MS or Sony isn't going to support it either because they have their own services (Sony will soon).

I use Netflix Watch Now a lot, but I am more than happy with my S-Video Cable/ Laptop combination at the moment. With the HD Streaming however, I may change my mind once my new LCD tv arrives, so we'll see. Great price though!

so, my Roku won't stream 5.1 from Netflix Instant Queue, despite reports that this has been offered since Oct 2010... my Roku says it has the latest software update (version 2.9 - build 1529). I get full 1080p, just not 5.1... what am I doing wrong?

Which Roku, what do you have it connected to, and how do you have it connected?

Roku XD, hard wired. It passes 5.1 from Amazon VoD, so I know the device itself works... I also get 1080 from netflix for the video...

I know it's 3 years old but you shouldn't quit your day job to be a psychic.

LOL! I almost posted about the same thing. Sony is still saying they're about to offer their own streaming [fill in media type here] service.

TallGuy,
Are you sure the feed actually has 5.1? Not sure how you could be unless you are a Netflix engineer.

http://playstationlifestyle.net/2010...-1-movie-list/

Here's a list of 40 that are supposed to have it.

I thought of that... because no, I don't know.... although I picked recent movies, ie: Shutter Island, and just assumed that the newer blockbuster stuff would be 5.1...

that link is blocked at work... grr, but I'll have to look through it and see... thanks!

The arrival of the Netflix app on the PS3 brought with it 5.1 surround and 1080p streaming. If you were wondering what titles were rated as X-High/HD and are in 5.1 you’re not alone. Thankfully, one of the largest audio/video communities around is doing their best to compile a list.

Over at the AV Science Forum, a member with the handle Mastino has put out the call to document all movies that the meet the above criteria. With the community behind him, nearly 40 movies have been identified thus far:

Amadeus
Beetlejuice
Bitch Slap
Bruce & Lloyd out of Control
Crips and Bloods: Made in America
Four Dragons
Heat
Holy Rollers
Malice in Wonderland
Matchstick Men
Matrix Revolutions
Rampage
Red Cliff: Theatrical Version
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Super Capers
The Last Boy Scout
Undisputed III
Ip Man
The Wild and Wonderful Whites.
Cobra
What just Happened?
Food, INC.
The Girl Who Played with Fire
Batman (1989)
Bigger Stronger Faster
Let the Right One In
The Exorcist
Red Riding Trilogy (all 3 pts)
Eden Log
Iron Man Adventures
Metropolis Restored
Me and You and Everyone We Know
Don’t look back
New York Minute
No Impact Man: The Documentary
Ondine
Ong Bak 2: the Beginning
The Warlords
The Good, the Bad, the Weird

While top-tier titles are notably absent, it’s not a bad start as the selection is truly all over the map. If you’ve never experienced the wonder of Donnie Yen (Ip Man) or were looking for a reason to watch Batman again, Netflix is certainly giving you a good reason.

thanks for posting the list pinata... I don't think I tried any of those... odd list indeed... I'll play around with it tonight... why wouldn't the latest releases be 5.1? sort of a bummer.

I'm not at home to confirm, but I'm 99% certain that on movies/shows with 5.1 audio there is an "audio options" entry in the menu to let you choose between stereo and 5.1.

I know for sure that 30 Rock has that, so if you want to do a test, you can try 30 Rock.

There is. On the link I posted earlier, it showed what the menu looks like.