Xbox Experience now available to all who signed up, Netflix HD streams too

by Thomas Ricker, posted Nov 18th 2008 at 4:10AM

Microsoft's new Xbox Experience dashboard doesn't officially launch until Wednesday the 19th. But if you signed up for the preview (and who didn't?) with a valid console ID then it's available now according to Major Nelson. What's more, Netflix has confirmed its Xbox 360 launch details: more than 12,000 movies and TV episodes and 300 streaming HD titles. Remember, streaming is free for Netflix members who are also Xbox Live Gold members. The HD video streams will be limited to SD audio, however -- multi-channel audio is in the works as are additional HD titles. Now get outta here kid, NXE awaits.

[Via Joystiq]

Read -- Major Nelson
Read -- Netflix

Filed under: Industry, Media streamers, Others, Internet

Tags: breaking news, BreakingNews, dashboard, major nelson, MajorNelson, microsoft, netflix, nxe, xbox 360, xbox experience, Xbox360, XboxExperience

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Low Ranked

squiggleslash @ Nov 18th 2008 8:40AM

You know, I'd take DVD quality video with good audio (full rate DTS or better) over HD quality video with stereo sound any day of the week. If this is what the HD service is like, then for now I'm going to hold off.

Neutral

Brian @ Nov 18th 2008 9:05AM

I want to buy digital media, but it's the high price and all these "new" restrictions that constantly turn me off. If I buy digital media I want to know that I can easily watch it on any device I want in my home.

To use digital media, I don't want to have to commit to a particular technology or vendor that may no longer exist in the future.

Highest Ranked

nick @ Nov 18th 2008 9:12AM

Tried this last night and it's pretty cool. You download a small Netflix app on your 360, which then gives you a code. You goto Netflix's website, and enter in the code to sync your Netflix account to your 360. If you don't already have a Netflix account, there's an option for creating one.

Any movies you have in your 'Instant' queue will then be available on your 360. So basically you have to build your queue online from the 'Watch Instantly' section. Hopefully in a later update, you'll be able to browse and queue movies directly from the 360.

Last night I watched Superbad via my Netflix account. Picture quality was perfect. Sound was perfect. Movie streamed instantly. No more waiting for movie to arrive via mail, and can now watch a movie anytime I want -and- don't have to own the movie. Easily one of the best features ever added to the 360.

Neutral

swilson23 @ Nov 18th 2008 4:36PM

Did you try any HD titles?

Neutral

nick @ Nov 18th 2008 9:09PM

Not yet... but I'll probably try that soon. Of the two movies in my 'instant' queue, both were SD. I'll have check out what Netflix has in the way of HD.

Highest Ranked

drphil7 @ Nov 18th 2008 9:16AM

Nice first day review, sounds like a good new feature and gives the 360 a nice new boost.

Highest Ranked

aaron @ Nov 18th 2008 9:27AM

i was highly impressed with it.... got in last night. i am actually shocked the ff/rw works as well as it does on a stream.

hd video quality is awesome. only having stereo sound is a letdown but once it goes 5.1 (and everybody expects it will soon) that will be gone.

Highest Ranked

hdfan3d @ Nov 18th 2008 11:08AM

so could someone please post a list of the 300 hd titles available via netflix (i don't have an count yet, bu am interested)

Highly Ranked

Johnny Neat @ Nov 18th 2008 12:57PM

Yeah the 300 HD list would be grand if someone could share that now before tomorrow comes. Plus I fear the whole net speed issue, as I get 3-4 MBPS from Comcast and last I heard you needed more than that like 5 & up.

Anyhow I hope that they allow us to control buffer times to allow for longer waits but the best video quality if need arises. Also I hope the DVD quality movies look good on a 1080p or any HD panel compared to upconverting as it is now.

5.1 sound would be cool, but it won't kill me not to have it. Regardless it has been stated that it will be coming soon enough.

Neutral

drphil7 @ Nov 18th 2008 1:24PM

So you get unlimited movie streaming?

Neutral

DeadPlasmaCell @ Nov 18th 2008 2:08PM

Unlimited streaming starting at the $8.99 (1 movie) plan.

Neutral

Darknight630 @ Nov 18th 2008 2:39PM

I couldn't get the HD Streaming to work over the Component Cables.

It always bumps me down :(

Any ideas as to why it may do this?

Neutral

baldrick5 @ Nov 18th 2008 5:02PM

watched Season 1 of 30 Rock in HD last night......picture quality was fantastic! can't wait until they add more HD shows/movies!

Neutral

JBDragon @ Nov 18th 2008 11:14PM

Why buy a movie? You can now watch the same move as many times as you want along with Thousands of others anytime you want. All for the low fee of $8.99 a month and you still get a single DVD out at a time. There's no worry about changing Hardware to something else at a later date so your really not LOCKED IN. No need to buy a Digital copy of a movie, why??? For the 360 you need a Gold account sure, and I know the PS3 people complain about that. It's only $50 a year, which works out to about $4.17 a month and you can find it for under $40 a month if you look. Still at the $50 a year for LIVE GOLD and $8.99 a month for Netflex for UNLIMITED movies, that's still a low price of $13.16 a month. Sounds like a steal to me. With the LIVE Gold account, now you have the other LIVE features also. I can't wait. Why spend $4-$5 to watch a SD or HD Digital download of a single movie from some other service, let alone spend a bunch more to buy a Digital Copy that's locked onto the hardware.

Neutral

acme @ Nov 19th 2008 12:56PM

Am i the only person who doesn't want this new dashboard?

Neutral

Big Wizz @ Nov 19th 2008 2:40PM

Ok, while the streaming is absolutely killer, the HD selection is not-so-much.

The only worthwhile HD is really the network shows (Office, Hero's, etc..). All the movies in HD streaming are a disgrace.

Neutral

Rodimus @ Nov 20th 2008 9:52AM

I was thinking the same exact thing. The only worthwile HD content are the network shows. Everything else is just independent films.

Plus I thought they said that there'll be about 300 HD titles at launched. All I see are about 150 HD titles. What gives??? And how can you tell if the title is HD or not? It doesn't even indicate it anywhere in the description on the Netflix site...

Neutral

Bob @ Nov 20th 2008 3:43PM

Agreed, although La Vie en Rose looks pretty great.

Neutral

fcklongboards @ Nov 21st 2008 12:03PM

As for Darkknight saying he was being bumped down.. Try setting the resolution settings in your systems settings.. Maybe they got switched down after the update?

And the new update is amazing. the quality at which the Movies come in is amazing. The first night I watched boiler room and it wasn't so great.. I assume because so many people were watching to try it out.

last night I watched Clock Work Orange. The Quality is right on par with dvd, sound is good. And Pause/Play/Fastforward/Rewind all work fantastically!

Awesome deal i think.. Tons of movies ive never seen.. Plus now I can watch the bigger network shows no problem.

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