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Netflix reverses decision, Profiles here to stay {Engadget HD}
Jul 2nd 2008 11:06AM Hopefully this doesn't double post, refreshed several times, waited about 5 mins, first post still didn't show...
Netflix New releases used to be like that, but check it out now. You can view new released by popularity (movies that showed for me were Bucket List, 10,000 BC, and Spiderwick Chronicles), as well as genre and release date (as little as 1 week old). Netflix's new release section is much improved, and rivals the video store.
What I will definitely give imdb is pre-releases. I go to imdb to find out about movies like "Tropical Thunder" and "Wanted" a month before they hit the theater, and immediately head over to netflix to save them in my queue. I then forget about them until they become available on DVD, at which point, they show up in my rental queue, ready to ship.
If Netflix would start pimping movies currently announced, and in the theater, as available to add to your queue, it would be one stop shopping for me.
Marshall
The Real HT Info Podcast
Netflix reverses decision, Profiles here to stay {Engadget HD}
Jul 1st 2008 10:05AM From The Real HT Info Podcast Blog:
Here's what I think Netflix should do. They already have a tremendous web presence and the HANDS-DOWN BEST tool for finding, tracking, commenting on, and rating movies. Open the whole system up to everyone, subscribers and non-subscribers a like (right now, if you are not a paid subscriber, you can't search, rate, queue movies).
What it would cost:
-A couple servers
-A couple full-time web-coders
What Netflix gains:
-People start using Netflix to discover movies, rate them, leave comments. They make Netflix where the store their movie list (everyone has one). Let's call it 1 million new eyeballs, each visiting Netflix an average of once per day, 365 million hits a year. Those are conservative numbers.
-Netflix can implement advertising on the pages of non-subscribers. At the low-end of web advertising, you can expect $12 per 1000, so Netflix is looking at $4.4 Million per year.
-Occasionally, one of those folks will subscribe for a month, buy a used movies, or Netflix could even develop a pay as you go plan, say $3 per movie, per week. That's $12 per month, more than their lowest subscription plan and less than Blockbuster charges for 2-5days.
-More ratings means a more accurate rating system for everyone. And once again, rating are personalized. Unlike IMDB, or rotten tomatoes, a movie rated 3 stars for me may be rated 5 stars for someone else based upon Netflix's individualized weighted system.
-Netflix becomes the de facto name associated with movie rentals. Blockbuster is gone. IMDB becomes the second stop, rather than the first, for finding out more about your favorite movies.
The Bill Day giveaway (part 3) - Zune 80GB (black) {Engadget}
Jun 27th 2008 5:59PM I use my 30GB zune like it's going out of style, but XP is probably my most frequently used MS product.
Marshall
The Real HT Info Podcast
Ask Engadget HD: What's the best home theater projector? {Engadget HD}
Jun 25th 2008 2:27PM And don't forget the screen. This seems to be popular for those on a budget who need excellent contrast in a space with some ambient lighting:
http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/projector-screens-diy-screens/8755-black-widow-pfg-discussion.html
Marshall
The Real HT Info Podcast
Ask Engadget HD: What's the best home theater projector? {Engadget HD}
Jun 25th 2008 2:24PM We should probably throw the Samsung SP-A800B in the Ring.
http://reviews.cnet.com/home-theater-projectors/samsung-sp-a800b/4505-7858_7-33057398.html
Marshall
The Real HT Info Podcast
Aiptek's HDV21X brings 1080p HD video to the sub-$200 Wal-Mart market {Engadget}
Jun 11th 2008 11:54AM I've used a similar Aiptek and found the quality in decent light to be pretty good. Audio, however, was only available through the onboard mic, and was horrible. I wouldn't buy this unless it had an Audio input if you are concerned about audio quality.
Marshall
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The Real HT Info Podcast
Sony's HT-IS100 HTIB features micro-drivers {Engadget HD}
Jun 5th 2008 5:42PM If this sounds anything like the Sony Davis system (or Dav1S or whatever it's called), this is going to sound pretty horrible.
Marshall
The Real HT Info Podcast
Popcorn Hour prepping trio of new media streamers? {Engadget HD}
May 21st 2008 12:14PM Crappy in what way? Sure it may not look like much, but it plays many more formats than any other product out there. As long as it's functional, I don't care what it looks like.
That being said, the music interface needs a lot of work. If you're buying this for music, look elsewhere. If you're considering this for video, stop looking.
Marshall
The Real HT Info Podcast
Redesign giveaway: HTC's new Shift UMPC {Engadget}
Apr 10th 2008 6:38PM I'd update my podcast/blog more often and from exotic locations.
Marshall
The Real HT Info Podcast
DVD jukebox sales down because of Blu-ray? {Engadget HD}
Apr 9th 2008 3:54PM It's only a matter of time. Llink (a third party HTTP server), is supposedly there, but I couldn't get it to work on my system. Still, google it and check out the 1.9 screenshot.
http://www.lundman.net/wiki/index.php/Llink
And, TV PVR capabilities via a networked PC are also supposedly around the corner:
http://forums.gbpvr.com/showpost.php?p=249826&postcount=65
If they don't get sued or something crazy, I think the Popcorn hour is going to be pretty cool given another year of development.
Marshall
The Real HT Info Podcast
