chahal wijdan nakita
Magdalen Dano
I recently purchased an Xbox and I must say, considering that have yet to acquired a sports game, that I am very impressed. I got the Xbox 360 pro (with the 60gb hard drive) and this allowed me to take full advantage of the recent updates for the New Xbox Experience (NXE).
There is a metric ton of videos, demos, pictures, community games, themes and online goodness that really extend the entertainment experience of the Xbox. The interface is really intuitive and looks great in 1080p.
Netflix Instant Watch is a really significant addition and adds a really solid value, if you are in fact a Netflix subscriber. The only problem with Netflix Instant Watch is that there is a really limited movie list and it can take quite a while to find a decent movie for your Instant Queue. The HD movies streamed consistently without interruption and the picture quality was pristine.
The other problem is that you cannot add movies to Instant Queue directly from the Xbox, you have to go online via a PC, but the instant queue will update almost immediately. There was an announcement of a Netflix app for Windows Mobile so this should relieve that bottleneck (or maybe I could create a Media Center app).
The only real unresolved disappointment was the poor performance of Windows Media Center. While it only took a few minutes to connect to my home PC, once I got it up and running the controls were really slow (I mean in the order of 10-20 seconds per click). My network is running fine, it handles high def streaming with ease. So right now am I assuming there is some contention between the various apps that can share data from my Vista PC (Zune, Windows Media Player and Windows Media Center).
Over the weekend, without telling users, Netflix decided to stop displaying all titles from users instant watch queue if the rights to stream the content has expired. In the past, these titles remained in the queue and if they were to expire soon, they would also list the date when they would no longer be available for streaming. While Netflix took to their blog on Saturday saying they made this change to, "make the instant Queue easier to manage", clearly all they are trying to do is hide the fact that so many titles are expiring.
Even though Netflix says they didn't actually remove any of the titles from the queue and that they will reappear once again if they get the rights to stream the title, the fact is users can no longer see them, or manage them. And since most of us probably don't remember what all those titles were, how are we suppose to add them to our DVD queue since they are no longer available for streaming? Not to mention, the titles that we can longer see in our queue, count towards the limit of 500 titles you can have in your queue at any one time. So if we can't see them, how are we suppose to delete them so that we can add more titles to our queue?
What Netflix has done is take the problem of too many streaming movies becoming unavailable and turned it into two problems; we can't keep track of them to add them to the DVD queue and hidden movies count toward our queue count but we can't see them to delete them. How dumb. Not to mention, Netflix says while it "looks like some titles are gone", they didn't "remove" them. Really? So we can no longer see them and we have no way to manage them yet Netflix says it only "looks like" the titles are gone? The titles are gone if w can't see them! I am getting so tired of Netflix's blog posts lately which are starting to sound like they are written by a bunch of lawyers being creative with words.
Netflix can try and spin this any way they want but the bottom line is that the Starz contract is due to expire in about five months and at that time, a lot of users would have a bunch of titles showing up in their saved queue and would starting realizing just how many movies are becoming unavailable for streaming. And some Netflix users would reconsider keeping their account active or not. This is simply Netflix's way of trying to make sure we don't notice what's expiring, by not letting us see all the movies in our queue. Brilliant job Netflix. You just made your service harder to use and you announced the change only after people noticed it and started complaining. You may be in the driver's seat now, but I can't wait till Amazon eats your lunch.
I agree totally... 1st apple tv loving it for me and the wife. But parental support for restrictions for my 3 children not very well thought out. Family movie night browsing movies selections don't want see MILF or the blood covered movie title and the other inappropriate titles while looking at new arrivals looking for Disney movies or other G,PG, PG-13. Something should be done ASAP.? I love what apple has been offering for the devices but more control over them in the user hands would be more appreciated then these devices could be in every childs room... IJMS
4. Configure your new profile with whatever name you like, and a different "sign-in" name than your normal account. This is where you can set the profile to only allow certain content ratings. Set them up as you see fit. Click "Save."
5. Go back to your AppleTV. Logout of the current Netflix account, and log back in using the Account Profile sign-in ID you created on the Netflix web site. Yes, I know AppleTV says to put in your email address, but just put in the Account Profile sign-in instead.
It's working for me. I have my AppleTV set to login under a profile with parental controls, not the main account login. I just checked it again just now, and it's working fine. Maybe it's something with your account?
Ok, I should clarify... streaming to a computer or streaming to a Wii will not work unless you are logged into your main profile (Owner Profile). I am not completely sure about AppleTV, however, based on my conversations with Netflix support, they said that any kind of online streaming from Netflix must be done through the main (owner) account due to agreements between Netflix and the media companies providing the content.
apple please create a way to remove everything like search/genre/suggestion/tv shows and leave only instant queue and just for kids. There are so many familes with kids dont want there kids to access anything above pg
netflix start with 500 queue which was great 500 titles 250 kids 250 adult , apple need to add netflix setting to disable the search/ genre and when is off we get instant queue / just for kids two links.
Nice set of reviews! ... I'm with you on the physical media. It's the same reason I'll always be a "books" person and eBooks can suck it. I do have a few interesting things in my Netflix queue, including that Shining documentary "Room 237," but it's just not as convenient as DVDs are. Shouldn't new technology be MORE convenient, and CERTAINLY shouldn't new technology be more reliable than what it's replacing. Streaming can be interrupted, it can lag and it can have synch issues. Who needs that? ... So while I don't have the funds I once had to build the Perfect DVD collection, I will still aspire toward that. And I'm also the kind of movie fan who prefers the kind of non-mainstream movies that still aren't available or cost-effective on streaming. And I don't think they ever will be.
I've really moved away from buying stuff- I've moved way too many times and I currently have more movies than I have space to put 'em. :D Like I said, I'm not giving up on streaming- that'd be dopey- but there are so many titles aren't available that way. Re-expanding my horizons has been so great!
Great reviews! This has really inspired me to re-up my Netflix plan to include DVD's again, since Red Box has a very limited horror selection.
Also, that Amityville About Time movie was totally bonkers, and Werther's Originals are delicious.
The bad news, though, is that I've read several articles in the past six months stating that Netflix's DVD service will likely end in the near future. Will another company try to fill that void and will it make sense financially?
Yay, you are reviewing!! I will have to check out "Sinister." The title seemed so goofy (why not just call a movie "Creepy"?).
Also, the Madonna article you link to has a very good "Hints from Heloise" column on the facing page. This post wins all around!
I like this format, Stacie. A lot of times I can;t really be bothered reading long-ass reviews.
Schrader's EXORCIST is a mess, but [part of the reason for that (as well as she shitty CGI) is that it's simply not finished. Still, there's things about it I do like.
I like how seriously it takes the subject matter. And it's a mile away from the utter idiocy of EXORCIST II.
I'm still praying they find the director's cut of Blatty's LEGION before he dies. I've heard it's amazing.
I used to do the Netflix streaming/1dvd thing then got pissed at them when they shifted. For most folks, the shift wasn't a big deal. For streaming/1dvd, the price almost doubled. So I've been doing the streaming thing for the past 3 years or so. One of these days, I'll probably switch up again. 'Til then, it's streaming only.
I haven't seen most of those movies but I actually kinda' liked Contracted. I agree with your review, though. Characters were pretty lame and pace was slow. The ending made it worth it for me.
I wasn't totally sure where they were going with it and when she started biting, I started liking it. I'm not sure what that says about me...but anyway, I thought it was watchable. Not awesome, but watchable.
I still puke a little when I hear the phrase Exorcist sequel...damnit...hold on...
Yep, happened again. Puke-a-rama.
Anyway, by the sound of it, I'll skip the Dominion option, too. It's About Time I'll check out, based upon your review. The "finger-banged by her own reflection" is too classy to pass on. Plus, I'm a guy and therefore easily taken in by such statements.
I'll also check out Sinister if I find it around.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about modern media consumption vs. the old school stuff. I'm like that with books, bigtime, but I...well, I already explained the bit about me being a cheap bastard and Netflix evil.
Thanks again for your ongoing blog efforts. I dig it.