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Sean Portnoy
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Netflix to offer iPad app for streaming video. Ready to buy one now?

By | April 1, 2010, 1:16pm PDT

Summary: [Update: The app is definitely in the App Store now. Check out the screengrab below from my version of iTunes. Link here] A few weeks ago I floated the idea that the iPad could supplant a TV as the primary video-watching device in the bedroom. That possibility appears more likely now that Netflix is apparently going [...]

[Update: The app is definitely in the App Store now. Check out the screengrab below from my version of iTunes. Link here]

A few weeks ago I floated the idea that the iPad could supplant a TV as the primary video-watching device in the bedroom. That possibility appears more likely now that Netflix is apparently going to release an app for the iPad that allows for instant streaming of videos from its Watch Instantly catalog. (As far as I can tell, this is not an April Fools’ hoax.)

The app is free, but of course, you already need to be a Netflix subscriber with an unlimited subscription option in order to use it. You won’t be able to view more than a fraction of Netflix’s current catalog—including new releases—but if you’re a film buff, there should be plenty of choices when you’re ready to hit the hay.

This news follows ABC and CBS hustling to get themselves ready for the Saturday launch (ABC, in fact, releasing its own app) and Apple hoping for TV and movie-viewing increases via its iTunes hegemony. And Hulu is considering its own iPad app, though it may be subscription-based like the Netflix app. The tablet won’t be replacing live TV anytime soon, and it’s 9.7-inch, non-widescreen display may not be the ideal movie-watching platform, but it’s quickly making its lack of a built-in DVD player a nonissue.

[Via Gizmodo]

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NetFlix Inc., Streaming Video, Video, Corporate Communications, Web Site Development, Marketing, Internet, Sean Portnoy

Sean Portnoy is a freelance technology journalist.

Disclosure

Sean Portnoy

Sean Portnoy is a freelance technology journalist; currently, all work that Sean does is on a contractural basis. Sean has also written corporate communications documents for CA.

Sean does not accept gifts from companies he covers. All hardware products he writes about are purchased with his own funds or are review units covered under formal loan agreements and are returned after the review is complete.

Biography

Sean Portnoy

Sean Portnoy started his tech writing career at ZDNet nearly a decade ago. He then spent several years as an editor at Computer Shopper magazine, most recently serving as online executive editor. He received a B.A. from Brown University and an M.A. from the University of Southern California.
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Are you mad?
kent42 2nd Apr 2010
Why would you compare a mini desktop to a mobile tablet? That would
be like me saying your Zino sucked compared to my MacPro, its a dumb
comparison.
View in thread
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Flash ???
JoseTorr 1st Apr 2010
Didn't Netflix Dump Flash for Silverlight? So does this mean the iPad supports Silverlight but not Flash??
0 Votes
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Doubt it
Stuka 1st Apr 2010
Its most likely using the same thing that YouTube does for mobile video on phones. All the videos are streamed in H.264.

That or the App uses HTML5.
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I do believe you're right...
Wolfie2K3 1st Apr 2010
And Microsoft does produce Silverlight for the Mac... Probably made an app for the iPad as well.
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No. Windows7 comes with Win Media Center
John Zern 1st Apr 2010
which Netflix is intergrated with.

So I could just sit back with the remote, and watch it on the TV.

And the system cost 200.00 dollars less then an iPad.

isnt Technology is great!
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And what system is this? (nt)
Stuka 1st Apr 2010
I said no text
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If he's doing the same thing I am
AllKnowingAllSeeing 1st Apr 2010
It's likely a Dell Zino HD

With a Window7 Home Premium upgrade (64 bit) it comes to $310.00

Add a 40 dollar WMC iR remote, (so his money's off a bit, about $150.00 less) and you're set.

The unit is small, quiet (external Power supply) and comes with HDMI output jack.

It's pretty nice. Put everything on a central computer, and any setup like this can access those picture, movies, songs, ect.

The only downside is that it comes with only a 2.1 sound setup, so you'd have to order an external 5.1 or 7.1 sound card (like Creative makes) to get surround sound.
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Clunky, clunky, clunky
jpdemers@... 1st Apr 2010
All that crap, vs. a single device that does it all and a whole lot more? I think most people will be happy to watch most content on the iPad, with the big flat panel TV reserved for HD sports and "big screen" movies.
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What crap? a 9" screen with no remote?
John Zern Updated - 1st Apr 2010
He's right, a Dell Zino HD.

You turn it on, it comes up to Media Center, sit back with the remote, and you're watching movies. Or listening to music (using the remote). Or internet TV. (using the remote) On a 32" screen. Not on your lap, not a touch screen: simple, elegant.

You can sit there in the dark, holding your iPad 12" away from you face. Have a great time.
Does the iPad have 5.1/7.1 suround sound built in, or would you need an external device connected to the accessory dock?

The Zino is just an easier way of doing it. The iPad way sounds a little clunky, if you ask me.

Oh, it is a real computer too. I can surf the web on it if I want.
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Or...
CowLauncher 1st Apr 2010
all my content can be shared wirelessly across my TVs, desktop, laptops,
iPhone and iPad if I get one. Even our Playstation gets content streamed
from the the iMac. All the email is synced across everything..even
bookmarks and settings through MobileMe to anywhere I am. It is all
quite seamless. And the remote has 3 buttons not 30. It was pretty well
plug and play...very sweet.

The Apple TVs have 5.1, not sure about iPad
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Not much different then mine, then
AllKnowingAllSeeing 1st Apr 2010
My setup is (in a nut shell)

Dell SC420, Win Server 2003 (If starting from scratch it would have been Windows Home server, but the benifits of being head of IT happy ) that stores everything on 750 Gig hds, (RAID 1 config).

Living Room: Inspiron with HDMI card and Haupagge 1600 replaced my VCR and DVD units, while adding surround sound.

Zino HD in basement.

I wired the house years ago when I renovated, but it can be done wirelessly.

Anything I record, download, save can be viewed from any of these systems, even the computers in the offices via Media Center, at the same time for many things.

For me that beats carrying a tablet from room to room, where only one person can use it at a time, but we're really talking two different things here.

I agree with JZ in the fact that Netflix wouldn't make me run out and get an iPad because you get that already thru WMC.

The WMC remote has more buttons because it does do alot more; VCR, DVD, TV.

Just different systems doing the same thing.
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Love to know...
webmaster@... 2nd Apr 2010
Where you can get either a sub $200 netbook/laptop with Windows 7 on
it legally, or where you can get a media centre and HD ready TV for
that price? Idiot.
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You call me an idiot?
John Zern Updated - 2nd Apr 2010
I said that it was 200.00 less, not 200.00

(iPad at 499, - Zino at 309, = 190 difference.

Look at the Dell Zino HD with a Win7 Home Premium (which includes Windows Media Center) for 309.00 dollars, with HDMI output.

I allready owned the TV, as do most people (or are implying that everyone's gone without a TV waiting for that day that the iPad was realesed?) so yeah, I wouldn't need to get an iPad to stream stuff from NetFlix, because it's part of WMC.

Why not try to reading all of the replys before making yourself look like a fool?
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Are you mad?
kent42 2nd Apr 2010
Why would you compare a mini desktop to a mobile tablet? That would
be like me saying your Zino sucked compared to my MacPro, its a dumb
comparison.
0 Votes
+ -
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