Roku's HD Netflix interface gets pictured

Roku just enabled HD Netflix on its movie set-top-box yesterday (or earlier, for a select few), but DVICE has already taken the time to show us what it's all about. The update was said to be painless to download and install, and the new high-def UI was much appreciated. Unfortunately, there's no mention of the actual streaming quality, but we're hoping to have a review of our own cooked up soon to give you the details there. 'Til then, enjoy the interface shots in the read link below.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 23rd 2008 8:41PM]

I still can't update my box........

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 23rd 2008 9:24PM]

I use my 360 for Netflix streaming and the HD looks pretty decent, at least closer to OTA broadcasts than the dishes and some cable systems compressed BS. I'm jealous though, this Roku interface has the decency of identifying a movie as being in HD.

For the Roku-less, check out http://www.isitinhd.com for a updated list of Netflix streaming movies that are in HD.

[jagowar Posted Dec 23rd 2008 10:20PM]

agreed... they really need to update the 360 netflix player with hd logos.

thats the only major flaw ive found with the 360 version.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 23rd 2008 9:31PM]

Downloaded the update yesterday. Checked out the www.netflix.com/instanthd added a few movies and checked out the HD side of streaming. I was actually pleasantly surprised in all. The selection is the greatest at the moment but I think you have to have a fast internet connection to take full advantage. I am running 7.5 Mbps at home on my 1080p LCD TV, I know that my 1.5 mbps at work will not cooperate with streaming in the instant field of netflix. Netflix just made another reason for me to hang on to the subscription.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 23rd 2008 10:30PM]

I'm still waiting for the update as well. Can't wait.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 23rd 2008 11:55PM]

Any tricks to get the update?

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 24th 2009 1:19AM]

Good luck finding which Instant Watch content is in HD! So far you can only tell on the Roku menu . . . no way to tell on the Netflix site.

Of the 276 items I had in my Instant Watch que . . . 26 where in HD.

The one HD movie I streamed ("Boarding Gate") looked pretty good. The one episode of "30 Rock" I watched, supposedly in HD, looked like crap.

The update download and installation was fast and easy.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 24th 2008 9:33AM]

There is a way to browse HD in watch inst.its in the pull down menu.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 24th 2008 5:12PM]

if you're waiting for the software update, there is a way to force it. From the Roku forums:

If you check for the software update more than 3 times within about a 30 second period, it should now offer you the 1.5 update. Otherwise you stick to the roll out plan.

Just go to Settings>Player Info>Check for update.
It will say "Your software is up to date"
Check again 2 more times. On the 3rd time it should start downloading the software.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 24th 2008 5:19PM]

the HD quality is just okay. very watchable, but type isn't crisp and darks and shadows are flat, pixelated and grainy. color is a bit iffy as well. i watched an episode of 30 Rock and the skin tones were distractingly red and blotchy. on a compression artifacts scale, it rests somewhere between torrent file TV-rip and DirecTV HD. not overwhelmed, but not disappointed. can't wait for more content...

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 24th 2009 1:22AM]

I am convinced the "30 Rock" episodes are mislabeled . . . and are not in HD. The picture is so inferior to other HD content on Roku. Compare to "NCIS" episodes and you will see a big difference.