There's a new survey from Netflix making the rounds, asking customers if they'd like to watch Netflix on the Wii. The service would apparently require a $9.99 "Netflix Instant Streaming Disc," which users could pop into the system when they wanted to watch -- far be it from Nintendo to offer a firmware update. While many of the folks we know are already getting Netflix on their Xboxen, the Wii would obviously let Netflix hit a lot more households with those Instant Watch goodies, if this ever comes to pass. As for Sony, it's still denying any plans for
Netflix on the PS3, but perhaps this would help change its mind (and won't involve another $10 DVD -- we only have so many Hamiltons to go around).
posted Mar 21st 2009 1:29PM
If they hit Wii it's check mate. No other service will be able to match their dominance and their user base would go through the roof.
Just wait until Netflix releases a special "Blu-ray" disc that just consists of bdj code that let's 2.0 compliant players (regardless of what the maker intended) stream Netflix. Assuming Netflix can fix their quality (HD? kinda sorta on some devices) and availability (new releases?) problems, it's "game over" and "thanks for playing".
While both Netflix and Blu-ray support the VC-1 video codec, Netflix's audio is provided by a Windows Media codec, which is not a supported Blu-ray standard. This, incidentally, is also why they're not streaming 5.1 at the moment (few receivers in people's homes actually support WM or HDMI audio, even if receivers supporting the latter are becoming more common these days.)
It would certainly be interesting to see a re-implementation of the Silverlight framework in Java though, given that's also a prerequisite, it would have a gorgeous ring of irony to it. But no, alas, unless Netflix changes codecs, you're not going to see a "Blu-ray Profile 2.0 to Netflix client" disc.
Squiggleslash, some players already have an embedded Netflix player. Most likely it is a BD-J app residing in firmware. If it can be done there then the likelihood is it could also reside on a disk or bootstrap from disk and be run from storage.
Why is this on EngadgetHD? The Wii is spec-ed, by no stretch of the imagination, below HD resolution. I'm not saying I wouldn't consider signing up for Netflix if I could use my Wii, but the only reason I would be for the streaming. And $9 a month seems a little high to just be using the streaming for as little as I would probably use it, and the 2-hour limit on the $5 plan put the kibosh on that one. Maybe a $5 streaming only plan that has a 10-hour or 3 movie limit (which ever is long) would suit my needs. I don't want to watch a 2 hour and 15 minute movie, and have to wait a month to find out how it ends.
Worthless add on!
Wii is 480i, that's lower quality than regular DVD!
wii can do 480p and its possible with a firmware update it can do 720p maybe 1080. not for gaming (well maybe some games but not any major visually intense games) the wii is more powerful than the original xbox and the xbox could do 1080 (very little did though)
The Wii can do 480p over component. Dont say something unless you know your right.
It's still not HD... So STFU...
The Wii will not do anything higher than 480p short of a hardware update. Even if it could, the CPU processor lacks the processing power to decode a HD video unless it were compressed to crap with some lower complexity codec such as SP/ASP or MPEG2. Local storage limits and wifi performance might also put technical limitations on the service. If the Wii did get a streaming service, it is likely that it would have to be SD only.
Netflix streaming is lower quality than HD or DVD, too.
Sounds like a pretty crappy implementation. Not HD and have to put a disk in each time.
I'm surprised that Netflix haven't done a disc for BD 2.0 players. It might be clunky to have to insert a disk but it should be feasible to create one that boots straight into a Java front-end to their service.
I'm surprised they're requiring a disc, as this seems to be the perfect application of the Wii Channels concept. Even Wii Fit allows you to install a subset of itself as a permanent no-disc-required channel.
DrXym - see my comment above. Netflix will need to change their audio codec (at minimum) for a Blu-ray implementation to work. Not that I'm against that, I'm surprised they're going along with the Windows Media audio codec they're using given it's a major bar to "just plug in and go" 5.1 audio delivery. Indeed, a general switch so that their servers stream H.264 and AC-3 using whatever container is appropriate would make it much easier to support a decent universal streaming solution that could be put on anything, BDP2.0, HD DVD, all those little "Media boxes", etc. Oh well.
What's next....Netflix on the Atari 2600....Here's to watching crap resolution on the Wii....on my 120" screen
i would personally never use my Wii to stream Netflix considering it can only output at 480p. plus i have a 360 and PS3 also, which can do already do Netflix (PS3 through the PlayOn media server) and do it at a higher resolution. so Netflix on Wii? no thanks.
If this happens, it's a step in the right direction for Nintendo. The Wii's user base consists of a lot of people and familys who aren't as interested in HD movies as people like us. I may not choose to stream Netflix on my Wii (I'll stick to my Blu-Ray movies), but I think it's a step in the right direction. Now...how about that storage problem......?????
You will obviously have to put a disc in because SONY doesnt want Netflix competing with the movies on the PS Store. Netflix has a great concept with the streaming idea, but right now the movies are mostly old and low quality. Netflix is also screwing its customers by using MS' silverlight technology which is extremely proprietary. Netflix has a long way to go if they want to make this work.
Rudy, I was replying to Daves comment about him saying it could only do 480i. I never said it could HD so FUCK YOU!! lol