Netflix's CEO Reed Hastings, the man who changed the way America rents movies, joined the board of directors at Microsoft. There is no further announcement beyond this simple, but possibly monumental, change to the Microsoft board. Microsoft has been getting into video downloads with Xbox Live, now combine that with the brand power and ethos of simplicity behind Netflix, and you've got yourself, well, we don't know ... but it brings us one step closer to an all-in-one box for our television.If Netflix service were incorporated into the Xbox 360, it would change the way we rent movies once again, and be a Halo-level killer app. for the console. As long as the Xbox 360 continues growing its potential, but doesn't lose sight of its gaming core, we'll be fine. We cross our fingers for a Netflix related announcement before 2008. Consumers rejoice, this could lead to good things.



















(Page 1) Reader Comments
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OSX on a Sony Vaio or PS3 IS COMING SOON!!!! Apple Itunes access is free, Sony Playstation Network free;
Will playstation home be able to access the Itunes music store for music and movies as well as Sony Connect?
Myeh! Netflix and Microsoft; that just makes netflix more wack. In fact, I'll celebrate this news by opening up an account at Blockbuster.
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that is all.
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Just let me download and delete my games instead of mailing them and letting me return them.
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http://on10.net/Blogs/larry/breaking-two-exclusives-in-two-days
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Back, to the reason why I wrote a comment.
The netflix seems like a brillent move, because microsoft doesn't have to rely on the movie stuidos themselves, all they have to do is use netflix, In other words all of sony's movies can come to the video marketplace, making HD content more abundent and pretty much every movie out there. Just imagine, Casino Royale in HD on the 360 marketplace. Kinda makes the format war seem pointless. I see great things from this little move. I give them props on this one. I rarely do that.
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The potential for 100,000,000 blu ray players out there can not be overlooked by ANY movie studio!
You also have the cable and satellite companies (IN EVERY HOME)with their pay per view offerings and deals with the movie studios.
NO ONE LIKES THEIR BOTTOM LINE CUT INTO! This could be the worst move Netflix ever made!
Looks like someone needs to email these companies to let them know about this blog post.
BYE BYE NETFLIX!
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@bootsielon
I know what you mean with the HDMI, but hey studies have shown and I have even seen it, 1080i and 1080p really aren't all that different to the human eye.
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"I love my xbox 360 but think that the Video Marketplace is going to bomb. While the idea is fantastic, the implementation is horrible. Finding movies using the xbox dashboard is horrid- it certainly does not seem scalable. Browsing 42 movies online is fine, but what happens when that number exceeds 100? It would only make sense if you knew exactly which movie you were searching for. If you wanted to just browse for movies, good luck. If they had something like Netflix- that would be a different story."
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/24/video-marketplace-hurting-microsoft-aware/
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There is/are lots of money to be made with over 100,000,000 blu ray players that also happen to play DVDs in the market place or 100,000,000 consoles that have a free network to take advantage of for music and movie downloads.
Microsoft can't touch that!
Forget about it if Apple and Sony continue to chum around! Apple's Music and movie downloads are earth shattering! If Sony taps this market it will absolutley be a force to be reckoned with.
All Microsoft has to show for potential is the sales of it's original xbox (24 million) and only 10 million xbox 360s. Combined for 34 million it's only one fourth of total PS2 sales over 115,000,000
and 1/3 of PS One Sales @ 102,000,000. These are numbers that gaming, movie or music companies cannot ignore!
The 360 is going nowhere just like it's predecessor who died miserably against the ps2. 24 million to ps2s 111+ million.
Sony will be the determinant in where this market goes. 220,000,000 in console sales is a great number to throw at anyone!
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You do that and have fun with the late fees.
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So a Netflix dashboard blade is unlikely to materialize.
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That information is completely false.
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This would be a great thing for Microsoft & Netflix, no doubt, but for people like me who no longer support Netflix -- it's not so good. Maybe Sony will get with Blockbuster... never know.
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Companies have done great on a product, and then on latter products flopped. Sega anyone?
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Sony has sold 240,000,000+ consoles and handhelds!
Microsoft 33,000,000 ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!
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What ALL of you have missed is that Netflix is not in a partnership with Microsoft. The FOUNDER of Netflix (who is a smart guy) - joined the board of Microsoft. All that means is that he is there to help guide the company with a collection of his peers. Look around at some of the board of directors at any large tech company and you'll be astounded at the cross pollination...
Most likely he is joining the board due to his media distribution experience - and experience dealing with the studios.
Netflix already does digital distribution via their site. I recently watched Jackass... Maybe its a beta feature - but a buddy definitely has his account with access to it. (Mine doesn't as I do the 4 dvd's a month plan).
Anyway - all I hope is that Netflix starts doing games.
-Hundo
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