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Hulu Plus, Netflix getting Kinect-enabled this Spring [Update: Video demo added!]

by Mike Schramm on Jan 5th 2011 10:10PM

Microsoft has just announced at its CES Keynote this year that both the Netflix and Hulu Plus streaming services are getting Kinect-enabled later on this Spring. Hulu Plus was announced last year as launching in "early 2011," but it sounds like you'll have to wait until Spring to see that content on your Xbox.

Kinect's program manager Ron Forbes demonstrated both services on the stage here in Las Vegas, and it looked like what you'd imagine -- both services let you flip through video and use your voice to play, pause, and select what to watch. So Spring update for the console confirmed?

Tags: hulu, hulu-plus, kinect, microsoft, netflix, xbox

Reader Comments (36)

How about Netflix for android first. Please?

I have a Kinect; I wholeheartedly appreciate it. But I can probably get through my huge Instant Queue with my controller easier.

No offense.

AvatarKinect looks cool though.

@beefbearsupreme

Yeah, I'd really like to just have Hulu Plus on my 360 instead of having to use my PS3 which has had it for a bit now. Kinect is awesome and everything but give me the cool stuff now and add the Kinect stuff later.

That cool with you, MS?

@beefbearsupreme

Nothing would be faster than just being able to say the name of the show/movie you want.

Though somehow I doubt that level of voice control will be available in this update.

Using Kinect to flip through movies will be nice. You can do it in Zune already but Netflix is so much cheaper.

@Raffi256 Yes I also prefer to wave my hand at the screen over just twitching my finger slightly or pressing a button lightly. ;)

@The angry pro consumer gaming ga

Voice control is the main draw for me. I love watching ESPN on my Xbox and just saying what I want it to do. I've been wanting this for Netflix since day one.

@The angry pro consumer gaming ga

I think voice control might be the winner on the least amount of effort needed scale even over a controller/remote. More options is good IMHO.

If they add voice search then the xbox/kinect combo will be the THE best Netflix option for people who don't like to move, at all...

I was shocked that Netflix support wasn't available for Kinect day 1 when I played around w/ my cousin's Kinect sensor. Talk about a letdown.

Oh well. Let's see how this plays out this year.

This is an exciting year for gaming in general.

@MLC

No idea why this was voted down. Watching movies with kinect was one of their biggest sales pitches from the day they announced the Natal and Netflix is the primary way people use their 360's to watch movies. It's crazy that it didn't make the cut day 1.

Spring update confirmed. Duh.

Thats great and all for american xbox owners. But what about the rest of us microsoft?

If you continue to neglect your international customers dont be surprised when sales fall.

@Darki Dreamside

I agree. Kevin Butler has feelings for Canada though.

@Darki Dreamside

Not really sure what your gripe is. Netflix and Hulu are not owned by Microsoft. If those companies are not in your country or don't have the content deals in place to allow streaming in your region, that has nothing to do with Microsoft...

xbox.... pootie tang

@Miami Prodigy Best comment ever. Seriously.

@Miami Prodigy Sa da tay!

It will be great not having to switch between inputs to move from Netflix to Hulu Plus. Yes I watch Netflix on the 360 regardless of the lower quality audio cause I love the party feature - it is like my own personal Mystery Science Theater.

What I really want is an updated UI on the 360 version. I have raged a few times scrolling through my queue looking for one movie only to accidentally bump up or down on the floating D-Pad or analogue stick to change rows and have to restart the whole process.

You wouldn't believe how frustrating that makes it for a night of drunken Netflix.

Hulu plus is FAIL. Had it for 3 weeks and then tried Netflix. OMG!

@ghostdog

I need both now.... Netflix has the superior movie catalog, especially the type I like (read: not just blockbuster films). However the TV selection on Hulu Plus far surpasses anything on Netflix and it makes the family happy. I don't think I can watch the entire Quantum Leap series and keep up to date on House MD with Netflix.

@Anticrawl
HouseMD, not so much, but you can watch all the Quantum Leap you want on Netflix!

Glad to see that their advertising at E3 with Netflix and getting my hopes up is now actually coming true. And Hulu Plus is an amazing addition to my 360.

Point taken. However I wouldn't say the TV selection "far" passes Netflix. There are SEVERAL tv shows Netflix has that Hulu Doesnt have either like 24, Nip/Tuck, law and order etc. Also Netflix HD quality is better and last but not least... No commercials on netflix. That's what made me drop Hulu after like a month. but I can understand you having both if there are some shows on Hulu you want or don't want to wait for them in the mail on Netflix. But that aside... Netflix > Hulu plus

@ghostdog

I actually do not use Hulu at all, at the moment, because, like you said, Netflix has so many shows on there already. Pretty much all of Psych and South Park are on there which could satisfy me for a very, very long time.

any word if hulu plus will require a gold account?

@karmakid yes it will, as does netflix and espn

@karmakid Yup thats good ol' xbox live for you. Smh. Hulu, Vudu, and Hulu plus don't require PS+ on PS3 though.

I'd rather not have to stand up to browse movies/shows. Plus having to start up Kinect, it's much faster for me to grab my controller or MCE remote.

@Brian you dont have to stand up to use this feature.

@b00mfargl3

I'm not seeing where that is confirmed or denied. I know technically you should be able to sit and do it, just it may not work that well plus the sensor may not be far even away from a lot of TVs to work properly. I don't have a small living room, not large either, maybe average, and I have to move my entire sectional couch just to use Kenict properly. And with my wife sitting on the couch off to the side, Kenict has issues with her face while I am trying to play.

So the Netflix interface went from being able to see a dozen movie titles on the screen at any time to 6 and now it's going to drop to 4? And this is an improvement because.... I like slowly browsing through my queue?

Please have an option to not use the kinect/netflix interface! Please!

I can't be the first person to notice Veronica Mars FTW? Good choice Joystiq!

Too bad I cancelled Netflix because they refuse to support Android or 5.1 on anything besides PS3.

How about an update to let us control the dashboard and everything else using kinect? It's nuts that we have to use kinect specific menus for it. What was the point in redesigning the dash to make it more kinect friendly if the kinect can't control it anyone.

It has to be the dumbest thing in the history of the entire world that I have to use a controller to start the kinect sports demo.

So what's the better stock market play ... NETFLIX or COINSTAR ??

Coool stuff!

Dammit, I got netflix so I didnt have to change discs or anything, know I gotta use my arm even more than with a remote, " dissatisfied sigh", alright, heres my wallet.

Breaking News

Hulu Plus, Netflix getting Kinect-enabled this Spring [Update: Video demo added!]

Reader Comments (36)

Posted: Jan 5th 2011 10:12PM Lennoko said

Posted: Jan 5th 2011 10:13PM beefbearsupreme said

Posted: Jan 5th 2011 10:21PM DelTrigger said

Posted: Jan 6th 2011 1:33PM Vcize said

Posted: Jan 5th 2011 10:16PM Raffi256 said

Posted: Jan 5th 2011 10:46PM The angry pro consumer gaming ga said

Posted: Jan 5th 2011 10:55PM ItsameMatt03 said

Posted: Jan 5th 2011 11:03PM Odog4ever said

Posted: Jan 5th 2011 10:16PM MLC said

Posted: Jan 6th 2011 1:35PM Vcize said

Posted: Jan 5th 2011 10:18PM Enosoma said

Posted: Jan 5th 2011 10:22PM Darki Dreamside said

Posted: Jan 5th 2011 10:41PM FakeKevinButler said

Posted: Jan 5th 2011 11:07PM Odog4ever said

Posted: Jan 5th 2011 10:25PM Miami Prodigy said

Posted: Jan 5th 2011 10:37PM beefbearsupreme said

Posted: Jan 6th 2011 12:20AM The Minn said

Posted: Jan 5th 2011 10:57PM Anticrawl said

Posted: Jan 5th 2011 11:26PM ghostdog said

Posted: Jan 6th 2011 12:04AM Anticrawl said

Posted: Jan 6th 2011 4:11PM MacGyver10 said

Posted: Jan 5th 2011 11:31PM TheHungryPanda said

Posted: Jan 6th 2011 9:12AM ghostdog said

Posted: Jan 6th 2011 3:58PM TheHungryPanda said

Posted: Jan 6th 2011 12:55AM karmakid said

Posted: Jan 6th 2011 3:17AM ravissimo said

Posted: Jan 6th 2011 9:06AM ghostdog said

Posted: Jan 6th 2011 10:28AM Brian said

Posted: Jan 6th 2011 1:25PM b00mfargl3 said

Posted: Jan 6th 2011 1:36PM Brian said

Posted: Jan 6th 2011 12:28PM fohf said

Posted: Jan 6th 2011 1:19PM iluvrice2 said

Posted: Jan 6th 2011 1:33PM Vcize said

Posted: Jan 8th 2011 2:45PM hiltoppers said

Posted: Jan 8th 2011 5:57PM Crockett said

Posted: Jan 9th 2011 2:09AM US 447 said

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