Kinect-controlled Netflix available today on Xbox 360

by Ben Gilbert on Apr 14th 2011 10:55AM

It's only been 25 days since spring officially started, but it appears that Microsoft is already rolling out one of its promised spring updates -- Kinect-enabled Netflix control. That's right, folks, now you can wave your arms and speak commands directly at your Xbox when you've had enough Say Yes to the Dress for one evening.

We imagine Kinect will work in a pretty cursory capacity -- as the announcement video demonstrated -- with the release describing two options for accessing Netflix via Xbox 360: "With Xbox LIVE, take your Xbox 360 online and browse the full Netflix library to find the movie or TV show that you want, or launch Netflix from the Kinect Hub and select from one of the recommended titles using your voice and hand gestures as the remote control." Well, that sounds ... limited!

A Microsoft representative further detailed Netflix's Kinect functionality to us on the phone, saying that all Netflix films will be navigable with Kinect, but only "recommended films" through the Kinect sub-Dashboard Netflix application will be selectable. In so many words, you still have to start playing the majority of films with a controller, though all can be controlled with Kinect after they start playing.

Show full PR text

Available today, Kinect support for Netflix on Xbox LIVE delivers controller-free movies and TV shows exclusively on Xbox 360

Starting today, Kinect support for Netflix now allows consumers to instantly watch TV shows and movies streaming from Netflix with just the wave of their hand and sound of their voice. As the first console to launch streaming from Netflix in 2008 and the only device that lets you share your favorite movies and TV shows with up to seven friends in a Movie Party, Xbox is now the only place to enjoy thousands of TV shows and movies streaming from Netflix controller-free on the biggest screen in your home.

"By integrating Kinect into the Netflix experience on Xbox LIVE, we're continuing to transform the way people enjoy their favorite entertainment in the living room," said Pete Thompson, General Manager, Xbox LIVE. "Since its launch, Netflix has always been one of the most popular services on Xbox LIVE, so we are excited to deliver a brand new way to control this experience in a way that can't be found anywhere else."

The Netflix application currently offers Xbox LIVE Gold members who are also Netflix members in the United States and Canada the ability to instantly watch TV shows and movies streaming from Netflix, which contains thousands of TV shows and movies from the major networks and studios, and independent and international producers. Now, through the power of Kinect, your voice is the remote control – just say "Xbox play" to start movie night.

"Netflix continues to provide its more than 20 million members in the U.S. and Canada unparalleled convenience, selection and value," said Netflix Vice President of Corporate Communications Steve Swasey. "With thousands and thousands of titles available to watch instantly, paired with the innovation of Kinect and the power of Xbox LIVE, this is an entirely new way for Netflix members to enjoy instantly watching TV shows and movies streaming from Netflix on their TVs."

With Xbox LIVE, take your Xbox 360 online and browse the full Netflix library to find the movie or TV show that you want, or launch Netflix from the Kinect Hub and select from one of the recommended titles using your voice and hand gestures as the remote control. Even play, pause, fast forward and rewind what you're watching with the wave of your hand or the sound of your voice.

With a growing community of 30 million active members on Xbox LIVE spending more than one billion hours a month online enjoying entertainment, Xbox 360 is the only place to experience controller-free entertainment with tens of thousands of movies and TV shows in 1080p streaming, thousands of live and on-demand sports, and millions of songs – all on the biggest screen in your home shared with the people you care about most wherever they are.

Tags: kinect, microsoft, netflix, q2-2011, release-date, xbox, xbox-live

Reader Comments (73)

Wait... It didn't do that before? I thought that was the whole point with controller-less navigation. Has it been "use Kinect to navigate to Netflix, and use the controller from there" up until now?

"Well, that sounds ... limited!"

Pretty much the best synopsis of Kinect ever.

@Co only on the 360. It's pretty amazing hacked on a PC

@Digital Viking I played around with the Kinect at my sister's place over xmas. The tech seems pretty cool, but it really isn't integrated into the dashboard very well. There were way to many times where I got myself into a menu using Kinect that I could only get out of by turning on a controller. It definitely hampered the experience a bit. If MS is serious about Kinect they need to make sure the next dashboard update makes all system menus Kinect-able.

@Co...Lol, still more then a Wii will ever do fanboy.

@briscott so, not using it for the thing its made for makes it fun.

Drool...Kristen Bell. Now will the update for HULU plus have Kinect kontrol? I hope.

Now controlling netflix at a slower pace than before!

@acefondu Perhaps to start a film, but saying "Xbox Pause", "Xbox Play" for a toilet break or whatever will undoubtedly be more convenient.

@InaudibleWhisper

True...unless you have a super uncontrollable poo coming and your wailing screams of "XBox pause" just aren't registering. Whisking away with the controller and pressing pause would still work better. lol. But yeah, voice commands are cool.

@InaudibleWhisper It's still faster to just press a button.

@acefondu

Controller-free gaming is cool.

But not nearly as cool as, finally, having my video game console truly understand the meaning of, "I'M SHITTING MY PANTS! HELP ME, XBOX!!!"

That, my good sir, is truly the future of video games.

@acefondu

Yes, the controller is faster but then again you have to pick it up, find it, get it out of the cabinet or ask your wife where she hid it because you have been playing games to much.

Instead you say a command it Kinect does it. Laying down on the couch, sitting back in your favorite recliner so no need to get up etc.

@SpacePenguinBot

It's only faster if you're holding a remote or controller, and who holds one when you're watching a movie?

@Raffi256
and don't forget the damn thing turns off after 5 minutes. so you pick up the controller, hold the xbox button for 2-3 seconds, wait another 4-5 seconds for the controller to sync then you can hit pause.

@LexStewther
I like how it says at the bottom for more choices and search use your controller LOL, wait i thought i was the controller so microsofot lied gasp

@SpacePenguinBot
I will say is half ass. The good thing about it is. After a while my controller shuts off. So it is nice to at least say "Xbox pause" and it will pause. Granted, hope it hears you just fine the first time, and you don't have to keep saying it a few more times. The reason why I say this is cause I hate when someone calls me and I ahve to turn the controller and wait a few secs. I know is picky, that is just me though.

@sykane9

You can't set your Xbox controllers to stay on while the system is on? I don't honestly know, I just have a PS3 and it lets you set how long to leave controllers on idle. That's pretty dumb if you can't though. I know the Wii does the same thing and shuts the controller off without your say so. Though, with the Wii it's helpful since you're using actual disposable batteries, haha.

@acefondu Still don't understand why they didn't make it so that you can just say the name of a movie and it brings it up. Both Android's voice search and Windows Phone voice search work well enough so that you can say the name of something and it will search for it. Also Microsoft's Ford Sync technology works well enough so that you can just say the title of a song or artist and it starts playing.

If they bring that voice search tech to Kinect then it will actually be faster than using a remote control to start a movie. It takes me forever to navigate through my Netflix Instant queue.

@acefondu It has always been like that. Actually the PS3 had to update so it can shut off after a while. I know on the xbox 360 it will shut off ( to conserve energy) after 5 minutes.

Sweet, time to dust off my Kinect.

@Parapraxis I was under the impression that you were the controller, so wouldn't you have to dust off yourself?

Xbox doesn't have july plus does it? Plus I have to say about dam time.

@Doomedlion - It doesn't have Hulu Plus yet. That's also supposed to be coming in the spring.

HULU*

Seems like an odd design choice to only allow you to Kinect-select your Netflix Recommended titles. I wonder if that was a concession they had to make to Netflix to enable Kinect support, or purely a choice on their part.

Either way, I don't see myself using this to browse recommended titles. I may still use voice commands in-video though

@GB330033

How does this in video voice control work? If you got a nice sound system, its cranked up watching your favorite action movie, will kinect hear you say "Xbox Pause" anywhere lower than a shouting decibel?

@Co

Maybe it reads your lips!!! Spooooky. Now it will know you're plotting to turn it off, even if you're in the escape pod.

@Co

I imagine it works the same as all the other Kinect voice recognition. The system knows what sounds it is generating, and can wipe those out to isolate things like voice commands

@Co The kinect has its own input speakers stupid.

@GB330033 It read to me that you can use Kinect in the Netflix app but only choose recommended through the Kinect hub. If you are familar with the interface this should be okay for now.

I'd rather be able to choose the app from the Kinect hub and just navigate normally once in Netflix. But at the same time now we can avoiding loading screens by starting the Netflix app.

anyway, testing later this weekend.

@Co
A good rule of thumb: If someone else in the room would have trouble hearing you clearly, the Kinect will too. Esp if that person were to be as close to your speakers as the Kinect may be. That said, you can run the Audio tuner (set up) with a lot of background noise going to condition it to your normal "listening" conditions.

@Jack Kevorkian

What is an input speaker ...stupid?

@Jack Kevorkian

I think you are misunderstanding my question. However, given your typical comments across this site, I think you're just purposely being an asshat.

Better than nothing, I guess.

So let me get this straight... I can look at a list of the movies I want to watch. But I need to use a controller to actually WATCH them? Doesn't that defeat the purpose?

BTW, the remote that came with the launch Xbox 360s works just fine with Netflix. Just imagine, with a simple press of a button, you can effortlessly play, pause, fast forward, or rewind your movies. Yes, you can even navigate the menus! Wow, what an amazing, obviously expensive piece of future technology--wait! I can have that today? And its cheap? This remote thing just might catch on.

@SurlyDuff

Its my understanding that you can't even browse the lists of movies YOU want to watch with Kinect (AKA the Instant Queue), only the movies NETFLIX wants you to watch (Recommended For You).

The in-video/movie controls work for everything though

@SurlyDuff When the wheel was invented the car was not released the next day stupid.

@Jack Kevorkian Kinect is not the next "wheel."

@Jack Kevorkian

the wheel does not need to be reinvented

@SurlyDuff It's pretty mystifying. I though MS was separating their updates out into Spring and Fall to avoid this kind of half-assing. Kinect already existed in a weird space when it comes to navigating the dashboard. There are too many ways to back yourself into a corner where Kinect doesn't support a certain menu and you need to pick up a controller to proceed. Now it seems like they've done the same thing with Netflix.

I can understand launching a device with a few shortcomings, but I think it's better to get them all fixed in the next update instead of adding more semi-functional features. If Kinect technology is supposed to be a big part of MS going forward, they need to at least make it work with their whole interface.

@SurlyDuff it is in the sense that Apple revolutionized touch pad tech...at least from the standpoint of making it a common item. If you dont think the Kinect is a major invention then you simply are not a smart person.

MS has no interest in Kinect being solely for video games. Kinect is for global menu operation. It will be integrated in future OS and practical consumer goods you can be sure.

@SpacePenguinBot MS and Netflix made the first partnership on moving NF out of a mailbox only company why would using the MS UI as a staging ground be mystifying?

you dont have to answer that I know you dont understand the answer.

@Jack Kevorkian Kinect is only revolutionary in concept. Nothing about it in practice is practical or successful, unless you thought the Power Glove was an amazing innovation. Comparing it to the wheel, or even one of Apple's products is laughable.

@Jack Kevorkian

no one is saying the kinect isn't revolutionary. Kinect isn't the issue.

It's the interface that has just been shown to us that is the issue. If you are going to come up with a new way of controlling something that never really had any issues in the first place, that new interface has to be just as good as the old one or better. Otherwise it's a step backwards.

What I find shocking about this is that netflix is involved. In the design world there are a handful of companies that usually have great interface design and Netflix is one of them.

@eat it what are you talking about the interface? what is wrong with it? You have no concept of the interface as you have never, and probably will never, try it. Honestly most of your posts are how indescribably cheap you are so this really isn't an article for you at all.

and thats fine but youve never used the interface so with something so hands on you really need to to understand it.

@SurlyDuff I have the remote (came with the 360 Elite). It's nice. But when I need it, it's not near me. And the 360 controller turns off after a few minutes so it sucks to turn it on just to pause or fast forward/rewind a movie. So the Kinect voice and hand navigation is still good for this case. Sure, version 1.0 of Kinect Netflix has a ways to go. but it's a good start.

@Jack Kevorkian

why are you so angry? I don't see how me being smart with my money has anything to do with how kinect and netflix will work together.

User Interface design has been a huge part of my career. I think I'll trust my eyes and experience on this one.

Microsoft is going about this all wrong. Stop making interfaces that are designed for kinect and start making kinect work with interfaces that are already designed.

This has been the most disappointing part of kinect for me. I couldn't believe that I couldn't launch the kinect sports demo with the kinect because it wasn't in the kinect hub. Screw the kinect hub, just let me flip through the regular dashboard with the kinect. Didn't they say that was their whole reason for flattening it out.

So long as the thing requires special kinect only interfaces to use, it will never be what people dreamed it could be. Stop screwing around MS.

@Vcize the hub does indeed need work. So did XBL 8 years ago though.

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Kinect-controlled Netflix available today on Xbox 360

Reader Comments (73)

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 10:57AM Digital Viking said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 11:11AM Co said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 11:23AM briscott said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 12:10PM SpacePenguinBot said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 2:22PM Slight of Ham said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 2:47PM Cavall said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 10:58AM Revving Injuns said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 11:00AM acefondu said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 11:09AM InaudibleWhisper said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 11:16AM acefondu said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 12:12PM SpacePenguinBot said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 1:28PM Urethra Alfredo said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 1:33PM Machiavellian79 said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 1:46PM Raffi256 said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 2:02PM LexStewther said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 2:25PM Protege420 said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 3:21PM sykane9 said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 3:24PM acefondu said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 5:19PM cool8man said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 7:09PM sykane9 said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 11:00AM Parapraxis said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 8:29PM Lekko said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 11:00AM Doomedlion said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 11:16AM Mcmax3000 said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 11:01AM Doomedlion said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 11:07AM GB330033 said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 11:14AM Co said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 11:16AM Acosta02 said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 11:24AM GB330033 said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 11:41AM Jack Kevorkian said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 11:45AM Jack Kevorkian said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 12:57PM swooded said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 1:49PM dngrhm said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 1:56PM Co said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 11:13AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 11:17AM SurlyDuff said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 11:26AM GB330033 said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 11:42AM Jack Kevorkian said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 11:58AM SurlyDuff said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 11:59AM eat it said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 12:17PM SpacePenguinBot said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 12:18PM Jack Kevorkian said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 12:20PM Jack Kevorkian said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 12:27PM SurlyDuff said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 12:42PM eat it said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 1:42PM Jack Kevorkian said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 5:00PM onlysublime said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 5:25PM eat it said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 11:21AM Vcize said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 11:47AM Jack Kevorkian said

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