TheBolt

Bucking from the immesnse pressure of its subscribers, Netflix has relented on creating a separate website for their mail-order DVDs and kept Netflix.com the way it was.  The separate charges, however, will remain, but the CEO has taken a step back from attempting to launch a new website.

Netflix CEO Reed hastings released the following statement, “I messed up. I owe everyone an explanation. It is clear from the feedback over the past two months that many members felt we lacked respect and humility in the way we announced the separation of DVD and streaming, and the price changes. That was certainly not our intent, and I offer my sincere apology.”

We’ll see if Netflix continues to lose or recoup customers from this public mishap.

Awhile back I wrote about the monthly changes and fees netflix had in store for its current, and future customers.  Some looked at it as a good thing, but most saw it as a horrible, penny squeezing plan.  Looks like the majority did not like the changes one bit.  The customer backlash against the higher rates, kicking in this month, has been much harsher than Netflix anticipated. That prompted management to predict Thursday that the company —the largest U.S. video subscription service— will end September with 600,000 fewer U.S. customers than it had in June.

I still kept my streaming-only account as of now, but I am continually disappointed in the seemingly dwindling selection of watchable movies.  What are your thoughts to the changes?

There’s never been a better time to take advantage of your online/streaming capable TVs or Blu-ray players.  Netflix just introduced changes to their monthly plans.  First, they are launching new DVD only plans. These plans offer the lowest prices ever for unlimited DVDs – only $7.99 a month for  1 DVD out at-a-time plan and $11.99 a month for 2 DVDs out at-a-time plan. By offering their lowest prices ever, Netflix hopes to provide great value to their current and future DVDs by mail members.  Unlimited streaming will cost $7.99 a month.

Netflix seems to be adapting themselves to provide more convenience and they have separated the plans to better reflect the costs of the separate services.  Some people are upset by the change, as the old plan of $9.99 a month for both DVDs by mail and streaming will no longer exist, but both services can be combined for a total of $15.98 a month.

I for one, have seen Netflix streaming in person at my friends house and there isn’t anything more convenient that shuffling through an on-screen library of movies, choosing one and watching it instantly.  It makes “Arnold Schwarzenegger and Beer” movie nights that much easier.

CEPro.com this week ran an article that stated 61% of all streamed movies come from NetFlix.com.  As a whole, 25% of movies watched in a home is now done through some form of streaming media.  Technology is slowly outgrowing what was once an experience of wandering down the aisles of a video store and has morphed  into a cold, calculated few clicks o fa  remote.

It’s a shock, of how quickly streaming movies have caught on.  I was a bit disheartened this weekend when I found out the video store I once worked at before I came to Abt (and was a customer even longer before that) is now closing up shop.  When I worked there I was told by the managers that,  ”if you can’t find what you are looking for here, you won’t find it anywhere”.  Boasting the largest inventory, no one in a 15 mile radius had, it made that store a key player in that chain’s dominance.

Since then, years have passed and I moved on from there, no longer an employee I would still continue my role as a customer.  As time went on, I would see the inventory of that store slowly but surely shrink.  The store’s own property was sliced due to an inflated lease at the strip mall and the woman’s clothing store next to it took over about 1/3 of the video store’s once large real estate.

While clicking and choosing a movie on your computer or TV is definitely convenient, it lacks having that unique experience of roaming the aisles of a video store, staring at hundreds of movie cover boxes, choosing one that you hope to be worth the inflated rental fee, all the while picking out that sweet or salty snack to perfect the evening.  Only time will tell how we will watch our new and favorite movies.  Until then people will slowly continue to experience at-home streaming cinema.  So,  fill up your movie queue and enjoy the show.

Hi, today I want to talk about the newest version of the Apple TV.

I have an old 40GB version and it has been very enjoyable over the years. The biggest news with the new one is that it has no storage and is streaming only. No worries about the hard drive crashing. The other plus is the Netflix capability.  If you are a Netflix subscriber, you will now be able to stream from the Apple TV to your TV, with just a simple HDMI connection.  The new product still gives you the ability to stream music and movies from your iTunes library, as well as photos, if you use iPhoto. You can also control Apple TV with an iPhone or iPod Touch and the Remote app which turns your Touch into a powerful, and reasonably priced, way to do multi-room audio.  Apple will also be coming out with an update that will allow you to stream whatever is on your phone or Ipod touch to the Apple TV.

We are now taking pre-orders for this product. I, for one, am on that list.

-Blake B.

Neflix recently reported that 61% of subscribers are now streaming instantly to their PC or TV. This number is up from 55% from the previous quarter, and up from 37% from a year ago. Online viewing has increased with the addition of the $8.99 a month plan that allows customers to take out one DVD at a time with unlimited internet streaming.

Another reason for its increase in popularity is the expansion of compatible devices. Adding the ability to stream from all Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii video game consoles has opened up the option for streaming Netflix’s online library to millions of people.  Certain online connected Blu-ray players from LG, Panasonic, Samsung, and Sony also allow users to watch netflix programming instantly.  You may also find Netflix built into LCD TVs from Sony and LG as well.

With Netlfix becoming a viable option for many people to watch TV, and Hulu just now starting to provide similar services, it’s going to be interesting in the future as more people will detach themselves from cable and satellite providers. Tell us which service you use or what you think will be the future of cable and satellite providers.

-Brian E.

Currently, cable, satellite, and Telecomm providers have more than 100 million TV subscribers even with the 800,000 customers who have left their cable providers. Alternatively, consumers are using web-based videos like Hulu, downloadable programming from web sites like iTunes, DVD subscription services like Blockbuster On-Line, and lastly, plain, old, basic cable via external antenna.

Make no mistake; the number of cable, satellite, and Telecomm subscribers dwarfs the number of those who have recently decided to opt for an alternative. It’s estimated; by the end of 2011 the 800,000 will double. As it stands those who have cut the cord, so to speak, only make up one percent of the TV viewing population.

Leaving a cable provider still has a few downfalls, even if it sounds like a seemingly good idea. There are some specialty channels only available on cable, like 24-hour cooking channels, children’s programming, and ESPN. Sure, there’s a limited number of sporting events on basic cable or on-line, likewise with cooking channels and kid-shows, like The Suite Life of Zach and Cody, but when it comes to live sports, concerts, or Monday Night Football, you will be out of luck.

Is the freedom of programming worth the cable bill? Do you think that it will force a change in cable cost? What do you think?

-Kelly B.

Neflix began streaming movies in May of 2008. They expanded to streaming on gaming systems like XBOX and then to an independent box, made just for streaming video. Could it get any better than that?  It did.  Netflix currently streams on game systems like Xbox360 & Sony’s PS3, as well as higher end television sets from Sony and LG, and blu-ray players from Sony, Samsung, and LG.

Netflix is aiming to release a Netflix option with surround sound with Blu-ray video, but will probably not be during the 2010 calendar year. Thank goodness for the Netflix Blu-ray option….

Vudu, on the other hand, does have quite a few hi-def options. They have more choices available in high definition and higher quality formats. Vudu’s technology works in select product from LG (blu-ray), Mitsubishi (HDTVs), and will be coming soon to select products from Samsung, Toshiba and Sharp.

Currently, there’s no word on the possible release of Netflix streaming with surround. We’ll keep you posted. CNET notes that 5.1 surround sound will be available for their instant watching product in 2010. No word on when 1080p video will be available, but we would assume they are working on that next.

Would you stay loyal to Netflix or switch to Vudu because they have more HD options?

-Kelly B.

Monday, Sony announced NetFlix will be available on the PS3 game console starting in November. XBox 360, rival to the PS3, already allowed users to access NetFlix—subscription only for $50 per year.

The PS3 will be able to stream movies and programming from the NetFlix online library at no charge as long as you are a NetFlix subscriber.

Temporarily, users will need to access NetFlix with a special Blu-ray disc, eventually just getting downloadable updates from the internet.

-Kelly B.

The September 2009 issue of Sound and Vision Magazine compared three Blu-ray players, all under $300. The great thing about them, they come with quite a few features that most people wouldn’t expect from a less-expensive Blu-ray player.

Blu-ray Live has expanded over the past few months bringing users more streaming and gaming opportunities. According to Sound and Vision, Blu-ray players have become media-streaming dynamos. Now they stream Netflix, CinemaNow, YouTube, and Pandora. Blu-ray, according to the magazine has really become an entertainment hub.

The three Blu-rays that were featured—the LG BD370, Panasonic DMP-BD60, and Samsung BD-P1600—all boast the features that any Blu-ray owner would look for at any price point.

Each player had advantages. Tim Steward, in the internet sales department, believes that a lot of people look for the quickest load time in a Blu-ray machine. That’s why he prefers the LG model.

Blu-rays are the first step into the future, according to Tim, they play the highest resolution movies and are moving away from actual discs altogether. He pointed out that by doing a direct download from Netflix we will one day not need discs at all.

Check out the Blu-ray buying guide at Abt.com for more information on all of the Blu-ray players that Abt carries! Click Here

-Kelly B.