“Netflix ‘Watch Instantly’ movie streaming for Intel-based Mac is out of beta and now available to all Netflix subscribers who own Macs,” Christian Zibreg reports for TG Daily.
“The service is now open to all Mac users who wish to try it out,” Zibreg reports. “Watch Instantly still features only a small portion of Netflix’s library, but users are promised that they will be able to stream more than 12,000 movies and TV shows by the end of the year.”
“Watch Instantly is enabled on Intel-based Macs through Microsoft’s Silverlight technology to deliver dynamic streams… Silverlight includes a platform- and browser-agnostic copy protection that prevents video stream ripping,” Zibreg reports.
“Watch Instantly is free for Netflix subscribers, but available streaming volume depends on individual subscription plans. For instance, unlimited streaming is included in plans priced at $8.99 per month and above. At this time, Watch Instantly is not supported on Apple TV,” Zibreg reports.
Full article here.
This system relies on the Microsoft Silverlight plugin. I was frustrated after installing that it wouldn’t work using Safari. I retried using Firefox and it *did* work. I watched The Illusionist. Good flic.
I have only an 786kb DSL link, which gave me only “Basic” resolution, but it was still eminently watchable. I don’t know why, if they’re releasing this for the Mac, it doesn’t seem to work with Safari.
‘Through Microsoft Silverlight turd technology’.
Never, ever, with that turd find its way on my Mac. Screw Netflix
I tried to use Silverlight to watch the olympics and after many failed attempts just couldn’t.
I haven’t tried the Netflix implementation, but I’m just very leery of Silverlight.
I wish there was an authorized, i.e. not Boxee, way to use Netflix streaming with AppleTV.
“The service is now open to all Mac users who wish to try it out,” Zibreg reports.
Um… No. Doesn’t work in my iMac G5, so “all” Mac users seems to be a stretch.
@Sundog, I’ve been using the beta and I had to jump through some hoops. Somewhere on the account page you select to enable it or something.
I too was leery of the msft software but loading Parallels was getting to be such a pain.
For me, it worked great day one. @Raymond in DC, it worked safari for me. Never used it with anything else.
I know many here don’t like Netflix but really like it. I got rid of cable television and the TVs some time back so have NetFlix is a good way to have something available when I have the time.
It is what it is. Aren’t we lucky to have more options! Their tech support is pretty good too.
My biggest complaint is the streaming part. I would rather they allow us to download and then play. Like in iTunes. Would really be great if it worked with the Apple Remote. But hey, for less than $10 / month, it can’t be beat right now. At least, not that I know of.
@xx:
“Never, ever, with that turd find its way on my Mac. Screw Netflix.”
Screw Netflix? Really? Do you even know what you’re talking about? Netflix did everything in their power to get their amazing instant watching to the Mac, so Mac users could rejoice in watching their movies anywhere, and you’re saying screw Netflix?
How about “screw Apple” for not licensing their DRM to any other company besides themselves, so companies like Netflix don’t have to go scrambling for 3rd-party alternatives from companies like Microsoft?
How about “screw Adobe” for not adding DRM to Flash until very late in the game?
But mostly, “screw Apple” for keeping their DRM just for themselves and their Apple TV product.
Instant streaming was a real technical hurdle for Netflix to accomplish, particularly for Mac users, and it was delayed for so many years because of the fact that Apple wouldn’t license their DRM to them.
You should be thankful that there’s enough Mac lovers at Netflix to bring this technology to all of us Mac users.
So “thank you Netflix”.
@Mac Bill
That is a LAME excuse.
Apple has their Fairplay DRM, but Netflix could do their DRM too.
Nothing is keeping them into developing their own DRM and publish titles with their own DRM instead of Apple.
Also applies to the comment above replacing the name Apple with MS.
After all, Real did it their way too.
The problem lies with lazy programmers and companies that think that it’s better blaming others for their problems, than doing something to fix the problem.
Netflix & Silverlight = DOA
Still no PPC support… nor will there ever be. Another sloppy journalist reporting with less ability than the average MDN reader.
Actually, aside from the occasional caching glitch, it works well.
Sorry, but the MS bashing is not cutting it here.
It’s not perfect, but it’s not bad, and does work.
How about some constructive criticism so they can make it better?
>BigmacX wrote: The problem lies with lazy programmers and companies that think that it’s better blaming others for their problems, than doing something to fix the problem.
Nah. Apple offers pretty good products and services. The problem is that its tough to compete with Apple because their customers are not just fans of the company, but fanatics. There are enough of them to make competing with Apple very difficult. Plus, they’ve gained such a lead in iPod and iTMS sales that customers are somewhat locked in to Apple’s closed system.
Take for instance the poster who wouldn’t use Netflix because it relies on Silverlight. You mentioned LAME, but pointed at the wrong poster.