Netflix is showing off a new version of their browser-based "watch now" feature at the Mix '07 conference in Las Vegas. By building the new feature with Microsoft Silverlight, Netflix has expanded the feature set, as well as building compatibility for alternate browser like Firefox, and operating systems like Mac OS X.Basically, the program transforms your browser window into a complete movie-viewing interface with DVD-like functionality. You can:
- Fast forward and rewind
- Browse by chapter
- Double-click to make the movie play in full-screen
- Add movies to your Netflix Queue
- Rate movies
- Find similar movies through Netflix
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-01-2007 @ 4:31PM
cckrobinson said...
Will this new version work on Firefox via Linux?
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5-02-2007 @ 8:47AM
Judy said...
I just tried this over the weekend and it works great. I stumbled upon it while picking my movies and I plan to take my old computer and set it up to the A/V connections on my LCD TV - I'll get the best of both worlds since the old system will be able to handle the streaming even if it could not handle playing DVDs very well - streaming doesn't require the same amount or type of resources.
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5-02-2007 @ 10:52AM
Media Glutton said...
Gotta say, NetFlix hit an absolute home run with this capability. Even though the selection of movies is very, very limited right now, I've been downing some very excellent documentaries in the past month (you're allowed to watch the equivalent amount of hours as you pay per month, i.e. $17.95/mo plan = 18 hours of OnDemand service). I can't say enough good about it. The interface is great (besides lack of Firefox support) and the speed and fast-forward-rewind abilities work swimmingly. If NetFlix adds the entirety of its DVD collection to this service, I'd say they're going to pick up a huge amount of new subscribers.
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5-02-2007 @ 3:51PM
Samuel McConnell said...
Hm. I can't do it on my Mac...
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5-03-2007 @ 7:51AM
Chris said...
"Hm. I can't do it on my Mac..."
That's because the "new and improved 'watch now'" that is cross-platform compatible is not yet available. The current Watch Now implementation is Windows/Internet Explorer only currently. The 2nd and 3rd posters above were using this old Watch Now version. Who knows when the new version will be available?
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