Set-Top Box for Netflix Has Good Intentions, Room For Growth

Whether you use their service or not, chances are good you’ve heard of Netflix, the movies-by-mail service that allows customers to watch DVDs without ever having to talk to another human being. Using Netflix is fairly straightforward – you go online to their website, choose the movies you want to watch (in the order you want to watch them in), and then watch them as they’re mailed to your door. This service was later expanded to include streaming video online, allowing the user to watch their movies on the computer without waiting for their mailman.

Now Netflix is looking to expand the consumer’s options once more with the introduction of its own set-top box for the television. The new set-top, called “The Netflix Player by Roku,” was developed in a collaborative effort between Netflix and digital media device manufacturer (can you guess their name?) Roku. The unimaginatively named set-top box connects to the user’s television and Internet (WiFi or Ethernet), allowing the user to choose movies and TV shows they have in their Netflix queues. Getting around on the set-top box is done with an included remote control.

Make special note of what I said in that last paragraph. The Netflix Player by Roku (just rolls off the tongue) does NOT allow you to pick new movies/shows from the Netflix catalog from your TV – you only get to see the catalog. If you find yourself wanting to watch something new on your set-top, you’ll first need to hop onto your computer and add it to your queue. Personally, I stopped caring about this new set-top box the moment I read that. How come?

If a new product is on the market that provides a preexisting service on a new piece of hardware, it SHOULD NOT require me to continue using the old piece of hardware to make it worthwhile. Letting me see their catalog of movies on the TV but not be able to choose those movies from the TV is cruel.

But I’m hopeful. It’s not unreasonable to assume that Netflix will include more accessibility through their Netflix Player by Roku (are you tired of the name yet?) as time goes on. It’d be wise to do so, too, as Netflix is moving into some choppy waters.

The TV-via-Internet-on-TV experiment has been attempted before. Akimbo and Apple TV both failed to capture the public’s attention. But Netflix has the unique advantage of having a large group of existing customers and a HUGE library of titles available through the Netflix Player by Roku (gag), suggesting that this introduction to streaming media to your TV could be a win for Netflix.

If you’re an existing Netflix user, I’d recommend looking into this new service. The set-top box is $99.99, and the service is free so long as your current subscription already includes the streaming service on their site (and most likely does).

If you’re not a Netflix customer, I’d have to venture a guess and say that this new service won’t be what finally wins you over. At least not yet. Keep an eye out for improvements, though. When Netflix wises up and begins allowing you to add new items to your queue on their Netflix Player by Roku (omg change the name already!), this will become a far more palatable entertainment option.

Sources:
Technewsworld.com
Arstechnica.com