Netflix dominates the US online movie and TV rental market and is integrated into all sorts of devices, but isn’t officially available for Australian consumers (unless you fancy messing around with VPN and credit card details). That might change with news the company is exploring ISP deals for a potential local launch. More »
Netflix integration is one of the big selling points for the Apple TV in the US, but it isn’t an option for Australian buyers. However, you can access the streaming rentals service with a little clever hacking. More »
The Geek Tonic weblog details how to use a remote control with your Netflix Watch Now videos. The tutorial takes advantage of several tools, most notably a shareware app called Girder. This method will work if you’re desperate to add some remote control functionality to Watch Now videos, but it’s also a nice introduction to adding remote capabilities to any program. If you’re already using Windows Media Center on your Vista machine, this previously mentioned plug-in will give you the same Netflix remote functionality and more. Control Netflix Watch Now Playback with Your Remote Control [Geek Tonic]
Windows only: Manage your Netflix Queue and stream Watch Now videos directly through Windows Media Center with freeware Media Center plug-in MyNetflix. Just install, provide it with your credentials, and voilà—you can tackle all your Netflix management from the comfort of your couch. Probably the most exciting feature of this plug-in is the integration of Watch Now movies with Media Center, meaning you can stream any Watch Now movie on demand directly through Media Center without going through your browser. Unfortunately the Watch Now feature doesn’t yet work with Media Center extenders (like your Xbox 360), but the rest of the features should. MyNetflix is freeware, Vista Media Center only. SageTV users can get similar functionality from this plug-in. New Vista Media Center Plugin – MyNetflix (beta) [Anthony Park via Gizmodo]
US-centric: Firefox with Greasemonkey: Download Netflix “Watch Now” videos straight to your hard drive with the Netflix Download Links Greasemonkey script. We’ve already pointed out how to rip Netflix “Watch Now” videos to your hard drive, but fact is, the whole process is a pain in the ass. The Greasemonkey script automates a lot of the work, making it tons easier (thought it requires a bit of setup to get started)—and now that Netflix is offering unlimited “Watch Now” streaming, this script opens up a whole new world of possibility.
US-centric: Video rental service Netflix is lifting the limits on its “Watch Now” feature, allowing subscribers to watch as many hours of streaming video as they can handle. The service requires Windows with Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player 11, so it could still use improvements in terms of accessibility, but in all it’s a move that may make a lot of users happy while fending off potential competitors like Apple. And while you’re taking advantage of that unlimited viewing, here’s how to rip “Watch Now” videos to your hard drive.
Netflix Watch Now [via Yahoo News]The Geek Tonic weblog points out a lesser-known Netflix feature that allows you to put your account on hold for up to 90 days, during which you won’t be charged for your subscription and you can continue managing your queue. The account hold feature is a great way to save a few bucks when you’re about to head on an extended vacation or you know you’ll be too busy to really use you account. It’s also a good way to decide whether or not you’re getting your 15 bucks’ worth in the first place if you’ve considered canceling your account.
Netflix Account Hold [Netflix via BrentEvans]
