Crazy Rumor? Netflix On Your Zune

[David Tucker]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://t03.us/2009/04/netflix-coming-to-zune/' target='_blank'>http://t03.us/2009/04/netflix-coming-to-zune/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"VolvoShine: @HeathWhiteaker If I said </em><strong>N</strong><em>othing </em><strong>E</strong><em>veryone </em><strong>T</strong><em>hinks, </em><strong>F</strong><em>udge </em><strong>L</strong><em>ets </em><strong>I</strong><em>gnore his e</em><strong>X</strong><em>tra tweets. Thats All I can say for now"</em></p><p><em></em><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/zt/auto/1239155299.usr307.jpg" /></p><p>There's all sorts of rumors flying around about the Zune right now. Keep in mind that there is absolutely no official word about this. <a href="http://t03.us/2009/04/netflix-coming-to-zune/" target="_blank"> Cruleworld's Lifestream spotted this one</a> and its definitely a big deal if its true. Without coming out and saying it directly, <a href="http://twitter.com/volvoshine/status/1471875437" target="_blank">Volvoshine has indicated </a>that we should expect to see Netflix come to the Zune.</p><p>This is something that I would really want to see happen so I will say I am very excited if this is true. I think video subscription is key for the Zune. With that said I'm not sure what this would actually mean. Netflix streaming via Zune software doesn't make that much sense. If I'm at my computer then I could just stream via Netflix anyway.</p><p>Now could this mean that the next iteration of Zune software will allow streaming of Netflix via a WiFi connection? That seems to at least make more sense as an option. The only other way to get video onto the Zune would be via downloading it and Netflix has no current service like that. That would be my preference since that would let me watch video when I don't have a net connection but the potential to have Netflix streamed to the Zune itself could be a killer feature.</p><p>I don't know what this means but I can't wait to find out!</p>

[inteller]

oh boy...widescreen movies on a full screen device.

[David Tucker]

That is better than the alternative of no movies ;)

[Phillip Dyson]

A non-streaming solution would make more sense. How many Wifi networks out there are actually friendly the Zune? McDonalds and what else? Since I don't hang out in McDs it give me no benefit.

Perhaps the ability to load movies on my device like music.

[David Tucker]

I'd love for that to be the case but my thought on that is simply that Netflix has no service anything like that. If Netflix were to come to the Zune, they would have to make it possible to sign onto more networks than is possible now. Like...all of them.

[inteller]

That is better than the alternative of no movies ;)


no I can watch movies today....only problem is it looks like crap when you letterbox a movie on an already small screen. SD TV series off of DVDs look great though.

[USArcher]

I'm not sure about this. The NetFlix application for Windows Mobile only allows you to preview movies. Eventually I imagine NetFlix will enable streaming the entire movie. So maybe this is what the rumor is based on. Considering that Zune devices are based on the core WinMo OS..I have to think it wouldn't be all that difficult to bring this to Zune. Another possiblity, is that the long rumor'd Zune VideoX service is a channel that shows up on Zune/XBox/MC/Windows Mobile devices and offers content from partners like NetFlix. I like this approach because it may streamline the development effort to get content to show up across multiple entertainment platforms.

Speaking of Zune OS, it would be an interesting move, if they release a Zune "Touch" device that was more of a MID type device....somewhere between a music/video focused Zune device and a voice focused Windows Mobile device. It shouldn't rub partners the wrong way because most PocketPC partners have either exited that product category or switched to Windows Mobile. The question is how would a product like this compete with netbooks and who would it be for.

[David Tucker]

I don't think a touch screen type device would compete with a Netbook at all. My G1 has a lot of overlapping functionality with my Mini 9 but I normally prefer to use the Mini over the G1 if its a feasible thing to do at the time ;)

[serpico]

Oh wow another thing Canadians could give two hoots about.

[Mr.X]

It may be some type of merger with the 2 companies.

[Jason Dunn]

no I can watch movies today....only problem is it looks like crap when you letterbox a movie on an already small screen. SD TV series off of DVDs look great though.

If you use the right software tool, you can zoom/crop the DVD rip to eliminate most of this problem.