Just about the same. Not a big deal.
Before (2/29/12):
After (3/2/12):
Tag Archives: amazon
Netflix Without Starz
Posted by Russ Turley
on March 2, 2012
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Netflix says “One Stream for You!”
Posted by Russ Turley
on February 11, 2012
5 comments
Today I was greeted with a new message on my Roku box. While trying to watch an episode of Caprica this morning I was told by said Roku that I was trying to watch Netflix on too many devices. A quick trip into the family room revealed that the children were watching Kick Buttowski via the built-in Netflix client on the television.
Many months ago I blogged that people were having this happen to them, but I hadn’t had the problem. Later on I updated that Netflix said that it was a problem and that they were not limiting accounts to one streaming device at a time.
It appears that 1)Netflix has started limiting users to one streaming device or B)There is another problem with the Netflix service.
Have you had this problem with streaming devices? Let me know in the comments.
UPDATE: Confirmed by Netflix. “If you are on the Unlimited Streaming plan, the Unlimited Streaming + 1 DVD out-at-a-time plan or a limited streaming plan, you may watch only one device at a time.”
Netflix has effectively upped their rates again by forcing those that want to stream from more than one device (Roku, Xbox, PS3, Wii, Blu-Ray player, etc.) to get a two DVD + Streaming service for $19.98 a month. That is a 150% increase! There is currently no option to have a second streaming device without having plastic disks sent to my house to gather dust.
With antagonistic policies like these being implemented, it’s getting harder and harder to be a Netflix apologist. Now that $20 a month is the going rate to watch streaming video on more than one device, it may get easier to find credible alternatives at this price.
Backing the Wrong Horse
Posted by Russ Turley
on September 6, 2011
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If you’ve been a backer of Netflix, you’ve probably backed the wrong horse. One year ago they looked invincible. I was happily getting one DVD at a time, streaming on my two Roku units and loving life. Flash forward to today and I’ve cancelled the DVD service because of the price hike and now I will be limited to one streaming show at time. You heard that right. If the linked article is correct, and I haven’t done my due diligence in this regard, then it’s the beginning of the end.
Netflix was a service that was truly a good deal. I bought into the streaming service early even when there was little to watch. It got better and better and now apparently they think that they’re untouchable. No one has created a credible alternative at this point. I’ve read that a streaming service will be created and marketed under the Blockbuster brand, but haven’t seen the details yet. I’ve taken a look at the other alternatives and they all leave a lot to be desired. So, what does Netflix do? Bilk the consumer out of more and more money. Shame on you Netflix!
I’ve yet to see this one stream limit manifest itself at my home, but the day it does we’re going to have some seriously sad children. While there is no alternative to the Netflix streaming service right, I’m not going to stand by and be given less and less for the same price I’ve been paying. Seriously, this completely stinks of our local cable company taking away my channels at the same time raising my rate. That was the whole reason I cut the cord in the first place.
Netflix Cracks Down on Sharing: One Stream Per Customer Unless You Pay More | Stop the Cap!.
VUDU: The Other Streaming Movie Rental Service
Posted by Russ Turley
on July 26, 2011
No comments
I was reminded of the VUDU service today. VUDU is a streaming service that lets you rent or buy movies and TV shows and streams them to you. They started out life as a dedicated box you would purchase that had a portion of the movies on their service cached on the internal hard drive. The movie would start right away and then stream from there. Nowadays they are strictly a software company. On your computer you can rent movies for $2 and have access to them for 2 days. Good deal.
And here’s the best part. According to their website, you can get movies the same day that they are released on DVD. No more 28 day Netflix penalty.
And here’s the worst part. Television shows. The catalog of available television shows, especially children and family programming is anemic at best.
VUDU is built into numerous web connected devices , Blu-ray players, HDTVs, and the PS3.
So, this seems like a killer combo for streaming content: Netflix Streaming – $7.99/Mo. and VUDU for new DVD release access, a-la-carte pricing. I just need a way to get VUDU content on my TV.
Wouldn’t it be nice to see a VUDU channel on my Roku.
Netflix Alternatives
Posted by Russ Turley
on July 13, 2011
2 comments
As you read here, or on some other source, Netflix is raising their prices for the streaming and DVD combo service. They are raising it from $9.99 per month to $15.98. From the sound of their blog post on the subject, they are pretty resolute on this change.
As always, our members can easily choose to change or cancel their unlimited streaming plan, unlimited DVD plan, or both by visiting Your Account.
That sounds eerily like, “It’s my way, or the highway.”
Well, thanks to Netflix raising their prices 60% it’s going to cause people to look for alternatives to Netflix. I just resurrected my Hulu account that has sat dormant for a couple of years. I signed up for the service when it launched but didn’t find the service compelling. Now that I may be rethinking my choice of streaming video service, and the Hulu service is much more mature now, it may be a viable option. The price is the same $7.99 as Netflix and they have a large number of television shows and movies to choose from. Not as large as Netflix, but may be doable. The thing that will make it possible to switch will be the content for kids. Perusing the television shows I’m not seeing a lot of programming for children, except for Naruto.
I think Matthew Leech has a good plan for replacing the DVD portion of Netflix. I didn’t think about using those red kiosks at the grocery store. They rentals are only $1 (if you remember to return them the next day) and they have the latest DVDs there even before Amazon VOD. I’m still holding onto the idea that Amazon will bolster their streaming offerings with their Prime service as well. That along with the cheap or free shipping that comes with the service would work well for the family.
One bright spot in this whole thing is the fact that all three services, Netflix, Hulu/Hulu Plus and Amazon VOD/Prime are all services that are available on my Roku set-top box. Stay with Netflix, add Hulu Plus or dump them all. Any way I go, I’m covered. That’s refreshing not having to change out boxes and cables behind the entertainment center.
Meanwhile, I’m not making any decisions until August 31, 2011. At that time I’ll cancel the DVD service. Until that time though, I’m going to go on a DVD binge and catch up on the top 20 movies in my DVD queue.
Netflix Raising Prices 60% in September
Posted by Russ Turley
on July 12, 2011
No comments
Or, if you go back in time to the point that Netflix added streaming to the service ($7.99 then) they are effectively doubling the price for streaming and one DVD at a time.
Amazon Prime, and their one price for Prime shipping services and streaming, is starting to look more interesting. Prime is $79 per year or $6.58 per month. Assuming Amazon is aggressive in getting new streaming content this might be the place to look in the future.
In the meantime, I’ve had the same DVD at my house for roughly three weeks. Apparently the DVD service is not that important, but it was nice to have for those titles that don’t stream yet. I’m going to be sending that one back and going for the streaming only. I’ll rent new movies on Amazon VOD instead of getting them on DVD. Both services are available on the ROKU so I don’t have to choose just one.
Audible Bucks the Trend
Posted by Russ Turley
on July 11, 2011
No comments
“And the hits just keep on coming” is what I thought I would be saying when I received an email from Audible. As you may or may not know, Audible was purchased by Amazon. When I saw the words “Audible” and “affiliates” in the same email, I thought that was the next affiliate program to be discontinued.
But, the opposite is true, at least for now. Here’s the email:
Hello Russell Turley,
Governor Brown of California signed a budget on June 29, 2011 that included a piece of legislation that imposes the collection of taxes from consumers on sales by online retailers even if the online retailer has no physical presence in the state. Although many online retailers were forced to terminate their relationships with their affiliates due to the passage of this legislation, Audible.com will not be terminating its relationships with its affiliates at this time.
If new legislation is passed or circumstances change we will notify all of our California partners and publishers at that time.
If you have any questions about the Audible affiliate program please do not hesitate to contact me!
Best Regards,