It’s been a long time coming but the Netflix App for the iPhone, out this week is bound to cause something of a stir in the US.
First off it’s free, secondly it works with both 3G and WiFi and naturally it gives streaming access to the Netflix online service which has been taking off in the US for the past two years. Netflix has 15 million members, so there should be a download avalanche from the App Store now the Neflix app is ready. Netflix first showed the app at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference in June, when the iPhone 4 was unveiled.
It allows Netflix members even on low end starting plans at $9 a month and above, to view TV episodes and movies streamed to their iPhone or iPod touch at no additional cost. The subscription is originally for ordering DVD rentals online and receiving them in the post, with online viewings offered free. This software has also been launched by Apple this week on its new Apple TV device (see lead story in this issue).
“Apple has changed the game for mobile devices,” said Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder and chief executive officer. “We’re excited that our members can now carry Netflix around in their pockets and instantly watch movies and TV shows streamed from Netflix right to their iPhone or iPod touch.”
It’s a shame that the company has not yet gone the whole hog and produced a native app for the iPad. The iPhone app will work on the iPad but it will only address a screen size the same as the iPhone. Expect an upgrade for the iPad shortly.
Everyone in the US is saying that all you need instead of cable TV is a Netflix subscription for movies and one for popular TV programs. If Netflix keeps adding TV series, you may only need Netflix
TV episodes and movies are organized into categories based on members’ personal preferences, popular genres, new arrivals and members’ individual instant queues. Members can choose a movie or TV episode from any of the lists and just tap the Multi-Touch user interface to watch instantly or to save the title for viewing later.
Additionally, users have the option of fast-forwarding and rewinding the video stream, and stopping at any time. When users want to start watching again, the video stream starts exactly where it was stopped, even on a different Netflix enabled device.
People are going to be really surprised how easy it is to watch a 110 minute movie over the course of two days, during your breaks and travel time. It has been shown by various international research studies that long form content which can be stopped and started again rapidly becomes a favourite on a phone, despite the smaller screen.
The Netflix App supports any iPhone or iPod touch device running iOS version 3.13 or later and uses Apple’s native HTTP adaptive streaming.