Washington, D.C. (November 4, 2008) -- Roku, the $99 set-top that that can deliver Netflix movies streamed from the Internet to your TV screen, says it will offer high-def programs by year's end.
The company made the disclosure yesterday at a Roku online readers forum following news that Microsoft's XBox 360 is now offering Netflix in high-def.
The 5"-by-5" Roku set-top can connect to the TV via an Ethernet port through a variety of connections including HDMI, component video or even S-Video. The box also can be connected wirelessly to the Net using a Wi-Fi feature. However, as of now, the Netflix 'Net TV' service only includes standard-def titles.
A Roku administrator said at the readers forum that the HD upgrade will come later this year in a software update. But he added that the Netflix movies will play at a lower bit-rate than on the XBox, meaning the picture quality will not be as good.
That's not good news for high-def purists who have already judged the XBox picture quality as sub-par to the Blu-ray high-def disc.
However, the addition of high-def video to Netflix services on Roku and the XBox likely means that Netflix will also soon be available in HD on TiVo boxes as well as other set-tops the company will partner in.
This should allow Netflix to compete more effectively with Apple TV and Vudu in the Net TV category; both Apple TV and Vudu offer high-def programs.
Comment on this article!
The company made the disclosure yesterday at a Roku online readers forum following news that Microsoft's XBox 360 is now offering Netflix in high-def.
The 5"-by-5" Roku set-top can connect to the TV via an Ethernet port through a variety of connections including HDMI, component video or even S-Video. The box also can be connected wirelessly to the Net using a Wi-Fi feature. However, as of now, the Netflix 'Net TV' service only includes standard-def titles.
A Roku administrator said at the readers forum that the HD upgrade will come later this year in a software update. But he added that the Netflix movies will play at a lower bit-rate than on the XBox, meaning the picture quality will not be as good.
That's not good news for high-def purists who have already judged the XBox picture quality as sub-par to the Blu-ray high-def disc.
However, the addition of high-def video to Netflix services on Roku and the XBox likely means that Netflix will also soon be available in HD on TiVo boxes as well as other set-tops the company will partner in.
This should allow Netflix to compete more effectively with Apple TV and Vudu in the Net TV category; both Apple TV and Vudu offer high-def programs.
Comment on this article!
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