The Netflix Blog

Wednesday, 16 May 2012

Updated Web Video Player

If you watch films and TV programmes streaming from Netflix on your PC or Mac, you may have noticed that we have updated our Web video player. We’ve refreshed the look of the existing features and added some new functionality.

Some of the new features include:

The size of the controls now scales, making it easier to use the player on large screens, for example if you connect your computer to your TV
Similarly, the player will scale down to smaller windows, which is useful if you want to watch something while working in another window. Also, the video now stretches to the full window in the browser
Full screen mode now has all the features of browser mode, so you can view season/episode information and change to the next episode when watching a TV programme
Pausing the video now shows more information about the title

In our new player, we’ve consolidated controls into one line. We’re also using icons instead of words. This might take a little time to get used to, but we think it will be intuitive once you start using the controls. Here’s a quick look at the key differences:

Old:

New:

Perhaps the biggest change is to the ‘Back to Browse’ option, which used to sit at the bottom right of the old control bar. We’ve moved this up to the top of the screen and to the left. It’s now an arrow icon and text will explain its functionality when you hover over the arrow with your mouse.

We hope you enjoy the new video player experience.

Thanks,

Michael Spiegelman and the Netflix Video Player team

Michael Spiegelman is director of product innovation for the Web site and Tablet at Netflix

Tuesday, 15 May 2012

Shutter Island on Netflix UK and Ireland

I love reading a good thriller. And Dennis Lehane is a master at writing such thrillers. When Shutter Island came to the big screen starring Leonardo DiCaprio, I couldn’t wait to see it. It did not disappoint! Check out Shutter Island on Netflix today if you missed the thrill of Leo as US Marshal Teddy Daniels investigating a psychiatric facility on the island, or are just excited to see it again. Netflix is the only place where you can stream Shutter Island.

Kelly Merryman, VP Content

Wednesday, 2 May 2012

Portlandia Comes Only to Netflix in the UK and Ireland

For those of you who can’t get enough of the uber cool, eco-conscious hipster lifestyle, we’re happy to bring you Portlandia: the next best alternative to booking a plane ticket to Portland, Oregon. Starting May 1st and only on Netflix in the UK and Ireland, join Fred Armisen (Saturday Night Live) and Carrie Brownstein on their many adventures in Portland -- “the place where young people go to retire.” Here’s a clip of one of my favorites: “Put a Bird On It”.

Kelly Merryman, VP Content

Wednesday, 18 April 2012

Give the gift of films (and TV series) with a Netflix Gift subscription

Why give just one DVD when you can give someone access to thousands of TV series and films? Now you can be creative and surprise your loved one, a family member or a friend, with a Netflix gift subscription at our newly released site.

The process is simple - choose from 1 to 12 months, pick the relevant theme for the occasion, personalise your message, and after a few easy steps you will be ready to email or print your gift. Gift recipients can instantly watch as many films and TV shows as they want, streamed over the internet to PC, Mac, games consoles, tablets, smartphones and many other devices.

Ideal for TV or film lovers, or anyone who enjoys good entertainment, Netflix gift subscriptions are also a great idea for those who have everything. The new gift site is available now in the UK and Ireland at http://www.netflix.com/gift

Nicolas Scafuro, Product Innovation Director.

Wednesday, 11 April 2012

Netflix App for Windows Phone

Today we released an updated version of our App for Windows Phone. The new version includes several enhancements to improve your experience when enjoying Netflix on your Windows Phone, but we’re especially excited to expand Windows Phone support to Latin America, the UK and Ireland.

Netflix on Windows Phone has always been popular with our members in the US and Canada, where it has been available since November 2010. The expanded support will allow Netflix members anywhere Netflix is available to enjoy TV shows and films on a broader selection of smartphones.

In addition to support for more regions, members can now enjoy Netflix in their local language and choose alternate audio and subtitles. If you’ve used Netflix on Windows Phone before, you should notice better performance with the updated app.

Netflix members can go to the Windows Phone Marketplace, and download the Netflix App. I hope you enjoy Netflix on your Windows Phone!

Roma

Roma De is director of product management at Netflix.

Monday, 9 April 2012

Today’s Netflix Update for Xbox 360

If you’re one of our many members who instantly watch TV shows and movies streaming from Netflix with an Xbox 360, you may have noticed an update to the Netflix application on your Xbox today. The update includes a number of new features and enhancements to the Netflix experience on Xbox:

Updates:

- Skip Forward/Skip Back functions during play allow you to move through movies quickly and move between TV episodes easily

- Zoom function during play lets you enlarge letterboxed video content to full screen

- Better color contrast, making colors more vivid and black more pure.

- If you’re a member in Canada, Latin America, the UK or Ireland, we have also created more opportunities to share TV shows and movies in the connected world and for you to discover more great stuff to watch through your friends. Members that have connected with their Facebook friends on Netflix can now see what their friends have watched and rated on Netflix. In addition, we have made it easier to decide what you want to share with your Facebook friends when enjoying Netflix on your Xbox

- Single sign on with cloud profile makes it easier to enjoy Netflix on another Xbox 360, wherever you are. For example when visiting a friend’s house you can use their Xbox 360 with Netflix after signing on with your Xbox LIVE credentials

How do you get the new application?

- If you already use Netflix on your Xbox 360, you will automatically receive the new Netflix features the next time you access the application and download the update

- If you have not previously downloaded the Netflix application on Xbox 360, you can simply download it from the Xbox LIVE Apps Marketplace

A few notes:

- An Xbox LIVE Gold membership, Netflix unlimited streaming membership and a high-speed Internet connection are required to stream TV Shows and movies from Netflix on Xbox 360

- Kinect for Xbox 360 is required to use voice and gesture control

- The Netflix social features are only available to Netflix members outside the United States at this time

Chris

Chris Jaffe is Director of Product Innovation at Netflix where he leads our work on Xbox, PS3, and Wii

Wednesday, 28 March 2012

Breaking Bad, Only on Netflix

Kelly Merryman, VP Content here with some exciting news. Many of you have enjoyed watching chemistry teacher Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and his former student Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) get into all sorts of trouble as meth dealers in Seasons 1 and 2 of the multi-award winning series, Breaking Bad. Now, Netflix is the only place to watch new Seasons of Breaking Bad in the UK. Season 3 will be available starting April 1st. Don't miss it!