After years of unofficial support, Netflix is finally coming to Windows Media Center.
When the DVD-distributing giant first announced streaming video, clever programmers were quick to create add-ins that allowed users of Media Center to view the content on their systems--apps like MyNetflix and vmcNetFlix.
But the apps were quirky, breaking whenever Netflix tweaked its interface, and requiring too much technical know-how for the average person. With this official release, Netflix brings a seamless interface, ease of use, and a consistent experience to Windows Media Center.
The new app, which uses Microsoft's Silverlight streaming video technology, should automatically show up in the menus of the millions of consumers with Windows Media Center on their PCs. Haven't installed Silverlight yet? No problem, the app will automatically guide you through the install process before taking you to the log in screen, where you can manage your DVD queue, search for videos, and select videos to stream on demand. Tragically, Media Center Extender users are left in the cold for the time being, as are users of pre-release versions of Windows 7--though we assume Microsoft will eventually port the app to the forthcoming operating system.
When the DVD-distributing giant first announced streaming video, clever programmers were quick to create add-ins that allowed users of Media Center to view the content on their systems--apps like MyNetflix and vmcNetFlix.
But the apps were quirky, breaking whenever Netflix tweaked its interface, and requiring too much technical know-how for the average person. With this official release, Netflix brings a seamless interface, ease of use, and a consistent experience to Windows Media Center.
The new app, which uses Microsoft's Silverlight streaming video technology, should automatically show up in the menus of the millions of consumers with Windows Media Center on their PCs. Haven't installed Silverlight yet? No problem, the app will automatically guide you through the install process before taking you to the log in screen, where you can manage your DVD queue, search for videos, and select videos to stream on demand. Tragically, Media Center Extender users are left in the cold for the time being, as are users of pre-release versions of Windows 7--though we assume Microsoft will eventually port the app to the forthcoming operating system.
