If you’re a subscriber to the DVD rental-by-mail service Netflix, you probably want to get your hands on the new Roku box. This device lets you stream any of Netflix’s 10,000+ “Watch Now” movies (movies that can be watched immediately over the internet for free with your subscription) to your TV set instantly. Quantities of the device are already scarce.
A new tidbit may make the device even more attractive: With a simple software download, other services beyond Netflix will soon be able to use it, according to Forbes.
This changes the device from a nice little purchase (it’s only $99), into a potential Trojan horse for digital content in your living room. Of course, it entirely depends on what other services reach agreements to use the device. Roku would only say that other “big name” providers could bring their services to the device with a simple update.
If it’s a movie download service such as Amazon’s Unbox (which currently has a deal with TiVo to get into the living room), that could be big. It would bring recent releases along with the vast array of Netflix’s catalog films to one device.
Of course while Roku isn’t exclusively Netflix, Netflix isn’t exclusively Roku either. The company plans to release another box featuring its “Watch Now” service in conjunction with LG later this year. There’s also an intriguing rumor that the service could come to Microsoft’s Xbox 360 gaming console.
[photo: flickr/ccarlstead]
2:19 pm
Is There More to Netflix/Roku Than Meets the Eye? | Sipy said:
[...] about the intriguing Netflix/Roku deal back on May 20, but now an interesting piece on VentureBeat makes it even more (and more!) [...]
2:19 pm
VoIP Newsly, The place to be for VoIP and internet innovation said:
[...] about the intriguing Netflix/Roku deal back on May 20, but now an interesting piece on VentureBeat makes it even more (and more!) [...]
2:49 pm
Is There More to Netflix/Roku Than Meets the Eye? » Developages - Development and Technology Blog said:
[...] about the intriguing Netflix/Roku deal back on May 20, but now an interesting piece on VentureBeat makes it even more (and more!) [...]
3:20 pm
Is There More to Netflix/Roku Than Meets the Eye? said:
[...] about the intriguing Netflix/Roku deal back on May 20, but now an interesting piece on VentureBeat makes it even more (and more!) [...]
8:30 pm
Roku Netflix Box Set To Expand To Other Content Providers | Hulu, YouTube, Unbox » Web TV Wire said:
[...] Venture Beat argues, the adding of new content partners could turn the purchase of the Roku box from a cheap [...]
9:20 pm
Quicklinks: July 2, 2008 » Legion of Geek said:
[...] The digital living room: The Roku box to expand beyond Netflix. Living room Trojan horse? [...]
1:10 am
NetFlix’s New Plan: This Could Change Things said:
[...] is being described elsewhere as a “trojan horse” to get Internet-only content into folks’ living rooms, and if Roku watches their step [...]
9:46 am
The Roku box to expand beyond Netflix. Living room Trojan horse? | businessuu said:
[...] (it’s only $99), into a potential Trojan horse for digital content in your living room. [Read original] Tags: Digital Content, Dvd Rental, Forbes, Free With Your Subscription, Internet For Free, Internet [...]
11:59 am
Netflix comes to the Xbox 360. Did Microsoft just destroy the Apple TV? » VentureBeat said:
[...] device to other services beyond Netflix as well. I wrote at the time that such a move could make Roku the living room Trojan Horse, but I’m changing my stance now, the Xbox 360 is the living room trojan [...]
12:31 pm
Amazon Video on Demand: Why build one online video service, when you can build two at twice the price? » VentureBeat said:
[...] Perhaps Amazon could strike a deal with the Roku box as well which currently offers up Netflix streaming movies, but has said it is working on other partnerships. [...]
6:30 am
The Roku box to expand beyond Netflix. Living room Trojan horse? | Something about Everything said:
[...] Click to read more… [...]
12:43 am
Digital distribution red hot: LG Blu-ray player to offer Netflix streaming movies » VentureBeat said:
[...] The Roku box with Netflix is cheap ($99) and is selling well. The company has also hinted it will open the box to more services beyond Netflix in the future, though it’s not clear what those will be. The Apple TV offers a great experience and a good [...]
11:22 am
Can hi-def porn save Vudu? » VentureBeat said:
[...] has Apple significantly improved the Apple TV over the past year, Sony, Microsoft and a new player, Roku thanks to the help of Netflix’s content, have all come out to play. By “play” I mean battle to the death to control your living [...]
12:44 pm
Joost’s desktop client is toast » VentureBeat said:
[...] would also recommend that Joost tries to get on one of the living room boxes such as Roku, quick. I think Joost realizes that, hence their partnership on Yahoo’s upcoming Widget [...]
12:32 pm
Stayin’ alive: Roku to open its box » VentureBeat said:
[...] box beyond Netflix content has been known for a while. In fact, back in July I called it a “living room Trojan horse” if it could secure content deals with Amazon’s video service (at the time called [...]