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The Xbox 360, Now A True Cable Box Killer

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Re: The Xbox 360, Now A True Cable Box Killer

#21

Post by prg318 »

akanster wrote: post #6
throwaway1979 wrote: post #3

I'm very impressed by the XBox 360 top-level UI. It is now the primary channel for me to consume Netflix. That honor belonged to my Mac Mini controlled via iPad until recently. That said, there are some deep problems: 1) Charging for XBox live Gold is annoying from a customer's perspectively. I only got XBOX live Gold recently because they were giving away 5 free games. I doubt the better UX of netflix is sufficient…

RE: point #2. To be fair you should also factor in the time, effort and gas it takes to go to Redbox, wait in line to rent and return discs. All the while hoping that new release is available and not scratched up. For most of us, that extra $2 to get it from Xbox is money well spent.

Redbox is a movie rental vending machine (AFAIK there are not any stores). You don't really need to ever wait in line for it in my experience. There is a redbox at almost every drug store in my area so it's much more convenient than paying the outrageous XBL prices.

Re: The Xbox 360, Now A True Cable Box Killer

#22

Post by lloeki »

cooldeal wrote: post #8

Typical Techcrunch knee jerk cookiecutter article written in great hurry to capture Google News traffic with a grandiose title. Many of the media apps like ESPN, HBO, etc. require a Cable TV subscription to work. Microsoft is working with the Cable TV companies since getting access to content otherwise is turning into a huge mess with fragmentation. True, it can be a Cable Box killer to some extent and the new Metro…

In France, anlthough we don't have a Netflix app on the XBox, we have Canal+/CanalSat/CanalPlay apps which really brings the XBox as a cablebox contender. Added to that, there are also TF1 and M6 apps, and I expect more coming in the future. The general feeling here is that whatever Apple wants to make with the Apple TV, they will have to make it happen soon enough, else the XBox will capture a sizable part of that market.

Re: The Xbox 360, Now A True Cable Box Killer

#23

Post by mmorey »

mitchellhislop wrote: post #20
ctdonath wrote: post #9

Live sports are the key for many people. Of note: those of us who care little for sports save for the occasional definitive headliner. I'm looking for a source of top-tier Olympics 2012 coverage without having to get cable TV installed (haven't had it for the 6+ years we've been in the house, don't want to open that can of ad-filled worms, don't want to try closing that can afterwards). Any ideas/insights? An Apple T…

Looks like NBC is going to stream it all: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/

Unfortunately you have to be a cable/satellite subscriber to view NBC's online offering this year

http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2012/05/02/151797...

Re: The Xbox 360, Now A True Cable Box Killer

#24

Post by yock »

mitchellhislop wrote: post #20
ctdonath wrote: post #9

Live sports are the key for many people. Of note: those of us who care little for sports save for the occasional definitive headliner. I'm looking for a source of top-tier Olympics 2012 coverage without having to get cable TV installed (haven't had it for the 6+ years we've been in the house, don't want to open that can of ad-filled worms, don't want to try closing that can afterwards). Any ideas/insights? An Apple T…

Looks like NBC is going to stream it all: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/

Which requires that you login to their system with your credentials to your cable/satellite provider.

Re: The Xbox 360, Now A True Cable Box Killer

#25

Post by clarky07 »

While I know everyone hates techcrunch and link-bait headlines, I've used my xbox as a cable replacement for a long time, and the recent addition of Amazon prime streaming and the other things mentioned here just make it that much better.

If it could get rid of the cable reqs for ESPN and add NFL it would be perfect for me. As is it is only a slight compromise for me.

Re: The Xbox 360, Now A True Cable Box Killer

#26

Post by beersigns »

akanster wrote: post #6
throwaway1979 wrote: post #3

I'm very impressed by the XBox 360 top-level UI. It is now the primary channel for me to consume Netflix. That honor belonged to my Mac Mini controlled via iPad until recently. That said, there are some deep problems: 1) Charging for XBox live Gold is annoying from a customer's perspectively. I only got XBOX live Gold recently because they were giving away 5 free games. I doubt the better UX of netflix is sufficient…

RE: point #2. To be fair you should also factor in the time, effort and gas it takes to go to Redbox, wait in line to rent and return discs. All the while hoping that new release is available and not scratched up. For most of us, that extra $2 to get it from Xbox is money well spent.

It depends on how close you live to a Redbox or if you stumble across them during the day. I only have to walk across the street to one & as as result have started using it a lot more over premium streaming services. They tend to have'm in grocery stores and other heavily trafficked areas as well. For reference I'm in the mid-west....

Re: The Xbox 360, Now A True Cable Box Killer

#27

Post by PhrosTT »

jawngee wrote: post #5

Except for how loud it is. I prefer the Netflix UI on the xbox, but use it on AppleTV anyways just because I don't want to have to crank the volume to cover up the sound.

Yeah... still rocking my old white form factor. jet engines make movies suspenseful!

I generally love netflix but they broke the UI trying to jam kinect down my throat. I can't tell you how many times I accidentally press 'B' to make the menu go away and OOPS... full exit to the menu!

Re: The Xbox 360, Now A True Cable Box Killer

#28

Post by nitrogen »

charlieflowers wrote: post #16

Yaaaaawn. I've heard the claim MS was going to take over the living room at least 5 times before. It's never even come close to happening yet. Is there really anything meaty here that should make us think it will now?

Look where they were the first time that claim was made -- the Xbox didn't exist, and people were doubting they could possibly compete with Sony and Nintendo. Look where they are now.

Re: The Xbox 360, Now A True Cable Box Killer

#30

Post by arrakeen »

martingordon wrote: post #18

I wish the 360 had a sleep mode. I don't want to leave my console running all day, but I hate how long it takes to get it booted up and Netflix launched. OTOH, I don't mind leaving my Apple TV on all the time and time-to-video is probably under a minute. My other big gripe is a strange HDCP issue (at least I think it's HDCP) that came with the latest Dashboard update. About 85% of the time, I'll launch a Netflix vide…

my 360 slim has a sleep mode, so either this is a feature they've added in the slim update, or your console is misconfigured
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