After months and months of hinting and speculation, online movie and TV streaming service Netflix has now officially launched in the UK. Which means its Android app is now available for us through the Android Market, giving us a simple interface for downloading its content to our phones and tablets.
A causal glance reveals that content from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 is available through the service already, along with your usual brainless Hollywood movie nonsense. Here were are putting it through its paces a few minutes ago:
Billie Piper era Doctor Who and Pingu. That’s all the entertainment a man could ever need. You will need Android 2.2 or higher to install the Netflix app, plus a Netflix account. The UK service costs £5.99 a month for unlimited access, plus there’s currently a free one month trial on offer to test it out.
Register an account online here (it’s easier than doing on your phone), then get the app here. If you want. No pressure. It’s just quite exciting, that’s all.
Motorola’s latest flagship dual-core Android monster is a massive, original powerhouse, that’s a big improvement on previous MOTOBLUR mobiles – but still isn’t a total winner.
A slim and glamorous phone from Sony Ericsson, with the sharpest display around. It’s no powerhouse and the screen’s not the biggest out there, but we don’t mind. Because it’s cute.
LG’s first glasses-free 3D phone is a heavy, fat monster, with a clever 3D effect that works rather well. As a smartphone, though, it’s heavy and underwhelming.
A very shiny thing from Sony Ericsson, with a 3.7″ screen and Android 2.3.3 inside. But is it exciting enough to win fans in today’s spec-obsessed market? Can man live on one core alone?
INQ’s Android phone is an interesting “boutique” piece of hardware, packed with unique interface customisations that go far beyond the headline Facebook integration. We like it a lot.
MarkG
/ January 9, 2012Isn’t NetFlix just a inferior version of LoveFlim?
I mean it’s £1 more a month (Loveflim do a streaming only service for £4.99), it’s got less content, and there is no option for a disks-by-post service.
Charlie
/ January 9, 2012Who uses disks anymore?
Matt C
/ January 9, 2012Well I rent Blu-rays from LoveFilm. I wouldn’t want to be trying to download a highly compressed “HD” file via my internet connection.
MarkG
/ January 9, 2012Me for one.
I really can’t fathom people that have fallen into the HD streaming trap. It’s HD for sure, because it’s got HD resolution, but the amount of compression applied makes it a truely horrible experience.
I am not talking about just Livefilm, I am talking about PSN Movies, XBox Movies, AppleTV, NetFlix, Loveflim and everyone else. UK broadband is simply not set up for uncompressed streaming of HD content.
I watch movies on Blu-Ray by post and they look and sound stunning. If I wanted to watch grainy and barely watchable crap, I would use those hooky pirated copies that the movie industry warn me about at the cinema. Ironically, they are offering exactly the same, but trying to charge for it.
Tom
/ January 9, 2012At least Netflix do something no other streaming service offers… An Android streaming app!
Anton Gully
/ January 9, 2012https://www.lovefilm.com/signup/1?intcid=lfctasuhppp
I don’t see a £4.99 option there, but if it’s there then great. But is that for unlimited streaming? From where I’m slumped over a keyboard it looks like Netflix is looking to bury them with unlimited streaming for £5.99 per month.
Matt C
/ January 9, 2012Looks like the light use is 2 hours streaming. Price about to drop a pound down to £5
http://www.reghardware.com/2012/01/09/lovefilm_cuts_intro_price_to_battle_netflix/
MarkG
/ January 9, 2012£4.99 is unlimited streaming. There has been a TV advert running for a couple of days.
I have 2 disks at a time, unlimited amount a month and unlimited streaming from LoveFlim for £8.99 a month.
Much better than paying Sky money.
mitcoes
/ January 9, 2012Petition for PUBLIC DRIVERS to any android device in order to install whatever Android version your hardware can manage.
Feel free to improve, amend and share it
http://www.change.org/petitions/google-public-drivers-for-android-controladores-pblicos-para-android
flibblesan
/ January 10, 2012This is the most ridiculous petition ever. Also you are a spammer.