Criterion Collection on Netflix

Here is a list of the films from the Criterion Collection that are available for instant streaming on Netflix. Now to find the time.

Netflix set to stream Watch Instantly flicks to iPhone, Wii

Netflix is reportedly going to start offering its Instant Queue streaming service for the iPhone and the Wii. This makes a great value-add for the Wii, which has been on the XBOX for a while now. It’s already plugged into your TV, which is likely placed in a better spot for movie-viewing than your computer.

An Error Occurred Communicating With Netflix

I’ve been using Netflix’s Instant Queue feature on my TiVo for a few weeks. It works fairly well except for occasional stops to rebuffer, but last week I started getting this message: “An error occurred communicating with Netflix. Please try again.” I called Netflix support and they had me delete the Netflix connection from my TiVo’s “Video on Demand” menu and then connect it again, and now it works. I think what happened is that my TiVo’s IP address changed (which can happen occasionally when the device or the router restarts) and Netflix got confused.

Behind the scenes at Netflix - Boston.com

Behind the scenes at Netflix

If You Liked This, You're Sure to Love That

If You Liked This, You’re Sure to Love That

Great New York Times article about the million dollar Netflix recommendations prize. Cult movies seem to cause a big roadblock with predictions. Some people love them for no apparent reason, some people hate them when you think they wouldn’t.

Netflix Recommends

Based on movies I’ve recently added to my queue, Netflix recommends movies from the category “Movies for 8-10 Year Olds”.

Netflix: Army of Darkness

Netflix: Army of Darkness

For some reason, this was unavailable from Netflix until recently. Enqueue!

Chicago Tribune on the Long Tail of Video Rentals

Chicago Tribune on the long tail of video rentals

Give Family Members Their Own Netflix Queue

Give family members their own Netflix queue

I didn’t know about this feature until today. I kind of like DJ’ing the movies, but the idea of separate queues is clever.

Netflix Delivers 1 Billionth DVD

Netflix delivers 1 billionth DVD

Choose the News

One of these two stories is real news. The other’s from The Onion. I’ll give you the headline and the paragraph. You decide which is real.

One: Struggling Blockbuster Eliminates Rental Fees

Blockbuster, the flagging video-store giant that has recently resorted to eliminating late fees and waiving replacement fines for lost or damaged movies, announced Monday that it would also be doing away with its long-standing rental charges in an attempt to stay competitive in the ever-changing home-video business.

Two: Blockbuster gives free rentals to Netflix users

Blockbuster has launched a new promotion to attract Netflix users to its DVDs-by-mail service: give them free in-store movies. Through December 21, Netflix users can bring in the address flaps off their mailers and exchange them for a free rental at any local Blockbuster store.

Answer: one, two.

Love it or hate it movies

Love it or hate it movies

People are starting to make some neat finds in Netflix’s data.

Netflix nails it

Netflix nails it

37 Signals on a few of the ways Netflix gets user experience just right.

Netflix Rolling Roadshow

Netflix Rolling Roadshow

Free film festival featuring movies shown in the places in which they take place.

Netflix Guilt

Netflix Guilt

“City of God, the award-winning 2002 Miramax film about the slums of Rio de Janeiro, is the most expensive film I’ve never watched. By my calculation, it cost me $66. I hear it’s great.”

What Netflix Could Teach Hollywood

What Netflix Could Teach Hollywood

Good NY Times article on Netflix. I’m amazed at how effective the long tail works here.

Business 2.0: Netflix Mailers

Business 2.0: Netflix Mailers

How Netflix envelopes have changed over the years.