Netflix On Android

Some owners might have been irked out to find Windows Phone 7 getting its groove on with an official Netflix app before them, but after much wait, it’s finally here! However, you probably want to be just a little reserved for the moment since not all Android smartphones will be able to download the long time coming .

Specifically, if you happen to own with the HTC EVO 4G, T-Mobile G2, HTC Incredible, Google Nexus One, or the Google Nexus S, you’ll be happy to know that you can download the app right now through the Android Market. As for the rest of the bunch, it’s unknown at this point when it’ll be made available to other devices since they have to individually test each handset due to the lack of standard streaming playback features amongst Android devices.

According to Roma De, member of the app’s product team, the developers are able to provide a functional app–for now–only for Android phones that include playback support required for Netflix to run. Roma De explains that most Android devices lack standard features for playing back streaming videos. Such features are needed by the Netflix application to run on the device.
Because of the non-standard implementation of video playback features in Android phones, Netflix has to test each Android handset and create the app for handsets that do support playback. However, Netflix assures Android users that the list of supported phones will continue to grow in the next months so that the Netflix app can work in as many Android phones as there are existing.

Netflix justifies its price hike

Netflix abruptly jacked up its price for that deal by 60 percent. Now, if you want to check out one DVD-by-mail at a time, and enjoy unlimited streaming of Netflix’s 20,000 TV shows and (mostly older) movies to your computer, phone or Blu-ray player, you have to pay $16 a month instead of $10. (The price hike hits new customers immediately, and existing customers on Sept. 1.

“Why the changes? Last November, when we launched our $7.99 unlimited streaming plan, DVDs by mail was treated as a $2 add on to our unlimited streaming plan. At the time, we didn’t anticipate offering DVD only plans. Since then we have realized that there is still a very large continuing demand for DVDs both from our existing members as well as non-members. Given the long life we think DVDs by mail will have, treating DVDs as a $2 add on to our unlimited streaming plan neither makes great financial sense nor satisfies people who just want DVDs. Creating an unlimited DVDs by mail plan (no streaming) at our lowest price ever, $7.99, does make sense and will ensure a long life for our DVDs by mail offering.”