End User: Earliest Xbox 360 Adopters May Not Get Netflix HD Video

The partnership with Netflix that will provide on-demand, instant streaming of video content to Xbox LIVE gold subscribers who also subscribe to one of Netflix's Unlimited Plans, is most definitely one of, if not THE coolest feature that will be unveiled next month as part of the 'New Xbox Experience,' the much anticipated UI update of the Xbox LIVE service. But unfortunately, it looks like the earliest of adopters of Microsoft's Next-Gen gaming console, myself included, may be left ever so slightly out in the cold as the NXE party kicks off on November 19th.

Yeah I know, "ever so slightly" is an odd and imprecise description, but one that longtime Xbox 360 owners have a certain understanding of. With regards to the Netflix partnership, here's the deal. Assuming no problems with insufficient broadband speeds, Xbox LIVE gold subscribers--again, with an existing Unlimited plan through Netflix--will gain access to about 10,000 or so video titles that can be instantly streamed (not downloaded) as part of the fee they pay for their existing Netflix account, using the 360 as a conduit. In addition to this it has been revealed that 360 owners will also be the first up to receive access to streamed HD content via Netflix. (others, including Tivo subscribers will get access to this later in the year and beyond) Initially this will only include about 300 HD titles. The caveat here is that this HD content will not be viewable on non HDCP-compliant (high bandwidth digital content protection) displays or through console setups utilizing non-HDCP compliant cable configurations. Yes, I hear you rummaging around for your HDTV manuals. Generally speaking though, if your Xbox 360 and HDTV are connected via a HDMI cable you are probably good to go, depending on your TV. These restrictions are designed to prevent content sharing/piracy.

Getting back to the original mention of early adopters of the Xbox 360, our problem and hence the slight chill we are feeling, is that the initial version of the 360 did not include HDMI output, only component video, which is not HDCP compliant. This should work for the standard video streams ("huzzah!"), but not for the HD content (just "ah!"). Some might wonder why we would even expect to get access to this content without a HDMI cable. Well, perhaps because the 360 offers HD content right now via the existing component cable via Xbox LIVE. Others have also said, "weren't all those initial Xbox 360s wiped out by the infamous Red Ring of Death (RRoD)?"; basically, a massive overheating issue that effected an equally massive percentage of the initial Xbox 360s produced. Well I got news for you. Those us us smart enough--or was it dumb enough?--to realize that compulsively keeping your 360 cool subverts the full-blown RRoD issue, are still using the consoles we bought back in '05. Oh yeah, and those early consoles that are as loud as a buzz saw with discs in them, are distractingly noisy simply powered up. Personally I ventilate mine behind glass, so it never over heats and is something approaching quiet. This has saved me the expense of purchasing a new console, but also cost me the RRoD and noise issue fixes and the added HDMI functionality that newer releases have provided.

Again, although it would seem that we earliest adopters are just "ever so slightly" smart enough to get by with what we have, it would also seem that we are definitely not smart enough to see where things are going. I sense an Xbox Elite in my future. Regardless of what 360 console you are on, definitely check NXE out when it launches on Nov. 19th.

Update: Since posted earlier today there has been a post on engadget that if taken at face value shows that Netflix HD content can indeed be accessed through the Xbox 360's component cable, making the the only deal breaker here a non-HDCP compliant HDTV. If true this is a big win for owners with pre-HDMI Xbox 360s. Check back for further confirmation from Microsoft prior to the launch of NXE on Nov. 19.

--Tom Milnes