With Netflix coming to PlayStation 3 next month, the rumors are already flying about the service coming to the Nintendo Wii as well.

Dan Rayburn over at Streaming Media apparently has inside information that Netflix is, indeed, coming to the Nintendo Wii. He claims to also have pictures of it in action, but doesn’t want to post them in fear of getting his source in trouble.

According to his info, Nintendo originally wanted Netflix this year, but is also considering holding off until they release the supposed Wii 2 in 2010.

The “anything you can do I can do better” competition between the Sony PlayStation 3 and the Microsoft Xbox 360 for the title of ”Master Swiss Army Knife Console King Toaster Oven” continues as Sony announced their partnership with Netflix on Monday. Remember when video game consoles didn’t cost 500 dollars and just played video games? I do.

Starting next month, PS3 owners (who are also Netflix subscribers) will be able to instantly stream thousands of movies and TV shows from the Netflix catalog to through their PS3. The only stipulation with the service out of the gate, is that PS3 owners will need to have a free Netflix-provided Blu-ray disc (available from netflix.com/ps3) in their console to utilize said service. This may be something that is eventually phased out by a future firmware update, but that’s purely speculation at this point.

Sure all these “extras” are nice to have, but its getting to the point where console manufacturers are going to need their own “Jimmy Football” and a slew of infomercials to justify the cost and explain the “jack of all trades”  functionality. Geek-gate tested! Geek-gate approved! Hit the jump for the full press release.

COMING SOON: NETFLIX MEMBERS CAN INSTANTLY WATCH MOVIES AND TV EPISODES STREAMED TO TVs VIA THE PLAYSTATION®3 COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM

With Movies Streamed Instantly from Netflix, Blu-ray/DVD Playback and Downloadable Videos via the PlayStation®Network, the PlayStation 3 System Offers The Industry’s Most Comprehensive Options for Watching Movies and TV Shows

FOSTER CITY and LOS GATOS, Calif., October 26, 2009 – Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA) and Netflix, Inc. [Nasdaq: NFLX] today announced that they are joining forces to make thousands of movies and TV episodes from Netflix available to be streamed instantly to TVs via the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system. Netflix expects to begin streaming via the PS3 system next month at no additional cost to Netflix members in the United States who have a PS3 system.

Today’s announcement pairs two of the most popular and fastest growing home entertainment brands in the U.S. The PS3 system’s installed base has reached close to 9 million units in the United States, and Netflix recently reported 11.1 million U.S. subscribers as of September 30.

The partnership further solidifies the PS3 system as the most complete home entertainment hub on the market today, enabling consumers to play high-definition games, watch Blu-ray movies, listen to music, view photos, browse the Internet, and download content from PlayStation®Network − from exclusive games to blockbuster movies and popular TV shows. PS3 system owners will soon enjoy an unparalleled experience watching their favorite movies and TV shows streamed instantly from Netflix, downloading from the PlayStation Network or watching Blu-ray/DVD media. The Netflix offering expands on the entertainment experience delivered to PS3 system owners via PlayStation Network.

For only $8.99 a month, Netflix members can instantly watch unlimited movies and TV episodes streamed to their TVs and computers via Netflix ready devices such as the PS3 system and can receive unlimited DVDs delivered quickly to their homes.

“The PlayStation 3 system has always been about more than just gaming, and it will soon be the only platform in the industry to offer consumers such a variety of convenient options for enjoying movies and TV shows,” said Jack Tretton, president and CEO, SCEA. “Whether you want to watch content on Blu-ray disc and DVD, download it from the PlayStation Network’s video delivery service, or stream videos instantly from Netflix, the PS3 system is the only solution that offers it all.”

“As instantly watching movies and TV episodes streamed from Netflix becomes an increasingly popular way to enjoy the Netflix service, our goal is to rapidly expand the devices that stream to our members,” said Netflix CEO and co-founder Reed Hastings. “As a leading game console and Blu-ray disc player, bringing Netflix to the PS3 system is a real win for both Netflix members and PS3 system owners.”
Initially, watching movies instantly streamed from Netflix via the PS3 system will be enabled by a free, instant streaming Blu-ray disc that is being made available to all Netflix members. The free instant streaming disc leverages Blu-ray’s BD-Live™ technology to access the Internet and activate the Netflix user interface on the PS3 system, which must be online via Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

Netflix members simply slide the disc into their PS3 systems to reveal movies and TV episodes that can be watched instantly. These titles are conveniently organized into a variety of categories based on members’ personal preferences, popular genres, new arrivals and members’ individual instant Queues. Members can use the Netflix Web site or navigate directly on their PS3 systems to add movies and TV shows to their Queues. With the PS3 system’s Wireless Controller, members can choose a movie to watch from their instant Queues or just play directly from any of the lists. They also have the ability to read synopses and rate movies. In addition, they have the option of fast-forwarding and rewinding the video stream via the Wireless Controller.

Netflix members and PS3 system owners can now reserve a free instant streaming disc for PS3 systems by going to www.netflix.com/ps3. Upon availability, the instant streaming disc will be delivered for free by first-class mail, generally one business day after members request it.

As the latter half of Keenan and Kel would undoubtedly say in this situation- Awww, here it goes.

Tomorrow is the official launch of Microsoft’s NXE, a new firmware upgrade for the Xbox 360 that will change a lot of things regarding the ways the 360 operates. If you haven’t already heard, the Xbox 360 will also be able to stream Netflix films, which isn’t anything new to those of you with an internet connection and access to Google, but this is the first time it will be in HD. Sony, not being one for fair game when it comes to video services on demand, has decided that they’re going to take the low road- and remove Sony’s Columbia Pictures films from Netflix. This means that you won’t be able to stream Sony films from Netflix, that is, if Sony has their way. Hit the jump for my take on this.

If you ask me, Sony’s being super childish in this whole ordeal, and to not allow their films on Netflix, which affects MORE than just 360 users, just so that 360 owners can’t stream their films is just stupid. It’s not as if anyone is going to move to the PS3 because the 360 won’t allow them to stream Casino Royale from Netfli- well, maybe. Hmm. Bad example. Uhh- no one will move to the PS3 to stream Are We There Yet? Yeah, that’s better. But really- just put the films back on. If people can’t find a movie, they usually just move on to another film. Sony, a wise man gave me some words of advice that I’d like to pass on to you in this whole ordeal- Suck it up, cupcake.

Source: Xbox-Scene

I’ve been biting my nails, waiting and wondering when the deal announced at E3 between Netflix and Microsoft’s Xbox Live is actually going to start.  Well in the the “New-Instantly on your TV” tab on the Netflix website there’s a little picture of an Xbox 360 that says, “Beginning late fall 2008.”  What’s late fall mean?  My guess is November, since December has GOT to be a winter month (it has Christmas in it.)

Some other details straight from the source may surprise you.  The good is there’s no limit to how many instantly watchable movies you can view in a month and all you need is an internet connection, the 9 dollar, “1 rental at a time” Netflix membership, and an Xbox Live membership.

The bad is that that Xbox Live membership must be Gold and you can’t instantly watch every movie in Netflix’s 100,000 title library.  The instantly selectable Library’s more around 12,000 deep, but I did see some good stuff in there, such as The Office and Dexter.   And, listen, I did the math and at 2 hours a dvd you have enough instant movies to last you 3 years if you did nothing but watch movies and not sleep.

If you’re reading this and you don’t own an Xbox 360 (for shame!) you can pick up the The LG BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player (Available fall 2008) and the little, cutesy Netflix player by Roku which retails for 100 bucks.

The Internet and mailbox movie delivery super-service known as Netflix, having seen a “clear signal from the industry” has decided to stop purchasing HD-DVDs and will exclusively support Blu-Ray.

Netflix plans to phase out their remaining stock of HD-DVDs by the end of the year. Ted Sarandos, chief content officer for Netflix, had this to say about the situation:

“The prolonged period of competition between two formats has prevented clear communication to the consumer regarding the richness of the high-def experience versus standard definition. We’re now at the point where the industry can pursue the migration to a single format, bring clarity to the consumer and accelerate the adoption of high-def. Going forward, we expect that all of the studios will publish in the Blu-ray format and that the price points of high-def DVD players will come down significantly. These factors could well lead to another decade of disc-based movie watching as the consumer’s preferred means.”

Even though only a very small percentage of people even rent hi-def movies in the first place, a majority of those rentals are Blu-Ray. Personally, I don’t think this is really that clear of an indicator that Blu-Ray is better, or even preferred over HD-DVD.

What I think is going on is that all of these PS3 owners are sitting around with nothing to do since most of their games suck. They figure they need to get some use out of their overpriced gadget, so they rent a movie or two. Here, look at this ad while I put on my flame-retardant thong.

Okay, I don’t seriously think that, but I do think that more of this is happening than the studios realize. The masses haven’t decided on Blu-Ray. Blu-Ray just invaded your home when you bought that game console. You’ve supported Blu-Ray without actually pledging your support for Blu-Ray.

I honestly don’t care who wins the HD format war. I think both sides are trying too hard to shove the “next generation” down our throats, and I’m content to just watch DVDs until they start showing movies directly to my brain.

Source: Netflix

According to a pre-CES press release, Netflix is working with electronics giant LG to produce a set-top box capable of receiving rented movies over the internet. Console support for the company’s direct download service may not be far behind.

Netflix already allows subscribers to stream a selection of films to their computer screens at no extra cost. The new product would work under the same principal, except that rentals can now be watched on that old standby of the living room entertainment center — the TV. That, of course, means that a wider group of consumers would actually take advantage of the company’s video-on-demand.

The partnership with LG also means that the new unit may play both next-generation disc formats (HD-DVD and Blu-ray) in addition to streaming films.

That doesn’t necessarily imply neutrality in the war, though, as Netflix’s CEO Reed Hastings has expressed interest in getting all “buddy-buddy” with other manufacturers, console-makers included. Considering that Microsoft already has the beginnings of a rental service in place on the Xbox Live Marketplace, and Sony’s had trouble getting any kind of real media distribution off the ground, the latter would seem to be a more beneficial choice.

On the other hand, Hastings is a member of Microsoft’s board and their extensive library of titles could further bolster the existing offerings. With rumors of Bill Gates making a big Xbox-related announcement at CES, we can’t help but wonder if this is in any way related.

That’s not to mention Sony’s preference for doing things “their own way” when it comes to format and distribution.

Lacking a storage device to help cache large video files, Nintendo’s Wii is likely out of the question (though Netflix’s streaming leaves no permanent copy of a film on a user’s hard drive).

We can’t do a whole lot more beyond speculating about console tie-ins at this point, but the LG device itself is set to debut in the second half of 2008.

Gamefly, the gamer’s equivalent of Netflix, is boasting new lightening fast shipping times with the announcement of their new Pittsburgh shipping location. They are also promising more shipping locations in the future. This remedies what many felt was Gamefly’s Achilles heel: the long turn around time spent staring at your mailbox waiting for your next game of choice to arrive from their lone shipping location in California.

For anyone who has never used Gamefly or Netflix, here’s how it works:

1. You make a ranked list (or queue) of your most desired games.

2. Based on what they have in stock at that time, they send you the game or games highest on your list.

3. You play them for as long as you want and then send them back for the next ones on your list.

4. You can rearrange your list at anytime and you pay by the month.

In the end, it was having to wait upwards of a week to get a new game mailed from southern California to New York City that killed Gamefly for me. Otherwise it was an amazing service and updating your game queue with their deep library was addicting. I mean where else are you going to find a copy of Beyond Good & Evil or Pride FC for rent? Definitely not at Blockbuster.

For any previous subscribers that, like me, used the service and then strayed from the pack, they are offering two months for the price of one to lure you back. Pretty sweet deal now that I won’t grow a full beard in the time it takes me to get a new game.