As we noted yesterday, Netflix has just released its long-awaited iPhone app.
The app, which is free for Netflix subscribers (subscriptions start at $8.99 per month), works with iPhones or iPod touch devices running iOS 3.1.3 or later.
Like its iPad app, Netflix for the iPhone allows users to search for movies and TV shows as well as playing titles already in their Instant Q.
The app has not been optimized for iOS 4 or for the iPhone 4, but we expect that some of those updates may come in the future.
The app operates very similarly to both its iPad counterpart and the newest Netflix interface on Roku. It makes us curious if an iOS iTV app might not be on the horizon too.
The only real downside of the app is that like its iPad counterpart (and like the set-top box Netflix solutions), it isn’t possible to manage your DVD or Blu-ray queue from the application itself. This means you still have to use a third-party queue manager to add, browse or re-arrange the order of your physical Netflix titles. It would be really, really great to have that ability built into the official application.
All in all, we think this first release is a winner. Although I find myself spending more and more time watching video on the iPad, the iPhone experience is solid enough that it will definitely make longer trips or waits in line more enjoyable.
What do you think about Netflix for iPhone?
Check out our gallery below for a closer look at the app and our thoughts on its features.
Home Screen
This is the home screen on the Netflix app. It shows off various releases in television, movies, genres you like and new arrivals and new additions to your queue.
Home Screen Continued
This is the home screen on the Netflix app. It shows off various releases in television, movies, genres you like and new arrivals and new additions to your queue.
Titles Like View
On the Home Screen, you're treated to a selection of "titles like X" where it shows you films similar to ones you have recently enjoyed.
I'm a big fan of King of the Hill, so the app shows me that Family Guy and Futurama -- two recent Netflix Watch Instantly additions -- are available for me to enjoy.
Genres
The Genres section is just what it sounds like. You can browse titles by genre and then watch titles or add them to your queue.
Search
Search works just as it does on the iPad app or on the recently overhauled Roku interface. This means that only Watch Instantly titles show up, so if you want a title that isn't available to Watch Instantly, you can't even find it to add to your DVD or Blu-ray queue.
Movie View
By browsing through genres or searching through titles, you can find movies or TV shows to watch. You can then start playing that movie or add it to your queue.
Rating
Netflix's rating algorithm will try to come up with a best guess for you. It's usually pretty accurate, but in this case, it underestimated my love of Gary Hustwit.
Post Rating
After you've rated a title, the stars are in yellow, not red.
Instant Q
You can scroll through your own Watch Instantly queue. Tapping on the play icon on the left will resume or start playback, while clicking on the right arrow or on the title itself will take you to a screen that offers more information and the option to select an episode if it's a television show.
Instant Q View - Television
For a TV show, you'll see the description of the series and an option to resume or start playing where you left off in the series, or to start from the beginning.
Scrolling down on this screen will show each episode in the season or seasons and how far along you have watched that episode, with the option to play or resume.
Instant Q View - Movies
Just like the regular movie view, except it's already noted that it is in your Instant Q.
Movie Playback
This is the playback screen. It's just like Netflix for iPad and similar to any other iPhone or iPad video app in how the controls are displayed: volume at the bottom, time scrubber at the top, the option to fill the full screen in the upper right.
Movie Playback Quality Shots
Just some screenshots to show off the video quality. These were taken on an iPhone 4, which the Netflix app has not been optimized to use. The quality is still very, very good.
Movie Playback Quality Shots
Just some screenshots to show off the video quality. These were taken on an iPhone 4, which the Netflix app has not been optimized to use. The quality is still very, very good.
Movie Playback Quality Shots
Just some screenshots to show off the video quality. These were taken on an iPhone 4, which the Netflix app has not been optimized to use. The quality is still very, very good.
Movie Playback Quality Shots
Just some screenshots to show off the video quality. These were taken on an iPhone 4, which the Netflix app has not been optimized to use. The quality is still very, very good.
Reviews: Blu
More About: Film, iOS, iphone, iphone apps, Movies, netflix, ONLINE VIDEO, television, video
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