Netflix VS Blockbuster

Netflix

Even before I read “Why I Am Breaking Up With Netflix” by Michael Arrington of TechCrunch, I was already seriously considering dumping Netflix. I have been a Netflix customer since their early beginning and I have always loved the service. That being said however, I do agree with most of what Michael says in his article.

For instance, when I return more than 4 or 5 movies in a month, I start seeing delays in shipments for my next in queue movie selections. Suddenly Netflix will receive movies I sent back to them a day or so later than usual. If they do receive my movies on time, it will take an extra day or so to send my next movie out. What bothers me even more than that, is the delays in getting the newly released movies which are on top of my queue. All of the new releases in my queue either read “Short wait” or “Long wait.”

From my understanding, they set newer customers to a higher priority for new releases so that they always get them first. Customers who are loyal get sent to the back-burner. While I do understand that getting new business is key to success, I do feel like it’s unfair to the customers who have helped Netflix get where they are today.

All that being said, I have never had a customer support problem with Netflix. Even though a few movies over the years have been lost in the mail, once I report them missing on their site my next movie automatically gets shipped out with no questions asked.

Blockbuster

I had never tried Blockbuster’s service which competes with Netflix, but I recently felt more and more inclined to try it. Blockbuster now allows customers to return movies which they received in the mail, at their local store. When you return a movie, you get to rent another one for free from the store, and Blockbuster will also send you the next movie in your queue as well. Recently they have started allowing video game rentals too, so you can pickup a game in-store instead of a movie - which is just another plus for being a Blockbuster customer.

However, Blockbuster has three big disadvantages as or right now. 1: What Blockbuster doesn’t have yet is the community support that Netflix has. Tools like Netflix Freak for OS X make life easier, and there are a lot more apps around for both Windows and Mac. 2: Netflix still has a much much deeper selection of movies than Blockbuster has ever had. 3: Netflix seems to be quicker to bring in next gen DVD movies(HD-DVD/Blu-Ray), and has a larger selection. Also, Netflix will automatically switch the movies in your queue to your preffered next-gen DVD format automatically.

Knowing all this I signed up for their 2 week free trial and decided to give them a chance. How are their distribution centers? As quick as netflix? How about new release delays? Coming up: My thoughts on Blockbuster’s service compared to Netflix.

Microsoft Xbox 360 to digitally deliver TV shows and movies to Gamers

Microsoft Press Release:

Xbox 360 Teams With CBS, MTV Networks, Paramount Pictures, Turner Broadcasting, UFC and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment to Digitally Deliver TV Shows and Movies to Gamers

Xbox 360 will become first gaming console to offer downloads of over 1,000 hours of TV shows such as “CSI,” “Robot Chicken” and “South Park,” and movies such as “V for Vendetta” and “Nacho Libre.”

REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 6, 2006 — Microsoft Corp. today announced agreements with CBS, MTV Networks, Paramount Pictures, Turner Broadcasting System Inc. (TBS Inc.), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment to bring an initial lineup of over 1,000 hours of hit TV shows and movies to Xbox 360™ gamers in the U.S. by the end of the year. Furthermore, Xbox 360 will be the first gaming console to bring standard and high-definition TV shows and movies via digital distribution over the Internet directly to the consumer.

Beginning Nov. 22, on its first anniversary, Xbox 360 will be the first gaming console in history to provide high-definition TV shows and movies directly to gamers in their living rooms. Xbox 360 gamers will have access to the full-length TV shows as downloads to own and movies to rent via download from the Xbox Live® network, the worldwide leader in online distribution of high-definition gaming and entertainment content. This announcement also brings with it several additional “firsts”:

“This groundbreaking announcement is a win for everyone,” said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “It connects our partners with one of the most coveted audiences in entertainment today, and provides even greater value to our Xbox Live community, allowing them to enjoy the games and entertainment they want, when they want it.”

The initial lineup of TV shows available for download to own and feature films available for download to rent will include a growing catalog of popular hits. Examples of content that will be available on the network by the end of year include the following:

• “Robot Chicken” and “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” from Adult Swim
• “CSI,” “Survivor” and “Star Trek” from CBS
• Emmy and Peabody award-winning “South Park” and “Chappelle’s Show” from COMEDY CENTRAL
• “The Real World” and “Pimp My Ride” from MTV
• “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and ”SpongeBob SquarePants” from Nickelodeon
• “Skyland” and “The Nicktoons Network Animation Festival” from Nicktoons Network
• “M:i:III,” Nacho Libre” and “Jackass: The Movie” from Paramount Pictures
• “Carpocalypse” and “Raising the Roofs” from Spike TV
• “Race Rewind” provided by NASCAR.COM
• Select episodes of the original season of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series and the “UFC: All Access” shows from the UFC
• “Breaking Bonaduce” and “Hogan Knows Best” from VH1
• “The Matrix,” “Superman Returns” and “Batman Forever” from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

Xbox 360 gamers can access Xbox Live Marketplace with a free Xbox Live Silver membership and a broadband connection. More information about the content available on Xbox Live Marketplace can be found at http://www.xbox.com/marketplaceentertainment.

Your cell phone is now your movie ticket

Waiting in long lines to buy movie tickets can be annoying. Even worse, everyone around can listen as you ask for one ticket for “Phat Girlz“.

Well, now a new service called Mobile Box Office or MBO will save you the embarrassment and the wait at the long lines. You simply pruchase your movie tickets on your mobile phone, and MBO will send you a link via a text message. You can now walk past all the lines, and go to the usher that scans the barcode on your Mobile Phone Screen, which MBO has sent to your phone via that link in the text message.

MBO was developed by a company called MobilRelay which teamed up with Emagine Entertainment. For now, Emagine Theatres(in Michigan) are the only theaters that you can purchase movie tickets by using MBO.

HD DVD movies now On Sale at Circuit City

HD Beat reports that Circuit City is selling HD-DVD movies.

This is some interesting news. Circuit City is not going to carry Toshiba’s HD DVD drive for whatever reason but an alert reader called something to our attention today. Darrin L. Wade dropped us a tip today indicating that his local Circuit City is selling a HD DVD. He found The Phantom of the Opera and The Last Samurai; both for $25.