Microsoft to lift Gold-live requirement for new Xbox

[adam1991]

http://www.cnet.com/news/new-399-xbox-o ... ut-kinect/

So there'll be an XBox Lite that will stream Netflix without Gold, and I read another article this morning that MS is considering dropping the Gold requirement for streaming "in general".

Keeping my fingers crossed that they will indeed drop the Gold requirement for Netflix streaming, although I solved the problem a couple of years ago by adding Roku to my mix--and their new interface is pretty darned good.

BTW, Ironside fans--if you liked the four episodes they actually aired as much as I did, Roku is selling those plus five more unaired episodes. At two bucks per, I might spend the ten bucks to see those five episodes. I liked that show.

[IownFIVEechos]

This is indeed great news. My ROKUS are not good with HBO Go for some reason. May have to go back to XBOX's! I am getting tired of this stuff. Anyone else?

[mcewinter]

http://www.denofgeek.us/games/xbox-one/ ... lix-hbo-go

[Dragonfly]

The actual email (for the click averse):

At Xbox, we’re committed to continually improving the Xbox experience based on your feedback. Today we’re announcing two changes that you have asked for.

In June, we’re making Xbox Live Gold even better. Games with Gold will be coming to Xbox One, so a single Gold membership will get you free games on both Xbox One and Xbox 360. Plus, we’re introducing Deals with Gold for Xbox One which gives members exclusive discounts on games and content in the Xbox Store. With the most advanced multiplayer, Games with Gold, andDeals with Gold, Xbox Live Gold is better than ever.

Also, coming in June, all Xbox 360 and Xbox One owners will get access to popular entertainment apps, like Netflix, YouTube, Machinima, and more on Xbox without needing an Xbox Live Gold membership*. This means that everyone can enjoy the amazing gaming, TV and entertainment experiences that Xbox has to offer, right out of the box.

[TheOsburnFamil]

Now if we can just get a Plex app for xbox360s, I might actually keep 'em around!

[mdavej]

It's about time. That's always been a real head scratcher to me. Not only did they charge for several things that are free on every other platform, but people have actually been paying.

Anyway, this makes Xbox 360 much more attractive as an extender. I'm seriously considering replacing some of my Echoes with Xboxes based on this news, especially in rooms where I don't have Roku's or Smart TVs.

[newfiend]

So glad they are getting rid of the paywall for Netflix and Hulu.. that never made sense to me in the first place. I know why they did it ($) but it should have never been that way to begin with IMO. The Xbox is still the best extender I have found.

[werds]

So glad they are getting rid of the paywall for Netflix and Hulu.. that never made sense to me in the first place. I know why they did it ($) but it should have never been that way to begin with IMO. The Xbox is still the best extender I have found.

Awesome! Now if my HBO Go and Xfinity app work without paying on Xbox Live than I am golden! Simplifies many things

[barnabas1969]

The Xbox is still the best extender I have found.

I agree. Maybe I won't buy Roku's for all the bedrooms now! The Roku 3 is still the best option for the living room (where the HTPC is located and connected to the main TV), but I'll give the XBox360's a shot in the bedrooms before I go buy more Roku's. I haven't liked the Netflix interface on any Bluray player or "smart" TV that I've tried. The Roku blows them away. Hopefully, the XBox is as good or better.

[Crash2009]

I am getting tired of this stuff. Anyone else?

Me too, I am moving to the "Dark side of the Moon"

[adam1991]

http://www.cnet.com/news/new-399-xbox-o ... ut-kinect/

So there'll be an XBox Lite

I know when I wrote and posted this, I specifically wrote "XBone Lite". At the time, the article I read was specifically discussing the XBox One and nothing else.

[Haba]

I am quite happy to see Microsoft change the policy on the Xbox 360 to allow streaming apps i.e. Netflix etc. to now work without a Live Gold account. The new policy makes the Xbox 360 slim an even better Extender. Sony's PS4 success may have had something to do all the changes..

[cncb]

Wow, that's good news. Now if they would only lift the unnecessary video and audio playback limitations for local media we would really have something...

[IownFIVEechos]

Yeah perhaps in a few years we will all be saying 'XBOX WON' (patent pending)

[Ed]

For those of you with XBOX 360 extenders, the June Update that enables the use of apps for non-Gold subscribers is now live. Note, some of the apps themselves haven't been updated and so might not work still yet - Vevo and iHeartRadio are the only ones I have installed that haven't been updated (could be others, as I don't have every app installed. I also am a Gold subscriber so who knows what apps are still working for me cause of that, but wouldn't be if I had Silver). The big ones like Youtube, Netflix and HBO Go etc have been already updated though. You can just install the apps anyway and wait for the update. Happy streaming

[Moderator note: topic merged; please search before posting]

[cncb]

This is great but I guess it is a known limitation of 720P and normal DD 5.1 (not Plus) for Netflix? Any stated reason why?

[Ed]

Hmm, I was not aware of this (never bothered to check TBH). But if I had to guess, I recall reading somewhere that for the XBOX, Netflix and Microsoft had a peering agreement (where the Netflix data is routed through Microsoft's servers). Perhaps Microsoft put in this arbitrary limit to keep bandwidth down on their end?

[miracleed]

even more info:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2458970,00.asp

[adam1991]

how do I install apps?

[cncb]

You just browse to "Apps" on the main XBox dashboard, select the one you want, and then there is the option to install it.