Why the Netflix iPhone App Makes Me a contented Zombie [IPhone Apps]

My Netflix Instant queue is long. Very, very long. And because I’m not a quitter, I’m determined to monitor every last bit of it. Attacking it from my iPhone actually gives me a fighting chance.

Here’s a confession: I don’t own an iPad. So while the remainder of you may have been were luxuriating within the Dexter back catalog since April on 9.7 inches of portable Netflix goodness, I’ve been eying my 3GS with a combination of contempt and disappointment. However it was like getting mad at a goldfish for not learning tips on how to roll over. Different beast, different skill set.

But to be honest, even though I had an iPad, I’d still need the Netflix app on the iPhone. Watching movies on the iPhone has never been ideal. The screen’s somewhat too small, the battery drain’s often not worth it. But here’s the article: the flicks on Watch Instantly aren’t so hot anyway. Netflix gets consistently boned with delays , up to and including their take care of Paramount, Lionsgate, and MGM that kicks in next week. In need of the customarily random Starz selection and some worthy oldies, the films are almost always bunk.

But fact, the rationale my queue is so backed up isn’t movies at all. It’s the season upon season of bygone TV shows loaded on there, that I either missed the first time around or miss today. Firefly. Black Adder. Fawlty Towers. The Riches. Dollhouse. I already mentioned Dexter, which my reliably informed parents insist is a must-watch. And for the small screen experience, my iPhone is perfect. To carry and to display the type of fidelity I want for TV. And to grab bits of TV any time a possibility presents itself. On the train, the bus, while waiting according to a bag in one hand and a video playing within the other.

Here’s how Netflix streaming works on my 3GS: silky smooth over Wi-Fi, gimped over 3G. And I’m much more relieved in regards to the former than I am focused on the latter. Streaming video over 3G has always been untenable ; I’m just glad they even offer up the option. But the interface is straightforward, the video is obvious and crisp enough to make dream of retina displays, and it played back the first five twenty minutes of Futurama: Bender’s Game.

Can I fawn some more? I’d wish to once you’ve got a minute. But not pretty much Netflix on the iPhone. That’s only 1 slice of the pie. It’s been on the iPad for months. It seems like it’ll be gorgeous on Windows Phone 7 . Android can’t be far behind (right?). Then throw in WiMax and LTE speeds. Maybe a future through which studios embrace broad distribution as opposed to fight it-or Netflix pays up for earlier distribution rights, given how much cash they save streaming in preference to shipping . That’s once we can watch whatever we would like, whenever we need, wherever we would like. That’s the dream. And we’re so close.

For now, though? I’m about to head on vacation for every week. And I’m going to spend numerous it catching up with Mal Reynolds and Manuel and some serial killer my parents watch week after week. I’ll won’t must pack anything more than my phone to do it. I couldn’t try this yesterday.

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This post is tagged: app, iPhone, NetFlix, zombie