the buzz log

Many believe the Xbox 360 is best system for hardcore gamers. Might it be the console of choice for movie buffs, as well?

A few months ago, the idea seemed ludicrous. The HD-DVD format (which the Xbox 360 supported) had been declared dead, buried, and obsolete. As it turns out, that may have been for the best. Starting this fall, the Xbox 360 will be able to stream films from Netflix for "free." Why the quotes? An Xbox Live Gold membership as well as a membership with Netflix is required. If you have both, over 10,000 flicks will be available to suck your time at the click of a button.

Not surprisingly the announcement inspired a swirl of activity in the Buzz. An article from PC Magazine explains that the Netflix deal will also "enable users to watch movies together through the Live Party System." This will surely make bad movies much more fun to watch. Taking in a showing of "Pluto Nash" by yourself? Unbearable. Mocking it with some online friends? Fun!

Apple TV offers a similar service that charges users per download via iTunes. VentureBeat wonders if the Netflix-Xbox 360 partnership will "render Apple TV a second-tier living room product." Indeed, if there's one thing we learned from Capitalism 101, it's that it's hard to sell something when the other guy is giving it away for free (bottled water being the exception that proves the rule).