Netflix is one of the many video streaming services online that allow you to stream video on-demand from the Internet at a much lower price than you pay for cable TV. Video streaming services are very easy to use and will save you a ton of money over the long term. If you have yet to get involved with video streaming or you are looking to pick up some helpful tips the information in this article will provide you with some useful ways to get the most out of Netflix.
If you are new to Netflix, it is an online video streaming service that provides you with a 30-day free trial and after that you have unlimited access to your favorite TV shows and movies for as little as $7.99 each month. Those of you who have used Netflix may have gone through the price hike controversy which was eventually resolved but in the meantime you may have cancelled your subscription. Regardless of your level of experience with Netflix here is some useful information that will help you make the most of your video streaming experience.
Navigating the Netflix Home Page
When you establish an account with Netflix you can try the service free for 30-days before you are charged the monthly fee. Netflix will ask for your financial information upfront although they will not charge you until the 30-day expiration date. It is important to point this out in advance so you do not forget to cancel your service if you decide you no longer want it.
That said, once your account is setup you can login and access the user interface for your account. When you arrive on the home page of your account you can access shows you want watch immediately by clicking the Watch Instantly tab. You can browse movies by genre and new arrivals as well as learn how to connect your TV to Netflix.
The Just for Kids tab provides you with access to movies that kids would enjoy watching and you can browse them by characters or by genre. The Instant Queue tab also allows you to load movies that you want to watch or that your kids can watch. You can update the queue at any time with new shows and movies.
The Suggestions for You tab will provide you with a list of movies that may interest you. This list is built upon your ratings for movies you have already watched on Netflix or on your cable TV. Based on the ratings, Netflix will automatically generate a list of movies according to your interests and tastes.
If you are interested in receiving DVDs through the mail you can click on the Browse DVDs tab to access a wide selection of DVDs for an extra $7.99 per month. The plan allows you to order one DVD at a time although you are allowed to choose an unlimited amount of DVDs to place in the queue.
Using the Instant Queue
When you browse Netflix for shows and movies to watch you will be presented with a large selection of posters similar to what you see when you enter the movie theatre. If you find a movie that interests you and you do not want to watch it immediately, you can use the Instant Queue feature to save the movie for later. This can be accomplished by holding your mouse cursor over the movie poster to view the movie description. At the bottom of the description you will find a button that says Instant Queue which you can click on to save the movie for later.
Netflix Instant
You can watch Netflix movies and shows on virtually any streaming device using Netflix Instant. Using this service you can stream movies to your mobile device, PC, gaming console, media player, flat screen television, and Blu-ray player. All you have to do is follow the easy instructions provided by Netflix to enjoy your movies on the big screen or while you are on the go.
Going Mobile
You can watch Netflix movies from any mobile phone or portable device which is compatible and contains a connection to the Internet. For example, if you have an iPod Touch you can use the Netflix app to stream movies to your device. You simply access the app by clicking the App Store icon and then search for the Netflix app and download it to your device. The process will be similar for other mobile devices and allow you to watch Netflix movies while you are on the road.
Parental Controls
If you are concerned about exposing your children to inappropriate content, Netflix provides parental control settings which are included under the Account icon in the upper right hand corner of your home page. You can configure the settings to only allow access to movies that have a clean rating suitable for young children. However, when you set the parental controls they are site wide so you may have to configure more than one user account.
Netflix Silverlight
Silverlight is a Microsoft application which allows you to view multimedia applications online. Netflix uses Silverlight for its video streaming functions and applications. This means you must install Silverlight if you are using your PC to watch movies on Netflix. Silverlight is free and is available on the Microsoft download page at Microsoft.com
Netflix Streaming
It is important to mention that if you are new to video streaming or you are not receiving the quality video streaming you expected, this may be due to the Internet connection you are using. If the speed of your connection is too slow you will experience interruptions in the video or you may have trouble getting the video to play altogether. Video streaming applications require a high speed broadband connection to achieve the best results. If this is not available in your local area you can always opt to install satellite Internet which provides you with the same high speed broadband you will get with a DSL cable connection.
These are a few ways that you can enjoy your favorite movies and TV shows on Netflix at a fraction of the cost of a cable TV connection. If you have not yet considered video streaming you may want to give it a try. All that is required is the cost of a high speed Internet connection and a low monthly fee for unlimited access to home entertainment.