No, it's not free, but for Netflix fans, the new Roku set-top box should be a big hit. Netflix announced that it will begin selling a $99, hardcover-book-sized device from the California startup Roku that allows people to watch more than 10,000 titles on-demand, without waiting for those mail-order DVDs. That's about ten percent of the total Netflix library - way more than you'll get from Verizon or Comcast. The selection isn't fantastic, but there are plenty of good older movies on the list. The quasi-catch is that you must have an active Netflix account to maintain access to that library. But that's obvious.
The early reviews appear to be glowing. From CrunchGear: "This is one of the most elegant and surprisingly usable dedicated devices I’ve seen in a long time. Unlike, say, the Kindle, everything here is almost perfect. As the literal incarnation of a web service, the Netflix Player by Roku is a true gem."
The Roku box is just the start. Apparently, LG also has a Netflix device in the works, and other companies are expected to enter the game, too.
Via Washington Post
Five amazing, clean technologies that will set us free, in this month's energy-focused issue. Also: how to build a better bomb detector, the robotic toys that are raising your children, a human catapult, the world's smallest arcade, and much more.


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I was curious to see how the payment worked. Is it a flat rate of $99? Do you have to possess a subscription to NetFlix? Would you have to pay per movie?
Well you have to have an Netflix Unlimited Plan which costs $8.99/mo and you also need to have high speed internet. Roku is only available to the U.S. as of now.
Here is the link:--> http://www.roku.com/netflixplayer/