Netflix

Pay-per-title streaming video sites like Vudu and Amazon Instant Video only charge you for the films and TV programs you rent or buy. However, if you are a frequent streamer of movies or TV shows, that can get quite expensive in short order. Netflix takes a different approach -- it charges one flat rate per month for unlimited video streaming.

Netflix came into being as a DVD-by-mail service and still offers DVD/Blu-ray Disc rental subscriptions, but now is primarily a streaming video provider. In 2011, Netflix began charging extra for DVD and Blu-ray Discs, a move that earned it lots of negative press. But when considered on its own, most say that in terms of content and cost, Netflix still offers the most bang for the buck.

Netflix's library of streaming movies and TV shows is estimated at around 13,000, with reports pegging the number of HD titles at around 4,300 (including TV seasons). While Amazon Instant Video and Vudu do a pretty good job of getting movies simultaneously or shortly after their release on DVD and Blu-ray, and TV programs the day after they originally air, Netflix subscribers generally have to wait a while for new releases to reach that streaming service -- and many films never make it at all. As we noted in this blog post, licensing deals with certain cable networks can keep titles off of Netflix for as long as seven years after their release. The availability of recent movie content took a further hit in February 2012 when Starz ended its agreement with Netflix and pulled its lineup from the service. Netflix has cut deals with some independent distributors and studios -- including Miramax, for example -- to bring some higher-quality content to its viewers. However, its lineup of feature-length films includes lots of obscure titles.

That's why TV programming has become an important part of Netflix's strategy. The New York Times reports that more than half of what Netflix subscribers actually watch is TV episodes. The lineup of current-season programs is sparse, but there are lots of past seasons and classic shows. Netflix has also begun commissioning original programming. One series, produced in Norway, has already debuted. More are on the way, including a brand new season of "Arrested Development," previously canceled by Fox.

No streaming video service is as widely available via connected devices as Netflix. That includes Internet-connected Blu-ray players; TVs; TiVo digital video recorders; video-game consoles, including the PlayStation Vita portable video game console; and a host of set-top digital media players. A mobile version of the service is available for Apple, Android and Windows 7 mobile phones and tablets.

Video quality is excellent, most reviewers say, and Netflix is capable of delivering its HD content in 1080p, though that's only supported on some devices. However, Netflix will measure the quality of your Internet connection and dial down the bandwidth by reducing video quality to try to ensure a glitch-free viewing experience. Netflix also offers some content in Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound, but, again, only some consumer electronics gear is compatible.

Netflix is one of the more popular streaming video providers, so it's not surprising to find lots of feedback. Wired looks at Netflix after it split off its disc rentals into a separate subscription and assess the alternatives. ConsumerReports.org offers its take on the revamped service and provides a comparison of how Netflix stacks up to its competition. TechOfTheHub.com also offers a comparison, but provides even more detail. Netflix is also part of TNL.com's detailed analysis of which sites do the best job delivering top recent hits and popular TV programs. PCMag.com weighs in with a report on how Netflix looks and works on the Apple iPad. The New York Times looks at how content on Netflix is moving away from movies and towards TV. News, reviews and user perspectives can be read at the HackingNetflix.com blog.