crowtango

A while ago, while searching for a Twitter plugin for my Vista Media Center, I stumbled across a little application that has made my Media Center even more powerful. Of course the application of which I speak is MyNetflix.

Back in January I opened up a Netflix account after they announced their Watch Now feature would offer unlimited streaming. I wrote about the service at some length and ended by saying “If Netflix moves this service into the Media Center, like Vongo and Movielink have, I believe they have a chance to corner the streaming movie market.” And it has been done! Admittedly it hasn’t been accomplished by Netflix themselves, but that really isn’t the point. The feat was accomplished by Anthony Park’s via MyNetflix and I don’t think Netflix could do it any better.

I’ve been using this software since version 2.1 and I loved it then. Every once and a while I would get an error (beta bugs) but when it worked, which was most of the time, it made me a very happy camper. A couple of weeks after I had installed version 2.1, Anthony released beta version 2.2 adding a couple of new features included search, which took this plugin over the top. Version 2.2 has since come out of beta and I can’t recommend it enough.

So why am I gushing about this app? Well for starters this program look fantastic. One thing that I can’t stand about some plugins is how damn ugly they are (live365 I’m talking to you). MyNetflix looks nearly identical to the Media Center interface, minus the moving wallpaper. Movies have cover art and full descriptions including: MPAA rating, genre, starring, user rating, and director. MyNetflix is on par with Microsoft’s own Internet TV beta in the looks category, but a little bit ahead in navigation.

Navigation is something that MyNetflix excels at. The entire interface can be easily navigated with a standard Media Center remote including search. I have a Gyration Remote which, for whatever reason, doesn’t allow me to enter text with the number pad, like my HP Media Center’s remote does. The fact that Anthony took problems like mine into account while designing the search feature is the sign of a true genius. Navigation is rather zippy as well–once the program loads–which is where MyNeflix dominates over Microsoft’s Internet TV.

If all this plugin did was allowed me to do was view my queue and add new movies to it, and looked great doing it, I would still install it, but MyNetflix doesn’t stop there. MyNetflix also allows qualifying accounts to access the Watch Now feature of Netflix from within Media Center, which is what makes this my dream app. After I set up Explorer in a usable fashion, I didn’t mind navigating Watch Now on Netflix with my Gyration remote, but now that Netflix is in my Media Center I us it twice as much.

For some time now the Media Center has been the hub of my home entertainment experience. The addition of MyNetflix has guaranteed its’ place in my home for a long to to come. There is always something worth watching on Netflix and now it’s easier then ever to find that something. If you have a Vista Media Center and a Netflix account you owe it to yourself to install this application.

On April 8, 2008 we were blessed with our first child Alyssa Ann Mullen. She was born at 6:44pm, weighing 6 pounds 10 ounces, and was 18.5 inches long.

After living with her for a couple of days now, I’m pleased to say…she’s perfect, in every single way.

I’m taking as many pictures as I can, some of the best are here.

Enjoy