AppleInsider Staff
Netflix on Thursday rolled out a long-awaited feature to its iOS and Apple TV apps, allowing subscribers to maintain separate profiles for individual users sharing one account.
Netflix's new multi-user profile feature, as seen on Sony PlayStation 3, is also available for Apple TV and iOS.
Subscribers will be able to add up to five profiles for each account they own. Profiles will receive unique personalized suggestions based on viewing habits and ratings.
More importantly, those individual accounts will each have their own Instant Queue and Recently Watched lists. For example, parents will no longer have to share a queue with their children, or even spouses with each other, if they so choose.
Each personal profile can also be attached to a different Facebook account, allowing for personalized suggestions from that individual's friends on the social networking site.
Netflix has promised that the new user profiles will roll out to iPad, iPhone and Apple TV "over the next few days." Other devices set to receive support in the immediate future are Sony's PlayStation 3, Microsoft's Xbox 360, and newer Smart TV and Blu-ray players. Support for Nintendo Wii and Android has been promised to arrive "soon."
User profiles first began appearing on the Apple TV set-top box earlier this week as part of a test run. That roll-out coincidentally happened after the launch of a new Apple TV software beta, leading some to incorrectly assume the two were related. Current Apple TV owners will receive the feature without needing to run a pre-release beta.
Competition in the mobile streaming space is heating up, with Google's newly released $35 Chromecast dongle offering users the ability to stream content from an iPhone or Android device directly to their TV. While less fully featured than the Apple TV, the device is available at about a third of the price.
The price of a refurbished Apple TV direct from Apple also hit a new low this week, and is now available for just $75, knocking 25 percent off the cost of a new model. A new Apple TV software update, expected to arrive this fall, will also give users the ability to purchase music directly from the device.
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Charles Martin
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
Wesley Hilliard
Andrew Orr
18 Comments
Not seeing this yet, and I've literally been stalking Netflix news for weeks waiting for this feature. Life is tough with a 2 year old that loves the iPad & Netflix...and parent's that occasionally like to see something too that is not Y-rated.
What about programs two or more people watch?
Does this mean they are now limiting the number of people sharing the Netflix subscription ? I have few members that use my account across the country. I have heard Netflix is aware this happens and for now they are okay with it. Just curious if they are now implementing this process to disable this behavior.
[quote name="pmz" url="/t/158826/netflix-launches-multi-user-accounts-on-ios-apple-tv-other-platforms#post_2371978"]Not seeing this yet, and I've literally been stalking Netflix news for weeks waiting for this feature. Life is tough with a 2 year old that loves the iPad & Netflix...and parent's that occasionally like to see something too that is not Y-rated.[/quote] Nearly as bad for me living with a wife that loves chick flicks! I have to dig deep to find the Action and Sci Fi suggestions beneath all the tear filled crap! LOL
Does this mean they are now limiting the number of people sharing the Netflix subscription ?
I have few members that use my account across the country. I have heard Netflix is aware this happens and for now they are okay with it. Just curious if they are now implementing this process to disable this behavior.
LOL, that's not ok.
You can subscribe to the "Family Plan" for 11.99, if you want.