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Hulu Plus Xbox 360 Impressions
As you probably already know, premium video streaming service Hulu Plus is finally headed toward Xbox 360 tomorrow. I got to spend some time checking out the service (watched a full episode of Modern Family) and will now share a few words with all you wonderful people about my experience.
The interface is similar to that of the 360 dashboard and if you've ever used Netflix on 360, you already know what to expect. On the left hand side you'll find a list of options including recommendations, recently added items, viewing history, search, featured videos, etc. Land on one of those options and just scroll through the panels until you hit something to your liking whether it's a movie, full episode, or video clip. Just take one glance at the main image above and you get the idea. Select a specific episode or full series and you'll have the opportunity to check out the show's overview, list of seasons available for viewing, list of episodes, related clips, and recommendations of similar programs in one tidy package. One helpful feature missing that is available in the PS3 app is the ability to access your "subscriptions." Having that handy list of favorite shows makes for easy access. Here's hoping for the addition of subscription viewing in an update down the line.
Kinect navigation is available right out the gate, a feature recently added to Netflix on 360. You can use hand gestures and voice commands to rewind, pause, fast forward, and other video playback commands you'd expect to perform on a controller. It all works fairly well. On the flipside, similar to the 360 dashboard, surface level menus get scaled down and options are limited when using motion and voice controls, so for full navigation it's best to use a controller.
If you're interested in checking out Hulu Plus on your 360 tomorrow, Major Nelson reports that Jack Link's Beef Jerky is unlocking Hulu Plus from April 29 through May 6. All 360 members can give the service a go without a Hulu Plus or Xbox Live Gold membership during that period. Take this opportunity to catch up on your favorite shows.
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