175w ago - Update: NetFlix has finally shipping out the instant streaming discs for Wii owners. In order to request the disc, you have to log onto the official NetFlix Web site.

After many rumors, today the New York Times has officially confirmed that online movie rental service Netflix will be expanding to the Nintendo Wii console this Spring.

Considering the Wii's small internal memory, it should come as no surprise that this service will require an Instant Streaming Disc in the Wii each time someone wants to watch a movie, just like the PS3.

But while it's speculated that the PS3 will be getting an onboard solution to this problem, the same shouldn't be expected for Nintendo's console.

To quote: "The real winner in this? Netflix, of course. The online rental company has become quite ubiquitous these days. Even now I'm sure that a strong majority of our readership has a little red envelope either ready to be watched or sealed and ready for the long journey back home to the nearest Netflix shipping center.

But...

195w ago - MediaMall is on the verge of announcing their Wii PlayOn beta, which has been in quiet testing for a while now.

What this means to you: For about $40, you'll be able to stream Hulu and Netflix to your Wii!

To quote: PlayOn's been around on the Xbox and PS3 since last year, as well as on all kinds of DLNA-compliant TVs--it's essentially a super-compatible Web interface for video services that don't work on certain platforms--and we knew it was headed Wii-ward from the start.

This is a step, and a sign that the service will actually materialize sometime soon, but it probably won't include a specific, formal release date.

• PlayOn support for Nintendo's Wii in Beta.
• This is the first time PlayOn is able to control the user interface (and we spent significant time designing it)
• It is available for a free 14-day full-featured trial at www.playon.tv; after that it is a one-time $39.99 fee to purchase a license
• It is the same software that supports the PS3 and XBOX360, so if you already have a license or active trial, it will work on your Wii as well
• PlayOn uses the "Internet Channel" on the Wii
• How it works: You can find the PlayOn Media Server(s) by opening the "Internet Channel"...

214w ago - CNET (linked above) believes they have spotted a sign indicating that NetFlix is destined for sony's PS3 and the Nintendo Wii console.

A job posting denotes that the NetFlix team is looking for someone to to lead the gaming platforms team, to quote:

In case you're having trouble reading the job description above, here's the important part:

We are looking for a hands-on leader and innovator.​ We seek deep experience developing and testing media rich applications on current generation gaming consoles.​

Candidates will be technical, strong leaders, and execution focused.​ Expect to help build a small technology team to rapidly prototype and iterate on a variety of platforms.​

The key phrase is "a variety of platforms," which one would assume means both home and mobile gaming consoles. You could also throw the iPhone into the mix, though you'd have to stream via Wi-Fi, not a cellular connection, because AT&T has bandwidth restrictions on streaming video.