RokuGuide Channel Description: The Scout for Netflix Beta private Roku channel provides an alternative interface for finding movies and TV shows on Netflix. This app lets you browse Netflix titles under the categories of What's New, Highest Rated, Movies, and TV. Within each category, you can sort by newest added, release date, A-Z, Z-a, highest rated, and lowest rated.
Select a title, and you'll be provided with the storyline synopsis and a rating (1 to 5 stars). Press "play" and the video's menu will launch in Netflix where you have the ability to play, rate, or add the the video to your watch list (My List). Unfortunately, Scout cannot access your Netflix account, so it does not have the ability to display your watch list or history, or to recommend titles based on your past viewing.
Despite that shortcoming, Scout is useful in providing alternative browsing options. You can browse movies by 10 traditional genres: Action & Adventure, Animation, Children & Family, Comedy, Documentary, Drama, Foreign, Horror, Romantic, and Sci Fi. This is a great option for those who don't like their Netflix main menu filled up with oddball categories like Quirky Movies, Goofy Comedies, and Popular on Facebook, and those who want more ways to sort titles instead of scrolling through an entire category.
This is a really good app for a beta, and I'm looking forward to it making the jump to the Roku Channel Store. Reportedly in the works is an expanded version that will add video catalogs from Hulu Plus, Crackle, Amazon Instant Video, and HBO Go.
FEES: None
RELATED LINKS:
Scout Website
Scout for Roku Discussion on Roku Forums
