Who Knew...Hulu

NetFlix revolutionized shopping for DVDs online without having to leave your house. YouTube allowed users to upload their own videos and watch their favorite clips for free. Now a site called Hulu merges both worlds.

Unlike YouTube, Hulu's flash content is at a higher resolution and bit rate which yields a better picture on a larger flash player. Although you're still streaming here, you have the option to pop out, view full screen, share, or watch theater-style. TV clips, episodes and videos are supported by the major networks, so you don't have to worry about the link being taken down or clicking through hundreds of user-uploaded videos to find the original. Hulu also categorizes full-length episodes from short clips.

With NetFlix, you order and wait. Before you order, you hope that there is a short line in your queue. With Hulu, all you have to do is search their library and start watching excerpts or feature films. Films are categorized by type so you can browse the lineup, which changes every so often.

So how can they get away with this? Hulu is owned by NBC Universal and News Corp, so the majority TV episodes you find are from NBC and FOX. You will also see advertising at the beginning of play with limited interruption - sometimes outside of the actual player - during commercial breaks.

What about paying for content? If you want to own an episode, all you have to do is click on a link that will take you to Amazon.com to purchase. In light of Apple allowing iTunes users to rent movies and download programming, you can watch it in just about any format (they give you a list of options). Plus you can take it with you to watch on another computer. The highest resolution is 480p, which is standard but by no means HD content.

Now...time to catch up on old episodes of LOST.