Not to be outdone by Microsoft's Xbox 360 game system, Netflix just announced that for $8.95 their subscribers will be able to rent movies via their Playstation 3 game console. This download service will not interfere with Netflix rent-by-mail service that has changed the landscape of home video for both consumers and Hollywood studios.

What is not evident with the Netflix announcement is if the downloads will be in high definition. Microsoft's Xbox 360 downloads will be in 1080p video which is even higher resolution than most movies on digital cable or satellite which are mostly broadcast in 1080i. Sony's Playstation 3 has the ability to play movies in 1080p with the top resolution surround sound via Blu-ray. Microsoft's downloads are not reportedly going to have HD audio to match the 1080p video.