Netflix On PS3 goes disc-free...(Gets 1080p streaming and DD+ 5.1 surround sound) - Page 2

Yes, well familiar with all of those. I meant will there be a way to identify which movies are in 1080i/5.1 as opposed to 720p/2.0. Right now at Netflix there is only an "HD" genre or graphic, so curious if they will break it up a bit more or have some way to identify these titles on Monday (so I can try it out without randomly trying different titles).

I was thinking of subbing to Netflix soon anyway, so this is good news.

Hmmmm. Can you press pause at the beginning to allow it to buffer the data for awhile, and then watch it later? Hulu allows this.

I believe so. But honestly it doesn't stop to buffer very often at all ( i have Verizon Fios for internet) so that has only been an issue once in a while.

Eric Lempel posted an update on the PS blog saying it will support 1080p!

And, it's been confirmed that disc-less Netflix will not be PS+ related. Which most of us figured out, but some people wanted to fan the flames with "Yeah, but what if?"

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/...comment-467846

Now see that would have actually been something worth purchasing PS+ for (and even likely driven up a subscription base). But given that I only got PS+ since it appeared to be Qore+, and even that didn't pan out well, I wish I could just cancel now.

No, it wouldn't have been good for PS+. It would have been a nightmare for everyone involved. Netflix would have to keep making discs in spite of having a working dashboard software version in place, and they would have had to have a bunch of caveats on their website about who needs a disc and who doesn't, and PS3 owners would have been confused at best.

I guess I was thinking about how some service throttle the streaming quality if your speed fluctuates. I don't know if that happens to NF; it sounds like if there is a major online traffic problem that it'll just pause automatically.

From what I've always been able to tell, Netflix will buffer about 3 minutes, give or take. You can see this in the PC streaming...start it up, pause it, and the "buffer line" will build for a little bit, then just stop (I assume this is the same for the devices, but there's no buffer line to verify). This is unlike something like Hulu or Youtube that you'll see the buffer line just buffer the entire video all the way to the end. I assume this is to save on some bandwidth in the event someone stops watching, or (as most people do) stop the movie at the credits instead of watching those 5 minutes or so, or when people FF or Rewind (so the buffer/bandwidth is not wasted).

Netflix does fluctuate the quality depending on your speed. Usually this is pretty quick (I'll see it flash...at least on the XBOX....with a message about available bandwidth changing and adjusting playback speed....and then a short rebuffer). This usually happens all in under 1 second. If the bandwidth goes down, it lowers the quality, if it goes up, it raises the quality. The ~3 minute buffer is to account for fluctuations, I assume.

I should point out I rarely ever have this issue where it has to rebuffer for some reason. I don't even remember the last time it happened, but I'm also on a 15-20 connection.

Also keep in mind that it's not really streaming in the sense you can only watch what has been buffered/downloaded. You can FF and Rewind at will and it picks right back up (similar to how you can skip around in a YouTube video, regardless of what's already been buffered)

Who's receiving 720p from netflix? I only get 480p.

make sure you're watching an HD movie, and you have enough bandwidth.

The shows labeled HD are currently 720p. I watched the original Wall Street movie last week at 720p. I can't wait for next week! 1080p and 5.1 Woo Hoo!

Currently SD speeds are 500, 1000 and 1500Kbps. HD (720p for videos available in HD) are 2600 and 3800Kbps. If you don't have enough bandwidth for 2600 you won't get HD.

In case you don't know, play a Netflix video windowed on your computer and press ctrl-alt-shft-m to get a service screen that lets you take a look at exactly what Netflix is streaming you.

-Suntan

Thanks for the info. I average speeds of 25-30 down so I'd be ok for the most part if I got the service. However with 1080P video being a new option I figure everyone would run into streaming hurdles every now and then so I wanted to know how it's typically handled.

By the way the PS3 blog just got updated and apparently the 1080i was a mistake. It's 1080P people!!! Oh yeah!

I wasn't aware of that, thanks!

Dy-no-mite! I gotta say, I'm impressed. The 1080p/5.1 on my XBOX (with Zune) has been very impressive, so if I get that quality on my PS3 now, on Netflix's buffet plan....I'll be ecstatic.

Bandwidth? Do you mean download speed?

Uhm...yeah. Go to www.speedtest.net and run a test to see what your speed is.

The Sony blog has put up a video showing off the improvements:

What download speed would you recommend for HD viewing?

At least 5 mb down for 720P IMHO.

I believe a lot of people get it with 3-4 (although I think Netflix recommends 5-6).

I just called NF to ask about a plan option that would most appeal to me, but unfortunately it's not offered.

For $8 a month (first month free), you get unlimited streaming. For $2 more you get DVDs by mail (one at a time). For $2 more on top of that, you can get Blu Ray discs (one at a time). That's $12 a month total.

I asked the rep if you could stream and get Blu-rays delivered for $8+$2=$10, skipping the DVD option altogether to save a few nickels. He said the only way to get Blu-ray flicks is to sign up for DVD mailings as well.

For $8.99 you can stream and get one DVD at a time. Blu-rays are more (which is when I originally canceled my Netflix subscription). Streaming in HD for no additional cost won be back.

Source: http://www.netflix.com/HowItWorks - FAQs "How much does it cost"

"For only $8.99 a month, you can instantly watch TV episodes & movies streaming over the Internet to your TV via an Xbox 360, PS3, Wii or any other device that streams from Netflix. Watch as often as you want, anytime you want. You also get 1 DVD out at-a-time which you can exchange as often as you want. There are no due dates or late fees, and you can cancel anytime."

Here are the monthly options (doesn't mention blu-rays here, you sign up for it after initiating a DVD plan):

cool
maybe i'll get netflix again.
Could never find anything to watch on the damn thing when i had it though. All the movies shown on that preview are either garbage or old stuff I've seen already.

The alphabetical keyboard looks annoying - what's wrong with the standard ps3 one?

At their site, it says something else. Kinda confusing:



I quoted all of that to the Netflix rep on the phone today and he said my interpretation is correct. You have to pay extra for DVDs, and you pay extra again for Blu-ray.

I get one blu-ray (or DVD) at a time and unlimited streamingfor $10.99/mo. plus tax. Before this announcement, last night as a matter of fact, I was discussing dropping Netflix with my girlfriend since I hardly watch anything anymore because I'm playing more video games. Only so much time in the day, :sigh:.

I'm paying $11.95 for the same thing, Hmm..