Official List of Netflix Watch Instantly Titles w/5.1 Sound - Page 10

I think it's highly dependent on your bandwidth or lack of. With only 6Mbps service (5.2Mbps pretty much solid) I'm just at the point where I can hit its highest quality. So any issues between me and them and I'm likely to see it. Others with faster speeds aren't riding so close to the edge. I saw it most often during primetime hours which is why I think it's Netflix related. My line tests out the same speed regardless of the time of day. If the Roku is using the PS3 encodes I'm guessing my bandwidth won't be enough to stream the highest speed continually. I know when I had the PS3 it would bounce between High and X-High on a regular basis.


If you throw out the Blu-ray player I'd clearly take the Roku for streaming.


I'm not one to care about the interface. I don't even need a search... just let me access my queue fairly easily and I'm happy. Plus going forward there is no guarantee any of them won't change so it's hard to get excited. Outside of support for DD+ and 1080p.

Anyone using the WD? I like the interface and 1080P is gorgeous. What I miss is any quality indicator (just my eyes


bob

Has anyone noticed that the InstantWatcher iPhone app is no longer available in the Apple app store?

I wrote the developer but haven't received a reply.

I recently had to reload my iPhone and I really miss the InstantWatcher app.

I'm using the WD Live Plus (2 of them) and I think it's great! The API is like the one pictured the MichaelScott post your quote is from.

That interface looks like the one on the Boxee Box (and others). Does the WD change its resolution dramatically when it begins streaming Netflix or do you only see modest resolution changes? I'm wondering if it's using the PS3 or other encodes... I have used almost all of them and the Roku 2 behaves differently as it starts with an extremely low resolution and within a couple of minutes it appears to be the best I've seen... the same method the PS3 is doing I believe. Although when I had a PS3 it was more subtle... perhaps handled internally a little differently.

I guess Michael has some testing to do! The Roku 2 and WD.

The Live Plus is cheaper. Actually if the WD is getting the 1080p encodes I think it's far superior. At least if local streaming interests you at all. If Boxee Box fixes their HD audio issue I think it's well worth the extra hundred. I keep waiting for them to resolve it...

I recently added the instantwatch ROKU channel (not sure it's from the same developer?) and I really like it.

Maybe they're updating the iphone app ? I just got a message saying not available in the US store. Maybe they got bumped because the app linked to their web site for purchase? They have been purging apps that do that. Even Amazon blinked. Or it may be an incompatibility with the new iOS? (because they specify lack of availability in the US store, I think that's probably not the reason, though)

EDIT -- just checked their facebook page.... they say


InstantWatcher We apologize. The IW iPhone app should be back on the iPhone app store any day now. Thank you.
Sunday at 8:27am


edit 2 if you want a preview of the free roku channel interface for instant watch browser , this guy did a little demo http://youtu.be/7aea2gmDxzs The paid version lets you add the movie to your netflix queue while browsing the 'iw' interface.

I have a 20mb connection and netflix always comes up (after retrieving) full speed; never see a change in PQ except from title to title, of course.

Thw WD is set to output 1080P/60 hz so that is what I get.

bob

I got the wd because I need to stream my BD rip library also.

bob

Yes - the question is whether Netflix is sending 720p or 1080p.

No HD audio no WD for me.

Admittedly I hardly ever click on "audio and subtitles" so this was probably answered somewhere but I just noticed this. When I click on "audio and subtitles" on my PS3 for any 5.1 titles, I'm seeing 2 options for "English (Dolby Digital Plus 5.1)"

What's the difference (if any)?

What is also interesting (and I just noticed this as well) is my foreign movies list three English options (stereo plus the two 5.1 options with the the first 5.1 option selected) and "None" for subtitles....even though they play in the native language with subtitles. For a second there I was afraid it was going to start playing dubbed (I would have an internet meltdown!).

Strange.

Set up the Roku to output 5.1
Tried three different titles that say they are 5.1 (Black Death, 21 Grams, The Crow)
Plenty of bandwidth (9Mbit)

What am I missing?

I'm not familiar with the Roku interface, but on the PS3 there is an "audio and subtitles" section for each movie where you can select whether you want the stereo or 5.1 track.

On the PS3, it always defaults to 5.1 for me (so I hardly ever go into it). I don't know if the menu is similar on the Roku, but given the late hour (at least here on the East coast), figured I'd take a shot in the dark at helping you out. If you have an option like that, check it out to make sure the 2.0 track isn't selected.

That was it exactly! Thanks! I love AVS.

You get more helpful information here than anywhere else. I tried Netflix customer service and they sent me a lame e-mail that wasn't any help. Shouldn't even have bothered.

I have posed your 1st question twice on this site and once on another site; no one seems to know nor care.

I A/B-ed the two options, and option 2 seems to be a bit clearer with more detail. I will disclose that this may be a bit of self fulfilling prophecy as I called Netflex and asked if there was a difference in bit rate, etc. The guy who answered my call said that he didn't think there was an actual difference but that option 2 sounded better to him. I hope this helps and really look forward to more input.

BTW-the answer I got on the other site was to stick to Blu Ray as streaming was a waste of time anyway.

Same here. My WD will play anything I throw at it, and stream Netflix in HD w/5.1 as well!

Maybe michaelscott could do a couple bandwidth tests between the two to see if there's any difference bandwidth-wise? I A/B'd both and couldn't really tell any difference, but my ears suck (I can't even tell a noticeable difference between lossless and lossy for the most part).

Can anyone confirm or deny that another device besides the PS3 that does 5.1 shows two different options for 5.1 sound (I see three options: Stereo, and then two options for 5.1 DD+)

Mad Men is 5.1. Wondering if I should sell my Blu-Ray set now...

The "none" is for selectable subtitles. The ones with burned-in subs don't have metadata about it.

Ok. I think it would at least show if they are identical or not. Curious if you get a response.

Why does Netflix use pcm for stereo content? They should be using DD for stereo content too, and save some bandwidth or leave the bandwidth the same and increase the audio quality.

Ahhh.... gotcha.

I'll need to check again. My devices typically bitstream other content.
Although the Ps3 also shows dd for Vudu instead of bitstreaming DD+ like it should be. But I also haven't used my Ps3 iv awhile. I've been using either a TiVo or Boxee Box.