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Netflix Streaming Gets 1080i, 5.1 Surround
Though only initially on the Playstation 3
The good news? Netflix's popular broadband streaming service is getting a quality upgrade to 1080i streaming and 5.1 surround sound. The bad news (for some)? It's only going to initially be on the Sony Playstation 3 implementation of the service. Starting today, PS3 owners will get the upgrade and a disc-free version of the service. The Dolby press announcement is vague, and doesn't give any details on when the litany of other Netflix-embedded devices will see this upgrade, outside of saying "more devices would be added over time." It's also not clear yet just how much of a bandwidth hit this upgrade is going to be.
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mob (banned)
On the next level..
join:2000-10-07
San Jose, CA

mob (banned)

Member

:(

I wonder how long they will keep this from Xbox 360 users.

morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000

1 recommendation

morbo

Member

1080p

I believe format will be 1080p and not just 1080i. There was some confusion about that last week.

QuakeFrag
Premium Member
join:2003-06-13
NH

1 edit

2 recommendations

QuakeFrag

Premium Member

Re: 1080p

1080i... 1080p. Doesn't matter to me. 720p that they currently have is awesome. Anything other than SD streaming is pretty darn good quality. 1080x may not look any better than their 720p counterparts depending on compression.

What they need is to offer more titles in HD. 1080i/p is cool, but I have been satisfied with 720p.

5.1 will be a big plus on the other hand. I will be looking forward to this.

Uncle Paul
join:2003-02-04
USA

Uncle Paul

Member

Re: 1080p

Steve Jobs that's you for your continuing support of 720p as that's all his products offer.

QuakeFrag
Premium Member
join:2003-06-13
NH

QuakeFrag

Premium Member

Re: 1080p

said by Uncle Paul:

Steve Jobs that's you for your continuing support of 720p as that's all his products offer.
...I don't own one Apple product.

720p is plentiful for streamed content. Sure, I enjoy 1080 but I don't expect it from Netflix. I'd rather use less bandwidth if I can.
xenophon
join:2007-09-17

xenophon

Member

Re: 1080p

Yeah, 720p is good enough but I'm glad to see them push the envelope for such a cheap service. Would rather have more titles in 5.1/subtitled than in 1080.
innoman
-
Premium Member
join:2002-05-07
Seattle, WA

innoman to Uncle Paul

Premium Member

to Uncle Paul
That's not true. My macbook does just fine at 1080p, as does my moms mac mini (even the older G4 model). The older AppleTV supports higher as well.

Uncle Paul
join:2003-02-04
USA

Uncle Paul

Member

Re: 1080p

That's great... how's that Apple BluRay doing?
innoman
-
Premium Member
join:2002-05-07
Seattle, WA

innoman

Premium Member

Re: 1080p

uh, well let's see... this is an article about netflix - streaming to a PS3, how does Blu-ray on a mac come into the picture? I have Blu-ray on my PS3 and it works great. I don't need it on my Mac. And if you do, it's possible to install them/add them. Apple has just chosen not to put Blu-ray in their computers. How many have PC's with Blu-ray? And of those that do, how many actually use it often? It's fine if you don't like Apple products, especially being that you probably have done very little with them... but why are you trolling? You not see Apple's record earnings? Obviously, they know what they are doing. BTW, Final Cut Pro is capable of recording to Blu-ray, out of the box.

Uncle Paul
join:2003-02-04
USA

Uncle Paul

Member

Re: 1080p

If you feel PS3 will be the only device to offer Netflix at the higher resolution you're naive. Apple TV only supports 720p, but can stream Netflix too. The Wii is also resolution hampered, but then it's not a product that was just released.

The point is we see the industry continuing to move towards higher resolutions for media, yet Jobs has this thing against Bluray and 1080p resolution.

Just a little info for you, we actually own a new Macbook Pro and our family has 5 iPhones. So, we use Apple products. We also use PCs. Our family doesn't buy into having to be in one camp or another. Sometimes a Apple device is better, sometimes another manf is better. It's just a tool. There's no need to get all fanboi about it.
innoman
-
Premium Member
join:2002-05-07
Seattle, WA

innoman

Premium Member

Re: 1080p

I'm not getting fanboy about it, I don't own an AppleTV and probably never will. Not because of the resolution (because even 1080p streamed content really doesn't come through at 1080p quality... as much as we want to think it does) but because it's limited in what it can stream. I have my PS3 for that, it's built for the job and it does it pretty well. The PS3 was much more expensive, has a much larger footprint and isn't quite as user friendly. Apple made the TV to be affordable and it is. It's more than enough for the majority of people who would want a device like that. It's simple to use and integrates easily into your network with other apple devices or software. And it sells. It also works with non-apple stuff through DLNA.

You are right, the Wii is resolution hampered and it doesn't matter that it's been out for a while, all of these technologies (higher resolutions) were available when it was released. Just as AppleTV was built for affordability and simplicity, so was the Wii.

I can almost guarantee that Apple will release a 3rd gen AppleTV within a year to 18 months, at the same price point, that is 1080p. The components will be cheaper and many of those people who opted to buy the first will buy the second in addition to all those who waited because they wanted 1080p. Look at the original iPhone which only had 2G. I thought it was a dumb move but Apple made a lot of money of of people buying a second device when the 3g came out a year later.

As for Blu-ray... What's the motivation to put that in all their devices? Sure they could benefit by adding it in as an upgrade option but the option is there if you want to do it yourself or have a 3rd party company do it for you. Dell doesn't put it in every device that comes off their line. Actually, most seem to have just a standard old DVD burner.

Jobs is definitely a control freak and does things his own way but he makes that company a lot of money and puts out some amazing products. You can't argue with that.

DavePR
join:2008-06-04
Canyon Country, CA

DavePR to Uncle Paul

Member

to Uncle Paul
720p is better than 1080i for most applications. Ask ESPN or Fox Sports.

sabersaw
Premium Member
join:2001-08-21
Dayton, OH

sabersaw

Premium Member

woohoo

Look ma no disc! Have been waiting for this.
xenophon
join:2007-09-17

xenophon

Member

Re: woohoo

Just got mine installed this morning. New menu system, loads faster, but no indication what is 1080 and no sign of 5.1 on a few titles I checked.

Hopefully there will be an icon to show what is 5.1/1080. I hear subtitles are coming too.

Would be nice if instantwatcher.com also tracked this.
innoman
-
Premium Member
join:2002-05-07
Seattle, WA

innoman

Premium Member

Re: woohoo

I haven't gotten it yet (didn't try yet today) but with the old version, you could push the triangle (I think?) button for info. On the remote, just press info and it will give you details on the number of audio channels/codec, etc..

Though now that I read your post again... I am thinking you probably mean in the actual description or whatever. I agree here. I am sure they will eventually. Hopefully soon!
xenophon
join:2007-09-17

xenophon

Member

Re: woohoo

Just found you hit Select to get audio/video details, no longer the triangle. Would be nice if they showed in list of selections what is 5.1 and 1080. instantwatcher.com lets you see just HD movies so will hopefully show 5.1 and 1080 in next upgrade.

BTW, a major upgrade overall. PS3/Netflix is a great combo, much better than my Roku box, though a 1080 Roku box recently came out, which I haven't seen yet..
innoman
-
Premium Member
join:2002-05-07
Seattle, WA

innoman

Premium Member

Re: woohoo

cool, good to know. I was using the Blu-ray/DVD remote from Sony but now I am using the Blu-link (something like that) universal. I think I could just hit info on my old remote but I am not sure this one has that option. I'll check out instant watcher. I know the HD icon now appears in stuff that is HD.
Phatty
join:2000-05-10
Saint Louis, MO

Phatty

Member

Woot

Looking forward to this, now to just work on more newer release movies and such. I Enjoy the netflix streaming, but most of the time I only use it to watch old TV seasons, or some random movie I had never heard of but got good user ratings...

techlte
join:2003-01-01
US

techlte

Member

The Wii got the same treatment

My question is when does it go live for the PS3? I can't wait, it looks great.

"Netflix on Wii drops the clunky disc requirement, starts streaming through Wii Menu"

Source: »www.engadget.com/2010/10 ··· streami/
PerfectCode
join:2009-06-12
Portland, OR

1 edit

PerfectCode

Member

Re: The Wii got the same treatment

Edit: I'm not paying any attention to read while I multitask.

techlte
join:2003-01-01
US

techlte

Member

Re: The Wii got the same treatment

said by PerfectCode:

Today I believe.

Wii also announced no disc streaming starting today.
lol, thanks I know TODAY.. but when. It was included in the last patch so it will just appear I guess. Some users saw the install icon days ago but the application won't launch once downloaded.
PerfectCode
join:2009-06-12
Portland, OR

PerfectCode

Member

Re: The Wii got the same treatment

Sorry, it is already live. Working for me.

Boogeyman
Drive it like you stole it
Premium Member
join:2002-12-17
Wasilla, AK

Boogeyman

Premium Member

Re: The Wii got the same treatment

How do you get it? When I told my PS3 to do a system update, it says its got the latest firmware, and when I go to the Playstation website, it says 3.50 is still the latest firmware?

Please dont tell me I have to install it off of a Netflix disk, I've been waiting to sign up to Netflix for this. I was looking forward to streaming some shows tonight.
PerfectCode
join:2009-06-12
Portland, OR

PerfectCode

Member

Re: The Wii got the same treatment

Go to the video section of the dashboard and select the Netflix app, then just download it (19MB).

Boogeyman
Drive it like you stole it
Premium Member
join:2002-12-17
Wasilla, AK

Boogeyman

Premium Member

Re: The Wii got the same treatment

Thanks! Downloading now. Then I'm gonna sign up for the free one month and give it a whirl.

I'm really excited about this, if you cant tell. I've been waiting for it since they announced Netflix for PS3.
PerfectCode
join:2009-06-12
Portland, OR

PerfectCode

Member

Re: The Wii got the same treatment

Enjoy!

SimbaSeven
I Void Warranties
join:2003-03-24
Billings, MT

SimbaSeven to PerfectCode

Member

to PerfectCode
Wow.. 19MB?

Looks like I'll stick with my frontend and dump the App to an SD Card. Oh wait.. I already have Netflix on USB Loader GX. Nevermind.
PerfectCode
join:2009-06-12
Portland, OR

PerfectCode

Member

Re: The Wii got the same treatment

19MB!?!?!?

PS: How has your Bresnan been treating you?

SimbaSeven
I Void Warranties
join:2003-03-24
Billings, MT
·StarLink

SimbaSeven

Member

Re: The Wii got the same treatment

said by PerfectCode:

19MB!?!?!?

PS: How has your Bresnan been treating you?
Decent so far. It's been a steady 18x1 (been watching the Cacti graphs). I've been torturing my connection for a week.

Oh ya.. No caps.. *grin*
PerfectCode
join:2009-06-12
Portland, OR

PerfectCode

Member

Re: The Wii got the same treatment

Cool! I have a few friends over there in MT with Bresnan internet. Been fairly solid for them. I'd definitely take it over my Comcast here...
dustman81
join:2002-05-28
united state

dustman81

Member

Re: The Wii got the same treatment

Using it right now, got it from the Wii Shop Channel. Guess the Wii Netflix disc is just a piece of history now.

kieranmullen
Premium Member
join:2005-12-12
Portland, OR

kieranmullen

Premium Member

Re: The Wii got the same treatment

Makes one wonder why they needed it in the first place?
said by dustman81:

Using it right now, got it from the Wii Shop Channel. Guess the Wii Netflix disc is just a piece of history now.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

2 edits

FFH5 to techlte

Premium Member

to techlte
said by techlte:
said by PerfectCode:

Today I believe.

Wii also announced no disc streaming starting today.
lol, thanks I know TODAY.. but when. It was included in the last patch so it will just appear I guess. Some users saw the install icon days ago but the application won't launch once downloaded.
»news.cnet.com/8301-13506 ··· 1_3-0-20
Nintendo Wii owners can download a free Netflix app from the Wii Shop Channel, starting today, that lets the rental company's subscribers stream television shows and movies without requiring them to insert a special disc into the game console.

To stream Netflix content on any device, consumers must sign up for a plan. Netflix plans start at $8.99 a month.
P.S.>> it is available now. I downloaded it and it works.

RockCake
Premium Member
join:2005-07-12
Woodbridge, VA

RockCake to techlte

Premium Member

to techlte
said by techlte:

"Netflix on Wii drops the clunky disc requirement, starts streaming through Wii Menu"

Source: »www.engadget.com/2010/10 ··· streami/
Nice! No more telling my brats kids to quit misplacing the #$&*! disk.

brett_
Premium Member
join:2000-07-22
Lombard, IL

brett_

Premium Member

HTPC?

How about those of us with Windows based HTPCs? My HTPC has way more grunt than a PS3.

•••••

v35_pilot
Whoops, there goes another AMU
Premium Member
join:2005-12-12
Fayetteville, NY

v35_pilot

Premium Member

Whew....

I was this close >-- to purchasing a second Roku for my system due to the very clunky nature of the PS3 Netflix disc requirement.

Very happy with this announcement, even if the 1080i/p (whatever it truly is) weren't included.
Keiro
join:2005-10-25
Birmingham, AL

Keiro

Member

Subtitles!

Subtitles? AWESOME. I've been waiting for subtitles to come to Netflix for quite a while.

I've got a Wii, a 360, and I plan on getting a PS3 for myself.

No, I didn't pay for them. >_>
gtoken
join:2003-12-28
Fort Smith, AR

gtoken

Member

iPhone

Will I get the 1080i / 5.1 on my iPhone too?

•••
amungus
Premium Member
join:2004-11-26
America

amungus

Premium Member

finally

I've been waiting for this for awhile. Don't really care if it's 1080i/p, just nice that they finally got an app working.

Can't wait to drop Live "gold" from my Xbox 360 - I only ever had it for Netflix. Got a few months left on my 1yr subscription, but am NOT going to be renewing! Extra $60 with new pricing, and the only thing I use it for being Netflix ...just not worth it... If MS allowed Netflix on "silver" (free), I would consider keeping Netflix going on the Xbox.

I was even ready to use the disc for my PS3, but now that they've finally made a regular app, and added 1080/5.1, this makes it even more compelling to drop "gold" from the 360 and just use the PS3.

360 may just end up being used as an extender for media center...

Too bad Silverlight on my HTPC is still miserable compared to console streams (lower bitrate, screen tearing, etc.).
Oh well, at least I don't have to ever fire up my old (1st gen) noisy 360 just for Netflix anymore

Guess I will finally cave and update my PS3 to a non-linux capable firmware. They got me.

•••
33358088 (banned)
join:2008-09-23

33358088 (banned)

Member

ohhh NOT CANADA

you kiddin with caps and throttles how expensive that is....

SimbaSeven
I Void Warranties
join:2003-03-24
Billings, MT
·StarLink

SimbaSeven

Member

Re: ohhh NOT CANADA

said by 33358088:

you kiddin with caps and throttles how expensive that is....
..unless you're with Teksavvy (from what I hear). It seems they actually care about their customers.
33358088 (banned)
join:2008-09-23

33358088 (banned)

Member

Re: ohhh NOT CANADA

said by SimbaSeven:

said by 33358088:

you kiddin with caps and throttles how expensive that is....
..unless you're with Teksavvy (from what I hear). It seems they actually care about their customers.
yes true....
BUT ill say it
why would i want to pay for the hardware to watch 720 and 1080p and get to see the hairs on gene simmons ass, when i can just download an xvid sit back form teh monitor and enjoy it all the same.

Thefact is go look at the big torrent sites and you will see xvids KILLING any TRUE HD upload because no one even with bandwidth of a seedbox wants to bother with them.

IN fact my use of x264 takes the xvids and dvdrs and shrinks htem into even better compression at higher bitrates
thus you get xvid quality in 50-60% the size
so instead of HD 6GB movie i get a 400 meg x264 thats darn good enough for me.

OH did i mention the price is right, im already paying more then it would be to get cable with special channels so F U ill pay any more. Especially when its a digital copy....pennies to create.

IT Guy
Ow, My Balls
Premium Member
join:2004-07-29
Las Cruces, NM

IT Guy

Premium Member

Sweet!

So does this upgrade require purchasing say, the Blu-Ray option or is it standard for those of us on the $9.99, 1-disc plan?

••••••

Exodus
Your Daddy
Premium Member
join:2001-11-26
Earth

1 recommendation

Exodus

Premium Member

Hell Yeah

That is all.

CptGemini
Inside your computer
Premium Member
join:2004-11-29
Corpus Christi, TX

1 recommendation

CptGemini

Premium Member

Re: Hell Yeah

said by Exodus:

That is all.
Yay no more disc needed. Been wanting to watch more stuff and always hated having to pop the damn disc in everytime I wanted to stream something.

Exodus
Your Daddy
Premium Member
join:2001-11-26
Earth

Exodus

Premium Member

Re: Hell Yeah

1080 and no disc. Sounds great to me.

DustySilicon
join:2002-10-06
Oak Grove, MO

DustySilicon

Member

Speak louder, please.

That's nice, yet still no closed captioning for the deaf and hard of hearing... I guess we now know they never did give a crap about the handicapped.

••••••

Random Guy
@isilon.com

Random Guy

Anon

5.1 sound movies

How do you tell which ones have 5.1?

TCub
Premium Member
join:2008-09-03
Olmsted Falls, OH

TCub

Premium Member

Update...

»www.engadget.com/2010/10 ··· streami/

It's on the Wii too... Also, I'm pretty sure it's got 1080P.. 1080i = 720P and it's been doing that...

•••••
rmdir
join:2003-03-13
Chicago, IL

rmdir

Member

FW version

Can PS3 with older firmware load this? I can still boot Linux on mine, so I want to keep it that way.

••••

hayabusa3303
Over 200 mph
Premium Member
join:2005-06-29
Florence, SC

hayabusa3303

Premium Member

Screw up SONY.

My ps3 is very happy on 3.15 where i can linux thank you, and it will stay that way.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: Screw up SONY.

said by hayabusa3303:

My ps3 is very happy on 3.15 where i can linux thank you, and it will stay that way.
Please. I guess you never intend on buying new games or going online with your PS3. Most newer game will REQUIRE you upgrade the firmware. You Linus freak are soo weird. it's game machine not a computer. Who cares about Linux?

hayabusa3303
Over 200 mph
Premium Member
join:2005-06-29
Florence, SC

hayabusa3303

Premium Member

Re: Screw up SONY.

I hate to break it to you, but most new games SUCK ass.

Geminimind
Premium Member
join:2003-12-20
Sacramento, CA

Geminimind

Premium Member

SWEET

Downloaded it today it is awesome I love it. No reason to leave netflix at all now. Boy Comcast OOPS Xfinity will hate this.

Fox McCloud
Crazy like a fox.
join:2006-07-23

1 recommendation

Fox McCloud

Member

My few beefs with the new PS3 version...

Overall this update is really nice, but there's a few things I don't like about it:

-the video statistics was fairly easy to see and read with the instant-disk; now most of that data is absent in the built-in version.

-if you're one of the few out there who has a CRT HDTV that's 4:3, you get screwed pretty badly with 4:3 content; with the disk, 4:3 content takes up the full screen; with the built-in app, it letterboxes and pillarboxes the the 4:3 content, as if it were running on a true 16:9 screen. (I've fiddled with various options to change this, to no avail).

-No visual display for the quality of the stream. The instant streaming disk didn't have this either, for some reason, and I'm really surprised they still didn't include it in the built-in version.

It'd be really nice if they fixed these three things (especially the middle one), but I'm not counting on it.
stridr69
join:2003-05-19
San Luis Obispo, CA

stridr69

Member

Re: My few beefs with the new PS3 version...

While watching a movie did you press the select button on the controller? Only thing missing is the bitrate, rather liked that using the old disk.
Otherwise, loading is FAST! Way faster than using the disk. Not quite as fast as using a cable co's VOD content-but close. 1080p as well as up-converting sd content to 1080p. The disk version showed movies at 480p.
One happy camper here!

Fox McCloud
Crazy like a fox.
join:2006-07-23

Fox McCloud

Member

Re: My few beefs with the new PS3 version...

said by stridr69:

While watching a movie did you press the select button on the controller? Only thing missing is the bitrate, rather liked that using the old disk.
Otherwise, loading is FAST! Way faster than using the disk. Not quite as fast as using a cable co's VOD content-but close. 1080p as well as up-converting sd content to 1080p. The disk version showed movies at 480p.
One happy camper here!

that's what I was referring to, is pressing select to view the statistics; I liked being able to see the audio bit-rate and the current video bit-rate, but that feature is gone, sadly.
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