Slashdot Mirror
Disc-Free Netflix Streaming Arrives For the PS3 and Wii
tkdog writes "Netflix has added Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii to the list of devices that can stream their catalog's content without the need for a disc. On the Netflix blog, VP Greg Peters adds, 'In addition to removing the need for discs, we've developed a new user interface on both applications that significantly improves the experience. The new applications will allow you to search for content directly from the device and you'll also be able to view an increasing portion of our content library with subtitles or alternate audio tracks.'"
Canada has had this technology for weeks now!
God, I've always wanted to say that.
This is my signature. There are many signatures like it, but this one is mine.
Summary is missing out the biggest benefits - 1080p streaming (not all, but I guess almost all HD movies will be 1080p now - from 720p of the disk days IIRC), and Dolby Surround 5.1 (compared to Stereo with the disk).
And from what I have read, there will be more content available now (compared to the disk), but of course not all. My guess is that they are adding content every day, but it's nowhere near their full movie library.
Losing the disk for the Wii is great, and the search function is something I've pined after for many an evening. However, Netflix has yet to address my biggest concern: Bandwidth usage.
I'd like it if I had more control over how much of my pipes Netflix gets to use. Yes, I know I can diddle my router/modem to fix this, but it needs to be in the interface. Y'see, I play multiplayer FPS games (mostly TF2) during my downtime, which is co-incidentally the same time other people in the house have downtime. They'll load up the Netflix streaming player on their laptops, and my latency will double for thirty seconds. Which wouldn't be so bad, if Netflix didn't continue to hog the entire pipe for three quarters of a second every five seconds after the main load to update its buffer. Mix in the weird lag compensation Valve uses for TF2 and the relatively high latency values I get on my favorite server, and trying to use any strategy but sentry-humping turtling becomes impossible.
Needless to say, this kinda ruins my entertainment. I've come a cease-fire agreement with the other parties in the house about usage periods and times, but the truce remains uneasy.
You should turn signatures off.