A comparison of PS3 and 360 as media players

[patsu]

Besides 3D Blu-ray, next step is probably to talk to the tru2way people to simplify and unify the authoring. New tools are available today to author interactive title for tru2way (interactive cable) settop box and BD-Live. The cable network has a large user base, they have started to deploy tru2way settop boxes 1-2 years ago. It's a fantastic launch pad for introducing interactive media to TV and Blu-ray at the same time.

Then throw in a hands free UI (camera-based or otherwise), then it would be the TV of the future.

GoogleTV adds search and web technologies to the mix. At some point, they all have to come together.

 

[patsu]

Some interesting stats on Internet streaming and their upcoming challenge and opportunites:
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010...unts-for-20-percent-of-peak-u-s-bandwith-use/

Streaming media — real-time entertainment — accounts for 43% of peak period traffic in the U.S., according to Sandvine, which helps ISPs manage their networks and thus has access to buckets of information about usage patterns.

But Netflix alone accounts for nearly half of that between 8 and 10 p.m., and that usage comes from only 1.8 percent of the service’s subscribers.

“Per-user, Netflix is the heaviest user of downstream bandwidth in North America: the average fixed access Netflix connection is 1 megabit per second,” Sandvine said in reply to an e-mail question. “On mobile networks, per user, only Slingbox (at almost 800 kbps) is heavier than Netflix (~125 kbps).”

…


Streaming video is the most bandwidth-intensive use of the internet, but there are plenty of other choices — starting with YouTube. So the dominance of Netflix, which only offers “studio” fare, would seem to indicate that there is an enormous appetite for profession programming delivered from the cloud.

 

[BRiT]

Somewhere, perhaps even in these forums or maybe it was Slashdot, I had seen messages to refute Sandive's stats. From what I read, their numbers are highly questionable at best. I don't like throwing something out there without backing it up, so I'll try to find the info and post the updated info. One of the points was how Netflix counted for some insane high percentage of all network traffic in Canda, yet Netflix hadn't even streamed to Canada for 1 month yet.

 

[patsu]

Not saying whether it's accurate or not. But they are measuring peak usage. The initial influx of new NetFlix users may skew the numbers somewhat. Would be great if you have more data points (e.g., ISPs are trottling BitTorrent and YouTube bandwidth but have not gotten around to act on NetFlix yet).

 

[patsu]

Bah... Hulu Plus is overloaded, probably due to the flood of regular PS3 accounts ? It wasn't like this last week. Browsing the movie and TV icons are painfully slow now.

 

[Nesh]

Partially off topic, partially related. A lot of us cant access some of the media features on the 360 or PS3 because our regions are not supported and our IP adress tells our location.

Does anyone know any good free IP changing software that can help us use them? A lot of us will appreciate it a lot

 

[patsu]

And one more... VUDU HD (1080p) going PS3:
http://gizmodo.com/5691909/vudu-hd-movie-rental-service-coming-to-playstation-3-soon

Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (SCEA) today announced that on-demand movie service VUDU™ will launch on PlayStation®Network in the United States with an application that allows for High Definition (HD) and Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound streaming to the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system.

…

Using the VUDU streaming movie service, PS3 owners will be able to conveniently and instantly access more than 4,000 HD movies from all major Hollywood studios on-demand, including new releases available the same day they are released to DVD or Blu-ray Disc. The VUDU streaming movie service also offers great value to PS3 households, with an enormous collection of titles available for only $2 for a two night rental.

…

Customers that have a free PlayStation Network account can download the VUDU application in the "Media" category on PlayStation®Store and then access it under the "Video" icon on the XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) menu. New VUDU customers receive a $5.99 credit, enabling them to watch their first HD movie on the service for free.

...

EDIT: Now if they don't announce a GoogleTV service at some point, then I don't know what to say.

GoogleTV has been blocked by all the movie sites. They definitely need a proper outlet/platform for the search tech. It looks like PS3 has the most video services so far, not to mention the ability to manage home media.

 

[patsu]

Hulu Plus is $7.99/month now:
http://gizmodo.com/5692093/get-hulu-plus-for-only-799-now

 

[Carl B]

Nice additions/changes.

 

[BRiT]

Still looks to be $3.00 a month too much for my tastes.

 

[patsu]

It's a struggle between the cable companies and Internet VOD companies. The cable companies are already considering a lower price package because of inexpensive subscriptions like this.

If Hulu makes more money from advertising, they may consider lowering the price again (to attract a larger base). Until then, there's no reason for them to lower the fee. They have to tune the load to their server capacity. When Hulu Preview opened up to all US PS3 users 1-2 weeks ago, the server response suffered (still suffers) quite a bit. They may have their hands full for now.

 

[BRiT]

Since I doubt they'll lower the price, they need to expand their content offering which is going to be a constant battle with the content providers. Some of their "HD" content only has the current season available at around 6-8 episodes so far. So much for being able to watch past seasons of the shows.

Though their selection seems to have grown since I looked at it around 2 or 3 months ago. Combined with the more manageable price it shows promise.

 

[patsu]

I think they have the biggest HD streaming library so far, more than NetFlix. They will all get better.

My wife watched all 77 episodes of Heroes (season 1 to 4) on Hulu Preview last month. If we subscribed, we should be able to use Hulu on our iPad too.

EDIT: Ah no, VUDU claimed they have the largest streaming HD library. ^_^
I wonder if the $2/rental applies to HD or SD movies.

 

[AzBat]

Still looks to be $3.00 a month too much for my tastes.

Agreed. Right now if I keep up with my shows week to week it's free.

My wife watched all 77 episodes of Heroes (season 1 to 4) on Hulu Preview last month. If we subscribed, we should be able to use Hulu on our iPad too.

I did that over a year ago on Netflix.

Right now they only incentive is official Hulu support on devices that you may own. At the moment I'm still using PlayOn(which I'm paying $0 for), so there is no incentive. Dropping was good move, but I still think it will struggle. I'll still take a wait & see attitude until 360 support is added.

Tommy McClain

 

[Carl B]

Hulu's in a strange place as a service/business, seeing as they're at the mercy of the content providers, who are also stakeholders, who are themselves at the same time conflicted with how easy-going or restrictive to be with what is made available. I don't envy their position relative both consumers and content providers, and am actually most surprised by the basic Hulu having remained as robust as it has. That's honestly my greater fear/concern - that rather than Hulu Plus being made even cheaper or more content added, that Hulu 'Basic' be devalued in order to force a migration to Plus for consumers that have in part started to use Hulu as a wholesale replacement for regular network or cable viewing.

 

[Squilliam]

Im sorry for the bag of squirmy worms nature of what im saying, but what is a realistic reason why they cannot offer these same services day and date with America in other countries? It is wrong to pirate but when you get releases months or years afterwards in your country you get a culture of piracy.

 

[patsu]

Agreed. Right now if I keep up with my shows week to week it's free.

I can't ! I watch TV like once a month. ^_^
I paid for PS+ anyway, so it's kinda free for us in the mean time.

I did that over a year ago on Netflix.

She watched them mostly in HD though. I remember she was fooling around with the settings.

Hulu's in a strange place as a service/business, seeing as they're at the mercy of the content providers, who are also stakeholders, who are themselves at the same time conflicted with how easy-going or restrictive to be with what is made available. I don't envy their position relative both consumers and content providers, and am actually most surprised by the basic Hulu having remained as robust as it has. That's honestly my greater fear/concern - that rather than Hulu Plus being made even cheaper or more content added, that Hulu 'Basic' be devalued in order to force a migration to Plus for consumers that have in part started to use Hulu as a wholesale replacement for regular network or cable viewing.

They took in $100 million for the ads on Hulu. They should be able to improve Hulu Plus without degrading Hulu because competition is fierce !

 

[patsu]

Didn't know they will update the UI for PS3 later:
http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/s...o_the_PS3__Interface_Makeover_on_the_Way/5839

You're in for another change shortly after, as Vudu has said that it will be revamping its interface before the year's up. This redesign should make it easier for everyone, whether you're using a mouse and keyboard, PS3 controller or Sony Move.

" With our sleek new design and killer new discovery tools, we've been able to build on what people have always loved about VUDU and make it even better," says Vudu General Manager Edward Lichty. "Finding and enjoying a movie from our extensive library of HD movies has never been easier or more fun."

[size=-2]werk, werk, werk ![/size]

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Move support is a nice touch. Hope Sony are providing a standard Move interface for apps, so we can use it just like a pointer.

 

[Lucid_Dreamer]

Wouldn't that be much slower?