A comparison of PS3 and 360 as media players

[patsu]

Have you guys tried www.crackle.com on the PS3 web browser ? There are hundreds of full length SD streaming movies you can view for free now (I didn't try other channels). It's ads sponsored. I watched some dubbed foreign films on it a few days ago.

 

[patsu]

Does the new YouTube live streaming work on PS3 ?

 

[patsu]

Tried it. Doesn't quite work on PS3. 8^/

EDIT:
Music Unlimited coming to PSP this Thursday:
http://www.sonyinsider.com/2011/04/09/music-unlimited-service-coming-to-your-psp/

 

[Arwin]

Tried it. Doesn't quite work on PS3. 8^/

EDIT:
Music Unlimited coming to PSP this Thursday:
http://www.sonyinsider.com/2011/04/09/music-unlimited-service-coming-to-your-psp/

Great. Yet another way for a sony service to tell me not available in your country.

 

[patsu]

Wait a minute, it's 14th today. Where is ma PSP Music Unlimited ?

I don't see any post on the PS Blog.

EDIT: 15th ! Oh where oh where is my unlimited music ?

 

[Npl]

Stupid question that nagging me for a while:
Anyone knows why the PS3 is not upscaling SD Content from Bluray? It just switches the TV to 480p.
Cant think of any technical (or other) reason why it should be doing this.

 

[Gradthrawn]

Stupid question that nagging me for a while:
Anyone knows why the PS3 is not upscaling SD Content from Bluray? It just switches the TV to 480p.
Cant think of any technical (or other) reason why it should be doing this.

I believe it was mentioned a while ago in some translated interview that the BD, DVD, and HDD media apps each have independent feature sets, and that they roll features out to the HDD app first, and then slowly move up the chain. Of course, they don't always get all the way up the chain, but that's probably a resource allocation/management issue, rather than a technical one.

 

[NavNucST3]

Netflix Kinect is such a backwards implementation. Why in the world would some think that "Suggestions..." would be the only thing we would want to use? Not being able to voice/gesture control my queue is baffling...if HuluPlus is going to have this same implementation then I'll have zero interest in it [kinect hub version].

 

[patsu]

Hulu, Miramax deal means Netflix, Hulu Plus both add Pulp Fiction and more starting today:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/01/hulu-miramax-deal-means-netflix-hulu-plus-both-add-pulp-fictio/

According to a blog post and press release (after the break) Hulu is bringing Miramax films to its free and paid Hulu Plus services. This is also the same day the Miramax deal kicks in for Netflix, so both just added notable movies including Clerks, Swingers, Basquiat, The Crow and Reservoir Dogs. Miramax movies on Hulu Plus are presented ad-free and in HD, just like on Netflix Watch Instantly, and both appear to have the same selection available, although one negative side effect of parity is that neither has optional closed captions on streaming for any of them.

...

 

[Nesh]

Although I find my PS3 much easier to navigate through scenes and the menu options much better than the 360's I have noticed that my 360 often plays some movie content that my PS3 doesnt but not the other way round. Sometimes it even downloads something, probably some codecs, to play them,

 

[patsu]

I believe many Windows media files will playback on 360 but not on PS3 because they use Microsoft's "newer" audio format (WMA Pro). OTOH, I see some people converting AVCHD movies for 360. These are playable on the PS3 natively. You may need to download the PS3 "Filmy" app ($5 ?). I think if you are keen to playback any Internet video files, you may need a media server (Windows Media Center, PS3 Media Server etc.) to handle all the possible media formats.

 

[temesgen]

Does anyone know how to get the Xbox 360 to automatically convert DVD to letterbox? My PS3 always fills the screen regardless if DVD is normal or widescreen but the 360 requires me to into advanced settings and manually adjust which is ok for me but not for the wife...

 

[patsu]

And here we go again...

Netflix Turns Focus Back to Disc:
http://www.homemediamagazine.com/netflix/netflix-turns-focus-back-disc-24127

Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos — who credits disc for helping Netflix make its foray into streaming — says the subscription rental service plans to turn its focus back to physical distribution

Netflix appears to be going back to its physical roots while it also amps up efforts to secure coveted subscription video-on-demand rights to movies and TV shows.

Speaking June 2 at the Nomura U.S. Media Summit in New York, Sarandos reiterated previous-day comments from CFO David Wells that the service had been obsessed with streaming to the point that physical rental was “calmly running on its own” and taken for granted.

Sarandos said that even with a $2 monthly surcharge for physical rental compared with streaming-only, the value proposition of Netflix’s disc programs (which include streaming) remains so strong for the foreseeable future that management plans to revisit all facets of the business.

This includes increased marketing efforts in regions of the country with low broadband penetration that would be better served with a stronger disc rental option.

“Over the next couple of months (and couple of years) you’ll see us putting more focus on it,” Sarandos said. “Right now it is a couple of bucks more to get all the discs you want. There is some room in there to right that and put a little more focus on the DVD business.”

...

Spoiler

Sony, where is your follow-up Blu-ray move ?

 

[patsu]

http://www.winrumors.com/xbox-live-diamond-subscription-tv-service-to-debut-at-e3/

Microsoft is planning to reveal its Xbox LIVE subscription TV service at E3, WinRumors has learned.

The software giant is close to finishing a key number of components for its full Xbox LIVE subscription TV service. Sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans revealed to WinRumors that the company is readying a demo for E3. The company is on lockdown for its big announcement and some demos and details might be held back if agreements are not in place in time. “Microsoft is currently in last minute negotiations to secure the necessary agreements in time,” said our anonymous source. “Apple is in a similar position, speaking to several media groups ahead of its iCloud announcement on Monday.”

Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE Diamond TV service has been rumored for months. Codenamed Orapa, the service combines the company’s mediaroom IPTV services and Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE services. Microsoft is likely to demo deeper integration of its Avatar Kinect service and the company’s new music and video services. Microsoft’s corporate vice president of corporate communications, Frank Shaw, revealed that Xbox will be the company’s entertainment brand earlier this week. Shaw highlighted Microsoft’s investments with ESPN, Netflix and Hulu.

...

 

[patsu]

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/s...tflix_Ups_Device_Limit_Per_Account_to_50/7037

With more devices streaming Netflix content, the company raised the limit to a nice safe 50.

...

The former device limit was six, meaning that if you have, for example, a PS3, Xbox 360, Roku player, Blu-ray player, PC, laptop and phone that were all capable of streaming from Netflix, you'd have to choose one to ditch. Families with multiple televisions or multiple smartphones reached the limit fast.

 

[NavNucST3]

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/s...tflix_Ups_Device_Limit_Per_Account_to_50/7037

I ran into the limit some time ago...it is about time though I did what I always do and blame licensing agreements with publishers/distributors (cost).

 

[patsu]

deathindustrial, you may like this:
http://blog.netflix.com/2011/06/new-look-and-feel-for-netflix-website.html

This is Michael Spiegelman, Director of Product Management at Netflix. I’m excited to announce that we’ve updated parts of the Netflix website with a new look and feel to make it easier for you to find something to watch instantly.

Starting today, most members who watch instantly will see a new interface that provides more focus on the TV shows & movies streaming from Netflix. The title images are larger, there are more of them on the page and play buttons appear when you hover your mouse over the title images. Star ratings, information and other functions are available when you mouse over the title images. We’ve also made some changes to several pages on the site: adding more rows, and filling out the rows with more TV shows & movies, which you can find by hovering your mouse over the end of a row.

...

Did they change the PS3 client UI as well ?

 

[patsu]

NPD: Blu-ray Sales Begin To Cover DVD Losses:
http://www.twice.com/article/469413-NPD_Blu_ray_Sales_Begin_To_Cover_DVD_Losses.php

Port Washington, N.Y. - Recent growth in sales of Blu-ray Disc players and content has prompted CE market analyst The NPD Group to issue a report showing evidence that Blu-ray sales are beginning to offset declines in consumer DVD player and content sales.

According to the group's "Entertainment Trends in America" report, 15 percent of U.S. consumers reported using a Blu-ray player in the prior six months in March 2011, up from 9 percent the prior year.

In comparison, 57 percent of U.S. consumers reported using a standard DVD player in 2010, which is unchanged from 2009.

According to NPD's Blu-ray Disc Report, 49 percent of PS3 owners are viewing Blu-ray movies on their game consoles at least once a month, which is also adding to the base of physical-disc users. Year-over-year sales of set-top Blu-ray player units increased 16 percent, NPD said.

According to NPD's separate Blu-ray Disc Report, there are currently approximately 116 million physical-disc buyers in the U.S., which is down from 128 million in 2009. However, the nearly 26 million Blu-ray buyers helped keep that number from sliding further.

Blu-ray buyers are also beginning to buy more discs than they did in 2009 or 2010, including both new releases and older catalog content, according to the report.

"Because fewer hot titles came out of the theatres in time for first quarter release, the physical video-disc market was a bit disappointing -- especially coming off of a good first quarter last year; but consumer response to the Blu-ray format remains strongly positive," stated Russ Crupnick, NPD entertainment industry analyst. "While Blu-ray may not be the replacement for DVD that many once hoped for, it is certainly adding strength to the physical video-disc market. This added stability is helping to extend the life of discs, even as digital options gain in popularity."

According to consumer feedback, NPD said Blu-ray's technology advantages are being recognized by more and more people, in addition to the format's value proposition, and benefits from packaging (e.g., combo packs that offer a DVD, Blu-ray and digital copy).

...

 

[acaeus]

NPD: Blu-ray Sales Begin To Cover DVD Losses:
http://www.twice.com/article/469413-NPD_Blu_ray_Sales_Begin_To_Cover_DVD_Losses.php

nice! Surprised lower price isn't mentioned as a factor though.

I guess they've given up trying to sell the discs for $25... Costco had kill bill (1&2) for under $9 one of these days.

 

[patsu]

Average price I have seen are usually $15-20. Occasionally, the retailers will throw a deep discount to attract shoppers. That's how they sold Blu-ray in the early days too (Remember the buy one get X free deals ?).

Nonetheless average price for movies, players, HDTVs, home theater gears have fallen. Such is the nature of mass market consumer goods.

The gaming industry is b*tching about $0.99 games too.

The challenge is to deliver high quality content. Something people are willing to pay more for. There are so many entertainment alternatives these days.