Sony says it has no plans for revamped XMB, Netflix service
By Donald Melanson 
posted Dec 9th 2008 6:42PM
posted Dec 9th 2008 6:42PM
No real surprises here but, in a recent interview with GamePro, Sony's John Kohler said that the company doesn't have any plans to pull a Microsoft and redesign its XMB interface, nor does have any intention to offer Netflix service on the PS3 in the foreseeable future. More specifically, while Kohler says that Sony is willing to make changes "if consumers pound on our door loudly enough," it's not likely to make any "grand-scale changes" to the XMB "because it's something that's been so well-received." As for Netflix, Kohler expectedly shifted the focus to Sony's own download service, saying simply that "our efforts will continue to be there, because our customers want to own the content." Not surprisingly, Kohler didn't exactly invite any door-pounding on that matter, though there's certainly nothing stopping anyone that feels so inclined.
[Via PS3 Fanboy]
[Via PS3 Fanboy]
I bet there is, he just don't wanna say it to the public.
In terms of Netflix on PS3 you can already just use PlayOn. There is very little need for Sony to integrate it when they have DLNA (which is an open-standard that supports pretty much anything).
The XMB is already pretty efficient and ad-free. Adding cool features will be nice, but doing a total revamp like NXE isn't necessary. Nothing 'public' or private about it.
What Microsoft did with NXE only confirms Sony had the right idea all along with the XMB's two-axis content browsing. While I like the NXE much better than the old blade setup on the 360, I still find Sony's execution much more elegant. My allegiance is to all three consoles and the DS and PSP, I hope they all continue to improve.
I'm wondering now if maybe Netflix or a 3rd party can develop a downloadable application for the PS3 -- like a game that just plays their movie streams. I know the Sony game dev library is already capable of all the media and network IO Netflix would need -- most of the development time would just be HUD work. Then Sony wouldn't have to be involved, except for the same licensing that all their game developers go through. If they worked out a deal to put a free or even low-cost downloadable Neflix app on PSN, that would satisfy me. A 3rd party app that supported Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube on the PS3 directly would be worth a fair chunk of change from me. I'm not including PlayOn here, because I don't want to have to involve another piece of hardware other than the PS3 -- that should be completely unnecessary.
Regardless, once Netflix streaming runs on Silverlight/Mono instead of ActiveX like they promised, I'm pretty sure there will be some way to run it on PS3 Linux shortly, or maybe even in the PS3's built-in web browser. Anyone tried Hulu or HD YouTube on the PS3 browser yet?
Well, I sure hope they decide to partner with Blockbuster, then.
Unfortunately, Blockbuster does not have unlimited movie streaming as Netflix does. Blockbuster charges around $3 for each movie streamed.
I had Blockbuster long enough and was happy until Netflix started unlimited online streaming. Now since Blockbuster announced that it will keep charging per movie, I am going to switch to Netflix.
Why would they partner with Blockbuster, if the intent is to steer consumers to their (Sony's) video store? That doesn't make a heckuva lot of sense...
I agree on the XMB as I find it simple and really easy to use. Definitely the best interface out of the 3 camps, IMO. Netflix tho... that's just stupid.
Why? You can do the same thing with the PSN... just click on the movies button instead of games. There you go. Rent/buy, stream, watch .
yeah, except netflix would be free for netflix subscribers. i dont want to own content that i can only play on my ps3. down with DRM!!
Just imagine if it looked like this...
http://www.way2xtreme.com/ps3_netflix.jpg
Except the netflix thing? Amazing.
HD video quality is amazing. Tons of awesome movies. Instant streaming. Load time is literally 30 seconds. All the HD TV series are popping up lately. It is only $4 more than regular netflix subscriptiong. You get the Netflix subscription and on top of that you can stream on your xbox or you COMPUTER. If you're traveling you have time to watch anything anywhere in the world.
The setup is amazing.
Eh, if somebody honestly wants to stream netflix to their PS3, it's not hard to set up, just wouldn't get the HD stuff I think.
I think it's more surprising that Sony is acknowledging that consumers want to OWN their media
Umm Sony how much do I have to beg for you to please add support for NTFS, HFS+ or EXT hard drive formats since FAT32 cant support videos over 4GB. Or let linux use the graphics card....
hackers would have a field day if external HDD's supported over 4GB
I watched a 7 gig HD movie over the weekend. It was originally an .mkv file but I converted it to .vob which the PS3 recognizes. It played just fine. Google mkv2vob and you can do the same
They will never support NTFS. Just like Apple won't out of the box. Its proprietary and requires royalties. If its an absolute necessity you can install Linux on your PS3 and use it from there.
@Temple
Actually OS X supports NTFS (read only) out of the box, which is all you need the PS3 to support really.
XMB is perfect, you can stream from your PC to PS3.
Well, too bad. I have a PS3, and I already have Netlfix. I have "no plans" either for Sony's movie service because Netflix does it better for me with their home service, so I see no point getting a second movie service just for online delivery. Sony should get with the program and stop being such a "I want it all" company.
Oh, and I do need the ability of folders on the video XMB. I have about 100 videos that I want to specifically categorize and access via sub-folders rather than having them all in the root. The "date sort" doesn't do it for me.
You can already sort by categories like you can music and games. You just need to give each clip an album name which will be the category/folder name. This is probably one of the least known features of the XMB.
I agree -- have you seen the prices on Sony's media downloads? Ridiculous! If I want to buy or rent HD videos, I'm going to buy a disc for less, and be able to take the media anywhere I want. I don't want my media locked to a single device. I can already find video without restrictions that cost less than Sony's HD "rentals".
I already have Netflix, so if I rent anything, it will be through them. Sony: prepare to have your door taken down.
PlayOn
*pounds on door*
Netflix please?
sony store is alright, but no chance in hell somone with netflix is paying to rent from sony
I like the XMB that they currently have but IMO they should figure out a way to get Netflix to work with their system. I enjoy the convenience to watch movies on the fly.
The xmb that was on the PSP was brilliant. Very simple and intuitive so I'm guessing its the same for the PS3 so there is probably no need to change it. No netflix is the same as it is for Xbox live users in Europe A Kick in the Bollocks. Saying that soon there will be some kind of netflix for some European countries. Hopefully.
cool
In what way.
I use the PlayOn media server from MediaMall to watch Netflix movies on my PS3. It was very easy to set up. It costs $30 flat fee after trial period.
Missed opportunity.
For What???
MOAR TACOS
Will someone who currently uses Netflix tell me if the online movies still suck? I wanted to try it out several months ago, signed up and cancelled it without watching a single movie. They were ALL crap B movies. The kinda stuff you buy at a flea market for a buck. I was bored out of my mind and choose to stare at the floor over watching one of the crap movies netflix offers. Is this not the case anymore?
KevinC
The selection still isn't stellar, but it isn't horrid; especially with the Starz content.
I did and somewhat enjoy the convenience when I am waiting for the upcoming discs.
The selection changes every couple of months. In January a bunch of titles will expire, and they'll probably add a bunch of other ones to the list.
As for the "B movie" comment, I guess it depends on what you're looking for. If you're the type of person who doesn't watch anything but the New Release wall at Blockbuster, then you won't be happy with Watch Now because it balances between a few recent releases, and lots of older titles. If you like classics or TV shows, then it's a good deal. If you want to catch up on older movies, or independent films, it's a good deal. If you only watch mainstream, big-budget, focus-audience-approved movies produced within the last 18 months, then you'll probably be disappointed with the selection.
I've had a Roku player since launch, and between watching on there, and on my Mac in OS X and Windows, I've watched a ton of movies for the same price as I'd be paying for my regular Netflix subscription. If I want the mainstream new releases, I get the red envelopes (and only have to wait a day, as I'm near a distro center). Between red envelopes, I can watch the STARZ network live on my computer, or watch on-demand streaming movies and shows like the following:
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
Weird Science
Scarface
Star Trek TOS: Season One, Two, and Three
The Silence of the Lambs
Heroes: Season One
Grindhouse
Basic Instinct
Ransom
All the CSI you can handle
High Fidelity
Billy Madison
U-571
The Boiler Room
Mississippi Burning
Gone Baby Gone
Enchanted (hey, don't laugh. It's good.)
The Illusionist
Young Frankenstein
Firestarter
Misery
Needful Things
Quantum Leap (the entire series)
Dead Like Me: Season 1 & 2
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Men in Black
A Time to Kill
Unforgiven
High Plains Drifter
Batman Beyond: The Return of the Joker
Happy Gilmore
Justice League: The New Frontier
Network
Klute
and lots more. Again, it depends on your taste, but there are some good movies on there, if you're someone who actually likes movies and not just some kid who needs the newest, trendiest thing.
Either way, it's FREE with a regular subscription, so it's not like you're losing anything. You still get the Netflix subscription and the red envelopes. This is just a bonus, and it's a pretty good value when you compare it to the "buy to watch" model from Sony. I'm not interested in paying for a digital copy of a movie that only plays on one company's hardware. That's not value. That's a trap.
Netflix please. It would be nice to be able to watch it on the PS3 without having to run it through my computer. That's kind of a ghetto fix. It should be a fairly straight forward upgrade. BTW Mr. Kohler, I do not want to own many movies...90% of them I watch and never see them again.
Netflix definitely improved their selection of movies, but it's the TV show selection that's the highlight for me. Heroes and 30 Rock update the next day after it airs in HD + they have a great selection of british comedy (Coupling anyone?).
"The interface won the Technology & Engineering Emmy Award for "Outstanding Innovation and Achievement in Advanced Media Technology for the Best Use of Personal Media Display and Presentation Technology" in 2006."
So why would Sony change that?
Has the XNE won this award or any award?
Prick face the NXE has only been out for like a month. The XMB has been out since the PSP was released. Stop being a Sony fkboy.
This is why Sony is dead last this gen, if they don't change the way they do business, they will probably be dead last next gen too.
This is different. I see what you are saying but there is no real reason for sony to have netflix. Once the playstation store fills up with more titles it will not be needed. Plus, many people would rather just rent or buy a blu ray disc like me personally. If I wanted too also, i could stream netflix from my pc to my ps3.
PS3 customers don't want Netflix? Instead, we want to pay $6 to rent a movie or $15 to buy a movie (with no special features) on the ungodly slow Playstation Network?
*Curses and punches a hole through the wall*
the PSN is only slow if you have a poor interweb connection.
That is sad news as I would like my PS3 to offer Netflix. At least my Mac can finally do it.
I have both the Xbox360 and the PS3... I must admit, when I heard Xbox was going with Netflix, I didn't really care... BUT, after watching my son and my WIFE use the Xbox to watch FREE episodes of The Office, I have to say it was one of the best things about the Xbox upgrade. I personally would prefer Netflix on my PS3 than what I see in the Playstation Store.
I love how people constantly keep b!tching about what the playstation has, and how the Xbox 360 is better. IMO the PS3 gets more bang for the buck. I bought a 160GB harddrive for my ps3 (2.5 inch laptop), it costed me 45$ on newegg. My buddy bought a 120gb HD for hix 360 and he paid 160$, thats a 115$ difference. he wanted wifi too, that costed another 100$. and then he wanted rechargeble controller batteries, 24$ (for two) and then it RRODed, so he was Xbox-less for like 3 weeks. and then he needed a memory card for some reason $$$ another $49.99 (ps3 can just use a usb stick/drive) and then i got 2 HDMI cables for 5 dollars each from SLICKDEALSdotNET, one for me, one for him. BUT it didnt fit, so he had to buy proprietary cables from Bestbuy for xbox, another 50$. SO, I can completely justify paying 3 dollars to rent a movie, or some time to set up a media server to stream them. Thankyou very much sony. I wanted it all, and you gave me it. The ps3 is a MUCH better value than the 360.
PS3 360
System $400 $ 200-300
HDD (120) $50ish $160
Wifi Free $100
Batteries Free $12 per
Mem. 512mb 2$ $49.99
HDMI $10 $49.99
Online Free 50$ year
Total $462 $661.98
Movie(rent) $3-5 (1) $8.99/mo (unlimited)
Thanky you, bit I can pay a little more for my movies :)
Xbox 360 - 199.99$ w/ 20gb HDD and Free Wireless controller (circuit city BF) and 256MB Memory Card
Batteries - Energizer 2-Pack AA 1700 mAh Rechargeable Batteries with Value Charger Energizer (10-20$). Easy to replace.
Wifi - 20$ Asus router w/ DD-WRT (Bridge/Client mode)
Memory Card - Free ^ see above
HDMI - 4.99 (monoprice) - Fits perfectly.
Online - 3.08$ a month (newegg 12+1 month Xbox Live Card)
Total - 268.98$ . Thats 200$ saved.
The only thing is the 120GB HDD and you can use that 2.5'' laptop drive that you got for the PS3 on the XBox 360. You just need to use a different "method".