Netflix instant streaming demoed on PlayStation 3 (updated with more video!)
By Darren Murph 
posted Nov 6th 2009 5:00PM
posted Nov 6th 2009 5:00PM
[Thanks, Otis]
Update: Our best buds over at Joystiq got some quality hands-on time with this (video is now after the break), so be sure and check it out!
You're welcome!
Talk about weeaboos...
Evangelion FTW!
You're awesome!
Xbox did it...
Otis,
You're friends list looks pretty bare.. you do much online gaming?
I do, actually. You're free to add me, even (OtimusPSN). It's just that I've only had the PS3 since September.
are you Japanese?
I am not Japanese :x
Between the PS3 background and the live queue, I'm guessing you like anime?
Otis, do you have a link to your background?
If anyone wants the background, here it is
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb135/mightypotatojones/200Eva.jpg
@iLoveApple
I recognized (vaguely) Shinji, Asuka and Rei (NGE) but who are the other two characters? They were in the show?
Adding you to my PSN list of friends when I get home, and thanks for the vid!
(shaqinsactown)
To the left is Koworu. The gayer character near the end of the series.
The other girl is exclusive to the new movie. Her name is Mari.
finally, netflix for PS3. this is perfect for whatever anime or foreign films you can't find at blockbuster or any local place. and to be honest, while Otis has several classics in his queue that are worth owning, the quality of a lot of current anime series makes streaming a much more smart. a quick example (though not anime) is Cutie Honey (if youre a Hideki Anno-curious fan). Try finding a place to rent that in the midwest; you can't....but I certainly wouldnt shell out 19.99 for a DVD of what turned out to be (to me) an eye-bleedingly bad movie. but toss it in your queue and its must easier to justify the cost as it is spread out over all the good movies you might watch.
after letting my netflix membership expire, i'm finally ready to go back.
Thanks, can't wait to get home and try this out
By the way, your queue needs more Anime. Just saying :-)
It's an honour to meet you, sir.
Otis for President!
Netflix streaming anime still fails in that they're mostly dubs.
My only question is why Netflix & PS3 didn't make this a downloadable "game" from the Playstation store??
Evangelion FTW!
I thought you meant Evangelion was available on Netflix instant streaming. :(
I noticed that the quality of GITS:SAC was excellent when I watched it a while ago on the 360, even though it wasn't in HD. There was a problem where the audio and video on the second season were out of sync. I didn't feel like calling them, but they fixed it eventually.
Ugh. Shitty emo Japanese cartoon crap.
Any word on if this works on any internet connected Blu-Ray player?
I highly doubt it would work
and it clearly says PS3 on the disc
how this is programmed, you can basically think of it as an internet capable PS3 game, so no it won't work
The disc uses BD-Live, which any Profile 2.0 player has. So it could possibly work, but I'm not holding my breath.
It's still pretty ghetto that you have to put a disc in to use this feature.. What's up with that? Come on Sony! Get it together....
Ghetto? Nevermind...
But, did you know you can install games on a PS3? *gasp*
PS3 Slim+500GB+patience installing games+Netflix Disc = your analogy blown out of the water
In my town Ghetto means pretty cool. So yes I agree pretty ghetto ! Thanks or the tip N900 !
@N900
Xbox360 can do that too *gasp*
The thing that a PS3 does that Xbox360 doesn't is let you copy movies over to the HDD. My 160 gig PS3 is filled with half my DVD collection. My 120 gig Xbox360 is filled with DLC so it evens out...
@N900
None of the PS3 BluRay games I've played has allowed complete installation onto the hard disk without requiring the disc to be in the drive while playing. Were you suggesting otherwise?
*gasp**gasp*
You can gasp all you want, it is ghetto you need to take up the gaming consoles disk drive with a Netflix disk. It would be ghetto on any console, so it is ghetto here.
Stop making excuses for things being ghetto
*gasp*
oh man, it's so stupid I have to put in a disc to play a game! thats stupid!! Get over it. Who cares if you gotta put a disc in. Is that that freakin hard? Oh man, I have to put in a key and turn it to turn on my car.... I can't do that. wah.
Ghetto??
I think someone has NEVER stayed in the Ghetto....when I stayed there we couldn't even AFFORD PS3's let alone $9/month for some damn movie subscription.....
It's like that for legal reasons. Microsoft has a contract for exclusivity of Netflix software solutions stored on a gaming console. Netflix found a way around this by putting together a disc-based solution. They're going to release a downloadable PS3 interface late next year, when the contract with Microsoft runs out. No, it's not as fancy as the current 360 solution, but it's better than not having any Netflix implementation.
Netflix has made it perfectly clear that the Disc is just a temp solution while they work on the downloaded version. Downloaded version is gonna be offered on PSN so it might already be done and they just have to get it through all of the Sony Legal checks. This is Netflix doing you a favor and offering it to you ahead of schedule for your sake. Take it or leave it.
I think it is ghetto it's not a PSN app, too. I mean it's great to have streaming Netflix (I subscribe to it btw, been looking forward to this for a while) and I'll deal with the disc, but it is ghetto. I'm sure the program isn't very big at all and does not require a 25GB Bluray disc. Prolly Microsoft licensing, honestly, since the Netflix streaming service is encoded for Silverlight DRM. (Google 'problems with netflix streaming on linux' if you don't believe me.)
@ Dustin : no one said it was a difficult task to actually place a disk into the disk tray, so you fail at arguing. It is F'ing stupid to HAVE to waste the primary function of a gaming console by taking up the disk tray with lightweight software (netflix). Making excuses for it is weak. You are weak
@ Chris D : Very stereotypical. Good job sir of living up to it.
I don't have to put a key in my car to start it but that doesn't matter if I had a PS3 i would just be happy to have some netflix love.
I'm not a fan of the ps3 but you sir are grasping for straws
@ Freedom Town Who cares if it takes up the disc drive when you want to play Netflix streaming? You cant really do anything else with the disc drive while you're watching a Netflix movie anyways so why does it matter? Not watching it? Take the effin disc out and play a Blu Ray or PS3 game.
Seriously you people are grasping for straws. It's nothing trivial, it's just a disc, and then you're prepared to send the whole damn thing to Supreme Court.
"Ugh! Now I have to walk 2 feet over to the TV and change the disc. Why has God forsaken me?!"
Get a life, amigo.
Sounds like you people need to re-evaluate your definition of "Ghetto". While you're at it, maybe you should stop comparing changing a PS3 disc to disarming a nuclear weapon.
"@ Dustin : no one said it was a difficult task to actually place a disk into the disk tray, so you fail at arguing. It is F'ing stupid to HAVE to waste the primary function of a gaming console by taking up the disk tray with lightweight software (netflix). Making excuses for it is weak. You are weak".
I'm guessing it's you that fails at arguing since the point is to sway the crowd your direction and you've obviously failed to do that. This whole "you are weak" thing is pathetic dude and an obvious way to distract from your real argument. Anyway, let's just deal with your argument of wasting the primary function of it being a gaming console by placing a disc inside to watch the movies. At what point would you be able to play games and stream movies at the same time if you didn't have the disc in it. I have an xbox 360 as well and I can tell you that streaming movies automatically makes the system unusable as for gaming until you're finished watching movies.
Everything you say and write is filled with holes and fallacies. Perhaps you should graduate or at the very least take a class on debate before declaring yourself a winner when the masses are the true judges of a debate winner.
Do yourself a favor and stop typing here. It's not helping you at all. MOST (not all) engadget readers are fairly smart and blatant fanboyism is never met well. Better luck next time.
Now PS3-disc noobs too can find out what us 360 people have known all along: that there isn't all that much available via Netflix streaming. Except for Dexter. Now THAT you must watch.
Meh I bet it's something to do with the studios why Netflix and other streaming alternatives don't get new releases. I've never seen a good DVD title go straight to on demand or payper view right away so most likely were just waiting on Hollywood to get their head out their ass.
Hopefully Netflix will be the one to do it in the next year or so. Then I can have a reason to justify having Netflix for instant streaming other than watching the re-runs and documentaries.
Are you kidding me? There are hundreds and hundreds of good movies stream-able on netflix. Plus a sh*t ton of TV shows.
An ignorent statement like that shows you either a) have never used netflix or b) have unrealistic expectations of the service. Unrealistic being the thought that it should have every single movie every filmed.
Uhhhhh all that ANIME on there says "Hi"
I agree. Content is definitely lacking, but it can only get better in the future. Go to instantwatcher.com to view what is available
The selection is getting better, and every new subscriber gets Netflix that much closer to being able to get licensing for newer stuff. There was an article in a recent Wired issue that explains all of the hurdles Netflix is working against to get the stuff everyone wants. They've already gotten over a lot of them, and they're clearly working to build subscriber numbers to get over the rest.
Yeah but we can find that out without having to pay for Xbox Live. :-P
Happy Tree Friends!!!!!
why is this a disc again?
You'd know if you had even read the title of the post but I guess that much information would have melted your retarted brain.
oh right, got it... b/c the title says it was demoed that means it needs to be on a disc I assume. hey, thanks for positive reply and for being a total douche... btw, handing out more discs to a system that can handle installation of software from online is a complete waste, or did you not catch my sarcastic insinuation?
hahahaha, you tried to insult someone by calling them "retarted." does that mean they turned into a pop tart?
tell me about it... 4chan much?
Awesome background!
will be firing mine up when i get home!
EVA!!
See, when you use a background as epic as that, people tend not to notice the foreground :D
And to quote iLoveApple, "Evangelion FTW!"
It works great - I am watching it right now. The quality is superb so far and setting was a breeze.
To clarify a bit, when I mention the lack of HD or what have you, I meant that nothing gets upscaled. Nothing.
480p 4:3 content is 480p 4:3 displayed at 480p 4:3
480p 16:9 content is 480p 16:9 content displayed at 480p 16:9
(So, it doesn't scale 4:3 to 16:9, not does it upscale 480p to a higher resolution)
That sounds like it works right to me. Who the hell wants to watch a 4:3 in 16:9??
Well, what it means is, is unless your monitor has aspect
scaling/stretching, 4:3 stuff on a widescreen is going to be
stretched, and there's nothing at all you can do about it, because
4:3 isn't letterboxed.
for those of you complaining about the disc, its because of the exclusive rights they signed with the xbox. it should be coming to the hard drive at some time next year. this was their way of getting around the exclusivity.
Wow, that is really crisp. I like the xbox interface way better. The video looks more crisp on a PS3. Luckily for me...I have both systems.
I was just thinking the same thing. The interface looks horrible compared to Xbox360 but it's not like it matters because I'm getting rid of my Netflix anyways. Instant contents lacking and I have to make cuts somewhere because the holiday seasons around the corner.
this guy watches nothing but anime....and then cocoon? really?
Dude, I had like, 498 things in my instantly queue. Did you expect me to go through it all, or just go to something really quick?
I usually watch SVU and 30 Rock!
lol, i just thought it was interesting. i keep rewatching lost and serenity.
@ Otis - Yo, I'm a fan of your taste, but have a quick question. How does the streaming handle subtitles? I hate watching dubbed anime, I prefer Japanese w/ English subs. Is there a way to do this or are you stuck with the dubbed version? Thanks!
Netflix is trying to implment their Human Instrumentality Project.
I'm going to fill my PS3 with LCL.
If the Xbox360 comes into contact with a PS3, it will cause the third impact.
My PS3 doesn't need to be plugged in because it has a S² Engine.
Looks great. Now I just need to figure out why my PS3's wifi bandwidth seems consistently 50% than my 360.
Really you think this looks great? Cause it's one of the uglier Netflix implementations I've seen.
Considering that is implemented by what looks like BD-Live+BD Java, it isn't too shabby.
This looks good and should work well till we have a system update to run it on the hard drive. Looks like slop it together and make it work attempt lol.
has anyone tried to install the netflix disc to their hd yet so they don't have to fire up the drive every time?
How about fast forwarding? Does that still suck massively (a la PlayOn)?
Works fairly much like it does on the 360, in that it shows a lil' block of pictures, and buffers, only it's a bit slower.
Here is another video. This one has sound; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKK9JIC-sF8
I have the Roku, and just tried the PS3 disk for Netflix. My general impression is the picture is the two are comparable in picture and sound quality. The Roku actually starts the movie a little faster, and in my case, is more convenient to use since it works off my universal remote. But, my PS3 has better hook-ups (HDMI and optical sound) so the picture and sound seem a little clearer--but not by much.
how do i get a disc for my ps3
That is pretty poor in comparison to the Xbox implementation.
But at least it is something, looks just like Roku.
does this only load movies from your instant queue like roku or can you browse the entire instant streaming selection?
it would be a little disappointing to have to go to my computer and add the movies there. downrank me for being lazy but I'd rather have the option to browse everything from the ps3 like the WMC interface.
Netflix came out with the disk, not just to get around the contract compete with the Zune HD 1080p service on the 360.
I got my disc today and it really is pretty easy to set-up, use. I have a wireless 802.11g signal in the living room and no movie watched via Netflix streaming on the PS3 (80 GB shiny model) stuttered or hesitated. The quality is a bit under DVD quality and when a scene is panning left or right, there is some stuttering, but it's not enough to bother me. This is being viewed on a Samsung LED 46" TV. I was expecting the worst, but I was surprised how clean the image was.
For my 6-year-old, this will be great...pulling kids movies/TV content at a whim, instead of wasting them in my Netflix blu-ray/DVD queue. As for feature films, I'll likely not watch many via this option, unless it is something I just want to check out briefly.
Thanks Netflix for including the PS3 option! I can't wait until the disc is no longer needed, but have no issues with inserting it for access to streaming.
Not really needed but it would be awesome if someone figured out how to extract the files from this streaming disc and run it off of a flash drive or PS3 HDD
ill stick to streaming over windows 7 and all the beautiful blu-ray.
Why do you need a disc? Can't they just push the expeience down from the cloud with an udpate?
Microsoft has an exclusive on-console deal with Netflix currently, so Sony can't offer it that way until that expires.
Keep in mind that the 360 library of Netflix content is limited. The PS3 content is not. We have more choices.
How's it limited? I haven't come across anything yet that my 360 wouldn't play.
With all of the movie playing interface cues (pause, play, bitrate, repeat, etc) preeeeettty sure this is just a BD-Live thing. That and the Playstation 3 logo doesn't show up when you launch it, like a PS3 game or piece of software would. And it shows up under the video tab in the same place a DVD or Blu Ray would.
So yes, this would likely work with any BD-Live capable unit.
Where's the functionality to search from the PS3 that everyone has been making such a big deal out of: this is the one feature that will place the PS3 ahead of Tivo and Roku in my opinion.
@N900
Xbox360 can do that too *gasp*
The thing that a PS3 does that Xbox360 doesn't is let you copy movies over to the HDD. My 160 gig PS3 is filled with half my DVD collection. My 120 gig Xbox360 is filled with DLC so it evens out...
is this true ? you can copy movies to your HDD i have the 160gb model and 20 gb xbox - i just signed up for netflix today so looking forward to trying it out
It makes me wonder, why people keep asking same questions over and over.
Listen up everyone! Read whole blog before you ask any questions and make stupid comments!
1st read whole article.
2nd read all posts
3rd think before you type anything
Netflix Disk, workaround solution to exclusive contract Microsoft has with Netflix to provide it with a software on XBOX 360.
PSN has nothing to do with Netflix because Netflix uses BD-Live and connects directly to Netflix service over your internet connection.
On PS3 you have access to ALL content of Netflix but using XBOX 360 you have only limited content.
480p is a DVD quality, so that is not bad, some shows stream in 720p so that is much better.
No this BD disk will not work on any other Blu-ray player because it works just like a PS3 game, so if you can't play Uncharted 2 on your Samsung Blu-ray player with BD-Live and 2.0 profile don't bother trying this disk either.
No you are unable to stream it to your PSP.
Now some good news, service will just keep getting better because more people use it. For price you have to pay to access all that content from Netflix this is AWESOME. Software solution will come when Microsoft exclusivity contract with Netflix expires in 2010.
Have fun, I know I will.