Netflix plans discless Watch Instantly on the PS3 by late October, more 'pure streaming' worldwide

It's still a pretty big window, but Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has narrowed down the time until we can expect a disc-free streaming experience on our PS3s from "later this year" to some time before its next earning call, which should happen around October 21. Other notes from the Q2 highlights included a shoutout to Hulu Plus, where Netflix "plans to learn what customers like about Hulu Plus" and use that to enhance its service, as well as the upcoming launch of a streaming service in Canada, and how the lessons learned may be applied to other "pure streaming" offerings internationally in the future. Investors aren't too happy the company missed earnings projections, but we're figuring once they close the ETrade window and pick up a Shockaxis they'll start to get over it.

[VGPOP Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:20PM]

It's about time. I don't mind putting CD, but not putting it at all is better.

[pintolulz Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:22PM]

@VGPOP PlayOn.

[savarese04 Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:24PM]

@pintolulz While I'm inclined to agree on streamers like PlayOn, they can be quite annoying and the interfaces are a bit lacking via DLNA protocols. I prefer native integration much more.

[whySoSerious Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:58PM]

Why isn't this possible now? How come the Xbox 360 can do it but the PS3, cannot? I know the Wii needs a disc but that's a whole different class of console to me than the PS3/360 are. I was surprised when I first learned Netflix needed a disc to run on it.

[HikaKao Posted Jul 21st 2010 10:20PM]

@whySoSerious As far as I know, it's because Netflix made a deal with Microsoft, that their console would be the only ones to be able to stream Netflix movies. They made a loophole, by making the other consoles use discs.

[EL Posted Jul 21st 2010 10:23PM]

@whySoSerious

Because Microsoft had an exclusive "diskless" agreement for a while.

[Zomic13 Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:30PM]

@whySoSerious
Wii doesn't actually need the disc. When it starts it loads the entire Netflix program into memory. Once it's loaded, you can remove the disc and still browse and stream all you want. It's only a matter of time before Netflix is a downloadable channel on Wii.

[Awall Posted Jul 22nd 2010 12:29AM]

@HikaKao That's what I understand also. Microsoft made netflix streaming exclusive on the Xbox to try and one up the media options on the PS3

[r34p3r Posted Jul 22nd 2010 2:39AM]

@Awall

Precisely

[Kid Red Posted Jul 22nd 2010 9:26AM]

@VGPOP Who cares, they have no catalog. I tried it for 2 months, because i have an iPad and PS3 and their instant play collection is disgustingly limited to movies from the 80s that you wouldn't watch drunk on a boring Thursday night.

[Spokker Posted Jul 22nd 2010 11:38AM]

@Kid Red Having access to all seasons of Futurama, South Park, Arrested Development and numerous other shows for $10 a month sucks.

[EL Posted Jul 22nd 2010 11:44AM]

@Kid Red

You aren't clicking right. Netflix has a ton of good stuff on watch instantly.

[Squalor Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:23PM]

I'm looking forward to this much more than Move and 3-D.

Planning "to learn what customers like about Hulu Plus" is a great idea since Hulu Plus is so awesome.

[savarese04 Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:25PM]

@Squalor I've used it, and was quite impressed with Hulu Plus, but $9.99 a month does not equal awesome.

[Dafrety Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:27PM]

@savarese04
I hope you don't pay for TV.

[OriginalJosh Posted Jul 22nd 2010 11:02AM]

@Squalor they don't need to track what users like about hulu+
1) new shows immediately after they air
2) release iphone app
3) expand watch instantly catalog

they rest they already have

[stevenwill Posted Jul 24th 2010 8:13AM]

@OriginalJosh
A Android app would be better!

By the way, the engadged android app is awesome. Using it to post this message.

[SomeGuyAtSomePlace Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:23PM]

Cant wait!!!

[Dafrety Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:24PM]

Great! Though hopefully Sony doesn't think this is something they can charge for like Microsoft.

[Meekermoloko Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:28PM]

@Dafrety

Sony might already be thinking "PlayStation Plus" feature...

[bitcloudrzr Posted Jul 21st 2010 10:36PM]

@Dafrety Nope, Hulu+ already for non-subs.

[DPSci Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:25PM]

Hopefully they'll improve the client a lot. It takes forEVER to switch between entries in your library on the ps3 when compared to the xbox. I think the roku is pretty slow as well.

[engadgetcomexcludeengadget Posted Jul 21st 2010 10:37PM]

@DPSci True, but I like how you can press left at the first title to go to the end of the list, which you can't do on the 360 for some reason.

[xtasi Posted Jul 22nd 2010 4:17AM]

@DPSci I don't have a XBox360, but on my PS3 I can switch very fast. As soon as i hit the D-pad, the next selection pops up. Granted, I only have 79 items in my list.

[Jonbo298 Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:26PM]

How's that Android app coming along, eh Netflix? ;)

[Dafrety Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:31PM]

@Jonbo298
Oh, man. Once that comes out (and the iPod/iPhone version) I'll pretty much be watching Netflix where ever I can grab a seat.

[ALBGunner04 Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:34AM]

@Dafrety
If Netflix plans to expand like they'd like to, they need to prepare ISPs for what's about to happen (especially in Canada, the first foreign market they're entering). Low bandwidth limits and high data plan prices here aren't going to help Netflix's expansion.

[rhomaion Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:49AM]

@ALBGunner04 You mean greed isn't going to help Netflix's expansion.

[DVDSandwich Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:27PM]

It doesn't stretch content for me, because my tv knows how to handle 4:3 SD content. There's something wrong with your settings if your tv can't tell the difference between 4:3 and 16:9. (or some older tvs don't auto switch aspect ratios)
However, it would be great if the PS3 scaled everything the way it does with videos played on the hdd.

[RichardLawler Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:46PM]

@DVDSandwich Doh, you're right, I did have my TV set to force 16:9 instead of auto. I'll get over dealing with a 4x3 interface while I watch X-Files.

[keyron27 Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:34PM]

I need to get me a ps3.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:33AM]

@keyron27 yeah

[Odog4ever Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:36PM]

Crap, I read the head line wrong! I though Netflix was going to start offering a cheaper plan were you didn't need to keep a physical movie checked out in order to do instant streaming... Sigh

[Dafrety Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:40PM]

@Odog4ever
They actually already have one, but it's not worth it in the least. It's only a dollar cheaper than the one disc at a time/unlimited streaming plan. The other problem is it's just Starz Play movies, nothing that's provided by Netflix. Not worth it in the least.

[revlayle Posted Jul 22nd 2010 4:13PM]

@Dafrety to add even more, the good thing about the one-disc plan (besides being just a dollar more)... just in case there is something you want to watch that is not streaming, you can put it in the normal queue and get it in the mail in a couple days (Esp. if I want to catch up on Top Gear which only has a small portion streamable on Netflix right now). I used to have the 3 disc plan and downgraded to 1 disc as we didn't use the discs as much, but still do at times.

[JStar Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:37PM]

Off topic but Dexter is the one of the best TV series I've seen on Showtime

[Squalor Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:40PM]

@JStar: I really enjoyed Nurse Jackie and United States of Tara. I'm looking forward to their season threes.

[coitis1 Posted Jul 21st 2010 10:20PM]

@JStar

Weeds is the shit. Heard others raving about it for quite awhile, then finally got Netflix a few months ago and caught up...on all 5 seasons. Now I just need to figure out how to get the new season when it starts next month.

[benjgvps Posted Jul 21st 2010 10:22PM]

@JStar Agreed. My friend and I were powering through the episodes a few months ago, I got an episode behind him and he became captain fake-spoiler... I ended up spending an english period catching up :)

It's just that good fellas.

[ResidentEVO Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:46PM]

I might have to update my 60GB PS3 firmware for this. Where's Geohot when you need him?

[JoeDavidBobJr Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:47PM]

Now all we need is for Netflix to be released on the Dreamcast.

[engadgetcomexcludeengadget Posted Jul 21st 2010 10:40PM]

@JoeDavidBobJr Yea because you can totally stream in 720p over 56kb.

[Bosco Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:50PM]

Dr. Peter Venkman: Yes, it's true–this service has no disc.

[VICinCLT Posted Jul 22nd 2010 8:59AM]

Upranked.

Ghostbusters references FTW.

[greatbam Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:53PM]

wake me up when september ends.

[superchargers Posted Jul 22nd 2010 4:01AM]

@greatbam
why??? my birthday is in September :(

[golfnz34me Posted Jul 22nd 2010 1:37PM]

@greatbam

I hope you have the time of your life!

[crumahara Posted Jul 21st 2010 10:04PM]

Finally! I cant wait to see how they update the UI!

[zangetsu2 Posted Jul 21st 2010 10:05PM]

I thought Microsoft had a contract with Netflix that said only the XBox can have the disc-less streaming feature?

[23542354 Posted Jul 21st 2010 10:24PM]

@zangetsu2 i believe it was a 2year contract, anyhow i believe it ended and now XBL is getting an ESPN only deal

so XBL still is better with mostly everything...i mean sure you pay for it but it still manages to get allot more because your paying for it.


btw i am sure most XBL users will say the same thing regarding the service from XBL, i mean i would buy 1 less game a year for keeping XBL