PS3 online HD movie rentals

[Rippyman]

Has anyone used this service yet? I gave it a try this weekend and thought it was pretty slick. HD movies are $5.99 and they have all the latest releases.

The only issue I noticed is the content is streamed in PCM Linear format and not a bitstream. This is gay!

I have no idea why they would do this?

 

[j_garcia]

The content is downloaded, not streamed. The audio has always been the problem with them, likely because lossless audio would take even longer to download. I used it a few times previously, but even for new releases, those prices aren't worth it. I mean, $6 is almost a whole month of Netflix and many movies are streamed in 1080p and DD+ (which may be the same audio from the PSN movies?), just no "new" releases right away.

 

[Rippyman]

The content is downloaded, not streamed. The audio has always been the problem with them, likely because lossless audio would take even longer to download. I used it a few times previously, but even for new releases, those prices aren't worth it. I mean, $6 is almost a whole month of Netflix and many movies are streamed in 1080p and DD+ (which may be the same audio from the PSN movies?), just no "new" releases right away.

I know a few people who have tried Netflix and they have all said the quality is horrible, and definitely not 1080P.

I have Shaw Gateway myself, its ok, but nothing beats a bluray yet.

 

[j_garcia]

The PS3 now streams UP TO 1080p, which I think only a few devices do. Not every movie is 1080p and it is also entirely dependent on your connection speed, so the PQ will be degraded according to what your speed supports. I have a pretty fast connection but I'd say I am typically getting about 720p/1080i quality. Adequate for what I typically watch on there, but not for watching a first run movie. The DD+ audio is surprisingly decent in 5.1, but not everything is 5.1 either. If streaming to a TV or blu-ray player, yes, your quality will almost definitely be average at best. Streaming to a PS3 however, is a lot different because it handles the stream differently and is better able to buffer. I've seen this first hand at my other house: my Panny BD player has problems streaming (low quality video, lots of pauses to buffer) while my PS3 does not, on the same physical wire.

 

[Rippyman]

The PS3 now streams UP TO 1080p, which I think only a few devices do. Not every movie is 1080p and it is also entirely dependent on your connection speed, so the PQ will be degraded according to what your speed supports. I have a pretty fast connection but I'd say I am typically getting about 720p/1080i quality. Adequate for what I typically watch on there, but not for watching a first run movie. The DD+ audio is surprisingly decent in 5.1, but not everything is 5.1 either.

Your ISP has nothing to do with the source, regardless of what your bandwidth is the source isn't going to change.

 

[j_garcia]

Your ISP has nothing to do with the source, regardless of what your bandwidth is the source isn't going to change.

The quality of the source doesn't change, but the Netflix application adjusts the quality based on the speed of your connection. It has always been that way. On a PC, you used to be able to adjust this (not sure if you still can) to force it to use high quality which just means longer buffering times, however for other devices you cannot adjust this. The quality is always good on the PS3 because you are actually downloading the movie to the HDD, so it isn't quite the same as streaming except that you can now watch it while it is still downloading - something you couldn't do early on from PSN.

 

[Rippyman]

The quality of the source doesn't change, but the Netflix application adjusts the quality based on the speed of your connection. It has always been that way. On a PC, you used to be able to adjust this (not sure if you still can) to force it to use high quality which just means longer buffering times, however for other devices you cannot adjust this.

I see, I have broadband 50 with Shaw, so download times are a thing of the past, haha. Netflix still sucks though...LOL

 

[j_garcia]

Yeah, Netflix isn't the answer, but it is cheap and good enough as long as they have stuff you want to watch. They don't have everything, but they have enough that I keep the service.

 

[its phillip]

Yes, netflix varies the quality depending on your speed, and yes, they will stream up to 1080p. Of course, it will be with much higher compression/much lower bitrate than the actual bluray, but it's decent enough for most people. Buy the bluray if you want the best quality

 

[Rippyman]

Yes, netflix varies the quality depending on your speed, and yes, they will stream up to 1080p. Of course, it will be with much higher compression/much lower bitrate than the actual bluray, but it's decent enough for most people. Buy the bluray if you want the best quality

Well thats what I'm getting at, its compressed garbage.

 

[j_garcia]

All of the streaming companies pretty much have the same issue with PQ, so no way to entirely get around that. But there are a number of things that I watch that I DON'T care if they are pristine HD picture. As always, YMMV. For action movies, I buy the BD or, like last night, get it from Redbox