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PS3 vs X360 - Netflix and Hulu +

cakefoo said:
The PS3 remote is far more valuable due to the Blu-ray and upscaling DVD playback. It's also the #1 Netflix streaming device in the US.

I bought the BD remote for the BD/DVD playback too. I don't use it for either anymore, as I have an HTPC for that. I figure that first guy I responded to was talking about the BD remote (probably was), but the HDMI-CEC support is a good thing. Still, the 360 remote is awesome because I use it to switch tracks when I'm playing music via the custom soundtracks. I don't even need to hit the Xbox button to get to the menu. Once a playlist is running, I can just hit the chapter buttons, and switch tracks, without any interface getting in the way.

Either way, point is, when it comes to media, remote control > game controller.
 
OldJadedGamer said:
None of that matters if it doesn't stream correctly. Maybe it will change when Sony upgrades to 80211.n.

I've never had any issues with streaming on a PS3, be it PS3 media server, or the netflix and hulu apps
 
Something to remember with Netflix, for a while they were doing that trial n PS3, where you could have any one of several interfaces. If that is still the case, some of the UIs were better than others. If they stopped, I would make sure you have the latest one, by deleting and reinstalling Netflix.
 
patsu said:
I dropped my NetFlix instant watch subscription once I have Hulu Plus and Vudu. I subscribe to the cheapest NetFlix BR rental instead.
Are you in the US? Just wondering how you're getting Blu-ray access but not streaming? The only plan I can find that fits that description is the 2-at-a-time, 2 per month plan for $5 + a BR premium of $2.
AndyD said:
Something to remember with Netflix, for a while they were doing that trial n PS3, where you could have any one of several interfaces. If that is still the case, some of the UIs were better than others. If they stopped, I would make sure you have the latest one, by deleting and reinstalling Netflix.
Did they stop that? Now everyone has the same UI? Is it the superior UI people were almost unanimously preferring?
 
Fernando Rocker said:
How about the apps included with some TV's?

Are those good?

Supposedly the best looking and functioning version is currently the Apple TV version. I think on concole the majority seem to prefer the 360 UI and appearance but PS3 performance and features.
 
OldJadedGamer said:
I use both on the 360 as the PS3 wifi makes them skip and it is very slow to fast forward on my PS3. As for a remote... I'm a 360 launch owner and every launch system came with a remote so I've never had to buy an extra one.

have you tried changing the wireless channel on your router? might be too much interference on that particular channel.
 
cakefoo said:
Did they stop that? Now everyone has the same UI? Is it the superior UI people were almost unanimously preferring?

No clue if they stopped. But two of the three were superior by far, they only had a minor visual difference between them. That said, I had one of each of the better 2 on my 2 machines. A while back somehow one changed and not they both have the same version, the "best" one.

And it works fantastic, the best I have seen in almost all respects.
 
xbhaskarx said:
I use 360... I didn't even know the PS3 had subtitles until this thread, how does one turn them on?
With a show/movie selected, there will be an option "audio/captions" I believe.
From there you can choose sound options like stereo/surround/dubs and closed captioning if available.
 
cakefoo said:
Are you in the US? Just wondering how you're getting Blu-ray access but not streaming? The only plan I can find that fits that description is the 2-at-a-time, 2 per month plan for $5 + a BR premium of $2.

I live in California. I have no idea how my wife managed it. ^_^
She was like "It's a waste of money !!!"
And then now, she's faithfully managing our Blu-ray queue.
We don't have instant streaming anymore. In fact, I forgot the password to login to her NetFlix account.

Did they stop that? Now everyone has the same UI? Is it the superior UI people were almost unanimously preferring?

To be fair, other service provider also try this "experimental" UI trick. I was on Vudu's "new" UI while my friends were on the public one. For a few weeks, I didn't know what they were talking about. ^_^

It's one of those web development best practices to gather user feedback before committing to new UI.
 
OldJadedGamer said:
Upscalling DVDs isn't a unique feature to the PS3.

PS3 has one of the best DVD upscaling amongst all the BR players (including hi-end ones). I remember they toned it down a little though. >8^/
 
I personally prefer using Netflix on the PS3. It may not be as smooth to get started as the 360 version, but I prefer the better IQ. I also like that when it adjusts the picture for bandwith that it doesn't fucking stop like the 360 app and buffer.
 
Hilbert said:
I love netflix parties. I feel like it isn't appreciated enough here. I get together with my sisters in other states and we have a movie night together once a week. It is excellent.

I love parties. Watching a movie like Commando MST style with a group of friends is epic.
 
I haven't used the PS3 version, but since the system doesn't even have party chat, I guess it doesn't have a mechanism like the movie parties on the 360. I love movie parties.
 
I prefer the Apple TV interface for Netflix, and I use the PS3 for Hulu +. The 360 has the worst interfaces, by far.
 
TheBranca18 said:
I have the one on my Viera and it isn't very good at all actually. I wouldn't recommend it.
My dad has one builtin to his Sony TV. Its decent. The worst part is typing into search, as you get a cell phone style keyboard, not a querty type.
 
While I'm happy the PS3 version of Netflix has received so many feature upgrades, I feel overall video quality has taken a step back.

The disc-based rev utilized the BD/DVD settings for output formatting. That means it allowed native output. The app however is tied to the XMB resolution, and while the scaling is okay it's simply not as good as a dedicated video scaler.

I'll have to do some research on the matter, but to my knowledge that leaves TiVo 3 as the only Netflix player that does native output? Depending on the player in discussion, manually switching doesn't have to be that annoying ... but certainly on PS3 it sux donkey nuts.
 
Your PS3 is not set to 1080p, Raistlin?

I prefer the AppleTV interface between the two console ones, but the occasional time there's something visually impressive on Netflix that i want to watch, I'll do it on the PS3. There is a slight but noticeable difference that i attribute to the 1080p output. You can check with the Sekect button if the stream gets up to "X-high", you're good. (Note that it always starts at low and scales up. Its a neat system because many movies have simple credits which are low bitrate on compression, allowing it to outpace the playhead a bit.)
 
I don't do Hulu, but I definitely prefer Netflix on the PS3. However, recently it's been giving me "unable to connect" when first launching, or unable to stream specific videos. I go on the Xbox and everything is fine. Starting to drive me away from it.
 
NetFlix had some server issues a few weeks back. I remember they also had 4 downtimes during the first year.
 
I prefer PS3 for both.

I get better quality streams with PS3 and less "buffering" interruptions.

The Hulu Plus interface on 360 is a joke. The way the Queue system works is terrible.
 
I don't use Hulu Plus, but I'm a converter from 360 Netflix to PS3 Netflix over the past 6 months for a couple reasons.

First reason is video quality. Streaming quality is better on PS3 than it is on 360. Also the fact PS3 has 5.1 in streaming helps. Audio quality on the 360 just isn't as nice. I have to have the volume level almost twice as high on 360 as I do on PS3 to get near the same output and it doesn't sound as clear.

I also have better luck with buffering on PS3 as well. For some reason on 360 I have issues with netflix streaming cutting down my HD signal even though I have a 20mbps cable line. On PS3 I don't lose my streaming quality and it buffers at least twice as fast.

On a related note, when is Amazon Video on Demand going to get their act in gear and get on one of the consoles (preferably both)? I don't want to have to buy a Roku box just for them. If Netflix and Hulu Plus can be on 360 and PS3, so can Amazon Video on Demand. I'd buy more video content from Amazon if their service is available on consoles.
 
If Amazon want to bring their VoD to PS3, I highly encourage them to bring the whole shebang over to PS3 and PSP/Vita also, 'specially their free cloud save for music. Otherwise, it's getting harder to differentiate with so many video services on PS3.

I wouldn't mind the free VidZone from Europe too.
 
PortTwo said:
Your PS3 is not set to 1080p, Raistlin?
That's not what I'm saying.

Very few available items are 1080p. Most are either 720p or 480p. The issue is it doesn't output at the native rate. It does the upscaling for you.

If you have a good video processor, the only way to take advantage of it is to manually switch your device to the resolution of the content (which technically for HD you don't necessarily know what that is) ... and then hope it's not doing any other sort of internal processing before output. Even assuming there is no further internal processing mucking things up, it's a pain to keep manually switching resolutions particularly on PS3.
 
Raistlin said:
That's not what I'm saying.

Very few available items are 1080p. Most are either 720p or 480p. The issue is it doesn't output at the native rate. It does the upscaling for you.

If you have a good video processor, the only way to take advantage of it is to manually switch your device to the resolution of the content (which technically for HD you don't necessarily know what that is) ... and then hope it's not doing any other sort of internal processing before output. Even assuming there is no further internal processing mucking things up, it's a pain to keep manually switching resolutions particularly on PS3.

Oh I see. Yeah frankly I gave up on that idea and just tried to buy stuff with pretty good internal scalers, as it's almost impossible to actually use a discreet scaler without issues like what you described.
 
Mrbob said:
On a related note, when is Amazon Video on Demand going to get their act in gear and get on one of the consoles (preferably both)? I don't want to have to buy a Roku box just for them. If Netflix and Hulu Plus can be on 360 and PS3, so can Amazon Video on Demand. I'd buy more video content from Amazon if their service is available on consoles.

The Amazon service won't take off until they get on the home consoles.
 
Netflix iOS and Android apps have a remote control easter egg for PS3 owners

http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/25/netflix-ios-android-ps3-second-screen-remote-control/


netflix-ps3-secondscreenhed.jpg



Now that the revamped Netflix interface has hit phones and tablets for both Apple and Android powered hardware, the service has quietly enabled something else: second screen remote control. Currently the feature is only known to work on the PlayStation 3 with a mobile device on the same local network, once the two apps are running you can browse as normal on your phone or tablet and when you go to play a movie or TV show it asks you to choose where it will play. While the video is playing you can stop, pause or seek through it to a certain point, change the audio or subtitles, choose a different episode or even browse for something entirely different without stopping the action. We've got a few screens of the mobile apps at work in the gallery, check after the break for a quick video of it working.


Video: GS3 controlling Netflix on PS3 through Netflix app

PS: Un Junior Me dammit so I wouldn't have to bump old threads.
 
I personally prefer using Netflix on the PS3. It may not be as smooth to get started as the 360 version, but I prefer the better IQ. I also like that when it adjusts the picture for bandwith that it doesn't fucking stop like the 360 app and buffer.

Does IQ = image quality? If so then they are the same unless you are running component on the 360 then it might be a softer picture. I have compared both because I'm pretty anal about having the best picture quality. And I don't know if the 360 stops to buffer anymore, it did in the past. I know the picture downgrades to a lower quality without stopping if your connection gets worse.
 
When I did have both consoles I chose the PS3, free beats all.

Comparing the quality the ps3 I felt was better but if you only had a 360 I don't think you would notice any issues.

Buffering in general sucks on the 360.


BUT. And I don't know if this is the case anymore. Netflix tests out new interfaces. I had at one time on three different ps3's a 60gb, 80gb (non BC) and a 120gb slim all in one house.

I shit you not, each PS3 had a different netflix interface. Each one was bad except for the one that resembled the AppleTV layout at the time.

I wouldn't be surprised if anyone hating the ps3 version probably has one of netflix's shitty interfaces.

I only use if I am already using the PS3 though, AppleTV is my choice for netflix.

I prefer Hulu Plus on my PS3 though over my AppleTV, it reminds me of Hulu Desktop on my PC.
 
Does IQ = image quality? If so then they are the same unless you are running component on the 360 then it might be a softer picture. I have compared both because I'm pretty anal about having the best picture quality. And I don't know if the 360 stops to buffer anymore, it did in the past. I know the picture downgrades to a lower quality without stopping if your connection gets worse.

weird seeing a post i made over a year ago quoted :p
 
Does IQ = image quality? If so then they are the same unless you are running component on the 360 then it might be a softer picture. I have compared both because I'm pretty anal about having the best picture quality. And I don't know if the 360 stops to buffer anymore, it did in the past. I know the picture downgrades to a lower quality without stopping if your connection gets worse.

Unless Netflix started streaming 1080p on 360, the image quality isn't the same as only PS3 does 1080p the last I recall. Then again most people aren't going to see the difference between 720p and 1080p.
 
Does IQ = image quality? If so then they are the same unless you are running component on the 360 then it might be a softer picture. I have compared both because I'm pretty anal about having the best picture quality. And I don't know if the 360 stops to buffer anymore, it did in the past. I know the picture downgrades to a lower quality without stopping if your connection gets worse.

Ps3 IQ is alot better, contrast is off on 360 as is the res.
 
Unless Netflix started streaming 1080p on 360, the image quality isn't the same as only PS3 does 1080p the last I recall. Then again most people aren't going to see the difference between 720p and 1080p.

They added 1080p and 5.1 on the 360 a little while back.
 
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