Impression: Netflix for PS3 – free to access and easy to use
Sony and Netflix recently announced that Netflix’s streaming Watch Instantly service would be coming to the PS3. The service is now here as Netflix is sending out discs to those interested in accessing the company’s instant streaming service. The service can be accessed for free on the PS3 with the Netflix disc and plan.
Netflix support for the PS3 has been one of the most asked for features considering the device’s eclectic capabilities. The PS3 is the only device out on the market that can play hi-def Blu-ray discs, games, on-demand streaming/downloadable movies and television shows. Now with the addition of Netflix support, the PS3 is turning into quite a media powerhouse for the newly reduced price of $299.
After requesting my free Netflix PS3 disc here, I received a disc in the mail early last week. After inserting the Netflix disc into my PS3 I noticed a red Netflix icon in the video section of my PS3. Clicking on the icon launched the Netflix application and took me to my instant queue section. The night before I received my disc, I had added in some movies into my queue from my home computer.
I noticed that the movies I selected were in the queue ready to be watched. Upon selection, the movie started playing in hi-definition instantly, with no buffering or waiting. The high definition picture quality was quite good as I saw no pixelation. Also, on a side note I currently have Comcast as my Internet service provider through cable.
I also noticed that in the Netflix menu on my PS3, there were other tabs besides my instant queue section. There is a section for newly added movies, TV shows and older programs. Each section contains up to 25 movies and shows that you can either watch instantly straight from the description page or add to your queue.
It doesn’t seem like that the online menu displays all of the movies available in the Netflix Watch Instantly catalog. If you jump on the Netflix page from your computer or even the PS3 browser, you can view thousands of movies and TV shows that can be added to your queue.
Overall, I was impressed with the ease of using the service as it really is as simple as navigating through the PS3 menu. The video quality was also impressive as newer movies and shows were in high definition while older programs were in standard definition.
There are a few different plans you can go with, but the best one seems to be the $8.99 plan where you get unlimited Watch Instantly service on the PS3 and also unlimited DVD mail-rentals (one disc at a time). The fact that this service can be accessed freely on the Playstation Network is an added value. Other competing Netflix services like on the Xbox 360 require a $50 Xbox Live annual subscription fee on top of the Netflix plan.
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November 16th, 2009
But the XBOX option doesn’t require you to insert a disc, right?
As cool as this is, I don’t see it REALLY taking off until the client app is either installable to the PS3 hard disc from the supplied disc, OR bundled into the PS3 OS. People are lazy and will get frustrated with having to swap out whatever game they are playing recently and put in the Netflix disc just to watch a TV show or movie.
Sony needs to SERIOUSLY consider some sort of monthly subscription to the PS3 VIeo Store if they want PS3 to compete versus this or other “watch instantly” devices (like Tivo or Roku or whatever). People just aren’t going to pay the ridiculous pricing Sony wants for movies and TV shows.
I’d love to see Sony release some stats for PSN Video Store usage.
November 17th, 2009
Despite the fact you must insert a disc, I DO really see this taking off because the disc is free. If you’ve got Netflix and a PS3 this blu-ray disc is a godsend. If you’re going to watch a blu-ray disc, you would have to put a disc in as well. This is why “lazy” people will gladly do this to receive Netflix streaming.
Sony is lucky that Netflix has done this for/with them.
I believe this will be a killer App for Netflix on the PS3 and will mean more of this type of delivery for all of the blu-ray industry.