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If streaming is the future... - 31/1/2013 5:36:51 PM   
theoriginalcynic

 

Posts: 6517
Joined: 10/4/2007
...count me out. I never had a problem with Netflix but with LoveFilm and Acetrax movies it buffers constantly. I have Sky internet but as I said it worked fine on Netflix so it can't be the connection?

I think I'd rather have a physical format if this is gonna happen, as it ruins the film.
Post #: 1
RE: If streaming is the future... - 31/1/2013 9:55:14 PM   
UTB


Posts: 9044
Joined: 30/9/2005
Can't you play, go for a whizz and then start? I've not used these sites so can't say but if anything like Youtube you just need a couple of minutes to get ahead, no?

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Post #: 2
RE: If streaming is the future... - 31/1/2013 11:08:07 PM   
theoriginalcynic

 

Posts: 6517
Joined: 10/4/2007
No when they're not working they're not working. Even if you come out of it and go back in again, it's mostly at teatime or on a night. It plays, buffers, plays, buffers and so on...

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Post #: 3
RE: If streaming is the future... - 1/2/2013 12:00:30 AM   
Harry Tuttle


Posts: 7612
Joined: 12/11/2005
From: Sometime in the future.
 I must be lucky because the only time I've ever had trouble with Lovefilm was when I sneakily tried to watch a Buster Keaton short at work. The fact I had a problem was no surprise because the internet connection at work is shit. Other than that my experience with Lovefilm has been flawless.

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RE: If streaming is the future... - 2/2/2013 8:41:08 PM   
theoriginalcynic

 

Posts: 6517
Joined: 10/4/2007
So in the interest of helping other people. Sky performed some tests and the net speed is fine. Turns out it's the dongle for my LG TV, as my LG Blu-ray player (with built in internet) streams films fine. If you're having problems it's probably your dongle But, no I am being serious.

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Post #: 5
RE: If streaming is the future... - 4/2/2013 12:49:43 PM   
great_badir


Posts: 4205
Joined: 6/10/2005
From: A breaking rope bridge in the middle of the jungle
 I've also had no problems with LoveFilm. The built-in wireless in my Samsung IS very sensitive, so when our cat (who has a microchip) walks into the room, or if the laptop is also hogging the wireless, then it does exactly what you describe. But that is the TV's wireless, not a problem with LoveFilm. Otherwise, streaming is fine at all times of the day, even with HD content.

It does also help that we are very close to the local...thingy (hub?) for our town - it's basically at the top of our road, so we're normally fortunate enough to get maximum speed, or very close to it, most times of the day.

< Message edited by great_badir -- 4/2/2013 12:55:32 PM >

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RE: If streaming is the future... - 4/2/2013 1:34:14 PM   
porntrooper

 

Posts: 2516
Joined: 6/9/2006
From: Sheffield
 I've only just started using Lovefilm and have had no issues with streaming. The only issue I have is the lack o HD. I'm streaming on LoveFilm via PS3 and I have no issues with buffering, and the picture quality is good DVD standard, however there is always a lack of detail in blacks. When I choose a movie, it gives me the option for Standard or High Quality, and I'll always choose the latter. As good as it is, it isn't HD. Like I say, lack o detail in blacks, lack of definition in the whole picture. Looks like a DVD quality image to me. Is there actual HD content to stream? Am I missing it, doing something wrong??

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RE: If streaming is the future... - 4/2/2013 1:41:10 PM   
great_badir


Posts: 4205
Joined: 6/10/2005
From: A breaking rope bridge in the middle of the jungle
quote:

ORIGINAL: porntrooper
Is there actual HD content to stream? Am I missing it, doing something wrong??


Yeah, but not much (in fact, less than there used to be - see below) and none of it that I've found has been anything amazing - I've only had a go on it to test both quality (which is excellent) and for any buffering problems (none found). But I think it will only show the HD version as an option if your connection is up to it.

Most recently I watched Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy in HD and all was fine. Except for the film.

As for there being less HD stuff than there used to be, some time before chrimbo just gone they inexplicably got rid of half of the titles they had available - it went down from something like over 7000 titles to just over 3000, literally overnight. I'm not quite sure why, but some stuff they had in HD the day before was no longer available in HD the day after.

On the other hand, Instant is still relatively new and they are adding stuff all the time to be fair, so I imagine that there'll be lots of HD stuff to choose from in the months to come.



< Message edited by great_badir -- 4/2/2013 1:47:47 PM >

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RE: If streaming is the future... - 4/2/2013 2:34:33 PM   
porntrooper

 

Posts: 2516
Joined: 6/9/2006
From: Sheffield
quote:

ORIGINAL: great_badir

quote:

ORIGINAL: porntrooper
Is there actual HD content to stream? Am I missing it, doing something wrong??


Yeah, but not much (in fact, less than there used to be - see below) and none of it that I've found has been anything amazing - I've only had a go on it to test both quality (which is excellent) and for any buffering problems (none found). But I think it will only show the HD version as an option if your connection is up to it.

Most recently I watched Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy in HD and all was fine. Except for the film.

As for there being less HD stuff than there used to be, some time before chrimbo just gone they inexplicably got rid of half of the titles they had available - it went down from something like over 7000 titles to just over 3000, literally overnight. I'm not quite sure why, but some stuff they had in HD the day before was no longer available in HD the day after.

On the other hand, Instant is still relatively new and they are adding stuff all the time to be fair, so I imagine that there'll be lots of HD stuff to choose from in the months to come.



That's really odd. I'm just scouring the home page, settings and general interface on the LoveFilm service on PS3 and there is nothing to indicate they have any HD content there. My internet is 60Mb and I'm having no issues streaming HD content anywhere else. It's really annoying that I can't see any.

Just checked via Netflix.... streaming HD without any problem. Can only assume the LoveFile app on the PS3 is missing something somewhere.

< Message edited by porntrooper -- 4/2/2013 2:59:07 PM >

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Post #: 9
RE: If streaming is the future... - 4/2/2013 3:00:35 PM   
paulyboy


Posts: 2282
Joined: 30/9/2005

quote:

ORIGINAL: porntrooper

That's really odd. I'm just scouring the home page, settings and general interface on the LoveFilm service on PS3 and there is nothing to indicate they have any HD content there. My internet is 60Mb and I'm having no issues streaming HD content anywhere else. It's really annoying that I can't see any.



Not entirely sure the PS3 Lovefilm app has yet to get HD streaming, I know back when the Xbox started doing it they mentioned that the PS3 would follow.

According to the Lovefilm Instant HD FAQ is still hasn't happened: Click Me!

Don't know how accurate that information is still.

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RE: If streaming is the future... - 4/2/2013 3:14:03 PM   
porntrooper

 

Posts: 2516
Joined: 6/9/2006
From: Sheffield
quote:

ORIGINAL: paulyboy


quote:

ORIGINAL: porntrooper

That's really odd. I'm just scouring the home page, settings and general interface on the LoveFilm service on PS3 and there is nothing to indicate they have any HD content there. My internet is 60Mb and I'm having no issues streaming HD content anywhere else. It's really annoying that I can't see any.



Not entirely sure the PS3 Lovefilm app has yet to get HD streaming, I know back when the Xbox started doing it they mentioned that the PS3 would follow.

According to the Lovefilm Instant HD FAQ is still hasn't happened: Click Me!

Don't know how accurate that information is still.


Cheers. Yea, I had guessed it wasn't available yet. I'll have a look at the app on the tv itself.

I have to say to being pretty impressed with LoveFilm's streaming service so far (minus the HD thing, obviously). I'm having a look at Netflix too, and although there is a lot of crossover between the two, I'm currently liking Netflix's selection a bit more at the moment.... Robocop, Starship Troopers, The Mist and Robot Fucking Jox! All films I should own on Blu but currently don't, will be nice to catch up on those I havent seen for a while.

I hear LoveFIlm add more titles on a more regular basis to the streaming service than Netflix. What are people's thoughts? Which is the better service? Best titles on a regular basis etc?



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Post #: 11
RE: If streaming is the future... - 4/2/2013 4:33:35 PM   
great_badir


Posts: 4205
Joined: 6/10/2005
From: A breaking rope bridge in the middle of the jungle
 From what I know of the two (and I need to caveat this by saying I’ve only experienced Netflix through a mate who has it), LoveFilm has more overall content (last time I compared the two), in better quality (from what I’ve seen) and has more stuff added on a regular basis.

However, a HUGE chunk of it is chaff for most peeps (there’s loads of kids TV stuff, old uninteresting TV series, and “specialist” [i.e. E-rated niche] things on there), so Netflix generally have a better quality selection with more newer releases (try getting something decent on LoveFilm which has come out in the last 6 months). I think Netflix also has more HD stuff. Also, if you are savvy enough technically, your UK Netflix user ID will work on the Canadian Netflix site, which means you can access most (but not all) American TV stuff and some new-new releases. I’m not sure if that’s legal in terms of copyright infringement or not – my mate insists it’s not and it’s more of a “grey area”, but he might just be paying lip-service. It appears that Netflix ARE aware of this work-around and have been for ages, but they’ve not done anything about it (it may be similar to the official South Park website, which is only blocked here by specific UK laws, otherwise Comedy Central, Paramount and Trey and Matt themselves are happy for anyone in any country to stream the shows). Either way, it’s not something I’ve looked into personally, so caveat emptor, etc.

Out of the two, I think I prefer LoveFilm, mainly because it has such a large and varied selection and you often come across interesting sounding stuff you’ve never even heard of, let alone seen, and its archive material is pretty impressive too. If I were to describe the two, I would say Netflix is the hip popular mainstream jock, whilst LoveFilm is the smelly socially awkward geek who uses a satchel.

Having said all that, we’re only with LoveFilm thanks to a free year’s subscription we got with our TalkTalk phone and broadband package and, whilst it probably is good value for money (let’s just say I’ve had my money’s worth several times over…), I doubt I’ll be renewing it at the end of the free year, but that’s only cos I’m happy to wait until something is on TV, or cheap on DVD/blu ray.

There is an argument (if cost were not an issue) that you should sign up to both and then you are covered for every eventuality, but obviously there will be a lot of duplication and overlap.


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Post #: 12
RE: If streaming is the future... - 4/2/2013 11:35:46 PM   
squonk666

 

Posts: 1
Joined: 4/2/2013
I don't believe that it is the future - current streaming speeds are not great and what with VM no more buffering BS, althought as stated already within this thread i'd rather have a nice shiny hard copy.

Just my 2 pence worth.

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Post #: 13
RE: If streaming is the future... - 5/2/2013 10:05:06 AM   
paulyboy


Posts: 2282
Joined: 30/9/2005
Everything will go the way of streaming eventually, films, music, TV, games, etc. Our collections will all live in the cloud.

It's decades off mind you, the broadband infastructure just isn't in place yet, it's a long, long way from where it needs to be. Obviously codecs and compression will get better over time, but as an example a lossless Blu-Ray rip in full 1080p with 7.1 HD audio will blow through most people's current download cap in one sitting, assuming they have the bandwidth to even stream in that quality to begin with. I live out in the sticks and there's small villages dotted all around that struggle for anything above 1MB currently.

It's miles off yet, I'm certainly not holding my breath, I think (hope) physical media is here to stay for the time being, at least as far as the enthusiast market is concerned anyway.

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RE: If streaming is the future... - 5/2/2013 12:57:55 PM   
great_badir


Posts: 4205
Joined: 6/10/2005
From: A breaking rope bridge in the middle of the jungle
quote:

ORIGINAL: paulyboy
It's miles off yet, I'm certainly not holding my breath, I think (hope) physical media is here to stay for the time being, at least as far as the enthusiast market is concerned anyway.


The fact that they are still working on blu ray's replacement (and the next replacement after that) would seem to corroborate that.

I think you're right - we're certainly heading for a streaming future, whether it be, as you say, from a cloud, or from our own personal networks - most portable devices are now being manufactured with capabilities to stream all sorts of content, so the hardware is going down that road as well.

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RE: If streaming is the future... - 18/2/2013 4:57:02 PM   
porntrooper

 

Posts: 2516
Joined: 6/9/2006
From: Sheffield
 So I've been using both LoveFilm and Netflix recently (Actually pretty impressed with both services), and I wanted to check something specifically regarding Netflix. LoveFilm's user menu is pretty good for finding everything they have. However, Ive notices Netflix is fucking gash for updating or showing what is available from the back catelogue. For example, i only just found that they have the Robocop trilogy and the first three Mission Impossible films. Is there anywhere to see the full catelogue?

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Post #: 16
RE: If streaming is the future... - 18/2/2013 5:24:48 PM   
AxlReznor

 

Posts: 1095
Joined: 2/12/2010
From: Great Britain
 I considered getting a Netflix account myself, but the inability to be able to browse their catalogue means that I'm not prepared to subscribe blindly. God knows how much business they've lost from their website being so shit...

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Post #: 17
RE: If streaming is the future... - 19/2/2013 12:13:55 AM   
Cool Breeze


Posts: 1722
Joined: 9/11/2011
From: The Internet
quote:

ORIGINAL: porntrooper

So I've been using both LoveFilm and Netflix recently (Actually pretty impressed with both services), and I wanted to check something specifically regarding Netflix. LoveFilm's user menu is pretty good for finding everything they have. However, Ive notices Netflix is fucking gash for updating or showing what is available from the back catelogue. For example, i only just found that they have the Robocop trilogy and the first three Mission Impossible films. Is there anywhere to see the full catelogue?


Do a search on the menu screen, by actor or movie title name,if what you want is there it should appear on the list fairly quick.

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RE: If streaming is the future... - 19/2/2013 9:05:56 AM   
FoximusPrime

 

Posts: 224
Joined: 11/12/2005
quote:

ORIGINAL: porntrooper

So I've been using both LoveFilm and Netflix recently (Actually pretty impressed with both services), and I wanted to check something specifically regarding Netflix. LoveFilm's user menu is pretty good for finding everything they have. However, Ive notices Netflix is fucking gash for updating or showing what is available from the back catelogue. For example, i only just found that they have the Robocop trilogy and the first three Mission Impossible films. Is there anywhere to see the full catelogue?


I've recently started a Netflix trial after discovering I can access it through my Blu Ray player and thought the same thing - unless you know what you want, it's a terrible interface. In that respect LoveFilm has the edge, not to mention the fact that you can compile a list of films you want to watch on LoveFilm but you can't on Netflix.

However, Netflix does have Fincher's House of Cards, the new series of Arrested Development (I think) and the added bonus of not being an Amazon company.

< Message edited by FoximusPrime -- 19/2/2013 9:06:25 AM >

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Post #: 19
RE: If streaming is the future... - 19/2/2013 4:04:46 PM   
porntrooper

 

Posts: 2516
Joined: 6/9/2006
From: Sheffield
quote:

ORIGINAL: Cool Breeze


quote:

ORIGINAL: porntrooper

So I've been using both LoveFilm and Netflix recently (Actually pretty impressed with both services), and I wanted to check something specifically regarding Netflix. LoveFilm's user menu is pretty good for finding everything they have. However, Ive notices Netflix is fucking gash for updating or showing what is available from the back catelogue. For example, i only just found that they have the Robocop trilogy and the first three Mission Impossible films. Is there anywhere to see the full catelogue?


Do a search on the menu screen, by actor or movie title name,if what you want is there it should appear on the list fairly quick.


A search is fine, but if I dont really know what I wanna watch, and I wanna browse their catelogue to see if anything catches my eye, it's largely fucking useless. The interface doesnt allow me to view the full Netflix catelogue. Annoying as fuck.

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RE: If streaming is the future... - 19/2/2013 5:16:14 PM   
akivo

 

Posts: 202
Joined: 30/9/2005
Everything I'm reading just confirms what Ive suspected for a while, the theory is there but the technology hasn't caught up yet to back it up properly, just like smartphones were a few years ago and are only now just performing as we were promised. We, the paying public, are the guinea pigs, as usual.

With 4G coming in and our bandwith getting even tighter, I don't see the streaming issues being resolved in the near future. To boot, my hub goes down more often than a five dollar whore so it's physical format all the way for me for now.

One more thing, so blu ray will be the last physical format? I'm thinking last physical format my ass, but please don't make me upgrade to a new format anytime soon, I'm only just through replacing my DVDS!!!

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Post #: 21
RE: If streaming is the future... - 24/2/2013 1:09:39 PM   
phoenix_rising


Posts: 118
Joined: 2/9/2010
I'm with the physical format all the way. Streaming sites are all reliant on rights that come and go, so one might find titles on one site and not on the other. Plus let's face it being in the UK we are always going to have a smaller selection of potential titles. At least with DVDs you can get them from all over the world.


quote:

ORIGINAL: AxlReznor

I considered getting a Netflix account myself, but the inability to be able to browse their catalogue means that I'm not prepared to subscribe blindly. God knows how much business they've lost from their website being so shit...


I'm exactly the same. I don't want to go to the hassle of having the free trial, discovering there's not much there only to forget to cancel the subscription and end up paying. Interestingly a lot of these streaming sites are exactly the same without a good way to check out what they have. It's like they don't want you to realise their selection is pretty awful really.

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Post #: 22
RE: If streaming is the future... - 27/2/2013 1:07:27 PM   
Chief


Posts: 7140
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Banshee
quote:

ORIGINAL: phoenix_rising

quote:

ORIGINAL: AxlReznor

I considered getting a Netflix account myself, but the inability to be able to browse their catalogue means that I'm not prepared to subscribe blindly. God knows how much business they've lost from their website being so shit...


I'm exactly the same. I don't want to go to the hassle of having the free trial, discovering there's not much there only to forget to cancel the subscription and end up paying. Interestingly a lot of these streaming sites are exactly the same without a good way to check out what they have. It's like they don't want you to realise their selection is pretty awful really.


Add me to that list too. I've used Lovefilm on and off for a few years now, getting discs before streaming became possible but fancied a change. I thought I'd browse Netflix to see if their selection was decent but no dice from their website so didn't subscribe. Seems a bit silly to me.

I've currently got Now TV (from Sky) which is essentially just the Sky Movies package watched through your Xbox. You can watch whatever is on Sky movies at the moment plus a back catalogue which is heavy on James Bond films.

I only signed up for the trial and paid a month because you get a load of Microsoft points free. Cancelled it for next month.

Lovefilm is much better. I'd like to try Netflix but I was under the assumption that it was mainly TV shows.

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Post #: 23
RE: If streaming is the future... - 27/2/2013 1:19:29 PM   
Harry Tuttle


Posts: 7612
Joined: 12/11/2005
From: Sometime in the future.
 For the first time since I've been subscribed to Lovefilm I've had some buffering issues over the last couple of days. Not really sure why it's happening, it can't be that they're in HD because I've streamed HD films without problems loads of times in the past. It isn't my internet connection either, well not according to Speedtest.net anyway, but it did do my head in quite a bit to have both The Town and Gone Baby Gone freeze up on me for 20-30 seconds at a time on about 5 or 6 occasions each.

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Post #: 24
RE: If streaming is the future... - 27/2/2013 1:23:00 PM   
great_badir


Posts: 4205
Joined: 6/10/2005
From: A breaking rope bridge in the middle of the jungle
quote:

ORIGINAL: akivo
One more thing, so blu ray will be the last physical format? I'm thinking last physical format my ass, but please don't make me upgrade to a new format anytime soon, I'm only just through replacing my DVDS!!!


Blu ray has at least three potential successors, which have been worked on since blu ray became available to the public, and all of which will require hardware upgrades at the very least. Blue-violet is next (they have it fully functional in Japan right now), possibly followed by green laser (which was announced as blu ray's next replacement on the same day that blu ray was released in the States, but somehow everyone missed the announcement), with terrawatt laser (currently only used in laboratory situations) probably being the last physical format if adopted for the domestic entertainment market. Green and terrawatt, I'm assuming, are being specifically developed for super HD/4K, whilst blue-violet sounds like it will be a direct replacement of blu.

The resulting hardwares should all be backwards compatible back to DVD, so you aren't necessarily looking at replacing your entire collection three more times. But what's the point in playing a DVD on a terrawatt player and displaying it on a 100inch 4K OLED screen? (rhetorical)

Yeah - I'm pissed off about it all too...


EDIT - and I forgot to say, on the streaming front, still no buffering problems with LoveFilm, BUT if there is an interruption to the signal (for one of the reasons I described further up thread), it will not play from where it last stopped (this is through the TV I'm talking now), instead it annoyingly goes right back to the beginning.

< Message edited by great_badir -- 27/2/2013 1:25:32 PM >

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RE: If streaming is the future... - 27/2/2013 3:27:27 PM   
akivo

 

Posts: 202
Joined: 30/9/2005
I'm nearly 45. I'm gonna be either blind, deaf or dead by the time a new technology comes out and I've had to replace my collection 3 times!

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Post #: 26
RE: If streaming is the future... - 1/5/2013 9:41:10 PM   
dizzyjojo

 

Posts: 3
Joined: 25/4/2013
Hi all
Does anyone use a service to search all the streaming services? What are they like? I've used Netflix a few times for Nurse Jackie but there's so many services out there now you'd have to trundle through all of them to find what you want.

Thanks

Dizzy

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Post #: 27
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