Comments on: Hulu & Netflix: Watching TV Online http://www.hiddenpeanuts.com/archives/2008/05/23/hulu-netflix-watching-tv-online/ Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:31:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Videoman http://www.hiddenpeanuts.com/archives/2008/05/23/hulu-netflix-watching-tv-online/comment-page-1/#comment-127858 Videoman Sun, 05 Jul 2009 06:32:59 +0000 http://www.hiddenpeanuts.com/?p=561#comment-127858 Netflix is not DVD quality. It was once possible with the 3000kbps streams that they experimented with using their older AX player, but Netflix moved to the Microsoft Silverlight player some time ago, and their video streaming quality is now closer to youtube than VHS. Maximum stream is 1500kbps and Silverlight can't even keep up with that on most PC, despite easily available bandwidth. In comparison, Hulu quality is very high, with rich color saturation and no compression artifacts. My Athlon 3800+ keeps up (just about), but it drops half the frames on the much poorer quality Netflix stream. Even my work PC (a quad core Intel with 4gb and a screaming video card), not normally used for watching TV, displays blocky gray video from Netflix, albeit without the dropped frames and stuttering frame rate. As things progress, Hulu will make it, and Netflix has consigned itself to a warm place in the history of the net through poor delivery choices, but not much else. Netflix is not DVD quality. It was once possible with the 3000kbps streams that they experimented with using their older AX player, but Netflix moved to the Microsoft Silverlight player some time ago, and their video streaming quality is now closer to youtube than VHS. Maximum stream is 1500kbps and Silverlight can’t even keep up with that on most PC, despite easily available bandwidth.
In comparison, Hulu quality is very high, with rich color saturation and no compression artifacts. My Athlon 3800+ keeps up (just about), but it drops half the frames on the much poorer quality Netflix stream. Even my work PC (a quad core Intel with 4gb and a screaming video card), not normally used for watching TV, displays blocky gray video from Netflix, albeit without the dropped frames and stuttering frame rate. As things progress, Hulu will make it, and Netflix has consigned itself to a warm place in the history of the net through poor delivery choices, but not much else.

]]> By: Jamey Phillips http://www.hiddenpeanuts.com/archives/2008/05/23/hulu-netflix-watching-tv-online/comment-page-1/#comment-108893 Jamey Phillips Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:37:17 +0000 http://www.hiddenpeanuts.com/?p=561#comment-108893 There are now a few software options for watching Hulu and Netflix on game consoles. One is PlayOn. Another is TVersity. The video is streamed to a PC and transcoded to the game console where you can play, pause, rewind, and under some circumstances fast forward. Also, I wouldn't be suprised if there are media center plugins for these by now, and Netflix is available through XBox 360 Live too. There are now a few software options for watching Hulu and Netflix on game consoles. One is PlayOn. Another is TVersity. The video is streamed to a PC and transcoded to the game console where you can play, pause, rewind, and under some circumstances fast forward. Also, I wouldn’t be suprised if there are media center plugins for these by now, and Netflix is available through XBox 360 Live too.

]]> By: Chad http://www.hiddenpeanuts.com/archives/2008/05/23/hulu-netflix-watching-tv-online/comment-page-1/#comment-86171 Chad Wed, 28 May 2008 03:02:24 +0000 http://www.hiddenpeanuts.com/?p=561#comment-86171 that's a nice comparison, thanks for pointing it out! that’s a nice comparison, thanks for pointing it out!

]]> By: Michael http://www.hiddenpeanuts.com/archives/2008/05/23/hulu-netflix-watching-tv-online/comment-page-1/#comment-86156 Michael Tue, 27 May 2008 19:33:28 +0000 http://www.hiddenpeanuts.com/?p=561#comment-86156 Ars has also posted a review of the major video hosting services (fox, abc, cbs, and nbc/hulu). They like hulu, albeit with some of the same problems you pointed out. These services are a great example of successfully competing with piracy. Good to see the tv industry is willing to experiment with opening up access to their content in ways that the music industry will not. http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080523-hands-on-with-the-major-web-video-services.html Ars has also posted a review of the major video hosting services (fox, abc, cbs, and nbc/hulu). They like hulu, albeit with some of the same problems you pointed out.

These services are a great example of successfully competing with piracy. Good to see the tv industry is willing to experiment with opening up access to their content in ways that the music industry will not.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080523-hands-on-with-the-major-web-video-services.html

]]> By: Urthstripe http://www.hiddenpeanuts.com/archives/2008/05/23/hulu-netflix-watching-tv-online/comment-page-1/#comment-86058 Urthstripe Sun, 25 May 2008 20:13:44 +0000 http://www.hiddenpeanuts.com/?p=561#comment-86058 Hulu has all three seasons of Arrested Development. This is all anyone should want or need in life. Hulu has all three seasons of Arrested Development. This is all anyone should want or need in life.

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