How Would You Change Sony’s Netflix Experience?
If you own a Sony BRAVIA (W5100, Z5100, XBR9, and XBR10 or the Internet Video Link), Blu-ray player (N460), or PS3, you may have used the relatively new Netflix streaming application. Having Netflix “watch instantly” (aka instant queue) on your Sony product enables you to instantly stream movies and TV episodes from Netflix’s varied library of content. Sony impressed me with their Netflix integration by giving it styling just like other Sony menu options from the XMB – which ensured that the customer had some sort of familiarity with the interface upon entering it.
Now that the service has been out for nearly a month, what changes do you feel Sony should make to their Netflix integration?
“How Would You Change Sony's Netflix Experience?”
Change it so that I can use it.
-David Mackenzie,
Glasgow, United Kingdom.
A couple weeks ago, I bought a Sony 460 BD player. That's the model with NetFlix and all the other Internet access. Fortunately I kept my Sony BX2. The NetFlix experience with the 460 was terrible. It kept trying to up scale the movies to 1080/60p instead of …. It will then up convert everything to 1080p. My S350 does the same thing. The only way I see to avoid it would be to change the resolution each time
I bought a W5100 in late-August to replace the bedroom TV. With Netflix Instant Queue, I figured I could get rid of the DVR and the satellite receiver. This TV has hung on the opposite wall waiting for Sony to add this support (which they announced in July). It's been working great on the PS3, but until I read this post I didn't realize the Bravia widget was just two update screens from working.
Ten minutes later, I'm watching Netflix on this tv. Picture quality is as-good as my laptop or PS3, but not nearly as good as the Amazon Movie Service (which are Blu-Ray quality on-demand). Still, I think it met my goals. Time to unplug the old TV and pack those clunky peripherals in a closet.
A couple weeks ago, I bought a Sony 460 BD player. That's the model with NetFlix and all the other Internet access. Fortunately I kept my Sony BX2. The NetFlix experience with the 460 was terrible. It kept trying to up scale the movies to 1080/60p instead of …. It will then up convert everything to 1080p. My S350 does the same thing. The only way I see to avoid it would be to change the resolution each time
I bought a W5100 in late-August to replace the bedroom TV. With Netflix Instant Queue, I figured I could get rid of the DVR and the satellite receiver. This TV has hung on the opposite wall waiting for Sony to add this support (which they announced in July). It's been working great on the PS3, but until I read this post I didn't realize the Bravia widget was just two update screens from working.
Ten minutes later, I'm watching Netflix on this tv. Picture quality is as-good as my laptop or PS3, but not nearly as good as the Amazon Movie Service (which are Blu-Ray quality on-demand). Still, I think it met my goals. Time to unplug the old TV and pack those clunky peripherals in a closet.
Will the next generation 32″ XBR's have the widgets. I need no larger than a 32″ at this time and want that feature. I was going to buy the XBR9 now that they are commonly sold for $600, but would wait.
Amazon Movie Service is not Blue-Ray quality. It's HD content is 720p which is pretty different than the 1080p resolution on Blu-Ray
Amazon Movie Service is not Blue-Ray quality. It's HD content is 720p which is pretty different than the 1080p resolution on Blu-Ray
I had a Samsung Blu-Ray player for Netflix streaming, it kept freezing up so I returned it an bought a Sony N460 thinking my problem was solved. It freezes with a bar across the botom of the screen saying “connecting”, after two or three minutes (an eternity when you are waiting to watch a movie) it starts again only to repeat the cycle a few seconds later. Sometimes you can watch an entire move with no trouble. I think I will return this and get away from Netflix streaming until the problem is fixed.
You should be able to get the new releases on Netflix “watch instantly”.
It worked good when I got this TV at the end of November. Now I can't make it through a movie without it pausing very frequently. Sometimes when it plays again the sound and video are not synced. Today I tried to watch a movie but it was just too hard to watch, very “notchy” movements, definitely not the full FPS. I have cable internet with a direct connection to the TV so Its definitely not my connection.
sounds like you have an internet bandwidth problem…i stream flawlessly on my cox cable connection.
try a bandwidth test on your cable connection…stuttering can only be due to lack of bandwidth
I have a Samsung Blu-Ray player and the Netflix picture quality is DVD quality. I recently bought a Sony blu-ray player and the Netflix picture quality pales in comparison to the quality of the Samsung. It is a real dissapointment. I think I'll sell it and buy another Samsung blu ray player, unless Sony releases a new software update that will correct this problem.
I have a Samsung Blu-Ray player and the Netflix picture quality is DVD quality. I recently bought a Sony blu-ray player and the Netflix picture quality pales in comparison to the quality of the Samsung. It is a real dissapointment. I think I'll sell it and buy another Samsung blu ray player, unless Sony releases a new software update that will correct this problem.
When I bought my Sony XBR9 in November, streaming Netflix was awesome. Over the past several months, the move quality is terrible and movies start and stop every two or 3 seconds. I have a Sony BluRay and it is the same deal on that also. Yet I can watch Netflix on my HP computer WIRELESSLY with HD picture quality and no buffering stops. I have bought Sony gear my whole life, but wouldn't recommend a Sony internet ready TV to anyone and I will never purchase one again.