Need to partner up with NetFlix

[jadedinaz]

NetFlix and Tivo finalized their partnership today to stream NetFlix movies to Tivo or download to Tivo for later viewing. SnapStream needs to be proactive and hop on this quick. Neither has signed an exclusive deal and NetFlix's catalog is much bigger than the SnapStream vendors they have now. Meaning either partner can also partner with other players.

[Eric3a]

I don't get the point of NetFLix (or other services).... I use BTV so I can record all the stuff I want to see and don't need to pay anything more.

I really don't understand why I should pay extra money to download a lower quality film that I can't keep when I can just wait a few months and record it in high quality using my normal BTV/sat/cable subscription and keep it forever.
I may be missing the boat completely but the concept escapes me completely and just sounds like marketing ".com" hype.

Eric

[btvbuddy]

Your point is right on target, what you are seeing is the positioning of media players to enable a NEW delivery platform where you WILL be required to PAY based on your use. Right now you pay for a single cable plan or satellite plan but in the future they want you to pay per item you watch. Of course, these will be available in HIREZ NTSC or HDTV so you will want it because quite possibly all your recordings are at LOW mpeg rates or LOW REZ divx or WMV. The media content owners are smart and are planning ahead so we can all see that must-see TV in all it's hirez download on-demand glory!

So, what should you do about this coming platform? If you use Beyond TV right now then support SnapStream! GO to the store and buy something- some cables or another tuner for your 3.5. Totally serious, support SnapStream because the future may come with higher costs.

[darkuni]

I'll never order and watch a movie over the internet. Most people I know feel the same way, but there are a LOT of people (obvious, or this stuff would have died out a LONG time ago) that appear to want it.

That being said, I'd like to make sure that Tivo never has something we BTV people don't have I won't use it, but others will.

What I'd MUCH rather see is a NetFlix plugin in the forthcoming BEYOND MEDIA package so that I can queue up DVD rentals from NetFlix with a nice clean TV interface.

[btvbuddy]

Seems TIVO is a pretty closed system. Beyond TV is more open. This may be one of the many reasons that people are drawn to SnapStream and also to building their own PVR's. There is a very healthy community of homebrew builder type that are not just willing to buy Beyond TV but then also continue to play around with Sage TV and others. The fact that 3.5 has a open API is also very very good in terms of where it's going, we only need developers to come forward and do their share using the API and building stuff.

A open API from TIVO, I just do not think it will happen. Alot is happening right now, so for now we should enjoy it and support SnapStream.

[darkuni]

I'm hoping the API gets some usage. I can't develop for it, but hopefully others will.

Tivo is totally closed and for an archiver like myself, just not worthwhile.

Its funny; Tivo is trying to present themselves as 'good guys' with some forthcoming features; like sending x copies of shows to x number of friends (all tied to your PC and theirs - DRM to the max). What's really disturbing are reports that Tivo is starting to work closely with content providers on things that are anti-Tivo in nature. PREVENTING FFW/REW during captured shows (at least during commercials). Forcing unskippable for-pay advertisements IN FRONT OF your captured shows - things like that. Locking out certain shows like HBO original programming, etc. Sort of defeats the purpose doesn't it?

[Eric3a]

I guess the plan for many is indeed to have a full "pay per view" TV. But I don't believe it can succeed in large numbers because consumers are used to "packages" and plans. It will appeal to a small portion of the population maybe but full "pay as you go" TV is not for all I believe.

Certainly not for me.
I want to flip the TV on and have something on. Not wonder through a program guide and wonder how much this program is going to cost me and if it's worth it...

I decided to look at HDTV some more recently, and sure they look good in the shops. But I also found out (Hadn't realized until then) that their nominal viewing distances don't work in most home settings, and certainly not at my house. I think the recommended distance to view HDTV is about 3 times the height of the screen... So viewing distance of 3 to 4 feet for the affordable screens are the norm. (I think it's about 7 times for SD TV).

And if you don't watch your HDTV at the correct distance, the advantage over SD TV gets slimmer and slimmer the further away from it.

My point here is that the all HDTV, all "on-demand" over cable, internet or wifi is a long shot.

And yes, supporting Snapstream is a way to continue give us a much better alternative.
Eric

[flavius]

I'm wondering what Comcast is going to to tell me, if I start downloading 4 or 5 gig a day ..

[grot]

netflix on demand - which is different than the normal netflix service, is ridiculous.

I can get an average of 20-25 dvd's through netflix in a month for my 20 bucks. 20 * 8gigs is 160 gigabytes.

Now figure out how long that would take you to download on your cablemodem (and see if you don't get shutoff).

Of course, you aren't going to get the DVD, your going to get a compressed, 700mbps file, usually at NTSC resolutions, often with letterboxing bars. In this case, you would actually be better off recording it off digital cable with Snapstream. Really, I've done it with MovieLink, and it's better off cable.

NetFlix as a DVD service is AWESOME, I could care less about it as an on-demand service.

Remember, the single fastest data transmission system in the world remains a 747 full of DVD's in the cargo bay. Do the math.

[darkuni]

Yeah, I did the math once. With Netflix, I get movies for roughly $1.39 each. That's anamorphic, with extras, sometimes even DTS. Easy as going to my mailbox.

Now, we look at 3.99 a movie - time for it to download, crappy overcompressed formats, no extras ...

Makes absolutely ZERO sense.

[Eric3a]

I'm wondering what Comcast is going to to tell me, if I start downloading 4 or 5 gig a day ..

I know exactly. They'll point to some small print on your contract. Say that you're downloading "too much" yet won't tell you tht you have a limit or how much you're allowed per day.
Got rid of them a while ago and I am very happy to have ditched them.

Have a look at:
Help: Download Program guide data with no internet connection?

Eric

[darkuni]

Yeah, I've heard of cable internet providers just outright cancelling service with ZERO notification or discussion with the customers because of "excessive usage". That ain't right.

If you promise me 7MB down and 768k up, I should be able to FULLY utilize that connection 24/7 - after all, that's what I'm paying for.

I ended up going with a third party cable modem when I first got on to Cox@Home. This was back in the 3MB/256k days. All was well for about 4 months. Then, all the sudden, when I peaked up the connection both ways, I was physically KICKED off the network and for at least a minute, I was disconnected. As long as I didn't up and down at the same time or not max out my connection, it was fine. To make a long story short, they declared my modem wasn't good enough (weird, it worked for 3 or 4 months before now) and "sold" me their in-house approved modem, and I've been good ever since. Imagine trying to get Level 1 and Level 2 customer service to understand your connection goes out when you use it too much... It was a big, ugly thing ...

[noodleNT]

Sign up for the Beyond Media Beta.

[darkuni]

You know, Beyond Media is coming along nicely. I won't talk about specifics (I've already been hollared at), but I'm getting more hopeful. Still need video playlisting tho ...