Update: Netflix now says it incorrectly told CNet that 1080p is in its roadmap for this year. Surround Sound and closed captioning are in the works, but 1080p will not be introduced in 2010. Original story below.
Netflix will support 1080p video streaming later this year according to one report, even as the company downplays the importance of HD in another.
Without naming sources, CNet says Netflix will rollout 1080p video streaming and 5.1 Surround Sound this year, though no other details were given. We don’t know how much of Netflix’s content will appear in 1080p or what the bandwidth requirements will be. Currently, Netflix offers some of its Instant Watch library in 720p, requiring a connection speed of 7 Mbps to 10 Mbps.
What’s interesting is that on the same day CNet published this report, the Wiire posted an interview with Netflix spokesman Steve Swasey explaining that HD video isn’t that important. He noted that one out of every 17 titles streamed to the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 are in HD, but only 720p. “So, the HD experience at Netflix Instant Watching isn’t that overwhelming. It’s a little bit underwhelming. So the Wii folks aren’t going to miss that much,” Swasey said.
I don’t think Swasey’s comments invalidate CNet’s report. He’s speaking to a publication for Wii enthusiasts, so of course he doesn’t want to talk up HD streaming as a big deal to an audience whose console tops out at 480p.
Still, this suggests that Netflix isn’t going to push high definition streaming — whether it’s 720p or 1080p — anytime soon. With the Wii’s huge install base, it makes sense for Netflix to see how many of those people use the console for streaming before spending huge sums of money to license lots of HD content. With so few titles currently available in HD on instant streaming, Netflix doesn’t seem to be in a rush anyway.
Similar posts:
8 Comments
1080p streaming would be nice.
It'll be interesting to see how they get >20Mbps out to everyone
Even if it's heavily compressed video & audio.
|
Originally Posted by Im a PC
Yeah, you might get 1080p, but the bit rate will make it look like ass.
|
Generally, internet sites will stream at constant bitrate, because it's the easiest to work with in regards to buffer management, it constrains the minimum and maximum bandwidth requirement, but it also provides the lowest video quality too.
My crappy ADSL2+ connection only gets me between 5-7Mbps in Oz ... and the exchange is less than 500m away (line of sight).
I occasionally get interruptions (pauses/non-responsive browser) streaming crappy SD video over a 1hr episode from australian sites.
|
Originally Posted by GWolfman
At this point I'd actually want captions and 5.1 with 720p than 1080p without captions and 5.1!!!
|
|
Originally Posted by JaredNewman
Netflix may get 1080p video streaming.
[newsimage]http://static.myce.com/images_posts/2010/02/tCNqA7.jpg[/newsimage]Netflix will support 1080p video streaming later this year according to one report, even as the company downplays the importance of HD in another. Read the full article here: http://www.myce.com/news/netflix-may...reaming-25798/ Please note that the reactions from the complete site will be synched below. |
About this category
Online Video
- More and more people take out their camcorder or mobile phone to eventually share videos on online platforms like YouTube. Learn what online video can do for you!More about this
Most popular headlines
Microsoft releases Windows 7 SP1 Beta (5)
- Thu 29 Jul 00:12 by wconeybeer
- Software
Microsoft has officially launched the public beta test for Windows 7 Service Pack 1, an update package for the Windows 7 operating system that includes an array of updates and fixes for issues that have been discovered since the software began shipping.
Seagate: Hybrid SSD-HDDs will rule the future (5)
- Tue 27 Jul 02:29 by wconeybeer
- Hard Disk Drives, Industry
The future of hard disk drives will be flash hybrids, according to a high ranking Seagate executive. The statement regarding the predicted popularity of the hybrid drives coincides with the release of the company’s new Momentus XT drive, which is being billed as the world’s fastest 2.5” hard drive.
CD era one step closer to retirement? (19)
- Fri 23 Jul 00:00 by Randomus
- Music
The music industry continues to struggle as it looks for ways to close the technological gap that has seen CD sales continue to slide.
Foremay ships world's largest 2TB SSD (11)
- Mon 26 Jul 20:30 by Randomus
- Solid State (ssd)
Foremay has introduced a 1TB 2.5" SATA solid-state drive alongside the industry-leading 2TB 3.5" SATA SSD, as the company expects to see an increased demand in SSD products for the enterprise.
