Best Video Streaming Service?

Professor Snugglesworth

There are so many video subscription services these days: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and probably a billion others.

So I was just looking for opinions on which service was the best overall, in regards to value, content, HD quality, and so on.

Since Netflix is on the majority of devices out there, and the Wii U apparently has a really good program for it, I was thinking of going with that, but I still want to hear any possible counterarguments that might make the others more favorable.

And last I checked, there was a limit to how many devices you can register Netflix on, right? Or has that changed?

Xenogears of Bore

Amazon is a good deal if you buy from Amazon a lot for the free two day shipping. It's got a small but ever growing library. Unfortunately it seems to overlap with Netflix a lot and its programs generally aren't as good as Netflix's.

I hate Hulu Plus and find it a terrible ripoff but some people must have their next day shows and shitty pool of movies.

I think Netflix used to impose a strict device cap but now what they care about more is how many devices you have connected at any given time. It's what, 2 for barebones digital package and 3-5 for a multi disc plan?

Essee

Hulu seems to be pretty decent without Hulu Plus, and I'm not sure subscribing to it is worth it at the moment. Otherwise, depends on your taste, I've gathered. (I haven't subscribed to anything yet since I'm still getting by on free stuff because of what I tend to watch.) What sort of stuff do you like to watch?

Professor Snugglesworth

I am an Amazon Prime member, but only tried their streaming service a couple of times. Seems to be mostly SD stuff last I checked, and nothing as far as new releases.

Does Amazon still do physical discs in the mail? I used them a couple of times in the past when Blu rays were new and Blockbuster was taking too long to play ball. I only know about the $7.50 a month service, which two of my friends have. Seems decent, but again doesn't have every new release, or even every old one.

Jebus314

Pretty much agree with the above. Hulu seems to dominate the recent tv selection, with hulu plus giving you the next day option, and older seasons. Since I don't care if I'm a week behind I just use the free hulu part.

Netflix has the largest selection of movies that I've seen. There's a fair mix of newer/older/weird movies on there. Usually about a 50/50 chance that the movie I'm looking for is available for streaming.

Amazon prime has a small but growing selection of tv/movies. I haven't checked in a while (6 months or so), but I found it to be pretty unimpressive, to the point that I don't even bother searching it most of the time.

Rentals is a whole different ballgame though. Amazon has pretty much all the new movies/tv seasons available for streaming. With the caveat that for some stupid reason you can't rent an HD movie, and watch it on a computer. You have to watch it on an xbox/amazon approved device. This plus redbox for $1ish dvd rentals is everything I need. Vudu is another popular streaming rental service, but I haven't really checked that one out yet.

Professor Snugglesworth

Does Netflix also have a resume feature that lets you watch a movie on one device, stop it and pick up where you left off in another?

Think I'll try the free one month trial advertised on the Wii U and find out for myself.

DevoutlyApathetic

Yea, it will keep track of where you are in a movie/episode and a series. Amazon's Prime app does not do that anywhere near as nicely and not at all with regard to series progress.

Professor Snugglesworth

Alright, sounds good. And by chance is there some sort of offline cache you could do to watch the movie in a place where there's no WiFi hotspot?

Lastly, what is Netflix's policies/restrictions regarding new releases? Will they always get the next big movie day and date with its physical release? Are there certain restrictions from movie companies or television producers regarding certain movies and shows that Netflix won't provide?

Daenris

I'm not sure but I don't believe Netflix has anything to enable offline viewing. I mean, there is some limited buffering going on while you're streaming something, so if you lose internet for a few seconds it'll keep playing, but I don't think you can buffer an entire film and then watch it without being connected.

Also, you probably shouldn't go in expecting to be able to watch most new releases on Netflix streaming. Newly released movies -- especially mainstream ones -- tend to take awhile to get added to Netflix, if at all. If it's important to you to watch new releases right away, then you're pretty much stuck paying for each one individually from some other streaming rental site.

Tofystedeth

Yeah, getting new releases on Netflix is fairly unlikely. Largely because the movie studieos colluded with Blockbuster and the like to keep them off Netflix for a few weeks after release. Even still, their movie and TV show selection is pretty huge.

They do have a resume feature but it's a little bit spotty, at least when you finish an episode on one device and start the next episode on a different device. I've had more trouble with it being an ep behind when I go from my 360 to PC. Going the other way is much more consistantly correct (though I did have it randomly start me at the first episode in the series instead of where I had been the other day).

As far as consoles go, it works on the Wii, though you will of course be limited to SD stuff. Works great on the 360, but you unfortunatey need a Gold Live account to use it.

The Scottish Unicorn

The only streaming service I've really used is Netflix, it usually has the movies or shows that I want to watch. I just like how it's available on just about anything.

Professor Snugglesworth

Messing around with the Netflix free trial, comments about that later. But first, I had a couple of more important questions.

1. How often does Netflix add new movies/shows? Do they follow a strict update schedule, or just add the odd thing here and there whenever they feel like?

2. How many accounts can share one Netflix subscription? I have a fairly big family, including grandparents next door. I'm trying to see if I can convince them to split the cost of a year-long Netflix subscription. If I could convince two others, for example, it would only be $32 each, and so on.

A Google search says Netflix does let you add multiple accounts to one subscription, which gives them access to their own queue lists and such without conflict. What are the restrictions to that? Can they connect through different internet connections (my grandparents have their own internet service separate from mine)? If they register their own devices, does that add to the total device limit pool of the main account?

I also have friends who have Netflix, so could I arrange a similar proposal through them? Just wondering what the restrictions are, how many people can share one account, etc. If I come to them with an offer of splitting the Netflix membership X amount of ways, it would work out for everyone.

Shadowfire

I don't think they can watch at the same time, even if they are on the account. I know I've been watching on the Wii U in the living room before, and when the wife tried to log on with the Wii in the bedroom it wouldn't let her.

Overall, does Netflix have a device limit? We have two tablets, two smartphones, 4 consoles, a Roku, and 3 computers all set up with it.. :P


As for the others, I also have Amazon and like it a bit, but the interface is atrocious. Finding content can be a real chore. On the plus side, it has The West Wing, so there's that. And, if you're a student (or at least have a .edu e-mail address), I believe you can still get Prime for half price. I know mine renewed two months ago at $39.

Great Scott

My understanding of Netflix is that you can install the client on an unlimited number of devices, but you can log in twice (2 simultaneous streams) per login/account.

Djeet

Professor Snugglesworth wrote: »

Messing around with the Netflix free trial, comments about that later. But first, I had a couple of more important questions.

1. How often does Netflix add new movies/shows? Do they follow a strict update schedule, or just add the odd thing here and there whenever they feel like?

2. How many accounts can share one Netflix subscription? I have a fairly big family, including grandparents next door. I'm trying to see if I can convince them to split the cost of a year-long Netflix subscription. If I could convince two others, for example, it would only be $32 each, and so on.

A Google search says Netflix does let you add multiple accounts to one subscription, which gives them access to their own queue lists and such without conflict. What are the restrictions to that? Can they connect through different internet connections (my grandparents have their own internet service separate from mine)? If they register their own devices, does that add to the total device limit pool of the main account?

I also have friends who have Netflix, so could I arrange a similar proposal through them? Just wondering what the restrictions are, how many people can share one account, etc. If I come to them with an offer of splitting the Netflix membership X amount of ways, it would work out for everyone.

1. I don't think there's any regular schedule for when the activate new content, other than for most shows they carry they seem to have all the seasons previous to the current season, though sometimes some seasons are available on disc only (presumably due to streaming licensing rights). Movies come on and drop off per whatever negotiated terms between Netflix and the owner of the licensing rights. They just won Disney movies and shows by outbidding Starz, but that does not go into effect until 2016.

2. In my experience (streaming only account) we can have 2 simultaneous streams, but they both inform suggestions and my parents using it has totally fucked up the suggestions it gives me now. A friend of mine said if you have disc plans you get as many simultaneous streams as you have discs, so a streaming plus 4 disc plan would get your 4 streams (which seems supported by this article: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20055207-17.html).

Professor Snugglesworth

What current plans do they have anyway? I couldn't find out any information on the Netflix site. I couldn't even find out if they still did the physical disc in the mail thing.

Great Scott

Netflix doesn't do the physical disk thing any more... unless you pay extra for it. I think the history is that they tried to spin the DVD mailing service into its own company. This resulted in confusion and complaints, so they backed off on splitting the company.

So now there are two types of subs: DVD and Internet. Any given account can have one or both types.

MichaelLC

Wow, Netflix site looks desperate.

According to this Forbes article, Amazon is expanding it's online offerings soon with a couple of studio deals.

Great Scott

I'm not so sure that will stay the case. Last I read, The Mouse signed an agreement with Netflix. See here for details: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57557189-93/the-skinny-on-netflix-disney-deal-faq/

KalTorak

Is that why Netflix Instant suddenly has a big chunk of Disney movies (Pocahontas, Great Mouse Detective, Nightmare Before Christmas, etc.)?

Anyway, the limit to Netflix devices only kicks in when watching simultaneously, IIRC. It allows at least two different viewers, the last I heard was that if you paid for the plans with more discs then you could also have more simultaneous Instant viewers, but that might have changed.

Also, www.instantwatcher.com is a great site to keep up with Instant Watch's new stuff, what's expiring soon, what's popular, and I prefer the site design to Netflix's UI.

Professor Snugglesworth

So at the very least, you can have two people sharing a Netflix account and logging in simultaneously with no restrictions.

I have a buddy who subscribes to Netflix. Perhaps he'll agree to let me use his account if I pay half of the yearly subscription.

DevoutlyApathetic

MichaelLC wrote: »

Wow, Netflix site looks desperate.

According to this Forbes article, Amazon is expanding it's online offerings soon with a couple of studio deals.

This confuses the hell out of me. The studios are apparently scared of how much leverage the giant Netflix has and what it does for their model and have been hesitant to ink deals with Netflix. Instead they strike deals with super-mega-giant Amazon which has even more leverage and clout.....that'll show that uppity Netflix?

Zoku Gojira

Netflix is the best I've tried, but I also just canceled it a few months back to go all Amazon Prime. I've used the free 2-day shipping a whole bunch, and I like that they now offer Prime members "no rush" shipping as an alternative where they kick a few bucks back to you for use on video rentals.

DevoutlyApathetic wrote: »

This confuses the hell out of me. The studios are apparently scared of how much leverage the giant Netflix has and what it does for their model and have been hesitant to ink deals with Netflix. Instead they strike deals with super-mega-giant Amazon which has even more leverage and clout.....that'll show that uppity Netflix?

Amazon also sells their shows/movies on physical media and instant video, so there's more opportunity to cross-promote between the streaming and purchase-only offerings.

MichaelLC

That was my thought as well.

Streaming Batman? How about a permanent bug in the corner offering to ship the Blu-ray to you next day? One-click ordering of course, so just press the BUY button!

Seems like Netflix still has the most variety and amount of devices it plays on is great. Long-term is unknown for any service.

DevoutlyApathetic

DevoutlyApathetic wrote: »

This confuses the hell out of me. The studios are apparently scared of how much leverage the giant Netflix has and what it does for their model and have been hesitant to ink deals with Netflix. Instead they strike deals with super-mega-giant Amazon which has even more leverage and clout.....that'll show that uppity Netflix?

Amazon also sells their shows/movies on physical media and instant video, so there's more opportunity to cross-promote between the streaming and purchase-only offerings.[/quote]

Well my understanding of the fear of Hollywood of Netflix was that Netflix was so dominating the streaming that they would end up dictating prices to the Studios as the only game in town. That they are trying to prevent that by giving an even larger company with way more control over their content distribution sweetheart deals.....just weird. Amazon is like 23 times the size of Netflix and way more likely to be a problem for them down the road. Though I guess long term thinking isn't Hollywood's strong suit.

To the OP, spending some time playing with www.canistream.it might give you a better idea of who has what.

Professor Snugglesworth

Do all Netflix movies play in stereo only?

Checked out Transformers 3 and immediately stopped. Those kinds of movies you simply need all your speakers working together for the Michael Baysplosions.

Djeet

It's no secret the Netflix is ttrying to eliminate disc service.

Interesting thing I heard about Netflix, the reason why they had such good service (and still do) is they negotiated with ISPs to QoS their traffic.