Hasta La Gadget!

Yesterday it was the Nintendo Wii, today PlayStation 3 owners are the ones who get to enjoy streaming video from Netflix without leaving their couches, and without having to keep the Netflix disc in their DVD trays. Just fire up your PlayStation 3, head to the XrossMediaBar (XMB,) and you should see the Netflix app there, ready to download.

Once you have it installed on your PS3, the disc will no longer work. You’re free to use it as a Frisbee or a coaster for those drinks you can enjoy now that you don’t have to get up to watch a movie. At least PS3 owners will be able to enjoy streaming video in beautiful 1080p HD with Dolby 5.1 channel surround sound, something Wii owners sadly didn’t get yesterday, but that’s more Nintendo’s problem to solve than Netflix’s.

As promised, the new discless Netflix app for Sony’s PlayStation 3 is rolling out across the land, so all should see a convenient icon under the video tab on the XMB, leading directly to movies in 1080p with 5.1 audio. As for those old discs? Just in case you were feeling attached to the old way of doing things there is a 31 day transition period before they expire and stop working completely, however our tipster informs us once he downloaded the app he was never able to use the disc again. It certainly seems like an easy trade, but you may want to consider… nothing, there’s absolutely nothing to consider. Click the X button to download, then enjoy your new coaster and National Chocolate Cupcake Day. No, really.

[Thanks, Chris]

PlayStation 3 Netflix update hitting XMBs across the USA, say goodbye to the discs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 16:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation 3 just leapfrogged Xbox 360 and snagged the best Netflix experience on a videogame console yet.

The new Netflix application for PS3, rolling out for download Monday, will enable Netflix subscribers with PS3s to watch movies and TV without a disc. Some titles will even stream in 1080i HD and 5.1 digital surround sound.

Netflix’s “Watch Instantly” streaming-video feature has been available for PS3 since late last year, but it required a Blu-ray disc in order to access the service. Now, by running Watch Instantly as a native PS3 app on the console, users can ditch the disc altogether. Netflix also has a new user interface, optimized for the PS3 controller’s analog joysticks.

In the new UI, search especially seems smartly designed for the PS3 controller, using an alphabetical grid and intelligent auto-complete to minimize the pain of text entry, as seen in this still:

Still from Sony PS3 promotional video.

I even like the way the controller buttons control common text-entry commands in context — like Space, Delete and Enter. There are keyboards available for PS3, but being able to use the controller well is a real asset.

Netflix has not only continued to bring its streaming service to seemingly every device with a screen, but to make that service better. Still, among consoles, the announced PS3 app stands out: Xbox users don’t have 1080i or surround sound, and Wii users have only now added search to their service, which still requires an “Instant Streaming” disc.

Adding media services has become part of the continued rivalry between Xbox and PS3, along with new motion-capture interaction devices like PlayStation’s Move controller and Xbox’s Kinect.

Besides videogame consoles, Netflix can now stream to personal computers on Windows and Mac; TiVo, HD, Roku, Logitech and Apple TV boxes; Windows Phone 7 and all iOS devices; and a wide array of net-connected TVs and Blu-Ray players, including those using Google TV.

Roku’s players, which began as Netflix-only boxes, will soon be available in retail stores through a partnership with Netgear.

Netflix on PS3: Disc-free Next Week [Playstation Blog]

See Also:

• DVD Anywhere: Netflix Arrives on iPhone, and Doesn’t Disappoint
• Netflix Streaming on iPad
• Wired 10.12: The Netflix Effect
• Netflix Streaming to PlayStation 3 in November
• Netflix Streaming Comes to the Wii
• Netflix Streaming Exclusive to Xbox 360, For Now
• Netflix Everywhere: Sorry Cable, You’re History

It’s not quite a common practice just yet, but it looks like the PlayStation 3 could be following in the PSP’s footsteps in order to get around folks jailbreaking the device. As MCV reports, anyone buying Electronic Arts’ new “Medal of Honor” game will first have to update their PS3 to the latest 3.50 firmware (conveniently provided on the disc) before playing — that firmware also, of course, has the convenient side effect of blocking the ability to jailbreak the console. No word on any other games that will follow suit, but we have sneaking suspicion that this is something PS3 users will have to get used to.

PS3 goes the PSP route to thwart jailbreakers: Medal of Honor requires latest firmware originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 16:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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