Sony won't ape NXE, no plans for Netflix on PS3

by Randy Nelson on Dec 9th 2008 4:20PM

According to Sony, there's nothing wrong with the Current PlayStation Experience (CPE). In an interview with GamePro, SCEA's hardware guru, John Kohler, said that the company has no plans to make any "grand-scale changes" to the PS3's XrossMediaBar interface, a la the New Xbox Experience.

"We haven't had many navigation complaints about the XMB interface, so the XMB will be a part of PlayStation products moving forward," Kohler said. "That doesn't mean we're closed off to changing certain parts of it – there are areas in which we can certainly improve, and we look to do so in the future."

But what about one of our fave features of the NXE: Netflix Instant Queue streaming? "We've concentrated most of our efforts on our download service, both rentals and downloads of movies and TV shows," Kohler responded when asked about the potential for Netflix on PS3, adding, "Our efforts will continue to be there, because our customers want to own the content." How about "own some content," for reality's sake?

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

Source

Tags: netflix, new-xbox-experience, nxe, PS3, xmb, xross-media-bar

Reader Comments (93)

Don't most PS3 owners just watch shit off hulu anyways?

I watch a lot off hulu that way, but I'm still very disappointed. I'd prefer to be able to stream NetFlix through my PS3 as well. At least I have it on 360 I guess.

wasn't there already a way to use the ps3 and 360 to stream netflix before the nxe?

Or you can just use PlayOn to play Netflix on your PS3. The DLNA and built-in Flash browser(w/full screen) opens up many options.

@j.howlett: Yes, and I'm amazed how so many people continue to ignore this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVD-AEScb0o

The 360 could do it too (before NXE). Now, I myself haven't done this because Netflix doesn't service Canada. I go to Hulu once in a while on my PC via proxy, but yeah, it's all good.

Sony has to get the downloads out of the ps3 as long as possible, the future Phil Harrison foresaw a couple years ago is here, and optical media is pretty much a remnant of the past generation, Both Nintendo and Microsoft are making tons of money using game downloads, and Sony has a ton of competition in movie-related stuff that Sony can't really get to it for one reason:

Bluray.

Using the PS3 as a troyan horse for the format wars is costing Sony so much, lost the momentum the PS2, slow bluray sales, skipping the online movies store move and sticking to optical media, they won't address the issue until the PS4 gears start moving.

And the PS3 interface is pretty good, if something, it's too clean and simple,but how is that bad? and hopefully they won't listen to critics and replace it with Home and mess with it. The xbox360 really needed that overhaul, the menus were overcrowded, too juvenile "in your face" metallic accents and probably the netflix addon wasn't able to have a simple way to work. Now, it's clean, updated everything is at reach without looking so old, and the most important thing is FAST, you don't need to spend unnecessary minutes there while using content you bought.

And that's all I have to say about it.

nothing wrong with the XMB, you can change the look yourself just by adding a theme

and even with the NXE the XMB is still easier to navigate imo

I agree, the XMB navigation works great. NXE is great and all, but they really need to let you take off more of the channel things. I don't care about GAMERCHIX having a game day, or half the other shit they try to tell me about.

I agree. Xbox Live needs to stop promoting lame contests with lame prizes like, "Win a chance to play with the PMS Clan!"

Yeah. No thanks. How about a real prize?

Hopefully in the next update they give us something to customize channels with. All I want to see is the play game, media center, my profile, and the game marketplace.

@CTC

Or you could just use the new guide/blades to navigate if you are don't want to see adds. It's also quicker IMO.

The NXE doesn't really have ads, only the news channel that shows you about new content and competitions and stuff. It's a little unfair to just label it all as ads, although I agree there should definitely be a way to remove the channel, or at least make the the dashboard boot to the the My Xbox channel instead.

I agree. I find XMB to be extremely easy to navigate. It's very easy to find what you want, and it doesn't take much to get there. I wouldn't mind a little more info being shown like Hard Disk free space.

"I wouldn't mind a little more info being shown like Hard Disk free space."

Go to system settings, then system information, and you will see what your total HDD space was and what you currently have left.

I really like the XMB, but I would love more in the way of avatars. The ones they have are mostly terrible.

Indeed, I prefer XMB to NXE anyday, and I prefer DLNA to NetFLix, with DLNA and Fullscreen Flash9 in the browser, I can watch any of many services, including Hulu, BBC iPlayer, NetFlix (PlayOn server requried), YouTube, and countless others.

Infact, take it another step, and install Linux too, and I can download shows on Bittorrent on my PS3, and them watch them using Mplayer.

Beat than Xbox...

/agree with lee.

XMB is already so brilliant, and you get the same familiar interface on many devices. On the other hand, I always hated Dashboard.

Like the saying goes "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

True, the only thing Sony really needs to do to compete with MS's last update is to either to somehow be involved with Netflix or fix up the PSN video store. Other than that, the XMB is fine.

Today I was informed that Madagascar 2 is the Best Buy Family game of the month...I'm pretty sure that's an ad.

I could care less about Chumpvision quality movies on my Panny. Blockbuster is rumored to be teaming up with Sony, and if they do....good news for those of you who want Chumpvision quality.

As for the XMB, I like it fine the way it is. An added feature here or there will be fine too.

Chumpvision? You mean all the HD content that I can stream from Netflix to my Sammy? You're a sad, strange little man. You have my pity.

P.S.

Watching the Legend of Zelda series on my Xbox 360 is deliciously satisfying. Well, excuuuuse me, Prin...Killjebus.

The "HD" you download from Netflix via stream is really about the same as a standard TV broadcast after accounting for compression and what not.

If you want to see good HD you need a blu-ray player. If you want to see the best HD you need an antenna and a 1080i broadcast.

Clearly a case of sour grapes with you... Sony would be stupid not to team up with Netflix or Blockbuster. Perhaps it ain't BD quality, but with rentals, convenience trumps quality.
And I have no clue who "our customers" are that Sony refers to as wanting to "own" DL movies. There's no such thing as owning a DL, since they control where you store it, whether you can move it to another device, and if you lose your HDD, they have the final say whther they let you DL it again. Ownership indeed. For movies I want to own, it's physical media only. For rentals, Netflix account with BD, combined with streaming on the 360 FTW.
As always, SONY is just watching on the sidelines while its competitors make the $$$.

I HAVE a Blu-ray player, sometimes it even plays games. And don't worry guys, this is par for the course for Sony. They'll copy it soon enough.

So exactly what money is Microsoft making from the Netflix streaming deal?

The HD Netflix is actually fairly nice. I've compared it to regular DVDs, Blu-ray disks and live TV from my DVR.

Honestly, HD Netflix does look better than TV from my DVR, but Blu-ray disks have quality written all over them. However, considering Blu-ray disks cost $20-35 or you have to wait for them to come in the mail from Netflix, it's a lot faster to stream HD-quality movies.

The quality is fine. It's there and it's instant. If I want better quality I just add a physical movie to my queue and wait for it. You're a just a bitter sony tard

"And don't worry guys, this is par for the course for Sony. They'll copy it soon enough."

Right WRE, Sony is the ONLY company EVAR to copy another company AND Microsoft has NEVER EVAR copied anyone. All of the companies that they have pummeled out of existence by buying them out or strong-arming them to submission NEVER EVAR HAPPENED.

Give it a rest with the Copy BS, you are about as original in the anti-Sony bits as Asshat is.

"The "HD" you download from Netflix via stream is really about the same as a standard TV broadcast after accounting for compression and what not."

Shaggy, you know FACTS are no good for WRE. I always get a good chuckle when some ignorant ass thinks the "HD" they are streaming is anywhere near Blu-ray quality for the picture let alone the SOUND.

Anyone that's used it knows that it's a cool service and the quality is pretty good. Only guys like Killjebus and Shag, who haven't actually tried it, are bashing it.

Whoa. Did I strike a chord, Killjebus? It's also kind of pathetic that you haven't actually used the service but love Sony so much you'll make an ass out of yourself to prove your loyalty. A loyalty which will, sadly, never be noticed or reciprocated.

And the quality is at least as good as the HD channels I get if not quite so good as my PS3s blu-ray player. But it's still pretty damn good.

Functionally it may be ok, but it is bland and booring. They need to do something with the design of it. Sony won't ever do the netflix thing because they don't make any money from people streaming movies to their ps3's.

Try comparing the XMB to Windows 95 and we'll see who's bland and boring.

Yeah, not nearly enough ads on the XMB.

Why fix what's not broken?

Then again, niether were the blades, so who knows

They just weren't shiny any more.

Agreed. I don't think its broken at all. The XMB is easy to navigate and clean looking. I like it just fine. Especially since there is no clutter in it.

Netflix support would be great...but I've heard that you're only getting the instant movies, anyway. If that's true, then it's not THAT amazing. However, a plus nonetheless...and it would truly be appreciated.

I'm signed up for the lowest "unlimited Web Access" plan and I get unlimited streaming and 1 disc at a time.

If you are a fan of movies, then there is plenty to like in the watch instantly area of netflix. Sure it doesn't have all of the latest big budget flicks but there are literally tons of movies that I have wanted to see but couldn't bring my self to rent in case I didn't like it. If you try opening your mind to new experiences than you will find plenty of things to keep you busy! I am personally addicted to streaming netflix. :)

Thanks to netflix and xbox, I can now watch Hudson Hawk without publicly exchanging money for it

Oh, I love film. It's definitely my favorite medium...and I barely pay attention to Hollywood movies, anyway (Wong Kar Wai, woohoo!!!). But, yeah...out of all the movies in my queue, less than a quarter are streaming. It's most likely getting better now, though.

ps3 user can do this as well. playon anyone? not to mention on ps3 can stream these movie for free anyway. megavideo anyone? it's not really that big of a deal. nice if you already had a netflix account but otherwise just another way to take your money for a service you never use.

Netflix will help sell Xbox Live Gold, and maybe some consoles. PSN is free so Sony won't make any money from streaming.

Uh... why couldn't they just take a piece of the pie from each Netflix Account activated / monthly fee paid through their box? Your lack of logic is disturbing.

Because Netflix is trying to make money too...?

They both make money. That's how partnerships work.

It would all really depend on what the profit margin on a Netflix subscription is. On top of that, Netflix already gives Sony money for the rights to their catalog, so it's a bit messy.

I only want to own the content if 1) it's HD, and 2) if I can download it over and over again to save space as needed. If not, Netflix is a lot more cost effective for me whose only drawback are some holes in the library, a problem echoed on PSN and Marketplace as well. And of course it's not coming to PS3... the Netflix CEO is a member of the board at Microsoft as of last year.

Netflix never appealed to me considered we have ::coughshardtorrentscoughshard:: . . . o boy bad cough.

Yeah I hear you, but Netflix works everytime, is legal, doesn't require Hard Disk space, and works INSTANTANEOUSLY! Plus, it's available in HD... hardly 'Chumpvision'. Unless you have a crummy broadband connection, like KillJebus does, it looks and sounds like a DVD is the case of SD, or like the HD content available on PSN and Marketplace (720p).

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Sony won't ape NXE, no plans for Netflix on PS3

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