Best streaming media player for use with Netflix / Hulu in NZ?

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lchiu7

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#562304 28-Dec-2011 23:08

+1. I also use the PS3 for my main streaming viewing needs. This is for Netflix. Hulu+ and Vudu. For Netflix and Hulu+ you have no control over the quality since the servers adjust their quality based on the connection speed. For Vudu though you can choose SD, HD or HDX. HD is about 720P while HDX is 1080P. I have tried 1080P but it often causes buffering and given the increase in bandwidth charges and cost for the movie, it's hardly worth it.

I also watch Netflix and Hulu+ on my Nexus One and Netflix on my Motorola Xoom.

Since I want to be able to watch streaming TV in my main HT room I have also invested in a Roku HD box that also apparently does Amazon Prime which looks like it has a good selection of movies.

I was hoping to do a bit of movie watching during the TCL free weekend but as has been reported, the massive increase in usage caused most streaming services to perform pretty poorly.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

pryannz

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#564152 3-Jan-2012 22:54

Xbox 360 worked a treat for Netflix and Hulu. My VPN link is only 2-3Mbps but that is fine for streaming SD video without buffering.

The Netflix app is pretty fuctional and Kinect makes it interesting. I found the who swipe your hand to navigate the Netflix app to be cumbersome but that could be that i calibrated Kinect whilst standing but when watching movies I am seated? The voice commands " xbox Netflix" "xbox play" "xbox stop" etc works very well and will only get better.

I also tested out the Zune video marketplace and watched Rise of the planet of the apes in SD for 320 MS dollars or $4 USD. Good movie. It too streamed without issue.

On the downside I found using it as an extender to Windows Media Centre to be problematic... could be due to my movie library. Hopefully MS have something in the works for the whole extender concept. I also found the built in wifi to be a tad on the weak side and no 802.11N 5GHz. My wireless router is about 15m and a wall away.

Overall impressed with the xbox 360 and it fits the bill... must work on how to get those other streaming channels like Revision 3 and Twit TV however and then it will be a complete solution for me.

P.s. Even plugged my wireless keyboard in and it worked fine.

billgates

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#564157 3-Jan-2012 23:05

^ good to hear. which VPN service are you using with your xbox? did you create a US gamertag and bpught xbox live gold subscription for it as well?

Do whatever you want to do man.

pryannz

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#564213 4-Jan-2012 08:59

Yes thanks Bill. StrongVPN is the provider http://www.strongvpn.com/. I had to get an Xbox gold membership to use the premium services like Netflix / Hulu.

Because MS don't allow you to change the country associated with your Windows Live ID after you have created it I had to create a US gamer tag (Live ID) as you advised. I then linked this Live ID from https://account.live.com/ (Accounts > Linked ID's) and set this account to forward any emails etc to my primary NZ Live ID. But you can keep it entirely separate.

Dunnersfella - With regards to HD on Netflix / Hulu you don't have the option to select SD or HD it is determined by your link speed. So with my 2-3Mbps VPN link I'll only ever get SD at best. With the Zune video marketplace you can select SD or HD but if you selected HD on a <5 Mbps link I would imagine it would buffer like crazy and be unwatchable and you would probably blow your data cap after about 2-3 movies... I haven't tried this.

lchiu7

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#564292 4-Jan-2012 12:08

I don't use a VPN but the unblock server.

As you note both Netflix and Hulu adjust the quality based on the link speed. For Netflix on my PS3 I often turn on the info to see what the quality is. It usually starts up as Low/SD (this depends on the source of course) and I regularly see Med/HD on HD content with 5.1 audio. I would never see High/HD since I think that is 1080P and my set doesn't support that.

On Vudu you can select the quality level from SD, HD and HDX. HD is 720P and HDX 1080P. I can stream HD without a problem usually and I have tried HDX on sample clips but it does stutter a bit. But HD is pretty good, especially with DD+ audio also.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

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