Experience With Netflix

[Azure]

Shaw is quite capable of offering more than enough bandwidth to do full HD streaming right now.

Maybe they have the backbone and the network to handle thousands of people streaming video at 40+Mbit/second.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Azure

I don't think a lot of ISPs would be happy with on demand video that runs at 25+Mbit.

Not in the current infrastructure anyway. In Japan where the median internet speed is 60Mbit and 100Mbit and even 1000Mbit connection speeds are common (and very affordable!) streaming high def video is common.

Originally Posted by Azure

Shaw is quite capable of offering more than enough bandwidth to do full HD streaming right now.

Maybe they have the backbone and the network to handle thousands of people streaming video at 40+Mbit/second.

They don't really need to do full 40Mbit, that's Blu-ray quality, just having the quality of current HD channels on satellite or cable is probably fine, people are already used to crappy HD quality via those routes.

But good question, I don't know if Shaw or Telus or Rogers have the infrastructure for that or not.

[Azure]

Shaw Nitro can do 100mbps, with 400gig allocated monthly bandwidth.

They probably don't want everyone on that though. But it is probably capable of streaming two full HD streams at once.

[kdogg]

I'm getting increasingly frustrated with the whole movie rental thing:
- My closest video store closed down (VHQ)
- The next closest video store, Blockbuster, always has their top movies rented out
- My computer is 6 years old, and my wireless connection to my PS3 isn't very strong, so streaming to my PS3 only works half the time.
- I have a nice 58" TV and sound system, and can't stand watching crappy quality downloaded movies (when it does work)
- Bell PPV is broken and doesn't work half the time. I'm tired of dealing with Bell's worst-customer-service-on-the-planet!
- Legal options such as PS3 movie store and Netflix are only available in the US
- I heard Apple TV's HD movie library isn't the greatest

How does a guy watch HD movies?!?!


I would either like to:
1. (Preferable) Find a legal download service that offers new release HD movies
2. Improve my media server where things run smoothly, and figure out how to download only the best quality movies
________
SweetyValerie

[CMPunk]

Originally Posted by kdogg

I'm getting increasingly frustrated with the whole movie rental thing:
- My closest video store closed down (VHQ)
- The next closest video store, Blockbuster, always has their top movies rented out
- My computer is 6 years old, and my wireless connection to my PS3 isn't very strong, so streaming to my PS3 only works half the time.
- I have a nice 58" TV and sound system, and can't stand watching crappy quality downloaded movies (when it does work)
- Bell PPV is broken and doesn't work half the time. I'm tired of dealing with Bell's worst-customer-service-on-the-planet!
- Legal options such as PS3 movie store and Netflix are only available in the US
- I heard Apple TV's HD movie library isn't the greatest

How does a guy watch HD movies?!?!


I would either like to:
1. (Preferable) Find a legal download service that offers new release HD movies
2. Improve my media server where things run smoothly, and figure out how to download only the best quality movies

Shaw on Demand offers HD movies. The only other option is the Video kiosks that are popping up at grocery stores...just not sure if you can rent HD movies or not

[Prototype]

Seems like the reason we don't get the same access to movies is a catch 22 in Canada.

I assume it's due to our copyright laws. Companys don't want to give us access due to piracy, which forces us to look to piracy to get what we're looking for.

I'm all for paying a reasonable fee for movies, especially if it's on demand. I love Movie Central, but I hate that I have to wait until I record a movie/wait for it to come up on the sked to watch it.

In my dealings with Bell customer service, I bring up VOD, and they say it's rumoured to be in the works, but we've been with them for about a year and a half, and nothing.

I'm actually thinking of looking to see how much it would cost to rent a Shaw box, solely for the purpose of VOD, but it would probably cost around $30 (programing/rental/etc) to get it done, plus the cost of movies.

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by Prototype

I'm actually thinking of looking to see how much it would cost to rent a Shaw box, solely for the purpose of VOD, but it would probably cost around $30 (programing/rental/etc) to get it done, plus the cost of movies.

Plus the selection sucks

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

Plus the selection sucks

Plus Shaw on Demand is pain to navigate as it's slow as molasses.

[Prototype]

We didn't have any issues with Shaw's VOD service. It was the only bright spot being with them, as far as I'm concerned. Heck, we'd even watch SD movies, no big deal. Loved that you could watch shows off Movie Central off it whenever you wanted as well, as long as you had that service.

It's a shame Bell hasn't picked up on that technology yet.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Prototype

Seems like the reason we don't get the same access to movies is a catch 22 in Canada.

I assume it's due to our copyright laws. Companys don't want to give us access due to piracy, which forces us to look to piracy to get what we're looking for.

I might be a little off on the details but..

It is due to copyright laws but not because of piracy. When a piece of media is produced the people involved in producing it have a contract that say where it can be released. For TV/Movies I am pretty sure the contract actors guild has says it can only be released on regular TV/Movie theater , then on DVD, and syndication etc, for which they get their normal compensation. There is something in the contract which prevents it from being broadcast on the internet outside of the US, I don't know for sure what it is but for some reason they can't agree on the compensation they will get.

Same kinda reason Pandora was shut down outside the US.

Someone correct me if I am wrong on this.