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Netflix and Tivo to stream internet movies to Tivo

Netflix and Tivo just anounced they'll be joining forces in streaming (now) more than 12,000 movies over the internet to your Tivo box. Where as Netflix subscribers have apparently been able to download movies from Netflix on the net already, I guess now they can link up with your Tivo for Tv watching as well?
To me it appears as if the writing is on the wall for DVD and Blue Ray! The convenience of storage media and internet downloads is just gunna be WAY WAY too convenient to consider buying or renting movies on disc, if you ask me. We already download an un-godly amount of MP3 music/movies on the net as it is on our ipods and computer. So I think the disc (other than for convenient storage and record) should be going "bye-bye" real quick like.
Anyone care to input?
iplaynaked

Showing 3 responses by rives

rives
953 posts
 
They are doing the same with XBOX so I'll probably try it then. Image quality does depend on your bandwidth. There is hi-speed internet and then HI-speed. Our provider has 3 levels of bandwidth. I'm currently on the middle level. Most residential bandwith is on the lowest level--as it's fine for basic internet applications. The netflix stream is also limited by stereo channels, no 5.1 yet--but they do say it's in the works.

My first computer had a huge hard drive--20 megs. That would barely hold 1 song on a CD. Now we have terrabyte storage and a whole library of music at our fingertips for a fraction of what that first computer cost. Yes, this is the direction things will ultimately go I believe.
rives
953 posts
 
Just saw some things streaming from Netflix through xbox. I was pretty happy with the quality. It's stereo only--no 5.1. The image quality is not quite that of DVD, but better than many things coming over dishnet. I do have a high speed connection. Where we live there are three different cable speed connections. Most residential get the entry level which is okay for most internet surfing. I'm using the middle tier which is about 2 to 3 times faster. I do think this has a significant impact, but have to tried it at slower speeds so I don't know for sure.
rives
953 posts
 
To further update this. I've had a few experiences where "my internet connection has slowed"--at least that's the message I receive while watching. It then changes the resolution to accomodate the slower bandwidth. I've seen three distinct qualities. The highest resolution is really great (as stated before). The medium is obviously a downgrade--watchable but not too great particularly if cinematography is good--you miss a fair amount. The third quality is just plain bad, to the point that you feel like you need to see the eye doctor--very blurred and really not very watchable.
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