Netflix Experience : Different according to device ?

Dolby

Dolby

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Whether running on a Samsung or Sony TV, ATV, Xbox, PS3, PS4 etc - is there a difference in the experience?
Layout similar?
Genres, suggesting and searching all there?
 
Dolby said:
Whether running on a Samsung or Sony TV, ATV, Xbox, PS3, PS4 etc - is there a difference in the experience?
Layout similar?
Genres, suggesting and searching all there?
Click to expand...

With regards to UI yes. Different devices use different programing frameworks and use different Netflix APIs.

As for streaming quality there's also a difference there. In general streaming media players do the best and it's well known that the 360 sucks at Netflix.
 
Last time I checked, the Android app still only supports 480p and 2.0 stereo.
 
There is a file on the US version of Netflix called Example Short 23.976 which shows the current bit rate/resolution/aspect ratio in the top left hand corner of your viewing screen. You can use this information to compare the streaming performance of the different devices. I think that manufacturers pay Netflix to develop an app for their particular device so there are some differences in the features available on certain platforms i.e. the standard android app appears to offer a lower maximum resolution than the one developed specifically for the FireTV etc.
 
I find the PS3/4 Netflix app to be far superior to the other platforms I have tested. MAX on the US Netflix is awesome if you are struggling to find something to watch.

Netflix on my Minix X7 is your typical Android Netflix experience but there is the odd fast-frame every 4 seconds which is rather annoying on fast moving scenes (Rockchip issue) which is not present on my ASUS TF700. No matter what I spoof on both devices (Nexus 10, etc), I get no better than 480p on them.
 
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I have also noticed that Example Short 23.976 does not give any bitrate/resolution/aspect ratio information from the android app on my DroidTV.
 
Yotch said:
I have also noticed that Example Short 23.976 does not give any bitrate/resolution/aspect ratio information from the android app on my DroidTV.
Click to expand...

Noticed that too, but looks like no higher than 480p and only stereo. I believe this will change soon though when the new Android TVs start shipping.

So far I have tested these devices:

Roku 3: Excellent, quickly goes up to 5800Kbps and 5.1
Chromecast: Excellent, quickly goes up to 5800Kbps (even quicker than the Roku 3) and 5.1
Droid TV: Very poor quality, no 5.1. Waiting for Android app update.
Web browser: Poor quality, 5.1 undetermined. Takes very long to reach HD quality.

EDIT:

Mobile devices:

iPad 3: Poor quality, only get 480p maximum.
 
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Here are the bitrate, resolution and pixel aspect ratios for the Netflix app on the DroidTV MX as reported by the El Fuente 60MP10 clip on US Netflix. The resolution is reported as 480X360 (360p) all the way up to 500kbps and then increases to 640X480 (480p) on the 1350kbps stream which appears to be the maximum resolution possible using this app. Clearly an update to the android app from Netflix is long overdue!

100kbps - 480X360 - 3:4, 175kbps - 480X360 - 3:4, 250kbps - 480X360 - 3:4, 500kbps - 480X360 - 3:4, 1350kbps - 640X480 - 3:4

These are the same quantities (bitrate, resolution, pixel aspect ratio) as reported by the Roku as well as most other Netflix compatible devices using the same video clip.

235kbps - 320X240 - 4:3, 375kbps - 384X288 - 4:3, 560kbps - 512X384 - 4:3, 750kbps - 512X384 - 4:3, 1050kbps - 640X480 - 4:3, 1750kbps - 720X480 - 32:27, 2350kbps - 1280X720 - 1:1, 3000kbps - 1280X720 - 1:1, 3850kbps - 1920X1080 - 1:1, 4300kbps - 1920X1080 - 1:1, 5800kbps - 1920X1080 - 1:1.
 
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Yotch said:
Here are the bitrate, resolution and pixel aspect ratios for the Netflix app on the DroidTV MX as reported by the El Fuente 60MP10 clip on US Netflix. The resolution is reported as 480X360 (360p) all the way up to 500kbps and then increases to 640X480 (480p) on the 1350kbps stream which appears to be the maximum resolution possible using this app. Clearly an update to the android app from Netflix is long overdue!

100kbps - 480X360 - 3:4, 175kbps - 480X360 - 3:4, 250kbps - 480X360 - 3:4, 500kbps - 480X360 - 3:4, 1350kbps - 640X480 - 3:4

These are the same quantities (bitrate, resolution, pixel aspect ratio) as reported by the Roku as well as most other Netflix compatible devices using the same video clip.

235kbps - 320X240 - 4:3, 375kbps - 384X288 - 4:3, 560kbps - 512X384 - 4:3, 750kbps - 512X384 - 4:3, 1050kbps - 640X480 - 4:3, 1750kbps - 720X480 - 32:27, 2350kbps - 1280X720 - 1:1, 3000kbps - 1280X720 - 1:1, 3850kbps - 1920X1080 - 1:1, 4300kbps - 1920X1080 - 1:1, 5800kbps - 1920X1080 - 1:1.
Click to expand...

Hi Yotch

Can you try with this version please?

https://www.sendspace.com/file/h0m7nk

Thanks
 
@AVSupply: Many thanks for the link. I have tested the updated app. All the artwork loads etc. but when I click on an episode or movie to watch I get the message shown below. I'm not sure whether this might be due to me using WiFi instead of ethernet on version 1.1.6 of the system software. Hopefully somebody else will also give it a try. If anybody else wants to test this, just make sure to backup the previous working version of Netflix using the preinstalled App Backup&Restore software just in case it does not work.

Sorry we could not reach the Netflix service. Please try again later. If the problems persists please visit the Netflix website (12001).
 
I watch Netflix on my WDTV live player, and find a huge jump in quality when I watch UK region vs US region (changed via Dynamo settings on UnoTelly). I rarely get 720 on US, but easily get 1080 on UK region
 
I've heard the SMART TVs are slow and clunky?

Basically I Have an ATV3 for it I think it's great - but could I drop another plug/box/remote if a TV had it built in?
 
Dolby said:
I've heard the SMART TVs are slow and clunky?

Basically I Have an ATV3 for it I think it's great - but could I drop another plug/box/remote if a TV had it built in?
Click to expand...

I guess it depends on the model... Processor makes a huge difference. I recently bought a new 2014 5-series Samsung Smart TV. It has a quad-core processor which makes it feel more fluid. It takes a minute to start up fully and during that time it feels a bit clunky, but Netflix is buttery smooth on it.
 
Yotch said:
@AVSupply: Many thanks for the link. I have tested the updated app. All the artwork loads etc. but when I click on an episode or movie to watch I get the message shown below. I'm not sure whether this might be due to me using WiFi instead of ethernet on version 1.1.6 of the system software. Hopefully somebody else will also give it a try. If anybody else wants to test this, just make sure to backup the previous working version of Netflix using the preinstalled App Backup&Restore software just in case it does not work.

Sorry we could not reach the Netflix service. Please try again later. If the problems persists please visit the Netflix website (12001).
Click to expand...

Thanks Yotch

Did you backup before you installed? :)

Here's an older version if you didn't -> https://www.sendspace.com/file/n34g3j
 
AVS: Once again many, many thanks! Yes, I did remember to. Whether it will restore again is another matter though! I assume that I must first delete the app that isn't working and then restore the old version rather than just overwriting it? I'm still testing your version (white icon instead of red) in the hope that something just starts working as it seems so close to playing.
 
Yotch said:
AVS: Once again many, many thanks! Yes, I did remember to. Whether it will restore again is another matter though! I assume that I must first delete the app that isn't working and then restore the old version rather than just overwriting it? I'm still testing your version (white icon instead of red) in the hope that something just starts working as it seems so close to playing.
Click to expand...

Cool, maybe clear out the Netflix app cache, uninstall and then re-install
 
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