Netflix

[Anastasius]

Thanks for the suggestions, Dave2002. Composite is out of the question (poor video quality). I can get the boxes etc but do know that I'd have to change the resolution on the HDMI device down to 760i (if that is possible). Playstation 3 has also been suggested. I don;t think the Roku box supports Amazon.

It's the available choice that intrigues me...specially if Netflix 'expires' stuff.

[Nick Armstrong]

the available choice that intrigues me...specially if Netflix 'expires' stuff.

I have no knowledge of Netflix 'expiring' films, having lived with the service for 18 months now and having really appreciated the quality and reliability and ease of use via the Sony smart TV here. However, 90% of its use is for TV series - the film selection is (with a handful of notable exceptions) not of interest, really. The availability of TV series (Breaking Bad, House of Cards, Saul, Dexter) has been the key thing.

The only instance of availability changing is with Spiral - I believe all four of the seasons used to be available, now it's just the fourth, I believe as a result of some rights issues with Studio Canal, the distributor. I hope this will be resolved as I only have 3 episodes of season 4 left to watch - and haven't yet seen seasons 1-3...

The amazon prime option is also available here - the selection isn't as interesting and it's much more 'clunky' to use, I find.

[Dave2002]

Thanks for the suggestions, Dave2002. Composite is out of the question (poor video quality). I can get the boxes etc but do know that I'd have to change the resolution on the HDMI device down to 760i (if that is possible). Playstation 3 has also been suggested. I don;t think the Roku box supports Amazon.

It's the available choice that intrigues me...specially if Netflix 'expires' stuff.

We use our Roku with HDMI - the video quality is really quite good, though with the LT model it's limited to 720i/p I think. The newer Roku models are probably better, but HDMI is essential. I think that amazon is available for the Roku - it is in the US and I'll check here too. I'm not convinced about amazon though - as I said, wait until you get a free prime trial. You might not continue it.

We have been meaning to try Netflix and at least watch House of Cards for some while - but just not got round to it yet.

If you do get an updated TV or a spare one with an HDMI input, Chromecast (which is nearly "cheap as chips") is perhaps worth checking too.

If you have any kind of mobile device which can pick up movies and/or TV series you like, then Chromecast works for Android models (phones/tablets), and Apple TV works for Apple iPhones, iPads etc. Some Android models are a bit peculiar, and they don't all have the same capabilities. Most of the more recent Apple kit just works!

[Anastasius]

Caliban, that's very interesting re Netflix and TV series. If you get a moment could you possibly look up a couple of films, please? Just to give me a feel for their library (although I suspect I know the answer already!).

Bright Days Ahead

The Lunchbox

Many thanks.

[Stunsworth]

Caliban, that's very interesting re Netflix and TV series. If you get a moment could you possibly look up a couple of films, please? Just to give me a feel for their library (although I suspect I know the answer already!).

Bright Days Ahead

The Lunchbox

Many thanks.

Hope I'm not butting in.

Bright Days Ahead is available on Netflix Canada
The Lunchbox is available on Netflix Canada, UK and Ireland

Netflix US has a much larger selection than Netflix UK. I use a paid for website ($4.99/month) that allows me to switch to any Netflix country at will. Here's their website...

https://www.unblock-us.com

Once the account with them was active all I needed to do was change the DNS settings on my Apple TV - I could have changed the router's DNS settings if I'd wanted.

I have an app on my phone that allows me to search all the Netflix regions for a film, that's what I used to find the two above.

In addition to providing access to Netflix worldwide, it also allow you to access iPlayer from abroad - in that case I'd need to change the DNS settings on whatever mobile device I was using to access iPlayer.

[Anastasius]

Not butting in, at all, Steve. You've confirmed my thoughts re films of Netflix UK ...i.e. dire choice unless you want to watch Fast & Furious 99 or Die Hard 48.

I'd never heard of that website but don't really understand what it is. Does one still need a subscription to Netflix or Amazon to view films? Fiddling about with the DNS settings, does that mean I have to go back to my old settings if I want to do normal browsing?

[Frances_iom]

Fiddling about with the DNS settings, does that mean I have to go back to my old settings if I want to do normal browsing?

the media industry has many restrictions to limit access to films to certain geographic areas (eg region coding for DVDs) - ok this is now a nonsense and even the EU recognises that it should go, but too much money is at stake - for digital services the usual (and often required by content industry) is for geolocation based on your IP address (given you by your ISP for 99% of customers tho geeks in the know may well use VPN or VPN services to make it appear they are in a different region) - DNS is the service that maps a web address eg www.google.com to some IP address (eg 8.8.8.8) used to access that service/site - some web addresses may be generic in that a local DNS may map them to a different IP than other non-local DNS would (commonly used as an attack mechanism to serve malware + also to block porn etc) if merely changing DNS means that NEtflix treats your request differently then presumably just getting hold of the USA Netflix IP would be sufficient, a sit looks as tho Netflix is not doing geolocation correctly (you may wish to alter your router DNS for several reasons eg some ISP's log such accesses and use it to serve adverts)

[Anastasius]

I fear that it is all GTC (Getting Too Complicated) !! Just discovered that some HDMI > component converters cannot handle protected HDMI (whatever that is).

Fast going into the CBA (Can't Be Ars**) arena, I think. You can't beat sticking a wee DVD into a slot. Simple.

[Stunsworth]

I'd never heard of that website but don't really understand what it is. Does one still need a subscription to Netflix or Amazon to view films? Fiddling about with the DNS settings, does that mean I have to go back to my old settings if I want to do normal browsing?

Yes, you'll still need a subscription to Netflix. Once you've changed the DNS setting all that's affected is Netflix, normal browsing/email is unaffected.

[Dave2002]

I fear that it is all GTC (Getting Too Complicated) !! Just discovered that some HDMI > component converters cannot handle protected HDMI (whatever that is).

Fast going into the CBA (Can't Be Ars**) arena, I think. You can't beat sticking a wee DVD into a slot. Simple.

We don't know what your TV is. Presumably it's a year or two before ours - which I think dates from around 2008, and is a 42 inch LCD with several HDMI inputs, and a variety of others. It has a good picture, and if yours is similar I sympathise that you don't want to replace it. Having said that though, many newer TVs are as good or better. If you're not so bothered about size, then I've already mentioned the cheapo smallish ones (19 or 21 inch) from Tesco - which sell for around the £100 mark. They're good enough for some watching, for example in kitchens and bedrooms, though I much prefer the 42 inch screen.- that'

Protected HDMI - is an attempt by the film companies to prevent high quality video being copied to another digital (recording) device. Going downstream should not normally be a problem, as component video, being analogue, would not apparently be of concern and would have to be redigitised in order to make a digital copy. However some upstream (source) devices might get upset and refuse to play the source material. This is because HDMI does check along the connected links. Apparently this can be a problem with some Apple systems. This kind of protectionism also applies to audio, so that with that kind of protection the audio channels might be limited to 48 kHz sample rate - which for many people is good enough. Using HDMI to connect audio systems may also, apparently, encounter this as a "limitation" - no point in so-called hi-rez recordings for that kind of configuration.

You have already mentioned that you don't like composite video - I'd have thought it was good enough for some of the streaming sites. The older Roku boxes with the composite outputs from eBay are low outlay.

I didn't mention Apple TV earlier, because it sticks you with HDMI.

In any case, is it not possible to do a Netflix trial to sample the offerings on your computer? That way you'd at least have a better view of what's available.

I agree about the CBA - may be best to stick with DVDs, Blu Rays etc., or try Met Live, ROH Live at the cinema - if you like that sort of thing. Or go out to real concerts, or just go out for a walk, or to the pub!

[Frances_iom]

I suspect the real problem is that the OP's TV has a hardwired lookup 'www.netflix..." which using a UK based DNS lookup returns the local UK IP address which is either subject to some geolocation restrictions as to offered films or being the UK only has a very restricted range, whereas using a US based DNS lookup (eg 8.8.8.8 for google) returns the IP for the US Netflix + hence access to a wider choice - use of Google DNS and other US based DNS might well be needed in future once Camerloon's web censorship starts to be applied to a wider set of sites - 'remember the children' was as Goebbels pointed out a very useful approach to introducing wider restrictions.

[Anastasius]

Our TV is circa 2000 and a very good plasma screen. Reluctant to spend any money when the picture quality is so damn good and the set works just fine.

With regard to video quality I believe in getting as close to the original source as possible. Composite quality is a definite no-no in my book (or to my 'qualified' eyes) and so if streaming video is as poor quality as that then I will definitely forget Netflix et al.

[Stunsworth]

.. so if streaming video is as poor quality as that then I will definitely forget Netflix et al.

The streaming quality is pretty good, certainly good enough to live with. Blu-Ray is better, but then it ought to be given the lower level of compression.

[Nick Armstrong]

Netflix


For Netflix watchers, there is also a new French police series to catch there - La Mante (The Mantis), with another excellent French actress, Carole Bouquet (her début was in Bunuel's Obscure Object of Desire, and she was also a Bond girl in For Your Eyes Only...). The series has had some very good reviews (it aired in France in September).

[kernelbogey]

Cali's post has prompted a curiosity about Netflix and a bit of limited research.

I see that it's strong on tv shows - but I can't tell if it also has a big back catalogue of movies.

Advice welcome.