- $1 billion Empire State Building IPO: why it won't be like Facebook IPO
- In surprise move, GOP leaders admit defeat in payroll tax battle
- More than 30,000 Germans turn out against anti-piracy treaty ACTA
- Does Obama blueprint reduce budget deficit fast enough? (+video)
- Pentagon budget: Does it pit active-duty forces against retirees? (+video)
- Murdoch media crisis deepens with five new arrests
- How Pinterest combines the best parts of Facebook, Tumblr, and Etsy
- US, China face 'trust deficit' as China's heir apparent visits
Netflix on PS3? Yep, but not without special disc.
Watch Netflix movies on a PS3 starting in November, but not without popping in a free disc.
Jake Turcotte/The Christian Science Monitor
So the Playstation 3 is getting its stream on.
Skip to next paragraphRecent posts
-
02.10.12
With new music hardware, Google takes aim at your living room -
02.10.12
iPad 3 rumors solidify around release window, but not features -
02.10.12
Google plans to challenge Dropbox with cloud-sync service: report -
02.09.12
Steve Jobs: FBI file says Apple CEO could 'distort reality' -
02.09.12
iPad 3 unveiling set for March: report
Two years after Netflix first rolled out instant Web streaming of movies to its subscribers, the Sony gaming console is getting in on the act. Once limited to computers, Netflix instant streaming is currently available on the XBox 360, LG and Samsung Blu-ray players, TiVo, a set-top box from Roku, and even some special TVs.
Playstation 3 roll-out of the feature is expected for November, but PS3 owners shouldn't expect to just turn on their consoles sometime after the end of daylight savings and have instant access to the thousands of titles in the catalog.
Why?
"Initially, watching movies instantly streamed from Netflix via the PS3 system will be enabled by a free, instant streaming Blu-ray disc that is being made available to all Netflix members," according to the official press release.
Why's it needed?
"The free instant streaming disc leverages Blu-ray’s BD-Live™ technology to access the Internet and activate the Netflix user interface on the PS3 system, which must be online via Wi-Fi or Ethernet."
In other words, the PS3 doesn't yet have the software to deal with Netflix's interface, and until Sony releases a software update (downloadable for free), PS3-equipped Netflixers will still have to do the disc shuffle. How very 2003.
Call it "one disc to rule them all."
Netflix members can reserve their free PS3 dummy disc by heading here, and can expect delivery (likely in one of those joy-inducing red envelopes) one business day after they're released.
––
Like Netflix? How 'bout Twitter? You can now access both from your PS3. Follow us @CSMHorizonsBlog.








These comments are not screened before publication. Constructive debate about the above story is welcome, but personal attacks are not. Please do not post comments that are commercial in nature or that violate any copyright[s]. Comments that we regard as obscene, defamatory, or intended to incite violence will be removed. If you find a comment offensive, you may flag it.