LoveFilm - Online streaming only
Discussion
Ive seen plenty of threads re Lovefilm and getting films posted but i wonder if any of you have experience with the streaming side of things.
Me and the OH are thinking of cancelling sky movies and subscribing to the unlimited £9.99 bundle from love film
We have a set up where i can watch it on the HD TV, just wondered how reliable/how much choice/general thoughts?
Me and the OH are thinking of cancelling sky movies and subscribing to the unlimited £9.99 bundle from love film
We have a set up where i can watch it on the HD TV, just wondered how reliable/how much choice/general thoughts?
I have lovefilm sending through up to 4 films a month so we usually watch one a week for £5.99 (I think).
I've got a Sony telly with Lovefilm access which would be extra, and the film variety is very limited. Not even a patch on the normal service. So haven;t thought of using it.
iPlayer is very good though.
I've got a Sony telly with Lovefilm access which would be extra, and the film variety is very limited. Not even a patch on the normal service. So haven;t thought of using it.
iPlayer is very good though.
Just found an online list of whats available to watch online.. Must say im not impressed, doesnt seem to be many big budget films..
http://www.lovefilm.com/micro/watch-online-a-z.htm...
not even a terminator film ffs!
http://www.lovefilm.com/micro/watch-online-a-z.htm...
not even a terminator film ffs!
I've never tried the streaming side of it, i get 2 films at a time, unlimited per month, and manage to watch about 8 films per month.
To be honest, the streaming side doesn't really appeal to me due to the internet speed i get and the loss of audio and visual quality.
Until i can get DTS audio and bluray film quality through my broadband, i think i'll just be sticking with the physical media.
To be honest, the streaming side doesn't really appeal to me due to the internet speed i get and the loss of audio and visual quality.
Until i can get DTS audio and bluray film quality through my broadband, i think i'll just be sticking with the physical media.
The online streaming is pretty poor for us, the choice is so-so, if you're desperate for something to watch there's always something there, films come and go, the excellent Training Day was available for some time, but has gone now.
The problem is with our pony 4ish meg connection it streams for a couple of seconds, then freezes, then goes again - unwatchable really, that's via the PS3, it's better on the laptop but still not great.
We're hoping to get fibre optic cable in our area soon, sure it will ne fine then.
The core lovefilm service is actually pretty great, sometimes you get problems with things going missing but it's very rare. I had a issue with them a few years back where they seemed to favour new customers when choosing which films to send. I went months without them sending me anything released in the same year, they'd always send me the old classics I had in low priority when my friends who'd just joined were getting all the new releases as they came out, but that seems to be sorted now.
The problem is with our pony 4ish meg connection it streams for a couple of seconds, then freezes, then goes again - unwatchable really, that's via the PS3, it's better on the laptop but still not great.
We're hoping to get fibre optic cable in our area soon, sure it will ne fine then.
The core lovefilm service is actually pretty great, sometimes you get problems with things going missing but it's very rare. I had a issue with them a few years back where they seemed to favour new customers when choosing which films to send. I went months without them sending me anything released in the same year, they'd always send me the old classics I had in low priority when my friends who'd just joined were getting all the new releases as they came out, but that seems to be sorted now.
We're on the Lovefilm subscription where you get unlimited film rental (1 film at a time, £9.99 a month), plus streaming of free films. Not all the films are free to stream, you have to pay for some of them.
I've found, in times of boredom, that the choice of free films to stream isn't *that* great - there are loads of them, but it's a bit of an art finding one you want to see at the time. You can look for specific titles, but I've generally found this to be a bit of a waste of time because they rarely have what I want to watch! But you can select a genre and choose a film from a much shorter list, and that works fine.
As regards their streaming, I've never had a problem - although I'm on a 50Mbps cable connection, so I wouldn't really expect one.
If you get the free streaming as part of some other package, I'd say it's worth it as long as your Internet connection is up to the job. But if you're looking at the unlimited rental anyway, then it's definitely worth it. They turn films around pretty quickly. I posted my last DVD back on Monday and got the next one yesterday.
I've found, in times of boredom, that the choice of free films to stream isn't *that* great - there are loads of them, but it's a bit of an art finding one you want to see at the time. You can look for specific titles, but I've generally found this to be a bit of a waste of time because they rarely have what I want to watch! But you can select a genre and choose a film from a much shorter list, and that works fine.
As regards their streaming, I've never had a problem - although I'm on a 50Mbps cable connection, so I wouldn't really expect one.
If you get the free streaming as part of some other package, I'd say it's worth it as long as your Internet connection is up to the job. But if you're looking at the unlimited rental anyway, then it's definitely worth it. They turn films around pretty quickly. I posted my last DVD back on Monday and got the next one yesterday.
That's basically what we have called netflix and it is pretty rare to get any movie released the same year on the streaming version here in the US the DVD new releases come out about a month later then when available for for sale. That being said there is an art to it and that is to list and order the moves by their release dates. If you surf the site deeply you will find decent content and it is excellent for setting up mini-marathons of a tv series to watch without interruption. I also watch HULU quite a bit which has both free and paid versions. If anyone knows of another free online streaming resource (not bit torrent) but a site with a player please let me know
The streaming on LF is a bonus, nothing more.
Sometimes some really good films pop up on it.
I tend to watch a film every couple of weeks on it, tends to be films I am not desperate to watch or that the GF wouldn't want to see.
The service works very well though. I use it through the PS3 so it is on proper screen and through the Hi-Fi.
Slightly better quality than iPlayer.
Sometimes some really good films pop up on it.
I tend to watch a film every couple of weeks on it, tends to be films I am not desperate to watch or that the GF wouldn't want to see.
The service works very well though. I use it through the PS3 so it is on proper screen and through the Hi-Fi.
Slightly better quality than iPlayer.
I think the netflix is going to be canceled soon anyway the major annoyance that i have with it is that movies on DVD come out a month later as rentals the other thing is even with tv series on streaming its all there but the last season which you must get on DVD. I found some decently reliable streaming sites and am going to use them I think
Kwai Chang Caine said:
Tempted to try their physical disc service.
What happens if the dics get lost in the post (going either way)?
I have very little faith left in Royal Mail you see.
Well that's bound to happen someway or another but very rarely sometimes theri machines chew up the label or the post man picks it up and losses etc. It's really rare but unless you destroy it yourself or lose it yourself they are pretty good about not charging you for any number of errors that could happen. If you break it you bought it and these are rental copies anyway so less than the store. I am a fan of streaming over the DVD's they are too delayed. I think all the services offer a free trail periodWhat happens if the dics get lost in the post (going either way)?
I have very little faith left in Royal Mail you see.
Kwai Chang Caine said:
Tempted to try their physical disc service.
What happens if the dics get lost in the post (going either way)?
I have very little faith left in Royal Mail you see.
I've had a few go astray - thus far they've just written them off. Presumably it would be different if they thought you were taking the piss What happens if the dics get lost in the post (going either way)?
I have very little faith left in Royal Mail you see.
I don't like films really but the Mrs loves them so it's money well spent, think we pay ~£15/month. The online/streaming deal is actually quite good, there's around 5000 titles and I've found a few gems there. If you like new releases make sure you get your name down early or you'll have a long wait.
I think there's a free trial so you can test them out.
Kwai Chang Caine said:
Tempted to try their physical disc service.
What happens if the dics get lost in the post (going either way)?
I have very little faith left in Royal Mail you see.
I've had LF for around 3 years now and only had 1 disc go missing in that time, I reported it and had a claim form sent to me, all processed smoothly with my account re-credited.What happens if the dics get lost in the post (going either way)?
I have very little faith left in Royal Mail you see.
The trick to getting what you want from LF is to keep your list down to a few titles that you want to watch at a time, you keep getting reminders to have at least 10 titles on your list but realistically there is only a few new films each month that you want to watch.
I normally make a paper list of stuff I want to watch, then add them to my LF list progressively to enusre I get them promptly.
I use it all the time and there is always something interesting to watch.
I normally use it to see the older/more obscure/foreign stuff the Mrs doesn't want to see (recently watch A Prophet, The Wrestler, Let the right One In, Old Boy etc) and keep the rental discs for the blockbusters.
If you just want the latest blockbusters then it's not going to work for you. You want easy quick access then it's great.
I don't have any technical problems with it, totally smooth and good enough quality over 4mb to the PS3.
I normally use it to see the older/more obscure/foreign stuff the Mrs doesn't want to see (recently watch A Prophet, The Wrestler, Let the right One In, Old Boy etc) and keep the rental discs for the blockbusters.
If you just want the latest blockbusters then it's not going to work for you. You want easy quick access then it's great.
I don't have any technical problems with it, totally smooth and good enough quality over 4mb to the PS3.
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