Netflix, Lovefilm or ???

[Trashcooky]

@ charlie
Don't know if you know - but the Humax boxes are programmed in Linux.
This means that if you want to connect an external usb device, it must either be formatted FAT32 or the Linux format standards otherwise the box won't be able to see it.
I believe there are Humax Forums where modders have tweaked their code on the Humax PVR. Personally, I am happy with the way it is. Just like Sky and Virgin you get the odd occassions when you need to reboot the box but Humax is claimed to be the crème de la crème of Freesat PVRs and you do get first class support and updates - unlike others I can think of...

[Charlie]

@Trashcooky - I thought that the Humax boxes used Linux, it just gets better.

Just started a trial of LoveFilm Instant. Watched a film last night on the TV via the laptop and the picture was clear and crisp and NO lip-sync issues

The only issue is that the modern films playback in letterbox mode and I can not see a way to change this (stretch to full screen, and not have the black borders top & bottom) - Older films have borders on all four sides. This is like it for the TV, laptop and the 2 monitors on the desktop, I have a mix of analogue and digital monitors. Tested in Kylo browser, Firefox and IE - all the same results. LoveFilm uses MS Sliverlight rather than Flash for video play back maybe it's Sliverlight that's causing this, or it's just the way the films are streamed from Loveflim.

EDIT: Update:-
I see know that those newer films are playing in the correct scale, I just thought that they where 16:9 (1.78:1) and sales wrong.

Hence why I was getting 410x170 on the PC monitor when I thought it should be 410x230. As that film was shot in a ratio of 2.40:1 the correct scaling was applied and shown as 410x170.

I found this on a site, that helped clear it up for me,

While 16:9 is a fairly wide aspect ratio, it is not wide enough to contain an entire frame from a typical Hollywood movie. Two film aspect ratios are widely used now: Normal is 1.85:1 and Widescreen is 2.40:1 (for comparison, 16:9 is 1.78:1). For normal titles (those that use the 1.85:1 aspect ratio), a small amount of letterboxing or pan-scan cropping is required to transfer the title to DVD, but for Panavision titles significant letterboxing or pan-scan cropping is necessary. This processing must be done before the video is MPEG-encoded. The DVD specification supports only 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios.

[Charlie]

Just trying Netflix now, I do find the UI much better even more so when you are viewing on a TV. I like the Android app too, (does have lip-sync issues, but that is the Excel), also the Wii app works very well which surprised me as that is connected by wifi and where the box lives the signal is not that strong. It looks like they have a lot of content, but still early days.

[Mitre]

Some good info coming out of this thread i've got some thinking to do

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

[Charlie]

@Mitre - If you like viewing your pc on your TV, try http://kylo.tv/ browser, I have been using it since beta version, it's free and powered by Mozilla very good for large screen use.

[Mitre]

@Mitre - If you like viewing your pc on your TV, try http://kylo.tv/ browser, I have been using it since beta version, it's free and powered by Mozilla very good for large screen use.

Thanks will try it out when i get a minute

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

[Charlie]

I forgot to mention, I also use this app on my phone & Excel, to control the pc -> Advanced Touchpad - you need to download the server app for the PC & have that running too.

They have a free version of this app so you can try it out.

[cantisque]

I've tried most of options out there, I still think Lovefilm is best, as nothing beats Blu-ray for quality at the moment.

The "HD" movies Netflix provide on-demand look pants. Also, barely any of their movies have an HD option, even films that were released in HD form elsewhere. The selection is pretty poor too, mostly low-budget Disney rejects. I cancelled my subscription after watching all the Comedy Central stuff.

Lovefilm's online selection is worse, of course, but getting the latest Blu-ray's through your door makes up for it.

As of today, you can get Sky Anytime+ through Sky's HD box without being tied into their crappy broadband, so maybe that's another route worth looking into. Sky's on-demand content is pretty good, but they usually shuffle it around so films that were available yesterday aren't always available the next day. But it's usually better stuff, especially if you pay for the Movies package.
Only complaint with Sky is that you can't use anything except their own box, so there's no way to get it onto an HTPC with the proper EPG and stuff, the best you can do is hook it up to a tuner through composite/component, but that kinda defeats the point really.

[HEXHUNT]

Netflix - I have used "Love film" (the DVD via post) was not best impressed and also tho I have not got Netflix there are talks that they will soon be picking up many TV series that got cancelled due to piracy.

[APG1886]

Similarly unimpressed by Lovefilm, I think it's largely down to my lack of organisation/having a 7 month old baby, but I cancelled due to blu-rays being sat on my shelf for weeks, viewing on computer as and when just seems easier.

Also, leaving them is a pain, and you will receive phone calls for the rest of your life begginer you to return and offering you every incentive under the sun.