Sony: No plans to change XMB or offer Netflix service

by Andrew Yoon { Dec 9th 2008 at 12:30PM }

After Microsoft's successful launch of the NXE (New Xbox Experience), GamePro had a few questions to ask Sony. The redesigned interface for Xbox certainly looks a lot sleeker than before -- would Sony consider changing up the XMB (Xcross Media Bar) to make it feel new and fresh? Unlikely, according to John Kohler. "Grand-scale changes [to XMB] are probably not realistic, because it's something that's been so well-received," he states. The XMB is used in a number of Sony products, from PS3 to PSP to DVR systems and HDTVs. Why change something that's uniquely "Sony"? However, Kohler does note that PS3 fans that are vocal about a change are likely to get it. "If consumers pound on our door loudly enough, we'll make sure they're listened to. That's been evident in the firmware updates [for the PS3 and PSP], which came out because of consumer feedback."

One of the big changes added to the NXE was the addition of Netflix streaming support. However, it doesn't appear Sony will offer a competitor to the service any time soon. "We've concentrated most of our efforts on our download service, both rentals and downloads of movies and TV shows. Our efforts will continue to be there, because our customers want to own the content." Netflix offers users access to a large number of titles to stream for a monthly fee; Sony's model allows users to buy the content a la carte. While we wish Sony would also offer an unlimited rental service for the PlayStation Store, there is an alternative that we've been using lately: Hulu. Ever since the last firmware update, we've been visiting the site to catch up on our favorite TV shows. Now if only Sony would add Hulu to the XMB ...

Tags: hulu, john-kohler, xmb

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Christian @ Dec 9th 2008 12:37PM

Well isn't NXE to be considered Microsoft's attempt to have a reply to Home? And thus Sony has been working on their own redesigned interface for for a long time already

The Aggie CEO @ Dec 9th 2008 1:55PM

nah........NXE is a damn firmware update.......

Home is a program

Bagels PSN:WolfLogic @ Dec 9th 2008 1:19PM

Exactly, If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Sony has this interface built into alot of their products and I think it works perfectly. In before flames.

Bagels PSN:WolfLogic @ Dec 9th 2008 1:20PM

Anyone know why my avatar picture won't load? I've trie over several days, is there an FAQ or somthing I can be pointed to? kthxbai

Dartmerc @ Dec 9th 2008 5:33PM

Aggie, NXE is avatars.. Something Home has in spades.

Lord_von_Punx @ Dec 9th 2008 12:38PM

hmmm interesting.... you guys should be posting

more home beta invites went out yesterday got mine!

it was in my junk e-mail folder :D

Lars @ Dec 9th 2008 12:40PM

I love the XMB interface. Please don't change it.

Regarding Netflix though, I don't think that's up to Sony. I'm sure they would offer it if they could, but I'm pretty sure that Microsoft paid for timed Netflix exclusivity. Especially since Netflix all but announced it for the PS3 before they retracted that statement and said "exclusive to xbox 360."

Kattleox @ Dec 9th 2008 12:54PM

I like the XMB too, and every week new themes come out that let me make it feel fresh.

Besides, all my 360 owning friends say that the XMB is better than NXE anyways. "If we watched movies and listened to music more, we would have gotten PS3s" they all say, despite the whole 360+Netflix thing. XMB is probably the fastest and most intuitive OS out there, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

adolson @ Dec 9th 2008 1:12PM

Totally agree about the XMB. It needs to stay how it is.

And about Netflix.. There are rumors of Blockbuster partnering with Sony, now.

Bryan @ Dec 9th 2008 5:05PM

I really don't care about a new interface design.

Netflix is a big issue though. The "exclusive" thing really irks me. It's bad business for Netflix to only offer their service to the XBox. Sure, they make get a pay off up-front by Microsoft, but they also isolate half of their potential customer base by snubbing the PS3. There's no way that Microsoft paid them enough to offset that loss, or the deal wouldn't be economically feasible for them.

Now our hope rests with PlayOn, which is offering Hulu and Netflix streaming to the PS3.

It's a shame that Netflix won't just offer it natively and cut out the middle man.

kentuckyfried @ Dec 9th 2008 6:50PM

I don't think it's not b/c Sony doesn't want Netflix. Netflix might have an exclusive contract with microsoft or is demanding too much money (and we all know that Sony doesn't negotiate with terrorists....)

Whatever the case, this is Sony's positive spin on the current circumstances, what's really going on, we either won't now or not until later (such as with the lawsuit over dualshock functionality).

Thanks for the heads up on Hulu btw! I didn't even know this thing existed. I was using BT for tv instead.

Devin @ Dec 9th 2008 6:50PM

@bryan

This is MS my friend...considering what they may have spent on the GTAIV DLC, I can only imagine what they would've spent for NXE considering it's one of their main bullet points for the update.....

Jerses @ Dec 9th 2008 12:43PM

i like xmb....but its too damn slow when in-game.

The Aggie CEO @ Dec 9th 2008 1:54PM

I think it varies from game to game........cause I've noticed its pretty fast on PJM but a tad slow on games that I play online

jarhead906 @ Dec 9th 2008 4:25PM

@Simon

Yes, but why should we settle for lag when the 360 remains constant while in game (actually, I remember seeing a split-second lag, but that happens rarely)?

Also, why aren't the majority of the icons on the XMB static? Anyone looking at the In-Game XMB for the first time would see the loading icons as a lazy job or second-hand quality.

My theory is that after Home is released, Sony will be able to start looking into features that we have been desiring since the console launched (Cross-Game Chat functionality, for example). Home has been in development for quite some time, and I can only imagine how many resources are being taken up that would usually go towards Firmware Updates.

Perhaps Home will also bring with it some features that are OUTSIDE of the program?

Devin @ Dec 10th 2008 1:03AM

Too slow. I call BS.

The Aggie CEO @ Dec 9th 2008 12:44PM

are they saying that cause thats what they do or are they REALLY not gonna do it???

they could put a netflix space in HOME.........come one people

Jerses @ Dec 9th 2008 12:46PM

hey Andrew...is that your 360 avatar?

Andrew Yoon @ Dec 9th 2008 2:01PM

Yep.

rgoff31 @ Dec 9th 2008 12:46PM

I love the minimalism of the XMB and they shouldn't change it. Netflix competes against Sonys own service, but I would much prefer to have Netflix. I'll probably be buying one of those stand alone hundred dollar netflix boxes this Christmas.

flynn110 @ Dec 9th 2008 12:55PM

really? just pay 7.99 for a 1 disc at a time netflix subscription and you get the online videos for free. then just plug your comp into your tv. sagves you $92.01

rgoff31 @ Dec 9th 2008 1:15PM

This Netflix box would be for my non-techie wife. I'm sure I could show her how to use the PS3/Netflix if it was available, but I doubt she would be able to do that with the PC (I could, but I'm a Geek).

HAAS599 @ Dec 9th 2008 1:32PM

Look into PlayOn Media Server. It will stream netflix, hulu, youtube, and more to your PS3. All you need is to have a computer turned on, rather than physically connected to the TV. I have been using it for a while and it works great.

Hife @ Dec 9th 2008 2:18PM

I totally agree about the minimalism thing. I've tried the NXE, and it's very pretty and fluid. But it also seemed to be to full of... things. There were advertisements for movies and DLC everywhere. I like it, and it's great for some people, but I'm a minimalist, so I'll stick with the XMB.

Vagabond99 @ Dec 9th 2008 2:35PM

I think there is still a trial for the PlayOn Media Server. It's still in beta, but works pretty damn well. Netflix and Hulu are great! Worth the $30 to buy it.

techvw @ Dec 9th 2008 12:49PM

Doesn't really matter since PlayOn works really well for watching Netflix and Hulu on your PS3:
http://www.themediamall.com/playon

supersickie @ Dec 9th 2008 12:58PM

Exactly what I came here to say. It's a one time fee of $30, but it works great for all of your Netflix/Hulu needs.

Darren Tilley @ Dec 9th 2008 1:02PM

PlayOn doesn't work at all if you signed up for the Silverlight beta over at Netflix. And since they provide no way to opt back out of the beta, PlayOn is broken till they get around to adding support.

http://www.themediamall.com/node/474

justin @ Dec 9th 2008 12:48PM

PLEASE dont change it sony,,, i love it, its simple and its straight to the point,,, if a dam cartoon character was staring me in the face every time i turned on my game,,......id go crazy

Andy @ Dec 9th 2008 12:58PM

I thought I read one time that netflix was going to offer a disc based player for ps3, possibly over PSN as well.

nighttime__ @ Dec 9th 2008 1:00PM

The only thing I would change, is the ability to organise and MAKE new folders under video.

chimaera9 @ Dec 9th 2008 1:07PM

I totally agree about being able to organize things into folders. Why do they have the XMB set up so that I have to MANUALLY put each pic, song, or video into a folder, one at a time, rather than simply marking them and then clicking them into a folder? I have hundreds of pics on my PS3, and it is very annoying have to organize them by going into the information of each pic and writing in which album they're in.

Maybe I'm missing something--is there a faster way to do this?

Extinction @ Dec 9th 2008 1:34PM

We have that already, have for ages. Press triangle on a selected video and edit the album name. Press square in the XMB to change grouping to album

Extinction @ Dec 9th 2008 1:35PM

" Why do they have the XMB set up so that I have to MANUALLY put each pic, song, or video into a folder, one at a time"

You don't. Use "Copy Multiple", DUH!

FeaturePreacher @ Dec 9th 2008 2:05PM

It sure would be nice if they had a multiple data album editing feature. "Copy multiple" doesn't help in placing lots of data into one folder.

Fane @ Dec 10th 2008 5:57PM

One way to make the process quicker:

At first, just use "g" for all of the items you want in one album; it only takes a few button presses. Then, once they are all grouped together, change "g" to the acutal ablume name you want to use.

It's no solution to the lack of a "edit Multiple" option, but it helps a little.

maxpontiac @ Dec 9th 2008 1:02PM

Like the XMB, it does not need a change thank you very much.

glitched @ Dec 9th 2008 1:03PM

I like the XMB to.

As for other feedback, In the remote play options, there is an option to select if the audio should be played on the ps3, or on the PSP when you are in remote play. I would love to see an option for BOTH at the same time.

Dylan @ Dec 9th 2008 1:04PM

Lame. My roommate has an Xbox and the Netflix streaming on there is awesome.

I was hoping there would be a version for PS3, cause the download service isn't very good.

linebeginstoblur @ Dec 9th 2008 1:05PM

I'm glad to hear they won't be changing the XMB and that they'll opt to continue working on the PlayStation Video Store, although... Though I'm fine with not having Netflix, I do with that the already-established PlayStation Store was better. Over time, it still needs to work on its library. Also, if you know that your customers want to own the product....

...why the hell are you only permitted one download? My first rental almost made me want to never use the service. The movie, as it went on, started lagging worse and worse until it was almost unwatchable. I couldn't try deleting it and redownloading while I was still within my window. I was stuck. Also, I put it on my PSP to try that out. I couldn't move it back. The PS Store is a good start, but it definitely has some kinks to work out before it can truly compete with something like Netflix.

diare33 @ Dec 9th 2008 1:06PM

Its ridicules to put hulu in xmb... i dont want a ton of websites in the xmb.. google search is ok,. and what the f... buy a xbox if you complaining that ps3 dont have alternative to netflix streaming or the new xbox experience.! this story should of been on the xbox fanboy site.real bs . btw like we all know that NXE is a poor attempt to copy or attack home.

jarhead906 @ Dec 9th 2008 4:27PM

@Ham

You don't take spelling seriously enough.

deaftly @ Dec 10th 2008 11:44AM

How exactly is NXE anything like Home? Your blind fanboyism just makes you look like an idiot in the end. Learn to shut up now and then.

Fane @ Dec 10th 2008 7:11PM

@deaftly

pot. kettle. black.

Fane @ Dec 10th 2008 6:02PM

@deaftly

pot. kettle. black.

Jack Tretton @ Dec 9th 2008 1:10PM

"[O]ur customers want to own the content..."

Except when they want to rent it.

Miguel @ Dec 9th 2008 1:17PM

The XMB is fine as it is, but Netflix would be welcome. In fact more content would be welcome. An app store perhaps? Hulu app, youtube app, pandora app? Using the PS3 browser for hulu and youtube sucks. In fact the browser needs work, how bout firefox or opera in an app store as well? How about a LOT more PSone games, and a lot more HD movies and shows for download. How bout PS2 BC and a PSN PS2 store?

BT @ Dec 9th 2008 1:18PM

agree 100% on renting especially if it's a monthly subscription versus paying for each title. Video, unlike music typically is watched once/twice versus listened to over and over (there are exceptions of course like kids' DVD of barnie or baby einstein that are way overplayed).

kenjix @ Dec 9th 2008 1:24PM

Andrew your funny talking about the successful launch of the NXE. I didn't see anything as successful but I guess it's how you spin it.

toscomor @ Dec 9th 2008 1:47PM

"Own the content"? WTF? What this guy is smoking? The only reason I still boot up my 360 is to stream Netflix and play GoW2.

"We've listened to customers...". Well, we STILL need better chat support a la 360. We don't have different chat channels, we can't have a private chat while playing, the whole menu thing is a mess.

Sorry, but we have to admit that MS is light years ahead in user experience since the beginning, plus being bold enough to change its native UI. Congrats to them.

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