Now that Netflix has finally brought their streaming video experience to the iPhone, it seems like a Hulu Plus versus Netflix client comparison is in order (via my 3GS). We’ll save the content selection and video quality comparison for another day, but some quickly comparable metrics are related to app launch time and battery usage. And, actually, launch time wouldn’t have been on my radar… except that Netflix comes up surprisingly slowly.
Launch Speed
On average and while on WiFi, from a cold start the Hulu app fully loads it’s first screen in about 5 seconds as opposed to the ~8s Netflix requires. On my 3G connection, Hulu came up in about 10 seconds, whereas Netflix took 18 seconds… or more. Ouch. Of course, your connections and coverage will differ from mine but the relative comparison stands: Hulu launches significantly faster.
Winner: Hulu Plus
Battery Life
For a quick and dirty battery comparison, I played the first five minutes of Arrested Development Season 3, Episode 1 in landscape mode over 3G. At whatever volume and brightness I was on, probably a bit south of 50%, both Netflix and Hulu Plus drained about 2%-3% of the battery. In even less scientific testing, I watched an entire Netflix episode of Arrested Development on the gym cardio gear and it seemed to consume a couple percent more than episodes on Hulu Plus. However, episode length is probably variable and Hulu Plus does insert commercials. So for now, I’ll say the two apps are nearly equivalent when watching shorter form content… even though Hulu Plus is probably a tad bit less taxing on battery life.
Winner: Tie
Odds & Ends
While I’ve noticed some Hulu Plus app quirks and annoyances, it’s never crashed on me. Whereas, the Netflix app has already imploded in only a short amount of usage. Additionally, over 3G Hulu Plus does a much better job keeping the video stream going. Netflix video, on the other hand, takes a longer time to spin up and introduces video pauses. I don’t know what codecs, resolutions, and bitrates these guys are utilizing, and those could certainly pay a part in the differing 3G experiences. Regardless, for the moment and ignoring content options, Hulu Plus provides the better experience.
Also, I should add that both UIs need work but are serviceable in their current forms – thanks to search and linked online, web queue/subscription management. Netflix probably suffers more because we have preconceived notions of what we should be able to do based on other Netflix platforms and website. Whereas Hulu Plus is a relatively new service without those preconceived expectations.
Lately, I’ve seen alot of praise for Hulu Plus from tech bloggers comparing it to Netflix. However, they never seem to mention that H+ is limited to ABC/FOX/NBC only (and some old cancelled series); while NFLX also also gives you Cable TV programming (e.g. “Dexter”, as in your screenshot) and movies.
Coverage related to the recent regurgitated Hulu Plus chart going around has annoyed me too for that reason. Maybe I’m one of the few tech bloggers who actually pays for and uses both services? Hulu Plus’ content breadth is mostly limited to the major networks and a disappointment in that regard. But I’m saving the content selection comparison for another post and also hopeful Hulu can negotiate current cable content – even if something like Dexter is too costly or too R rated, get us Burn Notice and Mad Men. Netflix is clearly superior in offering more content that I want to see.
“Coverage regarding the recent regurgitated Hulu Plus chart going around has annoyed me too for that reason. Maybe I’m one of the few tech bloggers who actually pays for and uses both services?”
Everyone understands that tech bloggers are supposed to evaluate the things they cover based purely on press releases and conversations with PR flacks.
You seem to be going about your job in the absolute wrong way.
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“even if something like Dexter is too costly or too R rated, get us Burn Notice and Mad Men.”
My guess is that in determining the future of the Hulu library, corporate lineage is more important than cost.
Burn Notice airs on NBC and is produced by Fox. Mad Men airs on Rainbow Media and is produced by Lions Gate.
Given that both NBC and Fox are partners in Hulu, and given that Rainbow Media and Lions Gate are not, I’d say that Burn Notice is a lot more likely to come to Hulu than Mad Men.
The purpose of Hulu seems to me more an experiment in vertical integration than anything else…
I don’t know… I feel like Hulu has moved beyond experiment and it’s original corporate lineage. And I imagine the studios would want to maximize their outlets – unless getting paid handsomely for exclusives. I think there’s more overlap on the way. More providers, too. Not sure if an all-you-can eat plan fits into Apple’s world view, but there could be others. (Including the cable/satellite providers themselves. I hope to take a look at DISH’s new web solution in the near future.)
“I don’t know… I feel like Hulu has moved beyond experiment and it’s original corporate lineage. And I imagine the studios would want to maximize their outlets – unless getting paid handsomely for exclusives.”
Dunno either. We shall see. But the Hulu Plus approach, with the ads, the lower PQ, and the vertically integrated library sure seem to fit into my worldview of what they’re up to.
In other words, as best as I can tell, they don’t see a real market there yet, but they want to pre-empt anyone else from establishing themselves there in case there is a real market there in the future. They see more downside in disrupting their current revenue streams than upside in establishing new revenue streams…
“Not sure if an all-you-can eat plan fits into Apple’s world view”
My understanding is that Apple has spent a lot of energy over the past year or two trying to persuade providers to buy into a subscription model, and had absolutely no success.
If they do anything in that direction at first, I’d guess it’d be a Disney/ABC only thing, which is just more pseudo-vertical integration.
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And FWIW, Cupertino seems to be frantically working to lower expectations on the new Apple TV these days. The current CW is that it’s just an accessory for your iOS device(s).
Tangential at best, (and really off-topic at worst), but I figure this might be the right audience for this movie pick.
Benjamin Mercer finally made the comparison that I’ve had in my head for a month, namely:
If you’re anxiously waiting for the release of Fincher’s The Social Network, (as am I), you ought to go watch We Live in Public, which is available in HD through Netflix streaming.
We Live in Public is somewhat unpleasant viewing, but if you’re into the wacky net/video convergence we’re living through, and if you’re into the intersection of art and money, it’s also pretty tasty viewing.
I just want a UI refresh for Netflix on the iPad. The UI on the iPhone looks sooo much better than the website look on the bigger screen.
One thing is annoying about Netflix’s UI. In the Genres tab, they are missing some of the genres that are listed on their Web Version (and thus their iPad version since it’s basically the same). The annoying thing about Hulu is 1) they have the nerve to charge money AND put ads in the media. 2) It seems impossible to get an invitation.
I installed the Netflix app on my 8-y.o. son’s itouch. It highlighted for me the need for multiple queues and the need for parental controls.