Amazon amazing

[pb4uski]

DS and I rented an Amazon video the other night. While Amazon usually works well for me, the other night it kept pausing to buffer - very annoying but we muddled through it.

Well, I just received an email from Amazon that they noticed that I experienced poor video playback and they apologized and issued me a full refund of the rental fee. And I didn't even complain!

Amazing how they knew that and impressive that they took the initiative to make it right. Bravo!

 

[beowulf]

Actually, it was NSA that noticed as they monitored what you were watching to make sure you weren't looking at anything potentially dangerous and they notified Amazon that there was a problem with delivery .

 

[GrayHare]

Netflix has been sluggish lately too during evenings to the point of being essentially unwatchable. Though all streaming devices buffer incoming data, some struggle more than others. The Sony box for our TV has more trouble than does a computer. I'm not sure why that should be the case.

 

[bssc]

Just paused Amazon right now to check something. Been having great service but good to know that they would be there for me if necessary.

 

[Redbugdave]

Utube has gotten miserable. I give up with them...

 

[plex]

Most likely it is traffic shaping by your ISP. Streaming takes a lot of bandwidth, and while the old pipes can handle some people doing it, it can't handle most people streaming. I've used video conferencing for 5-6 years now, and the standard cable connections inability to really handle that application as well is even more noticeable, the lag is horrible, reminiscent to using dial up to browse the web 15 years ago.

It's going to be a big deal for me to live in an area with gigabit connections for my next move.

 

[REWahoo]

...and while the old pipes can handle some people doing it...

Enough with the geezer sex jokes...

 

[Mulligan]

Enough with the geezer sex jokes...

Congrats RE, you move to the head of the class with that comment!

 

[W2R]

Most likely it is traffic shaping by your ISP. Streaming takes a lot of bandwidth, and while the old pipes can handle some people doing it, it can't handle most people streaming. I've used video conferencing for 5-6 years now, and the standard cable connections inability to really handle that application as well is even more noticeable, the lag is horrible, reminiscent to using dial up to browse the web 15 years ago.

It's going to be a big deal for me to live in an area with gigabit connections for my next move.

I seldom stream video for some reason. From what you are saying, it sounds like video streaming capabilities have really gone downhill. Fortunately my video games do not rely upon video streaming and I prefer to play those games that one can play offline.

To me it seems so spooky that Amazon (and/or ISP) would know about the poor quality video playback the OP endured. I guess Big Brother really IS watching you.

 

[ERD50]

...
To me it seems so spooky that Amazon (and/or ISP) would know about the poor quality video playback the OP endured. I guess Big Brother really IS watching you.

Spooky? Big Brother? I don't get that.

Amazon provides the feed. Their computers are monitoring it for quality. Hat's off to them to credit their customers when their service was not up to their standards, and to do it w/o even getting a complaint. How is that 'so spooky'?

If your lawn service came by, and saw the grass really didn't need cutting for another week, so left you a note that they will be back next week, no charge for this week - would that be labeled 'so spooky' or 'Big Brother'? This is the networked equivalent, I don't see any difference.

-ERD50

 

[gardenfun]

I tried Hulu (free version) for the first time last week, just because they have the Inspector Morse series. yay!
But they continually freeze and go back to the beginning. I thought it was because I was using the free version--oh well.
Then I read in the discussion forums that even the Hulu Plus people have the same problem. There were various remedies proposed by the Hulu people, but they really didn't get rid of the problem.
Wow, if I was paying Hulu I would really be upset at the service.
Amazon Prime has been great lately, and I usually don't have any issues with Netflix streaming.
but Hulu? ugh, it's really tedious....

 

[tangomonster]

We started with a new free service that has about 3,000 independent films, documentaries, concerts, etc., many of which have been in film festivals:

Welcome to Snagfilms

During the (only) movie we watched, it streamed okay---the picture just broke up a couple of times for a second.

The catch: commercials! About one 30 second ad every 10 minutes. For free, I can live with that.

 

[pb4uski]

I couldn't live with that, even for free. I hate commercials.

 

[marko]

I've had relatively good streaming here. Youtube, Netflix and Amazon; only a half-second re-buffer once or twice. Netfilx seems to be the best however; Amazon more so.

I DO like Amazon and their ability to provide excellent customer service. Seems that they've got the whole online business figured out.