Netflix PlayStation 3 Update Coming: No Disc, 1080p, 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound

Months of Microsoft envy goes away on Monday October 18 for PlayStation 3 users. That's when Netflix will update their application for Sony's next generation system. That means no more disc needed, the biggest plus, and it one ups X-Box 360 with 1080p (!) high definition picture capability and 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus Surround Sound. Take that, Bill Gates. Check out a video of the interface and more details after the jump.

As a PlayStation 3 owner, I must admit that having to run Netflix off that pesky disc regularly stopped me from popping on my Instant Queue while sitting around the apartment bored. I think will this new interface, particularly the way it runs and is integrated with the system, will encourage me to knock off a bunch of the films on my (admittedly) way-too-long queue.

However, all my worries can be summed up in one word: Buffering. Streaming up to 1080p HD images coded with 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus Surround Sound is a whole bunch of data. And with the new software, Netflix users who were too lazy to apply for the PS3 disc will now be using it too. More users plus more data equal potential freeze frames while you're streaming Lost. So time will tell how successful this upgrade will be. It'll probably be fine, but one never does know.

Sources: arstechnica.com, PlayStation Blog, Netflix