4 ms·

Looks like it's only available for smartphones and tablets, not for computers. Probably because on smartphones and tables they have their own app and don't have

Looks like it's only available for smartphones and tablets, not for computers. Probably because on smartphones and tables they have their own app and don't have to rely on a browser.

tdb7893 10y ago
Too bad they couldn't make it a chrome extension or something at least
- mulletbum 10y ago
  Can someone please explain why this comment is being downvoted? Is it not feasible or is that stupid in some way? I'd just like to know if the downvotes are from a technical perspective.
  - dsr_ 10y ago
    DRM relies on handing the ciphertext, a decryption program, and the key to the opponent, and then telling them not to use it except when they are allowed to use it. If your browser is in charge of running the storage of the ciphertext and the decryption, it is much easier to debug it and apply a patch that will store the plaintext than if you have to do this all in an Android emulator as well. But either way: DRM doesn't work for long. In the meantime, Netflix is providing enough value for me that I happily pay their monthly fee and don't bother looking for ways to break their DRM.
    - betandr 10y ago
      As they say 'convenient is better than better' and I've long looked for a company like Netflix who will allow me to give them money and they will let me watch what I want.
      - libraryatnight 10y ago
        I think that's what Netflix wants to be, getting the content creators to agree is the tough part, I imagine. Another benefit to their producing their own material.
amelius 10y ago
> Probably because on smartphones and tables they have their own app and don't have to rely on a browser. But then they have to rely on the OS instead. Not sure what is better.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
plg 10y ago
what if you get your computer browser's developer mode to masquerade as a tablet/phone?
- Someone1234 10y ago
  It only works in their apps, not in mobile browsers. So that wouldn't help you.
  - brixon 10y ago
    http://www.bluestacks.com/ http://www.bluestacks.com/
    - rikkus 10y ago
      Would be interesting to know if this works, but if the use case is watching films on laptop on plane, rather than tablet on plane, I hope you have a power source.
johansch 10y ago
Does anyone know if e.g. Google's Widevine or Apple's FairPlay support the concept of applying DRM to downloaded files? If they do, they should be able to get this to the web version of Netflix. (Laptop screens are great for watching video content on e.g. a flight or train ride. Bringing an extra piece of hardware like a tablet just for this purpose seems silly. Phone screens offer poor ergonomy. They are only really a decent compromise on a bus or a subway, or similar.)
- MBCook 10y ago
  Of course they do. That's how an iPod could play FairPlay content without a network connection. They didn't strip the DRM upon upload the the iPod. I'm sure the Netflix files on your iPad are still DRMed. They just give you some kind of key that's only good for a limited amount of time.
  - johansch 10y ago
    I guess the practical question here is whether that functionality is usable via the javascript API:s.
    - MBCook 10y ago
      I'd expect it is if the browser implements the security plugin infrastructure that Netflix (and others) have been pushing.
      - johansch 10y ago
        Up until very recently Netflix has been saying that offline viewing is not something they want. Maybe they were just doing a Steve, though.
ihuman 10y ago
They have a Windows 10 app, though.
- heroprotagonist 10y ago
  Unfortunately, you need to use the Windows Store to get it. edit: Actually, I just checked an apparently you can download the free apps from the store without logging in now. I tried to do this a very long time ago and skipped because it wanted a Microsoft account login, so I left. I'm glad they've changed this.
tantalor 10y ago
Works on Chromebook. https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/7021273?hl=en https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/7021273?hl=en

Looks like it's only available for smartphones and tablets, not for computers. Probably because on smartphones and tables they have their own app and don't have to rely on a browser.

tdb7893 10y ago

Too bad they couldn't make it a chrome extension or something at least

mulletbum 10y ago
Can someone please explain why this comment is being downvoted? Is it not feasible or is that stupid in some way? I'd just like to know if the downvotes are from a technical perspective.
- dsr_ 10y ago
  DRM relies on handing the ciphertext, a decryption program, and the key to the opponent, and then telling them not to use it except when they are allowed to use it. If your browser is in charge of running the storage of the ciphertext and the decryption, it is much easier to debug it and apply a patch that will store the plaintext than if you have to do this all in an Android emulator as well. But either way: DRM doesn't work for long. In the meantime, Netflix is providing enough value for me that I happily pay their monthly fee and don't bother looking for ways to break their DRM.
  - betandr 10y ago
    As they say 'convenient is better than better' and I've long looked for a company like Netflix who will allow me to give them money and they will let me watch what I want.
    - libraryatnight 10y ago
      I think that's what Netflix wants to be, getting the content creators to agree is the tough part, I imagine. Another benefit to their producing their own material.

amelius 10y ago

> Probably because on smartphones and tables they have their own app and don't have to rely on a browser. But then they have to rely on the OS instead. Not sure what is better.

deleted 10y ago
[deleted]

plg 10y ago

what if you get your computer browser's developer mode to masquerade as a tablet/phone?

Someone1234 10y ago
It only works in their apps, not in mobile browsers. So that wouldn't help you.
- brixon 10y ago
  http://www.bluestacks.com/ http://www.bluestacks.com/
  - rikkus 10y ago
    Would be interesting to know if this works, but if the use case is watching films on laptop on plane, rather than tablet on plane, I hope you have a power source.

johansch 10y ago

Does anyone know if e.g. Google's Widevine or Apple's FairPlay support the concept of applying DRM to downloaded files? If they do, they should be able to get this to the web version of Netflix. (Laptop screens are great for watching video content on e.g. a flight or train ride. Bringing an extra piece of hardware like a tablet just for this purpose seems silly. Phone screens offer poor ergonomy. They are only really a decent compromise on a bus or a subway, or similar.)

MBCook 10y ago
Of course they do. That's how an iPod could play FairPlay content without a network connection. They didn't strip the DRM upon upload the the iPod. I'm sure the Netflix files on your iPad are still DRMed. They just give you some kind of key that's only good for a limited amount of time.
- johansch 10y ago
  I guess the practical question here is whether that functionality is usable via the javascript API:s.
  - MBCook 10y ago
    I'd expect it is if the browser implements the security plugin infrastructure that Netflix (and others) have been pushing.
    - johansch 10y ago
      Up until very recently Netflix has been saying that offline viewing is not something they want. Maybe they were just doing a Steve, though.

ihuman 10y ago

They have a Windows 10 app, though.

heroprotagonist 10y ago
Unfortunately, you need to use the Windows Store to get it. edit: Actually, I just checked an apparently you can download the free apps from the store without logging in now. I tried to do this a very long time ago and skipped because it wanted a Microsoft account login, so I left. I'm glad they've changed this.

tantalor 10y ago

Works on Chromebook. https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/7021273?hl=en https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/7021273?hl=en