5 ms·

I don't like DRM, but I like binging Netflix in a corner on my laptop while I work. I've been doing it for years using Chrome with a fake user-agent to fool Net

I don't like DRM, but I like binging Netflix in a corner on my laptop while I work. I've been doing it for years using Chrome with a fake user-agent to fool Netflix into thinking I'm on Windows (apparently that hasn't been needed for some time?) So...I'm torn, I guess. I'm glad Linux/Firefox can Netflix, but I'd like it if web standards were open and not patent encumbered. I guess it's a political issue and not a technical one, and I doubt Netflix care all that much (I believe the content creators are the ones who insisted on DRM for Netflix to stream). Then again, now that Netflix is creating a lot of their own content, they might be evil on that front, too (as they're evil on net neutrality now that they are in a position of strength).

pitaj 10y ago
> I'm glad Linux/Firefox can Netflix, but I'd like it if web standards were open and not patent encumbered. The actual web standard is open. Netflix was one of the key players in making this an open extensible standard instead of it being an extension or plugin for browsers.
- SwellJoe 10y ago
  It's still a binary blob, isn't it?
  - dblohm7 10y ago
    Correct. The Web API is standardized, but how the engine interfaces with the actual content decryption modules is not.
    - chii 10y ago
      that's just a play on words. it's not an open standard if a completely unaffiliated party cannot implement the full standard (which I assume is true due to the blob for decryption).
wnevets 10y ago
>(as they're evil on net neutrality now that they are in a position of strength). what is this in reference to?
- SwellJoe 10y ago
  This is a pretty good rundown of it: http://www.theverge.com/2017/3/20/14960154/netflix-net-neutrality-stances-timeline http://www.theverge.com/2017/3/20/14960154/netflix-net-neutr... The short answer is that, as with many corporations that find themselves in a position of significant leverage, their stance on the open internet has softened. They know they wield enough influence to keep the pipes flowing for their content...and, to hell with any tiny Netflix competitors that might spring up that don't have that kind of clout.
always_good 10y ago
> I like binging Netflix in a corner on my > laptop while I work My girlfriend and some friends do this during work/chores, but I'm wondering how that works. Are there really shows that aren't good enough to warrant your undivided attention, yet good enough to watch in the first place? I really can't think of any for myself. If I don't mind missing chunks of a show, then I don't really want to watch it in the first place. If it was good, then I wouldn't want to miss it. Just curious.
- SwellJoe 10y ago
  Mostly re-runs, but also scifi/fantasy stuff that isn't great, but still provides occasional moments of, "huh, that was interesting". Most recently I was binging The 100 while working. It's not good enough to really hold my attention, but it's also a fun post-apocalyptic story with a pretty good cast. I mostly listen to music while working, but sometimes mindless TV is good, too. Probably not while I'm doing hard stuff, but some days I have a lot of mindless stuff to churn through.
- jakebasile 10y ago
  I don't make a habit of it, but sometimes I'll have Twitch or something running in PIP mode while working. If I'm alone at home it can get pretty quiet and I don't always want music on. It's a bit like white noise. I'm guessing this person uses Netflix in a similar way.
- antisthenes 10y ago
  > Are there really shows that aren't good enough to warrant your undivided attention, yet good enough to watch in the first place? As someone with ADHD: that's going to be most of the shows I ever watch. Unless it's really one of the best shows or movies I've ever seen (like The Wire or something from IMDB's top 50), it's really hard to give it complete undivided attention and probably not worth it anyway.
- bagacrap 10y ago
  Werner Herzog documentaries for me.

pitaj 10y ago

> I'm glad Linux/Firefox can Netflix, but I'd like it if web standards were open and not patent encumbered. The actual web standard is open. Netflix was one of the key players in making this an open extensible standard instead of it being an extension or plugin for browsers.

SwellJoe 10y ago
It's still a binary blob, isn't it?
- dblohm7 10y ago
  Correct. The Web API is standardized, but how the engine interfaces with the actual content decryption modules is not.
  - chii 10y ago
    that's just a play on words. it's not an open standard if a completely unaffiliated party cannot implement the full standard (which I assume is true due to the blob for decryption).

wnevets 10y ago

>(as they're evil on net neutrality now that they are in a position of strength). what is this in reference to?

SwellJoe 10y ago
This is a pretty good rundown of it: http://www.theverge.com/2017/3/20/14960154/netflix-net-neutrality-stances-timeline http://www.theverge.com/2017/3/20/14960154/netflix-net-neutr... The short answer is that, as with many corporations that find themselves in a position of significant leverage, their stance on the open internet has softened. They know they wield enough influence to keep the pipes flowing for their content...and, to hell with any tiny Netflix competitors that might spring up that don't have that kind of clout.

always_good 10y ago

> I like binging Netflix in a corner on my > laptop while I work My girlfriend and some friends do this during work/chores, but I'm wondering how that works. Are there really shows that aren't good enough to warrant your undivided attention, yet good enough to watch in the first place? I really can't think of any for myself. If I don't mind missing chunks of a show, then I don't really want to watch it in the first place. If it was good, then I wouldn't want to miss it. Just curious.

SwellJoe 10y ago
Mostly re-runs, but also scifi/fantasy stuff that isn't great, but still provides occasional moments of, "huh, that was interesting". Most recently I was binging The 100 while working. It's not good enough to really hold my attention, but it's also a fun post-apocalyptic story with a pretty good cast. I mostly listen to music while working, but sometimes mindless TV is good, too. Probably not while I'm doing hard stuff, but some days I have a lot of mindless stuff to churn through.
jakebasile 10y ago
I don't make a habit of it, but sometimes I'll have Twitch or something running in PIP mode while working. If I'm alone at home it can get pretty quiet and I don't always want music on. It's a bit like white noise. I'm guessing this person uses Netflix in a similar way.
antisthenes 10y ago
> Are there really shows that aren't good enough to warrant your undivided attention, yet good enough to watch in the first place? As someone with ADHD: that's going to be most of the shows I ever watch. Unless it's really one of the best shows or movies I've ever seen (like The Wire or something from IMDB's top 50), it's really hard to give it complete undivided attention and probably not worth it anyway.
bagacrap 10y ago
Werner Herzog documentaries for me.