5 ms·

I've always thought that streaming services' main goal should be to be more convenient than digital piracy. That's when they win- when the service provides such

by btym 9y ago

I've always thought that streaming services' main goal should be to be more convenient than digital piracy. That's when they win- when the service provides such a clear advantage over piracy that people are happy to pay money for it. At the moment, aside from ethical qualms, it is often more convenient for Linux, FF, and Chrome users to pirate Netflix's content. DRM, ironically, promotes piracy.

helthanatos 9y ago
Also, Netflix's library is incredibly small compared to the amount of shows people actually watch. Netflix now blocks rooted Android devices. Netflix's originals are mostly terrible. So piracy vs $10/month for so much less is just painful. They don't allow anything more than 720p on chrome quite ironic considering the widevine deal. So yes, it seems Netflix is much more inconvenient than piracy.
- scarface74 9y ago
  Netflix's originals are mostly terrible. http://fortune.com/2016/09/16/emmys-preview-netflix/ http://fortune.com/2016/09/16/emmys-preview-netflix/
  - cavanasm 9y ago
    While I also strongly disagree that Netflix's originals are "mostly terrible", I also think that awards shows are not as objective a judge of quality as I (and I imagine many others) would like.
    - LordDragonfang 9y ago
      What would you suggest as a more objective judge of quality?
      - cavanasm 9y ago
        That's really the hard part, isn't it? Reputable known reviewers identified at personal discretion? My problems with most award shows is that nominations are essentially purchased.
- abritinthebay 9y ago
  > originals are mostly terrible. ... are you from some kind of parallel universe? They're incredibly successful from an awards and audience perspective.
  - helthanatos 9y ago
    Awards shows are not real and are ridiculous. I don't like any of them, but the only ones people I know like are the Orange show and the Cards show. And now they are going to make a Death Note movie...
    - abritinthebay 9y ago
      Wow.. really? There are many that are insanely popular. House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black, as you mentioned but I'm not sure how you've missed their others like... A Series of Unfortunate Events, Narcos, The Crown, Stranger Things, The OA, Sense8, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Grace and Frankie, Santa Clarita Diet, BoJack Horseman... .. and that's without mentioning their extremely successful original kids programming or co-productions (like Lillyhammer, or the new Degrassi, or Dirk Gently) and of course their continuations (Fuller House, Arrested Development, Trailer Park Boys, Black Mirror.. etc). I mean.. just look at that line up.
      - btym 9y ago
        To be fair, the Trailer Park Boys reboot was unnecessary and absolutely terrible. It was a thoroughly great series before they touched it.
        abritinthebay 9y ago
        Eh, it did well enough viewership wise. It's had 3 extra seasons and looks like it'll get a 4th. That's a solid response.
hinfaits 9y ago
It's not more convenient for Linux/FF/Chrome users to pirate. It can be a "better" option for those users to pirate if they absolutely need higher quality, but that's in no way more convenient than using Netflix. Personally, I would rank convenience in this descending order: 720p Netflix on Chrome (my browser of choice); 1080p Netflix on a supported browser; piracy. Maybe for the HN power user demographic the current DRM methodology is pushing users away, but for average joe (many of whom don't even know this is a thing) will happily plug along using Netflix.
abritinthebay 9y ago
> streaming services' main goal should be to be more convenient than digital piracy That's a sensible goal. But Netflix is more convenient and has DRM. They aren't mutually exclusive. They probably are for purchases of media (in fact... I'd say certainly are) but for streaming it's not. The big thing with streaming is speed of access to the content and Netflix/et al are much better than piracy at that (it's instant vs waiting, even a short while, for a BT download... once you find it). Streaming services main downside vs piracy is the catalog - piracy wins there, but by less in practical terms than you might expect.

by btym 9y ago

helthanatos 9y ago

Also, Netflix's library is incredibly small compared to the amount of shows people actually watch. Netflix now blocks rooted Android devices. Netflix's originals are mostly terrible. So piracy vs $10/month for so much less is just painful. They don't allow anything more than 720p on chrome quite ironic considering the widevine deal. So yes, it seems Netflix is much more inconvenient than piracy.

scarface74 9y ago
Netflix's originals are mostly terrible. http://fortune.com/2016/09/16/emmys-preview-netflix/ http://fortune.com/2016/09/16/emmys-preview-netflix/
- cavanasm 9y ago
  While I also strongly disagree that Netflix's originals are "mostly terrible", I also think that awards shows are not as objective a judge of quality as I (and I imagine many others) would like.
  - LordDragonfang 9y ago
    What would you suggest as a more objective judge of quality?
    - cavanasm 9y ago
      That's really the hard part, isn't it? Reputable known reviewers identified at personal discretion? My problems with most award shows is that nominations are essentially purchased.
abritinthebay 9y ago
> originals are mostly terrible. ... are you from some kind of parallel universe? They're incredibly successful from an awards and audience perspective.
- helthanatos 9y ago
  Awards shows are not real and are ridiculous. I don't like any of them, but the only ones people I know like are the Orange show and the Cards show. And now they are going to make a Death Note movie...
  - abritinthebay 9y ago
    Wow.. really? There are many that are insanely popular. House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black, as you mentioned but I'm not sure how you've missed their others like... A Series of Unfortunate Events, Narcos, The Crown, Stranger Things, The OA, Sense8, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Grace and Frankie, Santa Clarita Diet, BoJack Horseman... .. and that's without mentioning their extremely successful original kids programming or co-productions (like Lillyhammer, or the new Degrassi, or Dirk Gently) and of course their continuations (Fuller House, Arrested Development, Trailer Park Boys, Black Mirror.. etc). I mean.. just look at that line up.
    - btym 9y ago
      To be fair, the Trailer Park Boys reboot was unnecessary and absolutely terrible. It was a thoroughly great series before they touched it.
      - abritinthebay 9y ago
        Eh, it did well enough viewership wise. It's had 3 extra seasons and looks like it'll get a 4th. That's a solid response.

hinfaits 9y ago

It's not more convenient for Linux/FF/Chrome users to pirate. It can be a "better" option for those users to pirate if they absolutely need higher quality, but that's in no way more convenient than using Netflix. Personally, I would rank convenience in this descending order: 720p Netflix on Chrome (my browser of choice); 1080p Netflix on a supported browser; piracy. Maybe for the HN power user demographic the current DRM methodology is pushing users away, but for average joe (many of whom don't even know this is a thing) will happily plug along using Netflix.

abritinthebay 9y ago

> streaming services' main goal should be to be more convenient than digital piracy That's a sensible goal. But Netflix is more convenient and has DRM. They aren't mutually exclusive. They probably are for purchases of media (in fact... I'd say certainly are) but for streaming it's not. The big thing with streaming is speed of access to the content and Netflix/et al are much better than piracy at that (it's instant vs waiting, even a short while, for a BT download... once you find it). Streaming services main downside vs piracy is the catalog - piracy wins there, but by less in practical terms than you might expect.