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It's actually worse than that. I thought Google didn't support some YouTube API access Amazon was using. But no, Google is selectively blocking access to the we

by azakai 9y ago

It's actually worse than that. I thought Google didn't support some YouTube API access Amazon was using. But no, Google is selectively blocking access to the website: > "Echo Show and Fire TV now display a standard web view of YouTube.com and point customers directly to YouTube's existing website," Amazon's statement reads. "Google is setting a disappointing precedent by selectively blocking customer access to an open website. Google is saying Amazon customers can't view one of their websites. That's as anti-web as you can get. I understand Google is angry at Amazon, and maybe has good reason, but it crossed a dangerous line here.

eftychis 9y ago
I concur. Google selectively blocks access for no temporary technical reason to a competitor out of spite or for profit. This is kind of hypocritical if you consider at the same they fight against the net neutrality fiasco (it is a fiasco, yes, among other things). If ISPs get it their way and repeal net neutrality, they will effectively apply the same treatment and reasoning against us, citizens and consumers, and against Google. So I find the timing of this post to be ironic at best. Of course the latter case has greater impact, but Google strides towards that freedom of access violation here. In a kind of similar tune: Netflix some time now refuses to run on Firefox on non Windows/Mac OS platforms. They claimed originally DRM issues, which was not the case. I am not sure if you can bypass the block in this case by altering the application's agent entry (which you can do in the case of netflix).
- andrewaylett 9y ago
  Netflix actually works fine now, and has for a few months.
  - fernandotakai 9y ago
    the sad/bad part is that it's only 720p. 1080p only works on chrome on chromeos, edge and safari. while 4k only works on edge. https://help.netflix.com/en/node/23742 https://help.netflix.com/en/node/23742
  - CaptSpify 9y ago
    If by "fine", you mean in a limited capacity at best after you allow DRM to execute closed off code on your machine, then yes, it runs "fine".
ikeboy 9y ago
As per http://variety.com/2017/digital/news/google-blocks-youtube-fire-tv-echo-show-1202631248/ http://variety.com/2017/digital/news/google-blocks-youtube-f... "However, a source familiar with YouTube’s thinking told Variety Tuesday that this newer implementation also violated YouTube’s terms of service by layering voice control onto a web app that wasn’t designed for voice interaction."

by azakai 9y ago

eftychis 9y ago

I concur. Google selectively blocks access for no temporary technical reason to a competitor out of spite or for profit. This is kind of hypocritical if you consider at the same they fight against the net neutrality fiasco (it is a fiasco, yes, among other things). If ISPs get it their way and repeal net neutrality, they will effectively apply the same treatment and reasoning against us, citizens and consumers, and against Google. So I find the timing of this post to be ironic at best. Of course the latter case has greater impact, but Google strides towards that freedom of access violation here. In a kind of similar tune: Netflix some time now refuses to run on Firefox on non Windows/Mac OS platforms. They claimed originally DRM issues, which was not the case. I am not sure if you can bypass the block in this case by altering the application's agent entry (which you can do in the case of netflix).

andrewaylett 9y ago
Netflix actually works fine now, and has for a few months.
- fernandotakai 9y ago
  the sad/bad part is that it's only 720p. 1080p only works on chrome on chromeos, edge and safari. while 4k only works on edge. https://help.netflix.com/en/node/23742 https://help.netflix.com/en/node/23742
- CaptSpify 9y ago
  If by "fine", you mean in a limited capacity at best after you allow DRM to execute closed off code on your machine, then yes, it runs "fine".

ikeboy 9y ago

As per http://variety.com/2017/digital/news/google-blocks-youtube-fire-tv-echo-show-1202631248/ http://variety.com/2017/digital/news/google-blocks-youtube-f... "However, a source familiar with YouTube’s thinking told Variety Tuesday that this newer implementation also violated YouTube’s terms of service by layering voice control onto a web app that wasn’t designed for voice interaction."