4 ms·

I wonder whether this would allow Netflix to more easily bring their streaming video service to Android...

aplusbi 16y ago
Probably not. Moonlight doesn't have the DRM necessary (and won't - MS has no intention of releasing it on Linux) and Netflix doesn't use Silverlight/MS DRM on phones anyway (AFAIK). From what I understand, on the iPhone/iPad Netflix uses the DRM built into the device. Since Android phones are built by several different manufacturers there is no uniformity in hardware DRM (and some phones don't have any at all). I imagine that it's easier to get content providers to agree to use hardware DRM than software DRM which further complicates the issue.
- jstedfast 16y ago
  Well, if that's the case (Netflix taking advantage of the DRM built into the phones), then there's no reason Moonlight for Android can't take advantage of that, too. Also, Microsoft has licensed their DRM for Linux on embedded devices in the past.
  - aplusbi 16y ago
    Yes, but since Netflix doesn't use Silverlight for the iPhone/iPad it's not like it's going to make a difference one way or another. MS has licensed their DRM, but they will not license it for use with Moonlight. From my understanding, the licensing they have done has generally for hardware (the NXP chip in the Roku box, for example).
- tzs 16y ago
  > MS has no intention of releasing it on Linux More likely it is the content owners who have no intention of licensing the DRM for Linux.
- bogomips 16y ago
  There is no DRM in the hardware of the iPhone/iPad. It is absolutely no better than the worst Android device, and there are available cracks to rip Netflix streams on a jailbroken iOS device. However there is the illusion of security in that it is a supposedly closed system. As Android is arguably open, that illusion doesn't hold.
zacharypinter 16y ago
I don't believe the Moonlight guys support DRM, so it's the same situation as Netflix on Linux.
- jstedfast 16y ago
  Well, yes and no. From what I understand, Microsoft has been willing in the past to license their PlayReady DRM for use in embedded devices (which phones are). Will they be willing to license for Moonlight on Android? Who knows, but it's not a for-sure "no" yet. Of course, it's also not a "yes" either ;-) AFAIK, we haven't even talked to them about it yet... this was kind of a last-minute hack for Mix11.
  - cyrus_ 16y ago
    If you think Microsoft will voluntarily give a leg up to both Android and Mono, don't hold your breath.
Rondrak 16y ago
Take a look at http://forums.silverlight.net/forums/t/94992.aspx http://forums.silverlight.net/forums/t/94992.aspx. After the original post, most of them are "yeah right on!", or +1 type posts, until about 1/6 of the way down when streamOG begins chiming in. His posts get increasingly in depth and informative on the issue as the thread continues.

Probably not. Moonlight doesn't have the DRM necessary (and won't - MS has no intention of releasing it on Linux) and Netflix doesn't use Silverlight/MS DRM on phones anyway (AFAIK). From what I understand, on the iPhone/iPad Netflix uses the DRM built into the device. Since Android phones are built by several different manufacturers there is no uniformity in hardware DRM (and some phones don't have any at all). I imagine that it's easier to get content providers to agree to use hardware DRM than software DRM which further complicates the issue.

jstedfast 16y ago
Well, if that's the case (Netflix taking advantage of the DRM built into the phones), then there's no reason Moonlight for Android can't take advantage of that, too. Also, Microsoft has licensed their DRM for Linux on embedded devices in the past.
- aplusbi 16y ago
  Yes, but since Netflix doesn't use Silverlight for the iPhone/iPad it's not like it's going to make a difference one way or another. MS has licensed their DRM, but they will not license it for use with Moonlight. From my understanding, the licensing they have done has generally for hardware (the NXP chip in the Roku box, for example).
tzs 16y ago
> MS has no intention of releasing it on Linux More likely it is the content owners who have no intention of licensing the DRM for Linux.
bogomips 16y ago
There is no DRM in the hardware of the iPhone/iPad. It is absolutely no better than the worst Android device, and there are available cracks to rip Netflix streams on a jailbroken iOS device. However there is the illusion of security in that it is a supposedly closed system. As Android is arguably open, that illusion doesn't hold.

zacharypinter 16y ago

I don't believe the Moonlight guys support DRM, so it's the same situation as Netflix on Linux.

jstedfast 16y ago
Well, yes and no. From what I understand, Microsoft has been willing in the past to license their PlayReady DRM for use in embedded devices (which phones are). Will they be willing to license for Moonlight on Android? Who knows, but it's not a for-sure "no" yet. Of course, it's also not a "yes" either ;-) AFAIK, we haven't even talked to them about it yet... this was kind of a last-minute hack for Mix11.
- cyrus_ 16y ago
  If you think Microsoft will voluntarily give a leg up to both Android and Mono, don't hold your breath.

Rondrak 16y ago

Take a look at http://forums.silverlight.net/forums/t/94992.aspx http://forums.silverlight.net/forums/t/94992.aspx. After the original post, most of them are "yeah right on!", or +1 type posts, until about 1/6 of the way down when streamOG begins chiming in. His posts get increasingly in depth and informative on the issue as the thread continues.