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You just explained the headline. Netflix has successfully weaponized edge cases for profit - the "success" part crucially hinging on surviving the initial news

by jrajav 2y ago

You just explained the headline. Netflix has successfully weaponized edge cases for profit - the "success" part crucially hinging on surviving the initial news cycle and coming out the other side with their reputation intact. The money grab was spread across so many disparate demographics and use cases that none could coalesce to a single, easy-to-message gripe. All it cost them was a few key slices of trust from discerning customers. Take enough of those slices and your business will fade - but who cares, for this financial year?

rahimnathwani 2y ago
The thing is... we subscribe to several TV streaming services, but IIRC Netflix is the only one whose app is on the TVs at this particular brand's hotels. And it's become even more inconvenient to use external HDMI devices. At the last hotel I stayed at, the TV unit was permanently on 100% volume, and the effective volume was controlled by the external box. This would be fine, except that: - at low volumes, it was hard to hear voices clearly, as the audio signal coming from the box into the TV was really low, and the TV was amplifying not only that signal, but also background hum - attaching an external device to the TV (like a TV stick) means the TV remote can no longer control the volume
- lp0_on_fire 2y ago
  Which hotel chain so I know to avoid it?
  - rahimnathwani 2y ago
    At least some JW Marriott hotels have the TV setup I described.
- fragmede 2y ago
  but you control the volume on the external device via software. then again, I bring a travel router running OpenWRT and travelmate, so I'm an outlier.
  - rahimnathwani 2y ago
    but you control the volume on the external device via software Yes, but: 1. If you're watching TV in bed, how do you change the volume on your laptop, that's several feet away from you? Do you just carry a very long HDMI cable, or do you use some remote control software to control your laptop volume? 2. Low volume => low SNR.
    - echoangle 2y ago
      Are you sure about the volume thing? Isn’t the entire signal chain of a normal TV digital and there’s only a conversion to Analog at the End? I don’t understand why the background hum would change volume with this setup.

by jrajav 2y ago

rahimnathwani 2y ago

The thing is... we subscribe to several TV streaming services, but IIRC Netflix is the only one whose app is on the TVs at this particular brand's hotels. And it's become even more inconvenient to use external HDMI devices. At the last hotel I stayed at, the TV unit was permanently on 100% volume, and the effective volume was controlled by the external box. This would be fine, except that: - at low volumes, it was hard to hear voices clearly, as the audio signal coming from the box into the TV was really low, and the TV was amplifying not only that signal, but also background hum - attaching an external device to the TV (like a TV stick) means the TV remote can no longer control the volume

lp0_on_fire 2y ago
Which hotel chain so I know to avoid it?
- rahimnathwani 2y ago
  At least some JW Marriott hotels have the TV setup I described.
fragmede 2y ago
but you control the volume on the external device via software. then again, I bring a travel router running OpenWRT and travelmate, so I'm an outlier.
- rahimnathwani 2y ago
  but you control the volume on the external device via software Yes, but: 1. If you're watching TV in bed, how do you change the volume on your laptop, that's several feet away from you? Do you just carry a very long HDMI cable, or do you use some remote control software to control your laptop volume? 2. Low volume => low SNR.
  - echoangle 2y ago
    Are you sure about the volume thing? Isn’t the entire signal chain of a normal TV digital and there’s only a conversion to Analog at the End? I don’t understand why the background hum would change volume with this setup.