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Still no options for Linux?

by Zikes 12y ago

higherpurpose 12y ago
Can GNU/Linux use blackbox DRM?
- sounds 12y ago
  "Can"? Sure, there is no technical reason it can't be deployed. "Should" or "would"? Not likely, because it will be easily circumvented. There are also more fundamental reasons why linux and DRM are at odds: https://www.fsf.org/news/fsf-condemns-partnership-between-mozilla-and-adobe-to-support-digital-restrictions-management https://www.fsf.org/news/fsf-condemns-partnership-between-mo...
- jkrems 12y ago
  Why not? You any install closed-source software on Linux. Firefox will solve this by downloading the binary component for DRM on startup IIRC.
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
- NickM 12y ago
  It's been done before with e.g. Steam or Spotify. I would assume some company or organization would need to release a pre-compiled binary implementation, which could then be handled in much the same way that Flash is currently handled on Linux.
nuclear_eclipse 12y ago
Firefox will soon support EME, and, if I'm not mistaken, Chrome already does. Someone just needs to implement the CDM modules (DRM blobs) that support the types of encryption/decryption required by Netflix, and then it should "just work" in any browser that supports EME.
mrb 12y ago
(All?) recent Chromebook devices can stream Netflix videos. It has been possible for the last year or so: http://techblog.netflix.com/2013/04/html5-video-at-netflix.html http://techblog.netflix.com/2013/04/html5-video-at-netflix.h... Before someone says "Chrome OS is not Linux": well it is Linux-based, it runs the Linux kernel, and the Linux version of Chrome. I am not aware of any of our (Google's) internal plans, but I presume the intent is to eventually make all the HTML5 Premium Video Extensions functional on plain Chrome with no dependencies on bits of software currently in Chrome OS. This would make streaming possible on all Linux platforms, providing Netflix doesn't artificially restricts playback to only Chrome OS. (I am also not aware of any of Netflix's future plans).
wjoe 12y ago
Right now the best option for Netflix on Linux is Pipelight - http://fds-team.de/cms/pipelight-installation.html http://fds-team.de/cms/pipelight-installation.html It runs Silverlight through Wine as a plugin in Firefox/Chrome on Linux. Works flawlessly for me even with HD video. As for the future, I believe Chrome already supports the underlying technology, and Firefox confirmed they will be adding it in the future, so they will probably support Netflix's HTML5 DRM at some point. Although I'm not sure that it's any more of promising for Linux compatibility than existing propritary software - it will still need to be compiled specifically for each platform, and may even have some OS level requirements too (not sure on that, but the fact this is only working with Windows 8.1 and OS X 10.10 makes me think so). So Linux may still be left out and not be able to run certain DRM extensions.

Still no options for Linux?

by Zikes 12y ago

Still no options for Linux?

higherpurpose 12y ago

Can GNU/Linux use blackbox DRM?

sounds 12y ago
"Can"? Sure, there is no technical reason it can't be deployed. "Should" or "would"? Not likely, because it will be easily circumvented. There are also more fundamental reasons why linux and DRM are at odds: https://www.fsf.org/news/fsf-condemns-partnership-between-mozilla-and-adobe-to-support-digital-restrictions-management https://www.fsf.org/news/fsf-condemns-partnership-between-mo...
jkrems 12y ago
Why not? You any install closed-source software on Linux. Firefox will solve this by downloading the binary component for DRM on startup IIRC.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
NickM 12y ago
It's been done before with e.g. Steam or Spotify. I would assume some company or organization would need to release a pre-compiled binary implementation, which could then be handled in much the same way that Flash is currently handled on Linux.

nuclear_eclipse 12y ago

Firefox will soon support EME, and, if I'm not mistaken, Chrome already does. Someone just needs to implement the CDM modules (DRM blobs) that support the types of encryption/decryption required by Netflix, and then it should "just work" in any browser that supports EME.

mrb 12y ago

(All?) recent Chromebook devices can stream Netflix videos. It has been possible for the last year or so: http://techblog.netflix.com/2013/04/html5-video-at-netflix.html http://techblog.netflix.com/2013/04/html5-video-at-netflix.h... Before someone says "Chrome OS is not Linux": well it is Linux-based, it runs the Linux kernel, and the Linux version of Chrome. I am not aware of any of our (Google's) internal plans, but I presume the intent is to eventually make all the HTML5 Premium Video Extensions functional on plain Chrome with no dependencies on bits of software currently in Chrome OS. This would make streaming possible on all Linux platforms, providing Netflix doesn't artificially restricts playback to only Chrome OS. (I am also not aware of any of Netflix's future plans).

wjoe 12y ago

Right now the best option for Netflix on Linux is Pipelight - http://fds-team.de/cms/pipelight-installation.html http://fds-team.de/cms/pipelight-installation.html It runs Silverlight through Wine as a plugin in Firefox/Chrome on Linux. Works flawlessly for me even with HD video. As for the future, I believe Chrome already supports the underlying technology, and Firefox confirmed they will be adding it in the future, so they will probably support Netflix's HTML5 DRM at some point. Although I'm not sure that it's any more of promising for Linux compatibility than existing propritary software - it will still need to be compiled specifically for each platform, and may even have some OS level requirements too (not sure on that, but the fact this is only working with Windows 8.1 and OS X 10.10 makes me think so). So Linux may still be left out and not be able to run certain DRM extensions.