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Uproar Over Netflix's New Instant Viewer
almechist writes "Many Netflix customers are up in arms over the new instant-watch player powered by Microsoft's Silverlight. The official Netflix blog is full of complaints from users who decry not only the new player's quality but also the way it's being distributed, with many claiming they were deceived into downloading it. Once you opt for the new player, the old Windows Media based player won't function, not on any computer associated with the account. The new player is supposedly still beta, but NF members are strongly encouraged (some say tricked) by NF into the so-called 'upgrade,' which is permanent — there is no way to opt out. The marked decrease in video quality seen by those who have switched is perhaps not surprising, since the old player could utilize bit streams up to twice as fast as the new one, but this information is nowhere given out by NF. So far NF has been answering all complaints with variations on 'tough luck pal, you're stuck with it,' but many customers are so disgusted they're ready to cancel their NF membership. This could be a public relations disaster in the making for Netflix."
There's no excuse for Silverlight, in any circumstance.
Actually not, they did dump that feature, and to widespread annoyance/grief.
The preceding comment is my own, and in no way construes an opinon of the Emperor of Mankind.
I run minimal microsoft software as possible other than the operating system itself. I generally keep the processes as stripped out as possible.
Of these processes, Windows Update is included. A couple weeks ago, I decided to run Windows Update for the first time in 3 something odd years because I figured that by now, M$ would have gotten their act together and I wouldn't have any problems with the update. In the past, I'd had profiles corrupted, crapware installed, and a host of registry problems that came with updates.
So... I downloaded a Windows update, only picking the most necessary security updates (left out the WGA bs) and allowed it to install Windows SP3.
After a few reboots (3-4), I thought I was good to go. I kicked back, relaxed, and turned on Netflix to watch Akira Kurosawa's Dreams only to find that the player was having DRM validation/retrieval problems.
I went to a few forums, followed their fix-it-yourself instructions to no avail, and despaired for a few days. I was too busy to put more than 4 hours into the problems, but I was still pretty pissed that Windows Update had *again* screwed me over somehow.
A week later, I decided to give it another go, but instead was surprised with the MS Silverlight download request. I installed it, figuring it wouldn't do much harm to try and *voila*! I got my movie.
I know that it was probably against my libertarian values to install something without investigating it, but it *did* work and I *did* get my movie.
I really couldn't care less about WMP since I don't use that POS software anyways.
while(1) attack(People.Sandy);
Yeah, and if they make it bad enough, you'll buy a Roku.
Netflix sucks. It is well known that they throttle users of their mail order service. Now, they are doing it with users of the online service. Soon, Roku users will be squeezed once they develop a new revenue scheme that they want you to move to.
blah blah blah
Which cave-dweller modded parent post Redundant? He was simply explaining his position from an earlier post to someone who had missed his point. Besides which it is hardly redundant to express an opinion on DRM on rented material when talking about DRM on rented material.
Nevermind, it seems that the lovable DRM within the raw video file ties the video to the player. Oh well, on to other solutions...
Scratch that too, TPB is as of this writing being dealt a DDoS attack and is offline. Man, every suggested solution is just getting pummeled. Wonder when /. will post the TPB DDoS story, anyway?